Congrats on the unexpected great news and best of luck in 2016 ray, I know you'll crush it!

Congrats on the pregnancy after 2 months without bcp. Do the dammmm thang!

Can anyone suggest other threads similar to this one that I can latch onto if Rayz ends this one?

Hey Ray, I am new to this thread, however, I was wondering if you are planning another trip to Vegas anytime soon? My dad and I will be flying from Cincy to Vegas Jan. 11-15th to play some poker. Allegiant air has a pretty sweet deal going on right now. 4 nights at the Flamingo with airfare (direct flight) included for $290. After opting for my seat selection and hotel upgrade it ended up being $409. Still a pretty cheap trip. Might want to check it out. Also, thanks for the poker vids on youtube, it is fun watching your journey. Keep up the good work.
www.allegiantair.com

Congrats to you and your family on the new addition.

Just out of curiosity since it sounded like you were leaning Brooke-Karena-Cassie what made you change your mind to pick Cassie instead?

Also I definitely vote for you to keep the thread going through 2016.

Thanks again guys for the baby praise. A few more days until we tell the kids and the rest of the family.

Welcome to the thread @kelby08. I am planning on Vegas mayb in Feb. Gonna get thru this year first, and then perhaps book something. Still contemplating whether to take the fam or roll solo.
I agree Allegiant has sm gd deals, I hv checked em out before. They fly from Indy which is couple hours from my house. Their deals and Frontier (Cincy) are very comparable. I think Indy charges a bit more on long term parking, but not much.
When I book for Vegas i always try to find the best deals possible because I only go for business/poker. Thus, I don't want to b in the hole w airfare and hotel too much before I arrive.
The plan is always go there to make money. That's it.
Thanks for sharing, and best of luck out there next month!

Gd question. I chose Cassie because the Saturday morning before I made my final decision Cassie's dad called. He expressed how much Cassie wanted it, and assured me she wd b a gd tenant. I was telling him that I was leaning towards an applicant just as qualified as Cassie and was able to pay the whole year up front. Rodney (Cassie Dad) said that's a gd offer, and I understand your situation. He then told me he couldn't match that offer, but cd pay 2 lump sums of 6month payments. One now and another 6mo advanced rent payment on July 1st. I told him I was going to mull things over and wd let him know one way or another in a couple hours.
After thinking about it, I thought it was only fair to give it to Cassie since she was the first one to contact me about The Melody. Plus, her dad vouched hard for her, and it really did sway me from Brooke to Cassie. 6month in advance isn't as gd as a whole year, but I think it was the right thing to do.
I cd hv pick a handful of applicants that wd hv all been gd fits, but Cassie it was.
The hardest part for me was texting the rest and giving them the bad news. I hate that part!

_____________

Currently grinding, and about $22 away from breaking last year's total of $41,199. Let's do this.
Mayb I can hit the bbj and still get that 6 stacks of high society goal .

BBJ are getting high here: not for sure the exact amount, but I want to say close to $300k on limit, and $250k ish on no limit.

This just in, 4 players get up, leaving us w 3players, so now our table is breaking. The 3 remaining players draw high card to get the 2 open seats at the other table. I'm low man, so going back on the list, but first up. Shouldn't Diamond automatically get the open seat? Just a suggestion, Oh well.

Btw, seriously no clue what to do w this thread for next year. I wd like to keep it going, but not sure how much time I can give it. After the baby, maybe no time. Lol
If I had to pick one, Youtube vlogs, or thread? Open to suggestions.

From the jump, u guys hv really meant a lot to me and my poker success. I can't thank u enough!

They just called my name for 1/2nl, back to work. LG!

Hey Ray I noticed in your vid you were chillin in the diamond longue waiting to get a seat (I think at gamblin Bill's table). But how would you know if you were called up there? It's not like they announce it past the first floor. Which brings me to my next point — I think they should. Other places I have played have: announced over all floors, given you a buzzer, etc. , but at the horseshoe you pretty much have to hang around the area to hear your name called.

What do you think about this?

IMO, I think it would be in their best interest to give buzzers, or announce across all floors, because it encourages action across the casino, and you can go relax until you get called instead of sitting on your hands.

Thread. Thread is elite but understand if u don't have time

I like that idea. Matter of fact, I like how HCO does it. When u sign up for a poker list, they have ur phone number on file and will send u a text when ur seat is ready.

_________________________

Today I thought I played great, but how in the heck do people hero call me on my only 2 big bluffs? I'm not sure if I wd hv done anything differently today, and still lost -$13 on 4hrs 43mins.
Most I was up on the day was $100ish, and most down on the day $200ish.
No sweat, the poker room will still b there tomorrow and we'll try again then.
Shout out to @fluke22 who was at my table today. I cd tell u was pretty card dead and up against some tough spots all day. Nice to see u though!

current overall total +$41,141.
Last year was $41,199, and I WANT TO BEAT THAT THIS YEAR!!! $58 away.

Tomo Ima gonna surpass last year's total (hopefully), and will be updating on this thread as I do it. Clocking in around 10a, and will post then.

C'mon!!!!

It's 8:20a, and I see a 1/2nl game that must hv went through the night.
Drop these kiddos off at daycare, and heading that way.

N route



Let's beat last year's total. Nah, let's crush it.

This year total (tyt) $41,141 closing in on lyt of $41,199

We here.



We got a seat at the only table going right now.

Roll those fools!

Gonna def give it my all @matchbox12.

Bought in for $300, and after the first hour...



+59 which equals 41,200 YTD. Hooray

...for now we surpassed. Hopefully we stay in the right direction.

+$125 after 2 hours.
Made a couple small bluffs that were successful. Raking in a lot of small pots, no monsters yet. still waiting for one of those 1 or 2 hands that will make me or break me.
Line up is full of recreation players w the exception of seat 7. We hv been staying out of each other's way so far, yet to tangle, but it's only a matter of time.
Seat 7 playing $700,
I'm sitting on $425 right now, and the rest of table 200-$400.

Sorry for the supppper late sub. Just read thread in its entirety in the past couple of week while at work. Really admire your story and definitely look up to it as I am going to be trying something similar near the end of 2016 and into 2017.

Couple questions for you, and I understand if you don't want to answer them.

1) This is going way back but I would imagine you kept good records and/or remember, but how big of a bankroll did you have to feel comfortable quitting your job and also how much of a life roll did you have that was only for bills/investments?

My plan is to have 9 months of living expenses (roughly $13500, that's a little more as my bills to live per month are around 1200 not including food and groceries) and 25 buy ins at my preferred level of play (5-5 nlhe with a 1000 max, and 2/5 with a 500 max). Realistically the 5/5 game loacally only runs twice a week and the 2/5 I would have to travel 2 hours but can find a game almost any day. So with more 2/5 500 max days I was thinking I could get away with about $20000 cash and play both games comfortably.

Was wondering how you thought about that plan as like I said I kind of look up to you and this thread.

2) This is the question I understand if you don't want to answer, how do you go about your income when it comes to tax season? Do you pay taxes on all of your winnings? Only pay taxes on your rental income? Obviously you have or have had mortgages so curious as to how that works out.

For me I have 2 open mortgages one on the house I live and one rental with only one unit that only profits me 100$ a month so nothing major at all but it's a start for me.

Really looking forward to your answers and keep crushing !!

+$104 after 3 hours.
Made a couple $20 pre w sm pos, and then had to realize otf.
Pretty boring table.

Still waiting for a big hand

Zzzzzz

Just finished reading most parts of this thread man...

Must say that this is the most inspiring story for me from all the stories i have read in here!!!

Admirable work ethic, you never gave up even in rough times...You just keep showing up every next day with your stack.
What really has been inspiring to me is that you have proved that even grinding 1/2 as your main income, if you deal with it as your real job then you can succeed ...

Keep up the good work and the updates

First off thanks for taking the time to read the thread. Glad it inspires u.
I'll try to give my answers/advice in between hands. I been folding a lot due to the rags in been getting all day, so i shd b able to reply fairly quickly.

1). When I first went full time back in the day I started w a small roll, but also didn't have a lot of living expenses at the time. If I was to quit a job and go full time now, I wdnt do it less than 30 buy ins. This has a lot to do w skill level, and how well u handle stress. Tbh, I've always been a big fan of 40 buy-in roll for the game I want to play regularly.
I wd say if u have 3 months of a life roll when u start full time that shd b gd enough. If u can't show a gd profit in the first 3 months of going full time, then u may not b for u.
I do like your plan. I wd only start w more buy-ins than 25. But u do have 9 months of living expenses set aside, so that's great.
U seem to have this well thought out. JUST STICK TO IT, and NO CARNY GAMES EVER. Straight to the poker room and straight out. Limit your spending on tips, massages, cocktails, etc
Bol
2). I pay taxes on my rental income and any poker tournaments where I get a tax form.

*while answering these questions, I finally caught some big hands and played them optimally. +$560 ish

Thanks for the reply! I have been a winner albeit thru a small sample size at 2/5-5/10. I was running very poor BRM at the time but was playing extremely well and winning over a 6 month ~400hr sample. Life run bad happened where I got broken into and robbed for 60% of my roll (about 8000$ worth at the time) and took the other 40% and tilted/gambled it away within 2 sessions. Since then (2013) I have been working for 14$ an hour living and saving as much as I can.

If all goes well and nothing out of the ordinary happens, I will be greatly rolled for 2/5 games and definitely enough of a roll for the 5/5 game twice a week as it is rediculously soft (poker house, professional dealers, only 20$ rake when you buy in, and about a 5/1 fish/reg ratio).

Anyways thank you so much for sharing your journey with us and congrats on the upcoming child!!

Appreciate it!
U said it perfectly. U hit the nail square on the head.
If u want play poker professionally, U HAVE TO TAKE IT SERIOUS!!!
If u believe in your abilities, u can't let the bad moments get to u. Just keep showing up, stay the course, and trust your stats. If u r booking a gd hourly, just keep putting in the volume. Take ACCURATE stats, and don't cheat on them!
Glad u posted!

Did you really just admit to not paying taxes on your poker cash game profits that you layout in specific detail every year in this thread? That doesn't seem wise.

BS didn't confirm or deny.

Chip stack picture please.

After 4.5hrs +$573



Some players left and news ones came in. Game a bit better than before.

Running pretty gd, and my hands are holding up.
Because I been balancing my range, I got paid off on some nut hands.

+$776 after 5hrs.



Time for a lunch break...
No worries I'll get a pic of that too .

Lunch time.
I asked for the Philly Wrap, but they gave me the hoagie instead.
No worries. It's all gd when it's free.



Gonna grind another hour, then head to the house.