Well, I am almost complete my Pokerstar's challenge. 2924 of 3000 FPP points finished. So far I am up $851 plus $150 when I unlock the pending bonus. It's been a rollacoaster ride lately and I haven't been able to find my groove in the $25 NL 6-max games. I just swtiched to Holdem Manager poker software because my trial ran out for PokerTracker. Here is my graph for the last 3 days:

Note, right at the end I switched to $.25/$.50 headsup and I was killing it! I basically won 6 stacks for $110 total in like 30 minutes. Basically, I just looked for players who bought in short for like $10-$30. I was aggressive, I was making moves at the right time and I got lucky too. Here is one hand from one of the headsup matches, I got a straight flush:) He had 5,9 off suit. Notice, he never raised once preflop so it was an easy match.

The thing I don`t like about Holdem Manger is that it does not record the first 30 hands before you sit at the table like PokerTracker does... Maybe I`ll try PokerOffice free trial too before I buy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, here are a couple hands, one a $77 pot!
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed)
saw flop | saw showdown
Button ($3.40)
SB ($25.80)
BB ($25.25)
UTG ($15.20)
MP ($25)
Hero (CO) ($24.85)
Preflop: Hero is CO with 3
, 5
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, 1 fold, BB checks
Flop: ($1.10) 6
, 4
, 7
(4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, 1 fold
Turn: ($1.85) 6
(3 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $1.25, 1 fold, UTG raises to $5, Hero raises to $15.75, UTG calls $9.70 (All-In)
River: ($31.25) 6
(2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: $31.25 | Rake: $1.55
Main pot: $31.25 between UTG and Hero, won by UTG
Results:
UTG had K
, 6
(four of a kind, sixes).
Hero mucked 3
, 5
(straight, seven high).
Outcome: UTG won $29.70
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed)
saw flop | saw showdown
UTG ($15)
MP ($32.65)
CO ($14.80)
Hero (Button) ($32)
SB ($25.45)
BB ($32.65)
Preflop: Hero is Button with A
, A
UTG (poster) checks, MP bets $0.85, CO raises to $1.45, Hero raises to $4.25, 1 fold, BB calls $4, 2 folds, CO calls $2.80
Flop: ($13.95) 8
, 6
, 6
(3 players)
BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets $4.50, BB calls $4.50, CO raises to $10.55 (All-In), Hero calls $6.05, BB calls $6.05
Turn: ($45.60) 9
(3 players, 1 all-in)
BB checks, Hero bets $16.75, BB raises to $17.85 (All-In), Hero calls $0.45 (All-In)
River: ($80) 3
(3 players, 3 all-in)
Total pot: $80 | Rake: $3
Main pot: $45.60 between CO, Hero and BB, won by Hero
Side pot 1: $34.40 between Hero and BB, won by Hero
Results:
Hero had A
, A
(two pair, Aces and sixes).
BB had Q
, Q
(two pair, Queens and sixes).
CO mucked Q
, 4
(one pair, sixes).
Outcome: Hero won $77
Bonuses:
- Free $100 Bankroll at Pokerstars
- 100% Deposit Bonus at Pokerstars

Note, right at the end I switched to $.25/$.50 headsup and I was killing it! I basically won 6 stacks for $110 total in like 30 minutes. Basically, I just looked for players who bought in short for like $10-$30. I was aggressive, I was making moves at the right time and I got lucky too. Here is one hand from one of the headsup matches, I got a straight flush:) He had 5,9 off suit. Notice, he never raised once preflop so it was an easy match.

The thing I don`t like about Holdem Manger is that it does not record the first 30 hands before you sit at the table like PokerTracker does... Maybe I`ll try PokerOffice free trial too before I buy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, here are a couple hands, one a $77 pot!
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed)
saw flop | saw showdown
Button ($3.40)
SB ($25.80)
BB ($25.25)
UTG ($15.20)
MP ($25)
Hero (CO) ($24.85)
Preflop: Hero is CO with 3
, 5
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, 1 fold, BB checks
Flop: ($1.10) 6
, 4
, 7
(4 players)BB checks, UTG bets $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, 1 fold
Turn: ($1.85) 6
(3 players)UTG checks, Hero bets $1.25, 1 fold, UTG raises to $5, Hero raises to $15.75, UTG calls $9.70 (All-In)
River: ($31.25) 6
(2 players, 1 all-in)Total pot: $31.25 | Rake: $1.55
Main pot: $31.25 between UTG and Hero, won by UTG
Results:
UTG had K
, 6
(four of a kind, sixes).Hero mucked 3
, 5
(straight, seven high).Outcome: UTG won $29.70
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed)
saw flop | saw showdown
UTG ($15)
MP ($32.65)
CO ($14.80)
Hero (Button) ($32)
SB ($25.45)
BB ($32.65)
Preflop: Hero is Button with A
, A
UTG (poster) checks, MP bets $0.85, CO raises to $1.45, Hero raises to $4.25, 1 fold, BB calls $4, 2 folds, CO calls $2.80
Flop: ($13.95) 8
, 6
, 6
(3 players)BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets $4.50, BB calls $4.50, CO raises to $10.55 (All-In), Hero calls $6.05, BB calls $6.05
Turn: ($45.60) 9
(3 players, 1 all-in)BB checks, Hero bets $16.75, BB raises to $17.85 (All-In), Hero calls $0.45 (All-In)
River: ($80) 3
(3 players, 3 all-in)Total pot: $80 | Rake: $3
Main pot: $45.60 between CO, Hero and BB, won by Hero
Side pot 1: $34.40 between Hero and BB, won by Hero
Results:
Hero had A
, A
(two pair, Aces and sixes).BB had Q
, Q
(two pair, Queens and sixes).CO mucked Q
, 4
(one pair, sixes).Outcome: Hero won $77
Bonuses:
- Free $100 Bankroll at Pokerstars
- 100% Deposit Bonus at Pokerstars
There's no question that aggressive poker is winning poker. If the world's top players have only one thing in common, it's that they take control of the hands they play with bets and raises. Usually, among the world's poker elite, calling is the least attractive option.


As a writer covering the poker circuit, I wasn't surprised to see that John D'Agostino took second in the Borgata Winter Open, netting more than half a million dollars. John is widely considered one of the great, young, all-around players in the game. He's equally comfortable playing limit and no-limit, cash games, and tournaments.

You'll be seeing a lot of me on next year's World Poker Tour broadcasts. So far, I've made three final tables. I won the Mirage event, finished third at the Bellagio and fourth in Tunica. When you see a broadcast that features my play, you may be left scratching your head, asking, "Why the heck is that guy playing those cards?"















