No longer does a day go by when I don’t think about quitting my job and playing poker full time. But there are several pieces of logic that seem to give me enough reason stay in my 9-5 rut. They are:
1) A steady pay check with medical benefits. I rarely use the benefits but it’s nice to know they are there.
2) A healthy paying job. I get paid very well, even for what I do. From what I have seen online and around me, I don’t think I will likely be able to find another company that pays as well as this one does for what I do. I only consider this on the possibility of having to re-enter the work force should the poker career not work out.
3) They pay me to do almost nothing. I’m in the office right now. That should be a good indication of how little there is for me to do. After a week of vacation, it took a whopping 10 minutes to get caught up on my email. Now I’m back to pay-to-play…sort of. As always, I can’t really complain about that.
4) I’m more skilled than almost everyone around me. That is only a plus in the job security column. (It’s also a negative because I’d rather be surrounded by people who I respect and can learn from.)
Those seem like pretty good reasons, right? They are. But I came up with them to hold myself back. To avoid possible financial failure. I’ve been living in the black for so long that I don’t know how to take risks anymore. So I have been trying to understand how other people take risks by gathering insight into how they look at it.
So far, it just appears to be a difference in personality types. I am cautious and calculating and have never been entirely on my own. While in Maui, I met several people who had uprooted and moved to the Island weeks or days after their first visit. I’ve never been able to do anything like that. The closest I ever came was in college. But even then I only went from L.A. to San Diego. I drove home a lot so I didn’t really move away. And I knew it was only temporary. When I graduated, I moved back home. Anyway, I could see myself living in Maui or Vegas but I am not likely to make such a leap. It’s just the way I am.
There was, however, a concept I picked up while on vacation. It came from one of the transplants I met. He said something along the line of “I know I’ll get what I need to survive.” I’ve heard ideas like that before but it is usually from a 12-stepper who is still trying to believe it himself. It also usually has a spiritual connotation like “God will provide.” But, this time, it was different. While he is a 12-stepper, it probably helped that this guy is a techie by trade like me. It seemed like he meant that he knows his own ability to perform and earn a living based on his own merit. I like that because I think I am capable of adapting, adopting, and improving. So I can hold my own. When push comes to shove, I will be OK.
But that is not enough to get me out the door. I need a different perspective. And I think I have found it.
What if I wanted to start a business of my own, making and selling a product that I love? (One of the down sides to my current job, or any that I’ve held, is that I am not emotionally vested.) Let’s say I know what the product is and how to make it. I also have the means to start the business, i.e. capital. All of that would put me ahead of millions of people who do not like their jobs but don’t know what else they might want to do. I wouldn’t be stuck and it would be a shame if I stayed where I was and wasted my abilities.
That is kind of where I am now. I know what I want to do and have the knowledge and means (stake) to do it. Couple that with the “I know I’ll get what I need” concept and I could go bust in 3 months but still land on my feet. I have no reason to think otherwise.
My Loyal Three know I have written about this before. But I swear I am so much closer to actually doing it. I wrote this so I won’t forget.
SEEYa
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
Aloha, bitches!
I'm back. What's that? You didn't know I was gone? Well that's probably because I didn't write about my vacation before leaving. I spent a week in Maui and did mostly nothing. It was glorious.
Each day I woke up around 10am (I love living without an alarm clock) and started things off with a complimentary breakfast buffet. Then I headed back to my room and let the food settle for about half an hour before going to work out. The resort's fitness center is the best I have ever seen in a hotel. And the lack of other people in the gym made my time in there like a vacation within a vacation. After working out, I lied on the beach or poolside for 1 or 2 hours. Oh, man, am I ever tanned.
It was everything I had hoped for...and less (in this case, less is more). But now I'm back at work. As I expected...still nothing for me to do. And with most people having taken the day off to make for a 4-day weekend (including July 4 tomorrow), I won't be hanging around here for long. This evening, I'll be off to Scott's house to see my godson and watch fireworks.
I've already written more than I had expected since I'm not really in a writing mood. But I intend to resume later and go into detail about my time on Maui. Oh, yeah... I will also be writing about a poker tourney/party for my friend Jeff's 30th. Kid and Joe were there and we played cards 'til the sun came up.
SEEYa
Each day I woke up around 10am (I love living without an alarm clock) and started things off with a complimentary breakfast buffet. Then I headed back to my room and let the food settle for about half an hour before going to work out. The resort's fitness center is the best I have ever seen in a hotel. And the lack of other people in the gym made my time in there like a vacation within a vacation. After working out, I lied on the beach or poolside for 1 or 2 hours. Oh, man, am I ever tanned.
It was everything I had hoped for...and less (in this case, less is more). But now I'm back at work. As I expected...still nothing for me to do. And with most people having taken the day off to make for a 4-day weekend (including July 4 tomorrow), I won't be hanging around here for long. This evening, I'll be off to Scott's house to see my godson and watch fireworks.
I've already written more than I had expected since I'm not really in a writing mood. But I intend to resume later and go into detail about my time on Maui. Oh, yeah... I will also be writing about a poker tourney/party for my friend Jeff's 30th. Kid and Joe were there and we played cards 'til the sun came up.
SEEYa
Friday, June 23, 2006
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
I went to Chumash with Kid Crash last weekend and have been meaning to write about it. I'll do that later today. But right now, I want to vent.
There are two finance nerds arguing near and across my desk (depending on where one of them is pacing at the moment). What's worse is that they are not actually arguing. They are in complete agreement, just bitching about some other people. They are ga-hay. I'd shut 'em down if I had any work to do. I can hardly complain that they are interrupting my blog-reading.
Save it for happy-hour, ladies!
SEEYa
There are two finance nerds arguing near and across my desk (depending on where one of them is pacing at the moment). What's worse is that they are not actually arguing. They are in complete agreement, just bitching about some other people. They are ga-hay. I'd shut 'em down if I had any work to do. I can hardly complain that they are interrupting my blog-reading.
Save it for happy-hour, ladies!
SEEYa
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Variance
I haven't played poker for over two weeks. Following my all-nighter at Morango with Kid, I decided to take two weeks off. Not because I was running bad or playing poorly. On the contrary, I feel I have been playing very well. And I have not had a losing streak recently...just an occassional, small loss.
But I have been thinking about the possibility that I have been playing too loose or fast or open. By that, I me to say I may have allowed some leaks and tells to creep into my game. So I figured it would be a good idea to step away for a bit and come back with a fresh perspective. I needed to straighten out some other stuff in my life anyway. Then I would be able to focus on Poker.
The end of the planned fortnight respite was last Monday. But, of course, fate can be like any of my ex-girlfriends...a bitch. I ended up scheduled for a training class at work all week that started at 9am each day. This impedes my normal flexibility of going in to work at my own pace. So playing cards until midnight or later was out. I'd have to stay home and get to sleep at a normal hour if I was going to make it to class on time.
That is what I have done. No poker. Just work(class). This sucks. But, wait! I've strayed from my intended topic...my poker game.
My plan unpon returning to action was an experiment. I would go to Commerce and play 5-10 NLH for five straight days (Mon - Fri). I know this will be difficult simply because I don't like making that drive all the time. And I probably won't want to be around all the Man-Ass for so much time without a day or two break to rid myself of the mental stench.
Fortunately, it seems the extra time away from the game has provided more time to think about it. And just the other day I recalled a concept that had slipped my mind: Variance. (It is a generally accepted theory so I wouldn't add it to my list of Truths). Variance is key to long-term success when employing gaming theory. While I do look at my game as a collection of sessions over a long period, I have been falling short of applying it to the individual sessions. As of late, they have only been around 4 hours each. I think an individual session should be nearing 7 hours or more to lower the average effect of luck and increase the net effect of skill.
So going to the card room each weeknight after work wouldn't be a perfect experiment anyway. I would only get 4 hours of table time in on average. But I still intend to try it. Next week might not be good because work will likely kick my ass as I recover from a week away from the office for training. Then I'll be in Maui for a week (but I aint complainin' bout that). It may be several weeks before I can devote a significant amount of time to poker.
I will, however, get out and play a serious session or two within the next few days. I might even head up to Chumash this weekend. What say you, Kid?
SEEYa
But I have been thinking about the possibility that I have been playing too loose or fast or open. By that, I me to say I may have allowed some leaks and tells to creep into my game. So I figured it would be a good idea to step away for a bit and come back with a fresh perspective. I needed to straighten out some other stuff in my life anyway. Then I would be able to focus on Poker.
The end of the planned fortnight respite was last Monday. But, of course, fate can be like any of my ex-girlfriends...a bitch. I ended up scheduled for a training class at work all week that started at 9am each day. This impedes my normal flexibility of going in to work at my own pace. So playing cards until midnight or later was out. I'd have to stay home and get to sleep at a normal hour if I was going to make it to class on time.
That is what I have done. No poker. Just work(class). This sucks. But, wait! I've strayed from my intended topic...my poker game.
My plan unpon returning to action was an experiment. I would go to Commerce and play 5-10 NLH for five straight days (Mon - Fri). I know this will be difficult simply because I don't like making that drive all the time. And I probably won't want to be around all the Man-Ass for so much time without a day or two break to rid myself of the mental stench.
Fortunately, it seems the extra time away from the game has provided more time to think about it. And just the other day I recalled a concept that had slipped my mind: Variance. (It is a generally accepted theory so I wouldn't add it to my list of Truths). Variance is key to long-term success when employing gaming theory. While I do look at my game as a collection of sessions over a long period, I have been falling short of applying it to the individual sessions. As of late, they have only been around 4 hours each. I think an individual session should be nearing 7 hours or more to lower the average effect of luck and increase the net effect of skill.
So going to the card room each weeknight after work wouldn't be a perfect experiment anyway. I would only get 4 hours of table time in on average. But I still intend to try it. Next week might not be good because work will likely kick my ass as I recover from a week away from the office for training. Then I'll be in Maui for a week (but I aint complainin' bout that). It may be several weeks before I can devote a significant amount of time to poker.
I will, however, get out and play a serious session or two within the next few days. I might even head up to Chumash this weekend. What say you, Kid?
SEEYa
Friday, June 02, 2006
Darsky's Poker Truths
The following is a list of poker-related thruths. I hesitate to call them "Laws" because they have not been scientifically tested and I'm not that arrogant...take my word for it...I'm not. They are kind of quidelines but not quite rules. At any rate, I have discovered them through my experience at the tables so I know them to be generally true...hence, "Truths." Take 'em or leave 'em:
1) No one wants to believe they are beat -- Even against the tightest players, no one wants to believe the bettor has actually made a hand. They may lay down their own cards to a bet because they did not make a hand, but they will usually does so reluctantly. They expect that any preflop raise followed by a flop bet is an indication of a bluff with overcards.
***How do you use this info?: If you make a raise before the flop, follow up with a bet on the flop [unless you have good reason to think you are behind and your opponent(s) will not fold]. Do this whether you have hit it big or entirely missed. It disquises the strength of your stronger hands. You will get action with big hands more often than not.
2) Look to your left before calling -- From time to time I find a mediocre hand that I want to try limping in with. It usually happens from the small blind when I can play almost any hand for a discount. Trouble appears when the player to my immediate left raises behind me. Suddenly, instead of limping, I've thrown away money on a hand that I am not willing to play for a raise.
***Yeah? And? So? What?: While many players wait until the action gets to them before looking at their cards, some will go to them while waiting for the person on their right to act. Sometimes, a player will go so far as to pick up chips for a raise. What a great tell! All you have to do is look to your left...then lay it down and save some coin.
3) The Man-Ass Theorem -- People! Please! No. It stands for "Maniacs and Assholes." Card rooms are filled with peolpe who fall into this classification. They tend to be wild and aggressive. Plenty of ego in play. They bet big and call big. They like to trap and love to bluff. During the course of a hand, money means nothing to them (its after they lose that they tilt).
***What do you do with these future felons?: Be careful. Don't bluff into them too often. The #1 Truth applies to them which means they will call often. Then you won't know where you are in the hand as it's hard to put them on a hand or draw. In other words, pick your spots.
4) Trust your reads -- You may be wrong and suffer non-profit or a negative hit in any particluar hand. But one should always try to act based on informed decisions. If you call when you think you are beat or fold when you think you have the best hand, why bother making reads. And why bother getting involved at all. I've been there...I'll be there again...so I know from whence I speak.
***How do you use this?: Trust your read and be satisfied in knowing that you did what you did for a reason. Then learn from the results of those reasons.
I have more Truths running around my noggin but nothing else is coming to mind right now. I'll post more of them as they come up.
SEEYa
1) No one wants to believe they are beat -- Even against the tightest players, no one wants to believe the bettor has actually made a hand. They may lay down their own cards to a bet because they did not make a hand, but they will usually does so reluctantly. They expect that any preflop raise followed by a flop bet is an indication of a bluff with overcards.
***How do you use this info?: If you make a raise before the flop, follow up with a bet on the flop [unless you have good reason to think you are behind and your opponent(s) will not fold]. Do this whether you have hit it big or entirely missed. It disquises the strength of your stronger hands. You will get action with big hands more often than not.
2) Look to your left before calling -- From time to time I find a mediocre hand that I want to try limping in with. It usually happens from the small blind when I can play almost any hand for a discount. Trouble appears when the player to my immediate left raises behind me. Suddenly, instead of limping, I've thrown away money on a hand that I am not willing to play for a raise.
***Yeah? And? So? What?: While many players wait until the action gets to them before looking at their cards, some will go to them while waiting for the person on their right to act. Sometimes, a player will go so far as to pick up chips for a raise. What a great tell! All you have to do is look to your left...then lay it down and save some coin.
3) The Man-Ass Theorem -- People! Please! No. It stands for "Maniacs and Assholes." Card rooms are filled with peolpe who fall into this classification. They tend to be wild and aggressive. Plenty of ego in play. They bet big and call big. They like to trap and love to bluff. During the course of a hand, money means nothing to them (its after they lose that they tilt).
***What do you do with these future felons?: Be careful. Don't bluff into them too often. The #1 Truth applies to them which means they will call often. Then you won't know where you are in the hand as it's hard to put them on a hand or draw. In other words, pick your spots.
4) Trust your reads -- You may be wrong and suffer non-profit or a negative hit in any particluar hand. But one should always try to act based on informed decisions. If you call when you think you are beat or fold when you think you have the best hand, why bother making reads. And why bother getting involved at all. I've been there...I'll be there again...so I know from whence I speak.
***How do you use this?: Trust your read and be satisfied in knowing that you did what you did for a reason. Then learn from the results of those reasons.
I have more Truths running around my noggin but nothing else is coming to mind right now. I'll post more of them as they come up.
SEEYa
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