My Diary

Horses for courses
The Dean is now taking enquiries from all interested parties regarding my new Poker Pro System “The Vulture” and also my forthcoming six max system “The Jackal”, anyone who is interested in these should contact me at Carl@Pokerquest.f9.co.uk to register their interest. The Dean can also be contacted at this address for all other [...]

Thats about it
I dont like to tempt fate but I think I have finalised the NL50 system for the Poker Pro Challenge. I won $17 earlier to make me $595 up for the month. I have played around 18 hours and won 13 out of my 14 sessions. Personally I think that I have already proven that [...]
Happy Birthday to……….me
Today is my birthday……..and I am still sad enough to be here writing this blog. Actually me and my partner have a few things planned this evening and over the weekend. Didnt play any poker at all yesterday but plan to play later on today.
Just chilled out yesterday watching back to back football matches on [...]

Storm clouds on the horizon
Yesterday for the first time I had to stop playing my session in the Pro Poker Challenge because I was making bad decisions. I had already had my first losing session when I lost $16 but I had another session later in the day where I was 8-tabling NL50 (no more NL20).
I won $32 but [...]

Like a NL50 Juggernaut
Played two more sessons since my last blog and won $76 last night and another $72 this afternoon. I am now a total of $510 ahead so far this month and more importantly I am around $1100 ahead since I started to finalise the system about three weeks ago.
So far this month I have played [...]

Due for a good session
Won $13 last night over 1hr 15 mins in the Pro Poker Challenge which takes me to +$341 on the month over 3835 hands so far. Had another 100bb pot taken away from me last night. Guy raises to $1.75 and gets a caller, I call with pocket sevens (good implied odds). Flop comes 10-7-3 [...]

So far so good
So far this month I am exactly $328 ahead in the “Pro Poker Challenge”. Played 1hr 20 minutes this morning and won a further $48. Was actually $100 ahead but had a couple of beats involving premium pairs. Yesterdays session saw me lose a 200bb pot with AA versus KK. Actually I am not really [...]

A time to reflect
Won a further $6 last night in a 90 minute session of NL50 and NL20. This takes me to +$256 for the month after 5 hours of play (dont know the number of hands until I check). I am still not happy with my play around the blinds and something feels wrong with what my [...]

It must be me
Was reading some of the stuff written about me on 2+2 today and I dont half upset a lot of people without even trying. I think that its a given that anyone who writes as much as me on a technical level is going to get flak. I have written about NLHE, tournament poker, PLO, [...]

Simply the best
Just had an e-mail from David Carr who asks what the best games are to play online now.
Q…..not an easy one to answer as much of this depends on where your skill and experience lay. Holdem has got tougher simply because this is where the most players are concentrating their efforts. But despite this I [...]
A complete pile of dung
Over the weekend, I had some serious discussions with a very successful SS NLHE player who had a great record between NL50 and NL200. I wanted a run down of my game and I was a bit shocked to discover that there were numerous things wrong with my NL50 system. I had pencilled in the [...]

Its even tougher for morons
I didnt post last night, not because I couldnt be bothered but because I was too sick to do so. Poker is a tough way to make a living at the best of times but its even worse when you are a moron. Played the 25-50 game late last night after watching the England game [...]

Is it viable?
I have a question to answer today from a reader…..Lee Rodgers who asked me this week if turning professional in online poker is still a viable option.
Q…..This is a very relevant question because of the fact that I am about to embark on my “pro poker challenge” starting on the 1st April. There are so [...]

small ball is good
Had a short session today playing NL50 and lost $15. No big deal but I drifted off from my small ballish approach several times and probably turned what should have been a tiny win or breaking even into a tiny loss.
When I say small ball, in no way is this mimicking Daniel Negreanu’s strategy. In [...]

Thankfully mine
I got lucky big time last night in my first 25-50 game for a while. Got the nod about 9.30pm and I was logging on a minute later. Only been playing fifteen minutes when the following hand cropped up. I am dealt 7-7 on the button and it is folded to me and I make [...]

How important is Sklansky?
Had a reply from Ewen Mcgill yesterday who asked me about Sklansky Dollars and how important they really are.
Well Ewen, the concept of “Sklansky Dollars” was first discussed to my knowledge in the landmark book “The Theory of Poker”. Basically “Sklansky Dollars” assesses the amount of equity that you have in the pot in all-in [...]

So what about Vegas
Was in the pub last night and a few people were asking me about my plans for the WSOP this year. They ask me this every single year and every single year they get the same answer. I can make more money playing online at home. Actually what is funny about this is that I [...]

Its a question of system design
Over the years I have designed many systems from ways to beat sophisticated chess computers to beating the horses. System design has always been something of a passion of mine but I was first aroused by this topic about 10 years ago before I even got into playing poker seriously.
I read a fascinating book on [...]

Rake in those Sklansky Bucks!
If only Sklansky dollars were spendable, I may just be a rich man by now. Just played some 5-10 heads up NLH and lost over $700 in two sessions. Just had AA all in versus AK for $270 and saw a flop of KK5 and then I had QQ versus 88 on a Q-7-6 flop [...]
Turning Pro
Todays blog answers a question that was sent in by Neil Hartley on turning pro and if it is wise to do it. This also was talked about on The Hendon Mob forum as well this week.
A……turning pro isnt as easy as it used to be thats for sure and certainly if you are considering [...]