It really is unfair to read article after article in Cardplayer or Bluff magazine about these punk kids who start out playing poker for fun and end up millionaires without missing a beat. They need to start publishing badbeat stories about people who fail. Otherwise, readers get the wrong impression of how simple it is to become a successful card player. I bet there are a 1,000 failures for every person that makes a living playing cards.
The more I hate my job, the more I want to take a stab at playing cards for a living. However, there are a couple obstacles. First, you need multiple card rooms at locations which are open 24/7. Cleveland does not have them. Second, you need to move up in stakes to at least 2/5 NLHE which means having a bankroll of 70-100 buyins and that equates to a minimum of $35,000.000. I can handle it but would have to dip into savings/living expenses for this to work. Not a good idea to mix bankroll with money set aside to live off of. Third, you need to make the jump with one or more people who have the same goals so you can feed off each other and support each other. I know of one person that is looking to make a living at it but they are not completely ready as of this time.
I have very little holding me back from packing my bags and leaving for the card rooms tomorrow. I would have to quit my job, forfeit health insurance and pay rent on an empty apartment until June of next year. However, I think I should pick a better spot to make a move. The ideal time would be when I got laid off, just before my lease is up for renewal and I got another person to go with. I think the time is very, very close.
Where am I going to go? Florida! Card rooms full of old men who can't stand their wives! Las Vegas has too many sharks, Reno doesn't have the action and not sure about Atlantic City or California. I know of two people who made the move and went on their own. That takes a lot a backbone and I respect a person who can take the risk of moving to a place they have never been to, don't know anybody and have no idea if it is going to work out or not.
Mark my words...It is only a matter of time, easy or not.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Rivers Casino
I just finished a 22 hour marathon session at Rivers Casino and I am about to bore you with some interesting hands. Before I begin, let me lay out the experience. I arrive at 1:00pm and sit down to a table of seven players. The card room had about 8 out of 26 tables in use and I immediately recognized many players and employees from my previous trips to Mountaineer. I buy in for $300.00 max and sit at my favorite seat(six) for a $1-3 NL game. I know going in that this is going to be a long session so I am not in any hurry to mix things up until I get a feel for the table.
It always seems early on during the day, the table plays tight and the bets are small. Almost like a damn limit game. An average opening bet is between $8.00-$10.00 dollars and a c-bet at $15.00. Screw that. Whenever I entered a pot, it was $15.00 to go and $25.00 for my c-bet. This really took people off guard and it got me noticed. This accomplished one thing however. I got people out of their comfort zone. I sat for the first few hours playing pretty tight, drinking coffee and listening to music. I was just getting a feel for the table dynamics. Most stacks were medium to small and maybe just one over $600.00. I hate playing against a bunch of small stacks because it limits your options but I realized the table would continuously change as the day went on.
For the most part, my stack was always growing. I never went below having $500.00 in front of me after I got to that point, which was fairly quickly. I was there to grind and stay away from race situations as much as possible.
Here are a few fun hands;
Later in the day I started drinking Coronas and started getting obnoxious. Some players were humored and some were not. A get dealt KK and open for $15.00 while announcing that I am holding a big sale to get rid of overstocked Halloween costumes. I get one caller and see a flop of AQ7. I cut out $49.00 and mention that it’s a discount because the store down the street is selling the same hand for $50.00. The other player is not amused and pushes for $275.00. Before calling, I told the guy that his AQ is going to suck out on me but I call anyways. He tables AQ and catches his Ace on the river. I wasn’t steaming because I knew I got my money in good. -$290.00
Another hand came when I got dealt 78s. It was many hours into session so I had a good feel for the people I was up against. I opened for $15.00 on the button and got one caller. He was a pretty tight, young, Asian who played pretty tight and always showed the nuts at showdown. Flop was 533 two spades and he made it $50.00 to go. I look at him and he said he was ready to commit his last $300.00. I remarked, “You will do that with a 3?”. He responded, “I’m ahead of your flush draw”. I told him he was correct and called. Turn was 9s and I immediately stared at him for 10 seconds. Without looking away, I said “all in”. He immediately called and I knew at that point, I was beat. He tabled 93 for the boat. River was Js, not that it matters. -$365.00
Hand of the year;
I get dealt AA and open with my standard $15.00. I got one caller and this hand came really late in the session against an older, call station gentleman who played some very questionable hands throughout the night. Even so, he was sitting on $900.00 in front of him. Flop A74 and I check because he had a reputation for betting in position. He made it $40.00 and I did my best acting job possible. I went in the tank, but not too long. Only long enough to make my call painful. Turn was J and I check after contemplating for exactly three seconds. He bets approximately $100.00 and I irritatingly ask the dealer to count out his bet. I tank for 10 seconds and weakishly call. River is a 10 and I don’t even look at the guy. At this point I am thinking to myself “how I can get the rest of his chips in the pot?. But do I bet or call the river and hope he bets into me?”. I put him on two pair and check because I don’t think he wants a showdown. He bets $100.00 and at that point, knew I had him. I tank for 20 seconds and sheepishly announce “all in”. He instant calls and I table my AA. He mucks, table goes wild, and I sit there with my head down, smiling ear to ear. I couldn’t look at him for the rest of the hour he played. I really don’t feel I could have gotten all his chips if I had been aggressive in any way. I was very proud of my trap and I must have really sold it because nobody at the table expected to see my pocket cards.
Other than those few pots, I spent my time grinding out small to medium size wins. It was a good session for me, I entertained the table and severs, and I left +$600.00. My deepest stack at one point was +$1200.00 but some hands did not go my way. The servers were very entertained by me because I was acting like an idiot to at times. Whenever a girl came around to take drink orders, I would ask for something I knew they did not have. For example, “do you have any diet Orange Crush?, No?, screw it then, I’ll take a Corona”. “Do you have any Dads Rootbeer? You do? Is it diet? No?, Then I’ll just take a Corona”. I told one server that my bottle had a hole in it and wanted a replacement. She fell for it and was ready to get me one until one of the players ratted me out. That bastard.
It always seems early on during the day, the table plays tight and the bets are small. Almost like a damn limit game. An average opening bet is between $8.00-$10.00 dollars and a c-bet at $15.00. Screw that. Whenever I entered a pot, it was $15.00 to go and $25.00 for my c-bet. This really took people off guard and it got me noticed. This accomplished one thing however. I got people out of their comfort zone. I sat for the first few hours playing pretty tight, drinking coffee and listening to music. I was just getting a feel for the table dynamics. Most stacks were medium to small and maybe just one over $600.00. I hate playing against a bunch of small stacks because it limits your options but I realized the table would continuously change as the day went on.
For the most part, my stack was always growing. I never went below having $500.00 in front of me after I got to that point, which was fairly quickly. I was there to grind and stay away from race situations as much as possible.
Here are a few fun hands;
Later in the day I started drinking Coronas and started getting obnoxious. Some players were humored and some were not. A get dealt KK and open for $15.00 while announcing that I am holding a big sale to get rid of overstocked Halloween costumes. I get one caller and see a flop of AQ7. I cut out $49.00 and mention that it’s a discount because the store down the street is selling the same hand for $50.00. The other player is not amused and pushes for $275.00. Before calling, I told the guy that his AQ is going to suck out on me but I call anyways. He tables AQ and catches his Ace on the river. I wasn’t steaming because I knew I got my money in good. -$290.00
Another hand came when I got dealt 78s. It was many hours into session so I had a good feel for the people I was up against. I opened for $15.00 on the button and got one caller. He was a pretty tight, young, Asian who played pretty tight and always showed the nuts at showdown. Flop was 533 two spades and he made it $50.00 to go. I look at him and he said he was ready to commit his last $300.00. I remarked, “You will do that with a 3?”. He responded, “I’m ahead of your flush draw”. I told him he was correct and called. Turn was 9s and I immediately stared at him for 10 seconds. Without looking away, I said “all in”. He immediately called and I knew at that point, I was beat. He tabled 93 for the boat. River was Js, not that it matters. -$365.00
Hand of the year;
I get dealt AA and open with my standard $15.00. I got one caller and this hand came really late in the session against an older, call station gentleman who played some very questionable hands throughout the night. Even so, he was sitting on $900.00 in front of him. Flop A74 and I check because he had a reputation for betting in position. He made it $40.00 and I did my best acting job possible. I went in the tank, but not too long. Only long enough to make my call painful. Turn was J and I check after contemplating for exactly three seconds. He bets approximately $100.00 and I irritatingly ask the dealer to count out his bet. I tank for 10 seconds and weakishly call. River is a 10 and I don’t even look at the guy. At this point I am thinking to myself “how I can get the rest of his chips in the pot?. But do I bet or call the river and hope he bets into me?”. I put him on two pair and check because I don’t think he wants a showdown. He bets $100.00 and at that point, knew I had him. I tank for 20 seconds and sheepishly announce “all in”. He instant calls and I table my AA. He mucks, table goes wild, and I sit there with my head down, smiling ear to ear. I couldn’t look at him for the rest of the hour he played. I really don’t feel I could have gotten all his chips if I had been aggressive in any way. I was very proud of my trap and I must have really sold it because nobody at the table expected to see my pocket cards.
Other than those few pots, I spent my time grinding out small to medium size wins. It was a good session for me, I entertained the table and severs, and I left +$600.00. My deepest stack at one point was +$1200.00 but some hands did not go my way. The servers were very entertained by me because I was acting like an idiot to at times. Whenever a girl came around to take drink orders, I would ask for something I knew they did not have. For example, “do you have any diet Orange Crush?, No?, screw it then, I’ll take a Corona”. “Do you have any Dads Rootbeer? You do? Is it diet? No?, Then I’ll just take a Corona”. I told one server that my bottle had a hole in it and wanted a replacement. She fell for it and was ready to get me one until one of the players ratted me out. That bastard.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
I've been slackin
Grinding away at the poker tables minus the Gemini Club. That is such bullshit that politicians have so much power that they can shut down an establishment months after they gave it their blessing because of a bully who wants to monopolize the industry. It's back to Nautica, Mountaineer and home games. PA will have card rooms starting next month but the closest place is two hours away which is the same distance as Mountaineer. I will end up going however, because I get sick of looking at the same donkeys over and over again.
I feel that I have really improved a lot this year as a result of online play. It's not that I am making much money or playing for high stakes, but I am starting to have a real understanding from playing so many hands. Most sessions last six hours while four tabling, and on weekends, I will play for 14-20 hours. I have learned to take advantage of position and I have learned to minimize losses/losing hands. Also, I have adapted the "small ball" approach in that I like to see a lot of cheap flops and be aggressive on hands that I stay in with.
I'm kind of pissed that ground has not broken for the new casino yet. They are anticipating an opening of 2013 but I think that is bullshit and predict 2015 before I will find myself at one of their card tables. There is a possibility of a temporary one in the meantime but I don't think that will make much of a difference. I will just be playing against the same players I am playing now at the Nautica.
Summer is here and that means home games will be harder to find because everyone is doing stuff outdoors. I found a Thursday game in Litchfield but its 40 minutes away, Colin will have games on certain Saturdays, Diablo is threatening to have some, and maybe a few others will pop up from time to time. Gemini is opening a card room in Canton but that is a bit too far. Son of a bitch! I guess I can log into my Stars account and get four tabling. Later
I feel that I have really improved a lot this year as a result of online play. It's not that I am making much money or playing for high stakes, but I am starting to have a real understanding from playing so many hands. Most sessions last six hours while four tabling, and on weekends, I will play for 14-20 hours. I have learned to take advantage of position and I have learned to minimize losses/losing hands. Also, I have adapted the "small ball" approach in that I like to see a lot of cheap flops and be aggressive on hands that I stay in with.
I'm kind of pissed that ground has not broken for the new casino yet. They are anticipating an opening of 2013 but I think that is bullshit and predict 2015 before I will find myself at one of their card tables. There is a possibility of a temporary one in the meantime but I don't think that will make much of a difference. I will just be playing against the same players I am playing now at the Nautica.
Summer is here and that means home games will be harder to find because everyone is doing stuff outdoors. I found a Thursday game in Litchfield but its 40 minutes away, Colin will have games on certain Saturdays, Diablo is threatening to have some, and maybe a few others will pop up from time to time. Gemini is opening a card room in Canton but that is a bit too far. Son of a bitch! I guess I can log into my Stars account and get four tabling. Later
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Gemini
This new club in Berea is starting to become my new home because the the vicinity and attractive fees. However, I have not been able to get anything going as of yet. So far, my sessions have panned out as follows; +200, +240, -380(2-5 table), -160, -50 for a total of fifty hours. I feel that I have been playing alright but can't seem to build up any chip stacks. Maybe I just need to be more patient until more hours are logged so I can get a truer sense of my play.
I got pissed off last night because this donkey that everyone calls 'lil fag' not only played every single hand, he raised every single hand! Luckiest donkey ever to get paid off for bad play. I felt like I was at Nautica all over again. He just could not miss and was taking down huge pots with hands like bottom pair with junk ass kickers. Talk about garbage collectors. I used to have respect for this douche bag.
For the most part, tables are made up of regulars who can play decent poker. Surprisingly, there are a lot of old men with pockets full of money. What do they tell their wives they are doing? I can't wait for more people to join because I don' like playing the same people every single day. Last night was cool because after midnight we got a rush of Nautica players. I think at one point there were five tables going. Eventually, this club is going to be open 18 hours a day, seven days a week. You will always know where to find me, guaranteed. I will still be taking trips to Mountaineer and games in Lorain because it is fun to play with different circles of players.
Well, it is time to get ready for my second job. Gemini at 1:00pm and Then Dave's game in Lorain at 6:00pm for a chili cook off and some poker. I should be home no later than 5:00am.
Later.
I got pissed off last night because this donkey that everyone calls 'lil fag' not only played every single hand, he raised every single hand! Luckiest donkey ever to get paid off for bad play. I felt like I was at Nautica all over again. He just could not miss and was taking down huge pots with hands like bottom pair with junk ass kickers. Talk about garbage collectors. I used to have respect for this douche bag.
For the most part, tables are made up of regulars who can play decent poker. Surprisingly, there are a lot of old men with pockets full of money. What do they tell their wives they are doing? I can't wait for more people to join because I don' like playing the same people every single day. Last night was cool because after midnight we got a rush of Nautica players. I think at one point there were five tables going. Eventually, this club is going to be open 18 hours a day, seven days a week. You will always know where to find me, guaranteed. I will still be taking trips to Mountaineer and games in Lorain because it is fun to play with different circles of players.
Well, it is time to get ready for my second job. Gemini at 1:00pm and Then Dave's game in Lorain at 6:00pm for a chili cook off and some poker. I should be home no later than 5:00am.
Later.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Mountaineer
Ventured down to Mountaineer the other day after having a spontaneous urge. Arrived at 11:00am and sat at a new table. I was one of the youngest players, with the average age probably around 50ish. Bought in for $300.00 and never looked back from there. I played tight aggressive, bluffed rarely and got paid all day.
The one hand I wish I got away from went as follows. I was dealt AA in late position, bet $15.00, one caller. flop K84o, caller made it $45.00. I put him on either AK or K?. I call, turn is blank, player pushed for $190.00. I go in tank can only put him on AK because I did not see him playing a set that fast and definately not on a draw. I call and he shows KK. Oh well, I should have known better.
On this particular day the casino was promoting flushes for a chance to win $100.00. If you have a flush whether it is a winner or loser, you get your name in a drawing held every two hours. I had a total of four flushes and won the drawing three times, Wahoo!
I played for 14 hours and netted $1,027.00 which included the drawing winnings. I really like playing there because it seems that people can't help but pay you off when you hold the nuts. In fact, a lot of times I overbet the river because I knew I would get called. It worked like a charm.
I am really learning to get away from trouble flops and sucker draws when I don't have the right odds and that is saving me a lot of chips. I am also playing the player more now instead of just focusing on their hand. It helps win uncontested pots in certain situations because I am being aggressive at the right times.
Thats all for now.
The one hand I wish I got away from went as follows. I was dealt AA in late position, bet $15.00, one caller. flop K84o, caller made it $45.00. I put him on either AK or K?. I call, turn is blank, player pushed for $190.00. I go in tank can only put him on AK because I did not see him playing a set that fast and definately not on a draw. I call and he shows KK. Oh well, I should have known better.
On this particular day the casino was promoting flushes for a chance to win $100.00. If you have a flush whether it is a winner or loser, you get your name in a drawing held every two hours. I had a total of four flushes and won the drawing three times, Wahoo!
I played for 14 hours and netted $1,027.00 which included the drawing winnings. I really like playing there because it seems that people can't help but pay you off when you hold the nuts. In fact, a lot of times I overbet the river because I knew I would get called. It worked like a charm.
I am really learning to get away from trouble flops and sucker draws when I don't have the right odds and that is saving me a lot of chips. I am also playing the player more now instead of just focusing on their hand. It helps win uncontested pots in certain situations because I am being aggressive at the right times.
Thats all for now.
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