Trying to figure out where to play

I'm trying to figure out where my 'home room' should be.  I'm about an hour away from roughly the LA Casinos.  I've played $2/4, $3/$6, $4/$8 Limit; $20, $40, $100NL @ The Gardens, $4/$8; $40/60NL  @ The Bike, $2/$4, $3/$6, $4/$8; $40NL@ Commerce.  I'm looking into playing at the Hustler, Hollywood Park, Normandie and Crystal Park.  I'm looking for a home room in terms of game play and then in terms of rewards for low limit players. 

In terms of games, the limit games as exactly the same everywhere.  I prefer the NL games at The Bike than at Commerce or the Gardens.  In terms of rewards, since I'm a small stakes player, I prefer to play at the Bike since I get comped a free meal after 3 hours of player.  I'm always up for comped food, or as some may say, a $50 dollar burger because of the rake.  There's also the drawing towards a 'jackpot' or couple hundred dollars.  .  At Commerce, you get a dollar an hour good towards different things.  At the Gardens, you get a ticket towards a 'jackpot" and if you get I think 20 hours, maybe 10, i'm not sure, you get a half buy in good towards the Saturday 10K guaranteed tournament.  I have the hours it's just that I've never played in it.  As i move up to higher stakes, I'll figure out which rewards program is best for me.

Anywho, I've played about 20 hours this week.  Mostly live and a couple hours online.  I've been trying something different online.  I've been attempting to emulate live play with the short stack buy ins.  It's very straight forward and more of a waiting game than anything.  I don't understand why there is so much hatred towards short stack.  It's just a different style of play and something that can be countered easily if you think about it.

Overall, play has been okay.  Variance can be a bitch but hopefully I'll be able to make it out of the red zone, since I'm playing under rolled.  I'm starting with only $400 dollars for live.  I have about $200 online.  I'm about 4BI's up for the week.  It doesn't really  matter though until I play more hours.  I'll really assess my rate when I hit 100 hours live.  Online is more about trying new things out and testing new strategies.

Now on to some memorable hands for the past couple of days. 

$40/$60 NL blinds 1/2.  4 players limp.  I limp in CO w A6hh.  Btn raises to 6.  Btn is a tight player.  Blinds call, limpers call and I call.  7 people in the pot.  Everyone has me covered.  I have $28 behind.

Flop comes Qh7s5h. Checks around to the btn who bets $9. SB raises all in 40. Everyone folds.  I take a minute to think about what happened in the hand so far.  I'm quite proud of myself because I usually only think about my hand vs what has actually happened in the hand.  I put one on two pairs/ set and the other on an overpair.  I call and I was right.  One had two pairs and the other had KK.  I lose the flip.

There's a live straddle to $4.  I'm in EP and look down and see Red Jacks.  I raise to $11.  One caller.  Btn moves all in for $40 dollars.  I haven't seen him play much but he has lost have a rack.  Straddler smooth calls with $60 behind.  I think for moment then push all-in with $20 on top.  Straddler calls.  Btn has 34dd and was trying to make a move.  Straddler has AK.  Straddler takes it down when the flop brings an ace.

-Similar situation as before.  Live straddle.  I'm in EP and see KK.  I raise to $10.  One caller.  Btn moves all in for 44.  I cover and push to $60.  The one caller thinks a long time then puts all his chips in.  My kings hold up when the flop comes 9K9.

This last hand, I wasn't involved in but sure was memorable.  A guy raises $20 pre flop.  4 people call.  Two people are all in pre-flop.  The pot is going 5 ways at $20 a piece.  This is a huge pot in this game.  I'm thinking, someone has to have a monster.  I don't remember what the flop was but it wasn't too memorable.  It turns out that a pair of 8's take down the pot.  One showed KTs, KQ and AJ.  Amazing!

-To Success!

Introduction

Inspired by Jesse, This Guy, and his blog about Taking a Shot at the Life of a Professional Poker Player, I'm going to write about my journey. 

I'm going to give you some information about myself.

1.  This blog is about my poker journey.  I'm going to start playing at micro stakes online and small stakes in person.  Online, I play .10/.20 full ring limit, and 5NL SH.  Live, I play 4-8 limit and below, and 100 NL and below, depending on the blinds of the Casino.

2.  I currently do not have full-time employment.  I have not had much luck in my field.  I am looking for something to keep my head above water. 

3.  I will be playing roughly 20 plus hours per week, depending on my schedule.  Most weeks will be much more than 20 hours.

This blog is here for me to record my experiences on this journey as I rise through the poker stakes.  I'll do my best to keep updating but I can't make too many promises yet.

To Success!