blonde poker forum

James "MC" Atkin

James says "I have been playing poker since 2004 where I picked it up at Uni. I have played all stakes from micro to nosebleed, but these days I am a SNG grinder..." but he's a bit more than that as his Live MTT results in 2009 attest to, with several deep finishes in DTD biggies and culminating in his victory in the E500 Poker Stars UKIPT Galway side event last week.

Meanwhile he has recently completed a 3700 SNG month in a challenge on the blonde forum that you can see  Here  (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=44925.0)

and you can see his blog  Here  (http://atkinator.blogspot.com/)  Just don't talk to him about Estate Agents.

Feel free to ask James any question you like, and he'll answer questions through the next week, though mostly after DTD this weekend............


Here is James, shortly after his Galway win....

Toughest player you've ever played live?

Most overrated player you've ever played live?

Do you think you'll be playing poker forever?

Any future goals?

What do you think about Richard Prew? Do you agree he's a cheeky little monkey?

Who is your favourite estate agent?

Who is your least favourite estate agent?

How do you find the motivation to play that amount of volume online?

How on earth can you get away with spending so long playing online poker with a new baby? are you not called to help out alot in the middle of SnG's?

welcome to the well

please answer these using the medium of rap

-do you prefer the dwarves in time bandits or snow white?

-any plans to go back to grinding hu?

-are you playing the world series this year?

Do you ever regret disbanding the Proclaimers?

Have you ever been an MC? If not, where does that nickname come from?

Why dont you put the effort in to promote 7up anymore?

It used to be cool now its not as cool.

Also if you could choose any artist for Prew Diddy to work with who would it be? Personally I would love to see him work with N-Dubz.

Thx

Toughest player you've ever played live?
Joshua Tyler springs to mind...

Most overrated player you've ever played live?
That's tough, I dunno if there's anyone I've happened to sit down with that I knew was supposed to be good where I've thought "wow, they seem like a donk." I guess I'm going to have to say David Williams because I bust him in an event where he managed to get it in last three way in the first level or two with AQ on JQx with 2 spades when I held JQ and the other guy had KT of spades. Was a pretty standard fold for him the way it played out.

Do you think you'll be playing poker forever?
I think so, at least to some extent.

Any future goals?
Would obviously like to bink something big poker-wise, becoming a Red pro / PokerStars pro obviously would be nice, however unlikely

Out of poker a few things have kind of taken a back seat...finishing my degree is still a thought, actually doing something with my MCing as well, still kind of want to become a Primary School teacher.

What do you think about Richard Prew? Do you agree he's a cheeky little monkey?
LOL, I've only met him a couple of times when he's been doing Live Updates. I like him, think he's a nice guy. Perhaps wouldn't agree that he's a cheeky little monkey lol, though I do wish he'd stop alerting people when a thread has been bumped fhdsjfhsgajhhfsdlf.

Rage Against the Machine or Joe from the X-Factor?

Clubs or Diamonds?

Kylie or Danni?

Southpark or The Simpsons?

How much harder do you think it is to make money from poker now than three or four years ago, both for a full-time player or a half-decent recreational player?

Who is your favourite estate agent?
I don't have one

Who is your least favourite estate agent?
Pygott & Crone...we had to move out and back into our house about 18 months ago to break our ties with them so we could just go directly through the landlady because they were just tilt. Upon handing the keys over, the inspector guy noticed a few crumbs still on the kitchen worktop. He complained about them, and when I went to brush them off he said "Don't touch them, it's too late now" and proceeded to do a close up photograph of them. I mean WTF!

How do you find the motivation to play that amount of volume online?
I guess it's just the fact the more you play the more dosh you make. It feels like I'm effectively printing money in the games I'm playing, just reallllllllllllllly slowly. If you had a machine that produced a 50p piece every minute, but it required you to be operating it to do so, you'd probably spend a decent amount of time doing it, even if it was a real grindy process.

Are you shipping us that $220? :)

Would you prefer to collarate with phrelard freeman or jeff madsen?

also

Tupac or biggie?

How on earth can you get away with spending so long playing online poker with a new baby? are you not called to help out alot in the middle of SnG's?

I'm kind of lucky that my girlfriend loves being a mum and is happy to do most of the work. I've been treating poker almost like a 9-5 job so that I get to spend evenings with them both, and I chip in when I can. If you think about it though I'm able to do as much if not more than the average Dad who drives off to work 5 days a week after the first 2 weeks paternity leave. At least I get to spend some of my sync breaks trying to make him smile :)

In that one answer all the men on the forum thing you are god, all the single women think you are sweet and all the mothers on the forum are cursing your name.

please answer these using the medium of rap

-do you prefer the dwarves in time bandits or snow white?

I've never heard of the time bandits, are they wee little men?
Oh wait, I see now, I just Wikipedia'd them
If I watch the film I'm sure it's cool, and hopefully cheesy
But I grew up watching Grumpy, Dopey and Sneezy
So I gotta go with them, if you think that sucks man
I don't care, cos the Time Bandits are really a Dutch band

-any plans to go back to grinding hu?
You want me to bust raps about Heads Up and such crap
Do I wanna look at going back to those things? Fuck that!

-are you playing the world series this year?
I don't know bro, maybe if I got a logo I wouldn't no show
But I haven't been since '07 so I kinda hope so
It's on for so long, maybe I'll hit it and run
But I'll have to persuade the missus, or get the missus to come!

Best well ever and it's only page one.

edit - doh!

 ;applause; ;applause; ;applause;

thankyou

Do you ever regret disbanding the Proclaimers?
Rofl, I have had the Proclaimers thing thrown at me a couple of times, it's always nice when some random drunken person comes up to you in a bar and sings "And I would walk...."

Have you ever been an MC? If not, where does that nickname come from?
Yeah man, I've been rapping since I was about 16...it used to go down well at Uni in talent shows and I'd freestyle over karaoke songs and stuff. http://www.myspace.com/mcepitome <--- Some of my songs on there but they are quite old now as I have been lazy in not recording for ages.

genius

Why dont you put the effort in to promote 7up anymore?

That bastard Cool Spot nicked some of my spotlight for a while, but I reclaimed it well I think. I still appear on cans and adverts, but I'm pretty lazy as seen below...

(http://norolynx.com/images/fido_dido5.jpg)


Also if you could choose any artist for Prew Diddy to work with who would it be? Personally I would love to see him work with N-Dubz.

Either Immortal Technique or Bonnie Tyler, obv...

have you got your drinking boots on for tonight?

do you play credit card roulette for bills?

do you know any good drinking games?

are you bringing that 50p printing machine you mentioned i could do with borrowing that? ;)

Holy crap is that actually you? I thought the whole 'MC' thing was a pisstake but that actually sounded pretty good, I thought it was going to be crap, very suprised/impressed.

Have you ever rang into the Tim Westwood show?

respec'

I think James should have a December prop bet where all his posts are a little rap.

Am skipping a few just cos I'm about to head to B'ham for a night out and these questions won't really apply when I get back. Also I'm trying to avoid tank's question about the $220 I owe him :)  Will answer the others asap!


have you got your drinking boots on for tonight?
Hell yes

do you play credit card roulette for bills?
I haven't actually done this yet, me and Dan often do rock-paper-scissors for shit like this, in which he either has an edge or has just run really good at. Tbh I think Stu and Dan are so balla they should just pay by default...

do you know any good drinking games?
Played some funky card drinking game that was kinda decent last time, can't remember what it was called. Adapting Cheat aka bullshit into a drinking game can be alright. The game where you have to name a celebrity using the first letter of the previously used celebrity's surname can be mildly entertaining I guess.

are you bringing that 50p printing machine you mentioned i could do with borrowing that? ;)
Printing machine is immovable from a secure location that requires my retina scan, oh and an RSA security token....sorry :P

Brilliant.

I think we should have MC do a rap at the end of each days live updates on blonde, working title "MC's wrap".

My intervention is a sick track.... rated James!

Confirmed.  MC is the greatest.

James, many congrats on your win in Ireland, it was so well deserved, really happy for you.

I've got one serious question, and two silly ones. I'll start with the silly ones:

- You must be one of the most discplined, focused and organised players there is. What kind of things do you do to maintain such a steady bankroll?
- How much do you feel  internet poker has improved in the last 2/3 years? Do you think it could continue to improve to the stage where it is basically unbeatable?

And now for the serious one:

- what do you think of my chances against Dan in the bottle of wine charity downing bet? Or should we do the Broad street bar crawl?

Wow this is the most epic well ever.

The rap was bloody genius nice one.



How much did having a baby improve your poker?

Do you think you will EVER play tourneys for a living? What do you think of the tourney lifestyle?



















When did you decide to become a comedian? Is the money better than in poker?




(http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/dailyrecord2/mar2006/4/6/00056B8C-20F9-1408-8B400C01AC1BF814.jpg)

Was'nt you on the Xfactor a few years back?

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1mQ_B3Q65c

FAIL

My Intervention  ;tightend; ;tightend; ;tightend;
Didn't realise your an mc, who made the beats or did you do it all?

Question for the well: Do you like Indian food, if so what is your favourite dish?


Cheers

just re watched this is abs com lols

These MySpace tunes are incred!!!

Are you shitting me? The Rhythm of Life is immense

WOW James !...U sure ur not Eminem stand in?   U sound just like him... I'm a big G Rap fan..Ur Really good... Respect....

Is the whole rapping a level? I've never spoke to you, but really cant put your face to the sound. Massive props for doing something you love though wpwpwp.

What are your experience with cash poker, if you were to decide to start playing 6 max cash, obviously from your personality I think you'd start low, but where do you think you would be able to jump in and be a winning player straight away?

What did you study at uni/what uni, do you do anything associated to your course?

Training websites are bombarded with cash videos, not so much sng/mtt and the content imo is pretty poor. 1) What is the best website in your opinion 2) Have you been approached to do videos before/given the opportunity would you?

Wow im impressed, never knew you took the Mc ing seriously.

Can we get you to MC over the DTD mike at the Monte Carlo instead of the Trumper tourney updates?

This. In fact can we have absolutely anything except Trumper tourney updates.

When i first came to know you James you were playing the highest stakes available on Tribeca $2k SNG's $20-$40 NL and $150-$300 limit cash.

I was wondering if you don't mind giving us the story of how you happened to get to those stakes, and then the journey back down the ladder again, as someone who doesn't appear to be a mad spinup merchant i imagine it will be rather unique.

Wow, didnt know about your past!
Please include in the above story what volume of $2k sngs you played and how many at a time.
Having 10 $2k sng's tiled up at a time would be pretty impressive.

Why do you rap like a yankee?

Do you ever think to yourself that there must be better things to do than play a silly card game?

When someone asks what you do for a living do you answer with a sense of pride or awkward embarrassment?

Have you ever thought about transferring your skills to the money markets?

Mick Mccool said in his blog that you bore the tits off him; are you bothered?

Live tells - important or over rated?

pretty sure mick stakes james into a few tournies and obv everything mick says is tongue in cheek.

Yeah - Nice bink for Mick in Galway

Did he? I thought him and James were on good terms.

The like able James Atkin hasn't updated this week as his newly born baby has finally arrived. Best of luck to him and his family, he deserves all the luck he gets as he is a lovely fella and I'm sure the entry telling us all about the new arrival will be worth waiting for

From Mick's blog a couple of months ago.

Definately must have been a joke if he said it. Recently on Twitter...

Come on Paul Marrow and James Atkin. 3 days ago

wow your tunes are great! was in the mood then for some hip hop and found out that Derek B recently passed away aged 44. So sad. RIP.

the best in town

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEPZEPpjYv8

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpIZLnNKwq8

Feeling so rough from going out with Stu Rutter, Dan Carter and Guy (surname?) last night, but I'll attempt to catch up a bit!! Sorry if I haven't responded to your comments yet, will go post by post in order...

Rage Against the Machine or Joe from the X-Factor?
I thought Joe was the best from week one so I'll have to say him even if that makes me a bit gay. Not against the boycott X-Factor idea but I'm not really a heavy metal fan

All I really knew about them was an Eminem quote
"'I'm a caged demon, on stage screaming like Rage Against the Machine"

Not really a fan of all that shoutey stuff, but actually the song is okay.

Clubs or Diamonds?
Gotta be the greens

Kylie or Danni?
Would have def said Kylie a few years ago but don't see much of her and Dannii always looks pretty hot on X-Factor

Southpark or The Simpsons?
I like both, but I must have watched 10x as much Simpsons, mainly cos of all the repeats I guess. South Park is probs slightly funnier though. Cartman ftw.

How much harder do you think it is to make money from poker now than three or four years ago, both for a full-time player or a half-decent recreational player?
I've definitely noticed a major difference, I'd say it's much harder now.  For recreational players if you aren't up to speed with software and learning facilities you're at a big disadvantage. For professionals there's just a higher percentage of good players. I won't say much more cos I think a similar question comes up again...

Oopsie, this slipped my mind. If someone could please ship tank $220 to Rudyard (A) on Full Tilt I'll ship you on PokerStars...

Q1. Simon Trumpet

Q2. Simon Trumpet :)

Nah, Tupac definitely on this one

Lol perhaps. At least I'm pleasing the single women, that's the main thing.

(Wp me telling my gf about this thread)

Glad you all liked the rap lol


It is actually me, a lot of people take a while to believe it when they first hear. Thanks for the faith you had in me lol, but pleased you liked it, tar for checking it out.

I just realised I called myself MC on Blonde because that was my nickname at Uni...

I've never rang into the Tim Westwood show, though I did once try and give Trevor Nelson a demo when he came to do a set at my Uni, lol.

[ ] The stage staff sure gave it to him

FYP

I think I'd ship this prop bet for sure, especially if I limited my posts to PHA!

bah, didnt even rap your response, baaah

My intention was to rap, only if asked to
Don't make me get Barry Neville to come and bitch slap you
Damn you, but ok, fine, I'll post some rapping
For this guy who's like a fuckin women, he's just so demanding
I'm planning to embarass you, you'll wish you never asked
This Editor's a bit of an arsehole <---lets see you edit that!
I write for PokerNews, but a business relationship isn't enough for Baz
It's nothing to with firing me when he said he wants me sacked!
Barry's playing a short-stack, that's what I'm telling the Well
And when I showed him my 'article' he was jealous as hell!

:P

Its just guy, I'm like a brazillian footballer!

I only tag on the fake surname when at work. (For a hint see my sig) ;o)

Lol gotcha.

I need some love for the Barry diss please, I've risked upsetting a good mate who's helped me out a lot just for some cheap laughs!

lol - all good - lovin the barry lines ................ sure he wont break too many bones ;0)

I cant believe I just got dissed by James Atkin
the tiny little sod weighs the same as a napkin
its no surprise that you and your son are the same weight
but its totally amazing in the first place that you found a girl to impregnate
he wins one side event in Galway and he thinks he is a champ like Greg Raymer
but we all know the he is the bastard son of a fido dido and a proclaimer

right sod it, that will do, it took me half a bleedin hour. shchizle my nizzle and all that.

quality!

+1

Rofl, that was very good for your first battle rap!

Wp sir

lol baz, pretty good

Ha, superb Baz.

Ja to rap in next bb

All subsequent posts which aren't in rhyme will be ignored.

omg this is like the best thing ever!!!!

Just very good? He just kicked your ass - you better bring the heat now!

rotflmfao rotflmfao rotflmfao rotflmfao

Was gonna get it lie and actually answer some questions...........but ok :)


Barry, you say I'm not really a champ, for that I don't hate you
But you play a £150 FO every 3 months so what does that make you?!
Okay I'm thin, but your weak disses get me bored
Cos when you have a baby, you'll be able to breast feed yours!
You know you've got a moob problem more than other fellas
When you take your top off, and your girlfriend gets jealous
In steel city you like to feel pretty, ask and you go blushy
When I say you're in make-up...I don't mean you owe Flushy


;izimbra;

You must be one of the most discplined, focused and organised players there is. What kind of things do you do to maintain such a steady bankroll?
Thanks btw dude. I've definitely learnt from my past mistakes which I'm sure will come up when I get to Flushy's question. I think as long as you are beating the game you are playing and have a decent number of buy-ins to back you up you'll be okay. I've been known to move around between different types of poker, and I think it's about finding the thing you are most comfortable and happy playing, and of course what you have to most edge with. I decided to experiment with MTT SNGs in the summer after Salfi came on the board and said how well he was doing with them, and I was surprised you could make so much playing such low stakes SNGs. The games are soft enough that the money is fairly steady, and the same principle applied when I played HUSNGs, though I think it's important to game select a lot with these.

How much do you feel  internet poker has improved in the last 2/3 years? Do you think it could continue to improve to the stage where it is basically unbeatable?
As I said before, it has noticeably improved a lot, the sharks are filtering down to lower and lower stakes which is kind of worrying. I think because of the association to gambling there are always going to be recreational players out there, and in poker people often lead themselves to believe they are better than they are (myself included!). I'm hopeful the games won't ever get so hard that they are unbeatable, but I wouldn't rule out that they might get nearly to this point. Let's hope not!

what do you think of my chances against Dan in the bottle of wine charity downing bet? Or should we do the Broad street bar crawl?
Based on you downing 2 Smirnoff Ices in 6.8 seconds with no straw, with Dan downing half of one bottle in the same time, I'm thinking your chances are pretty good. I enjoyed the bar crawl, I didn't enjoy the hangover!

How much did having a baby improve your poker?
Finding out Liz was pregnant had a hugely positive effect on my game. It installed the responsibility and discipline I'd lacked in the past, which was a necessary improvement in my game. I felt I had to prove to myself that I could do this for a living all over again, and I've definitely had the steadiest year of my poker career because of it. And steady is a nice word when thinking about poker I think. I did write an article on this here (http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2009/09/challenge-james-fatherhood-1371.htm) if you are interested

Do you think you will EVER play tourneys for a living? What do you think of the tourney lifestyle?
MTTs are perhaps the only game I've never had a real crack at playing regularly. I like my current schedule of playing during the daytime, and I think playing the MTT schedule isn't ideal when you've got a family to think of. I have thought about it a fair amount, because they are closely related to what I am playing right now and the ROI achievable in them is appealing. But the swings are supposed to be pretty brutal which isn't something I'd look forward to. Nick Rainey certainly makes the MTT route look rather appealing, and several Blondes do really well off of them, so perhaps I will have a crack at the whip of this sometime soon...

& Yes I look a little like Frankie Boyle, har-de-har!

I remember seeing that guy on X-Factor lol. I actually did go to the first audition of Britain's got Talent last year funnily enough. Think I sounded a little better than him, but obviously not good enough.


Thanks dude, the beats aren't mine, they are all from online producers.

I like Indian food, but don't eat it regularly so don't really have a favourite. Mango chutney ftw though.

Hey James, I use SNG Wizard and it's the best thing like this as far as I'm aware. TableNinja + HEM + SNG Wiz = the nuts.

No I wasn't joking about Josh Tyler lol. This is based on playing him a few times in early 2008. I don't play a whole bunch live so there aren't many people I have a decent sample size on, and there will be a lot of people I just haven't played against. Paul Jackson has always impressed me, and William Martin did recently. Michael Tureniec as well. Obviously John Eames, Praz Bansi, Akenhead and people like that might be on a lot of people's lists, but I've played very few hands with Eames John and Praz, and none with James as far as I recall.

Thanks for all the compliments about my songs btw. I really need to get round to recording some more, I have so many written that I haven't recorded.

Is the whole rapping a level? I've never spoke to you, but really cant put your face to the sound. Massive props for doing something you love though wpwpwp.
You can probably tell by now it's not a level lol. I remember a 6th form friend of mine said I was "the least likely rapper ever" when they found out that I did it.

What are your experience with cash poker, if you were to decide to start playing 6 max cash, obviously from your personality I think you'd start low, but where do you think you would be able to jump in and be a winning player straight away?
I played some 6-max cash for Black Belt Grading in May. I tried to just jump straight into it from HUSNGs, on the basis that I used to crush a high stakes cash game a couple of years previously. I watched a Cardrunners video or two beforehand and Alex Martin gave me a quick sweat session. But even after that I didn't do very well and was down a fair few buy-ins...so the answer is no I think. There's too many rakeback-regs and short stackers for me, even at these low stakes. At least on iPoker anywayz.

What did you study at uni/what uni, do you do anything associated to your course?
I studied Law with Applied Social Studies at Keele University....umm I try not to break the law, that's about it!...

Training websites are bombarded with cash videos, not so much sng/mtt and the content imo is pretty poor. 1) What is the best website in your opinion 2) Have you been approached to do videos before/given the opportunity would you?
I've only been a member of CardRunners, which has some good content, but tend to agree with you that those things are inferior to all the cash videos. I've heard PokerXFactor is perhaps the best for this kind of thing, so might have a look at that in the near future. I haven't been asked directly, though someone has said they would suggest me to a site. I might do it, but can't imagine the financial reward is really worth it, especially as I'd be helping people beat the games I regularly play in.

Lol interesting idea. I think we should get Barry to do them though, see if he can really cut it :)

This should be interesting, and perhaps quite long. Will answer this next time I do a batch.......

I was gonna stop but then you had to mention my man boob
you are supposed to be a rapper, but you just got schooled by a 30 year old white noob
you might be slim and I might be Bernard manning
but at least I didn't get rejected by Neil Channing
you didn't even get a blue belt back then, and I got supernova
and now you are on less than 20% rakeback, peace out this battles over

wiggy wiggy, uh uh, one two one two its the remix etc

rofl ;tightend;

James says:
"you didn't even get a blue belt back then, and I got supernova
and now you are on less than 20% rakeback, peace out this battles over"
that's beyond awesome
rofl
Barry says:
yeah, hitting a grinder where it hurts, his rakeback, can say what i want about your woman or your momma, but dont mention the rakeback

dont ruin the image that we are eastside vs westside gangsters locked in a bitter war, gangsters dont chat on msn

This could well be the best "In the Well" ever

 rotflmfao

this rap battle is epic.

keep it going boys.

see you today Atkinz

Great well James. keep it going....

Ha this thread is so com, Barry you are a legend!

Wow, this thread is entertaining, great work MC.

I read your article on Poker News- how/when did you begin writing for them?

Also, much respect for this, after obviously playing so much higher in the past.

How many football grounds have you been too?

5 fave people to be trapped in a lift with for a month?

Hows the house insurance going?  :D

And the single mothers?

What's ur fav street fighter character?

Been busy the last few days so apologies for taking so long to answer my next batch of questions. This is gonna be a long post I'm sure...


Okay, so I started playing poker in my 2nd year of Uni, when all of our house went round to our nearby friends' house to play a home game they held often. I did well in that game through beginners luck only I'm sure, and ended up signing up to 888.com and donating small amounts on there as I obviously had no idea what I was doing. I'd go to play a £20 rebuy or whatever occasionally and eventually joined the poker society at Uni and stuff. I'd say I mucked about like this for 9-12 months without ever taking it seriously, though I think I did run up a decent roll ($2-3k or something) one time playing heads-ups on 888, but I think I tilt monkied it off.

Shortly into my 3rd year at Uni (around October 2005) I deposited some money on a Boss Media skin which one of the guys at Uni told me about, and I won $1k or something playing heads ups, and I moved this onto VC on Tribeca after the student promotion they had going alerted me to the superiority of the software (may it RIP). I did okay on there playing heads ups for a couple of weeks, and maybe built to $3k or something. I think something to do with their customer service pissed me off and I moved onto Blue Square which someone told me was the same software. I started playing the $500 Heads Ups when I was obviously under-rolled to do so, but I just started to rake it in. I started playing $1k Heads Ups, and all I can say is that I built up to $35k in several weeks without any major downswings. I obviously ran good not to busto with my original lack of buy-ins, but had some kinda knack for the game.

I remember seeing a game going whilst back home at my parents house, sat on their computer, it was $150/300 fixed limit and a full handed game was going. People were sat with $6-10k and for some reason I took a shot at the game with my $35k. I had a sickly good session, and won like $12-15k over a couple of hours, which spun my head at how easily I'd just won so much money in a short space of time.

I think I still played heads ups when there wasn't a game going, but I now played $150/300 and did very well at the game, which was mostly short-handed. I think I went to play the Midland Masters in Walsall around this time after Blue Sq gave me a call and I went to play my first 4 live tournaments that weren't dodgy £20 rebuys. I remember busting in the 1st £300 freezeout and going back to my Uni room and making more money than 1st place in the $150/300 game. In the subsequent £500 and £750 I finished 3rd in both, and I remember Alan McClean knocked me out the £1500 main event when we both had like 3x or 4x the average each and got it in with Jc Tc on 2c 8c 9d board against his Kings. Soon after this I definitely took 3 weeks or so off poker to finish all my essays and study for exams and stuff.

I built my roll up to about £100k playing the $500/1k heads ups and $50/100 and $150/300 limit. It was my second semster at Uni now. I remember going to the Union one night, coming back drunk, and deciding to play a session (wp me). I killed the game and I closed my laptop $11k up or something. Went to the bathroom or whatever, came back and thought "fuck it, I'm doing so well, I'll play a bit longer" (wp me). I went on to lose about $20k from this point, which was perhaps my 2nd biggest downswing to this point, and definitely my most rapid hit. I obviously regret going back on the computer, but I think worse than that was that rather than take it on the chin I did something incredibly stupid the next day and deposited something like £20k on Cryptologic and lost £19k playing £150/300 limit on there. I went to dinner with a girl I fancied at this point (lol), I can't imagine I was good company but I did my best to disguise the inner turmoil I was going through. I remember I went back online and somehow ran that £1k into £20k playing heads up limit cash games. But then I sat back in the £150/300 I had lost £19k at earlier (wp me) and lost the lot.

I was obviously new to dealing with losing money, let alone the astronomical amounts involved here, and the truth was I couldn't deal with it. I spent all my days trying to win my money back, rather than studying. I went to lectures, but I couldn't concentrate. I remember spending a whole lecture trying to take my mind off how much money I had lost by thinking about wrestling, which is something I enjoy watching. I wasn't quite so stupid as to lose my roll on Cryptological in the manner I had lost that £20k, but I think my roll gradually dipped to £55k or something. At this point I refused to re-deposit more than like £1k at a time, and I tried to rebuild from that, playing heads ups. I made my money difficult to access so it would always take me a couple of days to deposit, and I remember effectively locking myself in my room watching DVDs all day on a couple of occasions. I was a mess. My housemates were worried about me. I used to always be late going out with them because I would play poker, then go out at like 11.30 so I just made it on time. I definitely rang the samaritans once in this time, and part of me never wanted to play poker again. Which on reflection of how I donked off my cash might have been wise. I clearly had a gambling problem.

It got to be the day before "hand-in-day" and I had 2 4000 word essays due of which I had written down approximately 40 words (about the total of the combined title's of the essays). I went to student support and told them what had happened. I showed them my bank statements for the last 6 months, and they gave me a leave of absence from Uni so that I could come back and repeat the semester next year. I was so happy about this at the time.

I think this ease of pressure helped me stop being such a retard with poker, and I didn't spunk off any more of my roll in the way that I had before. I can't really remember what happened over those few months. I went to Barcelona after Blue Sq put me into the Heads up Championships in May. I think I was playing heads ups and doing quite well, but perhaps having the odd session where I'd do my money playing out of my roll. I'm really not sure. I know one of my second semester modules I was going to redo got moved to being in the first semester the following year, so I commuted to Uni once a week to study for that, and perhaps wasn't playing too much poker.

Sometime in December (2006) though I got back into doing well in high stakes. I had a decent online MTT win or something, and also got a 2nd in a live event in Luton that I had decided to go and play. For some reason I noticed for the first time a $20/40 NL game running and being Mr Bankroll Management, I sat down with $3k or something. I guess I went on some sick spin up, cos I went on to rebuild my roll to its former glory playing this game of about £100k. I would sit in with the 200 big blinds you were allowed to and just crush it. I swear down this game was easier than your average $1/2 game is these days.

I'm sure I ran good as well. I have to tell you about my most interesting pot ever. I was sat with $14k in this game, and villain just had me covered. He min-raised under the gun. I 3bet the small blind with KK, he 4 bet to like $1k and I called. It came down a K83 rainbow (mbsfn), I lead the flop and we get our money in. He has 88. I turn my head from the screen keeping one eye on the table, thinking please no 8, and I just about can make out that the 8 hits the turn. Before this has time to sink in, the King hits the river. So unreal.

I went to Atlantic City in January 07 for the WPT festival at Borgata. I ended up bubbling in the very last satellite to the $10k event when there were 13 seats available, and I lost a bunch of money playing online in my hotel room that day. Again there was almost like a trigger to the downfall, which was always inevitable because you can't have everything go your way in poker forever. I just let it affect me so much more than it should have done. I would have been one hell of a player at the time if I just had some self control.

In the next couple of weeks I didn't do great in the game. I remember making a hero call for a $18k pot in a 3-way pot where the guy overjammed the turn when it checked to him on a 68T7 board. I made this sick call with JT, based on my knowledge of the player. He had A8 and binked an Ace. I know that's kind of a standard beat, but it was significant for me at the time, it was like the last straw of a downswing that had put me back down to £70k. I was back at Uni now, and there was this girl I had met, and I think I just stopped playing for a period.

Actually at some point whilst I was still at Uni something happened that had a negative effect on the next few months. I let a friend on my account to play a satellite or something, and he decided he would lose £2.5k of my money playing blackjack. You would think this would help deter me from ever touching the game, but for some reason I started playing a bit of blackjack as well. It was something to do with the fact I had no time to play poker, but I guess my gambling brain was missing its endorphins. I didn't play that much at this point, but this was a prelude to bad things happening down the line.

You might think that staying away from poker would have helped me finish my degree, but the truth is my heart just wasn't in it.  was preoccupied with this girl that I met and really liked, and on top of that I just didn't study enough. I did well in 1 of the 4 modules I had redone, but that was about it. It's one of my biggest regrets cos I was so close. One day I'll finish it off lol.


Okay time for a breather, I'm sorry this is all just rambling really, but I said I was going to be explicitly honest in this well. I think perhaps only my girlfriend and perhaps Dan Carter know the full story of my poker career, but this was all a long time ago now and perhaps I've reinvented myself so dramatically I can talk about all this stuff without being ashamed about it.

Cliff notes
Played for about a year doing not very much, moved onto Tribeca, won £100k playing Heads Ups and $150/300 limit in a few months. Lost about half. Played not making money for a fair few months. Did well in a couple of MTTs. Spun it up on $20/40 NL and got my roll back to where it was. Lost about 1/3. Had a break from playing poker.

Next up, Las Vegas in June 2007 ----------------> Becoming a grinder

gtfo

(+ I guess it's cos all the hip-hop I'm into is American)

great post James - had no clue about some of this stuff.

great read bud and love the honesty

Thanks guys. I'm sure I've missed lil' bits out and I'm sure it could have been more coherent but nm!


Do you ever think to yourself that there must be better things to do than play a silly card game?
Yeah, definitely have these moments. It's not like it's the most morally rewarding job that's for sure. I hope I get round to being a Primary School Teacher at some point, because I think I will be really good at it and as you infer it would be more rewarding.

When someone asks what you do for a living do you answer with a sense of pride or awkward embarrassment?
Definitely the latter, although I'm not sure why. My gf said I should start answering like it's a good thing because people perhaps react to the way you say it. Most people just assume you are a gambler which is annoying (although based on my above mega-post, probably wouldn't have been inaccurate 3 years ago). Inevitably when they realise you make your living taking money off other people you are almost made to feel embarassed anyway!

Have you ever thought about transferring your skills to the money markets?
My brother tried to turn me onto this, even using some of his contacts from Uni to try and get me an apprentiship in London for a financial company because of the poker skills (before I ballsed up my degree the 2nd time). Not really something I was bothered about myself in retrospect.

Mick Mccool said in his blog that you bore the tits off him; are you bothered?
Lol nah man, I thought it was funny tbh. If this is the biggest insult Mick has ever thrown at you then he really must like you!

Live tells - important or over rated?
I think they are important, I wish I was better at them. The most I really get is a feeling rather than a dead accurate tell. They say any edge you can get in poker is important, and if you can make a decision you wouldn't make online because of a reliable tell, then that has to be a good thing...

Great post James. Thankyou for taking the time.

Uncomfortable reading, especially about the gaps in your memory. Do you ever worry you'll go back to the way you were before?

wow mate, this is gonna be a great read.

Great read so far and fair play for being totally honest.

A fair amount of the things you describe I remember myself doing similar(but on sports betting not poker)and also with regard the social aspects you describe.Somewhat similar paths I believe,but you are maybe 1 year further down that path than myself at the moment,making it all a fascinating read(as well as your blog)

Riviting stuff James. can't wait for Las Vegas in June 2007 ----------------> Becoming a grinder

That long post was a bit odd James.

It was riveting reading and everything, but it just didn't rhyme at all.

Looking forward to the next bit, as long as it's a proper rap.

so very good

Great post James, i am so very glad you agreed to do the well, thanks.

+1 ... Keep them coming!

:)

and +1 on anyone who appreciated the honesty of the last post.

enjoyed the last post. good read.

an excellent well so far, looking forward to reading more.

Totally amazed at the long post, not that its an unusual story in poker, but simply because of all the discipline you show grinding the low stakes games these days.

Wow fascinating post, it so doesn't fit into the way I would have imagined you would have got to this point in poker. Looking forward to the next part.

Really interesting stuff James. Looking forward to the next post!

Well werent u just a sick puppy! Sick gd read dude, keep it coming

Best well so far, easily.

More please... ;popcorn;

I'm sure this will come into the 'grinder' section, but with your new appreciation responsibility, bankroll management etc, what is your criteria for picking a live tournament to play (Including permission from her indoors)?

A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

gtfo! :)

Okay so something I remembered since my last post. Tribeca had ceased to be, and Blue Square moved onto iPoker somewhere in the midst of my second semester at Uni. I absolutely couldn't get on with the new software, I hated it (still do), so this is probably another reason I stopped playing at this point.

Sadly this iPoker software had this damn blackjack button. I think I actually broke even on it during May 2007, and perhaps after a loss recouping session I decided I'd invest in going to Las Vegas for the World Series. I booked 3 weeks out there in the Monte Carlo, but the stupid thing was I didn't arrange to go with anybody. I knew that I could catch up with people there, but I definitely don't recommend going there by yourself based on my experience.

Things couldn't really have started better as I came 2nd in the Bellagio $1k nightly tourmament on my first night there. I had been awake 30 hours straight by the time I'd finished. Two days later I chopped the same tournament 6 ways, again having been up a ridiculous amount of time. It was like 7am and I was falling asleep on the table. I got about the same amount of money as I had coming second because there were a bunch more runners. So I'd now won $30k and was probably $25k or so to the good. I spent the next few days doing a mix of playing tournaments and sunbathing in the nice pool area at the Monte Carlo.

Somewhere about 10 days into being there the blog updates I wrote stopped, so this must be about the time it all went wrong. I remember playing some $30/60 limit in the Bellagio and doing quite well a couple of times whilst I'd been there. This time the guy on my direct left was beyond wasted, he spilled 2 mojitos all over the table in the course of the night, and probably should have been asked to leave really. He was raising every single hand without looking at his cards. You might think, wiii gold-mine, but I tried to get involved way too often and didn't adapt to the situation and was about $5k down. I was aware of how bad my position was, and somehow I managed to snap up a seat two to his right whilst still playing. I proceeded to win back $3k cos he was still playing like a loon, but by this point in time he'd done all his money.

I guess Vegas can do stuff to you, cos I had only played Roulette perhaps twice ever in my life, but for some reason I felt compelled to try and win this $2k back this way. Hey I was in Vegas, you gotta do this kinda thing in Vegas right(!). Wp me for choosing the game with the gayest odds and two zeros. Someone told me I should go play in the high rollers where there was only one zero, which I probably did after I had already lost half my bankroll over the next day in the hotel I was staying at. My safe that had been filled with Bellagio chips and a lot of dollar bills was soon empty. I watched PPV films (no not the kinky ones) in my room all the next day, and I remember eating Chocolate covered blueberries, which were part of the hamper that the Sickly Pit Boss had sent up to my room after my losses. Yeah, that will offset the dosh.

I had another week and a bit in Vegas, but I just wanted to get out. I tried to change my flights but couldn't so I just bought the first flight home I could. I didn't care about the £800 it cost at this point. I was living with my parents that summer and I don't think they could understand my mood because they knew I had binked two results in the first 3 days I was there, but I couldn't bring myself to tell them I had gambled it away. I still haven't, although I'm sure they have their suspicions. This felt much worse than my previous losses, because I had kicked ass in the poker I had played.

I made sure I bought a new car because my other one that my brother had bought me just as I started to make money from poker decided to explode whilst I was going 70mph on a dual carriageway before I went to Vegas. I also paid off all my student loans, about £13ks worth. I just didn't want this hanging over me. In retrospect I haven't had a job since then so it seems a bit silly, but I just wanted that off my shoulders whilst I could afford it. And I'm happy I did it, because that's money I had won but could never touch. I think it was around this time I gave my parents a wodge of my money to take care of.

Over the next couple of months I think I tried to find a new poker-home online, and battled with this gambling addiction that I had now picked up. One that was worse than before because at least then it was under the guise of being skill related. Obviously I got Blue Square to ban my account, I really wanted to stop, but sadly there were many skins out there I could sign up to, and would eventually give in to. This downward spiral gradually fizzled out because I was losing money, and I was conscious of the fact I didn't want to obliterate my bankroll completely. I think there were a few times when I played over the next year, but absolutely nothing in comparison to my stupidity in Vegas and immediately after.

It was some point around this time where I stopped focussing on having to win the money I had lost back. This is obviously a standard gambler's downfall. But that £100k bankroll that I had when I was on top of the world was gonna send me busto if I wasn't careful, and I knew it. I realised I had to draw a line under my gambling losses, otherwise that was going to send me busto, because I wasn't exactly learning to count cards and I knew that was the mathematically likely outcome if I continued as I was doing. So I started to play stakes that were within my bankroll, and I stopped gambling. I wish I could say I adhered to this 100%, but it was more like 95%. I'm sure I jumped limits a few times when I shouldn't, and when on complete monkey tilt I may have clicked the blackjack button once or twice.

Generally I was good though and I would play mostly €100 and €200 heads ups on Boss Media, and there were some soft limit games. I would generally go on 3 week steady runs, then perhaps have a day where I blew half my profit. I obviously had some inbuilt tilt button that couldn't take a loss that was perhaps worse than a standard swing for the game I was playing.

I was aware that I was capable of having heads up graphs that went up in a nice straight line if I stayed sensible, but it did dawn on me that the games generally were getting harder, and that my Tribeca glory days were truly over. I pretty much bumbled around like this until the end of 2008. I was probably only making a just about what I was spending. It's kind of a sad story really, I was this young kid with so much potential, but my inability to deal with the gambling and losing aspect of the game eventually drawed me in to straight out gambling and losing, and although I never let myself go busto, I was still clinging onto the game and refusing to accept that my time had passed. Although actually my outgoings were quite a damn lot, so in reality I was still doing okay, it just didn't quite feel the same as when I was a student with no outgoings making more money than I'd ever dreamed possible.

I should probably point out that although my poker story is rather depressing, in my personal life I was happy through this period. I started seeing my girlfriend in November 2007, and we lived together from the outset because we were house-mates before this. Also, anyone who knows me knows I am quite a bubbly-outgoing person.This was how I was away from the computer, and there were obviously enough highs in this time to keep me wanting to play. If I thought I had become a losing or bad player, I hope I would have stepped away. I was just a good player with flaws.

Things changed at the end of 2008, between Christmas and New Year. It was like 11am and I was having my standard lie in, when my girlfriend came and set next to the bed. I rolled over and told her to go away I was sleeping or something, and she retorted with "I have something to tell you..." Uh-oh! After she told me she was pregnant I turned on the TV and watched it for about 2 hours as I pretended she hadn't said anything, and we both just layed there. LOL. Anyway, it turns out that not only was this a great thing because now we have this amazing little baby, but it had the most positive affect on my poker career.

Bumbling around was no longer good enough. I had to prove that I could support a family. It was either this, or go get a job.



Okay, another breather required. I think part 3 should finish up the poker story. I'm sure there are still holes. Feel free to ask me questions if I've missed stuff out that interests you.

Just be glad I didn't waste this gold in the degen thread :)

Maybe put this in the 'Best of Blonde' section now to save time?

Thoroughly enjoyable Mr MC. Touches on some Degen issues that I, and i'm sure more than a few others on here, can relate to.

Great stuff James.  Brilliant post.

;tightend;

What he said.

Epic stuff

Hi james, pretty sure quite a few of us dabbled in that 20/40 nlh game on tribeca and no1 was even close to rolled for it, lol

Looking back at some of your mistakes now do your seriously regret anything or do you see it as though those experiences have moulded you into the player/person you are today?

sick well btw, :-)

Pretty sure this is the longest response i have ever gotten to a question....

Really enthralling stuff man, it's funny the times i met you now fitting in where you were with your poker at the time, i have to say whether you are doing it in or winning it all i noticed no difference in you as a person so kudos for that!

Awesome

great well mate love the honesty!

I am playin some HU sngs the now, what made you quit playing these?

Most common leaks mistakes u see in these games? (know this is vague question)

Would you look over a few hh's for me if i sent you then  ::)

all the best

 'I obviously had some inbuilt tilt button that couldn't take a loss'


This a briliant piece mate. I think the quote above is the single most important thing that gamblers/poker players need to master. I have worked in the gambling industry and gambled for the last 20 years and some of the cleverest and shrewdest people I know have gone skint because they just couldnt get their heads around the fact that you are gonna get it wrong a lot of the time and lose. The long run is the only true judge yet its a failure in most to try to avenge a loss str8 away.

I can relate to so much of what you have written above from my younger days too and the turning point for me was when I had it drummed into me that 'you should never gamble more than you can mentally afford to lose' and the way you describe how you acted and your feelings after the losses is a good example of why thats true. Noy only do you feel bad for losing but it starts to affect your ability to work at the same level as before if the losses scar you upstairs.

I'm glad you turned the corner and thanks for telling your story.

Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing

Damn.

Like James said I am probably the only person that knows this whole story and I have heard it chronologically over the last 4-5 years but it really made me sad reading this.

I will NEVER forget when I met James in this  >>>http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16363 (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16363)<<< tourney. He was super loud and cheerful and I thought he was cool. We spoke on msn and I remember me spying on him online to see what he was playing. I was killing 2/4nl as this was the golden days and I took a look at what he was playing. 150/300limit. I could not believe my eyes.

Not gonna lie you had a lot of heart but I think the near bustoness took away all that and now you use your brain instead. I actually remember the exact moment you sent me a screenshot of the 88 vs KK hand and I actually still talk about it to this day for some reason, epic hand indeed.

The most epic well ever, keep it going James and see you when I get back.

I remember it as well, infact its on the this board somewhere, will try and find it.

Fearless 11864150-67082 Holdem No Limit $20/$40
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Hand Start.
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 1 : FBQ5606 has $5,543.55
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 2 : LeKCheR has $12,718
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 3 : R_Squared has $3,420
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 4 : IVLEEG has $8,245
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 5 : SEMAJ1 has $1,704
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 6 : ROIELMALIAH has $16,563.97
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 8 : Mindgameu has $2,556
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 9 : -alias- has $11,588
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : LeKCheR is the dealer.
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : R_Squared posted small blind.
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : IVLEEG posted big blind.
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Game [67082] started with 8 players.
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Dealing Hole Cards.
[Jan 1 19:56:23] : Seat 2 : LeKCheR has Ks Kh
[Jan 1 19:56:26] : SEMAJ1 folded.
[Jan 1 19:56:27] : ROIELMALIAH called $40
[Jan 1 19:56:27] : hbk88_2033 : listen i won 2100$
[Jan 1 19:56:29] : Mindgameu folded.
[Jan 1 19:56:29] : -alias- folded.
[Jan 1 19:56:30] : FBQ5606 folded.
[Jan 1 19:56:32] : hbk88_2033 : tuesday
[Jan 1 19:56:33] : LeKCheR called $40 and raised $100
[Jan 1 19:56:40] : R_Squared called $120
[Jan 1 19:56:41] : IVLEEG folded.
[Jan 1 19:56:43] : ROIELMALIAH called $100 and raised $200
[Jan 1 19:56:24] : LeKCheR called $200 and raised $600
[Jan 1 19:56:26] : R_Squared folded.
[Jan 1 19:56:27] : ROIELMALIAH called $600
[Jan 1 19:56:28] : Dealing flop.
[Jan 1 19:56:28] : Board cards [4h 8s Kd]
[Jan 1 19:56:28] : hbk88_2033 : gave my girl500$
[Jan 1 19:56:35] : ROIELMALIAH checked.
[Jan 1 19:56:40] : LeKCheR bet $1,600
[Jan 1 19:56:44] : hbk88_2033 : and lost the rest in this 20-40 game on here to boycie
[Jan 1 19:56:46] : ROIELMALIAH called $1,600 and raised $1,600
[Jan 1 19:57:18] : LeKCheR called $1,600 and raised $3,200
[Jan 1 19:57:20] : ROIELMALIAH called $3,200 and raised $9,223.96
[Jan 1 19:57:21] : LeKCheR called $5,378 and is All-in
[Jan 1 19:57:22] : sigmuno : gg hbk
[Jan 1 19:57:22] : Showdown!
[Jan 1 19:57:22] : Seat 2 : LeKCheR has Ks Kh
[Jan 1 19:57:23] : mlam926 : wow
[Jan 1 19:57:24] : IVLEEG : wow
[Jan 1 19:57:24] : Seat 2 : LeKCheR has Ks Kh
[Jan 1 19:57:24] : Seat 6 : ROIELMALIAH has 8c 8d
[Jan 1 19:57:26] : IVLEEG : nice
[Jan 1 19:57:29] : Board cards [4h 8s Kd 8h Kc]
[Jan 1 19:57:29] : Seat 6 : ROIELMALIAH has 8c 8d
[Jan 1 19:57:29] : ROIELMALIAH has Four of a kind: 8s
[Jan 1 19:57:29] : Seat 2 : LeKCheR has Ks Kh
[Jan 1 19:57:29] : LeKCheR has Four of a kind: Kings
[Jan 1 19:57:29] : LeKCheR wins $25,612 with Four of a kind: Kings
[Jan 1 19:57:32] : mlam926 : omg
[Jan 1 19:57:34] : mlam926 : sick
[Jan 1 19:57:34] : IRaiseBack : wow
[Jan 1 19:57:37] : IVLEEG : incredible
[Jan 1 19:57:37] : ROIELMALIAH : omggg
[Jan 1 19:57:38] : LeKCheR : WOW
[Jan 1 19:57:40] : Hand is over.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=18617.msg378283#msg378283 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=18617.msg378283#msg378283)

Link to the thread

Gooood Hannndddd.....

All about the limp-raise with 88's....

Obviously I was well aware of most of this story too due to the mad spin-ups on BSQ back in the day.  I remember when you started trying to put some discipline into your heads up play and i was under orders to call/text you if i spotted you venturing onto the cash tables for a tilt session!!

You put together some ridiculously complex spreadsheets for tracking your results (pre-Sharkscope etc) but then ended up starting afresh after some mad chasing session  :)

I was really glad when you spoke to your parents about the cash etc. and they took hold of some of it, as so many people do the lot like that BlueScouse chap.  Although there was the fixation on the one (two?) time £100k roll, ending up with even £30k is a right result for a student.

It's good to see things have settled down now and you've got the family around you to keep things that way.  Hope to see you soon as it's been a while now.  Maybe i'll head up for the next Snobs trip!

Jamie.

Not only the best ITW thread I've read, but possibly the best thread I've read on blonde full stop. Absolutely stunning stuff, especially the long posts (and the rap battle vs BarryShoelace)

gr8 well james, nice honesty

Need some help on this but...

this is what happens pre snobs

the video is shocking quality - but you can still make it out and it is almost unreal

THE CHALLENGE

Stu Rutter V's Dan Carter

Stu - 2 bottles of beer

Dan - 1 bottle + a straw


 straight race - this only captures Stus attempt - you can see him raise the bottles - first to the left then to the right

(start from like 23 seconds in)


<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid371.photobucket.com/albums/oo151/outragous76/MOV00464.flv">


Timed by our official timer and well legend James "MC" Atkin - Stu wins - 6.8 seconds!!!!!!!!!

Didn't realise I posted the hand, that's interesting to see it again, I recalled the action slightly wrong when I wrote about it funnily enough.

Thanks for all the replies, will respond to them when I get to them having gone through the thread, time for part 3. Hope it's not an anti-climax because it's probs not as interesting...


Ok so I'd just found out my gf was pregnant. Looking at my blog it seems I'd had a bit of a downswing Nov/Dec 2008 (although absolutely nothing in relation to previous epic downswings I'm sure). So I was really out to prove I could make a living sufficient to support a family. I started 2009 with a €250 bankroll on the premiss that even if times got rough and it came to be that I didn't have a large bankroll to work with, I could still make enough money from the game. It seems I made €2000 profit doing this in January (http://atkinator.blogspot.com/2009/02/250-challenge-january-summary.html). So the experiment seemed to work, and I had another good month playing small stakes Heads Ups in March which I actually had a staking proposal for on Blonde (here (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=40411.0)) after I spent February doing little more than breaking even at small stakes LHE.

So I was feeling good that I had proven I could beat the small stakes to earn a decent living. My attitude was now totally different. I could care less about trying to win back what I had lost 18 months ago, paying the bills was what was important. I guess I have matured in that sense. My parents were very worried that I had no respect for money at one point, which I obviously didn't or else I'd never have had the sick spin ups I did, nor the 'spin downs'. They would have seen me have a very nonchalant attitude to spending £100, which obviously at times in my poker career has been very little, perhaps even just a big blind, but to them it was a lot of money. They have told me over the last year that they are happy I finally have some respect for money. Perhaps it's because I have less of it I'm not sure, but I think it's also from having a bit more life experience now.

I really wish I hadn't bothered with the whole Black Belt Poker thing in May. I had trekked down to the launch night in London, and it sounded like a cool idea, and it felt kinda nice that Neil Channing even knew who I was. Obviously the sensible thing to have done would have been to play heads ups. But I was aware that 'gherkin' on Boss Media, who had been a thorn in my side in the games on Boss for nearly two years, was gonna be in the games, and I was worried that HUSNGs just weren't gonna rake enough for their liking. I thought with a couple of CardRunners videos and my ability two years previously to crush a high stakes game would mean 0.25/0.50 cash games wouldn't exactly prove a problem. Well, I was wrong. Nits and short-stackers + quality graders made these games bloody tough, and I obviously had some leaks. I moved over to SNGs in the second two weeks but was playing double or nothings. It took me a while to adapt to the 6-max strategy, as opposed to the 10-man which I had done well in when I had dabbled in these games previously. By the end of the grading I had done little to prove I was a solid winning player, but I still felt shafted because I had fulfilled all other criteria and tbh had been bullshitted a bit by Neil who made some false promises when I nearly dropped out recognising I was doing shit. Anyway, that's water under the bridge now, and not something I'm at all bothered about.

I think another reason I didn't want to play heads ups in the grading was because I was bored of them. Perhaps I just don't like making money or something I don't know. They were a game I was well proven in, but I think you burn out on these games quicker than other formats of poker for some reason. I can 20 table SNGs for 8 hours, but I'll be damned if I can 2 table HUSNGs for that length of time. Sod that! Anyway, June was around the time Salfi started being active on the forum, I remember seeing this thread (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=42437.0) and I perhaps Sharkscoped him and stuff. I was surprised you could make such good money from such small stakes. I have always had people telling me I should play MTTs but I've just never been into the whole time-commitment thing, and this looked like a good compromise.

I've done well in them pretty much since I started. I guess the key to these is volume. I started off tiling 8 tables or something, and playing just enough to earn a decent amount each month, but I've seen what I can do when I really grind now, so it's all about putting in the hours. These games seem perfect for me in that they are low variance,with my biggest downswing being around $1500, and even though I feel like I don't have that tilt button I mentioned earlier anymore (well it's probably still there, just well hidden), when you've established a pretty looking graph, you can't get too upset about even a bad-downswing.

I honestly have no desire to do anything remotely gambling orientated. I've found a game I have a good edge in, I'm making decent money, and I have put so many hours into grinding, it would seem pointless. I can barely be arsed to play poker if I haven't got a whole week to put into it, cos I recognise that playing for a couple of hours is barely going to make any difference. So I'm pleased to say sick spin ups and the pit games are something I've put well behind me.

It's funny I talk about volume cos I've played sod all online all this month, but I guess I've earnt a break, and the win in Galway means I can have it guilt-free. I don't really play all that much live, but I was kinda due a win in a live tournament if you look at my Hendon Mob (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=53177). It was really nice to get the monkey off my back as it were.

Although the money I've earnt this year has only really been enough to support my family and put a small amount into savings, this is the best year I've ever had poker-wise. It's been the least mentally draining and the most fulfilling. My girlfriend used to make me this comfort food whenever I'd had some horrible losing/donk session to make me feel better. A jacket potato with cheese and beans. The fact that she has made me this meal zero times this year is perhaps the best indicator that I'm finally doing things right...

great posts James.

Thank you for sharing!

This is def in my top 10 of 'in the well's'  ;)

Enjoyed it a lot a James. Cheers.

James, This has been a revelation.

Excellent stuff, just don't plan on your week in the Well ending any time soon!

Quality mate

Great stuff MC.
I'm sure many of us reading this can empathise with elements of your journey - just not quite to the same extremes.

What's the plan for the next 12 months, and what do you hope to achieve?
 

Haha, I''m lovin' the shirt you have on in your Hendon Mob photo. Good choice :-) Did you wear that in Ireland, or is that an old photo from when you were playing on the site (I believe PCUK is where a heck of a lot of the headsup shenanigans took place? - I think to this day you are the sites highest raker over any 12-month period, and always remained in the black afair).

Speaking of Lovin', my question for the well is:
(http://shotpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/mclovin.jpg)

Do you still get asked for ID?

Did you have a fake ID when you were younger? Was it anything like the one above?

Cheese,beans n coleslaw man get with the programme.

FYP

fyp

girgs you seem to love cottage cheese. do you have some everyday

pretty much man is there owt wrong with that?

nope prefectly fine.


I just cant think of a food that i can eat nearly everyday. but i think i am abit arsey with food

OK two more very important questions:

What is your standard Dominos order?
What is your standard Nandos order?

Theres loads of food i could eat every day!

Great question flushy. I think everybody should answer that.

Mighty meaty

Half a chicken with 2 sides. (Rice&chips)

MC so you like cottage cheese?

Half chicken (extra hot) with chips and rice. Smother the entire lot in extra hot or extra extra hot sauce. Lovely. Any other answer is wrong.

Awesome thread, going into the "best of blonde" i take it, and thanks MC for your views..

One question, what would you do if the online poker industry suddenly comes to an end? Rap4rollz V eminem?

Great stuff James.  Have a great xmas.

He would probably say no DUCY?

No IDCY

Who screwed Bret?

Vince, Bret, Shaun, Earl or the Shockmaster?

many thanks james, this has to be one of the best "in the well" imo. a great read

Bret screwed Bret, haven't you been watching recently? rotflmfao

Thread of the year! ty and gl MC

Really good read, Went through most of it yesterday along with the nov s&g grind along with associated topics, including the stars 1000 mtt thing. Really enjoyed that until it turned out it didnt even happen, 20plus pages in.
Following your eblogger thing too now.
All this after avoiding this thread over the last week.
Good question flushy, nice to hear a degen story with a good ending,
Congrats on the win

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Great thread James, wp. Happy new yr mate!

Nice read James all the best in 2010.

Come on James. Stop counting your money and come an answer these probing questions.  :)

good story james,
hadn't realised you'd just become a dad...many congrats & gl for the future

Sick well James

I remember the first time I became aware of you was at GUKPT Walsall in 2007, you were on the table behind me and I saw you wearing BSq attire and asked Adam Stoneham I think it was, who you were.

He told me you played super high on BSq Limit and NL, it confused me somewhat when I started frequenting Blonde more often, to see you posting about grinding SnG  :D

Also the same weekend I flirted with professional Roulette with Flushy, had the most comical taxi ride I can remember with Flushy/Jerome and several others and got Soxy playing smashed 25/50 at 6am

Good to hear the whole story, thanks for sharing and best of luck with everything in 2010

Standard subway order?

Thanks everyone!

Apologies for the absence, things have been pretty hectic over Christmas, including me finally ended up proposing to my girlfriend on Christmas Day.

I'm moving house over the course of the next two weeks, but will get back to answering questions in a day or two...

Wahey!

Congratulations to you both.

we don't know the answer yet

Indeed.

Moving house might not be a good sign either.

He doesn't run that good, she obv accepted  ;)

Congrats to you both.

We've been together quite a while
We've even got a little child
Living in sin is fun and that
But it's about time for a little chat

I've thought of a way to improve my life
How about you become my wife
If you say yes then we'll get hitched
If you say no then you're just a bitch

Yes! Can't wait for the stag do. Buahahah.

NH

Congrats James and all the best

Yeah exactly this. I met Mick a good few years ago in Luton, always got on well with him when we were on the same table and stuff but can't say I knew him all that well. I revamped my blog layout a few months ago and Mick liked it and basically asked if I'd help him out with his after he tried to make it look like mine (cheeky sod lol). Anyways, I helped him with that and we've become mates since then and done each other a few favours. He's ran pretty good when he's had a piece of me, he had 25% of me in the EPO and 70% in Galway, out of 4 tournaments. Was nice to bink for him in the side event because busting out of the €2k when he had paid the full whack didn't feel good, I guess that's a downside of effectively playing with other people's money!

Thanks dude :)


[ ] Thanks for the hijack
[ ] This was good music
[ ] This was good rap music
[X] ;)

Thanks man. The new battle-rap legend that is my opponent Barry asked me to do a 'grinder column' a few months back. He's pretty cool about not giving me deadlines and stuff, I owe him a column right now so I should probs be using this small bit of time I've actually managed to get on the computer for over the last couple of weeks writing that instead of answering questions on here!

How many football grounds have you been too?
I've seen disappointingly few Liverpool games in the flesh considering I'm a Liverpool fan. The number is bulked up by the ground tours I did when I did summer-football things that did a lil' field trip at the end when I was 12 years old or so. Most are from watching the mighty Lincoln City!

Seen a game:
Anfield, The Millennium Stadium, Villa Park, Bramall Lane, Sincil Bank, Field Mill, London Road Stadium

Tour only:
St James' Park, Goodison Park, Old Trafford, Nou Camp.

(Cliff notes: 11)

5 fave people to be trapped in a lift with for a month?
I'm thinking for sanity reasons it would have to be my girlfriend and 4 close friends. Her 2 sister's might make the shortcut. Patty and Selma they definitely aren't!

Hows the house insurance going?  :D
Lol. Wp me telling Endsleigh I was a professional poker player and them deciding they wouldn't insure me. I risked it for 2 months, because I'm lazy more than anything. Just sorted out Insurance on the house I'm moving into to make it easier. I clicked the "unemployed" box this time, so no danger of them classing me as a professional sportsman I don't think!

I'm a little bit worried with your Street Fighter obsession! (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=45238.0)

I guess Ken was a well used character, I might have chosen Zangief as he is a wrestler but I only ever managed the super-spinner piledriver thing about once.

Yeah, I felt a little uncomfortable typing it all out, a fair few bad memories in there. Lol my memory sucks in general man, nothing to do with degen stuff, but a lot of this was a fair while a go and tbh I have tried to forget about a fair amount of it, or at least put it to the back of my mind.

I really don't worry about going back to the way that I was. I feel like I've learnt from my mistakes. I have zero compulsion to gamble. I can't really afford to be stupid anymore, my new family would weigh too heavily on my conscience, whereas before I only had to consider me. I've been so busy the last couple of weeks that I haven't played a hand of poker, and it hasn't troubled me in the slightest. I think many of us will have had to deal with being addicted to poker at some point, and perhaps this has been my downfall in the past. It looks like I'm the right side of this line, and perhaps that's a good place to be. I work too hard grinding out a nice profit these days to ever want to donk it off like I have before.

Thanks for asking me ;) 

The last In The Well was with JP, and winning a side event doesn't really compare to the year he's had!

LOL, my girlfriend is pretty cool when it comes to playing tournaments. I have to say being away for 4 days in Vienna in October was kinda hard now we have Clark, so I'm a bit worried about what I'm gonna do when it comes round to World Series time!

I'll basically only play a live tourney if I fancy playing it, and if I have the spare cash around that isn't my online bankroll, or for general living expenses and shit. Atm I'm happy selling pieces to help me play the occasional bigger tournament, or if someone is willing to buy me in and it's a decent sized event, then that's cool. If I'm happy to write off that money, and I'm still comfortable in everything without it, then I'll play a tournament if I fancy it. I get the urge to play live every few weeks, but the variance compared to playing as much as I do online doesn't draw me towards wanting to play much more than I do right now...

Lol yeah, I doubt anyone except for perhaps Boycie/Clubber was really rolled for it!

I do strongly regret the super-tilt I went on after that downswing the night I came back from the Union drunk. I strongly regret ever playing any kind of pit game for any kind of money...I avoided it for so long and I don't know why I let myself get dragged into it.

However, I am a firm believer in the Chaos theory.

If I hadn't done these things which I seriously regret, I wouldn't be where am at now. Perhaps I'd be a wealthier poker player, perhaps I'd have gotten a degree and have a proper job, perhaps I'd be busto.

I don't mean to get all mushy, but I don't think I could have found any girl I'd rather be with than the one I've ended up with, and now we have the most awesome baby boy together. If I hadn't done these things I regret, we very likely wouldn't have ended up together. So in that sense I have no regrets because I have really fallen on my feet in that sense...

pics please

Lol beat me to it!

left you a pm, get back to me pls

Congratulations on the engagement fella ;mexicanwave;

(assuming she said yes)

[ ] Moving house over the last 3 weeks has been fun

Apologies if I've overstayed my welcome in the well, but let me clear up any questions I haven't answered or if anyone has anything they'd still like to ask, I actually have some time now the house is pretty much sorted.

Thanks for all the congrats about my engagement btw, this was genius haha... but of course she said yes. It was kind of a given considering we have a child together really.


...but of course she said yes. It was kind of a given considering we have a child together really!

Here you go pervs!

(http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8243/21935221496242054510522.jpg)
(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9643/n10023613951579004227.jpg)


That could get me in a fair amount of trouble! :-X

FYP MC

Thanks dude, I guess I've tried not to let it affect me too much as a person. Though my flatmates at Uni will have told you I was very different in the huge highs/lows of my 3rd year, but nothing you wouldn't expect I guess...

I think the night where you introduced me to mojitos & played we played a £10 rebuy at Rendevous with Jamie was somewhere in the start/middle of things going wrong the 2nd time around.

I find you burn out quicker playing heads up than anything else, so much concentration is required. I just got bored of them.

Common leaks are people overvaluing Ax and playing out of position too often.

You can ship me a few HH's if you like...in return for pictures of your girlfriend's sisters. If I'm dishing them out I think everyone else should IMO!

Definitely agree with this, and it wouldn't hurt any poker player to apply this theory. The Poker Mindset is a really good book and tackles this kinda thing, it's one that perhaps I read just a little bit too late!

I could have probably done with taking a leaf out of your book mate, don't think you've ever done anything remotely degenerate, and unless you've photoshopped all the graphs you've sent me over the years, you do pretty well from poker!

I'm glad we both ended up going deep in that tourney, I like how you can make good friends from poker just from sitting next to them trying to take their chips for a few hours. Hope you have a cool trip dude.

Gayfest ends here ---------------

LOL yeah, I kinda forgot that I asked you to do that. I remember asking you to ship me my rakeback early a fair few times as well!

I'm still pretty nifty with a spreadsheet hehe, but HEM has kinda removed the need for that particular skill!

Thanks mate, seems a really long time since we last spoke properly. Hope to catch you soon and you def need to head to Birmingham next time dude (next time is actually this Weds but I'm thinking it's a bit late notice?!)

[X]the video is shocking quality
[ ] but you can still make it out
[ ] and it is almost unreal
[X] It is unreal ................... Stu is a sick man!

Hehe, as long as it's 8+ then I'm happy :)

Next 12 months I just hope to make as much money as poss grinding MTT SNGs tbh. Have to save for a wedding now (Vegas ftw lol, doubt the Missus is gonna go for it though!) & it's not fun pissing away money renting, but I think that's more of a 3+ year plan!

I've started coaching now which I'm enjoying, means I actually have some human interaction which is nice, so perhaps getting a few more students would be good as well...

Hey man, I believe that photo is from the GUKPT at the Vic that you put me into...

Actually, I started playing on PCUK when Blue Sq moved onto iPoker, so just about the time things went pearshaped for the 2nd time. Had become a bit more of a heads-up grinder by the time I played on your site...I still had the occasional donk session I think, just nothing in relation to what I had done previously.

Lol, yes I still get asked for ID. I actually get asked more for ID now than I did when I used to go out drinking when I was 17. About 3 months ago I even got asked for ID for a lottery ticket I bought whilst buying bread and milk from the local co-op! I may look young, but I think saying I don't look 16 is pushing it!

I did actually have a fake ID when I was at 6th form. My mates always seemed to get into places that bit more often than me, so I'd trapse behind them at the back and use it if they got in and I got asked. I had it taken off me 3 weeks before my 18th birthday, because I was so drunk that when the bouncer asked me my Date of Birth I got it wrong (it was a random date of birth, not mine with the year changed, I wasn't that drunk lol). My friend that had the same fake ID who was further back in the queue was not happy!

A dozen pms coming your way soon I suspect

Dominos: Texas BBQ.....the waffles are pretty nice for dessert as well

Nandos: Medium half chicken, chips & spicy rice

It's so difficult ordering anything different as well!

Just the one so far...I'll get back to you ASAP tank :)

Don't think this would be a good idea as I'd get ripped! Have you not seen the extras DVD on 8 Mile lol.

Obv hope I would get a bit of warning if it was to die/become unprofitable, and perhaps get things sorted so I can become a Primary School teacher, as is still the plan at some point...

Lol, perhaps Bret screwed Bret like Vince said...I mean he was leaving anyway so what's the big deal.

He seems to have gotten over it a bit with his appearance on Raw recently.

Shawn is my all time favourite and Vince is obviously a legend. On that premiss I guess I'll say Earl Hebner. Lil' Naitch would never have done something like that lol...

Hehe, that's cool thanks man.

I remember Soxy, was a very good player in that game. Met him in Barcelona too, was kind of annoying that I really liked this guy who was, if not taking my money (probably true) at least severely hurting my winrate!

Once again, thanks for all the nice comments throughout the whole thread. I'm glad you enjoyed it, it's been somewhat therapeutic for me! Sorry I let it almost die twice before I got around to answering all the questions, just happened to be a busy time. Also I'm sorry the 2nd half wasn't perhaps as entertaining as the first, but once the rap and degen things came out, that's all the hidden gold I had to go on I'm afraid!

Hi James,

Do you remember the time in Walsall when you stood up to celebrate winning a hand and nearly broke Mickey's nose?

Also worth mentioning your induction into live festival poker, also at Walsall when you cashed for 3rd place in both the £500 & £750 side events. I seem to remember you were also running well in the main event at that festival and would probably gone into day 2 as massive chip leader had you not been Mallu'd towards the end of day 1.

Hope you are keeping well. It would be good to see you at a GUKPT event again. Perhaps Walsall next month? Has been a successful venue for you.

JR

LOL I forgot about when I did that to Mickey hehe. I'm a bit more reserved at the tables these days...

Yeah still remember that pot, the uber draw vs the over-pair. I believe it was Alan McClean not Ali Mallu though.

Def looking into going to Walsall so perhaps see you there Jon...

(Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Best of Blonde :))

LOL - I remember that journey!  Pretty sure most of the comedy came from you trying to offer the driver any money to find brasses at 5am in Walsall.

I think GUKPT Walsall week is the target....

Pretty sure throwing coins on the floor in the co-op had to be up there.....

So sick only just found the last 2 pages of this thread now.

Ha James i remember that night it was Day1b of the GUKPT and we just got smashed playing Rendezvous instead, craps and blackjack ftw! (Even if you did do it in that night....)

Haha I've never been associated with such activities  ;)

It sure worked out anyway, Soxy and Demps aren't quite what I had in mind when we left the casino

It was a Spar Demps, even I remember that and I'm pretty sure I was in the worst state!

Was com in the shop, they were trying to save us a quid telling us to buy 2ltr bottles instead of what we had. Cue pound coins getting flung all over the shop and the customers turning into hoovers piicking everything up  :D

Just reread this again now, thanks very much again James

I just caught up with the last two pages of this thread and sparked a few memories.

Favourite James quote from some live event during a hand:

James: OMG this is so sick a race for all the chips on the bubble
James: Oh shit dude I can't look this is soooooooo sick
James hit's an Ace on the river to take down the huge pot
James: YEEEEEES OMG so sick dude I'm so sorry I didn't mean to rub it in your face, sorry, sorry, sorry I love you.

rotflmfao

ahahah I get the feeling those were his EXACT words too. Can imagine that.

So so funny

LOL, which tournament was this?

It's just an example from your more emotional days. It may have been exaggerated too...

Norr you ruined the funniest thing i ever read on this forum

James, who would win in a fight? You versus:

Stuart Rutter?
Julian Thew?
James Sykes?

If you all got together and worked as a team, how would you fancy your collective chances against Barry Neville?

I've never really been in a fight, so I'm thinking pretty much anyone has a pretty good shot at beating me, hands tied behind back and all.

Collective chances of us beating up Barry collectively? Not all that high

Chances of him trying to sell us something after beating us up? Huge!

lol good answer

bump

Just some of the thread cliffs that I could find. Amazing well. Any chance of an update?

Gosh, just read through this whole thing. It's funny to look back on some of these stories. I was such an immature young man when I got into poker and found myself at high stakes. Fedor Holz I certainly wasn't.

Some gold in this thread. Barry's battle raps were incred haha.

It's been quite a journey in poker. It can be a lonely game but I've managed to share it with some good friends like Stu Rutter who's wedding I got to go to last year and especially Dan Carter. It's fun to think that I met Mr lucky_scrote above at a final table in Walsall in 2005 and earlier this year he became Godfather to my third child.

As for an update...

After almost exactly 10 years as a professional poker player (going from the date I left uni) I've bitten the bullet and found a job. I'm now working for Dusk Till Dawn/Partypoker LIVE in their new offices. I'm only 2 weeks into the job but I'm really enjoying it so far. Perhaps an honest living isn't such a scary prospect! Hopefully I can still earn a bit of side income from poker, but it's nice to know I don't have to win nappy money on the felt any more!

Nice one, what are you doing for them?

Always up for another rap battle, something something something cattle.

OMG  only just seen this rap  fricking amazing  .  bear in mind i know Barry very well up here in Sheffield and historically he has mentioned wanting to get rid of man boobs  :)

great diary.........hope you are well James

barry on da cumbak    respecc   :)

LOL.

You'rea ffunny man Bazza.

Some say James is still licking his wounds after the last battle that Barry claimed victory for.

Over to you James...