Pretty jealous of your summer, interesting thread, wish I was up camping too. Kinda want to just leave the finance life behind and go do this.

Day 114

A few thoughts :

- A couple of things that the Sauce123 videos have shun some light upon, is how blocking bets come in so handy in spots where villlains are almost never raising in (my main concern about using blocking bets in the past... that and transparency/lack of deception).

- And to increase my usage of overbets.

- Despite being on my way to 55k+ this summer, I am not as happy as in the previous challenges... Perhaps I should skip the challenge next summer and toss away some equity in the name of more extracurricular activities... (hummm, a gf would help in that aspect).

- To add to the latter, I have noticed my volume naturally go down significantly over the years...

- I spoke to a (losing) player that played the tournament yesterday (and won it) for the first time in years. He said that during the poker boom, he was winning decent money in his home game (in Mayo, a small village 3h away), yet that the other players got better and then completely disinterested in the game (everyone simply stopped playing). If the net depositors, small losers, small winners, marginal pros and even top winners (for different reasons) are quitting the game, what does that mean for the ecosystem when the influx of new players is marginal at best...


The Yukon is by far the most beautiful place I have found in my travels, and yup, am still deeply mesmerized by this place - "you can leave the Yukon, but the Yukon never leaves you" -, yet I feel that I did not stop often enough to look at the sun, to sit by the river, to enjoy the sensation of the wind, to spend time in the bush... Then again, don't we all feel like this fleeting moment is escaping us... thx for following bro




On the way to the casino +1.7k online in 4h


Challenge : +42, 887.36$

Day 115

It all starts tomorrow folks : our season-finale tournaments are upon us Which will go a little something like this :

- Wednesday : 1-2 NL Omaha. In anticipation of the weekend, the action is bound to be slightly loco-loco

Thursday : This is when the 150 or so players start rolling into town (from all over Alaska, The Yukon, The North-West Territories and some from B.C.). 1-2 Omaha once again, 1-2 NLHE and Satellites

Friday : 250R Lolimit Tournament. There will be a 10-20 Omaha 08 cash game for those - like yours truly - who do not care much about getting the life tilted out of them in a limit event

Saturday-Sunday : 350$ + 100$R/add-on ME. A 2 day event punctuated with various cash games, after hour games (5-10 and 1-2).

Monday : 550$ FO

It usually goes something like this : Excitement, anticipation, elation ; followed by fatigue, drowsiness, boredom ; concluded with tension and uber-tilt (and yes, some celebration) I usually gun for a min of 3k during this long weekend




+800$ online in 7h


Challenge : +43, 637.71$

Will be there on Friday! Excited to check out Dawson. Driving up with a friend of mine. See ya there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Day 116

Didn't expect any out-of-towners to roll in tonight so when 6 of us went for dinner just before the casino opening time and that the 5 others snuck out to go wait by the casino door, I did not think that my 5 minute extra conversation would cost me my Omaha seat/a 3h wait

#PokerInASmallTown #7-2amOpeningTime

A fun evening at the tables, with a ton of lols, all-ins, (fun) spewing and joking It should be a fun weekend


Great bro, nice to hear it On Friday, I will wear a black "Mr Robot" t-shirt that says "Our Democracy Has Been Hacked" (if I don't forget ) and will be grinding the 10-20 Omaha 08.




The Pit, our infamous Dive/Local Bar -200$ live in 7h, -1.7k online in 3h


Challenge : +41,701.37$

Day 117

Despite numerous players rolling into town, I decided to chill, have a couple of coffees with friends, chat it up at the casino... without playing a single hand Decided to put on some volume online instead, and quietly whither the upcoming poker storm within the tranquility of my home Lord only knows that many flops will be seen this weekend, turns discussed and rivers absolutely grunted upon +200$ online in 7h





Challenge : +41, 967.64$

Day 118

Got woken up in the morning then got my potential snoozing interrupted on numerous occasions by a series of texts/messages But it didn't matter much in the scheme of things, really, as all I had planned for the day was to auto-pilot a 10-20 08 game in which a B game is usually sufficient enough to scoop up half the monies, yo Not today though, as I could not hit my million of outs if I had 26 cards to come Will rest now : -1k live in 5h




It really feels dead this year, with seemingly a good 30-40% less people in town...


Challenge : +40, 912.64$

How many days left in the challenge you're crushing it man keep it up awesome to see.

Day 119

Really don't have the grind on the mind this weekend and have (very) rapidly come to terms with the fact that are chances are very slim that I will have a profitable WE... For starters, I am home right now, at 10pm, not grinding the cash games, nor do I have the intention of playing the after hours game (also skipped out on the 2 previous nights...). Secondly, shyt hit the fan pretty early when a certain rift has opened a huge gulf in between a friend and myself and a couple of other local players... I am not overly emotionally invested in this feud, yet it did tilt the living shyt out of me when we sat down with management and listened to what the other party had to say Thirdly - and mainly -, I received 2-3 inquiries daily to borrow some cash which did ultimately TILT me as ****/affected my (lack of) sleep

Bah, whatever, don't care (that) much if I finish with a net deficit this WE and also, I just found out that a buddy that I have a significant piece of, is within the chip leaders of the ME with 30 left


Will finish this challenge on Oct 3, as flying out to Calgary (for the WPT) on the 4th. And thx Rick, hope all is well in Van friend




The infamous sour toe, -600$ online in 1h, -700$ live in 6h


Challenge : +39, 602.34$

subbed. really enjoyed the read dubnjoy, you come across very well. And some truly incredible pics!

Day 120

The day started off promising when I got an (almost) decent night of sleep, jumped to a 1400$ head start in the Omaha game, was sweating my buddy, with whom I had swapped 15%, navigate the final 20 players in the ME with an average stack, until my AAQ4 < AAJ9 in a 1.5k AIPF pot and our friend bubbled in the tournament . +400$ live in 7h, -600$ online in 2h

One last day to go to the weekend, but this happens to be my most disappointing WhiteRam WE on many levels... More reflections on this subject tomorrow.


Thx friend




Tombestone colours


Challenge : +39, 368.10$

Day 121

This game is twisted. In between people lining up in front of the casino doors to open all coked up, lacking sleep, still tilting, discussing hands/bad beats, scrambling to gather some monies to stay in action or booking early flights home, the tension is palpable... Not to speak of the rift that can exist in between the ones that gather the pots, and the punters that let their ego/fears get the best of him...

I feel that I have failed this weekend. And it is not because of the 2.5k in losses - which is but a simple testament of variance and yes, a sub-par game, I must admit -, but that I let my ambition get the best of me. I let it interfere with my sleep, dig into my soul, separate me from good conversations, friends... Trying to eye that finish line in the distance, blinded me from what matters in the proximity…. The little things, you know, the little things.

Lest not forget what (emotional background) made the punter donate those chips... Lest not forget that we are all on individual/unique journeys... Regardless of the success level.

The thing about life/this game, is that we all feed on each other/off each other, yet try to maintain a level of compassion and empathy. A fine line, I tell you, and one that at times we tiptoe awkwardly open...

I did make peace/have a great conversation with an ex-known grinder with whom words like "stepping outside" and "fistfight" were mentioned a few years back (a buddy/crew member of Brad's)... Which was good, as was the forced introspection, yet I find myself needing a meditation retreat... Let's leave it at that.


Hope you enjoyed your weekend and our humble little town




-600$ live in 4h, +600$ online in 2h


Challenge : +39, 358.21$

Just heard that you binked the tournament ; way to cruise to a 20k WE

Day 122

Got 10h of sleep, played some tennis = I feel 80% recovered from the weekend . As far as this challenge is concerned, the online volume will be prioritized in favour of live, which will be restricted to Fridays and Saturdays ; except for tomorrow, which is reserved for omaha, yo

Am pretty happy to getting back to a quieter routine of a few planned dinners, studying and organizing (somewhat) my upcoming travels.




-100$ online in 6h


Challenge : +39, 252.97$

Day 123

A few people showed up for the Omaha game tonight, but moreso in form and shape then in spirit... Some were still riding a high from the weekend (up the nostrils and in the form of white powder ), others were on perma-tilt ; but for the most part, fatigue was the main ingredient... And tension. Spread around equally for dealers and players alike.

It has been a long season and the time has come to put the fading summer at a distance... WAY back there in the rearview mirror... A task that will be accomplished quite naturally, given the dramatic approach of winter... Nonetheless, before we tuck the dog days behind us - WAY back there in the recollection rearview mirror... -, let's take max advantage of our time here, shall we So a list of things to do before moving on :

- Make a last camping trip to Tombestone, soak in the colourful views, the air, the wilderness...

- Say goodbye to all close friends. Dinners are enjoyable. Especially last dinners with cozy friends

- Finish Life's a Gamble by Mike Sexton, a book that I started reading 4 months ago

- Maintain the 4h weekly studying of Sauce and Tyler Forester.

- Crush this challenge, of course




+700$ in 6h live, +1.1k in 5h online


Challenge : +41, 093.36$

Day 124

Perhaps I missed out on the Crypto frenzy... Much like I decided not to wager on Mayweather, deterred by boxing's shady fixed-fights-past... Kind of a very conservative attitude for a professional gambler, isn't it, but I do play it very safe with my monies outside of the game, yo

The crypto missed opportunity discussion came to fruitition tonight when I was hanging out at my buddy's claim, 18kms tucked into the bush off a dirt road :








My buddy is a carpenter, but spends all of his free time mining. And discretely tucking away all the collected monies underneath the table through the form of gold. An undocumented asset, one might say, much like the appeal of crypto currency. Anyhow, it remains just a random thought... much like my plan next year to purchase a new new camper van and do the drive Montreal-Dawson, cruising/camping along on an extended 2 week journey. I have crossed Canada by land 24 times, but never while being the driver.

Since we find ourselves at the tail end of the season, management couldn't care less about preserving our bankrolls, so the games should be good on the weekends to come Tomorrow is 10-20 08 and I am sure NL Omaha will be the game of choice moving forward : +1.9k in 8h online


Challenge : +42, 989.57$

Day 125

4 of us were supposed to go to Calgary for the WPT ; one has cancelled while the 2 others are on the cusp of doing so It matters little, I guess, as I will only be there for 5 days (3 days of cash and 2 days for the main). Still a bummer though to not have some Dawsonites along for the ride... Any of yous will be there?

Am enjoying the peace and desolation of our little town at this time of the year, now that the summer along with all the Holland America cruise tourists have been left behind us As far as this challenge goes, I feel that I have been slacking off with my concentration levels... As if I am complacently tagging along for the drive, but not putting myself behind the wheel at all times Nonetheless, we are aligning ourselves for a 53k score, which is not too shabby, not too shabby indeed +300$ live in 4h, 0$ online in 3h

All the photobucket pics are back Really happy about it, especially relating to my travel thread where it will make for a more interesting read if some have yet to do so Also, I posted this a while back on Medium, but for those of yous who have not read it, it is an article pertaining to our casino up here, Diamond Tooth Gerties :

https://medium.com/@jeansergebaril/i...o-dc0daa668317





Challenge : +43, 257.92$

Day 126

No games at the casino tonight, on a fracking Saturday night Imagine what a winter would be like up here in 2017 for poker On the plus side though, I did take the time to go chill/eat my takeout dinner (quesadilla and poutine yo ) by the river and it will be NL Omaha tomorrow evening

All discussions are turned towards the winter plans lately, as a means to focus beyond the cold and the omniscient settling darkness, I guess... As far as myself, I find myself contemplating to next summer already and after an anticipated cross-Canada journey in a newly purchased van, it would be nice to buy a cozy fifth wheeler and have a place to call "home" for my seasons in Dawson, me thinks... +300$ online in 5h





Challenge : +43, 557.80$

Day 127

Fun day at the office tonight, as many lols were shared, jokes (and fun angles) exchanged, drinks tucked back

It is really hard to get enough people for one fracking table lately, which is quite surprising given how popular poker was in these parts just a few years back, both for males and females In fact, had it not been for omaha tonight, and the table would of been vacant. 0$ in 5h live, -800$ online in 5h




I thought Quebec/Ontario was GOAT for the autumn season, but little did I know until showing up in these northern parts


Challenge : +42, 723.61$

Da Online Pokerz (Day 128)

Ok folks, this last little stretch of our challenge is kind of boring and uneventful : we will be releasing 7k in RB at the end of the month, thus not only rendering the 50k mark to "in all likelihood", but also making the daily numerical updates of this thread kinda of futile... So to make up for it, we will start the conclusion of this thread ahead of time and focus daily on different aspect of the game/life to work for yours truly to work upon

Online Pokerz : My bread and butter, yo. Or more like a freshly baked croissant, coated with pate, goat cheese and fresh mint and sliced apples

While I will be attending a few tournament events this upcoming winter (buy-ins of 1.5k+) and thus grinding some 5-10 along the way, online will remain my main focus. If only because I fracking luv grinding in pyjamas

While my 85$+ hourly registered on the virtual felt during this challenge is fairly indicative of things to come, we all know how fluctuating the online realm can be, right On one hand, my winrate/skill level has steadily gone up year after year ; on the other, da online pokerz world has noticeably been hit by some sort of scandal/rake increase/-EV regulation on a monthly basis, or so it seems... So we will see, won't we, and ride the wave till it crashes

If at the start of this challenge the plan was to move up to 400z (or at least 1-3 tables), I took 2 lonely shots, both of which (somewhat) misfired, enough to make me put my head down and give up . Will keep on taking shots (will give it a few bullets just after the conclusion of this challenge, in Montreal), but am more than satisfied with my present hourly

I guess my favourites aspects of this interwebz game, are a random, heteroclite - yet friendly - combination of aspects of its flexibility (think pyjamas, monitor in a suitcase in different countries, login/logout, multiple sites/games etc.), its fun factor of short handed games, its ease of access and the amount of volume of hands that you can put in Of course, lest not forget the migraines that it inflicts, the fatigue and, alas, potential tilt




-400$ online in 7h


Challenge : +42, 405.31$

Intangibles (Day 129)

The little things, you know... The tiny-teensy-microscopical-infinitesimal fracking little buggers, as one might - perhaps... - say , that go beyond any of our wildest otherworldly expectations

For some, it is still about triple-checkraising the hell out of someone ; triple-barreling with any 2 until the end of times yo Or about air that ends up in massive heavenly fireworks But most of these players end up - if not losers - with massive leaks.

Nope. It is about those little boring intangibles. Like balance of mind. Stability. Bankroll management. Game Selection. Inner peace. Tilt Control. Rationality. Discipline. Life GTO. All of those fracking words that would of put you to sleep in your teens/early 20s

When I look back at this (successful) challenge, a couple of things eminently stand out : firstly, that I was not the most happy camper this summer (but more on this tomorrow...) ; secondly, my A game was missing in action for the most part, especially live... ; and lastly, that I once again went beyond my set monetary expectations, notably because of these oftentimes overlooked intangibles

# JoeyKnishCoolerThanMikeMcDermott




+400$ online in 3h


Challenge : +42, 873.25$

Live Pokerz (Day 130)

Showed up at the casino for Wednesday's Omaha game to... zilch Nada. An empty, depressive room comprised solely of fatigued staff and a few sparse degenerate souls 4 players ultimately showed up, but subsequently, uninspired, and none with enough potential to make the game great Which brings us to today's theme, the state of this live game :

Live Pokerz : Ok, I extensively covered this (tilting) subject throughout this thread, so will try to skim rapidly through it all, but in order to do so, let's break down in different categories the various facets that this Diamond Tooth Gertie's game occupies in my life.

A Place Called Home : I never came up here for pokerz. Nope, definitely not. This is where I established some deep roots at the age of 24, grew substantially throughout the past 2 decades and, despite my nomadic nature, have always come back to ground myself. So I guess the question thus becomes : if poker was non-existent in Dawson (or not lucrative enough/not running often enough to remain relevant), would I still call this place home (and exclusively play online)? Not sure I would... I think I would need another fundamental reason to remain here, like a gf that meant the world to me (and a similar winrate online, of course)...

How Much is Enough : Outside of this year, there was only 1 another summer (in the past 7) where I averaged underneath 50$/h live (which was a run bad and shortened season of 8 weeks where online was also my priority). So what would be my minimum requirement? Would I do another summer of 20$/h like this one, if I managed to maintain the same winrate online? I think so, and would even settle for 15$/h if I continued to treat it as a "fun" game.

Fun Factor : Drinking coffee, playing a bit of a wider range than we should, being distracted, loling a bunch, staring at the girls on stage, quitting the game early, yawning away during hands... all stuff that a fun player would do and that yours truly consciously indulged in, despite knowingly throwing away equity in the process. Listen, if I would narrow down a perfect range in the past, observe every tells, be in tune with the metagame, attack all the spots etc., I simply discarded all this stuff this summer in the name of entertainment/decompressing. And perhaps more importantly : I do not wish to change any of this

Poker in 2017 : The game is simply dying. Even if I did play my A game like it was yesteryear all over again , I just don't think I would go beyond 35-40$/h in the state of today's game ; it has actually become more of a (soft) 1-2, as opposed to a 2-5 as far as the action/softness goes.

#ItIsWhatItIsAndI'mFineWithIt




+1.5k online in 2h


Challenge : +44, 314.17$

dude what is that pic?? got the revenant vibe all over it

Egotistical Boundaries (Day 131)

Part of the attraction that I felt towards the game of pokerz early on, was initiated by its extistential components. Self vs self. Transcending our own boundaries, fears, fatigue levels, intellect comprehension. Controlling our emotions, reactions.

Listen, the humble intellectual is usually going to scoop in more pots than that egotistical-steriod-infused-meathead, as it should be. The fact is, we set are our own limitations, interfering with would could be a natural progression.

How many of yous have been following the Poker Masters and all the Phil Hellmuth table banter/twitter debacle :

https://www.highstakesdb.com/8168-da...elusional.aspx

But perhaps Hellmuth is not the best example of our own limitations, as the guy is a proven successful winner, despite what many of us might think of his persona... Nonetheless, interesting to see how Fedor Holz responding in all humbleness to Phil's angles :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLVpBvOyOw4


I don't know, that's all I got today




-200$ in 3h


Challenge : +44, 178.95$

New Games (Day 132)

Eeeeeehhhhhh That's what happens when you put on your fun/recreational shoes, splash around in pots you don't belong, laugh away, play a very - VERY - wide range and get caught in RIO situations and your hand in the cookie jar It is one thing to play too many hands and have a good time in the process, yet another to lament oneself over the (predictable) end results -500$ live in 6h, -700$ online in 4h

In other news, 2 douchebags went up on stage at the casino and drunkenly started banging on the drums, resisted when asked to leave the premises, hence one found himself unconscious on the floor after a prolonged headlock and the other slammed through the emergency exit/down the porch with most likely broken ribs or something It was good entertainment value, I must say


Omaha : For the record, this game is nothing new to yours truly, as he has played north of 200k hands back way-when nobody knew zilch-nada about anything of the 4 card version of poker Nevertheless, certain intrinsics escaped me at the beginning of the summer, namely the importance of fold equity/protecting your hand (especially in NL where overbetting pot can be used as an added incentive for bloating pots/denying equity), hand reading, opening ranges etc, stuff that seems obvious to me now. I guess a good part of me is excited about dissecting a new game, even if I had to leave some equity on the table in the process.

Given that omaha has taken over the interests of everyone and is not leaving anytime soon, I will renew my 4 card studying next summer in the hopes of not only increasing my Dawson winrate, but jumping into a holdem + 2 cards whenever the juiciness of the game warrants it (in tournament events or the likes) In the meantime, let's get back on track for the last part of this challenge, shall we


Everything about up here has The Revenant vibe written all over it It is hunting season right now, and a lot of folks hit the bush to get a moose for the winter ; speaking of which, another hunting pic for you friend (pics from cbc.ca)





Challenge : +43, 060.53$