August Begins

As we enter in to a new month, I'm presented with a new challenge and opportunity. I finished off my tournament stake and made a profit, though after getting out to a hot start, it wasn't as big as I had hoped. For 50 tournaments played, I made a profit of exactly $500. A $10 per tourney played profit is decent, but it had so much more potential. I think I went the last 20 without a decent cash or a final table.

From the stake though, I had the opportunity to get to know a great guy who is also a very solid poker player. It seems most of the posts I read about staking arrangements end badly for one reason or other - usually a lack of communication between the two involved parties which results in things getting out of hand and before they know it, the stake is gone. In this arrangement it's been the total and complete opposite of that, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Due to our past success, and the trust that we've built, the same backer has agreed to a rolling stake to get me in to some heads up games. Going to start out at $50nl and play on a month by month basis. I have a good line on a VERY solid player who has taken my under his wing as his first student, and I'm excited to play and learn and improve.

I played my first sessions the night before last, and am excited to get in a good number of hands this month. Things went well, as far as I was concerned. I had control of the matches against the opponents that I was playing, I just got unlucky at the wrong time against them. Ended the first day down a buyin, which in the grand scheme of things is no big deal. If I held up either hand, I would have ended the session a winner.

Played another session the following morning, against the absolutely perfect type of opponent for the style of game I play. He bought in for $35 and I quickly stacked him for that. He rebought for $20 and I just knew he would be ready to shove that in lightly and gamble to try and get some of his money back. I didn't have to wait long before I picked up AK. I raised preflop and he made a 3bet. I reraised him to 8 I think and he called. I pushed the rest in on a J72 flop and he INSTANTLY called with A3, drawing pretty much dead to 3 outs - which of course he hit, when a 3 came on the turn.........

Oh well, I've done well to not let things like that tilt my play. Over the long run, I'll have the best of guys like that so I don't worry too much about it.
I'm looking forward to improving my game and putting in hands.