Going for the Gold

[rezster]

I've decided to attempt this promotion running on the Merge Poker Network.

"With the countdown to the 2008 Games heating up, soon the eye's of the World will be focused on Beijing and the spirit of the games. However, at CarbonPoker its not just how you play the game, but how much FREE cash you win!
Throughout August, your 'player admin' will track the comp points you earn and the cash prizes you unlock along the way.
There will be comp point increments, starting with the Bronze medal and once you have cleared each comp point requirement you will receive an INSTANT cash prize. Once you have won all 10 Bronze medals, you will unlock the Silver medals and even bigger cash prizes. The best part is every time you win 10 of the same medals, you'll also receive a bonus cash prize - Up to $700!
Each medal will represent a set comp point requirement, and a corresponding cash payout. Every time you reach the next increment, the matching medal will light up and you're an INSTANT winner. The more points you earn, the more cash you win!
You can win nearly $2,000 in cash prizes plus earn even more free cash with August's reload code, simply by reaching all of the comp points goals and unlocking all the medals. The best part is you can win up to 33 different cash prizes!"

http://www.carbonpoker.com/promotions/olympics08.html

According to my calculations, I will need to play 9 tables for 9 hours a day, 26 of the 31 days in August. I know I can multi-table this many tables for extended periods of time, the real question will be if I have the endurance to last all 26 days.
I am currently clearing a deposit bonus at one site on the network, if someone else is offering a better reload, I'll attempt to clear it somewhere else. The deposit/reload bonus combined with the Olympic promotion should offer nearly 3k in value.

Day 1
Just completed day one, earned 10.3k comp points and 2 Bronze medals. The bankroll is +$232.38. This is off the pace needed to complete three levels by the end of the month. I plan on building the bankroll up this weekend and then moving to a higher blind level to gain more points per table.

Day 2
My calculations are way off...earned 11,320 CP for a total of 21,620. Bankroll at +177.08. Earned 2 more medals, at level 4 of Bronze. Still off the pace by a good bit, I'm going to try playing more tables to increase my earn rate.

----------------
Now playing: Montrose - Space Station No. 5 (www.BrainGell.com Metal, Live DJ's & Request Chat! powered by vbdigital.com)
via FoxyTunes

[rezster]

Earning slightly more points but still off pace, 11,691 comp points for a total of 33,311. Two medal acquired, now at Bronze level 6. My bankroll is up $337.24.

I had planned on taking Mondays off during August. Since I'm behind, I'll play a few hours to get back on pace.

----------------
Now playing: The Gary NullShow... Because you CAN handle the truth!...Republicbroadcasting.org (Republicbroadcasting Network)
via FoxyTunes

[MXRider]

This is simply nuts!

9 tables, 9 hrs a day, for a whole month?????????

[Stew21]

Your eye doctor is going to loooooooove you!

[rezster]

[rezster]

Now on pace to complete this promotion. I've accumulated 40,049 points this month. Currently, at level 8 of the bronze medals. Bankroll has dropped to +188.67.

I should reach the silver medals by the end of Day 5.

----------------
Now playing: Financial Survival with Melody Cederstrom (American Voice Radio Network)
via FoxyTunes

[rezster]

The bronze medals have been completed!

Earned 13,533 points for the day, total is now at 53,582. The bankroll is up $251.38.

I'll need 10k to win each of the silver medals. At the 13.5k pace, I expect to complete those medals sometime next week.




----------------
Now playing: Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15: Allegro con brio
via FoxyTunes

[rezster]

I've earned 74,240 comp points out of 350,000 needed to finish the promotion. The bankroll is up $320.00. Currently, at level 2 of the silver medals.

They only credited my account with $10 for the first silver medal. I emailed support and they did credit me with another $10, ended up with $20 instead of $15 for the first medal.

It's too bad the software is so glitchy and not very multi-table friendly, it would make completing this promotion a whole lot easier.

I missed an afternoon session yesterday, so I'm quite a few points off pace. I'll need to make it up over this weekend to give myself a much needed day off on Monday.



----------------
Now playing: Triumph - Allied Forces
via FoxyTunes

[rezster]

Earned 87,191 out of the 350,000 need for this promotion. Bankroll is +$257.38. Level 3 of silver medals.

There is no doubt that I'm running bad right now. I'm getting my money all in when I'm way ahead, usually sets against TPTK, big pair, or two pairs but they just aren't winning. Same thing with my AA against smaller pairs. I will admit that I was leaking some cash to the short stack players, who are buying in for 20 BB, with top pair small kicker and second pair. I'm against TPTK or a set when they check raise all in. I'm way behind and have since stopped calling them.

Here is a excellent example of the Merge Network's glitchware that I'm torturing myself with for the month of August. Does this happen to anyone else? I'll email support and post their reply.



----------------
Now playing: Enigma - Return To Innocence (Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, electronica & more - info: radioparadise.com)
via FoxyTunes

[rezster]

I've earned 107,961 points of the 350,000 needed to complete the promotion. Bankroll is up $207.28 for the month. Level 5 of the silver medal.

Merge Network's customer support could not figure out what was wrong with the picture I posted on day 8. They thought I was referring to my blacked out screen name and table balance. Finally, they forward my issue to the "relevant department" and they responded with:

We respond regarding an error on our blinds structure you had reported to experience. We've looked up our server logs and found everything to be in order,
thus we believe the discrepancy in your game display is due to an interruption on your internet connection.

We've looked into your session history to confirm this, and found that you were indeed disconnected from our servers shortly before the hand.

So it seems this my problem not theirs, I've been disconnected from other networks and software and have never had this happen with anyone else. This should never happen, regardless of an interruption in my internet connection. I fully expect nothing will be done about this on their end.

On Sunday, I logged in and started playing. After opening 8 tables, I attempted to open the 9th and got this pop up:



So I email support again and they respond:

There doesn't appear to be a mistake regarding the maximum number of tables a player can run at once, as the limit is truly 8 ring game tables.

I've been playing between 9 and 12 tables all month long!!! I played 8 tables most of the day and then sometime around 9:00 PM I logged back in and was able to open 12 tables once again. Don't know what's going on here and I'll probably never find out but this crap has set me back and I'm now way off pace to finish the promotion by the end of the month.

Here's a screen shot of all 12 tables:




----------------
Now playing: Zion Train - First Power (Space Station Soma: Tune in, turn on, space out. Ambient and mid-tempo electronica. [SomaFM])
via FoxyTunes

[rezster]

Points: 114,632 out of 350,000, Bankroll: +$251.04, Level: 6th of the Silver Medal

I was hoping to have a day off but with the problems over the weekend, I decided to get caught up today. Unfortunately, the network goes down shortly after 5:00 pm. A couple hours later, this comes up when I attempt to log in:



So they decide to blatantly lie to the players. Scheduled maintenance? Checked my mailbox, and no email from Carbon indicating any maintenance was being scheduled and nothing was posted in the news section of the lobby. Return in 1 minute? I attempted to log in one hour later and the network was still down! Another day and another setback thanks to Carbon/Merge Network. I'm beginning to really question their honesty and integrity.

They did have an all-in donkfest freeroll for the "inconvenience", with a massive $0.90 overlay. Thanks Carbon!

[krazytxan]

It is "interesting" that as you get closer to the goal, you keep hitting roadblocks.

[rezster]

[rezster]

Points: 130,062 out of 350,000 Bankroll: +267.91 Level: 8th of the silver medal

I believe this was the best day in terms of points I've had this month. They are accumulating at a good rate when the network stays up all day.

----------------
Now playing: The Flip Side w/Robby Noel (Republicbroadcasting Network)
via FoxyTunes

[krazytxan]