Just about everybody believes this. However, most people also believe they are the exception.

If we replaced every "poker" in his stories with "gambling" could we really think of any other outcome? What percentage of people who gamble for a living really make it in the long run?

At the end of the day...lets just be honest with ourselves.

As far as his resolve I have to give him credit...6 years is a fckn long time in a $hithole like Vegas. I lived there for about 6 months through the summer of 06 up until November, and while I played and did pretty well I was completely bored and out of my element. It was not very satisfying, even being up a few grand after 1/2 dozen hours of live poker, buying a new car and living in a very nice house with a group of good guys. I'm back in school now and working on a new career so its all good for me but I always knew poker was a temporary stepping stone until either law school or whatever...basically something for me to do before I moved on to other (dare I say bigger and better?) things. I always knew I wouldn't be a high stakes player, i wouldn't be able to have that high of a disregard for $$$.

Gl to Dynasty though, hopefully he can grind to a 5/10NL bankroll and one day 10/20NL.

but I agree with the above posters who say there must be a leak (or two) in his game to not be able to beat those games with a basic TAG strategy. The local grinders are pretty straight-forward and with the weekend tourists abound, if you put in the hours you will come out way ahead...it's merely a motivational issue at that point.

So you don't play online at all? Just curious why not.

The leak may be something other than poker play specifically.

It's that he didn't adapt to the changing World of poker. While the Stud and Limit games got harder and harder, and the No Limit games softer, he stayed with the harder games too long.

That coupled with the inevitiable downswings in poker can cripple even a carefully managed bankroll.

Life can come at you quickly sometimes, and a bankroll that can handle normal downswings can't handle a normal downswing and an outside financial emergency. Then you end up playing short and not playing optimally.

Dynasty, thank you for the well written and entertaining updates. My condolences on the loss of your father, and I wish you well.

congrats on the great story... I hope you got a car ( or moved closer to the book store)..Have you ever ventured into NL??

Sorry, I have houses in Vegas, Aspen, and San Diego and Vegas is far from a "$hithole" as you call it. You probably had no clue what to do or where to go. Btw I haven't been on the strip more than 3 times so far this year. Get a clue about what you are talking about before dissing someone's home.

holy old post!

so dynasty, what stakes do you play now and how fast did you move up the levels?

Hmm... I live in LV too, and while I would not call it a $hithole, I would definitely call it a cultural and recreational wasteland.

(The recreational part is somewhat a matter of taste though... obv for people into drinking, clubbing, and gambling it's mecca.)

Culturally LV is just astonishingly empty. You can't find a single independent video store or movie theater, the public libraries are awful, book stores are rare. Theater almost nonexistent. Concerts almost all $150+ arena shows.

Also if you have a family or something the schools and social services are terrible. Including the hospitals I hear.

seems kinna wierd. cant beat 10-20 but playes 1-2nl. i agree with dali

no offense, but that was the most depressing [censored] ive ever read. to think you have just wasted 6 years and are exactly where you started from...maybe worse

Meh, he hasn't necessarily wasted 6 years of his life just because he doesn't have a ton of money. Money doesn't have much value at the end of the day, at least not to some people.

If he's doing what he wants to do with his life then I wouldn't call it a waste or depressing.

Sorry for your loss though Dynasty, good luck this year. Love the updates.

I agree with you fully on this topic. Though, I enjoy the hikes @ Red Rock, frisbee league @ Acacia Park, and drunk volleyball on friday nights. Ya can still find your niche out here and have fun.

Dynasty, I appreciate all the comments that you have put into this forum. Yet, I hope you keep your options open.

JL

Having journalism background and having lived in Dallas, Chicago and Boston, the public library here is quite all right. You probably aren't going to the right one(s)? There are many branches.

There's plenty to do here. I've seen Clapton and Seegar for less than $80 ea, this year. Buffett later, for same. (Really looking forward to that!)

What do you mean "recreation" is lacking? What else would you want to do? Hell, you can even go ice skating here.

Outside of NY, what place has "theater"? Or are you thinking something like in The Big Lebowski?

MicMan, I just think you're way off on your view of Vegas. A city of 2 million people has everything any place else does, of comparable size, and this is still a very young city. Comparing it to cities who've been around for a couple of centuries is ridiculous.

I suggest you explore more.

Thank you for opening up your life and sharing. I enjoyed reading about your journey through life and the World of Poker. Regardless of the outcome, stepping out of your comfort zone is a brave and admirable thing. Best of luck in editing, poker, and life.

Dynasty, i admire the honesty to give us your feelings. You write very well. Lucky number Seven?

My condolences on the loss of your father.

Despite what some other folks have said here, I view your 6 years in Vegas as a success. You haven't gotten broke, you made (or are making) the transition from being a limit player to a NL player, and above all, you at least appear to be honest with yourself.

Success isn't just about the size of your bankroll. It's also about being comfortable in your own skin.

Your head is on straight, you're not broke, and you're working at something that you love. Sure, there have been ups and downs, but no more so than for the many who quit jobs to go into business for themselves regardlless of what the business.

Ultimately, the best lesson you provide for kids who want to go pro is the lesson that poker is like anything else: the majority of those who are successful are not celebrities, just hard-working folk who face the same challenges in life as anyone else.

Keep up the good work.

He has however, played poker for a living for 6 years in Vegas, which might be pretty awesome for some people.

Thanks for sharing this Dynasty. The adults among us feel your pain, and know all about the roller coaster of life. Most people go through life serving others. You did want you wanted to do, and I admire that.

There have been books that had "professional" and "poker" on their titles. Perhaps, you can write a book, Dynasty. I mean, through the posts you have in this thread, you have establish a base for a book on "REAL" pro poker, Vegas style. I bet there's a big market for it. With hand discussions every few pages or so (and a "lessons learned" at the end of each chapter, you've got a bestseller on your hands. Not to mention a source of residual income and perhaps a foundation for a coaching practice.

Clearly has never tried to work part-time, while attemting to run a busines. The 20 hours streches into thirty because they really need you to stay just a little longer or can you come in tomorrow? We really need you to work. So you end up quitting the part time job because it eats up all the time you need to dedicate to what you really should be doing.

This is by far my favorite thread in 2+2. Good luck to Dynasty.

Bro, if you have lived in Boston then you would know that vegas is seriously lacking in cultural, recreation, public services and a general vibe. it could never touch Boston in any facet except for gambling. vegas is fun for all us sick gamblers but god is it just fundamentally such a terrible city. first off, it is in the middle of the damn desert, the public parks are scarce and crappy. the scenery is really ugly within 15-20 miles of the city (ugly trees, very little grass, more gray than green). there are no cool neighborhoods like Boston has in jamaica plain, roxbury, mission hill, brighton or brookline. the city has no feel to it besides gambling (because it has like a 40 year history, and its pretty much the history of gambling). yes, there is no theatre, there is no great arts scene, no intellectuals scene. the schools on all levels there are crappy. outside of the strip, vegas is so empty, inside the strip it is often the same too once you get past the thrill of bright lights and gambling. vegas is definitely a spectacle, and i am always excited when i arrive, but im always ready when i leave. it is pretty much a wasteland, and while there seems to be so much always going on, it's not going anywhere. vegas is on the fore-front of going nowhere as fast as possible. essentially it is a city where people go to watch money trade hands. what great companies are in vegas? i really hope you get out and see more of the world, go overseas. go to those new york, chicago, boston, seattle. you will quickly see a difference between those cities and your beloved vegas

Relax, Francis, no one compared Vegas to Manhattan.

The Hub of the Universe?

I lived in Worcester for 13 years. You probably don't know where that is, as Bostonians don't acknowledge there is life outside 128.

Boston can't compare to Chicago. Not even close. Not even within sight. Boston is the most overrated city in the world, mostly overrated by itself, as no one else cares even the tiniest little bit. Love Mass. Love New England. Boston is crap.

I'll enjoy Vegas. It's got enough to do.

lol, did i ever say it was the hub of the universe? no wonder you hate Boston, you must have been sick of living in the dumpiest city in New England and hearing about it all the time from Bostonians. Worcester is the scummiest, lamest city in the world, no wonder you prefer Vegas over Boston. and while downtown Chicago is slightly better than Boston, and has a better bar/party scene, the surrounding areas of Boston are INFINITELY better. The oceans> The lake. Boston suburbs> Chicago suburbs. Boston sports> Chicago sports. Boston history> Chicago history. Boston vacation spots (Martha's vineyard, cape cod, nantucket)> Chicago vacation spots (Wisconsin?) Boston location (new england! 3 hours from new york)> Chicago location (midwest, lol) Boston colleges> Chicago colleges. Boston hospitals> Chicago Hospitals. I can't blame you for hating Boston, as you must have had 13 years of excruciating jealousy of your neighbor to the east.