Finances update: I deposited $10k into a new savings account that gets 2% and maxed out my IRA for the year. Definitely a good feeling.

Then, because I had nothing to do and wanted to cause myself great pangs of pain, I stopped by a dealership on a whim and they are selling a 2016 M4 with 32,000 mi. for $49,000.

Who needs a bankroll anyway, amiright? I want it so bad.... If I had the additional $15k to spare I would probably buy it and start grinding 1/3 again. Maybe they have monthly installments? This is such a sick ride. I literally stopped breathing when I saw it in the lot.

Anyone know anything about BMWs (or BR management) wanna chime in?

Don't waste your $$, I did the same thing and blew a bunch of poker winnings on cars. Really wasn't worth it and is almost always a terrible investment.

If you can pay cash for the car it's not the worst idea in the world. Worst case is you become cash poor, bust because your bankroll is too small, and then sell the car for a 5-20% loss and learn something from it all.

A good life lesson I learned early on is if you can't pay cash you can't afford it.

I never judge what brings people 'happiness' but it's also very sobering writing a check for $50k and handing it to an individual. Helps you take a second look at this 'sick ride' and the value you receive from it.

And congrats on the deposits. I'm about to drop some off myself this morning!

Marsh

If you don't need to have instant access to it; don't waste your money on a savings account. Just track the S&P500 or something like that and actually get your money to do something worth while. If you also don't waste the $50k on a car then you can put down $60k right now.

$60k with 8% yoy return (historically for almost a century) makes you almost $5k in the first year and if you compound it you have $190k in 15 years. If you put $60k in your savings account you have $80k after 15 years. If you can stomach a little variance then there are much higher returns to be made (10%+) on the market with almost no risk of ruin. A 12% return grows your $60k to $328k in 15 years.

tl;dr spending on cars is an absolute waste, putting money on a savings account is an absolute waste

OP said it's a new savings account, implying he had zero savings before. Putting 3-6 months worth of living expenses into a high yield savings account is considered good advice by just about everyone.

I don't think that implies it at all, since you are not forced to only have 1 savings account plus you don't need to have excess cash on a savings account in the first place.

Didn't read the part about missing $15k to buy the car, but even then it appears OP has enough money to have some amount liquid for emergencies and then some. I could be wrong, but in any case any money OP saves up beyond the amount for living expenses/emergencies should not be wasted on a low yield savings account (2% is a very low yield compared to other options).

I agree, nice try at a straw man. 2% is a high yield savings account.

For a savings account, it's good. Like some bikes are better and faster than others, they're still a bike compared to a car.

To settle the debate, yes, first savings account.

Going to take the car for a test drive, later today most likely. I want to find out how it handles. My sister (who used to date a guy into cars) told me BMWs have stiff steering and are known for their expensive (and sometimes frequent) maintenance costs. Even if I don't buy it, I'd like to experience the car.

I was in the market for a couple months late last year but chickened out after I made $1k. AAPL and MO (Altria for the dividend, which I didn't even earn since I pulled out after the principal did so well short-term).

Oh, and session update: up $85 1/3, down $330 PLO. PLO: 3! KKQQ6ds, flopped top set with no redraw, got outdrawn by AJ52xdd (flush). 3! AAK99ds, flopped middle set, two players called with top pair and went runner-runner straight. Made a little back but then made a couple bad laydowns (AAK72 no suits pre to raise, backrise ss jam, tight pfr iso $200, I folded with $450 behind thinking other guy had better AA - he had QQJJx), then folded bad KK multiway on Q-high flop to ss jam and would have held. Called it a night.

I couldn’t help myself to not read where you at right now on your journey. I’m currently way back in November on your journey. Lol can’t wait to catch up to present day.


Keep killing it.

Thanks, brother! As long as I don't make any stupid financial decisions (like buying a pricey car - which I learned this afternoon has had several alterations, including to the emissions), I'll probably continue to do just fine.

So as expected the car drove like sex and I still want it. However, the dealership cannot guarantee it will pass the emissions inspection. Also, due to the modifications the previous owner made to the suspension, horsepower, and exhaust, the engine light was on. Oh brother. It's never easy, is it?

They wanted me to drive out with the thing today, but after I heard about the emissions issue I told them I'd have to think about it over the weekend. I still got the financing info and with my current income and credit and $20k down I would pay 6% interest over 6 years at $650/mo. with a 150,000 mi./6 year warranty, i.e., $8,000 in interest. Also, why did the previous owner put so much effort into modifying the thing only to get rid of it after 3 years? Unanswered question.

The financing guy plays poker (mainly in home games) and was surprised I actually made money playing for a living as he always lost when he went to the casino. Maybe the commission from this sale would be his rakeback?

Just re-reading some old posts and amazed how far I've come since this one. Roll was down to $2k last December and seven months later it's a healthy $35k. Nit it up and never give up!

Pretty funny

Finally up to date on your journey. 35k roll!

Do you still use crush live poker?

Not since the free trial expired. Now little’s site mainly for the cash game quizzes which I’ve exhausted. But now study focus is mostly plo anyway. Speaking of which, started reading 2p2 Omaha book. I wish I read the section on AA before last night lol.

Quick bust out at PLO tonight in a couple hours. Three suited AAs, two lost in various ways in AI pre situations (first time five ways, second three ways), once flopped nfd and non-nut open ender and missed after CRAI.
-$660, pretty much my stop loss. Hurts a little even though I’m rolled for this situation.

Now grinding $100 stack at 1/3 for a while (hehe...) before calling it and packing for BOSTON!

Made $150 at 1/3. Would have been more if I hadn’t lost 22 v. JTdd on 98dd2h AI on flop.

Played a little more PLO for an hour and bluffed with nfb and played two sets of kings differently (once checked with no back up, second time bet with nfd). Feel like I played well. Made $30. So ended down $480 tonight.

Not much time for sleep before train at 1pm but hopefully will get more sleep on the train.

Got in around 10pm, headed to Encore, good amount of congestion leading up to the casino. Inside is nice, not quite as nice as Vegas Wynn but close. Poker room is upstairs overlooking casino floor. 2-2 PLO seemed very soft. Still prefer MGMNH’s poker room. Better layout imo.

Met up with Zefa who was in town to try out Encore himself. Nice to run into him. Good guy.

Played 2-2 PLO for about an hour. Nothing really happened. Will post photos tomorrow. Gonna try to get some sleep now.

Finally got around to a trip update. Woke up late with a splitting headache to some old man next door playing 50s music on his front porch way too loud. Eventually realized I could drown out the music by keeping the ac on constant circulation.

When I finally got myself up I got ready and walked over in the oppressive heat to the McDonalds where I immediately got an iced latte and breakfast. I didn’t have any coffee yesterday and the caffeine deprivation must have gotten to me because right after I finished the coffee I felt fine.

Back in the poker room where I started at PLO and opened AKQJss and one caller. Flopped KQ5, turned broadway, pot and jammed river and got called by JJ9x. Later 3! AA SB v. BTN and x QQ3-5-6 bet small river and folded to his jam for $100 more.

Played 2/5, overlimped btn Q9o. CO contemplated raising but just limped. Flopped the joint on J8Thh. Checked to me and I bet, BB cr $30, CO $100, I jam $265, BB rejams CO folds and I assume I’m chopping until BB shows JT and I hold. Ended up $300 in 2/5. 1/3 was completely unmentionable. Not very impressed with the action there at all. Lost $75.

Back at PLO for a little and ran it up about $80 in smaller pots until EP open, three callers and I have a perfect squeeze with AA93ddd. BB cold calls and everyone except a shorty folds. I jam 679hh flop for $140 with nfb and my OP and top pair and BB calls with 44JT and hits his gutshot. Down $250 in PLO, so up around $100 on the day.

Out of first Airbnb and off to another one in East Boston tomorrow where I’ll be on my own for a couple nights. Booked a hotel room first last minute and then found much cheaper Airbnb. Hotel now says cancellation fee or some nonsense. Will figure it out tomorrow.

As promised:

Just woke up in the middle of the night. Figured I’d do this now since I was too exhausted when I got in.

Pretty crazy session. Started at 2/5, 3! KK, downbet/jammed K74ssXs. Took it down and called for PLO. PLO GII three ways with AA and chop third guy’s money with other AA. I guess AA is actually worth something in four-card. Head back to 2/5 eventually where I call LP open with 99 and flop 944cc. Get double against A9 who jammed Qs turn for my last $150. ($200 min here.)

Then open black JJ, two callers, flop 77Qdd. Bet 1/2 pot, only player IP calls. (OMC type with a deep tan.) Apparently this player had won with 82 earlier. Anyway turn is a beautiful Jh. I bet $75. He calls. River: Kd. Yay, the front door flush got there. Now let me just pretend I am disgusted with that card. I tank and bet $55. He raises (yay!) to $130 and I have an easy jam for $240. He throws his hands up and does the one chip call and I table. He tables quad 7s....

Greek older man opens large EP $35 (sizing tell - I’d guess QQ at best), I jam $250 he calls I win v. TT. Made a little this session before taking a 5/10 shot....

Nothing much at 5/10 except I open QQ BTN and spot/SB calls with T8o and bluffs river small on AK555 runout and I snap. Then get into another hand with same player when I l/rr AKo from SB in his straddle (he liked raising it) from $70 to $225. He calls. We GII on A-5-4ss. Turn: Qs. River: 9s. He shows QTss. I run pretty badly in these 5/10 shots, I gotta be honest.

Back to PLO now down a little on the day where no big hands until open KKxx and flop K55 and get the double against 54 on 42 runout. Got an overpriced burger (fries not included) and a beer and called it a night. Up $200.

Random gripes: terrible cell reception in poker room and in much of casino floor not near the exits; can’t use poker comps for anything while the system undergoes maintenance. No fix for a couple weeks...!

Morning started interesting as I realized I hadn’t packed enough underwear since I expected to leave earlier. I hit the nearby laundromat. I don’t think I’d ever used one since I even forgot to bring detergent with me. I just put the clothes in the washer. There seemed to be some leftover suds in there from previous users’ loads. Only took 40 minutes. Good time to read my new plo book.

Last day at Encore did not end on a high note as I’d hoped. Started off well at PLO, up $500 (set over set, then flopped joint and b/b/x/called V’s river bluff jam), but then lost some at 5/10 (3! AK, whiffed, cbet got jammed on my BB ss who cold called) and the rest at PLO just raising and missing multi-way. The 5/10 I sat at in the morning was off putting. Very boys club vibe. Where do they find these people?

Decided to try 2/5 again and basically broke even, but not before getting cursed out by some local old dude who thought I was being smart when the following exchange took place (not involving him, mind you, but another player directly to my right as I took my seat):

Me: puts chips on table, bag on back of seat. Probably give off a “pro vibe” as someone mentioned to me earlier this trip.

Player to my right (young dude with gold chain): “good luck, buddy.” [I hate being called buddy, especially by strangers]

Me: “you really mean that?”

Gold chain: “err...yeah.” (Very unconvincingly, mind you.)

Me: “ok, your loss!” The joke is obviously that he’s wishing me luck in a game where he’ll most likely lose if I get lucky as I’m seated to his left.

At this point the older local to my left doesn’t think this is funny and decides it’s his place to chime in and says: “that’s how you respond to someone trying to be nice to you?” I quickly try to diffuse the situation and respond that I was just being tongue in cheek. Young dude says no problem. Old man angrily says “no, f*ck this guy!” I quietly pick up my chips and ask for a different table. The old man was gone within 10 minutes.

Anyway nothing really happened at 2/5, so gave 5/10 one more shot. This time at must move that got short handed and bled down quite a bit, got 3! both times I opened (AJss btn ran into AA in BB, he showed after I folded), 99 raise folded to what? I dunno. One of the few hands I played post-flop I isolated EP older limper with AJdd and cbet A-Q-2ccd and he called. Turn was Js. I bet about 1/3 pot ($60). He just called. River was 4c. He checked again. I think most people would lead their flushes here so I figured I could go for value against his Ax or perhaps worse two pairs and obviously fold if raised. I bet $100 and sure enough he c/r to $300 and I snap folded. He was nice enough to show KThh for the turned gutterball. Sigh. “Nice hand,” a little downtrodden that I value owned myself and was stuck a good $400 now.

Last hand I limped JJ ep and got iso’d, btn called, I called. Bad play with $325. I didn’t want to bust my last hand with a measly pair of jacks. Flop 235r. I check, pfr checks, btn (mr. KT from earlier) bets $100 into $150. I fold and pfr calls. Turn is 4 and it goes bet and call. They check river and pfr has AJo and btn A3o for the chop. Who knows what would have happened had I jammed pre. Maybe the poker gods did me a favor in the end. Oh well.

Anyway, ended this trip down a few hundred dollars or so, mainly due to some run bad at 5/10. 2-2 PLO results were good, which was nice validation that my studying is paying off. Probably the best game in the room imo. Taking train tomorrow morning back home. Good experience here in Boston but as always when I take these trips alone I get homesick and can’t wait to cuddle the dogs when I get back.

A couple parting shots:

Welcome to Boston! I lived in MA for a few years, pretty sure this is mild compared to some of the things I saw at Foxwoods/Mohegan over the years.

Kinda hard to read between the lines / context / etc. without being there, but the correct response to "good luck, buddy!" is a goofy friendly smile with a laugh and a "Thank you, I'll definitely need it!", and anything else is pretty meh. From where I sit reading this thread, it's a part of your game you need to work on (just my opinion), although admittedly most tables I sit at don't have an antagonistic vibe about them so I don't have much experience in these spots.

Ggoodluck!G

Yeah probably could have just left it at thanks. But this was more interesting. Seriously, wishing me gl? As phony as it gets. As if....

For sure gii pre with the JJ and how can you possibly fold 235 board? This is a slam dunk check ship. If you are gonna play like that and fold that flop you should really just fold pre and more importantly get up and leave.