My Journey As A Professional Poker Player (25 Viewers)

Busted the memorial day tourney. Still time to rebuy but 5/5/10 PLO looked good
Sit with $550 and a super aggro guy on my left (he binked a tourney and just steps on the gas)

Dealt :jd::td::th::2h:

We limp after other limpers, aggro makes it 50, bunch of callers, we repot since headsup we should have decent equity with dead $$$ to boot

Asian lady calls, she only goes once unless pot is 4k

Runout :js::ts::9d::9s::3c:

We win, another guy tells us how he folded JJ preflop and would've won

Next hand we are rock, aggro makes it 35, few callers, we call with :ac::ts::8h::6c:

Flop :ad::6d::3s:

We are first to act and pot, aggro and lady in CO call

Turn :9s:

Checked around

River :6s:

We check to lady in CO, she bets 500, we just call. She only has an Ace

Two players leave, game shorthanded. We cashout +$1,727 and go to finish our lunch before rebuying tourney

View attachment 709679
what does we are rock mean?
 
Busted the memorial day tourney. Still time to rebuy but 5/5/10 PLO looked good

what does we are rock mean?

The "rock" is a forced straddle in these PLO games. The winner of the previous hand is forced to post them regardless of their position at the table.

So in the 5/5 PLO there is a rock of $10. Because I won the previous hand I have to put the $10 in front of me. Then action starts to my left, and I have the last option to raise preflop, rather than the BB being the last to act preflop.
 
@Anthony Martino what are your favourite casino chips? What is your favourite personal set?

I haven't been to that many casinos, so it's hard for me to pick a favorite since I haven't experienced a lot of options. I will say I find a lot of the cali-colored sets pretty cool looking, although they'd confuse the fuck out of me since I'm so used to:

white $1
red $5
green $25
black $100

I used to have a small 300-piece Paulson Le Noire tournament set back when I lived in Massachusetts that I unfortunately sold ages ago that I really enjoyed. Lots of good memories having my buddies over to play a one-table tourney with those chips.
 
I don't get bothered by those guys

Had a miserable reg accuse me of a hit and run in 5/10 PLO with a 25 rock

I bought in for 500, lost it. Did that again
Third time I triple up and keep playing. Double that up. I play another 30 minutes, then rack up.

Guy says "nice hit n run, how long is that money gonna last you?"

I had been in the game 5 hours. Let the miserable cunts be miserable, that is their problem
Always a classic. "Or so you're gonna hit and run huh??" Buddy this was an 8 hour session, relax.
 
Always a classic. "Or so you're gonna hit and run huh??" Buddy this was an 8 hour session, relax.

Had a chat with one of my regulars about what the etiquette is about this when it comes to home games.

Once I'm starting mine back up, I might institute an "X rules/guidelines of the poker room" thing that includes a 30min-ish heads up to the table at least if you're leaving, but I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of rules... What do you guys think? (sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit here Anthony, but it's for the good of Poker! :D )
 
Had a chat with one of my regulars about what the etiquette is about this when it comes to home games.

Once I'm starting mine back up, I might institute an "X rules/guidelines of the poker room" thing that includes a 30min-ish heads up to the table at least if you're leaving, but I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of rules... What do you guys think? (sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit here Anthony, but it's for the good of Poker! :D )

A home or private game is a bit different than in a casino

This guy who bitched at me was stuck 2k when I sat down

I bet he wouldn't have said shit if I busted and left
 
I might institute an "X rules/guidelines of the poker room" thing that includes a 30min-ish heads up to the table at least if you're leaving, but I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of rules... What do you guys think?

The leaving in 30 minutes from now rule doesn't really do much.

Let's say I announce I'm going in 30 minutes and I'm up a lot. You know what the players will do of whom this rule is meant for? They're going to lock down and just fold like crazy. Maybe they bleed a few blinds here and there, but their interest in the game has been gone since they made their declaration. It's better to just let them leave whenever so that the game is sped up for those who still want to play.

If you're worried about people hitting and running in your home game, then you need to lower the stakes so that players aren't incentivized to do it in the first place. Failing that, you ought to invite players (if you have the luxury of a large player pool) who you know aren't the sort of character to even consider hitting & running.
 
Had a chat with one of my regulars about what the etiquette is about this when it comes to home games.

Once I'm starting mine back up, I might institute an "X rules/guidelines of the poker room" thing that includes a 30min-ish heads up to the table at least if you're leaving, but I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of rules... What do you guys think? (sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit here Anthony, but it's for the good of Poker! :D )

One orbit is adequate for a friendly low stake home game, 30 minutes is also fair, although opinions may differ.

The host of the $1/$2 home game I play in likes a full table and expects players to stay until at least 11PM unless they bust out.

The price paid for his time sending out the invites, running a non-raked game and cooking an amazing meal and the clean up that goes with it.
 
One orbit is adequate for a friendly low stake home game, 30 minutes is also fair, although opinions may differ.

The host of the $1/$2 home game I play in likes a full table and expects players to stay until at least 11PM unless they bust out.

The price paid for his time sending out the invites, running a non-raked game and cooking an amazing meal and the clean up that goes with it.

I like this :)


The leaving in 30 minutes from now rule doesn't really do much.

Let's say I announce I'm going in 30 minutes and I'm up a lot. You know what the players will do of whom this rule is meant for? They're going to lock down and just fold like crazy. Maybe they bleed a few blinds here and there, but their interest in the game has been gone since they made their declaration. It's better to just let them leave whenever so that the game is sped up for those who still want to play.

If you're worried about people hitting and running in your home game, then you need to lower the stakes so that players aren't incentivized to do it in the first place. Failing that, you ought to invite players (if you have the luxury of a large player pool) who you know aren't the sort of character to even consider hitting & running.

Stakes should be fine, but I get what you’re saying. @Mojo1312’s example is a great middle ground :)


A home or private game is a bit different than in a casino

This guy who bitched at me was stuck 2k when I sat down

I bet he wouldn't have said shit if I busted and left

Oh, I complete agree. People like that shouldn’t play if they’re bad losers. You have ups and you have downs, even with “perfect” play. If you can’t take the hit, don’t step into the ring imo.

Thanks for lending me the thread for my vaguely related question for a bit, back to our regularly scheduled USA!USA!USA! :D
 
Had a chat with one of my regulars about what the etiquette is about this when it comes to home games.

Once I'm starting mine back up, I might institute an "X rules/guidelines of the poker room" thing that includes a 30min-ish heads up to the table at least if you're leaving, but I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of rules... What do you guys think? (sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit here Anthony, but it's for the good of Poker! :D )
I think home game etiquette, especially a game among friends, includes a reasonable heads up, either when you first arrive or at some point during the game as to what your expected time of exit might be. But I don't think this has much of anything to do with a hit and run situation, unless you end up with a player that regularly does so by leaving materially earlier than previously stated. Then you deal with that on a one-on-one basis. I do think if you are going to have "rules of the game" that are printed up or emailed to your players it is reasonable to state your expectations regarding length of time playing or announcing an estimated time of departure.
 
@Anthony Martino - question. Now that you've been playing more tournaments lately, how do you feel about tournaments vs. cash games (confidence levels, play style, enjoyment etc.)?

I still feel cash games are the better long-term ROI

But let me bink a really big score and I'm sure I'll change my tune

I think if tourneys had significantly flatter payout structures (15-20% of the field, and not so top heavy) they would be a better source of regular income than they are now

The majority of events I hear about get chopped up, which says to me the players are telling rooms the payout structures need change

But the rooms are happy to see a chop, as it being over sooner is better for their bottom line
 
I still feel cash games are the better long-term ROI

But let me bink a really big score and I'm sure I'll change my tune

I think if tourneys had significantly flatter payout structures (15-20% of the field, and not so top heavy) they would be a better source of regular income than they are now

The majority of events I hear about get chopped up, which says to me the players are telling rooms the payout structures need change

But the rooms are happy to see a chop, as it being over sooner is better for their bottom line
I disagree with that. First, flatter payout structures are different than paying out a larger percentage of the field. Paying out more than 10% of the field ruin tournaments as a viable source of income. It dilutes the payouts so much that deeper runs do not pay out enough to cover the times you do not cash. Min cashes barely cover your entry fee or worse. A min cash should be at least double your entry fee minimum.

A flatter payout structure means less money up top and distributed more evenly throughout the payouts. An almost Canadian concept you might say. What is happening to you @Anthony Martino ???????
 
I disagree with that. First, flatter payout structures are different than paying out a larger percentage of the field. Paying out more than 10% of the field ruin tournaments as a viable source of income. It dilutes the payouts so much that deeper runs do not pay out enough to cover the times you do not cash. Min cashes barely cover your entry fee or worse. A min cash should be at least double your entry fee minimum.

A flatter payout structure means less money up top and distributed more evenly throughout the payouts. An almost Canadian concept you might say. What is happening to you @Anthony Martino ???????

I believe it's possible to have flatter payout structures AND payout a larger percentage of the field. Looks like Bernie got to me!

I'd have to check the figures to see whether it's possible to make a mincash double your buyin with flatter structures that pay more players.

But I believe that Memorial Day tourney with 212 entries at the Hard Rock, first place was over 19K and I believe that was something like 26% of the prize pool. There's no reason that percentage and other top heavy ones couldn't be adjusted to provide a more reasonable distribution across the field.

Not to mention that money being more evenly distributed is also more likely to find it's way back into the poker economy. 1-3 players getting larger scores is more likely for them to put that money into a large personal purchase or bills rather than the result of it being recycled back into poker with a more even distribution, imo
 
I believe it's possible to have flatter payout structures AND payout a larger percentage of the field. Looks like Bernie got to me!

I'd have to check the figures to see whether it's possible to make a mincash double your buyin with flatter structures that pay more players.

But I believe that Memorial Day tourney with 212 entries at the Hard Rock, first place was over 19K and I believe that was something like 26% of the prize pool. There's no reason that percentage and other top heavy ones couldn't be adjusted to provide a more reasonable distribution across the field.

Not to mention that money being more evenly distributed is also more likely to find it's way back into the poker economy. 1-3 players getting larger scores is more likely for them to put that money into a large personal purchase or bills rather than the result of it being recycled back into poker with a more even distribution, imo
Flatter structures make the ITM parts of tournies more gruelling. ICM becomes even more important when the pay jumps aren't very big. Now granted most people won't understand that, so it may not matter in reality.
 
Some pics from 2009 when I was still living in Massachusetts and played poker with my buddies (and my 300-chip set of Paulson Le Noires)

all-your-chips-are-belong-to-me.jpg
anthony-jon-dan-oct-10-2009.png
chedda-is-betta.jpg
Chris-Kevin-Frank-Oct10-2009.png
chuck-mike-dave-oct10-2009.png
only-way-to-get-chips.jpg
screw-you-irs.jpg
 
I have a question for you @Anthony Martino: which locale do you think is best for a professional poker player?

The top ones seem to be LA, Texas, Florida, and Vegas, with each having different pros and cons (game quality versus cost of living mainly).
 
I have a question for you @Anthony Martino: which locale do you think is best for a professional poker player?

The top ones seem to be LA, Texas, Florida, and Vegas, with each having different pros and cons (game quality versus cost of living mainly).

Having not played in all of these locations I wouldn't be the right person to ask

It will likely vary on what game(s) and limits you play, as some areas are likely better for certain ges over others

You also need to factor in cost of living compared with the hourly you can make

I've heard great things about poker in Texas, but haven't experienced it myself
 
Having not played in all of these locations I wouldn't be the right person to ask

It will likely vary on what game(s) and limits you play, as some areas are likely better for certain ges over others

You also need to factor in cost of living compared with the hourly you can make

I've heard great things about poker in Texas, but haven't experienced it myself
In Florida, how would you characterise your average table? If there are 9 players, how many are pros, good recs, bad recs, on average?
 
In Florida, how would you characterise your average table? If there are 9 players, how many are pros, good recs, bad recs, on average?
I'm only playing 2/2/5 and 5/5/10 PLO

The player pool is much smaller and not indicative of what you will encounter in other games

Sometimes my games suck and there's no action. Sometimes the games are amazing

If I had to guess at an avg breakdown in my games

1-3 pros
1-3 good recreationals
3-5 bad recreationals
 
  • Like
Reactions: khp
I have a question for you @Anthony Martino: which locale do you think is best for a professional poker player?

The top ones seem to be LA, Texas, Florida, and Vegas, with each having different pros and cons (game quality versus cost of living mainly).
I would only be making a calculated guess here, but I would think that Vegas would be the best location for a poker pro. Lots of tourists bringing in a ton of fish money. Also more venues to choose from. From the perspective of a business investor, I am reluctant to invest in a company that gets the lion's share of their profit from a single source, so to carry that logic into the poker pro world, A pro's income is safer if they multiple casinos to work out of, just in case they get banned, there's a fire, a better player shows up at your table, or the casino goes bankrupt.

I also believe that Vegas has a much higher percentage of big-name poker pros. I would guess they live there for a reason.
 
I would only be making a calculated guess here, but I would think that Vegas would be the best location for a poker pro. Lots of tourists bringing in a ton of fish money. Also more venues to choose from. From the perspective of a business investor, I am reluctant to invest in a company that gets the lion's share of their profit from a single source, so to carry that logic into the poker pro world, A pro's income is safer if they multiple casinos to work out of, just in case they get banned, there's a fire, a better player shows up at your table, or the casino goes bankrupt.

I also believe that Vegas has a much higher percentage of big-name poker pros. I would guess they live there for a reason.

The games that are streamed on Youtube for Texas Card House gives me belief that even a halfway decent player can make a killing. You'd need a very sizable bankroll to endure the variance there though.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom