"Dusk till Dawn" Poker Club In Nottingham Diary (by Rob Yong)

[Redbull]

Thanks for the update and good luck at the EPT Dublin.

[snoopy1239]

I am a smoker, but I don't agree with smoking at the poker tables, although I do it if its a allowed (yes - I am a hypocrite). There have been many debates on smoking in poker, but they are fast becoming irrelevant with the new anti-smoking laws coming into effect in July 2007. However, you can't ignore the fact that a large % of poker players do somke, I would guess as high as 40%, and they are the customers. Dusk Till Dawn will have a dedicated enclosed outside smoking  area which will be accessed through the main bar, there will also be some shelter in case it rains. To get planning permission for this has been an absolute nightmare (like most of things with this venture). We are going to actually have to pay extra on the lease to rent the extra space, but it looks like we are finally there with the legals. I think this will give us an advantage over other venues and avoid having loads of people standing at the club entrance chuffing away!

Good idea on the extra smoking area, just what most, if not all of the current casinos lack.

The Gala has to be the worst for this. As it is a closed off area with little ventilation, the smoke just builds up into a mass smog and lingers in the room. It almost killed me going there 3 times a week. Even when they introduced that 1 day no-smoking comp, people used to clog up the corridor and fill the area with smoke.

And even with open plan casinos that DO have smoking bans, players just go to the rail and blow the smoke into the nearby table. Complete waste of time for the tables on the rail - in fact, they probably get more than they would if there was no smoking ban.

[TheWhisper]

Just saw Michael Greco wearing a DTD cap on Sky One, nice work.

[Yogi-Bear]

He has a cool hoody as well.

Quick little update for y'all.

The offices are now up and running. No phones yet but no-one likes to talk anymore anyway. I've finally moved to Nottingham to work. So any ideas for my entertainment PM them. Might try to make it to Gala on Sunday to see the opposition.

Yogi

[Harmony26]

Welcome to Nottingham, from Bainn and I.   Enjoy!

[robyong]

Hurray!!!!!!!!!! We have now finally started building works on Dusk Till Dawn, 7 months later that planned, better late than never. We have a site managers office, toilets and tea room outside of the club............okay.........we have 3 portacabins with hot water and a phone line. Nick is working to an 20 week schedule of works, which takes us into March 2007, so we are looking at an April 2007 opening. Materials, dimensions, colours, styles have all been decided, down to the DTD logo carpet and the chrome rails on the poker tables.

This is a bigger job that we have ever tackled before but its still just 4 walls. Steve Wamsley has been a great help to Nick over the last few weeks, as we had a couple of logistical issues with the floorplan. Steve (or "Womble" as most know him) was a quantity surveyer before he turned to the life of a professional poker player, and has experience of project managing the refitting of bars, night clubs and casinos, just the sort of help and advide we need.

I feel most of the planning for DTD is over now, it now about implementing what we have agreed. When I am feeling a bit stressed I try and simplfy things.........basically, whats the big deal, DTD is just a poker club and and a web site, how difficult can that be? The truth is that DTD is not that difficult...........but it's not my full time job, so it seems harder that it really is. Compared to setting up and running sf group, DTD is a walk in the park, but my time is limited nowadays, nor do I want to go back to a full time job. So, DTD needs to remain a hobby for me, and every time I find it starting to take up more of my time than it should, I can either recruit an extra person to take up the extra workload, or reduce things so they are managable again.

When poker people talk to me about DTD, many of them say I'm going to "make a killing". If I was in my early twenties again, I'm sure I would look a DTD as a good business opportunity, maybe to make a lot of money, but the reality is that it is a side interest to me, its a luxury, and there for enjoyment factor for myself and my friends. sf group  is and always will be my main business and the one that is closest to my heart. If the DTD club gets close to break even I am over the moon, and if the web site does well, then great. I find this project interesting and challenging, I enjoy messing around with IT, and I like drinking and being around gamblers, that is what DTD should and will always be to me, something "interesting", not a "business".

Some businessmen/women want to go on an on building their business empires, being in high powered meetings and are on the "more wants more" system, thats how they get their kicks, fair dues to them.  But, this life is not for me. I like not having to get out of bed when I have a hangover, I like looking after my sister 2 days per week, I like being able to go over the Vegas at one days notice, I like meeting my old mates for a beer or game of snooker, I like playing internet poker while watching day time TV, I also like doing interesting business projects.........but I hate being in the rat race.

Despite wanting this  "life af riley", i still do have a few jobs to do next week, this what I have written down on a piece of A4 paper and stuck on my wardrobe, I always write lists in 10's for some sick reason that I'll find out why someday.

1. Legal contracts for all DTD employees and "poker consultants"
2. Get a date for final licence hearing with Gambling Commission
3. Choose photos of "nottingham places" for Broxtowe Pub for Cec
4. Re-arrange medical out for Matrix property insurance
5. Review/aprrove charity applications with Mum
6. sf Board meeting with tony/dean/rebecca
7. Take Tishie (sister) to Grandmas and lunch at my pub
8. Take Bank Manager to lunch
9. Book to go to tenerife for 1 day to sign property forms
10. Sort all admin out with Sarah

Before I go I'll just share one of £118,775 worth of sick outdraw pots I played on the Crypto £40-£80 NL Hold'em this week. (god knows how I still ended up £5,275 in profit for the week!) The reason I can always quote exact amounts and hands is that I use a poker tracker.

I have  and make if £320 on the button
The BB calls with 
Flop 
He checks, I bet £700
He re-raises to £3,000
I move in for another £9,000 for him to call
The MUG calls - £26k pot
Turn 
River 

WTF! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx jh cejfhchfecf ef kfec JFHEHCFJCJBFJE

Cheers Rob

[littlemissC]

APRIL 2008?

[simonow]

It will be April 2007, for a guy who has just taken a 120K worth of beats this week, I am sure he is allowed the odd error lol.

[Royal Flush]

It will be April 2007, for a guy who has just taken a 120K worth of beats this week, I am sure he is allowed the odd error lol.

How much of that 120 was bad beats, and how much was down to "Nowab Moves"

[robyong]

APRIL 2008?

Sorry, open April 2007, i keep thinking we are 2007 now.

Flushy, FYI I personally consider the defination of a bad beat to be when someone is drawing to 5 outs or less AFTER all of the money goes in. Sticking to this crtieria allows you to analyse your game and discounts people hitting flush or up and down straight draws. ie. just looks at really unlucky hands, eg. KK v AT on a T24 flop (player only has 5 outs). You therefore must always be way ahead for it to be a bad beat, so "nowabs moves" would not count. LOL

[ACE2M]

Rob,

This may be a daft question but why does somebody who doesn't need the money play in big cash games?

It must affect your ability to play your best?

Ignore this if you like but i may not get the chance to ask anyone else and i always wondered why.

[Royal Flush]

APRIL 2008?

Sorry, open April 2007, i keep thinking we are 2007 now.

Flushy, FYI I personally consider the defination of a bad beat to be when someone is drawing to 5 outs or less AFTER all of the money goes in. Sticking to this crtieria allows you to analyse your game and discounts people hitting flush or up and down straight draws. ie. just looks at really unlucky hands, eg. KK v AT on a T24 flop (player only has 5 outs). You therefore must always be way ahead for it to be a bad beat, so "nowabs moves" would not count. LOL

So how much have the Nowab Moves cost you? lol

[robyong]

Rob,

This may be a daft question but why does somebody who doesn't need the money play in big cash games?

It must affect your ability to play your best?

Ignore this if you like but i may not get the chance to ask anyone else and i always wondered why.

No problem, the reasons are in order of importance:

1. Winning online is tax free and there is nothing better than buying things such as a car, TV etc with gambling winnings. No matter how much money you have, treating yourself or you loved ones with "free money" is a great buzz.  The bigger you play - the more you can win. Most of my "money" is tied up, so cash is king!

2. I am a reasonable winner online at these stakes, according to my poker tracker I am over $450k up this year. Part of the reason for this is that I play v players who play outside there bankrolls, therefore this gives me a massive egde in the long term. If I stick £10k all-in on a draw, I can pull up again and eventually I'll hit or they will keep passing. My swings are sick, for example in Jan, I won $190k, in 2 days last week I lost $88k. I always quote in $$$ as I use poker tracker.

3. I am a gambler,always have been all my life, and have to bet bigger to get my that gambling fix as my standard of living has increased. I enjoy poker for the risks, not the theory of the game, when i lose £25k+ pot it makes my stomach churn. I have just lost a £18k pot 1 minute ago, with a set of 9's v runner runner gutshot, its a sick feeling, and I have kicked a chair accrosss the room, but that makes winning all the sweeter.

4. You cannot get regular games at these limits without travelling to Vegas, so its convenient to play online.

5. I am banned from most casinos in UK now, so playing poker means online or abroad.

6. It helps pay into big comps so i am freerolling aswell. doesnt take many $25k wpt bellagios to put a dent in the cashflow.

Hope this answers your question. Rob

[Decider]

Rob,

This may be a daft question but why does somebody who doesn't need the money play in big cash games?

It must affect your ability to play your best?

Ignore this if you like but i may not get the chance to ask anyone else and i always wondered why.

No problem, the reasons are in order of importance:

1. Winning online is tax free and there is nothing better than buying things such as a car, TV etc with gambling winnings. No matter how much money I have, treating yourself or you loved ones with "free money" is a great buzz.  The bigger you play the more you can win. Most of my "money" is tied up, so cash is king!

2. I am a reasonable winner online at these stakes, according to my poker tracker I am over $450k up this year. Part of the reason for this is that I play v players who play outside there bankrolls, therefore this gives me a massive egde in the long term. If I stick £10k all-in on a draw, I can pull up again and eventually I'll hit or they will keep passing. My swings are sick, for example in Jan, I won $190k, in 2 days last week I lost $88k. I always quote in $$$ as I use poker tracker.

3. I am a gambler,always have been all my life, and have to bet bigger to get my that gambling fix as my standard of living has increased. I enjoy poker for the risks, not the theory of the game, when i lose £25k+ pot it makes my stomach churn. I have just lost a £18k pot 1 minute ago, with a set of 9's v runner runner gutshot, its a sick feeling, and I have kicked a chair accrosss the room, but that makes winning all the sweeter.

4. You cannot get regular games at these limits without travelling to Vegas, so its convenient to play online.

5. I am banned from most casinos in UK now, so I playing poker means online or abroad.

6. Its helps pay into big comps so i am freerolling aswell. doesnt take many $25k wpt bellagios to put a dent in the cashflow.

Hope this answers your question. Rob

Rob, you should write a book mate. Quality!

[ACE2M]

Rob,

This may be a daft question but why does somebody who doesn't need the money play in big cash games?

It must affect your ability to play your best?

Ignore this if you like but i may not get the chance to ask anyone else and i always wondered why.

No problem, the reasons are in order of importance:

1. Winning online is tax free and there is nothing better than buying things such as a car, TV etc with gambling winnings. No matter how much money you have, treating yourself or you loved ones with "free money" is a great buzz.  The bigger you play - the more you can win. Most of my "money" is tied up, so cash is king!

2. I am a reasonable winner online at these stakes, according to my poker tracker I am over $450k up this year. Part of the reason for this is that I play v players who play outside there bankrolls, therefore this gives me a massive egde in the long term. If I stick £10k all-in on a draw, I can pull up again and eventually I'll hit or they will keep passing. My swings are sick, for example in Jan, I won $190k, in 2 days last week I lost $88k. I always quote in $$$ as I use poker tracker.

3. I am a gambler,always have been all my life, and have to bet bigger to get my that gambling fix as my standard of living has increased. I enjoy poker for the risks, not the theory of the game, when i lose £25k+ pot it makes my stomach churn. I have just lost a £18k pot 1 minute ago, with a set of 9's v runner runner gutshot, its a sick feeling, and I have kicked a chair accrosss the room, but that makes winning all the sweeter.

4. You cannot get regular games at these limits without travelling to Vegas, so its convenient to play online.

5. I am banned from most casinos in UK now, so playing poker means online or abroad.

6. It helps pay into big comps so i am freerolling aswell. doesnt take many $25k wpt bellagios to put a dent in the cashflow.

Hope this answers your question. Rob

Thanks very much Rob.

Someone once asked me if i would stop poker/gambling if i became wealthy and i didn't know but suspected i wouldn't. I know it's not the same but it's a problem for many of us that you can't go back and play a $5 stt with any conviction once you get used to playing $100 comps. Exposing the fact that we are primarily gamblers and not poker players.