A stranger is being shown around a village that he has just become part of. He is shown a well and his guide says "On any day except tuesday, you can shout any question down that well and you'll be told the answer" . The man seems pretty impressed, and so he shouts down: Why not on tuesday? and the voice from in the well shouts back: Because on tuesday, its your day in the well .

i'll be here grinding all day, go ahead and ask me whatever you want.

-nation

Groouunndd flooorr..

Poker Story?

What stakes do you currently play? Do you always go broke with KK with 100bb stacks if the money goes in preflop?

I know you are just getting back into the swing of things w/ grinding tons of hands again. But what do you think is one of the most important things to do while grinding tons of tables for long sessions? Not nessecarily poker related, but what keeps you sane when grinding all the hands...

Hope that makes sense...

And...

What do you think is most important to your success in the SSNL games?

When did they start playing with guitars in the NBA?

No, serious one now: Do you think that everybody who wants to become a really good poker player should be playing all the variations or is concentrating on one game (say NLHE for us) the better way to go?

Well, I started playing poker when I watched Moneymaker win the WSOP in 03. I started playing little home games. Of course, at first I was awful, but then I bought a limit book and learned how to play tight. Everyone was bad in my home game so I started to make a little money here and there.

I used to play limit online at that time, but as a donkey would. I think I was a winner at the low limits I used to play, but only because it was in Party's heyday. This was around my freshman year of college. Second semester freshman year, I started playing in a game at Penn State in one of the common rooms. There were a bunch of good players who had played in high school, including .Alex. and pokerfink on 2p2.

I started playing in that game and was the worst player in the game. I hadn't played a whole lot of no limit until I played there, but eventually became good friends with the regulars and became one of the best players in the game. We started at a 20nl game, then 40nl, then eventually a 100 game. The poker scene at Penn State was jumping, we would run 3 games at once in that commons hall.

During that time, I slowly built up my roll from $20 up to around 1k. We took a turning stone trip and I played 1/2 there for the first time. At that time, it was a 100 max game. I killed the games and made about 1400. I also started playing in a 1/2 200 max game in my hometown.

From there, I built my roll up to about 6k, all from playing live 1/2. Eventually I started playing some 2/5 and finally decided I was good enough to go pro. I dropped out of school and moved to Vegas.

I got out to Vegas last January (2006) and for some reason didn't really play much right away. I was excited to move out here and did a lot of partying. I didn't really act like a pro. My roll got really really low, to about 4.5k at my lowest point, so I decided to play 1/2 online after talking to a friend who was grinding full ring.

I learned how to multitable and really honed my full ring game. I built my roll up to ~25k last november, and then took almost the next 8 months off. I was pretty burnt out and focused on other things like weight loss and enjoying life instead of grinding all day.

In mid-october I realized I was down to 8k after just living off my roll the whole time with no other income. I started 16 tabling 1/2 on full tilt and am now right around 17~18k again. I'm going to try to find balance in my life so I don't get burnt out because I need to save money so I can start investing some day. So my goal for each month is around 80k hands...should be very doable.

I haven't been the greatest pro. My biggest obstacles of been lack of discipline as far as putting in the hands every month and also poker add. I get bored sometimes and start playing stupid games like limit and dump money in games where I'm -ev. I consider myself one of the best 1/2 full ring players in the game, easily top 5 at full tilt. It's a matter of just playing poker and saving my fun time for after I'm done with it.

200nl. I go broke against almost anyone except the tightest of the tight players who I have no history with. However, I rarely get KK aipf. I dislike 4 betting all in against tags because I never get called by QQ. I prefer to play for a little pot control.

How did you only spend 17k in 8 months living and partying in Vegas??

I listen to music constantly, especially pop music with really catchy hooks so I sing along. It keeps me upbeat. I also break it into 2 hour sessions.

I think I adjust to the regulars better than other players. Many regs are content to just give up or fold because they have other stuff going on and they can find better spots. I don't mind going to war with them. Also my blind play is exceptional.

Ooh, I left that out. In January I moved back east to my hometown for 6 months in between leases so my buddy and i could get a place together. I didn't spend much and I played some live 1/2 and did ok so I treaded water for a bit.

What's your SN on ftp?

Are you still involved with the sweatshop crew? They recruit any new mules?

It's a uke!

I think you should play whatever you make the most money at. Playing the most variations only matters if you never get any action like Ivey and have to play everything so people will play games they think they're good at. Poker is about money, not impressing people with your flexibility. Just beat the crap out of whatever game you're best at and take the money to the bank.

I'm keeping my SN private for now.

I never was involved with them financially, they were just my friends, and also, they were not a "sweatshop". As far as I know, they still play with the same guys, I have only kept in contact with Chuck since moving back to Vegas.

I'm going to go drop off my tennis racket for restringing, I'll answer the next batch when I get back.

What is your pov on 3 betting?

I think my blind play is my biggest leak. What advice can you offer when playing in the blinds?

Are you nationz on FTP?
What is your ptbb/100 at NL200?
Do you have plans to start a poker sweat shop like Chuck?

Besides playing what steps did you take to improve your game while you were building a roll?
What do you do to improve your game now?

How are you liking living in Vegas the second time around?
Do you see yourself continuing to bounce between live and online play? What do you like about each one?
Did you ever talk to my masseuse from Ceasar's Palace again?
Will there be another one of those 2+2 donk games at next years WSOP?

do you regret dropping out of school and having a degree to fall back on if poker fails for you?

What makes your blind play so exceptional, and how did it become so? I think most full ring regulars are pretty terrible in the blinds, myself included. Is your willingness to go to war with them part of what gives you such an edge in the blinds? Also, have you played much 6-max and did that help with improving blind play? And approximately how many FRNL hands have you played lifetime?

I think I missed a paragraph break there somewhere.

Didnt you use to play exclusively on stars? Why the switch to FTP?

What is your 3betting range from the blinds when a 30-50bb stack open raises in LP? What is your calling range?

I think 3-betting should be reserved (we're not talking premiums here) in position against a hijack or CO player or out of the blinds when the button raises and it's folded to him. I get a lot of folds by attacking the stealers.

The biggest advice I can give in battle of the blinds is be aggressive. keep raising pf or potting when they show weakness.

do you listen to music while you play? if so what are your favorite poker playing jams. favorite non-poker jams?

whats your favorite movie

what is the most motivational thing that ever happened to you in your poker career (maybe something you read/witnessed/etc.)

No, I am not nationz on FTP. I've run at 3.6 over my past 64k hands. I am running awful at the moment in showdown pots. I have had one losing day since starting back up on Oct 17th.

Chuck does not run a poker sweatshop. He and his friends chop their action. I have no plans of staking anyone, I am only interested in my own action.