looks awesome ray! youll make the cost of that back by years end

Sweet pool! I looked for you yesterday (chopped the sunday tournament woo), but I guess you were too busy swimming. Enjoy it.

GL

Wow, pool/yard really looks great!!!

You had mentioned awhile back about experimenting with a different style that was kinda super aggro/maniac but you had indicated you were running into a downswing or breakeven stretch that was kinda stifling your efforts to incorporate the new style. I wanted to ask: to break out of the swong did you end up going back to your more traditional style (I assume fairly TAG?) or have some new maniacal tendencies become a regular addition to your game?

-per HOA pool has to b inground

-I became a landlord just by taking a leap of faith and deciding it wd b a gd venture. I was looking for gd deals online and came across this property and made an offer on the spot. I buy anything if I think I can make some money on the back end. This property was a steal at $95k, and I put $60k down.
-How did I get it paid off so quickly?
First off, no matter how I explains money situation I all most likely come across scummy or arrogant. It's not my intentions, but when talking finances and how I did it, it's hard not to keep it real. Since this is #FullTransparency thread I will just tell u how it is.
...I have always smm (saved my money) and my biggest advice to all is sym. That allowed me to put a big portion down on The Melody, and leaving me w $35k to pay off.
I have always lived within my means and always lived debt free (never owned a credit card). I'm just a simple man who never really spent frivolously. If I wanted something, I wd save up to buy it, and I wd try to my best to sacrifice along the way. Sacrifice meaning, living off $1 Totinos pizzas, eating off the dollar menu, buying off the clearance rack, buying generic, driving used cars (currently F150, Jeep Wrangler), and just finding gd deals (like the time I bought the Jeep on the spot from someone in the poker room last year post #?, or buying The Melody for $30k under appraisal).
I rather have cash, feel secure and not have to worry about money than living beyond my means, have debt, or trying to impress people w material things that don't hold value.
The time I did want something nice, like buying a Jaguar in my early 20s when the poker was booming and I was crushing, I still did my homework to find a great deal on a used one. I actually drove from Indiana all the way to Texas to buy it w straight cash (I think it was $15k). I always told my mom I wd own a Jag, and after she passed away in 2003, I bought one a year later. With that said, I still did my homework researching for a couple of months, and fig the one I found in Texas was well worth the drive saving a couple thousand. After a few years a driving the Jag I ended up selling it for exactly what I bought it for. #freerolling #breaking-even.
All this nitty lifestyle growing up came from watching my 2 parents struggle to make ends meet. They both were hard working people, providing the best for their 2 kids, but living paycheck to paycheck. I think this experience watching them, led me to want to smm.
This is why I kind of I struggled w the purchase of a pool. They don't hold value, and it's a lot of money, and taking a big dent of the roll. But I can't always b a life nit, and sometimes u just have to spend the money u save. I can't just hoard cash, and money has no value unless u spend it. If I wasn't set up properly in my life then no way I wd entertain the idea of getting a pool. But now I feel I'm in a gd spot, and I can afford it, so why not.??
Pretty much my whole life I been a life nit, and it's what got me to the point where I am today. I'm finally financially secure w no debt (other than primary home), and have liquid money, and still practice gd brm and live within my means. I've always done it my way, creating my own destiny, being my own boss.
Everyone is different, but this is me.
So how'd did I pay it off?...My plan when I bought the property was to have it paid off in 3 years. I thought the best way to do this was getting a 3/1 ARM. That kept my premiums low, and gave me motivation to pay it off before my mortgage balloons on that 4 year. I was pretty much just paying interest only, but I was able to save more that way than getting a 20 yr fix and having a higher premium. Sure I cd b paying down on principal w a 20yr fix, but it wdnt b that much compared to what I cd save w a 3/1.
My monthly premium w a 3/1 was around $450ish, and this allowed me to net around $1500/mo from the rentals. Thus, I cd save $18k/year and use my pokerz to pay my primary home bills. After 2 years of sacrificing and living within my means, I paid off The Melody.
After many years of a nitty life, I'm now set up to do more for myself and others. My smm, driving used cars, living off dollar menus, etc. etc. etc. has finally paid off for me. Now I get all cash flow from rentals, and The Melody recently had an offer of a $160k that I turned down 3months ago, pool was paid for in cash, been averaging $4k/mo in poker, have a nice poker roll in my safety dep box, a little cash in the bank, and most importantly a family that is healthy. life is gd. All glory to God.
#TightIsRight

-your last question on reading material on becoming a landlord.
I'm not much of a reader. I have only read about 7 or 8 books in my life.
My fav was Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.


I went back to old TAG style, but still tinkering w a few things. Always trying to get better and improve.


Yesterday: -$300
Today:
+$15 on 3/6 on 34mins
+$150 on 1hr 59 mins (sesh 1). Table broke, and I took a lunch break. Then played another 2hrs 4mins +$84.
=+$249 total on 4.5hrs
Forgot about cp. I'll get ya some tomo.

This looks very tempting.
I just can't decide if I shd complete the last step and purchase.
Such a cheap flight, it's hard to pass up.




What's the thoughts on wsop in October at HSI?
Still no tourneys or shd I take some tourney shots?

Inground.
Heres the vid on it, if want to check it out.
This was when I didn't know how to make my videos full picture, so I apologize.
http://youtu.be/m3fjmBmBuf0

I'm trying my best to answer all the questions that come my way, but please forgive me if I can't get to all of them.

PLAY DEM ALL!
HAS THE SCHEDULE BEEN RELEASED?

It's around 4750 to play every 365 plus main event. Sell a package. I'm down for 100.

Wow sick, i really thought it just lays around there and can't be used

Don't know if i have said this but i think it is really good what you do with the money. I mean making some fun and relaxing possible for your family.
I am a life nit and would never invest like 10k in a pool that doesn't give me any money back but i am younger than you (i guess) and have no own children to support.Anyways, gl with the ongoing grind.

I saw you make like 20$/h at 1/2 not so little hours. How much is the rake over there were u play? Do you pay for food/drinks from your stack? Do you tip regularly (waitress/dealer)?

The WR seems really sick to me. That is like 30bb/100 AT LEAST! Live is Fullring most of the time which makes it even crazier in my eyes...

If you're itching to play a tournament, Cincinnati has a Labor Deepstack $500,000 G with $100,000 G to 1st.

I took the week off to hopefully play 2-3 events, some cash and the Main assuming I do well throughout the week.

My advice on the tourneys, if you are looking strictly at numbers, you are a killer in the cash games and the cash games will be very fat that week. If you would like to try and win a ring and get your name in cardplayer, play a tourney or two. Your hourly rate dictates that 7 hours of work will pay for one tourney (since you clock about $50/hr)

In the end it's your money, if you feel like splashing around with the tourney crew, do it. Just don't beat yourself up over it at the end of the month if you are in the red for tourneys because most pros cash around 12% of the tourneys they play. In other words, your sample size would be small.

Hi Ray, I'm very impressed with your results! Took me about a week to read the whole thread, and I have a question. Could you filter and post your winrate in BB/hour for every stakes you've played till now? Many people have evaluated that TAG style playing on live low stakes would generate about 10BB/hour, just want to confirm that you meet this or above this...tnx!

@tobedecided another sound advice from u. U never disappoint when it comes to giving your take on the matter. U do a great job putting things in perspective and give me a much more clearer outlook. I will be taking all your viewpoints in consideration and appreciate hearing your take.
Great point about cash games being gd during that time. Tough decisions lie ahead for me. Cash vs. making a tourney run.

Post #2631 will give u a breakdown of various stats from 1/2 to 10/20nl.
I can't filter it by Bb/hour, but it does have my hourly at different limits. The hourly hasn't changed much from that post.
Currently on 1/2nl I'm $43.6/hr = 22bb/hour. On higher limits this year bb/hr is much lower...<8bb/hr. Been running pretty bad in bigger games this year, but as soon as I get my poker roll to $40k I'll b giving it more shots. Been staying away from the bigger games for now since the roll isn't where it needs to be and the 1/2s have been pretty successful. Gotta grind it up slowly but surely, and when I get back there I'll be ready to improve on those higher limit stats.
Gd luck @popthecherry

Today:
Wow is all I can say. I was playing uber aggro at the 1/2 table and making some Bobby Fisher moves that somehow never worked out. One hand I 3 barrelled bluff and was ch/called down by an elderly guy w 3rd pair otb. Great reads from him, but any other guys at the table wd fold. I guess it was wrong play at the wrong time against the wrong player.
I also ran into a lot of Trappy Mcgees that wd ch/call, ch/call, ch/raise, and again it was the wrong plays from me at the wrong time against the wrong players.
I was starting to get fed up and trying my best to just outplay everyone at the table. Many times it didn't matter what my cards were, I wd just play my position and play the player, representing whatever the board texture was producing. I even hammered the button blind a few times after 6+ limps to me, and then try to just take it down pre or gets heads up/3 handed and just outplay my opponents post-flop. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.
Needless to say, when I wd zig they wd zag, and I was getting caught making a lot of moves. Sometimes it's just hard to beat non-thinking players, and my higher level plays just didn't work against people who don't think on the same level. I cd have found better spots or shdnt have gotten too involved on many hands.
My 2 big mistakes today were not knowing my opponents and bluffing rivers on 2 occasions where the card didn't change the board texture. It was pretty spewy to bluff in a couple of spots otr where river card didn't change the board texture after I got called otf, and ott. In these spots I shd hv just shut it down instead of trying the 3rd barrel. I was trying to push some rec players off hands by trying to muscle them off instead of mayb just giving up after some meaningless river cards.
These mistakes led me to digging into the pocket of shame for more black chips. The $300 total buy-in turned into a $300 rebuy, and topped off with another dig of shame into the wallet for 2 more Benjamins. Totaling $800 in this stupid 1/2nl game.
It so frustrating when the moves I'm making are not working, and looking down at my measly $100 chip stack. Stuck $700, and it seems impossible to make up this much loss in a 1/2 game, but i grinded and tried my best. I just refuse to give up easily, and I'm stubborn like the piece of popcorn kernel stuck in my tooth right now.
With my last $100 in play & down $700, i refuse to put any more money on the table. My plan was gonna see if I can run this hundo up, and at least cut into my losses.

The turnaround:
I look down at pocket 5s and see mp player open for $15 w one caller. I'm in the CO and 3 bet jam $100 hoping to pick up the $30 plus $7. Nope...that plan didn't work, and I get called by both players. 3 handed to the flop of 467. The 2 players check. Turn Q, and the 2 players still check. River Q, and it goes ch ch once more.
Somehow pocket 5s were gd, and I go from $100 to $300.
W a little momentum finally going my way, it's time to play ball again. I stick to my same game plan of mixing it up and making some moves, and this time they are finally working.
A few hands after my pocket 5s hand, I pulled off a big move.
Here it is... $5 button straddle, I limp utg+2 w A10 ($300 stack), a family of limps until the thinking player in HJ raises to $40 ($400 stack). Folds to me, and I just felt that this player isn't too strong, and I just didn't want to fold. The $40 bet just seems like he is attacking the limpers w a gd hand, but not a premium hand. So I go w my read, and 3bet limp/jam $300. He folds AJ face up.
Another $65 added to my stack, and I'm on my way.
Now I'm settled in, and feeling like I'm back in the zone. A couple hours go by, and I ended up getting unstuck, and book a +$82 win on the day. Feels like a million!!!
#heart

Your description of your play early in that last session sounds like someone who appears to be speeding around with a bad image. I'm not 100% sure you can blame your struggles on the unthinking players when it seemed like you were getting caught out of line too often. It can be hard to pull tricks off when you are in the middle of a losing image.

He acknowledged it though that he should have been shutting down on certain rivers and whatnot I don't think he was just trying to say he needs to move up to where they respect his raises

Love the 3bet shove w/ A10 in that spot

Never overestimate rec 1/2 donks ahem "players"...

Did u book vegas? I would of and with your Dimond card u can get free rooms

Cut my sesh early today because my emotions got the best of me. I am so weak when it comes to seeing people hurting.


At first, I was bummed to lose most of my profits from today when my Aces got beat to a flopped set, and then an orbit later my neighbor on my direct left shares his heartfelt story. This really put things into perspective for me.

His story took me from being upset about my losing a big pot to feeling fortunate for the things that matter most in my life. It was unreal how my emotions changed so suddenly from being bummed to see my chips go across the table, to being extremely saddened for my neighbor.

After hearing his story, I felt so horrible for his situation that my eyes started to water up. It was pulling on my heartstrings so much that I thought if I didn't leave the table soon, I would most def have a tear come down my face.
For some reason his story just hit me hard. I just met this guy today, but I could feel his pain, his struggles, and his emptiness that he was carrying w him. His grief-stricken situation was all I could think about, and I was starting to get overcome w emotion. It was so bad for me I didn't even want to play a hand against him because I didn't want to beat him. I started to fold hands that I would normally play because he was in the hand. I was silently cheering and hoping he won every hand he has in. This guy deserved a gd fun session in the black!

His story:
He courageously spoke up after the table was talking about a couple poker players that have passed away in the last couple of years. He proceeds, in a soft spoken voice, to tell everyone about his ex-wife who is also the mother to his kids, and how she may in fact be dead. This news clearly got the attention of everyone at the table, and he opens up about how she has been missing for close to 2 months now.
He explains that she was living w her boyfriend at the time, and her boyfriend told police that she left in the middle of the night. Long story short, she hasn't been seen since.

In between hands, I would talk to this man to show him my sincere care for his situation while trying my best say the right things. I couldn't even imagine what he is going through, but at least I can b there for him and listen. *Some people who are going through something tragic just needs someone to listen, and I felt it was my calling to do that for him today.
He was telling me in a broken voice that she is a mother of 5 kids total (2 w him) who all miss her dearly. They all just want their mom back.
I could tell he has a lot of love for his ex wife, and cares for her deeply. Through our conversation it was apparent he is very distraught over the current situation. I felt so helpless, and I had trouble finding the right words to express. I was careful not to give him false hope of assurance, but also wanted him to know I care.

His story came around the 4th hour of my play, and I was planning on playing 5-6 hrs today, but I just couldn't sit there w this news heavy on my heart. It was literally all I could think about, and I was starting to sense those watery eyes of mine getting ready to form a real tear. I had to suddenly leave before it rolled down my cheek.

As I left, I promised him that I wd share his ex-wife's "Prayer's for Crystal's Safe Return" page on my FB, and I wd be thinking of him. *I posted her page on my way home, and now laying in bed thinking about this guy and those kids.

*I won a little, but not important today. cp also not appropriate for today.

Be thankful for your blessings, and please pray to those who are struggling with something heavy. May us all find peace.
Praying for Crystal's family, kids, my poker neighbor, and all others affected with this horrible tragedy.

https://facebook.com/PrayForCrystals...urce=typeahead

I grew up with the brother of Crystal, just goes to show that there are some messed up people in this world that have no regard for human life. The person who the family suspects is responsible has put that family through hell since her disappearance.

It's Friday afternoon and I just lost -$800 today on 3hrs 27 mins.
It shd be a fun weekend.

Make sure your head's in the right place this weekend. You seem like a real genuine, empathetic person and quite possibly this sobering story could have lingering effects that you're not completely aware of. GL

Could you please give 1-2 PLO in cincy a try. Please.............


I'd investigate the boyfriend in the disappearance of the wife.

He has. I played with him one night in Cincy. About the boyfriend of the missing girl, he is definitely hiding something, wouldn't consent to searches, hasn't helped the family search, and will not let their child see the grandparents or his other siblings. He's defiantly a shady character and not to mention his brother is on the police force.

^ I think I dropped -$800 that day too.