-$240 loss @ Borgata $3/6 Limit

I had a nice time at Borgata 1/14 Friday... but I lost $240 in the 3-6 Limit game to kick-off my first live game of the New Year.

I went down with my brothers and sister-in-law. Gerald, my second oldest brother, sat at my table and to the right of me. He got a chance to browse the Swayne "Advanced Degree in Hold 'Em" book on the 1.5 hour ride to AC. Gerald also quizzed us and noted the importance of mathematics and probability in poker. I think the book may have helped boost his confidence going into the game because he had such a positive energy by the time we got there and he did well that night.

Ganesh, my oldest brother played a little bit at my table. I don't think he ever really takes limit poker seriously enough, which is disappointing because I think it could really give him a better outlook on the game.

My sister-in-law, Sharmila (Gerald's wife), had a really rough night at the no-limit $1/2 tables, but I think she has a decent handle on the swings as she is still in the black (profiting).

As for myself: I love the game, I played patiently, I went in with the goods.. But perhaps I'm a little rusty. I remember how much more confidence and understanding I had last year being that I was playing so much online tournament-poker (at least 5 hours a day on average). As with anything you value or reach after in life, you have to put your time in, hold onto that vision, and never stop working your ass off.

*note: I plan on keeping my poker stats and development on here for all of 2011

Swayne's Advanced Degree in Hold 'Em -- Charles Swayne

start with low-limit poker

I just started reading this college-feel textbook. I don't even know how to summarize it yet other than the fact that I now have more desire to play more poker and do the assignments listed in the book. It has a wealth of advanced diagrams, figures, tables, scenarios, assignments, and a hell-a-lot of solid words that wreak of poker empowerment.

Swayne first starts off emphasizing that you gotta know low-stakes limit play if you want to become a world-class high limit and no limit cash game player and eventually a no limit deep-stack tournament pro. Playing low-limit helps you with mostly math and some psychology so you're better prepared for the deeply psychological game that higher stakes Hold 'Em requires. Professionals know how to play post-flop. This is where making the living off poker begins, and I couldn't agree more with the notion of playing limit again to improve my post-flop psychology. A player's intentions are more likely to be revealed in limit play, which you are less likely to see and learn from in a no-limit game (my 2cents).

This book is a journey... A journey to the deepest and darkest ranks that any poker player could aspire to get lost in...

First Assignment:
play 250,000 limit hands (I will do micro/penny stakes rather than the recommended play money, and a hell-a-lot of multi-tabling ;-)