Laddies $50NL Games

Last night took the Laddies cash game bankroll to up over $1,000 and now I'm ready to step up to 4 tabling the $100NL games.

From the charts below you can see I went on a few extended periods of relatively flat profitability but the general trend is upwards and I had a mega heater over 1k hands at the $50 buy-ins.

The games are still relatively soft although not as much action on overbets compared to what you see on the $20 buy-in games. Although the 8/2 players I see on there can still be profitable. Still a large volume of players (and the gamblers appear after a win on the sportsbook on a Saturday night).

So I was beating the game for about 24BB/100 over a very small sample of hands (nearly 5k) and this translated into an hourly rate of ~ $22. Of the 16 players I have in my PT DB with 2.5k hands or more there are 6 beating this level, the next best return after mine is 21BB/100. So whilst these are really small volume of hands I am confident I am beating it enought to step up.

I also don't think I ran particularly well at the $50 buy-in. Got stacked a few times and overplayed big pairs a number of times as well. However, I'm not prepared to analyse my game at the moment in any level of detail even though I know I can make many improvements. If it's not brokes then don't fix it and I've had problems in the past after trying to apply 'moves' that I've read about, or remove leaks from my game. I'll only start to analyse my game and look to make improvements once I can't beat a level.

Next decision for me is whether to move straight into the $100NL or play the $30SNGs. Party are offering me a $100 bonus that I think would take 50 $30 SNGs to clear. That would force me into playing 50 SNGs over the next week. Tempted to go straight into the $100NL though.

Decisions, decisions.

PT stats for my NL challenge :-



Chart at $50NL :-



Chart for Laddies cash game challenge :-

$20 STT HEATER

At the end of March I built up my SNG cash flow (from zero) to $440 giving me the bankroll to step up to the $20 SNGs.

I expected my ROI to drop from the 30% I had on the 10s and after my first few SNGs at the $20s I was worried it was going to take a lot of SNGs before I could step up to the $30s.

Anyway, I went on a massive heater and after 24 SNGs my bankroll is above the $770 I need to step up to the $30 SNGs; It's currently at $775. The $770 gives me enough to drop 10 buy-ins before I need to step down to the $20s and start to rebuild. Hopefully, I will not be stepping down from the $30s.

My ROI and ITM are not really valid after only 24 SNGs but at 59% and 58% respectively they are clearly solid results; even if I am getting the best side of variance. As I was 4 tabling the $20s my hourly rate over those 24 SNGs was $36; now that is getting about halfway towards what I would like to see as a long-term sustainable rate.

Nice structure on iPoker which suited my game but as there is a distinct lack of liquidity at the $30s I may move over to FT. I wish I had a rakeback account with FT and may look into changing my account with them.

I need $1,320 in my SNG bankroll to step up to the $50s. At a 10% ROI that is going to take 167 entries.

Fame at last .....

... but only in the local rag. The red tops will have to wait until my WSOP victory :)

http://www.thisiswarrington.co.uk/display.var.1392573.0.0.php


AN Everton FC fan lived out his dream by beating four Everton legends on the pitch at Goodison Park.

But Martin Unsworth didn't tackle them playing football but instead took them on in a live poker match tournament on the pitch.
The match took place straight after the Toffees last home game of the season, where they beat Portsmouth 3 - 0.

He played against Mike Newell, Duncan McKenzie, Alan Whittle and Dave Watson in the charity Littlewoods Poker Tournament.

The 31-year-old won his place in the final competition after winning one of the four online qualifying rounds in April and he kept his cool against the players in the Texas Hold Em final.
Martin said: "I was bouncing after the 3-0 victory so I had a feeling it was going to be a great night. "I always wanted to lift a trophy on the pitch at Goodison Park, and while my footballing career never got me that dream, my new found passion did. It was an excellent day that I will bore the grandchildren about in the future."

The tournament raised £5,000, which will be shared between Leukaemia Research and the Everton Former Player Association.

Everton Legends Poker Tournament

Saturday was the inaugural Everton Legends Poker Tournament held at Goodison Park. I had won entry into this at the first attempt a few weeks ago, and as all the prize money was for charity, there was no real pressure on for the game.

I had been very impressed with the organisation of the day in advance of the event. I was working in the US all week so the marketing folk at Littlewoods worked with my Wife to get me and a pal tickets for the game, which was something not included in the original prize. Very nice.

Met up with Greg Amoils, Poker Manager, and the other internet qualifiers at 2pm and then had a few beers before, during, and after the game, all courtesy of Littlewoods. Nice one Greg, top bloke and hope you got on well in Stoke this weekend.

First half was a bit of a non-event but then the Blue boys got it together in the second half with a great performance to support the 3-0 victory. Couldn't have picked the other results much better if I had tried and baring some kind of suicide to a runner-up Chelsea side, Everton will be back in Europe next year.

I was bouncing after the results so I had a feeling it was going to be a great night. Also, with being away with work for the week I hadn't played any poker for a while and I tend to play better when I come back from a break.

The lads went there own way after the game for a few drinks in the local boozers and then we got together at 7ish for the main event :) A couple of drinks in the board room were followed by a jog down the Everton tunnel and onto the pitch to start on the poker. The 'legends' participating were Dave Watson, Mike Newell, Duncan McKenzie & Alan Whittle. Whilst they weren't experienced playing poker they were great company and there was lots of banter and good tales at the table.

Alan Whittle never shut up (in a nice way) and ran over the table for most of the evening; one hand that stuck out was when he called an all-in bet with 23o and beat ATo with a 3 on the turn. He had a big stack at that time but I'm not sure he was thinking that his cards were live.

I got involved in a couple of hands early on and managed to pick up a few chips off DM when my 77 limp beat the low pair of 4s, he caught on the flop. DM was more intent on getting off by 9 so that he could take his Wife for dinner. A couple of times he got it all in and doubled up, but I think he made dinner with his Wife with time to spare. Nice fella but most of the comedy from DW and AW.

After the early skirmishes I went card dead for a while and sat on my stack as the others got involved and knocked out. When it went 3 handed I was the bottom stack with MN and AW, I was pleased to be the last of the internet qualifiers and went into push-bot mode to try and steal the blinds or get a chance of doubling up.

It looked like it was all over when MN called my push with K8o and I turned over K5o. Well dominated and I thought it was all over. The Everton gods were watching over me though, it must be because my blood is blue and I was named after Martin Dobson, and a 5 on the turn saw MN knocked out in 3rd place.

Can't remember much of the heads-up, lots of limping and folding to a raise by AW, but I think the last hand was JJ vs. Ax and it all got in PF. My JJ held up against AW and I was the winner of the Everton poker legends cup :)

Now whilst I didn't win any money £5k went to charity; half of it to Leukemia research which I was pleased with as I work in Oncology drug development and I know this is a very worthwhile charity. I did get a signed ball and shirt as well as a trophy and hopefully Greg Amoils is going to let me defend the title next year ;)

Excellent day that I will bore the grandchildren about in the future. I always wanted to lift a trophy on the pitch at Goodison Park, and whilst my footballing career never got me that dream, my new found passion did.

Big thanks to Greh Amoils and Michelle Robbins from Littlewoods who made this a fantastic day.

Nil Satis, Nisi Optimum

FBF

A few pictures :-

View from the center of the pitch before the floodlights came on.


Me being a bit of a 'fan boy' with Dave Watson and Mike Newell.


Me with the legend that is Alan Whittle.


Me, Alan, and the other lads who qualified online.


With the cup. I was elated, jetlagged and goosed at this time :)