18-Hour Grind

Recently I have been playing poker every day. The games are usually not that great. Sometimes if I am lucky I can book a big win in a short time then I can "take the day off" but recently I have not been running well. A Chinese pro gave me some suggestions and they seem to be working but still need some run good from time to time.

Those who know me will know that I am no spring chicken. It has been a long time since I played such a marathon session. I went to the casino at about 7pm, and left at around noon the next day. So what happened?

Trying to build this roll up

My first buy ins were gone is a really short time. First QQ vs AA, then I have the dreaded 99 vs JJ on a J669T board. By then I was stuck $1800 but the night was still young and I wanted to grind it back. So I stuck at it.

By about 4am a few new players joined our table. One was obviously a newbie where he called an all in on a T95 flop with 77 and spiked the 7 on the river to scoop a big pot. Another was drunk and kept on ordering wine. The drunk guy was actually a really good player. However I think he over bluffs so I would trap him with good hands, and value bet him to the max when I know he has something. He kept bad beating the rest of the table, or made crazy bluffs that worked. However against me he kept losing.

Sometimes I go back to my room to this view. This is the sunrise scene at about 5am in the morning

Later we were joined by a Dutch guy who was obvious drunk or high. He jammed all in on a 4-card straight board with bottom pair not as a bluff but as a value bet. He was called off by two other guys. When they flipped over their straights he insisted he had a straight. Even checked his hand a few times. Then his second buy in he 3 bet jammed on the river with bottom two pairs only to be snapped off by the nuts.

There was a lot of drama on the table but all I can say is, I couldn't leave. The game was good and I had a chance to win my money back. There was a super tight Japanese guy on the table that was obviously tilted by being bluffed by the drunk guy. He took it out against me, bluffing me a couple of times but luckily the second time I had a monster and took some chips from him.

After all the dust had settled, I came out losing $300 instead of $1800 after 18 hours of play. Still not nice not to win, but I am happy with the comeback. After that session I took the next day off to recuperate before I hit the tables again.

Nostalgia

Was home for a week and met up with my old poker buddies. It was nice to catch up. Within the group I am the only one that went pro. I think many envy my life but no one understands the grind I have to go through. But yet I do appreciate the lifestyle I have. But it is not as glamorous as you would think.

Reminiscing the good old times, and I am touched so many showed up to coffee at the drop of my name. So it is only natural for me to ask for a game. We played 3 sessions of OFC, 1 session of Holdem and my virgin live shortdeck cash game. There's a video circulating amongst my friends of an OFC session with me, Aaron and KM. Aaron and I were singing and dancing when both of us got fantasyland against KM. It was nice to play OFC again with Aaron.

My friend Jason hosted the game at his apartment. Big poker table in dining room, table full of local food and snacks, fridge with local soft drinks and even soup in the pot. Brings back so many memories of our old games. There was a tub of peanut cookies, a typical Chinese New Year snack that I haven't had in years. Was so content snacking on it as we played. We ordered Roti Canai and McDonald's for supper. It was a nice break from the daily stresses of life.

No where else in the world where you can play poker with 100 Plus and peanut cookies

During the holdem session there was a Holdem cash game virgin too. I made the mistake of trying to bluff a fish. She called my 75% pot size bet on river with J9ss on a QJXXX with 4 clubs on board. We all had a big laugh about it. I did well on my first ever shortdeck cash game too, winning 640 antes. Could have been more if not of a bluff by one of my closest poker buddies. The Shortdeck session we played in a dark environment with the music turn up high. One of the guys wanted to replicate the famous KTV games we have here.

Replicating KTV session by turning down the lights

It was nice to catch up and play against my old friends. Some I have known for 20+ years. Now back to the grind with friends that I have known days or weeks at most. But poker camaraderie is the same everywhere. It is easy to quickly make friends if you are friendly enough.

Do Not Be Quick To Judge

I am boarding my flight. I checked in 3 days ago so that I can get a nice window seat. When I got on board there was a guy in my seat. I politely asked him to move so I can get my coveted window seat. He seem reluctant to move but finally did. As soon as he sat down next to me, he put half his arm over our shared armrest so about half of his elbow was on my side. He wouldn't let me put my arm down and made me very uncomfortable in my own seat. I was furious, and those who know me I seldom get upset or visibly upset but I was saying out loud "what an asshole", "dick".... This guy who tried to "steal" my window seat and failed now resorts to childish acts to get back at me. I have been bullied countless times by people jumping the queue, pushing me, rudeness, selfishness, overall barbaric behaviour. I thought to myself, just another asshole from the asshole producing country.

As I sat in my seat being angry at him, I saw him fidget with the safely belt and TV screen. He made hand signs with the guy next to him kinda asking him how to use the thing. Suddenly I was like, oh no, maybe he's just autistic and really wanted to look out the window. I heard him listen to some voice messages on his phone, and he clearly could type but he didn't say a word on the plane. Maybe he is mute. I started feeling really bad. I thought about offering to switch seats with him but it was too late, we were on the incline. So I would sit back on my seat so he can still see out the window from his seat. I usually pull down the shades so I can rest or watch TV but I didn't this time. He was so interested in the view outside I just let him enjoy it.

Side conversation, recently there was a video about an autistic guy who can sing and play music very well. His name is Kodi Lee. He is indeed an inspiration, only for overly sensitive, politically correct but mentally dumb Americans to make it into another stupid debate.

I was looking at this guy. Poor guy, in his mid-40s I am guessing mute and autistic, traveling with the other guy who doesn't seem to care much about his sign language. He continue to fidget with the on board entertainment so I helped him, even offered him my earphones because his seat didn't have one. He seemed really happy and watched a movie from the Kid's Favourite list. I felt better. I was the asshole not recognising his challenges and judged him too quickly. Now I made it up by helping him.

It was cool when the food came by. He wanted orange juice but couldn't tell the stewardess so he pointed to his shirt that was orange in colour. She understood. That was cool. He did not speak one word until we landed. He somehow got a translation app out and showed me that he was transiting to another city. So I used my limited sign language trying to explain what to do. But I saw he typed in Chinese and he listened to voice messages so he is not deaf, so I spoke in Chinese. Then..... he spoke back. Like a normal person.

What the heck! He is not autistic. The guy next to him was also just a random stranger. No wonder he didn't care much about him. And yes he wanted to steal my window seat. And he pushed against me not because he did not understand manners or proper behaviour. He was just vengeful. He didn't speak a word because he did not understand English. He didn't know what to do with the TV screen because it was all in English. He wasn't mute, he was just new to flying. Regardless I tried to help him and answered every question he had. Even showed him the way to his gate. He did not thank me or anything.

I was quick to judge him twice. Turned out my first judgment was the right one. But anyway, I felt bad to be angry at someone so quickly. I should be kind. Even to assholes.

There is another story that comes to mind and it has been a grounding story for me. This story is not mine but I put it in first person for you to understand it better.

I was at the bar and ordered some french fries. The service was really good, my fries arrived in just a minute or two. Fast food indeed. So I started eating the fries. Suddenly this guy next to me took a fry from my basket. I stared at him. He just smiled and nodded to me, and continued to eat. I thought to myself, okay one fry no problem. I can share. But how rude of him not to even ask. Maybe he is just super hungry. Let it go.

But oh no, he didn't stop there. He came back for a second fry, then a third and fourth and continued eating. I continued to stare at him but he just smiled back and nodded. I pulled the basket closer to me to indicate "enough is enough". I don't want to be "rude" and tell him off, but I can't be a complete pushover. Pulling the basket should get my message across.

It seemed to work. I continued to enjoy the remaining fries. Finally peace and quiet and I can enjoy my food. I was playing with my phone and what do you know, he starts eating my fries again! So I ate faster. If I eat them all quickly then he can't steal anymore from me! We ate and ate until the last one. How dare he have the audacity to go for it. He took the last fry, looked at me and smiled, tore the fry in half and gave the half to me. What the heck! I was so freaking angry.

The guy left after finishing the last "half" fry. I sat there cursing at him and upset at the situation. I was so angry I was thinking what I should do until the waiter came and handed me a basket of fries. "Here you go sir, your fries".

I sat there in shock. All this time I thought he was stealing my food, when I was the one taking his! I thought he was an asshole but turns out it was me. He did not complain, always smiling and even offered the last half to me.

Well this did not happen to me, but I heard this story but I modified it to be more dramatic and sensical. But lesson learned, don't judge too quickly, and be kind whenever possible.

Embrace The Grind Part 2

In March I played cash game for one whole week non-stop and I documented my results. This time round I played for 16 sessions straight and counting. I think throughout this stretch I only had 1 day without any poker. I played at least 1 session a day and sometimes two. Unfortunately I am unable to recall some key hands in the process or how I got those results because the first session was over 2 weeks ago. But I think I have found my groove and can sustain the results at this game. 

So far I have won 12 out of 16 sessions. One of the losing sessions was my previous post of the "coolest" day of my life. One of my mistakes I felt was being too greedy. I wanted to win $1000+ sessions but in fact if I can consistently make $300-500 per session I can make a really good living. Had I stopped playing every time I made $500 profit, I would have 100% winning rate. The 4 sessions that I lost I was up before sliding down. 

Another lesson I have learned is to set a cut loss. If I am winning $300-1000 per session, I should not lose more than that per session otherwise I put myself in a hole that I have to dig out of. It puts a lot of pressure on my following sessions. 

Good second week to make decent profit

There was one key session where I was in for $3900. One hand a guy put me all in for my last $700 of the day and I hero called with one pair and clawed back to a manageable -$1700 instead of -$3900. 

Honestly I do miss playing tournament poker. I see many of my friends are in Vegas playing in the WSOP I can't help but be jealous. But cash game is going well at the moment I should continue to grind it out. I can occasionally join a tournament here and there but cash games will have to be my bread and butter. 

In my first week back to the cash game grind, I was -$4127 but the second week I am +$6279. $2k profit in 2 weeks isn't what I was hoping for, but I think I have learned some important lessons to smooth out my results in the weeks to come. I hope I can continue on this path and be more consistent and disciplined. At the same time I want to commit to doing good things. Everyday on my walk to the casino I pass by a homeless lady and also sometimes some ladies who dig through rubbish for recycle plastics. I gave them some money and also food sometimes. On the table I continue to be a nice guy, every time I go to get water I would bring back 3 bottles and offer it to anyone on the table. I think I have gained respect and am well liked on the tables.