I haven't answered questions in this thread for a long time.
Sufinillini
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no hating here...I just want to confirm this timeline...b/c this is some very depressing $hit...
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at the end of your first year you were consitently beating 10/20 stud and 20/40 LHE...and as you said occasionally taking shots at 40/80
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now at the end of 5 years you are playing 1/2NL at Caesars???
The highest limit games I
regularly played and beat were 20-40 hold 'em at the Mirage and 15-30 stud at the Bellagio. I had occassionally played 30-60 hold 'em at the Bellagio and planned to move there full time in the summer/fall of 2003. But, the hold 'em boom hit and the Bellagio waiting lists became ridiculously long. So, I stayed the the less crowded 20-40 Mirage game.
At my low point (most of 2006 and early 2007), I was stuck primarily at 1-2 no-limit and looking for very good 2-5 no-limit games. It was incredibly frustrating being stuck at stakes where it was hard to win significant $$$ at.
In response to similar posts, the losses in my bankroll did not come from my play at the tables. I was a consistent winning player both live and online. The first time I had a losing month was in October of 2005 (online). My bankroll issues came from non-playing issues.
Rushmore
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I am confident that everyone here respects the OP's game, and the OP's candor, but the question is two-fold:
1. Is he leaking?
2. If not, why would anyone believe they can beat the game?
I do have a type of leak. I have never, from the day I arrived in Las Vegas, played what could be called a full time schedule. I've never put 160 hours at the tables in a single month. Usually, I put in less than 100.
This is by choice. One of the most appealing aspects of playing for a living is the freedom and flexibility it offers. I play when and how often I want. So, in 2004, when I felt burned out, I hardly played at all for nearly four months. That obviously damanged the bankroll. Likewise, there are several months where I've put in under 50 hours.
I went too far with it in 2004 and outside issues that added to the problem. Those were the root causes of my bankroll problems.
The problem has never been my ability to beat the games I'm playing.
Otherwise, I don't think I have anything which should be called a leak. Thought, like everyone, I have plenty of room for improvement.
PLOlover
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So you don't play online at all? Just curious why not.
I don't play online anymore. I stopped in late 2005.
I simply don't like it. It's not fun for me and I'm not interested in grinding out money online if I'm not enjoying it.
El Diablo
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Congrats on making it through six years. As far as whether your story is depressing or inspirational, one simple question for you. Are you enjoying being a poker pro in vegas?
This is a variant of many questions in the thread.
I don't regret the past six years at all. There's no way I'd want to change the decisions I've made. Despite some financial pressue for about a year and a half, there's nothing I'd rather do going forward.
I love playing for living in Las Vegas.
the_casino_kid
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i dont get why you moved to nl after all these years, if your crushing a 30/60 game why bother.
NLHE is the future. I think limit hold 'em could be in serious jeopardy in a few years.
I noticed you didn't ask me why I switched from stud to hold 'em.
Update
Until now, I haven't provided a mid-year update. But, I'm tired of this thread depressing people. Besides, the information is available elsewhere on the forums.
On Father's Day of 2007, I participated in a freeroll tournament at Caesars Palace. A little over 300 people particpated.
Though the structure was exceptionally poor, I managed to avoid extrene bad luck and found myself with the chiplead with just three players remaining. A deal was made which gave me $25,000 and a seat in the 2007 WSOP Main Event (first place was actually $32,000 and the seat). So, my bankroll got a sudden 25k infusion that has me playing the limits I should be at.
My first WSOP Main Event ended on Day 1A.
You can read about the hand here in a thread about the first day. Basically, with a 60k stack at 1am, my KK ran into AA and I busted.