Building bankroll on cash table

Ok, Absolute dropped $20 in my account to come back, and if I played 75 raked hands at .50 or above I would get a free T-shirt.
I have one day to get the t-shirt, it ends midnight 31st August.
FYI, I DONT play cash tables, apart from 2c/4c(woohoo). I'm a sng/MTT small stakes player. I'm tight/agressive. With the occaisional bluff. This is just an experiment at the mo, and I'm not too bothered if I lose the money, as I only started with $5.17 of my own.
First session:
Bankroll: $25.17(total bankroll at stake, as I want that shirt, and the money was free(apart from $5 of my own))
Table: NL Holdem 6 seater
Hands played: 24
Key hands: (1)I'm BB with JJ, raise to $2, 2 callers. flop is T62 rainbow. I bet $3, no callers.
(2) SB I have QQ. Raise to $2.50, one caller. Flop is J75 rainbow. I bet out $2, he goes all-in for $9. I hesitate, then think why not. He flips JT and my queens hold up.
Bankroll at end: $54.82 (plus $29.65)
Wow, nice session, cards went my way, bluffed twice, showed once, and then got the QQ next hand. Will now go back to table, this time only bringing in $25, leaving me $29 as back-up.
KD

Nice run - I had a different experience the last time they dropped $20 in my account for free, since I don't play there much since they changed their bonus structure a few months back (good luck finding anything under 2/4 in Omaha or Stud there to clear this).

I took my $20 and did what any good degenerate gambler with free money does - put it all on 1 hand of blackjack. Got a 20 versus dealer 7 - dealer does the right thing and flip over a 10 for a win. Next hand - put all $40 on the line. Get another 20 versus dealer 8 - dealer again listens and flips a 10, and I cash out for $80 right after that.

Very nice run. Not bad for a guy that doesn't play cash tables. And you are on your way to a free t-shirt too. That's the right price, we like free. Nice job.

It's a great T-shirt, black, with the message, 'I've got the nuts!', on the front.

That's cool. Is there a picture up somewhere like a shop where they sell it? I'm curious to see it.

Anyway, back to the experiment:
Second session
Bankroll: $54.82($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holden 6-seater
Hands played: 51
Key hands: (1) Q8s dealt to me in SB, one caller, I call, BB checks. Flop is 9d7s6s. I bet $1, one caller. Turn is 5s. Board is 5s6s7s9d. I hold Q-high flush, with straight flush draw. Flop is 8d. Board is straight. I bet $2, he calls. My flush wins. He was hoping for split pot!
(2) 66 dealt to me in BB. 2 callers, I raise to $1.50, both call. Flop is J64 rainbow. I bet $2(roughly half the pot), both fold.
Bankroll at end: $35.05(plus $10.05)
Total bankroll: $64.87(plus $49.80)
I've made the 75 hands requirement, but I've enjoyed this so much, I'm gonna continue. Like I said before, I'm not a cash player by any means, and when I do play, its super-micro limits. So any tips for .25/.50 tables(6-seater) would be appreciated. Guess I've built it up a bit, I will have new conditions for myself: 1, Only ever bring $25 to the table. If I go broke, have a break, coffee, and a cigarette, then buy back in. 2, If I make or lose $10 (go up to $35, or down to $15) I walk away, whether it's the first hand or the hundredth hand. 3, Never call an all-in or go all-in unless I have the nuts(or am drunk).
Wish me luck, this is my third and final session tonight coming up, as its nearly 5am my time!

I do seem to recall (or not recall as the case may be) losing a few bucks here and there in a situation as you described above.

In any case, good luck in your next session. Maybe you are a cash game player on the inside and didn't know it.

P.S. Thanks for the PM, mate.

I'm not sure, maybe I am a cash player? Third session details to follow. Things Ive picked up so far.(correct me if Im wrong, anyone) 1, 6-seater tables, I have to loosen up. Im used to 10-seater tables, playing tight-agressive. 2, If guys are real tight, you can bluff them a few times(I tried and suceeded 3 times in 25 hands) with just a $1 bet in the right place. 3, Note information is king. The third session a guy turned up from my first session, promptly went out again, losing all his money(again). I like that guy, he's now on my note list(and buddy list, does absolute have one?), but I never had a hand to take his money.

PS t-shirt's pretty cool.

Third session
Bankroll: $64.87($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 25
Key hands: (1) I'm dealt JJ in BB. 2 callers, I raise to $2, one caller. Flop is A42 rainbow. I bet $2. He folds. Guess he thought I had an Ace.
(2) I'm in BB with 7d2h. 2 limpers. I raise to $1. Both call. Flop comes KQ8 clubs. I bet $1. Both call. Turn is 4 clubs. I bet $1. Both fold. I show hand. Get abused. And walk away as I've hit my $35.00 limit.
Bankroll at end: $35.45 (plus $10.45)
Total bankroll: $75.32 (plus $50.15)

True.
I find this to be true, too.
I love notes on players. Especially the ones doing their best to make donations to my favorite charity...me.
I've seen it. I concur.

LOL...you edited for a spelling mistake then proceeded to make a spelling mistake in your reason for editing. LOL

I saw that and went to edit it, then I thought nah, thats just a whole new kettle of fish, I could be here all night editting my f*ck-ups!
Thats what you get for drinking JD all night, sat in a bar overlooking the beach, watching the honeys go by!

OK, the rot has began:
Fourth Session: quick session, 13 hands. 6 seater, 42 of them had over $150, one had $50, 2 had $12 each. Looks good on paper. They were incredibly loose. Too loose for me. I had one hand AK, done 4xBB, guy reraises me all in with $25. I bottled it.
Left with $17.65(minus $7.35)
Fifth session
Bankroll: $67.97($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 29
Key hands: (1) I'm dealt QQ BB. Raise to $2, one caller. Flop is AK9 rainbow. I bet $2, he raises to $5. I fold.
(2) On the button, I'm dealt 23s. I raise to $1, SB and BB call. Flop is QT8 rainbow. I bet $2. Both fold.
Get timed out as reading emails. Lose seat.
Bankroll at end: $27.70(plus $2.70)
Total bankroll: $70.67(plus $45.50)
Sixth session. 25 hands but no cards. Fold 72os at one point, flop comes 772. Try stupid plays, get caught/beat. Leave with $14.70. Reached my $15 limit.
Total bankroll: $60.37(plus $35.20)
Real tired now, but will play one more session.
KD

Don't suppose you'd consider posting the results of the final session you are playing, will you?

All in all, though, not a bad set of sessions for the short term (pending what you do in this last one of course).

Your wish is my command:

Seventh session
Bankroll: $60.37($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 11
Key hand: Watched table till my big blind, one guy was very loose with $50 bankroll. Would call a PF big raise with anything(it seemed), then reraise whatever the other person bet post-flop. Hand is thus: Me dealt QQ in BB. 2 limpers, including loose guy. I raise to $3, knowing he would call. Both call. Need a good flop. Flop comes Q64 rainbow. Perfect flop for me. Want to keep loose guy in, so bet $2 as a sweetener bet, maybe he will reraise. They both fold! Bugger! Should I have played it different?
Bankroll at end: $35(plus $10)
Total bankroll: $70.32(plus $45.15)
Quick session, so will make next one my last, as I need sleep, and I think Jack Daniels is following me........

Eigth session
Bankroll: $70.32($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 19
Key hand: Me in SB with KT suited. One guy raises to $2. I call. BB folds. Flop is AQJ rainbow. I've hit straight and check. He bets $1.50. I call. Turn is 8. He bets $3. I flat-call. River is 9. I have straight, more importanly, the nuts. No flush available. I check, feeling he will bet big, then I can re-raise. He checks! I won, but played the river wrong.
Bankroll at end: $37.65(plus $12.65)
Total bankroll: $82.97(plus $57.80)
Conclusion: Well, i've got the T-shirt. More importantly, I'm up nearly $60 in five hours. Maybe beginners luck. Who knows, until next time.
Goodnight all, stop stalking me JD!
KD

Do I continue this thread................?

Go for it. I'd like to see your progress.

Just curious. Why would you take $25 to a table and leave at up $10 or down $10?

I dont get the leave when your winning idea ! ? Leave when your down $10 is fine, but when you up, especially if your walking all over the table.

Ive played this level lots over the last few months, and if im outplaying a certain table ill play it to death. Ive left some tables at this level with over $180 (from a $50 buy-in)

guess I get too cocky when Im winning and dont wanna blow alll my stack. As I said, I'm completely new to cash tables, so still learning tactics. Guess I should wait until I double my bankroll?

OK, I'm going to post the next 2 sessions. After these I'm back on nightshift, so guess will slow it down to one session a day?
Ninth session
Bankroll: $82.97($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 38
Key hands: None, as I played like a knob. Chased draws, tried big bluffs, played my z-game, as opposed to my usual y-game!
Bankroll at end: $11.99(minus $13.01)
Total bankroll: $69.96(plus $44.79)

Tenth Session
Bankroll: $69.96( $25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 35
Key hands: (1) Hit nut flush on river, can't remember betting, but know I was allowed a free card. $3 bet was called by other guy on river.
(2) Dealt KTd, SB raised to $2, I called in BB. Flop was AQ6 rainbow. Other guy proceeded to bet only $1 each round. Thought I'd draw. Hit The nut straight on river. Guy bets $5, I reraise to $13, he folds.
Bankroll at end: $42.20(plus $17.20)
Total bankroll: $87.16(plus $61.99)

Ok, back on nights, so no more 9 sessions in 3 hours at night, maybe get online tomorrow.
KD

Cool, looks like you're doing well.

I was just thinking that if you leave at up $10 you're protecting your profits (not that that is a bad thing given you're new to cash games) but you're taking away the times when you'll absolutely clean the table up and post a monster profit day. Like Tenbob said when you're the king at the table you want to take maximum advantage of that. Also, limiting losses in NL cash games is hard because you never know what type of hand will pop up.

Different things work for different people but in cash games the skill becomes evaluating the size of your edge in a game. Are you ahead or behind skill wise? You want to spend most of your time in games where you're ahead.

The conditions that you're playing in (way above your BR limits which is fine cause you're just trying to make something from nothing right now - and you're doin a great job I might add ), you can't really stick to the standard rules. Normally, you find a table that you feel you can beat, buy in for the maximum, and if the table is profitable, you play for a certain amount of time. You ignore profits won/lost. As I said, considering you're kind of gambling with that much of your BR at one table, then playing until -10 or +10 is fine.

Thanks ChuckT, I appreciate that.
And thanks for all the other messages of support, etc. As you'll see in the next session I post, I'm enjoying this, and my beginners luck(at cash tables) is continuing.............for now!

Eleventh session
Bankroll: $87.16($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 18
Key hands: I'm dealt JJ in BB. Raise to $2, get 2 callers. Flop is JJ2. Dream flop. But I want to keep both players in this hand, as one has over $150, and the other is real loose, calls anything. So I bet $2. Both call. Turn is 2. Hope someone has 22 in their hand!. I bet $2 again, big stack folds, loose player calls. River is T. I bet $3, guy reraises to $12 and is all-in. For a moment I check that I can't be beaten. Nope. Call his bet. He flips over KT unsuited(muppet!!!!) for 2 pairs, I show JJ for 4 of a kind. He says, 'ouch'!
I'm now up to $51, and decide(with advice from here in previous posts) to keep playing, as there's a chance I can clear up. Play a few more hands, but not much happening, then 4 people leave, so its time to quit.
Bankroll at end: $48.70(plus $23.70)
Total bankroll: $110.86(plus $85.69)
Off to bed after nightshift!
KD
PS Had an email from Absolute, this is the last day of the promotion, and I've played 73 raked hands before this session(how they work that out I don't know, thought I'd played more), so need 2 more hands for T-shirt.

just wanna say that for a beginner at cash tables you certainly seem to be doing well

keep up the good work and i'll maybe get ya on a table soon

Nice work mate, you're killing it.

Thanks k4trina and Schatzdog.

Twelth session
Bankroll: $110.16(lost 70 cents elsewhere)($25 taken to table)
Table: NL Holdem 6-seater
Hands played: 56
Key hands: None in my favour. 56 hands, not a single pocket pair. Table was half loose, half tight. Any time I made a move someone would catch me off-guard, ie tight would call with decent hand, loose would reraise with crap(?). (1) AQ suited dealt to me. One guy(loose) raises to $2, I call. Flop is KQT rainbow. I decide to chase straight for nut(good idea/bad idea?) but he bets $10 on turn card K, which sees me folding.
Bankroll at end: $7.05(minus $17.95)
Total bankroll: $92.51(plus $67.34)

In a way I'm pleased I had a bad session, whilst feeling ok about playing it. It was a lesson in sharp reality that the lucky cards arent always gonna hit for me, so I have to tighten up for a bit when that happens. Next session tomorrow morning, right now I'm off to do nightshift.
KD