Stars Bonus Shenanigans

Bankroll: $295.12 (but really, its $265.12)


This weekend, I deposited $30 for a new reload bonus at Pokerstars. Due to the strange way in which reload bonuses at Stars work, I will need to keep that money in the account for the next 2 months.

The full story is that you're allowed up to 3 separate deposits. The 2nd and 3rd need to be made within 60 days of the first. Each deposit has its own expiry to clear which is 90 days after the deposit date.

Therefore, it behoofs you to deposit a small amount first, then deposit the 2nd and 3rd deposit exactly 60 days after the first. This extends your expiry for the bulk of the bonus from what would normally be 90 days to 150 days.

Concurrent with that deposit, I decided to take a shot at the $6+0.50 turbo Sit and Gos, up from the $3+0.4 level.

I played in 6 of the $6.5's. I had a 2nd place finish, a third place finish, and 4 losses. So, for 6 SnG's, I am down by $12, or just short of two buy-ins.

My initial impression is that playing at the $6.5 level feels different. Very different. I'm sure some of it has to do with the higher buy-in level; but, I suspect the majority of the feeling has to do with the fact that these are only 9 player Sit and Go's at this level, rather than the 10 player Sit and Go's I'm used to at the lower level.

So, for now, I will move back down to $3.4's for awhile and stick with the original plan of waiting until I've got another 100 or 200 buy-ins first.

After that, I might consider playing a few dozen 9-man Sit and Go's at the ultra-low $1+0.2 level - just to get used to the differences in preparation for the move back to $6+0.5.

In other news, I cleared the 2nd portion of my earlier reload bonus - which amounted to $12.50 into my account. How I cleared the last of this bonus was utterly reckless, and I'm thankful I made it without incident. Stay tuned for that story!

2009 Year in Review

Bankroll Starts Jun 27 2009: $50.00
Bankroll End on Dec 31 2009: $233.35

Expenses: HEM Small Stakes $55
Books =~ $150

Here is the 2009 graph. It includes the first few days of January 2010 as well.


It has only been half a year of playing for me, as I only started at Pokerstars in late June. In that time, I've played part time in the evenings - for generally a couple of hours a night.

I did my best to accumulate a bankroll starting with a $50 deposit. No additional deposits were made, except those required by reload bonuses, which I withdrew once the terms and conditions of the bonus were met.

During this time, I've learned a tremendous amount, and I realize I still have an even greater amount still to learn! I look back at some of the comments and questions I asked, either to friends, or on twoplustwo.com, and some of them look ridiculously elementary now. At the end of July, I'd played my first 5 $5.2 Double or Nothing tournaments (10 players, top 5 get double the buy-in). I was so impressed with myself for having won all 5!

My goals for 2010 include:
1) moving up in stakes
a) SnG's: I should be moving to $6.5 turbos soon. I'll make the move when I feel I have enough buy-ins at $3.4 to assure myself that I'm consistently beating the buy-in. Here's the graph of all my SnG's and Tounies for 2009 and the start of 2010 - this is since the end of September when I bought HEM:


b) Cash Games: I had a great deal of trouble with cash when I first started. It essentially eroded the money I'd made playing the DoN's, and almost caused me to lose my entire first deposit. Since then, I think I know how to beat NL2, but so far I've only posted a 2.5 BI profit. Very inadequate. Ironically, my NL10 shots have a greater profit posted than entire NL2 history. Once I've played to 20K hands in NL2, if I'm still ahead and bankroll allows, I'll move to either NL5 or NL10 (both have a $10 Buy In). Here is the graph of my NL2 history for 2009 and the start of 2010 (same caveat - this only covers hands since my purchase of HEM at the end of Sept):



2) build my bankroll enough to withdraw my initial capital of $50, as well as the expenses I've incurred (the HEM and the books). Poker should pay for Poker!! I may do this should my bankroll hit around $600.00


If you're reading this, have a great New Year! Best wishes for 2010.

New Years Eve - not my night!

Happy New Year's everyone!

But not for me so far!

2 more 5th place finishes. Seems I'm always hitting fifth. This time, I get blown away on 2 tables by the most unlikely of hands... oh well, here you go. Enjoy the BBV:

Poker Stars $3.00+$0.40 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t100/t200 Blinds - 5 players - View hand 450341

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



Hero (SB): t2815 M = 9.38

BB: t4495 M = 14.98

UTG: t1745 M = 5.82

CO: t2070 M = 6.90

BTN: t3875 M = 12.92



Pre Flop: (t300) Hero is SB with K 9

2 folds, BTN calls t200, Hero calls t100, BB checks



Flop: (t600) 9 3 7 (3 players)

Hero bets t2615 all in, BB folds, BTN calls t2615



Turn: (t5830) 7 (2 players - 1 is all in)



River: (t5830) J (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: t5830

Hero shows K 9 (two pair, Nines and Sevens)

BTN shows 7 9 (a full house, Sevens full of Nines)

BTN wins t5830







and this one is even better!!!

Poker Stars $3.00+$0.40 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t100/t200 Blinds - 5 players - View hand 450342

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



UTG: t1175 M = 3.92

CO: t2445 M = 8.15

Hero (BTN): t845 M = 2.82

SB: t6183 M = 20.61

BB: t4352 M = 14.51



Pre Flop: (t300) Hero is BTN with A A

2 folds, Hero calls t200, SB calls t100, BB checks



Flop: (t600) 2 J 7 (3 players)

SB bets t200, BB folds, Hero raises to t645 all in, SB calls t445



Turn: (t1890) 7 (2 players - 1 is all in)



River: (t1890) 2 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: t1890

Hero shows A A (two pair, Aces and Sevens)

SB shows 3 7 (a full house, Sevens full of Deuces)

SB wins t1890