The Way Of The Grind

Things have been pretty quiet here as of late.

I've been playing Stud 8 every day for the last three weeks. I'm back on the Iron Man program on FT. I keep telling myself I should play more Stud, because that is what they spread daily at Turning Stone.

Anyway it takes me about 2 hours 10 minutes to complete my daily points (2 tabling Stud) at the lowest stakes. At that rate almost anyone should be able to reach Iron Man status, or at least build a bankroll. The games are pretty soft up to $2/$4.

However, these games are also swingy. (Ignore that variance behind the curtain!) It is not uncommon to have a -50bb session, even when you play tight ABC poker. Sometimes the cards are just unkind.

Also, there's a lot of short stacking and rat holing, which is allowed by both FTP and Stars. IMO, they are only hurting their own rake by allowing players to take this money off the table.

I am pleased to say that I've done well enough to almost reach the break even point in poker for 2008. That amount doesn't include any rake back or rewards, yet it does include all tournament entry fees. I haven't done squat in tourneys this year. Cash games seem to provide a much better hourly rate.

(Of course, any poker profit/loss figures doesn't include my fantasy sports winnings.)

All in all, I feel good about things. Dug myself out of a hole for 2008. Trying to rebuild a decent poker bankroll. Tournaments are looking less appealing with each passing day.