OK recovered thanks to some brandy...hehehe....and watching this weeks heat of the poker million masters, believe me, some of the play tonight was just truly awful. Anyway on to the hands, gonna post these in the NL section too and see if anyone else can play them differently but basically my reads were off cos muppets were playing very marginal hands, not playing the odds etc.

1st buyin lost

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($27.20)
MP1 ($2.25)
Hero ($24.75)
MP3 ($5.85)
CO =#A500AF(VILE ALIEN)/ ($26.60)
Button ($34.55)
SB ($9.25)
BB ($14.45)
UTG ($5.95)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , . UTG+1 posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, UTG+1 (poster) checks, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.5, 1 fold, CO =#A500AF(VILE ALIEN)/ calls $1.50, 3 folds, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 folds.

Flop: ($3.85) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $3.5, VILE ALIEN calls $3.50.

Turn: ($10.85) (2 players)
Hero bets $19.75 (All-In), VILE ALIEN calls $19.75.

River: ($50.35) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $50.35

Results in white below:
Hero has Ks Kc (one pair, kings).
VILE ALIEN has 9h 8s (straight, ten high).
Outcome: VILE ALIEN wins $50.35.

Oops did I spell villain wrong? hehe.
Well he had a VP$IP of 70% which basically meant any 2 cards. Even though turn card was scary, I couldn't put him on 98 caliing pot bet with a gutshot draw, can I? So I figured he TPGK and pushed only to find he already made the nuts, hmmm.

2nd buyin lost

Against same villain. Ran my QQ into his KK after he re-raised me from the blinds but only realised my error after I had chance to think further about it. His PFR was 2%. Board was all blanks.

3rd buyin lost

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (8 handed)

Button ($14.50)
SB ($26.95)
BB ($32.80)
Hero ($22.75)
UTG+1 ($18.05)
MP1 ($23.15)
MP2 ($28.15)
CO ($17.15)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with , .
1 fold, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO raises to $0.5, 2 folds, BB calls $0.25, Hero raises to $3, MP1 calls $2.75, CO calls $2.50, BB folds.

Flop: ($9.60) , , (3 players)
Hero bets $19.75 (All-In), MP1 bets $19.75 (All-In), CO folds.

Turn: ($49.10) (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($49.10) (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $49.10

Results in white below:
Hero has Kd Ks (one pair, kings).
MP1 has Ac 4c (straight, six high).
Outcome: MP1 wins $49.10.

A4s after a raise and limp-re-raise, come on. I figured it was the only possible holding beating me (apart from AA I'm 99.9% I would have got raised back PF) so I put it to the test.....hrmphf

1 buyin to me yay!!

I raise it up in MP with QQ and get min-reraised out of SB which I call (getting 3:1, why not?) flop comes a beautiful Qxx, SB pushes and I bust his AA

4th buyin lost

Converter not working for this hand.
3 limpers, MP raises to 6BB, I raise from SB with KK to 22BB, BB colds calls and all others fold.
OK not what I hoped for but only up against one player (a losing sLN player) who is short stacked and pot commited already.
Flop is Axx and I already have a feeling I'm beat. He checks, I push and he calls with his short stack (less than the raise left) he flips over ATo.

Will these beats and muppet players stop !!!!

The last couple of days, I have managed to turn around what happened on Tuesday when I lost 3 buyins. I've got most of it back now and back to even on the month in terms of my BR thanks to 6 out of 7 winning sessions.
I've taken some advice from recent NL posts from kennyg and Iceman which has probably helped my play in those last sessions. I also felt more focused, determined and thinking more about my play than I have done all month. I know I can crack this level, I feel I'm doing it already but the figures aren't backing it up thanks to a combination of muppets out drawing on me, muppets going into raised pots with silly hands and my own aggression getting away from me in places (see above). To sum it up - mistakes in big pots.
Anyway onto HOTD which I won (makes a change)

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

MP2 ($5.65)
MP3 ($25)
CO ($11.75)
Button ($10)
SB ($22.30)
BB ($33.75)
Hero ($24.40)
UTG+1 ($21.50)
UTG+2 ($23.90)
MP1 ($25)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with , . MP1 posts a blind of $0.25.
Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, UTG+2 raises to $1, 3 folds, CO calls $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.60) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+2 bets $2, CO calls $2, Hero calls $2.

Turn: ($9.60) (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+2 bets $4, CO calls $4, Hero goes all-in for $21.40, UTG+2 folds, CO calls all-in for $4.75.

River: ($29.55)

Final Pot: $29.55

Results in white below:
Hero wins $29.55 with straight, ace high.
CO shows Qh 9h a pair of queens

I figured all 3 of us for a draw here. Its possible UTG+2 had a medium PP or 2 reasonable spades. CO just had any 2 cards, VP$IP 70% and a poor player. I figured I was getting good odds to call the flop not only to the Q for the broadway straight, but also A or K for TPTK which I believe would have taken it down as well (at the time but obviously CO would have made his straight. Lots of scary hands could have beaten me but both opponents were playing pretty much any 2 cards). The push on the turn was just to shut out the spade draw.

BR Jun 23 $1293

I booked a couple hours on Friday and this was a very frustrating session, cold cards, marginal hands getting raised infront and behind me and the decent hands I did get, couldn't hit anything on the flop. At one stage I was about $15 down and managed to claw it back to about half that with some well timed steals. Then this hand took all the frustration away, my very last hand, I'd already turned off the auto-post blind button and was round to UTG+1

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

BB ($10)
UTG ($13.65)
Hero ($22.90)
UTG+2 ($10.25)
MP1 ($38.85)
MP2 ($9.05)
MP3 ($34.35)
CO ($11.60)
Button ($14.75)
SB ($45.20)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.5, 8 folds, UTG calls $1.25.

Flop: ($3.35) , , (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $3.25, UTG goes all-in for $12.15, Hero calls $8.90.

Turn: ($26.30) (2 players)

River: ($26.30) (2 players)

Final Pot: $26.30

Results in white below:
UTG has 4d Ah (three of a kind, aces).
Hero has Ks Kc (full house, kings full of aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $26.30.

God only knows what UTG was thinking

I also made this laydown earlier in the session which I was quite proud of.

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

UTG+1 ($20.05)
UTG+2 ($15.30)
Hero ($27.75)
MP2 ($19.20)
MP3 ($36.65)
CO ($9.65)
Button ($34.50)
SB ($11.25)
BB ($18.75)
UTG ($22.85)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.5, MP2 calls $1.50, 5 folds, UTG calls $1.25.

Flop: ($4.85) , , (3 players)
UTG bets $4.85, Hero folds, MP2 goes all-in for $17.70, UTG calls $12.85.

Turn: ($38.25)

River: ($38.25)

Final Pot: $38.25

Results in white below:
UTG shows 4d 4c and has three fours.
MP2 shows 9c 9d and has a pair of nines
UTG wins $38.25.

BR June 24 $1301

I've finally managed to wipe out my losses from Tuesday and headed into positive territory for the month. 500 hands, 230 big blinds won, not a bad session at all. Heres a couple of hands from it

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (9 handed)

UTG ($28.45)
UTG+1 ($18.05)
MP1 ($30)
Hero ($38.15)
MP3 ($25.05)
CO ($8.90)
Button ($11.80)
SB ($28.40)
BB ($20)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, 3 folds, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 bets $1.25, Hero raises to $4, SB folds, BB folds, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $2.75.

Turn: ($9) (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($9) (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $9.25, Hero raises to $18.5, UTG+1 goes all-in for $4.55.

Final Pot: $35.05

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has 8s 8d (full house, eights full of jacks).
Hero has Tc Jc (full house, jacks full of tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $35.05.

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (9 handed)

CO ($7.25)
Button ($13.10)
SB ($27.75)
Hero ($24.15)
UTG ($11)
UTG+1 ($12.55)
MP1 ($20.35)
MP2 ($6.05)
MP3 ($28.60)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
UTG calls $0.25, 3 folds, MP3 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Button calls $0.25, SB completes, Hero raises to $1.75, UTG calls $1.50, MP3 folds, Button calls $1.50, SB folds.

Flop: ($5.75) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, Button bets $2.25, Hero calls $2.25, UTG folds.

Turn: ($10.25) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $3.75, Hero raises to $10, Button goes all-in for $5.35.

River: ($27.05) (2 players)

Final Pot: $27.05

Results in white below:
Button has 4c Ah (two pair, kings and threes).
Hero has Ks Kd (four of a kind, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $27.05.

I love muppets....what was all that about??

BR June 25 $1367

I just now started reading your journal and saw that you play on UB. I checked through my PT database and low and behold we played together. Below I took a screen shot of the statistics I have on you. You played one hand, QQ and flopped a set. You took down a monster $4 pot.



I have a question since you play on UB. I don't know if you've noticed, but several players on their site buy in for either $5 or $10. How do you play drawing cards (ie 9Ts, TJs) and low pocket pairs when short stacks raise?

I ask because I found it very hard to make decent money playing on UB because of this. I found that low pocket pairs and suited connectors had low EV when the raiser only had five or six bucks. I started throwing cards like this away even though they are consistent money makers on sites like Party and Paradise.

Hey, nice to see a fellow UBer on here, especially at the levels we're playing at, and thanks for reading as well.

I found the hand you're referring to in my PT database, that really sucked I flopped a monster and couldn't get a greater stack out of it.

To your question, I play the short stacks pretty much like anyone else except I'll play lower PP (down to 9's) and maybe throw in an AQ, AJ or KQ depending on how loose they are and how short their stack is. I'm a really tight player (VP$IP 11%) so don't really like playing suited connectors and low PP against anybody, I've tried and definitely -ev plays, at most I'll limp on or near the button or call a raise with multiple players in the pot.

Hope I'll get chance to play a few hands with you, what's your handle btw? Hicks53081 was sitting at the table in that hand, was that you?

A session of suckouts tonight, but for once I was on the right side of them and took a few stacks although one got me back late on in the evening. Very bizarre but they were all with KK

1st suckout to me.

UTG+1 min-raises, MP2 min-re-raises, 2 callers, I look down and find KK in the BB and I push it up to 12BB to go.
UTG+1 comes back over the top all in for about $8 (32BB) oh shit, he's got AA, SB calls that raise, aha, a way out to get some money back so I flat call too.

Flop comes rags and SB pushes and I call. I figure him for QQ or JJ so as long as no-one hits their set, I'll lose to UTG+1's AA but win the side pot against SB. Turn is another rag.

But the river is a BEAUTIFUL KING.....suckout city, makes a change for me to catch a 2-outer. UTG+1 flips his AA and SB shows his JJ and I double up.

2nd suckout to me

I raise it up to 6BB first in with KK in MP. All folds around to BB who calls.
Flop is JT4 and I make my standard pot sized continuation bet. BB ramps it up to 4x that raise, Hmmmm AJ or set? no flush draw and he'd be mad to be raising a straight draw. I decide on AJ and push. He calls as he's pot commited.
Turn is Q and river is 9.
Nothing like a runner-runner straight to bust a set of 4s

Opponents get a suckout back against me

I get KK in UTG+2 and raise it to 5BB, CO calls and Button raises it to about 21BB. I call and CO folds. Maybe I should have pushed here, Button had another 50BB left and could have gotten away from it. I doubt he would but at least he would have the choice.

Flop comes 697, looks pretty good, I figure his re-raise for maybe QQ or JJ, dunno why but just didn't put him on AA. I put him all in and he insta-calls
Turn brings 8 and river another 7.
The turn brought him a straight to go with his pocket 10's and I double him up.

I know I got lucky on the first 2 hands but it makes up for recent days.....well the whole month actually which has been cold-cards and suckouts (along with some bad play in places I admit). I reckon my luck evened out the last 2-3 days though.

BR June 27 $1396

July didn't start off very well at all. Played my first poker of the month on Saturday which turned out to be the worst 45 minutes ever, down almost 2 buyins and thinking why the hell i play this game. Even though my BR is big enough to take a loss like this, i was steaming, not just because of the luck of the cards, but the fact it happened so quickly, the fact that I wasn't concentrating enough causing bad play and the fact that idiots will call pot sized bets with fewer outs than.....6

First hand was AA in MP, for some unknown reason I limped can only think I had a couple of lags behind me can't remember now, CO, button and blinds call. Flop is KQx, checked to me, pot sized bet, CO calls, everyone else folds. Turn is x, 75% pot bet by me, CO calls, I'm worried for a set of rags now. River is A, I'm thinking I got this one, so throw out a value bet......I know I know i shouldn't do this, induce the bluff and just call on a scary board but as I said earlier I wasn't concentrating 100%......CO pushes and I call, he flips JT for the nuts and I'm wondering how the hell he won that hand, I totally missed the straight possibility.

Second hand was AK UTG, 4 callers. Flop A92, I lead pot sized bet, called by 1 other. Turn is 4. I lead again, villain pushes and I call. River is 2 and he flips his A2 hmmmm, just my luck.

Anyway after that moan, things looked decidedly better on Monday when I got most of this loss back with this one hand in particular.

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

CO ($31.65)
Button ($18.75)
SB ($20.15)
BB ($31.65)
UTG ($10.95)
Hero ($23.30)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP1 ($6.15)
MP2 ($11.75)
MP3 ($9.25)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, MP3 calls $0.25, 2 folds, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) , , (6 players)
SB checks, BB bets $1.5, Hero calls $1.50, UTG+2 folds, MP2 raises to $7.5, MP3 folds, SB folds, BB raises to $25.5, Hero calls $21.55 (All-In), MP2 calls $4 (All-In).

Turn: ($61.55) (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($61.55) (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $61.55
Main Pot: $36, between BB, Hero and MP2. > Pot won by Hero ($36).
Pot 2: $23.10, between BB and Hero. > Pot won by Hero ($23.10).
Pot 3: $2.45, returned to BB.

Results in white below:
BB has 6d Ks (two pair, kings and sixes).
Hero has 5h 5c (three of a kind, fives).
MP2 has Qd Kh (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $59.10. BB wins $2.45.

Back to where we started on July 1

BR July 6 $1395

Been doing a little research into my PT stats today, particularly looking at pairs. I noticed from playing that I seem to get more AA and KK in the hole than QQ so I checked it out

Over 11680 hands, number of times I've had the following pairs

AA 57
KK 61
QQ 35
JJ 60
TT 49
99 58
88 66
77 43
66 47
55 52
44 50
33 45
22 48

So my theory was right about not getting QQ as much, not that I mind cos I hate getting them (and JJ too)

That totals 671 pairs in the hole (statistically should be 687 so not that bad really)

My win rates also curve very nicely up the scale of PPs to AA at 89.5% (with the exception of 44 at 0% !!?? )

May as well post some other stats as well while I'm at it
VP$IP 11.0 (Tighter than a gnats ass, don't be calling me no homo)
PFR 2.3
W$WSF 30.5
W$SD 56.5
PFA 3.10 (F 3.03, T 3.19, R 3.16)
I've been actively working on my PFA on all streets recently. I know it's supposed to be higher at the flop and tail off to the river but until recently the T figure was really skewed higher so I know I've got to slow down a bit more if players take me to later streets. The other reason the T figure is higher is that I tend to bluff on the turn rather than the flop which seems to work for me (Example with 3-4 players in the pot, nobody bets the flop and I've missed as well then on the turn if an undercard to the flop comes then I'll bet out the turn and pick the pot up). Not sure if others use this but seems to be +ev play for me.

Just had an absolute monster session, by far my best ever. I was so in the zone it was unbelievable and apart from playing 1 hand badly, it was pretty much a perfect display. I took 5 or 6 stacks in all (not all full) over about 90 minutes on 3 tables. I dominated one table so much, it just broke up after I won my last double stack on it (HOTD later). Heres all my stack busting hands in glorious tecnhiwatsit.

I actually win one with QQ

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

Hero ($26.20)
UTG+1 ($11.95)
UTG+2 ($4.90)
MP1 ($8.30)
MP2 ($25.15)
MP3 ($21.15)
CO ($28.80)
Button ($3.95)
SB ($4.40)
BB ($14.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with , .
UTG+1 calls $0.25, UTG+2 raises to $0.85, MP1 calls $0.85, 6 folds, Hero calls $0.85, UTG+1 calls $0.60.

Flop: ($3.75) , , (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $0.5, UTG+2 raises to $2.75, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $12, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $1.30 (All-In).

Turn: ($20.30) (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($20.30) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $20.30

Results in white below:
Hero has Qc Qd (two pair, queens and twos).
UTG+2 has Qs As (one pair, twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $20.30.

Why you shouldn't go all the way with AK

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed)

Hero ($33.60)
Button ($6.75)
SB ($38.70)
BB ($22.40)
UTG ($9.95)
UTG+1 ($22.50)
UTG+2 ($7)
MP1 ($5.60)
MP2 ($11.85)
MP3 ($14.60)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, SB completes, BB raises to $1.5, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.25, Button folds, SB folds.

Flop: ($3.75) , , (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4, BB calls $4.

Turn: ($11.75) (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $17, BB calls $16.90 (All-In).

River: ($45.65) (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $45.65

Results in white below:
BB has Kd Ah (high card, ace).
UTG doesn't show.
Hero has 5h 5c (three of a kind, fives).
Outcome: Hero wins $45.65.

Villain can't get away from TPNK

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (8 handed)

Hero ($53.90)
Button ($10)
SB ($25.05)
BB ($7.85)
UTG ($22.15)
UTG+1 ($5)
MP1 ($10.15)
MP2 ($42.30)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) , , (7 players)
SB bets $0.25, BB calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $3, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls $2.75, MP2 folds.

Turn: ($8.50) (3 players)
MP1 bets $0.25, Hero raises to $6.90, MP1 calls all-in $6.65.

River: ($22.30) (3 players)

Final Pot: $22.30

Results in white below:
UTG doesn't show.
MP1 has Qs Th (two pair, queens and jacks).
Hero has Qd Ac (two pair, queens and jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $22.30.

AA vs KK

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (7 handed)

Hero ($29.15)
CO ($13.20)
Button ($26.55)
SB ($15)
BB ($27.65)
UTG ($27.70)
MP1 ($38.55)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
UTG raises to $0.85, 1 fold, Hero raises to $4, 4 folds, UTG calls $3.15.

Flop: ($8.35) , , (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $10, UTG goes all-in for $23.70, Hero calls $13.70.

Turn: ($53) (2 players)

River: ($53) (2 players)

Final Pot: $53

Results in white below:
UTG has Kh Kc (one pair, kings).
Hero has As Ah (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $53.

AK dominates villains hand

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (8 handed)

MP2 ($12.50)
CO ($24.25)
Button ($22.25)
Hero ($31.25)
BB ($25.40)
UTG ($21.75)
UTG+1 ($9.75)
MP1 ($8.25)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
UTG raises to $0.5, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $1.85, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.75, 1 fold, UTG calls $1.35.

Flop: ($5.80) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP1 bets $1.75, Hero raises to $7.5, UTG calls $7.50, MP1 folds.

Turn: ($22.55) (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $3.25, Hero goes all-in for $21.90, UTG calls all-in for $12.40.

River: ($45) (2 players)

Final Pot: $45

Results in white below:
Hero has Ks Ah (two pair, kings and tens).
UTG has 9d Kd (two pair, kings and tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $45.

Finally HOTD, a set taking out 2 stacks

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (6 handed)

MP ($20.75)
CO ($23.60)
Hero ($55.80)
SB ($23.40)
BB ($7.60)
UTG ($9.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, SB calls $1.15, 1 fold, UTG calls $1.

Flop: ($4) , , (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $2.5, SB calls $2.50, UTG calls $2.50.

Turn: ($11.50) (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $10, SB calls $10, UTG calls $5.75 (All-In).

River: ($37.25) (3 players, 1 all-in)
SB bets $9.65 (All-In), Hero calls $9.65.

Final Pot: $56.55
Main Pot: $28.75, between Hero, SB and UTG. > Pot won by Hero ($28.75).
Pot 2: $27.80, between Hero and SB. > Pot won by Hero ($27.80).

Results in white below:
SB has Ts As (two pair, aces and tens).
UTG has 9c 9s (one pair, nines).
Hero has Td Th (three of a kind, tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $56.55.

The only hand I misplayed was when I had 77 in the hole, flopped a set and bet out the flop but didn't keep it up on the turn leading to villain rivering a straight, managed to get away cheaply though this time. The only thing worrying me about this one was that it was bottom set I was playing in a pot which was raised PF (not by me) and called by 3 players, tricky.

Some stats for the session (don't normally do this but i'm braggin tonight )
UB $25 NL 3-tabling
96 minutes
274 hands
VP$IP 15
PFR 3
PFA 2.42 (F 3.80, T 2.25, R 0.33)
W$WSF 37.5
W$SD 70
BB/100 83.07 (166.14)
Amt Won $113.80 + $5.20 bonus

Jul 11 BR $1559

Nice hands...I like your play on just about all of them.

That being siad I'd like to put in some constructive critism. The AQ hand..where the guy couldn't let go of his TPNK... I think you need to go ahead and raise the AQ there preflop, fairly big. There's a bunch of limpers (and blinds behind you) so you need to put in a raise to protect your hand.

The BB could have had something like QJ or Q2 and doubled up. You have no idea what he has, because he got in for free. Luckily for you he was an idiot...

Nice journal.... it looks like you're really starting to make some headway.

Thanks for the encouragement kenny If you are saying my play was good then I'm obviously doing something right. It really feels like it's starting to click and thats thanks to all the guys on here giving the good advice they do. Last night was the first for a long time that I was really focused and actually making some good reads, making plays I've read about in the NL sections and journals and thinking a lot more, hope I can keep it up.

It carried on into todays session but not to the same extent as the cards just weren't there, only playing one big pot with AQ and a flop of AQx, turn x, river x and I take a stack to villains A9. It's quite bizarre but AQ is now the hand I've won the most money with so far this month.

Jul 12 BR $1581