Something I've always been a little curious about, the Journal section. And I'm not asking this to be sarcastic but..... Why have a journal?

I mean I enjoy reading a lot of them, but why start one? I'm kind of interested in hearing from some people who have one, and/or have one but they hardly ever update it. For example why did you decide to start one, has it helped you, others, etc. If so how?

I decided to start one when I quit my job and first started playing for a living. I'm a very erratic, impulsive person, so I figured if I got other people interested or involved, it would help motivate me to actually put in the hours and stick with it. It did serve that purpose for a decent while, but eventually my fickle nature got the best of me anyway.

It's also a good place to brag, whine, or rant about fictitious bad beats. All very healthy, noble pursuits, obv.

-TW

At first I look back on some of my posts and see just how bad I was in my reasoning and thinking. As time passed I've grown a lot at the game and I can see that in my journal. Its also an appropriate forum for hands that dont belong in NLHE or LC. Its also a check on my game. So if im ever on monkey tilt and dropping mad cash the journal and the audience will help convince me to move down and cool off.

I love going back into my journals and seeing how I evolved to where I am today. I go through hands I had completely forgotten about and even get to laugh at some of my WPT commentaries. It may be a slight waste of time, but when all is said and done it's going to be a great thing to look back on when everything is said and done.

Meh... I have an awful memory, and it helps me remember most of the retarded things I've done...

My poker journal only tells me amounts won or lost, where I played and hands in big move in pots. I also have thumb nail descriptions of the players betting patterns and tells. I don't update it enough. Mostly I just record the day's results.

You have to do this to monitor and control your play and bankroll. I made a great 16 winnngs in a row and then took a big loss. The winnings weren't so large and they tell me I am playing too tight, valueing winning over winning lots with more risk.

Writing your score down right after playing is a form of behavior modification. I think it makes you play better and manage better. You don't want a big loss screwing up your nice looking series of wins. It also makes you watch you win rate and keep it above 75 per cent. The journal also tells you how you do in one town versus the other town or gambling joint.

The main thing the journal does is give me confidence. I can look it over and add up how much I am ahead for the year before I go play. Rather than ever think I am loser for the day, I try to visualize the journal and how far I am ahead for the year. That way I never feel like I am loser. Poker is no fun if you think you are loser. If you engage in one day at a time thinking, you spend a lot of time feeling like you are loser, behind.

My journal is a good way to track my play and track big hands I played. It also is a good place to vent when I'm running bad.