A Rec With A Dream

[dwayne110]

I hovered over the back key before I started this, to be frank!

The truth shall set me free I hope.....in a nutshell, I'm a rec who would love to have the freedom of quitting the mundane day-day job, if only I could/can win enough in that one 'big shot' attempt. Had a few shots, mixed success. I know enough to understand that having a shot every now and again is very unlikely to prove successful, and I'm no match for the regs who grind every day, mastering the nuances of marginal scenarios. But, f*k it, I'm going to have the occasional pot shot, and win or lose, I'll share my tales!

Feel free to delve...

[tikay]

Good luck Dwayne.

At least you recognise that is "highly unlikely" you will succeed.

A great place to start. Ambition and hope are good, delusion not so much. The lines between them are narrow.

[the rage]

Good Luck with it.

[dwayne110]

Thanks tikay, good advice as always. I have a lot respect for you chiefly because you are a rare 'public' figure who has retained a sense of humility. On a separate note, posting diaries at 4am on a drunken whim isnt so bright! I want to make clear I have a real passion for poker. It's an important hobby in my life, a game where I've met great people and learnt a kit about my faults. Strengths are easy, 'getting' where you need to improve is a tougher cookie. On a poker note, I took a 'shot' at the weekend, 4 tournies played, total $290 invested, 4 tournies, 2 FTs and bubbled FT in one of other 2, $1800 up! I have an interesting PHA to post on one of em, but I'm out so it can hold Will post more about myself this weekend, I know my opening post was fishy at best, lol

[tikay]

Thanks tikay, good advice as always. I have a lot respect for you chiefly because you are a rare 'public' figure who has retained a sense of humility. On a separate note, posting diaries at 4am on a drunken whim isnt so bright! I want to make clear I have a real passion for poker. It's an important hobby in my life, a game where I've met great people and learnt a kit about my faults. Strengths are easy, 'getting' where you need to improve is a tougher cookie. On a poker note, I took a 'shot' at the weekend, 4 tournies played, total $290 invested, 4 tournies, 2 FTs and bubbled FT in one of other 2, $1800 up! I have an interesting PHA to post on one of em, but I'm out so it can hold Will post more about myself this weekend, I know my opening post was fishy at best, lol

There's the thing with poker, & perhaps explains it's mysterious & addictive hold on so many of us. It DOES show our character so vividly.

Read blonde, & you'll see soon enough the bad winners & bad losers. This will precisely mirror their life outside of poker, assuming they have one, which is not always the case.

The worrying thing, to me, is that it seems to me that a lot of people don't actually enjoy it, or not as much as they should. But they are addicted, need their fix, & so put themselves though utter hell, repeatedly. 

How many times have you read this?....

I fucking hate Sundays

Sports betting is no different - the anticipation is the buzz, the excitement leading up to the event. It's almost like sexual foreplay, which is wonderful, & in fact is sometimes better than the actual thing.

If we enjoy poker enough, EVERY hand dealt has that buzz of expectation - will it be a good one? 

I'm so nuts about the game that I get the buzz from waiting to see....

My hole cards

The flop

The Turn

The River

Dare I bluff here?

Will he call me?

At showdown, am I good?......that wonderful wait to see the cards on their back.

As you know, I went to Vegas again this year, & without troubling you with the boring preamble, I have had a difficult year or two in some areas of my life, & I was 90% unlikely to go to Vegas this year, before I strucky lucky, & I got there.

I played every day for around 3 weeks. Without exception, I was excited every single day of that trip. I'd awake each morning, & think ooh, in two hours I'll be playing.

I would arrive early, take my seat, say hello to everyone & settle down.  And being as I played mostly PLO8, which is low-variance, I would, on average, then sit there for 10 or 12 hours.

And in that time, I'd still get that buzz before every single hand, every hole card, every flop, turn, & river. 

Was it about money? No, don't think so. I was a bit nervous in the $3k PLO8, it is such a lot of money, but it was just that non-stop buzz. I loved every single minute.

We are all different, live & let live, but I do look at multi-table "grinders" (jeez, what an inappropriate word, grinding), playing 10 or 12 tables at a time. Do they really enjoy all those moments, the buzz of every card & street? Maybe they are making a ton of money, if so, good luck to them, but I don't see too many MTT grinders riding around with money in their pocket. It's win tonight to pay for tomorrow in many cases.

Guess what I am saying, given you have opened up & started a Diary, is enjoy your poker. It's just a game, but a truly fantastic one. And yes, treasure all the lovely friendships you will make in poker. They are worth more than any win, to us recreationals.
 

[Fenix35]

We are all different, live & let live, but I do look at multi-table "grinders" (jeez, what an inappropriate word, grinding), playing 10 or 12 tables at a time. Do they really enjoy all those moments, the buzz of every card & street? Maybe they are making a ton of money, if so, good luck to them, but I don't see too many MTT grinders riding around with money in their pocket. It's win tonight to pay for tomorrow in many cases.

For me it's more fun playing multiple tables, more interesting decisions come up, more all-in showdowns and more action. But I guess I am part of the ADD generation!

[tikay]

We are all different, live & let live, but I do look at multi-table "grinders" (jeez, what an inappropriate word, grinding), playing 10 or 12 tables at a time. Do they really enjoy all those moments, the buzz of every card & street? Maybe they are making a ton of money, if so, good luck to them, but I don't see too many MTT grinders riding around with money in their pocket. It's win tonight to pay for tomorrow in many cases.

For me it's more fun playing multiple tables, more interesting decisions come up, more all-in showdowns and more action. But I guess I am part of the ADD generation!

Well yes, possibly.

I guess you are part of the "fast" generation (as in fast food, fast cricket, fast everything), & by multi-tabling you just get more kicks, faster.

There is something to be said for having time to savour some things in life though, be it fine wine, good food, nature, a pretty young lady, or even a hand of poker. 

I think, as a generalism, as we get older, we like to spend a little more time to savour the better things.

I suppose you no more understand how I can derive so much pleasure from live poker, as I can understand how anyone can enjoy 12-tabling. 

Now't wrong with either, of course.

Hope you are well, &, err, crushing.

[MelissaChloe]

Thanks tikay, good advice as always. I have a lot respect for you chiefly because you are a rare 'public' figure who has retained a sense of humility. On a separate note, posting diaries at 4am on a drunken whim isnt so bright! I want to make clear I have a real passion for poker. It's an important hobby in my life, a game where I've met great people and learnt a kit about my faults. Strengths are easy, 'getting' where you need to improve is a tougher cookie. On a poker note, I took a 'shot' at the weekend, 4 tournies played, total $290 invested, 4 tournies, 2 FTs and bubbled FT in one of other 2, $1800 up! I have an interesting PHA to post on one of em, but I'm out so it can hold Will post more about myself this weekend, I know my opening post was fishy at best, lol

There's the thing with poker, & perhaps explains it's mysterious & addictive hold on so many of us. It DOES show our character so vividly.

Read blonde, & you'll see soon enough the bad winners & bad losers. This will precisely mirror their life outside of poker, assuming they have one, which is not always the case.

The worrying thing, to me, is that it seems to me that a lot of people don't actually enjoy it, or not as much as they should. But they are addicted, need their fix, & so put themselves though utter hell, repeatedly. 

How many times have you read this?....

I fucking hate Sundays

Sports betting is no different - the anticipation is the buzz, the excitement leading up to the event. It's almost like sexual foreplay, which is wonderful, & in fact is sometimes better than the actual thing.

If we enjoy poker enough, EVERY hand dealt has that buzz of expectation - will it be a good one? 

I'm so nuts about the game that I get the buzz from waiting to see....

My hole cards

The flop

The Turn

The River

Dare I bluff here?

Will he call me?

At showdown, am I good?......that wonderful wait to see the cards on their back.

As you know, I went to Vegas again this year, & without troubling you with the boring preamble, I have had a difficult year or two in some areas of my life, & I was 90% unlikely to go to Vegas this year, before I strucky lucky, & I got there.

I played every day for around 3 weeks. Without exception, I was excited every single day of that trip. I'd awake each morning, & think ooh, in two hours I'll be playing.

I would arrive early, take my seat, say hello to everyone & settle down.  And being as I played mostly PLO8, which is low-variance, I would, on average, then sit there for 10 or 12 hours.

And in that time, I'd still get that buzz before every single hand, every hole card, every flop, turn, & river. 

Was it about money? No, don't think so. I was a bit nervous in the $3k PLO8, it is such a lot of money, but it was just that non-stop buzz. I loved every single minute.

We are all different, live & let live, but I do look at multi-table "grinders" (jeez, what an inappropriate word, grinding), playing 10 or 12 tables at a time. Do they really enjoy all those moments, the buzz of every card & street? Maybe they are making a ton of money, if so, good luck to them, but I don't see too many MTT grinders riding around with money in their pocket. It's win tonight to pay for tomorrow in many cases.

Guess what I am saying, given you have opened up & started a Diary, is enjoy your poker. It's just a game, but a truly fantastic one. And yes, treasure all the lovely friendships you will make in poker. They are worth more than any win, to us recreationals.
 

I know I don't post much on here anymore

But Tikay, that was beautiful

Welcome to blonde Dwayne

[tikay]

Ahh, thank you Melissa.

I'm in a bit of a strangely reflective mood today. Been Posting nonsense all over the shop.

Good to see you back here.

[Tal]

Three words you need to remember at all times, Mr 110:

Game of cards.

If you can keep that in your mind when you play, you're already ahead of 80% of the field, are more likely to stick at it for longer without being found in a church archway with a colander on your head and might well find you enjoy it more.

You'll also have better hands (as in the ones on the end of your arms) as you won't have spent time slamming tables, win or lose.

Even if it is your job, your job is playing a game of cards. Some people make a living shovelling tarmac, some people spend all day tapping at a keyboard and some make their money taking their clothes off. Keep it all in perspective and it can be as fun as it is supposed to be.

And best of luck with the dream, sir.

Love Tal, aged 80.

[jakally]

I'm in a bit of a strangely reflective mood today. Been Posting nonsense all over the shop.

Why is that different to any other day...

[tikay]

I'm in a bit of a strangely reflective mood today. Been Posting nonsense all over the shop.

Why is that different to any other day...

No need Plumpy, no need.

[tikay]

Whilst waffling for England here yesterday, I clean forgot to congratulate you for your results laast weekend.

Top work!

[dwayne110]

Thanks Tikay, your post was great... nowt wrong with a bit of waffle every now & then (although I've heard you tend to do it in the 'now' far too often )

I'm definitely in your camp when it comes downs to what you get from poker. I hate (but understand) terms like 'grinding', it makes the game sound so much like hard work! And to some, I'm sure it is, so good luck to them.

For me, it's all about those nerves in the pit of your stomach when you're in a pot. I believe you can tell so much about a person from how they react before, during & after a big hand. A player's self-esteem, control, patience, sportsmanship, temperament... I could go on, but the point is it really opens people up in a way that very few scenarios are capable of doing. You see the best & worst of people. I hope most players who have a bad night, lose their cool or whatever, are capable of reflection afterwards and see their flaws, but anyone who's ever frequented the same casino regularly has seen those players who are constantly moaning over the same 'badbeats' (it's normally an A-K v Queens scenario...), blaming the dealer, etc. Not sure what 'they' get from this, other than making others feel uncomfortable, but again it's a reflection of their character that's all too visible to everyone else.

So, about me....

I'm 31, born in Manchester, went to Sheffield Uni for 3 years, then back to Manchester where I worked for a financial solutions company from 2 weeks after graduation in 2003, up until this March. Decided to relocate down South, now living in a place called Ware (Herts.), working for a small finance & accounting recruitment firm in Central London. I'm single (oh I forgot, 'Hi MelissaChloe, thanks for the message', lol), very independent, lived on my own for a couple of years but currently flat sharing with my bro & his girlfriend, which is cool as I like keeping close to the family. My parents are both Irish, my Dad from a place called Draperstown in the North, my mum from West Meath in the South. Most of my family are based in Ireland now, which is hard as we're very much a traditional, close Irish family, but I make sure I get over for Christmas each year.

So, a PHA:

$15,000 Guarantee R/A $30

4 handed,
Romeopro33 (D) 410,088
Castaspell           906,662
Me                    399,854
TheRodAce        207,396

Blinds are 10,000 & 20,000, Ante 2000
from what I can remember, 1st pays c $3800, 2nd $2700, 3rd $2100, 4th $1535...

Folded round to castaspell in the SB, I have    , he min-raises to 20,000

Now I recognise my hand is very marginal, blind-v-blind, but felt he'd been opening up most pots, and had shown a willingness to give up post-flop. In retrospect, I think it's a fold, and pick better spots, but hey ho (I'm a rec, remember?). So I called:

Flop:

 

He bets 44,000 - I call

Turn:

 

He check, I bet 87,500, he raises to 306.950, I go all in, he calls.

He shows -  .... the river runs out 

The mistake, I know, was getting involved with a 20 BB stack, with this hand. But as played, from the turn, can/should I get away from this??






     

[RED-DOG]

I have a lot respect for you chiefly because you are a rare 'public' figure who has retained a sense of humility.

He's a modest man, with much to be modest about.