My 2005 Year Summary

Here is a summary of everything I have written in my blog this year. This will be my last post of the year and I thought I would summarize what has happened month by month since starting this little 'goal' of trying to turn $50 into $5000 by playing online poker in one years time.

January 2005
Deposited $50 into Pokerstars
Mainly played $5 SnG, $3 MTTs, and some micro limit NL
Went to Nashville Kats Arena Football game with Family
Ending January BR - $158

February 2005
Discovered limit hold em and made that my primary cash ring game
Read Harrington on Hold Em I and bought SSHE (Small Stakes Hold Em)
Had my major heart surgery
Subscribed to Bluff Magazine
Signed up with Party Poker through Instantbankroll.com
Ending February BR - $424

March 2005
Discovered Omaha
Signed up with Poker Mountain and played some Poker for the first time with Daniel Negreanu
Received autographed Theory of Poker book from Pokerstars FPP Store
Signed up with Full Tilt Poker
Started Coaching my daughters soft ball team
Ending March BR - $255

April 2005
Signed up for Ultimate Bet
Played $2/$4 LHE on $400 BR (obviously no comprehension of proper BR management at this time)
Went to Nashville Sounds AAA Baseball Game with Family
Ending April BR - $770

May 2005
Found and understood variance and began playing proper BR limits
Went to 3 Doors Down Concert with wife (paid for with $ from BR ($120)
Finished 9th out of 1100+ in a MTT
Signed up for Gamesgrid
Bought Aces and Kings book
Finished 1st in Negreanu Open Weekly MTT tournament
Ending May BR - $1558

June 2005
Created and started maintaining leaderboard website for the Negreanu Open leaderboard tournies
Discovered Razz, Triple-Draw Lowball, Stud H/L and Omaha H/L
Began Playing $3/$6 LHE after reaching $1800 BR
Added Hit Counter to Blog
Withdrew $700 from BR for Atlantic City Trip
Got Sklansky’s HE for Advanced Players from Pokerstars FPP Store
Went to Alantic City and New York with my brother and blew my $700 on poker and booze, stayed at the Borgata and met FCP friend elkang and played at the Trop.
Discovered Pokersourceonline.com (PSO)
Signed up and completed Pacific Poker promotion through PSO
Signed up and completed Absolute Poker promotion through PSO
Signed up and completed Paradise poker promotion through PSO
Signed up and completed Poker Room promotion through PSO
Signed up and completed Bodog promotion through PSO
Signed up and completed Noble Poker promotion through PSO
Got free Apple IPOD from PSO with my PSO Points
Wife bought me two poker books for Fathers Day: Super System II & The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King
Ending June BR - $1348

July 2005
Signed up and completed Poker Rewards promotion through PSO
Took $200 out of bankroll for softball and took my parents to the Grand Ole Opry
Profound Statement made – “OK I admit it, I am not a consistently winning player and I would be broke if it werent for bonuses.”
Lost $900 in 2 sessions because of tilt and chasing money way above bankroll
Got $300 Party Poker gift certificate from PSO with my PSO points
Hot Water Heater Busted
Basement Caught on Fire
Horrible Experience with Verifying my identity with The Gaming Club promo I was doing with PSO and eventually cashed everything out and never played there at all
Went on Family Vacation to Florida, Disney, Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach
Finished 42nd out of 1200+ person $10 stars rebuy MTT when busted by Chris Moneymaker AQ vs AA on A high flop.
Hit $3000 bankroll and moved to $5/$10 LHE
Bought “The Poker MBA” book and Chris Moneymaker’s book from the Pokerstars FPP Store
Ending July BR - $3417

August 2005
Finished 58th out of 1800+ in Stars MTT
Bought High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story Movie
Minus 100BB day (lost $1000 in one day)
Played some $5/$10 LHE with Tom McEvoy
Got a bunch of free Party Poker stuff – clothes, jersey, hat
Played in a poker tourney with the neverwinpoker ‘pros’ Dustin Woolf (neverwin), Todd Witteles (dandruff), and Jennifer Leigh (jennicide)
Signed up with Empire Poker
Received $100 PSO Referral Bonus
Bankroll hits highest point of the year $4188
Got free copy of Pokertracker with some more PSO points
Discovered 6 handed (short handed) poker tables
Bought new 1600 x 1200 res monitor so I could 4 table without overlap
Yikes – got drunk and played $20/$40 LHE and $400 NL (luckily didn’t go broke)
Lost $2000 in a 10 day time period due to variance and bad beats
Ending August BR - $1505 (down $2700 from highest point in August, OUCH!)

September 2005
Got First Royal Flush Ever on Labor Day
Went to Motley Crue Concert
Signed up and
Signed up and completed Titan Poker promotion through PSO
Bought Psychology of Poker and Tournament Poker for Advanced Players with some Pokerstars FPP Points
Received personalized/autographed Daniel Negreanu Fullcontactpoker.com Shirt
Ending September BR - $1845

October 2005
Won $467.10 by placing 8th out of 1035 in a $20 MTT
Lost $820 NL Pot with AA vs 33 when a 3 spoke on the river.
Finished 19th out of 481 in a $50 MTT, won $168
Played tourney with neverwin (Dustin Woolf)
Weekend Cub Scout Camping Trip with Family
Totally Lost Control and played $15/$30 LHE and lost a lot
Got 2 Free Books from PSO – Barry Greenstein’s An Ace on the River and Harrington on Hold Em 2
Ending October BR - $1406

November 2005
Ordered Stu Ungar Book: One of a King with some Pokerstars FPP Points
Name mentioned in Daniel Negreanu Poker Blog
Went to Nashville Predators NHL Game with my son
Received Autographed Daniel Negreanu Fullcontactpoker.com Hat
Received Free Pokerstars Shirt from Placing in their Blogger Championship Tourny
Took wife to Nashville Predators Game
Took son to another Nashville Predators Game
Ending November BR - $1903

December 2005
Took $350 Out of Bankroll to buy Plane Tickets and Book Hotel Room for Las Vegas trip in February
Signed up for Daniel Negreanu’s new fullcontactpoker.com poker site
Finished 2nd out of 372 in $10 MTT on FCP and won $558
Ending December BR - $2333

YEAR SUMMARY

Turned $50 into $3703 and after withdrawing $1370 for various things throughout the year I am left with $2333 in cash. I plan on taking $1000 of that out for my Vegas trip next February. I feel I improved my game tremendously, I got over a dozen free books (most autographed and personalized), played poker with a lot of ‘pros’, got a free IPOD, went to Atlantic City, made a lot of awesome new friends. Even though I came up $1300 short of my original $50 to $5000 goal I still think I had a great year and learned a lot.

After my Vegas trip I will be left with about $1200 which is a proper starting bankroll for $2/$4 so my 2006 goal will be to turn $1200 into $10,000. Thanks to everyone who has commented here, given advice, support, criticism. Hard to believe this little blog has got over 26,000 hits in the past 6 months. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year.

Few low limit SnGs, 2006 Negreanu Open Info

Yesterday I played in the FCP Charter freeroll and busted 403rd when I donkey pushed AK preflop and was against QQ and TT, ooops.

I played a $10 and $5 SnG on Stars and never cashed in either of those.

I played two $5 Heads up freezeout matches with my friend Nikki on FCP, one limit and one NL, I won both of those, but admit I got VERY lucky in the NL match when I was all in with A4 versus her AJ on AJK, another K fell on the river and we split and I battled back to win. Was lots of fun.

I watched DN and DC play HU Limit again last night for a little bit.

I also got all the details worked out for the 2006 season of the Negreanu Open. Spent a good 30 - 45 minutes on the phone with Chris on Daniels business team ironing out the details. Its going to be a VERY cool season with alot of cool prizes, all the details can be found on this thread at FCP.

Here was an interesting chat I had last night during a $5 SnG on Pokerstars ...

hottiekatie: anyone sell play chips?
dna4ever: u wanna buy play chips?
OAR TSL: u want play chips
hottiekatie: yeah
dna4ever: i got like 353,000, whats that worth these days?
hottiekatie: dna
hottiekatie: i don't know
rollin9sixes: worth a lick in the *** at least
hottiekatie: i'll give you 1.50 bucks
hottiekatie: lol
dna4ever: 1.50 ?
dna4ever: how about $5
hottiekatie: hmm
hottiekatie: no?
rollin9sixes: noooo
dna4ever: lol or a lick in the butt like the one guy said
rollin9sixes: are u high?
rollin9sixes: paying 4 fake money
dna4ever: ok $2.50
hottiekatie: 2 max
dna4ever: ok $2
hottiekatie: thanks
hottiekatie: dna

Current BR - $2333

Losing $3/$6 LHE Session

I 4 tabled $3/$6 for a little over 3 hours on FCP and ended down about $320. I dont think I played bad, I did chase few times where I could have saved bets, but cards didnt cooperate. I can count a dozen hands where I lost on the river. Had KK 4 times and lost 3 of them, had AA once and lost with it. Lost a huge pot when I flopped a set of Jacks and was against Kings. I'm sure I had to clear a good bit of the FCP deposit bonus, guess I'll find out tomorrow. - 50BB Session, actually this is my first losing session in awhile so I guess I was due.

Current BR - $2340

Alotta Nuttin

Didnt really play much last night, but certainly watched a lot of Poker. Daniel Negreanu and this guy Dreamclown were playing $500/$1000 HU LHE last night on FCP for several hours and I found myself enthralled (is that a word?) into watching the whole thing.

I played some $0.05/$0.10 with the FCPHA last night for about 2 hours as well why watching and got my ass handed to me. I had AA 3 times and KK 3 times and only one with it once. Ended that session down 46 bb of $4.60.

I also played 2 $5+$0.50 SnG and busted LAST in both of them. One of the first hands I played I had KA (a of hearts), flop was 3 hearts, I rivered broadway, but guy had the nut flush and I couldnt lay it down. The other SnG I lost 900 chips early when I picked up 37 in the BB and flop was 77x, other guy had A7 the I lost my last 600 on a 77 vs AQ coin flip, guy flopped the Q.

I played a $5 LHE HU freezeout match with my FCP bud specbrad and ofcourse destroyed him in a matter of about 10 minutes ;P so won $4.50 there.

I 1 tabled some $2/$4 on FCP last night, didnt player higher or more tables cause I'd had more drinks then I should have hehe. I was up about $55 then got screwed 3 hands hard which put me down. One was runner runner flush, another was I had A4 in the BB flop 4AJ and the other guy had J3, turn 5, river 2, brutal. Another hand I raised from the Button with 55 and the BB called flop came 58T and betting was capped on the flop and I slowed it down when a turn and he had 88, DOH! I bounced back a little and ended that session up +$12 which I felt was really good all considering.

The whole night I lost 10 cents, bleh, talk about a whole lotta nuttin.

Current BR - $2660

Cleared Pokerstars Bonus, Lost Some Sngs, Won some Limit

I played a $20+$2 MTT on FCP this morning that had 219 people, I was doing pretty good in the early stages and just got no cards for 4 orbits. I finally picked up AK but ran into KK preflop and no Ace saved me so I busted 71st after nearly 90 minutes.

I decided to go ahead and earn my last 150 fpp points on stars to clear that $120 bonus so I 5 tabled $2/$4 for about an hour, I ended up +$11 in play and earned the $120 in bonus so good deal overall.

I played 3 $10 SnGs on Stars and never made money in any of them and then I played some $3/$6 LHE on FCP for about 45 minutes and finished up $86

Current BR - $2660

Christmas

Christmas was amazing. Both our kids woke up to see that Santa had came and they got all the main things they wanted. We opened presents and played games all day. My son was lost in his room all day playing his new Playstation 2.

I got the DVD sets of the WPT Season 1 and 2, some speakers for my truck, a FM Transmitter for my IPOD, some cologne, clothes, etc. My kids got me these boxers that have poker chips on them and say Texas Hold Em on one side and "I'm All In" on the other, haha.

I played poker for a little yesterday. I played 3 SnGs on FCP, 2 of them where 10 person SnG and I finished 5th in one when I lost a coin flip and finished 1st in the other one after coming back a huge chip dog at HU, nearly 10:1. It was the longest HU match I had ever played, a good 25 minutes, but finally I got em. I also played a 30 person SnG and finished 13th when I made a stoooooooooopid move by pushing on a very dangerous board with an underpair.

I played some $2/$4 short handed LHE on FCP for about 30 minutes and finished up $45 there too so my Christmas Day ended up +$63

Current BR - $2498

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

I played a little $2/$4 6 handed poker on Pokerstars for about 20 minutes and lost a big $2, but earned about 30 fpps so just another 160 and I will release my $120 bonus there.

I 4 tabled $2/$4 full LHE Ring on FCP for about 30 minutes and had a really good session ending up $66.

So played for about an hour and made $64, I'll take it.

Getting ready to play Santa Clause. I love the time of the year. My 12 year old is past the whole santa experience, but my 6 year old son is just living it up. We have been watching the Norad Santa tracker all night watching to see where Santa is so we can make sure we get to sleep on time.

We just finished watching Home Alone and about to read Twas the Night Before Christmas and get some sleep. Of course no sleep until we put out Santas milk and cookies and some carrots for the reindeer ;P

Merry Christmas All!

Current BR - $2435

1st in a $20 SnG

PokerStars Tournament #16930736, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $20.00/$2.00
9 players
Total Prize Pool: $180.00
Tournament started - 2005/12/23 - 14:26:09 (ET)
Tournament finished - 2005/12/23 - 15:39:21 (ET)
1: dna4ever (Old Hickory), $90.00 (50%)
2: Mntnman (Denver), $54.00 (30%)
3: Done it (Arlington), $36.00 (20%)
4: The Sues (Blaine),
5: Runcd (ljubljana),
6: Tell84 (Stockholm),
7: cng2kewl (Monticello),
8: levin_money (Gainesville),
9: pheasantklr (Arvada),

You finished in 1st place (eliminated at hand #3414979363).

140 hands played and saw flop:
- 8 times out of 34 while in small blind (23%)
- 24 times out of 33 while in big blind (72%)
- 6 times out of 73 in other positions (8%)
- a total of 38 times out of 140 (27%)

Pots won at showdown - 5 out of 9 (55%)
Pots won without showdown - 31

Current BR - $2371

Mixing It up

Last night I played a $20 SnG on FCP and won 3rd good for $40 ($18 profit).

I played a $5 SnG on stars and won 2nd for $13.50 ($8 profit).

I played another $5 SnG and bubbled 4th after an hour of play when all in AT vs TT and never caught my Ace so -$5.50.

I played some $100 NLHE on FCP for about an hour and ended up +$36.

I played some $2/$4 LHE today on FCP and Stars and ended up + $47 after about an hours play of 4 tabling.

I got about 190 more FPP points to earn on Stars and i will release my $120 bonus there. I have released about $23 of my $350 pending bonus on FCP.

Current BR - $2303

Limit - Loser, SnGs - Loser, MTT - Loser

I played about 45 minutes of $3/$6 LHE yesterday and ended down about 4bb ($24). I played 2 $10 SnG and lost both of them in 5th and 9th place when my sets went down to flushes. I played in the Negreanu Open and busted 20th when I was all in preflop with 66 vs AA and I flopped a set of 6s, but one of the 2 remaining aces fell on the river and I was out!

Current BR - $2199

Finished Christmas Shopping - Marty Stuart Encounter

Didnt play any poker last night the family went out and did our last bit of Christmas shopping.

Yesterday I went to lunch with a client and sat right beside Marty Stuart which I thought was kinda cool.

Negreanu Open tonight, last one for this leaderboard season.

Bleh, dont feel like typing anymore so thats all

Current BR - $2256

1st in a SnG and a little $2/$4 Short handed

I played about 30 minutes of $2/$4 6 handed on Pokerstars and pretty much grinded out an even score, but finished about $12 to the plus (3bb).

I played a $10 stars SnG with my friend missidaho and I won 1st and she won 2nd, twice we have done that in the last week. I should have been out 5th in this tournament when I got really lucky all in preflop with my 88 vs AA but I spiked an 8 on the turn. Missidaho got lucky twice against the same guy I got lucky against with 66 vs JJ on two seperate occassions and both times spiked a 6. That poor guy, hehe.

+$46 night for about 90 minutes of total play.

Going to do some last minute Christmas shopping tonight and take my boy to see Santa Clause so probably wont get in much poker tonight.

Current BR - $2256

Whirlwind Weekend

Havent really played much poker the past week except for a little bit last night. Drove 700 miles this weekend by taking the kids to see both of their grandparents so they could open Christmas presents at each of their houses.

Last night I played a $10 Stars MTT and busted when I over played AQ with an ace flop and was against a flush. I played a $10 SnG and finished 3rd for $18 on stars last night too.

I also played about 30 - 45 minutes of 4 tabling $3/$6 LHE on Stars and made about $70 there. I need about 350 more FPP points there and I will be able to clear my $120 deposit bonus.

Watched "Walk the Line" this weekend and really enjoyed it.

Current BR - $2210

FCPHA home game and a few SnGs

Last night we went and did some Christmas Shopping then I came back and played in the FCPHA Army Home game on Pokerstars with about 10 of my friends. Always the $0.05/$0.10 game and I finished up about +28bb after an hour or $2.80.

I then played a few $10 SnGs with my good friend MissIdaho (Catcja) from FCP. The first game we came down to head up between each other and I won the coin flip on the last hand with AT vs 99. That was good for $45 or $34 profit.

The 2nd game I busted out first when I got my money in with the best hand against and OESD and the guy hit on the river.

The Negreanu Open is tonight on Pokerstars and I will be playing in that.

Current BR - $2155

3 Hours of Survivor and a little $25 NL

Didnt really play much poker last night because I had to watch 3 hours of the Survivor finale and reunion show!

I did play a $10 SnG and busted out 6th and I played some $25 NL for fun for about 30 minutes and ended up about $20 to the good at that table so overall a +$9 day for about an hour of play.

One memorable hand at the $25 NL table was I was in the BB with 27o and there was 3 way action flop came down 27x (spades), I bet $1 and 1 fold and one reraise to $3 more which I called. Turn comes another spade, I check other guy bets about 1/2 pot I call. River comes another 2 giving me the boat. I check, guy bets like 3/4's pot and I push and he instantly calls turning over A3 of spades for the nut flush, but no good against my 2s full of 7s, he left the table immediately, ooooops.

Current BR - $2130

Finally a MTT Score, 2nd of 372 for $558

I 4 tabled $2/$4 on the new FCP site for about 2 hours and pretty much just broke even, lost $2.

I just played a $10 MTT on the new fullcontactpoker.com site that has 372 people and finished 2nd good for $558. Was all in with TK vs 5J and the other guy had a Jack and I never improved so he took down the $930 prize.

Current BR - $2121

A Fun SnG on the new fullcontactpoker.com

Last night I had a conference call then took my son to his weekly Thursday night Cub Scout meeting, then watched Survivor that I had taped, man its a great one this year! I havent missed one episode of any season of Survior ever, its like the only show I really watch. This Sunday is the last episode, I am pulling for Rafe and my wife is pulling for Jerri.

After that I logged onto the new fullcontactpoker.com and saw a lot of my FCP friends chatting in the lobby so I created a little $5 SnG and we all played right there on the spot, about 10 of us I think. I remember some FCPHA people being there like myself, missidaho, fryer, whiskey, renae, theresa, jeff and a few other FCP people as well. I ended up winning 1st good for $25 ($20 profit). I had to get lucky one time when it was down to 3 I called a preflop raise with 7s8s and board came down 57T with 1 spade and I got all my money in and was against fryers QQ, but an 8 came off the turn and the river blanked.

I had a HUGE chip lead going into HU against theresa113 like at least 10:1 and she battled and battled and played VERY well and tied it up and even took back the chip lead at one point, but I managed to take it down when we got all in preflop with AK vs her 7K and my hand held up.

I have been noticing that the last month or so I havent really played any 'REAL' poker as in setting down and trying to crank out money and I am OK with that. I have just been having a lot of fun and trying not to burn out.

Current BR - $1565

SnG with Daniel Negreanu & Negreanu Open Update

Well during lunch today I was on FCP as usual and saw a post by Daniel Negreanu that he was about to play his first SnG ever on his new poker site at www.fullcontactpoker.com . I guess it was just perfect timing because I logged on and only 3 other people besides Daniel where there and he had to go soon so he started it with just the 5 of us; myself, Daniel, zimmer, custom36, and smokewagon. It was a turbo SnG and the blinds rose really fast, I made it about 15 minutes and in SB I raised it up with Q7d and got a call. Flop came Q78h and I pushed my last 800 chips and ofcourse the BB (custom) had Kx hearts for the flopped flush versus my two pair, oh well fun stuff!

Its cool to say I am one of only 4 people to play in the first tournament Daniel has played in on his own site.

About 30 minutes later I got a cell phone call from Chris (my contact on Daniels business team for the Negreanu Opens). We talked for about 15 minutes about the next season of Negreanu Opens in 2006 which will be held on the new fullcontactpoker.com site.

I am suppose to do a 3 way call with Chris and Daniel himself sometime later this month to discuss all the details and finalize the prizes for the 2006 season. As soon as I know anything I will post it here. Was a very cool day to say the least!

No poker besides the -$5 I lost playing the SnG with Daniel.

Current BR - $1545

22nd in Neg Open / First Flops on Fullcontactpoker.com

Played for 2 hours in the Negreanu Open last night and finished 22nd out of 98 when it came down to a coin flip AQs versus JJ and I never improved.

I played about 40 hands on the new fullcontactpoker.com site and it seems to be pretty good, but I got really unlucky losing with JJ, QQ, and KK in the first 20 hands which put me down about $45 but I worked my way back to finish the night out +$4. Was playing $2/$4 limit.

Current BR - $1550

New Fullcontactpoker.com Poker Site

Well yesterday Daniel Negreanu unveiled his new pokersite at www.fullcontactpoker.com which is a skin of Poker Room. I signed up and deposited $500 which was good for a $350 pending bonus (100% match up to $300 for charter members plus 10% bonus for neteller). I havent played there yet, but will at some point.



Last night I played in the Tuesday night FCPHA army home game, $0.05/$0.010 and ended the night up +41BB, thats right, $4.10 beeeaaaatches!

Negreanu Open tonight.

Current BR - $1557

Catch Up Blog Post

Its been several days since I have posted and just havent felt like writing anything to be honest.

Basic summary is I have played a lot of SnGs and a little ring.

I played 5 7 card stud $10 SnGs and got 2nd in one and bubbled in 1. I played 4 $10 NLHE SnGs and won 1 and bubbled 2. I played 1 $20 SnG and bubbled it as well. All 4 SnGs that I bubbled I was all in with the best hand and got sucked out on the river, ALL 4 times. I have witnesses to testify to all 4 of these. I can tell you it was very frustrating playing for an hour each time to see that river card kill your tourney for $0 return.

I played about 2 hours of $50 NLHE Cash games and ended up about $18 and I played about an hour of $2/$4 LHE and $3/$6 LHE and ended up $79 so literally the past 3 or 4 days I played a crap load of poker and just broke even.

One card different 4 other times and I would be up over $100, but thats the way it goes sometimes I guess.

Current BR - $1553

Booked Las Vegas Trip -$350 from the bankroll

I booked my trip to Las Vegas today. About a dozen of the FCPHA are going to Las Vegas from February 16th - February 19th. I have been waiting on a good flight special and today it hit, $99 each way non stop so $217 after the taxes and fees and then Binions has a great poker rate and I am able to stay there for $135 total for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night after putting in some play so taking out $350.

I'll get into Vegas around 9:30 AM on Thursday the 16th and leave Vegas around 6:55 PM on Sunday the 19th.

Current BR - $1553