First of all I need to say this… I hate soggy bread. It makes me want to puke. I put my broccoli in with my turkey sandwich and the broccoli was still partially frozen… gross.

Now that that’s out of the way. This is not a well. My boy Stampler, Stamps, Mr. .45 cent has that on lock down. The timing of this was just coincidental. I always planned this at 3000 and other milestones. Keep the well there and give him your attention. The well Stampler has is stickied for a reason.

I often revisit old posts of mine. I do it for a few reasons. One to check to see how far I have come, to get a real good laugh, because the best way to get better is to learn how to beat yourself (MJ – The GOAT) and to check my head. The last reason is the most important one for ME. You may have the same list but you have one that is more important to you. I have to check my head often and shut down my ego. You guys might not see it but when I read past posts of mine I see a ton of ego in it. That ego eventually led to collapse and burn out. Funny thing is I see it in a ton of posters now. I read a post and internally I say, “I remember my first beer.” I wrote advice in my posts that made no sense at all but I came off in the post like it was legit. Some of it was being a noob and still learning a ton about the game, but much of it was ego. It made me feel good to give “advice” or “answer” a question. Now I rarely post strat because I don’t want to come off as if my ego is involved. I’m very leery of it because I don’t want to fall back into that trap. For those of you that do get advice from me… feel blessed… LOL. j/k.

I think when I went semi-busto my attitude changed. I did a ton of soul searching and learned how to put my ego aside. It has helped my game a lot. I actually put thought into a hand rather than auto-pilot. I have seen things more clearly. My goals are more defined. And most importantly my life has structure… well some what. Still looking for that 100k/year job, anyone got anything?

I still go back to that place sometimes, but this time around I have been able to put myself back in the zone. It’s a huge mental battle. It is very well worth it though.

I think ego is a big reason for tilt. If not the reason. Ego builds a sense of entitlement. It makes you feel bigger than the game. In turn it actually blinds the truth and when the truth comes knocking and you open the door to answer, truth 100% punches you in the face and it hurts tremendously. The good thing about it though is when you are on the floor bleeding inside of your chest truth extends its hand and helps you up… You have to be willing though. Does your ego say no to the help and you stay lying on the floor or do you drop your ego and take truths hand?

I challenge you (especially the guys who have been here a while) to look at some old posts and pick yourself apart. If you can’t learn or laugh at something… keep digging.

I want to build upon something Stampler said in his well about getting a poker buddy. 100% agree. This has helped my game more than anything. I fortunately have someone that will tell me the truth even when it hurts. We were joking with his son the other day when he made a post on FB asking who had his back. I posted:

“High school kid’s definition of got my back: If Eddy and his crew jumps me who would jump in and help me fight?

Adult definition of got my back: When I am messing up who is going to tell me the truth even though it hurts, when I need a couch to crash on who’s couch can I sleep on, when I need some money to pay some bills who’s going to hook me up… oh and… if Eddy and his crew jumps me who will fight with me?”

My “poker” buddy became more than poker and we are friends outside of poker such as we kick it watching football, go to baseball games with the wives, etc etc. Sometimes I want to kick his nuts, and he wants to 100% punch me in the face but we are some thick skin dudes. We could be arguing on FB about w/e, talking about lunch on instant messenger, and texting about poker all at the same time. We have gone through the poker ephianies (sp) together and have talked countless hours. It’s made my game that much better and his also. I think overall though I crush him AINEC.

We met at a home game. In fact the best way to network in poker is through home games IMO. The people I have met and played with is a list of who’s who’s and a lot of people you would want on your side if the sh** ever hit the fan. When I first met my poker buddy we hated each other. I think it was the competitive nature we shared. Over time though we started playing a little more together and next thing you know we are in Vegas 4x/year together shipping huge pots, losing $500/hand at blackjack in the high stakes room, kool-aid manning from the tables after taking cooler after cooler, watching Vlad the imploder drop 20K at the 5/10 table, listen to the guy who gave me my screen name talk crazy crap at the table, and on and on. Just complete epicness. 100% go find a poker buddy IRL. It helps pass the grind, I mean time. Poker is more enjoyable when you can share it with someone. It’s less of a grind.

Also want to thank the people here. 2p2 has been a gold mine worth of knowledge. It has helped me improve upon many things not only in poker but in life. I can’t name everyone who has helped, but I am fairly certain most of you know who you are. So BBV4L this goes out to you!!! LOL… Nah… LLSNL is my home, ride or die!

Random things I believe, do, and have experienced:

I am a tells, psychology, who wears glasses at the pokers douche.

Math is not my strong point; I have just memorized a ton of situations that involve the maths. I’m trying to learn more this year though!!

I actually stay out of some of the more “advanced” threads in the forum because I don’t have the words for it. I know what I would do if I was sitting at the table that point in time, but for some reason I am not sure how to put it into words that will be of value.

I try and base my game on more of a hustler mentality, but try and not sacrifice too much of the maths. My poker buddy once said, “Frisco (my nickname IRL) can sell stuff on craigslist that I would pay people to take.” If he needs a deal on something he asks me. I can generally talk people into a discount, and/or get what I want. I get it from my dad. Now if I was like my dad, no morals or lines he won’t cross, I would be killer at the hustle… but alas I have a very strong moral conscience. It’s not a bad thing though.

I started off posting on Cardplayer forums. I didn't last long. Those guys ripped me apart. There were definitely some aholes there, but it had a lot more to do with my skin being thin. Funny story - One of my last posts on there I tell them all to screw off and that I am going to 2p2 where the content is better and the people are more accepting... They say GL with that and the people on 2p2 are douches and that you have to be way more thick skinned here. Was not my experience.. obviously. LOL if anyone from the cp forums recognizes me from what I just said. Oh well.. I have a shirt that says, "I'm pretty much a big deal on the 2p2 forums!" (forgot who came up with that, but its gold!)

I actually believe that I have special powers when it comes to picking squares for football pools. I'm that damn good. Shipped the first two qtrs this year and was in very close contention to sweep.

My buddy lost $800 playing three card monty in front of Ceasers. We go inside and he says something to the affect of, "Man, I am ready to go look for that guy and roll his a**." Buddy 2 says, "You look for him? Sh** he's looking for you!!!" E... P... I...C

Frist. In a gangsta tread. Also, TL;DR

YGOS?

lol... Fixed my post.

Nice post APD. Particularly liked the bit about seeing ego in your older posts and about not posting strat cause u dont wanna fall back into that. Probly good advice for me as well. Like your humility.

Congrats on 3K!

I like the ego stuff. I'm trying to dumb down my ego and coming to realize that the only way I'm winning money on my table is due to really horrible players; the ok players, I'm probably be breakeven against at absolute best. But whatever, as long as there are still horrible players my guess is I'll make money at this hobby.

Home games scare me. I feel really secure and safe in a casino, don't think I'll ever pass that up.

I'm flying solo and not going to do the poker buddy thing, unless it just happens to be someone who is already a really good friend first and who happens to get into poker. I just think the majority of the people I meet at the table, while interesting characters, I wouldn't really like to hang out with in real life.

GpromisestodomypoohbahpostwhenIreach1000hoursofliv e1/3NLG

I really wouldn't want to hang out with casino rats either. They depress the crap out of me. What a drain on my life. Any poker friends I have were met through home games. Guys that like to get together for the occasional game, kind of like my ex wife occasionally slept with other men... damn I cant resist a good rounders quote.

Thanks for the insightful post. I don't understand most of the vernacular you use, but do recognize that anyone named after a Dallas suburb has to be gangsta.

I definitely agree about ego. I could have used this thread prior to dropping 3k this past weekend though. :-(

Great #3000 post, ego is really a big deal. I know if I reviewed some old post I would lmao. I have ego I want to be the best but I realize now that I had the forums all backwards. I wanted to be the 2+2 douche that I seen from lurking. Now I'm here because its a community and ego on the forums is meh. "Save that for real life"(note to self,lol).

Sorry.. its actually because there were a few people with my name in our home games and I am from the bay area and never go a day without wearing a SF Giants hat. Niners and Giants hence Frisco... Soon they may start calling me Santa Clara. DUCY? (Bay Area people know)

That would not be gangsta. DUCY?

I see dat. I would smack some faces.

Eckhart Tolle, "A New Earth". Tolle makes it real clear how the insanity of the Ego can take any rational and aware being and just trick him into disaster. The insightful Tolle offers much wisdom as far as how to deal with the Ego and I'd recommend any serious poker player to study what this guy has to say. It seems to me that perhaps the great Stu Ungar fell prey to the genious of the Ego. What a massive and destructive force.

great thread Ace,i deff agree on the part of having a buddy if your willing to accept real advise to dig you outta of the hole.

and the part bout looking back at old post's is very true,i laugh pretty hard when i read what i used to post.