TLDR GoPro

It's been much longer than I'd like since I last made a complete contribution to this blog. Recently I was thinking that I feel as though the improvements in my game have slowed considerably. In reflection there's some correlation between the smaller volume of hours I put into poker in December through March, my blog inactivity, as well as the larger amount of physical training I did in that span.

The volume of hours played, as well as lack of effort towards identifying opportunities for improvement in my game is a luxury I no longer can afford. After a lot of consideration and dialogue with many of my closest friends, I've almost entirely left my career in the (casino) gaming industry behind. The decision to leave dealing was a bittersweet one, but one that I couldn't put off anymore. I don't have another job lined up, though I do intend to pick something part time up inside a few months. So I guess technically I can't really say I'm an "amateur" anymore.

I've got a lot of friends that I've made from one side of the felt or the other. The two who are most familiar with where "my game" stands, are in my opinion the most qualified to judge it as poker has been their means of living for many years. Each of them have been very supportive of my decision to play full time in the absence of dealing. I don't think I'm articulate enough to express how much their belief in me helps reassure my confidence. It's still on me to stay disciplined and prove them right though.

And lastly, lets quote a text I sent a friend of mine a few weeks ago in the aftermath of the WORST winning hand I've played in the last 20 months or so...

"Bet on the come... To check the nuts twice. Lolol professional as of April fool's day indeed"

"...you must demonstrate your skill."

I've not thought to blog in the last two months. From the end of October, then all through November I was grinding hard. Above the pace I had been on throughout the year. Come December I ended up choosing many other options over poker to occupy my time and ended up only clicking about 55 hours played (100 would be my monthly average). Looking to restart now that the holidays are over, back to regularity.

My favorite MMA journalist (Jack Slack) posted an article recently which greatly resonated with me. And while he's writing explicitly in reference to combat sports, the sentiment translates to any challenge of skill:

"A striking advantage or a grappling advantage on paper is just that. A fighter can train with the best in the world and rack up a streak of finishes over tremendous competition, but every single fight is a clean slate and he must demonstrate his skill. The laws of the fight game don't care about a fighter's accomplishments or qualifications, you should know that from how harshly every legend in this game is made to age in the cage."

Far before I ever begun my poker journey I used to preach to my gaming colleagues about execution > previous accomplishments and "the game doesn't care who you are, only if you're outperforming your challenge. Since I've read that I've been using it as a pre-play reminder for myself to be as rational as possible and avoid coming into a good spot feeling like I'm owed something by just showing up.

Regina Harvest Classic Poker-cation!

Before the start of this tournament series trip my primary goals were;

Clock 40 hours played at minimum
Explore their 10-20 FL DC w/ Kill (HE/O/O8) & 2-2000 SL Omaha
Not use my phone while playing
Adhere to this casino's preposterous chip cutting/betting line rule(s).

It's the final event morning of the series, and so far I'm on point for everything. I've already clocked 43 hours, and should be able to easily clear another 10-12+ over the 15 playable hours between noon & whatever madness 03:40 am "last three hands" will trigger.

My super brief 35 minute seating in 10-20 FL DC was super fun. I must likely benefited from some positive variance, but the ocean of dead money that appears to be available in that game is something I wish I had more time to explore. I'm sure that there must be some if not several very skilled local players in that game... But probably not the one I was in briefly, because this monkey ran amok!

My shot(s) in SL Omaha was not nearly as fortunate. As far as absurd gambling poker goes watching a table open with nine people min buying for $50 and punting it all in pre in Omaha it's pretty entertaining, I really can't find myself appreciating what amounts to NL Omaha. I took some bad variance in my efforts to run a stack up, three times (in ten shots) I managed to triple/quadruple up into 160-220 territory, but I never managed to get that next chip up until I eventually called it an experience and returned to familiar formats.

Last minute, I decided that I wanted to avoid using my phone as much as possible. The lack of self generated distraction while playing is obvious. Whether I'm playing with a new crowd, or with a table full of players I feel I've figured out, this benefit is a no-brainer. In reference to saving my cognitive energy for playing sessions longer/better, it's also a lock. I really need to reduce my overall phone use while playing.

I'm not going to claim victory regarding not failing in bet execution (betting line/chip cuts) since I have a lot of playing left to do today... But so far/so good...

Nitty Haikus

A player asked me "What do you write in there?" as I was noting down something after a hand the other day. I should point out at this point that my little notebook has a holographic cover of kittens, flowers, and butterflies (found it in the dollar clearance bin at Staples... bought eight of them!). "Poetry mostly" I replied. In the amusement that followed someone said something about haiku's, so I thought it'd be funny if I made some sad sounding nitty haiku's I could just sound off... and now I doubt there'll be an end to this.

Kitten Diary
These guys won't double me up
They think I'm a nit

Sitting with one stack
Can't play speculative hands
Very fucking bored

Straddle, limp, I jam
Errrk, that's a lot of callers
All my chips are gone

Folding pairs pre-flop
Motherfuck! That was top set!
NLCP's Bad
(No-Limit-Crazy-Pineapple)

Sunday Night, wiped out and looking to recharge again. I'm back to working Saturdays, and I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to have the fortitude to work four shifts per week/Saturday graves if it continues to be such an endurance trial to reach Sunday morning. Then again this could have just been a particularly taxing week. Regardless, right now I'm facing TEN DAYS OFF and I'm pretty pumped about it.

It's been two years since my last poker trip, and I've been eagerly awaiting this coming week since the spring. Casino Regina runs two series' per year, Spring & Autumn. I really wanted to go in the spring, though I was still recovering from the shocking aftermath of the previous summer's worth of poor decision making. Now that I've (largely) gotten my shit straightened out, me and some friends are excitedly looking forward to experiencing the late fall magic that is the 19th Annual Harvest Poker Classic. Here's to my not getting penalized by their absurd "first cut" betting line policy.

Between Tuesday evening and when we leave on Sunday, I'm aiming for a minimum of 40 hours of play in their cash games. Most likely exclusively in the 1-2 NL. Though I might take a shot at Satelliting into one of the tournaments, but even then I'd most likely be better served selling the ticket off and getting back into the cash action. There's no PLO there allegedly because they don't want to teach their dealers how to calculate (3*X)+Y, which is fucking tragic. But 2-2000 spread limit Omaha might be... not as awful as "No Limit Omaha" normally sounds. I've heard good things about the 13-20 DC (Hold'em/Omaha/O8), but with how green I am in the world of limit, I'll probably just stick to what I'm good in.

Dear Diary... Jackpot!

After taking a few days away from the game about two weeks ago I got back at it, and hard. Between the previous Friday through this past Saturday (yesterday as of this entry), I clocked 64.5 hours playing. I certainly had a few decent runs in that span and only had two sessions where I was unable to overcome running bad. In the end I absolutely feel that this past week was absolutely some of my best poker played to date. By no means flawless, though I was able to make note of many situations/details I'd like to fix in the near/immediate future.

Much of the time played this past week was in PLO8 inclusive DC, and it seems as though I've managed to finally sell this game to many of the previously uninterested players who would frequently be in the normal DC game. "High/Low Werewolf" definitely sounds silly, and it definitely might be too little too soon... Call me ambitious.

There was a series of tournament events running in at CA$H, which is why I spent so much of my time there waiting for opportunities to play High/Low, now that that's concluded I certainly look forward to catching up on putting in some hours playing straight hold'em again. Outside of settling back into a more reasonable "monkey lifestyle" again, I really need to actively improve my ability to relax. Today I've been taking that to heart, and I'd like to continue to try and unwind tomorrow, but I definitely need to do more than just not play one day or two here and there.

"No-mentum"

"Without bankroll management, you'll always be redlined."

Hardly news, still it continues to be my most challenging obstacle. I knew it before someone I look for advice said it to me earlier this year, though hearing it said to me was helpful.., somewhat.

I do feel as though I have been making some decent progression in my ability. I've played roughly the average volume lately since my previous blog. Looking over the 2015 calendar goals I made earlier in the year I'm not doing terribly. I'm slightly above my quota for hours played, though if I continue to be without wheels of my own for very long that's likely going to be more expensive to maintain. Bankroll management aside, my reading/study target is very daunting.

My last day's sessions ended pretty frustratingly. In reflection, there were a lot of hands that turned away from my realizing victory and the sum of those hands easily outweighed the pocket aces (hold'em, in a fantastic chip-up spot) I had cracked in my last half hour. Neither a big deal or an especially large loss on the day either, though yesterday & today I definitely feel drawn more towards relaxing vs getting back at it.