Hippy Dave - Back on the cash tables

[Hippy Dave]

Regular readers may remember me. In the past I have set up threads where I have taken small amounts of money into quite large amounts. Impressive you might say. But, alas, this is not the case, as time and time again I have not been able to control myself to staying within my bankroll (often when tilting).

I have threatened never to play poker again, but you didn't really believe me did you? There was always going to be about as much chance of that as there is that I stick to my bankroll requirements in this particular thread. So what are those banktoll requirements you ask.

Well, I'm going to employ a staggered system, which means that each time I move up a level I require 5 more full buy-ins at that level (because obviously as I move up the money means more to me, so I will be more determined to hang onto it.

• $0.25/$0.50 : $500 bankroll
• $0.50/$1 : $1.5k
• $1/$2 : $4k
• $2/$4 : $10k
• $3/$6 : $18k
• $4/$8 : $28k
• $5/$10 : $40k
• $10/$20 : $90k
• $25/$50 : $250k
• $50/$100 : $550k
• $100/$200 : $1.2m
• $200/$400 : $2.6m

I started this with a deposit of around $120 (I don't know the exact amount as it was in £s and at 2 different sites). The bank now stands at around $500. I have been playing exclusively $0.25/$0.50 (6 seater) at Prima and Betfair, buying in for 1/2 a buy in, and normally cashing out when I am over 1 full buy-in. I tend to leave the table if there are less than 4 players sat down.

Anytime that I fall below my required bankroll I will drop a level. The exception is at the $0.25/$0.50 level, as I'm not really bothered whether I lose this small amount, and I lack the motivation to play my best game at lower levels than this.

Another change on this occassion is that I have decided to drop my hyper-aggressive style that I used to employ. It still appears from time to time if the situation is right, but it is a lot more controlled than in the past, so beware if you sit at a table with me!

As you can see from the bankroll requirements I have been quite ambitious with my targets. However, the arrogant side of me still believes that in terms of playing the cards I am a match for anyone (at any level), it has always been the bankrolling side of things that has let me down in the past. Unlike past attempts at the cash tables I am not setting any targets in terms of timescales for moving up levels, as I believe that was a major factor for me moving up on tilt, as I thought I had to hit my target.

Of course, I won't be able to resist the odd MTT or STT from time to time. However, I will only enter a MTT that costs a maximum of 2% of my bankroll and an STT that costs a maximum of 5%. However, I've kind of fallen out of love with lol donkaments right now, so I doubt I'll be playing in many.

Anyway, that's all I can think of right now, I'll keep you updated with my progress, and try to post some interesting hands. No doubt I've forgotten something.

[bluek]

Nice to see you about again Dave. Good luck with this

[Doc]

sounds beguilingly simple.

I'll be interested in your progress

[kompressaur]

Where are you playing generally then Dave?

[Hippy Dave]

Originally Posted by Hippy Dave

I have been playing exclusively $0.25/$0.50 (6 seater) at Prima and Betfair,

[Hippy Dave]

Dropped to around $425, with some poor play, but mainly bad luck. This was a great hand

AA pre-flop, raise it up to $2. 2 callers (1 of whom quite a short stack). Flop KJ8 2 diamonds. I bet 2/3 pot, 1 call, short stack raises all-in, I go all in over top and the other guy calls. Pretty confident I'm ahead here.

Turn K and I know I'm beaten, river rag.

They turn over KQ and K6.

[Hippy Dave]

Just lose another $25 to an inside straight draw, I get the feeling it's going to be a long night.

[kompressaur]

Originally Posted by Hippy Dave View Post
I have been playing exclusively $0.25/$0.50 (6 seater) at Prima and Betfair,

ah so that will answer that one then Dave. It was a long post. I did rescan it to see if i had missed it

Dave i'd love you to keep a poker record. You win or lose? Why do you give up poker? the throws and the turns? im a noob still see. I can well belive that like the guitar you want to throw it in the bin

[Hippy Dave]

Don't worry komp, I'll be keeping you updated on my progress in this thread.

I didn't completely give up poker, but I did go through a long period of only playing for fun really, and not seeing it as a serious money making method. As noted, I have lost several bankrolls by playing above the limits I should have been, and I think I lost a bit of confidence in my game too.

Right now I feel like I'm playing better than I ever have, and even bad beats aren't sending me to the higher tables, I'm just grinding it out.

[Hippy Dave]

The bank drops to $350, disappointing, but still 3x the original deposit. Time for bed and I'll hit the tables again tomorrow.

[Hippy Dave]

Just a quick update, bank dropped below $200 at one point, but is now back to a combined total of $331,23.

I'd like to claim another series of bad beats, but it was really a series of bad plays that put me in that hole. I've just been steadily grinding since to get back to a respectable road.

The journey continues ...

[Hippy Dave]

Enjoyed this hand


***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 298024545 *****
NL $0.25/$0.50 Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, January 09, 20:45:09 GMT 2008
Table Neon 31 6-max (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of active players : 6
Seat 1: naastyfrog ( $41.47 )
Seat 2: camanchi ( $47.50 )
Seat 3: numbskull77 ( $39.54 )
Seat 4: T1TS ( $49.81 )
Seat 5: wayne b ( $73.02 )
Seat 6: Sterretjee ( $96.70 )
wayne b posts small blind [$0.25]
Sterretjee posts big blind [$0.50]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to numbskull77 [ Ts, Qs ]
naastyfrog folds
camanchi folds
numbskull77 raises to [$2]
T1TS calls [$2]
wayne b folds
Sterretjee folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, Js, As ]
numbskull77 checks
T1TS checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8s ]
numbskull77 bets [$2]
T1TS calls [$2]
** Dealing River ** [ Jc ]
numbskull77 bets [$5]
T1TS raises to [$18]
numbskull77 goes all-in
numbskull77 raises to [$35.54]
T1TS calls [$17.54]
** Showdown **
numbskull77 shows [ Ts, Qs ] a straight flush, Queen to Eight
T1TS shows [ 8d, 8c ] full house, Eights full of Jacks
** Hand Conclusion **
numbskull77 wins $76.83 from main pot with a straight flush, Queen to Eight
************ Game 298024545 ends ************

[Hippy Dave]

Anyone who's seen how my poker career has gone so far will have worked out by now that I lost my original $120 buy-in. And I did it in true Hippy Dave style by trying to move levels too early.

So I did what all great gamblers do and reloaded $100 at PokerStars. I have stuck to $0.25/$0.50 (well most of the time - there's been the odd $0.50/$1 game, and occassional STT/MTT action) shorthanded, buying in for either $25 or $30, and normally leaving after i'm over $45-$50.

I've played more aggressively than ever (although not as loose as sometimes in the past) and my bankroll now stands at $374.71. Hopefully I will be able to stick to this level, and the next update will be about reaching the $1500 I require for the step up in levels, rather than another reload story.

The quest for riches continues ....

[Hippy Dave]

Bank now looking quite healthy at $533.66

I must admit to some luck here. In my 2nd hand at the table I re-raised a guys $2 raise to $7.5 with AA. I won a smallish pot on the river without showdown.

A few hands later I pick up KK and re-raise another guys $2 raise to $7.50. I hope that my previous raise has given me a crazy image, and as hoped the other guy moves all in. I call, hit a set and take the pot. Having looked at the hand history he actually had AA, so I got lucky there.

[Scottieboy08]

Good original post Dave, you never said you have some experience at 5/10!? I knew there was something about you I've seen a bit of your play and I like your style and know you should be playing a good couple of levels above where you are now. I'm rebuilding my bankroll as well at the mo after cashing out to buy a car. Nice to have a car, but forgot how annoying micro levels can get Can't wait to get back to 0.50/1.