In my wallet
I got these from some blogger and now I have taped them on my wallet and read them daily. It's just good to repeat daily while on the subway or before reading poker books.
1. Extreme self control - no impulsive behavior
2. Ability to concentrate intently - no wandering thoughts
3. Ability to admit mistakes quickly - and thus terminate them
4. Ability to depersonalize conflicts - be objective regardless of personalities involved
5. Selective aggressive play at the table
6. Acceptance of responsibilty - accountability for all your results
7. Always demanding an edge/advantage before you play
8. Brutal realism - the absence of denial or kidding yourself
9. Visible thinking - thinking through and knowing why you made every play
10. Ability to learn from your mistakes
11. Obsession with winning
12. Ability to make adjustments based on observations; adaptability
On my computer monitor at this time I have the following quote by Huhammad Ali:
"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."
Online Poker
I have been doing well online as of late. Been building up my bank in order to move on to the 15-30 games. One of the problems I have been having while building my bankroll is keeping the money in there. For some reason I always find a reason to pull out 100.00 or so to do something like party my ass off all night long. I suppose in some ways we all play online to help our party habits...at least the Blog crew that I read. I'm starting to see a pattern here with guys that take this blog thing and poker serious...they all have a little gambling bug in them. I guess it's the action or the high that one gets.
I have always been good at betting the ponies and it's something that I really enjoy. Yet, since I'm a working stiff I can never leave to hit the track all day long. It was different back at UCLA when I use to hit hollywood park for some action. But low and behold there is an OTB track that's right behind my job!!! I go in for lunch and place a bet or two. One of the things that I don't like is that you can't see the horses live and that's how I get my reads...yes, kind of like poker. If I see a horse that has been improving his times and he looks fresh and hasn't run in a bit...well I'm laying down some money on that horse. I just get a better view in person...where is this going...back to poker.
You see, I feel that playing in person is much more beneficial to my game. I enjoy playing online but I have a hard time reading or putting someone on a hand. For some reason I am better in person. I know, I know, it takes years to develop that skill and as I have said in past emails, I have been really working on it. But while I feel I can control a 2-4 and 4-8 table at a casino and, well I don't ever have full control online. I guess that's due in part to the fact that people are always coming and going online. At a casino I can sit and watch people...it just helps me more. If anyone can lend me some help on this it would be greatly appriciated. What I have found is that I do well in ring games. I don't know, I just do for some odd reason.
In any case, just some things that are going through my mind that I wanted to get out. Oh, I have found that my stud game has really improved as of late. I need to get my hands on some more reading material so if you have any recs. send them my way. I'm going to try and improve my blog here in the near future...it's far too blan at this point in time. Also, check out my foodie blog that I'm currently working on.
In closing, I hope all is well and may all your flops bring you quads.
He Hate Me
I have always found it refreshing when someone takes to disliking me or putting bad names to me at the poker table. I know, I know, where am I going with this? Well it's very simple my friends, I hate haters!!! Everyone and there mother knows good poker manners, so why don't all these tough macho guys practice them at the table?
It makes me sick to my stomach when someone sucks someone out and the loser gets pissed at the person or the dealer. Hey Guy, this is called poker and sometimes that happens, even to the best of them...and in this game everyone thinks they are the best. So yes, it happens to everyone and one day the bad beat will hit you. Most of the time some five minutes later you have moved on...yet, I have to admit, there are those bad beats that just leave a bad taste in your mouth for the entire day.
Reminds me of the line in rounders when Damon's character, Mike states the following:
In Confessions of a Winning Poker Player, Jack King said, "Few players recall big pots they have won -- strange as it seems -- but every player can remember with remarkable accuracy the outstanding tough beats of his career." Seems true to me, 'cause walking in here I can hardly remember how I built my bankroll, but I can't stop thinking how I lost it.
I full heartly agree with this statement. I remember the hands that I thought were locks and fell apart at the river and ended in heartache. Just thinking about it now kind of brings back some of the sting. Yet, there is no room for some of these jerks stating, "you got lucky asshole" remarks that are made these days. Remember this and remember it well...we all get lucky in this sport...all of us, not today, not tomorrow, but someday soon we will all get lucky. And you should take personal refuge when you take a bad beat...that you, yes you, will put a bad beat on someone soon on the river. It's a fact of life.
I know that we all try and learn from a player here and there throughout our lives. I think the one person that I have really taken to is Doyle. Just a class act...period! Always nice and humble and even when he gets knocked out he smiles and nods. What about TJ who always says when gettting knocked out, "that's poker...won't be the last time." Just men who know how to conduct themselves.
So if you are to get sucked out on the river don't get all pissed and start to cuss. Say nice hand and move on to the next deal. I know, I know this sounds idotic and not realistic....well my friend, we have all been through some bad beats and there will be plenty more to come in the near future. That one I will bet the home on. So be a class act and say nice hand and move on.
I guess this rant started because at a ring game I sucked some kid out and he was done for the night. I didn't mind the suckout and the hand isn't really needed here...the whole time after while I'm trying to play my game he's typing: moron, lucky piece of crap, and you can't play. I didn't really pay him any attention, yet I thought, "was this guys life on the line for a 20.00 ring game?" I don't know, but he seemed to think that me hitting the house on the river to beat his flush was in some way luck. I don't know, but to piss him off more I went and won the tournament. Just some odd people who have nothing to do...he could have went to a 4/8 table and picked up a pot and got into another 20.00 ring game...but no, he had to sit there and moan for about 1/2 an hour of how awful I played. O.K. now you got my rant...sorry!
In closing, have a great day and make sure to flop da nuuuutzzz!!!
