Prose from a Poshboy

[edgascoigne]

Young poker players are truly amazing creatures. Caught up with Stato and Alex on Monday, personal highlights included their absolute incredulity that I had caught a bus then metro from Prague airport rather than a cab, and the pair only being able to work out what day of the week it was by using the Sunday Million as a point of reference!

All trounced however by Tabatabai's announcement that the warmest item he had brought (granted he came straight from Colombia) was a linen shirt It's -5 at the moment.

Good to see you Al and have a wonderful time over there.

[edgascoigne]

Almost forgot....further incredible occurrence from the oft-detached from reality world of poker....

Yesterday whilst I was playing there was a light commotion from a table nearby, the kind of noise heard when someone hits a two outer shall we say. I then hear a couple of timid calls of "Floor" and look over. The middle-aged Russian chap in Seat One is sprawled back in his chair, holding his heart and turning rather grey whilst gasping for breath.

I am far from a medic, but doubt this is great, possibly even a heart attack. It takes me yelling "can we get a f-ing doctor" for people to finally break the trance they are in and get a doctor called. Mental.


He later returned to finish off his stack mind, so maybe it was me that was being overly sensitive!

[Mondeoman]

Almost forgot....further incredible occurrence from the oft-detached from reality world of poker....

Yesterday whilst I was playing there was a light commotion from a table nearby, the kind of noise heard when someone hits a two outer shall we say. I then hear a couple of timid calls of "Floor" and look over. The middle-aged Russian chap in Seat One is sprawled back in his chair, holding his heart and turning rather grey whilst gasping for breath.

I am far from a medic, but doubt this is great, possibly even a heart attack. It takes me yelling "can we get a f-ing doctor" for people to finally break the trance they are in and get a doctor called. Mental.


He later returned to finish off his stack mind, so maybe it was me that was being overly sensitive!

Probably just had the worst equity beat of his life

[titaniumbean]

Almost forgot....further incredible occurrence from the oft-detached from reality world of poker....

Yesterday whilst I was playing there was a light commotion from a table nearby, the kind of noise heard when someone hits a two outer shall we say. I then hear a couple of timid calls of "Floor" and look over. The middle-aged Russian chap in Seat One is sprawled back in his chair, holding his heart and turning rather grey whilst gasping for breath.

I am far from a medic, but doubt this is great, possibly even a heart attack. It takes me yelling "can we get a f-ing doctor" for people to finally break the trance they are in and get a doctor called. Mental.


He later returned to finish off his stack mind, so maybe it was me that was being overly sensitive!

Probably just had the worst equity beat of his life

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

<3 Keith

[Longy]

Good post Alex.

It is inevitable all poker players especially people who have gone straight from education into poker, will be desentised to money. They have virtually no constraints tying them to anything and the majority of their peers (who inevitably become some of their closest mates) are in the same boat.

It is like a budget version of what happens to footballers but you can get away with a lot more vices in poker.

[SolarCarro]

Really good post Alex, like Tikay says, an everyday reminder

Well played on your cash, big one just around the corner!
Dave

[Skgv]

This is a brutal comedown. A few hours ago I was within 90 players of a million dollars. The equity of my stack was worth over 50 thousand euros. Then on the turn of one card, it was all but over and a few hours later I'm sitting on a train, sharing a compartment with a stranger, on an uncomfortable bed that I've had to make myself!

I kind of expected this trip to be a make or break trip. Not break in that it'd break me, but I was putting quite a lot of funds into what was essential a handful of tournaments, so bricking everything and PJ bricking everything, would've been pretty bad and may've required a step down in stakes for 2013. But the upsides were sure to be worth the risk! Think what could've been if I hold with aces...

But the most likely result, is what has happened. A sweat or two, no big bink, but leaving a small winner. By the most likely, I mean, my expected long term value from the trip, was to be a small winner, rather than a big loser or big winner. But you still approach it thinking "I could easily brick everything" OR "I could win the world".

So I've not left a broken man who never wants to play again, searching his soul for what to do with himself. And nor have I left a millionaire. So the dream is still there, yet to be fulfilled and now I'm looking to the next stop, the next chance for that big score. The game still has me by the balls.

The guy sharing my cabin is a young Brazilian, travelling around Europe on his own. From my own travelling experiences, I reckon this cabin is the height of luxury to him! I've slept many a night in far worse places. I've slept in £1.50 hotels in Africa with rooms smaller than prison cells and beds like a slab of wood, ants crawling about and the odd scorpion.

My room in the jungle in Peru for 2 months had countless bugs and insects in, even a tarantula found its way into my bag once. During our tour of South America we cut our stay in Rio short because the hotels were so expensive. We paid £9 a night. For the record, I'm not saying that I know what it's like to be poor in real terms, I don't - I've been extremely fortunate throughout my life, I'm just saying I remember how tight things were in that year, and how highly I valued small amounts of money.

How things have changed! Now a hotel room for £30 a night each is a bargain and we snub anything budget or "cheap". Winning one or two hundred quid in a night is fobbed off as being a "bowl" and anything +/- £500 feels like a breakeven day now.

What I profited this trip I referred to earlier as a "small profit". If I stepped back and stopped being so spoilt, I'd realise that it is a massive amount to win in 12days. People take months to earn it, and I'm leaving thinking that it's a bowl of rice, and I could've had so much more.

I think I need reality checks sometimes. The amounts of money that fly around the poker world are ridiculous. And we're not exactly the most baller people in the community either. In these circles of EPTs and high stakes cash games, we're actually pretty little fish. Brammer said he'd jump off a bridge if he came 9th in the EPT today. That would be a 60k pay day. They discuss tens of thousands like we discuss thousands, and smaller stakes players discuss hundreds, and muggles discuss tenners!

I don't think these things are too important though in themselves, and being hard on yourself or feeling guilty for being lavish with money is pretty futile and unnecessary. Money is the tool with which we do our job. So we are used to big sums being thrown about. But when you're wasteful with money, that's what I hate. And I think it's important to hate it, because it shows you know the value of it.

I think people in this world can go off the rails extremely easily if they're not careful. Spending time with family or non-poker friends is very important to keep your feet on the ground. Listen to how they talk about and treat money, then when you're going to flick in a £200 spin on roulette, remember what that money can buy in real life and walk away.

This is advice to myself as much as anything, and to anyone that wants to listen.

Smart Smart boy !  There's hope for you yet ! X

[Young_gun]

This is a brutal comedown. A few hours ago I was within 90 players of a million dollars. The equity of my stack was worth over 50 thousand euros. Then on the turn of one card, it was all but over and a few hours later I'm sitting on a train, sharing a compartment with a stranger, on an uncomfortable bed that I've had to make myself!

I kind of expected this trip to be a make or break trip. Not break in that it'd break me, but I was putting quite a lot of funds into what was essential a handful of tournaments, so bricking everything and PJ bricking everything, would've been pretty bad and may've required a step down in stakes for 2013. But the upsides were sure to be worth the risk! Think what could've been if I hold with aces...

But the most likely result, is what has happened. A sweat or two, no big bink, but leaving a small winner. By the most likely, I mean, my expected long term value from the trip, was to be a small winner, rather than a big loser or big winner. But you still approach it thinking "I could easily brick everything" OR "I could win the world".

So I've not left a broken man who never wants to play again, searching his soul for what to do with himself. And nor have I left a millionaire. So the dream is still there, yet to be fulfilled and now I'm looking to the next stop, the next chance for that big score. The game still has me by the balls.

The guy sharing my cabin is a young Brazilian, travelling around Europe on his own. From my own travelling experiences, I reckon this cabin is the height of luxury to him! I've slept many a night in far worse places. I've slept in £1.50 hotels in Africa with rooms smaller than prison cells and beds like a slab of wood, ants crawling about and the odd scorpion.

My room in the jungle in Peru for 2 months had countless bugs and insects in, even a tarantula found its way into my bag once. During our tour of South America we cut our stay in Rio short because the hotels were so expensive. We paid £9 a night. For the record, I'm not saying that I know what it's like to be poor in real terms, I don't - I've been extremely fortunate throughout my life, I'm just saying I remember how tight things were in that year, and how highly I valued small amounts of money.

How things have changed! Now a hotel room for £30 a night each is a bargain and we snub anything budget or "cheap". Winning one or two hundred quid in a night is fobbed off as being a "bowl" and anything +/- £500 feels like a breakeven day now.

What I profited this trip I referred to earlier as a "small profit". If I stepped back and stopped being so spoilt, I'd realise that it is a massive amount to win in 12days. People take months to earn it, and I'm leaving thinking that it's a bowl of rice, and I could've had so much more.

I think I need reality checks sometimes. The amounts of money that fly around the poker world are ridiculous. And we're not exactly the most baller people in the community either. In these circles of EPTs and high stakes cash games, we're actually pretty little fish. Brammer said he'd jump off a bridge if he came 9th in the EPT today. That would be a 60k pay day. They discuss tens of thousands like we discuss thousands, and smaller stakes players discuss hundreds, and muggles discuss tenners!

I don't think these things are too important though in themselves, and being hard on yourself or feeling guilty for being lavish with money is pretty futile and unnecessary. Money is the tool with which we do our job. So we are used to big sums being thrown about. But when you're wasteful with money, that's what I hate. And I think it's important to hate it, because it shows you know the value of it.

I think people in this world can go off the rails extremely easily if they're not careful. Spending time with family or non-poker friends is very important to keep your feet on the ground. Listen to how they talk about and treat money, then when you're going to flick in a £200 spin on roulette, remember what that money can buy in real life and walk away.

This is advice to myself as much as anything, and to anyone that wants to listen.

great post

[LIONRAMPANT]

This is a brutal comedown. A few hours ago I was within 90 players of a million dollars. The equity of my stack was worth over 50 thousand euros. Then on the turn of one card, it was all but over and a few hours later I'm sitting on a train, sharing a compartment with a stranger, on an uncomfortable bed that I've had to make myself!

I kind of expected this trip to be a make or break trip. Not break in that it'd break me, but I was putting quite a lot of funds into what was essential a handful of tournaments, so bricking everything and PJ bricking everything, would've been pretty bad and may've required a step down in stakes for 2013. But the upsides were sure to be worth the risk! Think what could've been if I hold with aces...

But the most likely result, is what has happened. A sweat or two, no big bink, but leaving a small winner. By the most likely, I mean, my expected long term value from the trip, was to be a small winner, rather than a big loser or big winner. But you still approach it thinking "I could easily brick everything" OR "I could win the world".

So I've not left a broken man who never wants to play again, searching his soul for what to do with himself. And nor have I left a millionaire. So the dream is still there, yet to be fulfilled and now I'm looking to the next stop, the next chance for that big score. The game still has me by the balls.

The guy sharing my cabin is a young Brazilian, travelling around Europe on his own. From my own travelling experiences, I reckon this cabin is the height of luxury to him! I've slept many a night in far worse places. I've slept in £1.50 hotels in Africa with rooms smaller than prison cells and beds like a slab of wood, ants crawling about and the odd scorpion.

My room in the jungle in Peru for 2 months had countless bugs and insects in, even a tarantula found its way into my bag once. During our tour of South America we cut our stay in Rio short because the hotels were so expensive. We paid £9 a night. For the record, I'm not saying that I know what it's like to be poor in real terms, I don't - I've been extremely fortunate throughout my life, I'm just saying I remember how tight things were in that year, and how highly I valued small amounts of money.

How things have changed! Now a hotel room for £30 a night each is a bargain and we snub anything budget or "cheap". Winning one or two hundred quid in a night is fobbed off as being a "bowl" and anything +/- £500 feels like a breakeven day now.

What I profited this trip I referred to earlier as a "small profit". If I stepped back and stopped being so spoilt, I'd realise that it is a massive amount to win in 12days. People take months to earn it, and I'm leaving thinking that it's a bowl of rice, and I could've had so much more.

I think I need reality checks sometimes. The amounts of money that fly around the poker world are ridiculous. And we're not exactly the most baller people in the community either. In these circles of EPTs and high stakes cash games, we're actually pretty little fish. Brammer said he'd jump off a bridge if he came 9th in the EPT today. That would be a 60k pay day. They discuss tens of thousands like we discuss thousands, and smaller stakes players discuss hundreds, and muggles discuss tenners!

I don't think these things are too important though in themselves, and being hard on yourself or feeling guilty for being lavish with money is pretty futile and unnecessary. Money is the tool with which we do our job. So we are used to big sums being thrown about. But when you're wasteful with money, that's what I hate. And I think it's important to hate it, because it shows you know the value of it.

I think people in this world can go off the rails extremely easily if they're not careful. Spending time with family or non-poker friends is very important to keep your feet on the ground. Listen to how they talk about and treat money, then when you're going to flick in a £200 spin on roulette, remember what that money can buy in real life and walk away.

This is advice to myself as much as anything, and to anyone that wants to listen.

great post

[stato_1]

Good post. Though to be fair the £200 roulette spin is my tool that I use to lose £5

[Ant040689]

Was a good post Alex, going through a moment of clarity type thing at the moment too with how wasteful I have been with money and it only takes little changes to make a big difference, which thankfully I am doing now, instead of always leaking!

[luvtheUni]

I think this is one of those times where I post a little note, (as I only post if I think i got something important to share):

It is good to look back over your shoulder and try to put things into perspective, but imho, it is even more important (specially in the world of poker) to understand than money means absolutely nothing in life. Money should just be an instrument for society to make transactions easier, that is all... I think you have a very mature approach to your profession, but I can understand how sick beats affect one´s morale.

Since I stopped playing poker and not thinking so much about money... i just try to ask myself one question when I am somewhat down or..whatever...

"Right now...at age X... am I doing what I REALLY want to do in life? Do I enjoy waking up every morning and doing what I do? If yes, how lucky am I in life?" Then try to find myself on the total worlds percentile of "luck"... and it always comes out something like this...
"Not hungry - already belong to the top 50% of the worlds population... Healthy: top 40-35%... live without war and in a somewhat secure and nice country: top 10%... Within this country... Nice family that loves me... and able to go to school and have a good education: top 3-4%... HAVE A JOB THAT I ENJOY AND I ACTUALLY LOVE (which I think would be your case?): Top .5% maybe? maybe even less? ... GOT LOVE? (ok, this should have been on top of the list... but just for the sake of a good script): 

There you go... top 0,1%!   

Fuck that equity Alex! You went there and you did what you love and got out of there satisfied with your play and now you go to see your girlfriend (i think... i read this like once a month and I am not quite sure whats going on). Congratulations.

I hope everyone here is half as lucky and happy as I am and wish you all the best and a healthy poker-playing! But overall Id say everyone here is quite lucky...

Now if you will all excuse me... Im off to listen to Pink Floyds "Money"

[jgcblack]

great post mate, well done in Prague and as usual David Amos is right.  We dont ever win anything on the turn or one card, but its funny how we always lose it because of 'that' card.

Keep it going, love the game and see you soon.

[aaron1867]

+1 to a great post Alex.

I am not sure if I missed, but you did not do an end of month analysis? Results?

Hope to see a full Prague TR and an end of year review too?

Well done on a decent year, Alex.

[tikay]

+1 to a great post Alex.

I am not sure if I missed, but you did not do an end of month analysis? Results? Hope to see a full Prague TR and an end of year review too?

Well done on a decent year, Alex.

Hi Aaron,

Yes, he did.

Scroll back through the thread to the last day of November, (give or take a day), he Posted it then.