IDK if this quote thing has worked but how can you see someone who used to be part of RTA stable not be dodgy? Isn't global notoriously **** at detecting cheating? I wouldn't feel comfortable playing with either of you on my table, especially both of you.

Well I feel like people can change, and at the time desperately needed to improve my technical game. And despite the cheating stuff spork has a reputation for having an excellent technical game and excellent coaching method. My opinion doesn’t matter much on here, but I don’t think it’s warranted feeling uncomfortable playing with me. If we did play, I think it would pretty clear I’m not cheating. At least with how badly I play compared to a computer. If I thought spork was cheating when I was looking for coaching, obviously I wouldn’t go for it.

I can understand feeling uncomfortable playing with spork. But with me I’ve never actually had an issue with cheating. So I don’t think it should be a concern.

But either way wherever you choose to sit is up to you. My issue is telling the table half the story, ending up killing the action when I’m just sitting there and grinding, trying to escape this downswing.

Your peers actions reflect on you. If you choose to seek out coaching from a known RTA user you can't be surprised when those accusations are also thrown onto you. There are loads of PLO coaches out there and you just so happen to choose the one who has been involved in the cheating you are so against. Pot calling kettle black.

If I was at a table with a known RTA user and his student I'd hope someone would tell me. That isn't killing your action that's protecting the pool from being potentially cheated out of money. You're right people can change but why would someone known for using RTA and not being banned suddenly stop? Doesn't make sense to me.

Didn’t seek him out by any stretch, was recommended to join his server (had no idea of his history at the time), and he had some connection to a player I have a lot of respect for. He directly offered to coach me when I was tilting hard from massive downswing for the 16th time.

You’re right in the fact that I don’t really know if spork is using RTA atm. I really hope not. I would hope people could have a change of heart and see what they are doing is wrong. No hint of RTA in our training. Just working through sims, trying to see what matters and what doesn’t matter, trying to create heuristics to use in a practical gameplan. And overall improving accuracy.

To be honest, didn’t realize quite how bad his reputation was until we had started working together. Same with another of squids old stable that approached me offering coaching/staking. I had no idea of the guys history in that case.

Don’t think it’s really fair to hold against me in either case.

And if you play with Spork these days it should be pretty clear he’s not using RTA. Very sharp, very precise, but also clearly very far from computer play. Despite this, people including regs still are fixated on this RTA thing. Honestly it’s in a very similar way to how I tilt and call out cheating even where there is none. Just seeking to blame downswing on external factors. However differently from my case, it is actually having an effect on some people that I find unfair.

Ah yes, Zhuang "John" Ruan. A guy who made millions cheating US online poker with RTA through his own play and his horses. Zhuang Ruan and his players are real scum. You should think long and hard about associating (or continuing to associate) with any of them.

The problem with this is that you still continued to work with him even after finding out about his history. You can't sit there on your pedestal calling out cheaters when continuing to work with one.

Yeah I mean I totally understand your perspective. I don’t think I compromised any of my morals to have worked with him. Would be another story if I thought he was cheating while he was coaching me. But I honestly believe he is not someone who would cheat now. Not that I know him all that well. I just won’t stop associating with someone that I see as a friend just because it reflects badly on me. But again part of the consequences of this is some people will see me as shady. It really sucks and I don’t think it’s fair. But I’m not gonna just turn my back on someone because ppl think I should. And I will defend my integrity the best I can, and continue to play clean poker as I always have.

Partially addressed this in my previous post, but it’s not like these players exactly advertise having worked with an RTA stable. But yeah from what I’ve heard squid is a real piece of work.

.... wait.

....Spork is your coach.....??????

this rules

..yes. I see it is true. You are being coached by Spork..

You may want to just ignore all my previous advice.. it prolly don't apply to you.

They apply to people who want to be happy more than they just want money.

I hope you get what you want out of poker.

Not being coached by him anymore. No clue why you’d jump to these conclusions, made it pretty clear that I don’t think he cheats anymore and wouldn’t work with him if I did think that.

Welp that’s it boys, case closed.

no jump, just read the posts.

must have missed the part where you say you stopped working with him, my bad.

even so.. you worked with him for at least a bit after knowing..?

anyone who cheats a game brings down the entire sport.

especially important with poker because.. yaayayayaya. you know.

Yeah I agree it’s a huge issue. Had an agreement to work together for a set period of time. I don’t fault people for holding a grudge against spork. But at the same time, aren’t people capable of change?

Anyone else want to set the line on when OP would go broke? I will set it at November this year.

Sorry to disappoint but it’s not happening. Have money set aside for if I need to find staking or whatever if I lose too much more.

You'd have to really hate money to stake this dude. Gl on your endeavors though. Hope you don't go bust and grind out of what youre down this past month or so. Also, I give it to the end of May.

yes, i totally believe spork could and maybe has changed. dunno.

but he cheated and soiled a sport.

if he continues to play the sport, even if he has changed, he is still damaging the sport because people will always have to be suspicious.

so, if he has true remorse for his actions, he would give up trying to play poker, imho.

if cheats were perma-banned and disappeared, it would be better for the game.

if they linger around, coaching and playing, they bring the whole credibility of the game down.

one of the hardest parts of playing poker are the social stigmas.. guys like spork are exactly the problem.

magnus carlsen, world champion of chess refuses to play hans neimann, because he previous was caught cheating.

knowing someone you are playing is capable of cheating, and has cheated in the past is a pyschological edge, gained by unethical behavior.



P.s.- i don't even play against you because i know who you are and you don't know who i am. it would be an unfair advantage.

I agree with most of what you’re saying. I actually think Spork should have been perma banned from Global. I agree that it’s a psychological edge. But Global didn’t ban him, and is also the softest US site that’s non segregated. Can’t exactly blame him for continuing to play there while able.

I wouldn’t find it unfair if you played against me without me knowing your SN - part of the deal when keeping a blog.

The main part that I disagree with is that someone has to quit poker in order to make amends. Bleznick, Koon, jungle man off the top of my head have had history with cheating. But still manage to be a part of the community.

Actually it’s the opposite. The reason I’m such a profitable horse is because I’m honest, I work hard, and the biggest thing that holds me down is handling the stress of losing my own money.

You're literally saying the guy who stakes you/ your coach should be banned yet you still sometimes play on the same table as him. Very funny you'll call out imaginary cheaters but not your coach. Your reputation has turned so quickly on here with people wanting you to succeed to now lmao you have embarrassed yourself

Forgot to mention the RTA definitely helps

So you’re just trolling?

maybe not banned from all of poker.. but at least the site he cheated on.

character also has something to do with it.

last time i unmuted spork he was still spewing entitled toxic crap, albeit on a more disciplined level.

based on his tone toward the poker community in general, i do not see any real change.

i hope him well in his success as far as being happy in life.

but i wish he would stay away from those he took advantage of.