Well I have deposited 50 bucks into Stars and so far am up 3 bucks playing the .1/.2 limits. I am having trouble getting people to call my good hands and always call my semi-weak hands. On top of that Pokertracker rates me as a fish. All in all an ok first day I guess. The hands that really killed my profit was this one.



Seat 1: tepshen73 ($5.32 in chips)
Seat 2: Poedel ($5.11 in chips)
Seat 3: FTK03 ($4.81 in chips)
Seat 4: patsfan226 ($1.19 in chips)
Seat 5: joe1949 ($6.07 in chips)
Seat 7: BigBrado0 ($2.67 in chips)
Seat 8: kevnyc ($1.54 in chips)
Seat 9: cisko18 ($1.98 in chips)
tepshen73: posts small blind $0.01
Poedel: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen73 [ Ah]
FTK03: folds
patsfan226: raises $0.08 to $0.10
joe1949: folds
BigBrado0: folds
kevnyc: folds
cisko18: folds
tepshen73: calls $0.09
Poedel: folds
*** FLOP *** [3d
tepshen73: bets $0.10
patsfan226: calls $0.10
*** TURN ***
tepshen73: bets $0.30
patsfan226: raises $0.69 to $0.99 and is all-in
tepshen73: calls $0.69
*** RIVER ***
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tepshen73: shows (two pair, Aces and Queens)
patsfan226: shows (three of a kind, Nines)
patsfan226 collected $2.30 from pot

Did I do anything wrong or just one of those things?

calling AQ to a raise usually isn't the way to go in NL holdem. Raising it is is better then calling a raise of course....but it's still marginal.

...but calling...most of the time you will be dominated. AA, KK, QQ, AK all dominate you. You beat AJ, KQ (the bane of existence hand) and everything else is a coinflip.

As for the flop...if you're gonna bet...go ahead and pot it. betting the pot on the flop helps you drive out draws, and helps you put your opponent on a hand.

Ok Its been a few weeks since I said I was going to keep a journal. When I first started it was so easy that I decided not to keep one but the past few days have really tested my resolve to learn to play poker. I know I am just learning so alot of my problem has been some dumb decisions and another at least I hope is playing micro limits where you are agasint 6 people every flop anyways. Part of it has been bad luck 3 times in two days my pocket KK has been beat by someone with pocket AA because I am not afraid to get all in before the flop with KK. According to Harrington I should only run into AA once every 22 times I get KK so the next 63 times I should be ok. Its just hard to deal with a losing streak so early on. I know cards even out over time and its not just how much you win when you have the cards but also minimazing your losses when you don't. So thats where I am at my bankroll has shrunk to 57 dollars in 2 days from 75 at micro limits that is impressive of course 10 of that is two 5 dollar SnG's I playd and lost. Still 8 dollars in 2 days is not good.

I have decided to commit part of Ices Anotemy of a Loing streak to memory. This paragraph right here describes me playng the last few days.

Each time I’m in the middle of one of these streaks, my first thought is that the other guys just keep getting lucky. Otherwise they couldn’t beat me since I’m a better player than they are. Sometimes that’s true, but normally I have been outdrawn once or twice and then compounded the problem myself by making bad plays trying to catch up, or making bad calls refusing to believe that I got outdrawn yet again. This just extends the losing streak.

ok now am going to post the 5 biggest losers

Loser #1

FullTiltPoker Game #311006290: Table Gibson - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:55:52 ET - 2005/11/27
Seat 1: tepshen ($48.85)
Seat 2: linuxrocks ($46.50)
Seat 3: CraziestOwen ($12.10)
Seat 4: Precept24 ($30.90)
Seat 5: Casey Finn ($13.85)
Seat 6: mr bobby ($5.10)
Seat 7: turbo-wardog ($8.70)
Seat 9: hoody2005 ($30.30)
Precept24 posts the small blind of $0.10
Casey Finn posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen
atouchofpride sits down
mr bobby folds
turbo-wardog folds
atouchofpride adds $5
hoody2005 calls $0.25
tepshen raises to $0.75
linuxrocks folds
CraziestOwen folds
Precept24 folds
Casey Finn folds
hoody2005 calls $0.50
*** FLOP ***
hoody2005 checks
tepshen bets $0.75
hoody2005 calls $0.75
*** TURN ***
hoody2005 checks
tepshen bets $3.35
hoody2005 raises to $10.50
tepshen raises to $47.35, and is all in
hoody2005 calls $18.30, and is all in
tepshen shows
hoody2005 shows
Uncalled bet of $18.55 returned to tepshen
*** RIVER ***
mr bobby: lol
tepshen shows three of a kind, Jacks
hoody2005 shows a flush, King high
hoody2005 wins the pot ($57.95) with a flush, King high
mr bobby: aw that sucks
tepshen: nh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $60.95 | Rake $3
Board:
Seat 1: tepshen showed and lost with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 2: linuxrocks didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: CraziestOwen (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Precept24 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Casey Finn (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: mr bobby didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: turbo-wardog didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: hoody2005 showed and won ($57.95) with a flush, King high

Loser #2
FullTiltPoker Game #327541772: Table Ann - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:22:23 ET - 2005/12/09
Seat 1: Becks77 ($16.75)
Seat 2: G4B01 ($9.60)
Seat 3: Uncle Ralph ($36.50)
Seat 4: tepshen ($34.65)
Seat 5: bostongary ($28.05)
Seat 7: spakolly ($30.70)
Seat 8: BetsBig ($13.45)
Seat 9: SRS50 ($30.90)
tepshen: nh
spakolly posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen
BetsBig calls $0.25
SRS50 folds
Becks77 folds
G4B01 folds
Mafia1225 sits down
Uncle Ralph folds
Mafia1225 adds $15
tepshen calls $0.25
Uncle Ralph: t
bostongary raises to $3.75
spakolly folds
BetsBig folds
tepshen calls $3.50
*** FLOP ***
tepshen bets $8
bostongary raises to $24.30, and is all in
BetsBig stands up
tepshen calls $16.30
bostongary shows
tepshen shows
*** TURN ***
*** RIVER ***
Becks77: nh
bostongary shows three of a kind, Nines
tepshen shows a pair of Queens
bostongary wins the pot ($53.80) with three of a kind, Nines
tepshen: vnh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $56.60 | Rake $2.80
Board:
Seat 1: Becks77 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: G4B01 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Uncle Ralph didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: tepshen showed and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 5: bostongary (button) showed and won ($53.80) with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 7: spakolly (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: BetsBig folded before the Flop
Seat 9: SRS50 didn't bet (folded)

These are the first two and please be brutally honest because I have to do something here.

here are hands 3 and 4

FullTiltPoker Game #305995662: Table Carl - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 10:27:51 ET - 2005/11/24
Seat 2: Money Doctor ($20.80)
Seat 4: bigbud45 ($8.70)
Seat 5: TJ311 ($9.65)
Seat 6: East 2 West ($40.05)
Seat 7: tepshen ($24.75)
Seat 8: dawgstylin ($6.40)
Seat 9: ps30cdb ($10)
East 2 West posts the small blind of $0.10
tepshen posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen
dawgstylin folds
ps30cdb folds
Money Doctor folds
bigbud45 folds
TJ311 folds
East 2 West calls $0.15
tepshen checks
*** FLOP ***
East 2 West checks
tepshen bets $0.50
Money Doctor stands up
East 2 West raises to $2
tepshen calls $1.50
*** TURN ***
East 2 West bets $4.50
tepshen raises to $9
East 2 West raises to $37.80, and is all in
tepshen calls $13.50, and is all in
East 2 West shows
tepshen shows
Uncalled bet of $15.30 returned to East 2 West
tepshen: lol
*** RIVER ***
East 2 West shows a full house, Kings full of Nines
tepshen: nh
tepshen shows three of a kind, Kings
East 2 West wins the pot ($47.05) with a full house, Kings full of Nines
tepshen is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $49.50 | Rake $2.45
Board:
Seat 2: Money Doctor didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: bigbud45 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: TJ311 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: East 2 West (small blind) showed and won ($47.05) with a full house, Kings full of Nines
Seat 7: tepshen (big blind) showed and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 8: dawgstylin didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: ps30cdb didn't bet (folded)

hand #4
FullTiltPoker Game #252900795: Table Ann - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 10:33:23 ET - 2005/10/15
Seat 1: doctor of dance ($208.50)
Seat 2: Esoteric ($9.25)
Seat 3: Talle ($25)
Seat 4: littlemtn ($5.90)
Seat 5: -4WS-Madman ($27.30)
Seat 6: ACE JOLDEM ($9.70)
Seat 7: ace9135 ($41.35)
Seat 9: tepshen ($25.95)
ace9135 posts the small blind of $0.10
tepshen posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen
brianjb adds $25
doctor of dance calls $0.25
Esoteric calls $0.25
Talle folds
littlemtn calls $0.25
-4WS-Madman folds
ACE JOLDEM folds
ace9135 calls $0.15
tepshen raises to $0.50
doctor of dance calls $0.25
Esoteric calls $0.25
littlemtn calls $0.25
ace9135 calls $0.25
*** FLOP ***
ace9135 checks
tepshen bets $1.25
doctor of dance calls $1.25
Esoteric folds
littlemtn folds
ace9135 folds
*** TURN ***
tepshen bets $5
doctor of dance calls $5
*** RIVER ***
tepshen bets $19.20, and is all in
doctor of dance calls $19.20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tepshen shows (a pair of Aces)
doctor of dance shows (a flush, Ace high)
doctor of dance wins the pot ($50.75) with a flush, Ace high
tepshen is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $53.40 | Rake $2.65
Board:
Seat 1: doctor of dance showed and won ($50.75) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 2: Esoteric folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Talle didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: littlemtn folded on the Flop
Seat 5: -4WS-Madman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ACE JOLDEM (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: ace9135 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: tepshen (big blind) showed and lost with a pair of Aces

ok last 2 for now

FullTiltPoker Game #253010957: Table Count Diero - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 13:05:13 ET - 2005/10/15
Seat 1: UGAstevemarkr ($3.25)
Seat 2: schooch ($14.05)
Seat 3: tepshen ($24.25)
Seat 4: txwhitedevil ($14.35)
Seat 5: Rijo ($21.65)
Seat 6: GoRoyal ($22.80)
Seat 7: duckoff ($29.90)
Seat 8: jsmash13 ($9.45)
Seat 9: AFPD ($12.50)
duckoff posts the small blind of $0.10
jsmash13 posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen
AFPD folds
UGAstevemarkr raises to $3.25, and is all in
schooch folds
tepshen calls $3.25
txwhitedevil folds
Rijo folds
GoRoyal calls $3.25
duckoff folds
jsmash13 calls $3
*** FLOP ***
jsmash13 checks
tepshen bets $21, and is all in
GoRoyal calls $19.55, and is all in
jsmash13 folds
tepshen shows
GoRoyal shows
UGAstevemarkr shows
Uncalled bet of $1.45 returned to tepshen
*** TURN ***
*** RIVER ***
tepshen shows two pair, Eights and Fives
GoRoyal shows two pair, Aces and Fives
GoRoyal wins the side pot ($37.15) with two pair, Aces and Fives
UGAstevemarkr shows a pair of Fives
GoRoyal wins the main pot ($12.45) with two pair, Aces and Fives
UGAstevemarkr is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $52.20 Main pot $13.10. Side pot $39.10. | Rake $2.60
Board:
Seat 1: UGAstevemarkr showed and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 2: schooch didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: tepshen showed and lost with two pair, Eights and Fives
Seat 4: txwhitedevil didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Rijo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: GoRoyal (button) showed and won ($49.60) with two pair, Aces and Fives
Seat 7: duckoff (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: jsmash13 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: AFPD didn't bet (folded)

Ok that was the last hand for now if anyone wants to see specific hands from specific positions just let me know. And again please be brutally honest I am desperate here.

So I had some time to kill and decided to nose around in PT and discovered the Titanic of leaks. My W$atSD on the button for 1086 hands was 22% yet somehow I made $22 there my other real bad spot was 3 off the button at a 33% win W$atSD for a total loss of $41. Other than that every other one was near 60% or higher. With a 89% win rate 6 off the button. It seems to me since I enter with much better quality of hands from way up front I am more aggressive with them which thins out the field and eliminate alot of the drawing hands you see at the 10nl tables.

Yesterday 12/13/05 I lost $2.75 and got to looking at why and didn't see any problems I raised preflop with AK and missed the flop and folded to a bet and called with 22 preflop and "NO SET NO BET" so lost some money there and the rest was really just blinds and the other hands losy money on was got 6/3 in the BB and the flop came 6 3 A so bet on the flop got called and another A came on the turn and checked and folded after the turn was bet. With the way people play any A it was not worth it to me to continue with the hand.

Today 12/14/05 I made $9.10 in just 27 hands. Heres the hand that i won most on my money on. My question is how much more aggressive should I have been? I realize that Imade a mistake in not betting more to extract more money from the flush chaser. I called the all in because of playing with msfoldem quite a few times that they had Q with a lower kicker than my K if she had AQ she would have raised preflop with it.

FullTiltPoker Game #336359954: Table Indian Chief - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:54:05 ET - 2005/12/14
Seat 1: msfoldem888 ($3.90)
Seat 2: Poor Horatio ($7.20)
Seat 3: Up_The_Irons ($9.30)
Seat 4: Scorefence ($9.05)
Seat 5: LoriLou ($12.80)
Seat 6: Monkeyonarock ($8.05)
Seat 7: LDV ($12)
Seat 8: tepshen ($10.65)
Seat 9: nocsious ($7.70)
nocsious posts the small blind of $0.05
msfoldem888 posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tepshen
Poor Horatio folds
Up_The_Irons folds
Scorefence folds
LoriLou calls $0.10
Monkeyonarock folds
LDV calls $0.10
tepshen calls $0.10
nocsious folds
msfoldem888 checks
*** FLOP ***
msfoldem888 checks
LoriLou checks
LDV checks
tepshen bets $0.45
msfoldem888 raises to $3.80, and is all in
LoriLou calls $3.80
LDV folds
tepshen calls $3.35
*** TURN ***
LoriLou checks
tepshen checks
*** RIVER ***
LoriLou checks
tepshen checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
msfoldem888 shows (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
LoriLou mucks
tepshen shows (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
tepshen wins the pot ($11.30) with two pair, Queens and Sixes
msfoldem888 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $11.85 | Rake $0.55
Board:
Seat 1: msfoldem888 (big blind) showed and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 2: Poor Horatio didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Up_The_Irons didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Scorefence didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: LoriLou mucked - a pair of Sixes
Seat 6: Monkeyonarock didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: LDV folded on the Flop
Seat 8: tepshen (button) showed and won ($11.30) with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 9: nocsious (small blind) folded before the Flop