Shaniac: The Corner

[shaniac]

Originally Posted by chilin_dude

1. How did you become an online pro?

2. How come you are busto atm?

1. I got it by applying and getting lucky as hell I guess. Also, I am not an "online pro" FYI. I am a "member of team online."

2. Buying expensive crap that I didn't need and other lifestyle leaks, plus just practicing some very lazy BR management for years. To some extent I think I was content to go broke and get backed, and that is a disastrous mentality.

[shaniac]

Originally Posted by Rupert

Long time reader love the blog, congrats on becoming online pro!

In light of multi entry tournaments where regs ROIs are going to drop substantially but volume can increase I was wondering if you subscribe to the tons of volume or high quality hands/good game selection book of making money or a middle ground in which case i'd be interested to hear about your general opinion on multi-entry tournaments!

Thankfully multi-entry tournaments are run on a site that I do not play on, so I don't have to ponder difficult issues like this.

Again, this is like an area of expertise for Billy Bibbit and the Bear Jew. I just register for a bunch of stuff across a range of stakes and try to play well and adjust my game according to the stakes. Not sure if I'm coming close to answering your questions.

And TY!

[gettym]

2006 wsop me coverage was some of the most entertaining poker i've ever seen on tv, eric molina plays a starring role as an antagonist and general douchebag(so lol tho) and you're one of the only guys they show standing up to him verbally, it looks like he ended up busting you, but that could have to do with the way espn filmed it.

a) what did it feel like getting busted by him after the verbal spats you had w/ him?
b) have any clue if molina is still alive?
c) most frustrating wsop me for you ever?



what is your plan of attack for poker in the year 2011? general outline of what you are going to be playing and goals?



edited to include link to said wsop episode - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7lwC2Wwh3w

you were one of the first huge names i remember when i started playing $5 sngs online and stuff, congrats on the stars deal and gl in 2011

[SNGplayer24]

congrats on all the success and signing as a pro. Do you feel playing live MTTs for a living a viable longterm career? When factoring in traveling expenses, taxes, and of course variance, I dont see how guys expect to do this for 10+ years outside of hitting a big heater.

[HotKarlMC]

this should be a great read. no questions atm, but I'm a shaniac fanboy! also always enjoy reading your blog. grats on Team Online, awesome to see!

[apology7]

Seeing as how you've been a professional for quite some time I was curious about your thoughts on where you see the future of ipoker in the U.S.

Do you have any contingency plans to move out of the country during the transition/blackout period (if this were to happen)?

In the event of federal U.S legalization there will presumably be a much smaller/fragmented market. Do you think MTTers are going to have to transition to cash games?

[hukel 9]

Im not sure if you are being modest, self depricating, or are truly just an average poker player, as the description of yourself suggests in the opening remarks of this "Corner". I highly doubt PS would offer you an contract if you didnt have some impressive accomplishments. So with that being said (giving you full reign to brag about yourself), what do you feel are your greatest accomplishments in the poker world.

I personally am not familiar with you, but I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your new position and in life in general.

[Billy Bibbit]

Congrats on Team Online and the recent 100r win. Thanks for the compliment on my posts.

Your writing style is so interesting and engaging. Any advice for how to get better at writing and telling stories?

Most of the old-school MTT pros from way back when have either quit or can't beat HSMTTs anymore. What do you think has given you more staying power than them?

[shaniac]

Originally Posted by jon_midas

Do you think its easier said than done? Are people like us just manic and predisposed to getting rich, blowing it all, and doing it over and over again? What makes you think that this time will be different for you?

Congrats on the status and glgl

Harrington said it in a CP interview: In order to be a good poker player, you need to have a disregard for money. In order to not go broke, you need to switch off that disregard for money when you leave the table.

Doing that is really hard, and that's why, yes, it is easier said than done. The first part of Harrington's assessment indicates that most of us poker players basically have a degenerate streak somewhere in our hearts, so you really need that ability to step back, be objective, and learn to appreciate the money from multiple angles (consider how poker money feels relative to the money your friends make in the straight world).

I think I will do it right this time, because, to paraphrase a hip-hop meme: Being broke in your 30s will give a dude the chills.

I have also found it very depressing to see enormous fortunes donated by friends to MGM and Harrah's, and I can't even root for them wholeheartedly when I see they got stacks in major live events, because I've seen the end result of their gambling addiction repeat itself over and over. I just don't wanna go out like that.

[shaniac]

Originally Posted by M1cKmAcK

you've been around the online scene since the beginning, who have been your top 5 nemeses?

what are your thoughts on the transformation of mtt play in high stakes online tourneys over the past 2 years?

favorite pit game?

what are you doing for Valentine's Day?

when you have a poker related question, who do you turn to first?

- These are not actual nemesis, I get along with almost everyone, but I will say: 1) Michael Gracz for picking off my bluff with ace-high in the 2005 1k rebuy at WSOP 2) Eric Molina for being an outrageous douche and successfully baiting me/tilting me in whatever WSOP he played the drunk young punk. 3) Shannon Shorr because we got into a blog fight (but again I like Shannon, I was probably overly harsh, and lol internets. Plus Shannon got me back with an epically awesome slowroll at this year's WSOP that backfired when I 2-outed him) 4) Dan Alspach just because he pissed me off one time at a Bellagio tournament enough for me to loudly declare him a "jerkoff." Again, no real problem with any of those people, and it's only four. Can't we all just get along?

- MTTs seem like they should be tougher than they are! Not sure if that makes sense. The game has gotten harder, but I still think the essence of MTT expertise is playing well "in the moment" and ability to adjust/mental clarity.

- craps

- For Valentine's Day, hanging out in MTT on The Corner. Supposed to have a first date with some actress/writer girl later this week tho!

- I have a few people that I'll talk poker with, most of whom are unheard-of on these boards. The nature of the question determines whom I'll ask.

[danxxx1]

Hey Shaniac,

Just wanted to say congrats. When I got into poker in the middle of 04 you were one of the people I used to rail a lot to try and learn the game.
Also I really enjoy reading your blog, do you think it you will be updating it more often now that you are a team online pro?

Thanks and congrats again,
Dan

[ferdilicious]

very nice post about approaching the game.

whats ur plan poker wise for 2011 ?
u like playing early session ? late session ? full session ?
how many tables u play at once ?
do u game select ?

grats on team online

also : bibbit's posts, TT_fold's , Tod Terry's posts made me a little bit more thinking player in what comes to approaching this game. i consider i learned alot from this community but sometimes i think about this change and see that ive become a more conservative player and dont click that buttons as aggressive as i used to. and when i have bad streaks i wish i was more of a monkey that clicks buttons and care less about the theory part.

sick beautiful game that makes u doubt every second about ur game and try to improve every second

looking forward to some good discussions. gl

[fizix87]

grats on making team online, like everyone else has said love the blog, def one of the top 5 poker blogs out there

never really that great at poker questions, so

favourite album(s)?
favourite movie(s)?
favourite place(s) to visit?

[shaniac]

Originally Posted by gettym

2006 wsop me coverage was some of the most entertaining poker i've ever seen on tv, eric molina plays a starring role as an antagonist and general douchebag(so lol tho) and you're one of the only guys they show standing up to him verbally, it looks like he ended up busting you, but that could have to do with the way espn filmed it.

a) what did it feel like getting busted by him after the verbal spats you had w/ him?
b) have any clue if molina is still alive?
c) most frustrating wsop me for you ever?



what is your plan of attack for poker in the year 2011? general outline of what you are going to be playing and goals?

a) Felt awful lol. The absurdity of what was going on at the table can not be described in words, although I reported on this one string bet (that the floor let him get away with) in my blog at the time (you seem good at digging up stuff, there is a LONG entry that coincided with the broadcast). And then he busted me and taunted me lol.

The worst part was the clip of my saying, "No, YOU'RE a jerk" got used in a Nuts segment where Capt. Tom Franklin talked about the brash, young rude class of new players, which is really not at all what I'm like (I don't think).

b) my hunch is yes, he is alive, but it makes no difference, no one's death has ever stopped the world.

c) I wanna say the 2009 WSOP was super frustrating, because in the "softest tournament" of the year I had absolutely devastating tables on both day 1 and day 2.

Goals for the year--play a lot of online MTTs, work on my writing. Also, work on achieving a balance to offset the isolation of online poker (and poker in general). I want to be paddle boarding and playing tennis as much as possible and leaving myself a little time to chase women. Only planning to play live events in CA and Vegas with the exception of Mohegan Sun in April.

[ShowUthExit]

good god I forgot all about Molina and really wish I wasn't reminded of his existence