Why is the_main doing a well when he is not actively replying?

He probably fell asleep, he did wake up at 7 am after all

read my op
I said id start when I was done my session.
This just so happens to be now.

What would you say was the toughest leak to plug on your way up through the limits?

cliff notes at the bottom... this is long.

My gambling career started fairly innocently at a young age. I loved sports. Whether it was watching or playing them, I didn't care. Soon my love extended to betting on them as well.

I was probably 10 when I placed my first bet. My dad wagered responsibly on football every week, and I always watched the games with him. A lot of times when he was putting together his parlay, he'd ask my opinion on games. In homer/lisa fashion, I started picking games correctly at an alarming rate. I helped him to some big scores, and he'd buy me video games and stuff. My hot streak was probably a fluke, but it really instilled an interest in gambling.

Eventually I started saving up to wager like $10 every week with my dad's bookie.

This continued all the way through high school. I never really bet a lot, and I was using 'pro-line' now (sports betting regulated by the Canadian government) instead of my dad's bookie. But both of these avenues only offered parlays, which I quickly learned was a losing proposition.

I remember the exact moment I found on-line gambling. I was in my 2nd year of university, coming home from California on a plane. I was visiting my current g/f, who was like 5 years older and super rich. She used to fly my broke student ass to see her every so often. God she was hot.... wait, where was I?

I saw an ad in a magazine for betonsports.com (or something like that). I placed a $500 on the superbowl that year (I think it was indy vs ne... I don’t remember), won and tried to cash out. It was SUCH a hassle.

Once I got my money, I decided to move sites. I chose intertops, which just so happened to have poker too. I had seen poker on TV, but I there were no hole cams and it was super boring.

I started in playmoney, and made lots of chips. My strategy was to play any 2 cards over 10, because they figured to be better than my opponents. No joke... this was my strategy. And hell if it worked... I destroyed play money games

Eventually I moved some money into the account and started playing $5 SNGs. I used the same strategy UNTIL something very important happened. I got berated in chat.
I called an all-in on the button with KJ from a UTG raiser who had like KK or something. Obviously I suck out and the guy goes nuts. He spewed out all kinds of things about odds and positional analysis. I was shocked and a bit embarrassed. There was obviously a lot more to this game than I thought.

So I studied. And studied some more. I read every book I could get my hands on about poker. I joined 2+2.

Please remember this story the next time you berate a fish.

Anyways, I realize that poker is a much better proposition than sportsbetting, and move all my money into the poker account.

I was probably about $15k in debt at this time, almost entirely from paying for tuition. I was not eligible for student assistance, and had no more credit. So, I had to come up with about $8k to pay for the next year (and interest on my $15k). My parents didn't really help me financially (those who's parents do this, please realize how lucky you are and thank your parents).

But yes, that year as a full time student, I managed to scrounge up enough money to pay tuition, buy a laptop and go on vacation! Ah poker, my saviour! (this was all through SNGs and MTTs btw... no cash at all)

Then things get a little messy. I'm about $17k in debt, and have two years left of school. I'm not worried, because I have ~$4k in my poker account and know I can grind it up. But I stumble. My 1st and only moment of true degeneracy.


I've only ever shared the following story with 5-6 people. It's really embarrassing, but also a good story.

It was around NBA allstar time. Lebron James, Carmello ANthony and a sick freshman class are set to play against an inferior sophomore class. I hadn't really bet on sports much anymore, but this game really intrigued me. So, I shipped $500 from my poker account and made the bet on the rookies.

The game was a blowout. And now I know why people say to never bet on all-star games. It was ridiculous; no one took the game seriously. The end actually turned into a dunk competition during regular time. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. And obviously I lost.

I was so pissed that I just blew $500. I had to get it back. I instantly logged on to my account and transferred over $1000 to my sports account. I placed a bet on a soccer game I had no idea about. It was just the next game starting, and there was a clear favourite. I bet on the favorite. And I lost.

Enraged, I transfer the rest of my balance to my sportsbook. I place everything on the next match (soccer again), and promptly lose EVERYTHING I have. My credit cards are maxed (~$3k), my student line of credit is tapped (~$14k).

I do the only thing I can think of. I punch my laptop screen (which I got from poker winnings) and smash the LCD. Awesome. I can’t even describe how I was feeling that night. I don’t think I even slept at all.

The next day was terrible. I was so depressed. I spent the day feeling sorry for myself and watching TV. At around 10pm, I realize I’m [censored]. I’m going to have to take a year off school to work some $10/hr job. I’m desperate. This sounds like hell to me. So I frantically pull out my credit cards and try to get a deposit on pokerstars.

Oh yeah, my monitor is smashed. So I hook up my laptop to my TV which I’d never done before, and I fire up stars.

I try $100 on 1 card. Declined.
$50? Ship it? Declined.

I try the second card.
$100? Declined.
$50? ….. APPROVED!

WTF? Nice. And I’m on my way.

I guess I should’ve started at microstakes and grinded. But I was desperate. I registered for the $11rebuy with a $45,000 guarantee which started in 5minutes. I decide it’s all or nothing.

10hours later, it’s all. Ship the $12,000.

I pay for my tuition, buy a new laptop, and leave a roll to make sure I can pay off next year as well. Trust me, I learned my lesson.

Eventually I graduate from university, and decide I want to travel. I didn’t plan on being a poker pro, I just saw it as something to help me pay the bills. So I do some research, and find a job teaching English in South Korea. It’s a 1year contract, and they pay for my flight and apartment. Awesome. So I pack my stuff, and head out to be the best teacher I can be.

I instantly fall in love with Asia, meet my current girlfriend, and start getting comfortable in my schedule. It’s only then when the school I was working at went bankrupt. Oops.
But I don’t want to go home. So I turn to the only thing that’s ever really paid the bills before. Poker.

I had a roll for $200NL, and as of January 1st, 2007, I became a pro. It’s been a decent year, but I know I can do better. I’m still fairly new to cash, but I’m really enjoying my life right now.

I originally planned to spend my year in asia and get out of debt. Thankfully I've far surpassed my goals in the last 1.5years and now have a nice amount in the bank, and looking to buy a house.

Cliffnotes:
Gamboled thru university with some setbacks
Overcame them
Graduated and moved to asia to teach English
School goes bankrupt
I go pro

so are you planning on staying permanently in korea?

2. I always played online. I was primarily a SNG and MTT player until a year ago. I’ve been at 200NL for a year, playing a bit of $400NL (maybe 10% of my hands). Not playing higher because I have bills to pay and I’m still learning. Though I've been successful at 400NL, mostly because I cherry pick.

3. Mostly the guys that play higher as well;
jackhan
ysomehting (cant remeber his game but he gives me fits)
dilith

dr.ballgame is pretty good as well but I havnt played a tonne with him yet

4.
most hands/month=120,000
$$$/day =$12k
$$$/month=~$13k

5. I respect everyone’s game. I try to understand why they play the way do, in order to better exploit it.

6.I’d like to eventually start just picking out the best games from 400-1000NL.

Me and my g/f might be moving back to canada next year. She graduates university in february and we'll decide from there.

Favourite non premium hand is probbaly 76s. No particular reason.

I live in Bundang, a suburb of seoul. I don't think I've ever been to that place. To be honest, I hate itaewon and try to stay away unless I'm shopping.

Limit poker helped me immensely with hand reading. I played a tonne of that last year, which I neglected to mention in my poker story.

In my experience, yes. But I've heard horror stories from some of my friends.

Where in Mississauga did you live? What high school did you go to?

Koreans don't eat cats silly, they drink them.

Cats are boiled alive and made into a tonic as a folk remedy for Neuralgia and Arthritis. This tonic is known in Korea as "Goyangi Soju" or Cat wine. And yes, it does exist.

Technically, it's illegal in Korea although the laws are not enforced.

On and, I've never tried any of that stuff. Though I have tried silk worm larvae.

Near heartland shopping centre (britannia and mavis). I went to goetz and was validictorian of my graduating class.

I've had 4serious g/fs. 3 have been asian. One was Viet, one philipino and now korean.

I'd say it's a preference rather than a fetish.

have you played in any APPT events so far? planning on trying to qualify for the Sydney event?

Good q’s.

1.
Guillaume Patry (Grrr…)
Redargoe
Dan Schreiber (rekrul) – won the WSOP HU championship
doomeRFD
YOU

2.Probably something I mentioned in my poker story. Whether it was being berated or almost going busto, I couldn’t tell you.

3. Not sure what you mean… If you’re asking why I don’t move up, it’s because I’m working towards it. If you’re asking what I’m afraid of, I’d say heights. It’s not extreme (I go mountain climbing, ride rollercoasters, whatever), but heights definitely get my ticker going.

4. maria ozawa (jap porn star)



5. great question. I’ll just preface this by saying Toronto is a great city. If you havn’t been you should check it out.

But honestly, Seoul is great. There are better places in the world to party, but Seoul has somehting for everyone. Great food, attractions, beautiful women (hookers everywhere if you’re into that), and tonnes of cultural stuff to see.

6. I can’t even answer that. MY favorite band of all time might be sublime though. I like way too much music…

I review sessions everyday. Usually for about an hour. I havn't always done this, but it's helped me a lot recently.

I look at what regs are doing, and make adjustments or emulate if nessecary.

I havn't followed football for a like 4years, so not sure. My team was always the bills because it's my dad's team and he used to take me to thier games.

Celts are my second fave team in the NBA. Take it home for the east 1 time.

RedSoxs are cool with me. I'm a jays fan, but my sister used to date Manny Rameriez (yes he's married).

what is standard rate for hookers in seoul? ...it's for a research project of mine...

^ serious question

I never really get upset to see anyone. I hate to have any of the better shortstacks on my left. Having anyone I mentioned as the best are usually a pain to have on my left.

I try to play 3/4k hands a day. In 2008 I'm gonna shoot for 5k/day. Go for elite I think.

I think the secret is to just get into a schedule and stick to it. Oh and make sure you're comfortable, happy, and in a well lit area.

I really don't want to discuss this anymore, but I have seen you (slammedfire) berate many players at 1/2NL. But whatever, GL to you as well.

They have places called "an ma's" (means massage in korean). They shower you, massage you, and then [censored] you. It's about $150 for an hr.

You can beleive me or not, but I've never been. I do have friends who frequent them regularly though (there is one right outside my apartment, and about 5+ other places in walking distance)

I sort of flew through all the limits on my way up to $200NL (30k hands for 50nl to 200nl), so I might not be the best person to ask.

sick