In 2004, I was a junior in high school, 2 Sport Varsity athlete, A student, with a pretty girlfriend and an aspiration to one day work on Wall St. Then I discovered poker like the rest of America. I played hours on end (online and live) and was relatively successful.

Flash forward 2 years. The UGIGA, or whatever the hell that worthless group of dream crushers is called, had to ruin the party and steal all the online fish. Well, once the dead money morons left the scene, as Darwin predicted, the strong survived. Like many around this time I came to the realization that I was not one of them. After a year of break even to slightly losing poker, and an inability to find meaning in VPIPs and Poker Stove hand ranges, I quit the online world and started focusing on school.

I’m a senior in college now. I passed up a chance to play college golf, I barely hold a C average, and I lack motivation. I’ve got no girlfriend, no prospects, and nothing on the horizon. Unknowingly, I gave up everything for the stupid poker pipe dream. Every morning I open my eyes and hear Cosmo Kramer asking me If I “have any conceivable reason for waking up in the morning?” I am Costanza.

For the past 3 years of college I’ve re introduced myself to the live poker scene and done fairly well in the 1/2, and sometimes 2/5nl games, while adding a couple small tournament scores as well. No longer am I crushing, but I’ve made enough coin to never have to worry about beer, food, or books. Add in the money I made before the online games went dry and my roll is sitting dangerously close to three stacks of high society. However, sick of the “grind” and dealing with live variance I’ve decided to take a chance and follow in the footsteps of everyone’s hero Mike McD.

I’ve booked a room for 3 weeks over my winter break on the strip and will head down with my full bank roll, fully prepared to lose it all taking my shot at the 5/10 and 10/20nl games. The game has stolen the majority of my youth, and left me with nothing but dirty money and a Christian Bale like anger problem. I look at the self proclaimed “regulars (lol)” (as if that makes it okay to be a fat, smelly, worthless *******) who stroll into my local casino daily, unshowered and unhappy, taking out their anger in the form of snide remarks to the dealers and waitresses, and won’t let that happen to me (hope I’m not offending any 2p2ers).

So 5/10 and 10/20 Vegas regulars begin licking your chops. Starting this Friday I’ll be living the life of a Vegas local, attempting to beat the mid stakes NL, and hopefully meeting some interesting people and hearing some cool stories (this is Vegas after all). I’ll probably post fairly frequent trip reports. If the idea of this bores you or you become uninterested because I can’t make 80 ****ing K in one day, then go read OoBillyoO’s trip reports.

Also if anyone knows any regular BBall games, or plays racquetball, or golf (Do people play golf in December in Vegas?) and wants to get together for some exercise shoot me a PM. A wise man once told me a fat stomach never breeds fine thoughts.

Edit 1/25/16: In 2016 drbeechwood compiled and lightly edited the original posts in this thread. The document is available as a download at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/296214539/...-Another-Dream

Do you at least like to get the daily news?

If I were you id start off playing 2/5 and see how that goes.For 5/10 30K isnt a huge roll but it isnt that bad either. But if your goal is to go home rich or broke then 5/10 might be the way to go.

Sounds awesome. Took a somewhat similar shot three summers ago, now I live here. I might be down for some golf, shot me a pm if you want to play.

I'm no expert by any stretch, but in my limited experience 2/5 is _way_ softer than 5/10 in LV...just something to keep in mind I guess (and you might already know that). Anyway, I'm looking forward to your reports...kick some ass!

this. Im not sure how frequently youve played in vegas, or how familiar you are with games, but 5/10 only runs in 3 or four places regularly... the competition is a lot tougher, and youll often have serveral regs from bigger games that arent running/dont have seats killing time there till they get a seat.

If youre looking to take a 3 week shot and see how you do, id say stick with 2/5, and just keep an eye open for a 5/10 game that looks really soft.

also i hear theres this 10/20 home game....

also, as another side note... if 2/5 is just too low and youre bound and determined to play 5/10+, LA might be a better place to take the shot than LV.

Good luck man. At least you have a talent for writing and a love of Seinfeld, those will get you far. If all else fails, you can just tell people you're an architect.

As for your trip, 5/10 is few and far between in the best of times and 10/20 even moreso. During December, it'll be even sparser. This would be a grander experiment in the summer during WSOP or in LA anytime. And like has been said, the 5/10 game is a definite cut above 2/5 as far as the quality of your opponents. Once again, better off in LA.

If you're deadset on Vegas this winter, I'd recommend sticking mostly to the 5/10 game at Bellagio which is the softest of the 3 or 4 games you'll find. 10/20 will only be at Bellagio or sometimes Wynn and I'd just avoid that at all costs. It'll remind you of your post-Darwin online experiences.

Why couldn't you make me an architect? I always wanted to pretend that I was an architect.

Good luck OP. I'd suggest working harder at school, but I know you'd dismiss that. Playing poker actually breeds a lot of habits that probably don't help you at school - anger, tilt, arrogance, condescension, immediate risk/reward reinforcement, etc. You seem to know all these things, though, so maybe taking a shot will help you either get it out of your system or catapult you to a place where you don't need to finish college with flying colors. Regular TR's plz.

I wish I had done a little bit more of research as it sounds like LA and summertime would've been more appropriate for my shot. However, while yea I'd like to make 6 figures Like oOBillyOo and find my true calling as a professional gambler, I'm approaching this sabbatical as somewhat of a last hurrah.

Since I was 16 years old poker has mentally consumed me and handicapped my ability to thrive in any other areas. I feel like many of you on this board can relate with my situation. While I've made decent money, the 45 minute trips to the boat, the winning sessions washed out by running bad the next day and the self-created "bipolar like" mood swings are catching up to me. The juice is no longer worth the squeeze, if I may.

With graduation approaching in the spring, and subsequently a job search, it seems like a logical time to say **** the grind. But simply quitting with my measly 30k profit makes me feel like I'm cheating myself of the work I've put into the game.

While I agree with others who say my bankroll and experience is better suited for a 2/5 shot, that contradicts the reason I'm going in the first place. I'm going for the final adrenaline rush, the reason I got into poker in the first place. The chance to play with, and hopefully prove, that I'm smart enough to beat some of the best.

As far as L.A. goes, I chose Vegas because of it's distinction in the gambling world. It's prominence. While I may leave broke, I'll have a story, and the peace of mind to know I gave it one final shot. I leave you with this from T.S. Eliot, "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."

meh, bet 15k on red or black day 1.

either way your trip will be better. If you lose, spend time grinding back to 30k, at least you have a goal (without a goal, i sense doom)....
if you win, BLOW the 15k as an "entertainment fund" see EVERY show you can, invite random hookups to see shows with you, eat at the best resturants, etc etc etc, and then you still have your 30k roll to play with...but set a per day limit +/- 5k??)....unless of course you are crusing a table, then upper limit does not apply....lol

MM19, I've read your OP, and your responses. I wish you all the best and look forward to your trip reports. Excellent quote from T.S. Elliot, and in the same spirit, I have one for you sir:

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments

Stay focused. All the best!

In essence you should enjoy this last hurrah and drop this game and this lifestyle for good or for at least return when you have achieved the things in life which will make you sound positive. Poker will then not be so all consuming of your morale.

After reading you original depressing post and the abyss which you have realized that you are in - you are lucky to be young enough to make this adjustment to your life that you can do something that bring a positive aura.

I also had a great opportunity to gamble my way in my early 20s but I gave up horses, cards, bookmakers and all that time consuming stuff and concentrate on getting that piece of paper from skool and then a career. There were great sacrifices. The career has given me my travel and properties now in AC and LV and 2 other countries - NOT the day to day gambooling! Sure I have taken risks and some have worked out grandly - but some have not and with those I tried not to get depressed but move on and not dwell.

Good post/response dude. You might not be steering the course of the most positive expectation, but i certainly admire your spirit.

"After reading you original depressing post and the abyss which you have realized that you are in - you are lucky to be young enough to make this adjustment to your life that you can do something that bring a positive aura."

I hope I'm not giving off the impression that I am depressed and doing this out of desperation (though I can see where you got that impression). I'm a very happy and positive 21 year old college senior, whose simply dealing with the cognitive dissonance of beating small stakes poker vs. the emotional swings and time consumption that comes with the process. The seinfeld reference and my feelings towards the game were meant to illuminate the destruction that breaking even and wasting time in this game can cause (I actually do have a few conceivable reasons for waking up in the morning).

However, I do believe I've experienced first hand how too much time and devotion to poker (or any aspect of life for that matter) can have detrimental effects when things don't go perfectly. Hell, I majored in psychology with a minor in statistics. While I find the field interesting, I have about as much interest in a psychology career as Tiger Woods has in a monogamous relationship. I did it to improve my understanding of human nature and consequently my poker game.

Over the last four years I've come to grips with what I'm capable of as a poker player and what I'm not. I'm taking this shot for the entertainment aspect, and because frankly I don't believe that live 5/10nl players are all that great. The one thing that always held me back from taking a proper shot, was my fascination with the "grind" and my emotional attachment to the money. Without these constraints I personally think I will be a favorite in most mid stakes lineups. Who knows maybe I'm wrong. Either way it should be entertaining

seemed you retained some of it at least thats always good (btw, thats one of my favorite poker psychology buzz terms)

Awesome post! Here is what you do in this order:

1. Start off at 1/2 for a day. Just to get back into the groove of the live game and Vegas seen/procedures and use this as an opportunity to scout out all the poker rooms and the games they regularly spread.
2. Move up to 2/5 on day 2. Grind that out and see how you run.
3. By your 2nd week if you believe you are good enough to go to 5-10, then give it a shot but preferably do it on a weekend first.
4. When you realize you were making more at 2/5, go back and keep at those games for a while.
5. Go back to school and finish college.
6. If you have the money/time/ability take a couple months after college then head to Vegas during the WSOP and grind out some cash games, play some tournys (Venetian and Caesars run great daily deepstack tournies during the WSOP). Maybe even take a shot at a real bracelet. Definitely spend time playing the cash games in the Amazon room at the Rio though.
7. Decide then what you want to do with your life (getting a real job is probably what you want to do). And you will always have this great experience to look back on.

Just my 2 cents....

Also, definitely get some lady time in between steps 1-4 even if it means less time at the poker table. This shouldn't be too hard in this city

...FWIW....I hear that game is pretty juicy.....

This is pretty sick Mr. Moore. You know me from MU and Hollywood casino. Hint: Facebook.

I hope you'll be keeping us up to date with your progress! Trip reports are always fun. I recommend Venetian and Bellagio for higher nl games. I've only played 2/5 there but watched plenty of the higher stakes action and it definitely looks beatable.

I am hoping to go out there this summer to take my "shot" for the series.

Also, check your PM box, I know a local pro out there who is our age and is a former MU student. I've already talked to him and said that you two should get together out there.

Best of luck

Good luck, win or lose please let us know in this thread. Always fun to hear the stories.

You could probably take a car and drive over to LA for a few days just to see what the LA poker scene is like. It's probably worth the experience, even if you pay the opportunity cost of driving 8+ hours.

I enjoy a nice drive so I would consider this? Don't you have to be 24 to rent a car though...unless Vegas just disregards that law like. Can't say it would surprise me.

its not a law... you just pay more if youre under 25.. i think ive read in other threads that enterprise has the smallest surcharge for under 25.... if you care to do it, the scenic route through the mojave national preserve is pretty cool

+1, I rented several times before I turned 25.

If it's not feasible, check out Greyhound or Amtrak.

If you speak and/or read a major Asian language, also check out the local Asian communities or Asian supermarkets, as they often have really cheap bus services to/from major cities. The buses are a little dingy and a little scary (drivers aren't the safest) but the routes are bargains and pretty convenient. Unfortunately, most of the advertisements are in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, or Japanese with no English translation. Here in the SF Bay Area there are routes that run from San Francisco Chinatown and Oakland Chinatown to Reno and Vegas at least once a day.

if taking a shot at the expense of the br is the goal, then why not donkaments instead of 5/10 and 10/20 where you'll have to run good to beat the many solid regs?

Careful Mikey, Vegas isn't your local indian casino. That said, best of luck. Wish I still lived there and we could tee it up.