Cloud Poker / Nick Cantwell / 23 January 2009 / Leave a comment

I reached the target I had set myself, and I was moving up to the dizzy heights of NL20. It had taken some serious grinding, and I had reached $480 from nothing playing NL10 - so I was ready to embark on the next stage of my journey.

At this stage I started praying to my personal poker god Steve - but Steve was otherwise engaged (neighbourhood watch), and my bad run continued.

Unfortunately this maiden voyage into the unknown was about as successful as the Titanic, and I had no-one shouting "Ice-berg straight ahead". I said to myself that if I dropped 4 buy-ins I'd go back to NL10 - and when I won 2 buy-ins after twenty minutes I was delighted. Two days and six buy-ins later, I was back playing NL10.

I have to say that it wasn't all bad on my part. The first buy-in went with a simple King King against Ace Ace - and the second went when I flopped a lower set than Mr Lucky Luckmeister. The third was a real bad beat - I had a flush and the villain had two pairs and hit a full house after being all-in on the flop (I did feel sorry for him though, he clearly didn't have a fold button). At this stage I started praying to my personal poker god Steve - but Steve was otherwise engaged (neighbourhood watch), and my bad run continued.

Moving back down the stakes wasn't what I expected, and it wasn't nice, but if I want to keep my bankroll intact, then it's the only way. Fortunately I am clawing my way back, and will soon be back at NL20 for my second attempt (are you listening Steve?).

One thing I have tried to do since the start of the year is to take poker a lot more serious. I did read that you should never play poker when tired or inebriated, so I've stopped playing when tired , and I've stopped inebriating (didn't want to go blind) and I have also stopped drinking when playing. I have found this makes a difference, and the results have improved, as well as my red wine stock.

I am also considering buying one of those large monitors that seem all the rage nowadays in poker - as I'm now getting serious. That way I can play three tables of poker, watch the latest episode of Twenty Four and send out e-mails to people telling them they've won the Lottery all at the same time (you gotta make a living somehow...)

Good Luck at the tables!!

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