July 2008 Recap

Posted by icemonkey9 on Jul 31, 2008 in General | 5 comments

Since I have banned myself from playing any more this month, I guess I can do the recap a day early. It's just so strange that such a "good month" $ wise feels so crappy. Let's review the goals from the beginning of the month.

July Goals

1. 7,500 Hands at $25nl.
Passed. At the $25nl level, I played 9,831 hands, mostly in the 2nd half of the month and when I moved to PokerStars.

2. At least 8 sessions of 5-tabling, and at least 5 sessions of 6-tabling
Unfortunately, Holdem Manager doesn't tell me how many tables I had going per session, but from memory it was rare that I didn't 5 or 6 table. Passed.

3. Finish 1/2 of the Harrington on Cash Games Volume 2 Book
Failed. I'm sick of reading. I'll start it up next month.

4. Make my own video cash session with commentary (post to cardschat)
Passed - I did a sweat session with bw07507 that was pretty solid, and I did a funny WSOP movie that everyone loved.

5. Meet up with the CCers in Vegas. Play some cash game poker!
Failed. I certainly tried and even made plans ... just couldn't find AlienGenius and Jane got sick!

July's Statistics

Here are the stats for the 25nl level for the month of July.

Hands: 9,831 ( a new career high for a month)
Profit: $216.65 (a new career high for a month)
bb/100: 4.41

Let's compare that with June:

Hands: 8,203
Profit: $196.85
bb/100: 4.80

Looking at bb/100 (defined as "Big Bets per 100") since playing at $25nl:

July: 4.41
June: 4.80
May: 5.35
April: 4.39
March: 3.55

Let's look at the graph ... keep in mind the 6,288th hand almost identically coincides with my move to PokerStars from FullTilt.

So what we are seeing is that basically for the first half of the month I ran pretty break even and you can see some pretty good swings in there. Once I moved to PokerStars that all changed and I went on a super-heater and went up as much as +$330! Then variance set in, confidence got shot in the heart ... and I end the month on a serious downslide. I stopped playing to stop any more sliding and end the month at a high profitablity level, but at an average bb/100 figure.

Biggest Pot Won: + $27.80. I flopped a set of 3s setmining and doubled through.

Biggest Pot Lost: - $27.95. Played horrible pocket 10s vs villains pocket Qs. Definitely tilting.

List of Things I Learned in July 2008:

• There are several factors that cause a slump in your play. They include: variance, tilt, bad play, bad theory, wrong stakes. If you add them together you go on a sustained downswing. If one or two hit you, then you might have a short slump period that you can shake yourself out of.

• The play on PokerStars is dramatically more juicy than the play on FullTilt. There is also a lot more action (more tables/players) and the customer service on PokerStars is absolutely awesome. I'm very happy I made the move with my bankroll.
• Don't play distracted, don't play tired, and don't play your regular stakes outside of your comfort zone. If you are tired and want to play ... then play something for fun at a small stakes ... otherwise you are putting your profitable work at serious risk.
• Don't tilt, and when "variance hits" just laugh it off. Eventually the laughing stops if it continues ... at that point the best thing to do is take a break and walk away and come back when your confidence is back.

Final Thoughts for July, 2008

This month was a tidal wave of swings up and down ... it really made me wonder how pros handle such swings, and made me understand why a lot of them are moody, drinkers, smokers, drug addicts ... the swings that are inherant to playing odd-based games are naturual but psychologically damaging regardless of how you prepare. I think the real challenge to people is more about how you recover.

I'm excited about some of the new things that PokerStars has to offer ... I'm playing in a depositor freeroll for entry into the $5,000 WCOOP tournament, and that should be fun. I'm excited to unlock the $240 bonus ... but that doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon (maybe in 2 months). I'm excited to maybe even qualify for SilverStar status in August (outside shot, who knows).

I think one more day away from the tables altogether today will get me back back into the mood of playing. I banned myself from cash game full ring until Saturday, and I'm sticking to that. My wife is out of town Saturday and most of Sunday so I'll have plenty of opportunity to play this weekend so I'll use my time until then to get stuff done freeing myself up for the weekend.

In summary, a good month for making money, a poor month for the psychie, a month of wild swings, all added together set up for what should be the most interesting month of poker yet in August, 2008.