Follow me on my journey from fledgling newbie to poker superstar. Or at least laugh at my jokes.
The Poker Dream: Part 1
Posted 26-09-2009 at 12:18 by Lovemonk
Disclaimer: The following blog is split into two parts (hence the title, yo), but don't worry, I provide a link at the end of this part taking you straight to the next one. Convenience for the win.
As I sit here at home, my first trip back after starting university, I can't help but wonder what I'd be doing right now if I hadn't fallen in love with poker a few months ago. I'd likely, most probably, be taking a look at the important reading material I need to swot up on for my mediation and representation lecture next week. But that, I tell you, lights a fire inside me like a limp fart compared to the heart racing excitement that is ye olde poker. In this blog I would like to talk to you, the humble Devil Fish forum dweller, about my journey thus far in the world of poker. It's one that I'm sure many of you have already taken but I'm sure that some who, like me, are just starting out, will find it somewhat comforting to know that there's somebody else out there who thinks it's a great idea to try and raise your betters out of the pot with AJo. We'll learn together, you and me. And for those of you already on the upper levels, at least you'll have found someone you can milk dry later on. It's a win win, really.
My poker dream almost didn't begin because I have a mental disability known as Tightio McPantus, a horrible condition that shuts the reasonable part of the brain down in and around environments and situations wherein my moderately hard earned pennies might up and leave my person. I do not know for certain, but I would guess that a lot of people have a proper ponder over whether it's a good thing to deposit their cash into a game that has so much luck involved. At least for a beginner because, when you start out, you don't necessarily have all the skills and abilities to simmer the luck part right down. But I think I probably had more trouble with that decision alone than most; I spent hours dancing around over it, justifying it to myself over and over again and then after letting somebody else hit the submit button I dedicated a good ten minutes to fake heart attack performance art. Overly dramatic, but sometimes that's the way I like to play it.
Finally, eventually, after all that, I settled down and bought into a micro stakes fixed limit Hold'em game. I was tight, afraid to put myself out there. I wanted to wait for a good hand, assured myself that I would only ever and always play tightly, because this was gambling – if I lost myself in the intoxicating fun I would surely be living under a bridge and trading my slender ass in for heroin money within a few years. I had to be very careful. But as time went on, I won a few pots, opened up slightly, and calmed down into a steady rhythm. It was love.
That was a few months ago, and since then things have moved on swimmingly. I've even deposited a few more times since, in an attempt to make the most of the bonus offers – which I'd recommend all newbies do. It means stumping up a little more scratch to begin with, but the bonuses are there to be had! Get them! I've gotten over the fact that I'm putting money into the game because I don't spend money in other areas (booze, drugs, whores) and – in honesty – I truly believe that the hours of fun I enjoy playing (regardless of whether I win) are worth it. At these stakes, anyway. I'm playing low enough that the fun itself is some kind of a return. But that's not to say that I'm not making any money. I split my time between DevilFish and PokerStars and although I'm not completely in the black (I experienced a pretty major down swing on PS, I was so unhappy that even a full bowl of Weetos couldn't produce a smile. You know it's a major issue when I'm now longer enthused by chocolate cereals) I'm winning bits and bobs here and there. I tend to do quite well at Omaha cash tables here on Devil Fish, and I placed in the money at a tournament last night as well. Then on PokerStars I've experienced some fortune in sit and go events and even a big tournament where I placed 94th out of 7740 so I'm doing okay. I think for the amount of time I've been playing in total as well, all things considered, I'm not doing too badly at all. I could certainly be doing worse, that's for sure.
So what are my strengths and weaknesses at this stage? My weakness, undoubtedly, is my self control and ability to let things go. I'm sure many would list this very same flaw. Too many times I start with a good hand and go in heavy after the flop because I'm ahead, but then things turn ugly at the turn and I don't want to believe it. He can't have hit that, no, no, I refuse to believe it, neigh, he's losing! But then, of course, I do end up losing and curse myself. I sometimes call exactly what he has, but disbelieve it and carry on, paying to see myself proved right. The old ego takes a quick boost at my reading skills, but then I kick my dumb ass self for losing the hand and money when I could've avoided it. I pay to lose. Not a good strategy, I assure you. If you're behind, fold. Fold, kid, fold! That's what I tell myself right before I take my pocket 7s further than they have the right to go. I'm working on it. Honest.
At other times, I forget my situation (that being the amount of players in, my position in terms of chips, and at the table) and go in without thinking. I might be on the verge of making the money with an opponent or two floundering helplessly beside me, but I'll still go in heavy when it's probably better to sit that one out and let the others destroy themselves. Much like the time I sat down for a twosie and then noticed a gigantic, 'roid popping wasp close by – the danger only comes to mind once I'm pot committed. Then comes the real action; the battle of wits. Going with my wasp/toilet metaphor (which really did happen, by the way), there's a few moments of sizing each other up, who'll make the first move, will the wasp come for me or me for him? Will I need to make a break for it, or can I simply sit there, push things out quicker than usual and get away free from harm? Sometimes I can rescue myself, and act as though the big bet was intentional and things work out. But sadly, at other times, I simply picked the wrong time to hit the can, and the wasp plants a ripe stinger on me while I'm trying to scuttle away, pants round my ankles and pathetically snivelling under the weight of my mistake. I have to pay more attention!
Go to Part 2...
As I sit here at home, my first trip back after starting university, I can't help but wonder what I'd be doing right now if I hadn't fallen in love with poker a few months ago. I'd likely, most probably, be taking a look at the important reading material I need to swot up on for my mediation and representation lecture next week. But that, I tell you, lights a fire inside me like a limp fart compared to the heart racing excitement that is ye olde poker. In this blog I would like to talk to you, the humble Devil Fish forum dweller, about my journey thus far in the world of poker. It's one that I'm sure many of you have already taken but I'm sure that some who, like me, are just starting out, will find it somewhat comforting to know that there's somebody else out there who thinks it's a great idea to try and raise your betters out of the pot with AJo. We'll learn together, you and me. And for those of you already on the upper levels, at least you'll have found someone you can milk dry later on. It's a win win, really.
My poker dream almost didn't begin because I have a mental disability known as Tightio McPantus, a horrible condition that shuts the reasonable part of the brain down in and around environments and situations wherein my moderately hard earned pennies might up and leave my person. I do not know for certain, but I would guess that a lot of people have a proper ponder over whether it's a good thing to deposit their cash into a game that has so much luck involved. At least for a beginner because, when you start out, you don't necessarily have all the skills and abilities to simmer the luck part right down. But I think I probably had more trouble with that decision alone than most; I spent hours dancing around over it, justifying it to myself over and over again and then after letting somebody else hit the submit button I dedicated a good ten minutes to fake heart attack performance art. Overly dramatic, but sometimes that's the way I like to play it.
Finally, eventually, after all that, I settled down and bought into a micro stakes fixed limit Hold'em game. I was tight, afraid to put myself out there. I wanted to wait for a good hand, assured myself that I would only ever and always play tightly, because this was gambling – if I lost myself in the intoxicating fun I would surely be living under a bridge and trading my slender ass in for heroin money within a few years. I had to be very careful. But as time went on, I won a few pots, opened up slightly, and calmed down into a steady rhythm. It was love.
That was a few months ago, and since then things have moved on swimmingly. I've even deposited a few more times since, in an attempt to make the most of the bonus offers – which I'd recommend all newbies do. It means stumping up a little more scratch to begin with, but the bonuses are there to be had! Get them! I've gotten over the fact that I'm putting money into the game because I don't spend money in other areas (booze, drugs, whores) and – in honesty – I truly believe that the hours of fun I enjoy playing (regardless of whether I win) are worth it. At these stakes, anyway. I'm playing low enough that the fun itself is some kind of a return. But that's not to say that I'm not making any money. I split my time between DevilFish and PokerStars and although I'm not completely in the black (I experienced a pretty major down swing on PS, I was so unhappy that even a full bowl of Weetos couldn't produce a smile. You know it's a major issue when I'm now longer enthused by chocolate cereals) I'm winning bits and bobs here and there. I tend to do quite well at Omaha cash tables here on Devil Fish, and I placed in the money at a tournament last night as well. Then on PokerStars I've experienced some fortune in sit and go events and even a big tournament where I placed 94th out of 7740 so I'm doing okay. I think for the amount of time I've been playing in total as well, all things considered, I'm not doing too badly at all. I could certainly be doing worse, that's for sure.
So what are my strengths and weaknesses at this stage? My weakness, undoubtedly, is my self control and ability to let things go. I'm sure many would list this very same flaw. Too many times I start with a good hand and go in heavy after the flop because I'm ahead, but then things turn ugly at the turn and I don't want to believe it. He can't have hit that, no, no, I refuse to believe it, neigh, he's losing! But then, of course, I do end up losing and curse myself. I sometimes call exactly what he has, but disbelieve it and carry on, paying to see myself proved right. The old ego takes a quick boost at my reading skills, but then I kick my dumb ass self for losing the hand and money when I could've avoided it. I pay to lose. Not a good strategy, I assure you. If you're behind, fold. Fold, kid, fold! That's what I tell myself right before I take my pocket 7s further than they have the right to go. I'm working on it. Honest.
At other times, I forget my situation (that being the amount of players in, my position in terms of chips, and at the table) and go in without thinking. I might be on the verge of making the money with an opponent or two floundering helplessly beside me, but I'll still go in heavy when it's probably better to sit that one out and let the others destroy themselves. Much like the time I sat down for a twosie and then noticed a gigantic, 'roid popping wasp close by – the danger only comes to mind once I'm pot committed. Then comes the real action; the battle of wits. Going with my wasp/toilet metaphor (which really did happen, by the way), there's a few moments of sizing each other up, who'll make the first move, will the wasp come for me or me for him? Will I need to make a break for it, or can I simply sit there, push things out quicker than usual and get away free from harm? Sometimes I can rescue myself, and act as though the big bet was intentional and things work out. But sadly, at other times, I simply picked the wrong time to hit the can, and the wasp plants a ripe stinger on me while I'm trying to scuttle away, pants round my ankles and pathetically snivelling under the weight of my mistake. I have to pay more attention!
Go to Part 2...
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Recent Blog Entries by Lovemonk
- Bankroll We Hardly Knew Ye (30-11-2009)
- The Poker Dream: Part 1 (26-09-2009)
- The Poker Dream: Part 2 (26-09-2009)
