"Changing the way we see the world does not imply naive optimism or some artificial euphoria designed to counterbalance adversity. So long as we are slaves to the dissatisfaction and frustration that arise from the confusion that rules our minds, it will be just as futile to tell ourselves 'I'm happy! I'm happy!' over and over again as it would be to repaint a wall in ruins. The search for happiness is not about looking at life through rose-colored glasses or blinding oneself to the pain and imperfections of the world. Nor is happiness a state of exaltation to be perpetuated at all costs; it is the purging of mental toxins, such as hatred and obsession, that literally poison the mind. It is about learning how to put things in perspective and reduce the gap between appearances and reality. To that end we must acquire a better knowledge of how the mind works and a more accurate insight into the nature of things, for in its deepest sense, suffering is intimately linked to a misapprehension of the nature of reality."
- Matthieu Ricard
Welcome!
The goal of this thread is to document my journey as I step into the world of poker as a profession, but also to draw particular attention to the mental challenges associated with sitting in a casino, surrounded by degenerates, for 40+ hours a week. I am by no means an expert or authority on this matter, yet. In fact, I don't think I've ever played 40 hours of live poker in a single week before. So it'll be a learning experience for myself, and a journey I'd like to document publicly so others who may be in a similar position to myself can benefit as well.
Current Situation
I currently live in Brisbane, Australia. This is perhaps one of the worst possible cities in the world for any poker pro. The casino's card room is not much bigger than my bedroom and the home games run infrequently with mostly the wrong games. I will look to make my living playing NLH (2/5) at the Treasury casino (Star Brisbane?). I will occasionally switch it up by playing in good NLH home games when they run but the casino will be where the vast majority of my volume will be played.
Goals & Progression
Obviously, I want to get out of Brisbane. ASAP. The next step for me will be Melbourne, home of the biggest card room in the southern hemisphere. And further down the track, I'd like to find myself in London where the rake is much lower and games play a little bigger.
The ultimate goal is to be happy as a live cash pro, wherever I end up, and whatever stakes/games I end up playing. Wherever I end up, I'd like to find myself a master of the mental game of poker; an authority on how to deal with the mental challenges incurred with poker as a career. Maybe write a book, who knows. Further down the line, I'd like to write or have a career in academia.
What I refuse to do, however, is ever become an employee again. The 9-5 life, as I've said over and over in the past, is a trap. Not the hours, specifically, but the life of an employee. I'd much rather work 60 hours a week self employed than 20 hours a week as an employee.
So my next step is to save a little more money, head to Melbourne, continue grinding, and then when finances allow, move to London to continue the saga.
Bankroll & Finances
I have 10k for a poker bankroll which is 20 buyins for my local 2/5 game. I've discussed this particular figure on my previous thread - a lot of people were under the impression that 10k was slightly too aggressive in terms of BRM. However, I think it'll do quite nicely for a 500 cap 2/5 that plays short and passive.
I have roughly another 10k that will function as a "living expenses" fund. The purpose of this is to cater for the volatility of live poker. This means any winnings will go straight back into my BR and savings. I am looking to reach a figure of $27,500 before I move to Melbourne (life and bankroll combined). This will enable me a smooth transition and enough money to settle in before resuming play. Effectively, I have about $8k to save before I can make the move to Melbourne - and I will generate this money through playing full time here in Brisbane.
The Role of This Thread
I plan on spending way too much of my time updating this thread. While I'll be putting in 40-50 hours of table time each week, starting next week, I'll also be putting in several more hours attempting to make this thread one of the most revered PGCs in all the lands! On here you will find:
1. Mental game concept discussion - Each week (or biweekly or fortnightly, not yet sure), I'll choose a particular topic - generally with relevance to the mental game of live poker, and write about it. I'll look to introduce cool new systems and strategies to the existing mental game of poker discussion.
2. Hand histories - Obviously. It's only fitting for a PGC.
3. Strategy discussion - In addition to the mental game specific stuff, I'll look to discuss some actual live poker discussion. Traditionally, a lot of poker strat is based around game theory, as is most notable in the online arena. However, my poker strategy content will focus more around exploitative adjustments to the live environment and player types.
4. Life as a poker pro - I want to share with you all my journey as I develop as a professional. You'll get a unique take on this as I evolve from my current state as a fledgling into something more seasoned.
5. Off-topic anecdotes & commentary - As an aspiring writer, I spend a lot of my spare time reading and learning about topics I find interesting. I want to bring a few of these concepts to you guys and open the discussion. I'm a philosophy major at heart so I love to discuss and debate a wide variety of issues. For instance, the quote at the top of this post is from a book I'm currently reading - I'd love to share snippets like this and my thoughts on them and how they can be applied to poker as well.
6. Results - Probably weekly I'd imagine. Simply because people sweating PGCs tend to love giraffes. I'll do pretty comprehensive weekly recaps as well.
So once again, welcome! I hope you find this PGC to be a useful tool and I hope you'll join me on my journey. Always happy to answer any questions, so fire away. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the ride!