Good riddance 2020

2020 has been a rough year for most people, but for the most part it was going well for me until recently. Every year I set New Year resolutions and it is now a tradition that I look back at what I wrote and review my year based on what I set out to do.

In January I wrote: 1) Seek alternative source of income. When I wrote this I wasn't sure what I was going to do. But in late February it just kind of fell into my lap, and in one week, we planned, prepared and opened a new poker club in Phnom Penh, 777. Building this business from scratch was a tough but very satisfying journey. Many people doubted us, but we did it. We were a profitable business by March 4th and never looked back. By June we were running the hottest, juiciest and most consistent PLO game in town. I have seen pots of over 20k on a 2/5 game. I did not have a day off work from March 1st until November 4th, except for 2-3 days early on where we didn't open. I have never worked so hard in my life. (I have played 566 sessions of poker totaling over 1800 hours, ending the year with a modest profit, 9 winning months out of 12) It was only recently at the end of November when it was all taken away from me. And I lost six figures in equity because of it. But I succeeded in creating an alternative source of income for 2020, and still came out doing quite well compared to most people. 

At the peak of my cashflow situation

2) Remain de-gen free for 2020. Well, I am sorry to report that I did not achieve this. In 2019 I was such a good boy and stayed away from everything de-gen. In 2020 I did not. But I can say I was very controlled and was never addicted to it. Compared to my de-gens in the past, this was purely for entertainment purposes and were in very small amounts. 

Prague in February

Thanks to Covid-19, I barely got to play any tournaments at all this year. Thankfully compared to most other people I probably did more travelling than others. Before countries started panicking and locking down, I had already travelled to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Malaysia and of course Cambodia. It was in Taiwan I played one live tournament and had a small cash. I also played in one PLO tournament online and got my one and only WSOP cash in my career. Pretty cool to have a WSOP logo on my Hendon mob record. 3) Be profitable in tournaments - I can honestly say this year I was. But I only played 3 and cashed 2. 

Vienna, Austria

4) to be healthier and lose weight. Well...... I actually did the opposite. Because of my dedication to work, I stopped playing football since March. (I used to play twice a week) We would order supper for late games and this year is the year I have had the most pizzas and alcohol in my life. I actually gained weight. At my last weigh-in, during a visit to a spa with the boys, a week before I was removed from my own business, I weighed exactly 77.7 kgs. I am not proud about it, but 777, pretty cool considering I was the owner of 777. (At the time I was removed, I held 40% of the shares of that business)

Typical pot in 2/5 PLO

The last of my resolutions for 2020 was 5) give to those less fortunate and inspire others to do so. I think I did well this year. I gave to Animal Rescue Cambodia, United Nation's World Food Programme, sent money to a lady who helped poor families in Bali, gave money to a few individuals (some I didn't know at all). Last week there was a guy who flipped over two of my cards (out of 4 in PLO) after I went all in. He ended up calling my bluff after seeing two of my cards. Although I could have called his hand dead for doing that, I guess he needed it more than I did. At this moment I am still being owed a shit ton of money. 

For some, they might say that I had a shitty end to the year. I was doing so well but to lose all that, plus my reputation (as I was told someone was still defaming me until today), and the months of future profit that I had lost. Why a God-fearing man like me would have this befell on me? Maybe I am too soft, too nice, too generous, too trusting, playing by the rules, too honest? But I believe in justice, good karma, and blessings. This year, I have gained a handful of loyal and trustworthy friends. I have earned the respect of my peers and the people who know me well. I have learned the real face of some people that I had counted on as friends. This to me is worth more than money and profit. I also had people who owed me contacted me out of the blue and paid me back in full! In total that was about $6-7k, but because a big portion of that was paid using BTC, I also made money from it considering BTC is now worth more than 3 times when I receive the payment. 

For He makes the sun rise for the evil and the good
(the different views from my balcony in 2020)

Overall this year I had so many frustrated, tired, angry moments, but I also had a lot of pride in what I had achieved, and the true friends that I have made along the way. I've learned that by being me, sure there will be times I will be taken advantage of, bullied, cheated. But I shouldn't change who I am, but instead, rise above the rest and set a good example for the people around me. I hope you will continue to follow my journey, and when the time for vindication comes, then I'll be proof that doing good, being good is the best path in life. 

I'm a sinner not a saint (What happened in November)

I do not claim to be, nor think of myself as a good guy. So many mistakes in my life, so many flaws, so many regrets. 

I first entered a casino when I was 15 years old. I was a regular there. I would go there so often that I made friends with other patrons, who've invited me out to dinner, attend their daughter's 17th birthday party, someone else offered me to marry his daughter for migration purposes, offered to sell me their jewellery, gave me $500 when they saw me on a bad losing streak..... all before I turned 17.

I have shoplifted at least 5 times but never caught. Ran 5 "illegal" businesses and was caught by police 3 times. Went to jail for that. I have cheated my employers, made false claims, no different from stealing money. In short, I am not a saint! The fact my identity is not shared, that my Facebook profile has a fake name with no facial photos proves that I have something to hide. It would probably break my mum's heart if she knew I was playing poker. I am still waiting for my big cash for me to finally reveal everything to her and ask for her acceptance. 

But in my failures, mistakes and regrets I am trying to learn to be a better person. Learning to give without expecting anything in return, to be honest in an industry where success is measured by how well you can lie (bluff), to help those in need and less fortunate than I, to put myself in others' shoes and be considerate of their situation, to be kind to everyone whether or not they reciprocate. 

The true value of light is in the dark

In the past month, my principles and values have been put to the test numerous times. I swore to be a better version of myself but the universe keeps on challenging me to be true to my word. I have been given opportunities to betray my partners, but I didn't. I have been offered deals to benefit myself but hurt others in the process, but I turned them down. I had a pot awarded to me that was supposed to be a chop but no one realised, but I chopped it anyway. I had the reason and means to fire a staff who's cost me a lot of money, but I didn't. I had an opportunity to insist on a stake that was worth a free $2000 but I didn't. One guy asked me for $1000 loan to save him from a difficult situation, knowing that this guy couldn't be trusted, but I did it anyway. 

But despite being true to my word, being the best person I can be, willing to turn the other cheek, I still find myself sprawled on the table, pants down to my ankles, bent over as others take turns defiling me. (I know some of you are turned on by now) I remind myself, I can lose money, I can lose ownership, I can lose face, I can lose authority, but I cannot lose my principles, I cannot lose my sense of justice, I cannot lose my integrity, I cannot go against my word. The fact that I still get fucked in the process only adds value to me.

It's easy to be the bigger man when you're right, but it's of more value when you're wronged. 

Novembers have not been kind to me in the past years. But I believe as long as I continue to do right, even if I am not rewarded, knowing I persisted is reward enough. Every month I share my ups and downs in dollars and cents. This month I may have lost a lot in many things, but I have gained so much as a man. Respect, loyalty and trust from the people I care about. 

2 minutes that might change your PERSPECTIVE

How come some of the rich and famous commit suicide, and some homeless people smile from ear to ear? One word: PERSPECTIVE

Are the lines straight or slanting?

You earn $1000 a month, you spend $500 a month, you feel you're doing well

You earn $10000 a month, you spend $9500 a month, you feel you're not doing well
- Both save $500 a month but why does it feel different?

You used to earn $200 a month, now you earn $3000 a month, you're feeling lucky
You used to earn $5000 a month, now you earn $3000 a month, you're feeling fucked

- Both earn $3000 a month but why does it feel different?

When you're dentist wears a mask, it's out of respect for his patients
When you don't want to wear a mask, it's your right

- Both are supposed to wear masks for others, why should it be different?

When you litter on the floor, it's fine, cause it's not your problem
When someone litters in your backyard, it's not okay
- Litter is litter, why would location make a difference?

A Muslim carries a gun, he's a terrorist.
A non-religious person carries a gun, he's exercising his rights
- Why should religion be the difference?

When an Asian eats durian it's disgusting
When an Asian refuses Blue cheese they have no class

- Okay, this is just me personally hating people calling food that they don't eat disgusting

When you needed money, I am the asshole for not lending
When I ask for my money back, I am the asshole for chasing
But when it's the other way round, I am the asshole for not paying

Sorry it got political and personal for a second LOL. Something more close to home for poker players

When you breakeven after you were winning feels like a loss
When you breakeven after you were losing feels like a win
- Both breakeven but why is it different?

When you have KK vs AA and you lose, it's a cooler
When you have KK vs AA, and flopped a set, and lose, it's a bad beat
- Both times you lost to AA, why should it be different?

If I lose to a guy I like, it's not too bad
If I lose to a guy I dislike, it hurts more

- Both lost the same amount but why does it feel different?

My point is if you look at everything closely, from all perspectives, it is all the same. There's always two sides of the story, sometimes more. And if you can see things always from the right perspective, you will be a happier person, and if all of us do that, the world would be a better place. If we learned to look at things from other perspectives, then we can empathize with others better.  

Something off topic, but did you know, if the whole world, and I mean the whole world and everyone in it, just stayed home and not go out for 14 days straight, then COVID would be over. Problem is there will always be the selfish ones who thinks the rules don't apply to them. 

What happened in October 2020

October was a rough month. My second losing month of the year and not a small amount too. So back to the drawing board and gonna have to grinding it back. When I last had a big losing month in May it took me 3 months to grind it back. 

Winning and losing is part of a poker player's life but if you ask me I don't consider myself a full time poker player anymore. I am not playing optimally, nor during optimal times, nor getting to select the games I want to play in. As a host I have other considerations other than winning, and most of the time I am juggling multiple tasks, stressing about the dynamics, answering messages, entertaining guests, it's hard for me to be playing mistake-free. Honestly I am happy breaking even if possible. 

My only big win of the month

This month has been the hardest for me not because of the losses, but of the drama and stresses I've had to deal with. So many things would keep me up at night and give me heartaches. So many of you have offered your concern and care after reading my posts. I am very touched and thankful. I am sorry to always share my problems with you guys but I also want to keep this blog as honest as possible. But poker life isn't as glamorous as most think. And the success rate isn't high either. First time in my life my body is telling me I have anxiety. I'm usually this carefree guy always laughing and smiling. I wouldn't believe that I have high anxiety myself. But the body doesn't lie. If you wanna know the details you can send me a private message. 

On the bright side, the club will be running our first tournament this Saturday. That should be lots of fun and laughs. I am looking forward to it. So far we have consistently ran a PLO game starting at 2pm without fail for 4 straight months. That's 120+ days in a row. I am really thankful for the support and care from our dear friends. We couldn't have done it without them all. 

After the session still hard at work

I was hoping to finally be able to take my first vacation in 8 months, maybe even sneak in some gym and pool time before work but my plans came crashing down. But I am not complaining. Years from now I would look back and enjoy the fruits of my labour. But when you're labouring hard you rarely have time to reflect and enjoy the process. However I choose to be thankful for the position I am in, in spite of all the shitty stuff I have to deal with. 

Poker Déjà vu

When I was young-er I would wake up and record my weird dreams. Some days I remember my dreams vividly, other days I struggle to even recall the plots. Often I would be chased by some bad guys and I would have a weapon on me, they would always fail. The bullets fall to the ground, the stick become limp, or I get shot first. But as I grew up, and gained confidence, I can actually overcome and kill the bad guys. As I continue to age, I only remember the weird scenarios, scenarios that are familiar but out of place at the same time. And so when I see it play out in real life, the Déjà vu feeling is very strong to me. I have minimum three scenarios that really blew my mind.

I started playing poker in 1999, but that was just for fun. At the time I probably got to play live poker maybe a few days a year so playing live was a treat. In 2005 I was in Sydney for a work trip so I took the opportunity to play poker after hours. During that time they only had 2 tables, one NLH and I was playing on the limit table. In one particular hand I remembered dreaming about the situation. And I remembered a Japanese player would turn his head and say something to me. At the time I remembered what he was going to say before hearing him say it about a second later. Playing poker was something familiar with me, but in Sydney with a Japanese guy talking to me was not. I even mouthed the words he was about to utter before he did. 

April last year I was playing tournament poker in Taipei. One night I had a dream that I won a tournament and the key hand was 77 vs AK. When I woke up I even told my partner about it. I was in the midst of a bad run and was down 200k NTD (7k USD) for the trip at the time. It was the last tournament of the series, and the toughest being the high roller's event as well, and I lost my first bullet. But I rebought and made my way into the final table. 5 players left and I was the chip leader. Second chip leader was close behind but the others were short comparatively. I looked down at 77 and opened. Second chip leader decides to put me all in. If I lost that hand, I would be the shortest stack. But I felt a wave of confidence and remembered my dream. Snap call, he flips over AK. Flop 7. I went on to win it and turned my losing trip into a winning one. 

Nice prize money to go with my trophy

In 2019 I played full time cash games at a private game and also at the casino. The casino had the ugliest chips I've ever played with. One night I had a dream I was playing with the casino crowd, but somehow the poker room was different, and the green chips were different. Familiar and out of place at the same time. A few weeks later the casino hosted the WPT tour. The cash game tables were moved to the ballroom, and they introduced a new design for the green $25 chip. It then came to me I dreamt about this before. 

Old chips old tables

The chips in my dreams

I don't know what is Déjà vu, whether it is a glimpse into the future, or I am just reliving history, or someone altered the code in Matrix and it's a glitch. But often good things follow when I have a Déjà vu moment, or it gives me a sense of assurance that I am on the right path. Whatever it is, it proves that dreams do come true!

If you have any Déjà vu experiences please do share with me!

What happened in September 2020

In September I played a total 174 hours of poker, this time I had some Holdem under my belt. After playing PLO every day I do miss Holdem even though it is slower and more grindy. Unfortunately my results in Holdem was lacking but I still made a small profit for September. 

250bb and still a short stack

Can you believe I've played 1500+ hours of live poker in 2020? I guess I shouldn't complain that I have this opportunity but maybe I am close to burning out. Playing as a player is one thing but playing whilst hosting is another. I have been involved in 5 poker clubs but none as tiring and complicated as this one. I can feel the stress get to me everyday and it's affecting my sleep and health. But I didn't know that I was a workaholic until now. Even when I am "not working" I am. 

I have put on a lot of weight in recent months, because food has become my reward after a hard day's work. Plus I lack the energy and time to work out. Someone very close to me passed away in September and I find myself questioning my own mortality. I am not afraid of dying but I do not want my loved ones to suffer if I leave. Health has to be a top priority in the coming months and I am trying to work on my diet and maybe work in a small daily workout. 

One of my self rewards

Recently I have also been thrown into a tough financial situation. I find myself out a lot of money and unless things start to turn around for me, all may have been for nothing. But that shouldn't affect the giving mentality and helping others who need it more than I do. But it is becoming a bigger internal struggle as every dollar hurts, and my logic is fighting with my heart everyday. 

Sorry my posts have become more depressing and philosophical. I actually have so much to share but I can't at the present time. When I was in Vietnam I often thought to myself how I would write about the truth of my experience in Vietnam. But after I left, I have put that behind me and moved on. I say the same thing about Cambodia but maybe I'll look back and feel the same way. 

Charity Work for September (HappyRiver Fund)

I was debating to share this one or not but I want to inspire others to do their part to help, not necessarily giving money but sometimes just offer a helping hand, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a comforting smile, an encouraging word. Also if anyone wants to join me in my donations, I can setup a HappyRiver Fund and make everything transparent to those involved. 

This month I continued supporting the Animal Rescue Centre and also a bicycle repurposing effort. Some locals have to walk a long way to school, to sell their produce, to town to get supplies, so there is a guy in town who gets unwanted bicycle parts and repurposes them and gives it to people in need. I'll keep you guys updated and possibly some photos. 

Someone brought my attention to a cause in Indonesia delivering food for struggling locals. Jo-Anna is a resourceful woman who brought this mission onto herself when she saw the need. With the funds I sent, she turned it into 660 eggs, 645kgs of rice amongst other goodies including some spending money. 

The fact is there are always people that need help. Monetary needs are most obvious, but some people are facing depression, anxiety, emotional and mental issues. We can make someone's life so much better by offering our help. Wouldn't you wish someone helped you when you're the one suffering? Have some compassion, have some empathy. Changing the world is easier than you think. 

What happened in August 2020

My monthly post mortems somehow get the lowest readership, so I am changing the title. In August the 777 poker club moved into a new bigger room and things didn't go well for me. Early in the first week I was already stuck $5000 for the month. But after 178 hours of grinding I managed to end the month with a small profit. I also got my first WSOP cash finishing 99/1200+ on a $800 PLO tournament. 

Playing games while waiting for the next seat to open up

The games at 777 have been great lately, and some days like yesterday we have a full table (of 10 players) and a waitlist of 4. So on these kind of days I have been able to bring my laptop and have some me time. Otherwise I would entertain some guests by playing OFC with them. Overall I think I am up on OFC. Just the other day I was up 200+ points, was in fantasyland with Royal flush on the bottom, full house on the middle and trip tens on the flop. (for those who don't play OFC, it is a freaking monster hand) But I wanted to go home so I told the guys let's just pretend the game never happened. 

Phnom Penh has some amazing restaurants

This month however I haven't been able to sneak out for nice dinners, so I compensated that with some nice lunches. Lobster and oysters at Ostra, Dim Sum buffet at Golden Chimes and afternoon tea at Khema. Yes I only went out to lunch 3 times this month not including two lunch meetings. Time is such a luxury for me right now. And I wish I had someone who can take over things from me so I can go on holiday or even have a day off. After 163 days straight of working I finally fell sick one day. I still went to work sick but at least I had more rest than usual that day.

One of the better days this past month

I am not living the healthy lifestyle I wanted. No time for exercise, sleeping late, not sleeping well because of all the stresses in life. But I'm not complaining. Life can be much worse and I am thankful. I have the most amazing partner anyone can wish for, a good job, and some money saved up. I am thankful and happy. 

Who is the China Boss?

If you've been playing at 777 poker club or have been following our group posts, you'll often hear the name China Boss come up. Every time his name pops up, the table fills up, and there's a queue waiting to play with him. Since 777's opening in March, he's probably lost close to 100k already when playing no higher than 2/5. So who is the CHINA BOSS?

Those who've followed my blog would have heard of him in 2019 when I was playing in the Chinese private game. My first encounter with him was in June 2019 when I stumbled into the Chinese private game that was running 5/10 Holdem. He was fishy as hell and me and my friend had a limited bankroll suddenly find ourselves in a juicy but deep stacked game. He was playing crazy hands with no range whatsoever and he limps on the button. I have Q9 suited on the big blind I check. It was 6 or 7 way. Flop comes Q92 with flush draw. Long story short, we both went all in and he had QQ. A few sessions later on an A98 flop he had A9 and I had A8. But I never seen him win, and most days he would lose $10k and leave the game. But somehow he runs good against me. 

Dropping one of these each session

Fast forward two months, we are now playing 10/20 and this was an unforgettable night for me. My usual buy in in this game is $2k and I went all in pre flop with him 4 times, and I lost all 4 times. AT vs K4, AQ vs 79, AJ vs 54, every single time I was ahead preflop and I lost every time. Losing $8000 in a day is not fun, considering at the time that was almost my monthly target profit. I went home pretty dejected. But that was not the end of the story. I went back to the game intending to play only another $2k and I won it all back plus a $3k profit for the day including a $11k pot with him at the end of the night. 

When initially considering the location of 777, his place is an obvious choice cause if my mind, if he comes to play at the game often, and play like he used to, players would beg to be allowed to play. But to my surprise he did not play as often as I thought, but still often enough to always create a buzz and lots of excitement when he does. 

One of the happy winners

You would often see him yell and scream on the table, and that's also because most of the time he comes to the game drunk. He can be demanding and rude, but I feel deep down he just wants to be respected and loved. He often makes himself to be the all powerful, all mighty guy who runs a little hotel, but he can be very soft and generous with his people when he chooses to be. He wants things his way because it makes him feel important. 

In the last two visits to 777, he lost $10k and $14k respectively. The last hand he played, he called $2200 bet on the flop, and shoved another $2000 on the turn yelling for a 9 or a 5 but already drawing dead on the flop. If you haven't played against him you should at least watch. Join one of our broadcast groups to see announcements of his next appearance!

Charity work for August

It has been a frustrating month with results going up and down, and having to deal with some difficult situations, but still extremely thankful for opportunity we are in. The new club is great, it feels like a proper poker club, a very exclusive high end feeling to it. 

I pledged to write more blog posts but also pledged to give more to those in need so why not combine the two. This month there were two causes that moved me to give. I have mentioned in my previous posts before that one of my friends often gives to the animal shelter. He says human beings should have the ability to take care of themselves, but helpless animals can't. They deserve our care and attention. I agreed with him and together with his help, we donated about 320kg of food to the shelter. I wanted to visit myself but am too busy at the moment. But definitely will make it there one of these days. My friend was kind enough to go source for the food and delivery it personally. They have a website too, but we thought that buying and delivering food is the more effective way of giving. This way we ensure all the funds benefit the animals directly. But if you are interested to help you can check out the Animal Rescue Cambodia website. 

Food "Panda" for the animals (my friend Ras on the left and I'm not in the pic)

Another cause that came to my attention was the food situation in Beirut, Lebanon. After the devastating blast, a lot of food storages were destroyed. Being in the desert, Beirut has to rely on imported foods through their ports that are now inoperable. So the United Nations' World Food Programme has been sending in food deliveries to feed the local people. They need more help to be able to supply all the people affected. If you are interested to help please also donate. You can join their monthly donation or donate a one-off amount. 

Add caption

My two recent charities both involve food. Everyday we have the feeling of being hungry, but we are never in hunger. The next time you are feeling hungry, think of the people and animals that are suffering and might not have a meal waiting for them. Also I hate wastage. I despise the people who waste food. Do not be like them. It may sound cliche but really, think of the starving people in Africa, or maybe even just outside your street. Have compassion, don't waste, give generously. Feeding someone is more satisfying than feeding yourself. 

31 days, 159 hours, July Report

After 5 months working and grinding at 777 Poker Club, finally I am in back the black at the club! In May I had a $12k losing month but after adjusting my play and ranges, thankfully I have managed to turn that around in June and July. I can't believe I have played over 1000 hours in 5 months. That's crazy.

Downswing took two months to recover

I am really thankful this month I got some help at the club which allowed me to have more free time, sometimes even sneak out for dinner or a stroll, which has really helped me mentally and emotionally to have some kind of life outside of poker. When you work in a poker room and play lesser hours it either means you're doing well, or you're in big trouble. Thankfully, the room is pumping and players are really enjoying themselves. We have also moved into a new room and it is great there. Much bigger space and more fun and relaxing for our players.

Snuck out for a nice dinner

This month I offered to help people who are in need. There were some who reached out that I felt were deserving of help, but unfortunately I can't save the world and help everyone. With the dramas at work sometimes I would question myself why am I doing this. Everyday I am betting on questionable characters to do the right thing. What if they don't? Then I am going to get hurt. But there was one highlight where we ordered pizzas and ended the game with lots of leftovers. After the game me and my partner drove around the streets of Phnom Penh at 2am handing out pizzas to trash collectors and cyclo riders. That was a heart warming moment.

Handing out food at 2am in the morning

This month was also tough because I heard of people spreading lies about me, rumours behind my back, and some misunderstanding over certain things. Some people have been really unreasonable and downright evil sometimes and maybe I am too honest and nice for this business, but I truly try and do my best to make everyone happy. Unfortunately it is just an impossible ask. All I can do is do my best and hope for the best. The people who have gotten close to me knows what kind of person I am and how I operate. And over time I hope to influence them to be better versions of themselves as they inspire me to do the same.

How to succeed as a Poker Pro

I often get people asking me for advice, whether they can make a living playing poker etc. My answer is always, "if I can, why can't you?" But to delve a bit deeper into the subject, I want to share with you what I think is important to think about before considering poker as a career. Some of the factors are pretty straightforward but some you might not have thought of before. Here’s my top 8 ranked by importance.

1. DISCIPLINE

I have seen so many great players around me, heard so many stories of poker players with amazing skills that do not make it, because of the lack of discipline. Discipline is about plugging your leaks, staying away from casino games, watching your lifestyle, watching your physical and mental health, sticking to your ranges, not tilting and keeping your composure, managing your expenses. Although sometimes it is tempting to take a punt, I am proud to say for the whole of 2019 I did not touch any mode of gambling outside of poker. Lifestyle and health are very important too, for example if you stayed up the night before, you should be very aware of your mental state the next day. Sometimes taking the day off is the most +EV thing to do. Some players like to party and get hungover the next day. Being aware of your physical and mental state will help you know when to play and when to stop. Some players play different ranges when winning/losing, which is also a sign of ill-discipline. You should always be playing your A-game and not be affected by external factors. Discipline to manage your money is also key. Money may come easy when your life is about playing games, but it doesn’t mean you should spend it irresponsibly. Learning to control your expenses, saving up for a rainy day, invest your winnings into passive income earners, these are some things a disciplined player would do.

The general benchmark on success or failure as a poker pro is making $100k a year

2. PASSION

Most poker players started their careers because they hated their day jobs. They were not passionate about their jobs and thought that poker is a way out. However it is also easy to lose passion in poker. In the middle of a downswing, getting bad beat after another, tilted by the fish who just keeps winning due to pure luck…. I sometimes question myself is this a job I want for the rest of my working life? I am surprised that after grinding more than 200+ hours a month every month for the last 4 months or so I am surprised I still love this game. My recommendation is to think of a greater goal, and poker is the means to achieve that goal. That will keep you motivated and focused. For me it is saving up enough money to start some businesses, and also to earn money for my charities. Also think about which aspects of the game you enjoy and don’t. Focus on the things you enjoy the most and the things you don’t are still better than a nagging boss, deadlines and reports that you would have to do at a 9-5 job.

3. GAME SELECTION

If you're the 9th best player in the world, but you're playing on a table with the 1st to 8th, then you're the fish. You don't have to be a super good player to be a winning player. As long as you choose games and tables that you can dominate, then that's a profitable game. I've had the pleasure of working at 777 poker club and the reasons the games are good there is because of a bunch of great action players that don't play anywhere else. Because of multiple reasons, they do not want to be seen at a casino because they have an image to keep, or business partners to impress, or some have political connections, but they are comfortable playing in a private club. I was also lucky enough to find a juicy private game last year where I was playing with a bunch of rich bookies, and possibly drug dealers, who had deep pockets and shallow skills. Games are also usually fishier the higher the stakes. There are a lot of solid players playing low to mid stakes who are trying to grind for a living, but those stakes are too low for rich bosses who don't care about losing 10-100k a day. If you can afford higher stakes, I personally think private games are the way to go.

Having a balanced lifestyle helps too

4. SKILL

Of course you need to be skilful, but I think it is still not as important as the three above. Skills can be learned and gained from experience. However discipline and passion are harder to build without a very strong mindset. But when you’re starting off, you still need to be better than most of your opponents if possible. If you’re not one of the top 3 players on your table then you need to find a fishier game, or get better quick. I think if you are disciplined and passionate enough, you will be motivated to study and improve. I am quite a lazy person and to be honest I don’t study much. Thankfully one of my strengths is observation and sensitivity. I learn a lot from watching other players play and formulate strategies based on what I see. One of the quickest way to improve is to work with other players. They say 2 heads is better than one. It is always useful to have another person analyze spots with you. I am lucky to have different players come into my life at different times that helped me develop my game.

5. BANKROLL

No money no talk. Poker is an investment. An investment of your money and time with a decent long term return. I know some players who borrowed money to start their career. It’s great if you have that kind of resource but I still feel its better if you saved up that money yourself. You will respect your bankroll more and feel more invested into it. Let me show you a quick way to calculate how much bank roll you need and what stakes you need to be playing.

1.         Take your previous monthly income and times it by 1.5 (You don’t want to quit your job and earn less than 150% of your previous income (X is your previous income)
2.         Set yourself your playing hours, generally I would use 20 days a month, 8 hours a day = 160
3.         A modest goal would be to be making 5bb per hour
4.        1.5X / (160 x 5) = The bb stake you should be playing (let’s call it Y)
5.         Y x 100 (100bb per buy in) x 30 = Healthy bankroll you need (x20 is okay too but x40 if you play Omaha or deep games)

The problem with proper bankroll management is, it shouldn’t hurt when you lose 100bbs. But as most poker players have a gambler inside of them, if losing 100bbs doesn’t hurt, it means winning 100bbs isn’t good enough too. So you often find yourself either trying too hard in that game, or playing stakes too high for your comfort zone. The way to combat this is set yourself modest goals. Cash game poker is a grind, and you should be happy picking up 5bb per hour.

You'll collect currencies from your travels

6. ADAPTABILITY

I have played poker in 19 different countries now, and I can tell you there are distinct differences in each game. What works in your usual game might backfire in another. There is this private game that I go to, many pros can’t seem to win there. Honestly sometimes I feel I make some moves that would be considered fish moves in other games, but they work. Maybe in poker tournaments the strategy does not deviate much because the dynamics of it remains pretty similar. But in a cash game, there are so many variables. Things like table dynamics, mood, fish to reg ratio, seating position, player skill level, player drunkenness level, player tilt level etc. should affect how you approach the game. Unlike Europe or America, poker is not as accessible in Asia. So adaptability also means being able to play and live in countries you never thought of settling in before. Being able to quickly establish a routine and get comfortable will help you play better on the tables too.

7. PR SKILLS

I recently saw a video of Jungleman Cates speaking Mandarin and Cantonese at a poker game. I am sure over time playing in predominantly Chinese private games he has picked up some words. However it also goes to show being able to PR with the bosses will allow you access to games that might otherwise be unavailable. I know some pros like to be focused, usually unfriendly because they feel they are just there to make money. But I can tell you, I have so many unexpected doors opened for me because I am friendly and chatty on the tables. Sure you will come across some assholes that are not worth your time, but you will also make friends. Whether that leads to +EV opportunities or not shouldn’t be the focus. I just feel it is always better to make friends than not. No one wants a sore loser, and we often forget the players we play against are paying our "salaries" so they are in fact our bosses, so talking back or being rude to our bosses is not the smartest of things to do. 

8. SIDE INCOME

Many poker players set off on their careers with big dreams and hopes, but they never have a plan for a rainy day. Have some side income, whether that's agenting for poker sites, rental income from properties, dividends from other investments, interests from fixed deposits, something to help you alleviate stress when you're on a downswing. Players often make mistakes or push themselves too hard when they are stressed. I know this is a luxury for many but make it a concerted effort to create a side income stream because it will help your career immensely.

Why do I give?

I have a file that I keep to track how much I should be giving for charities since June 2019. I did a tally and I was surprised how much the total was. But I have developed the habit of helping others, maybe in my upbringing and also the people who've inspired me throughout my life. And to me it is natural and something everyone needs to be doing, in order to make our world a better place. People who know me well know me as a very genuine and straight forward person, but I guess when I start posting Facebook ads looking for charity cases genuinely seeking out people in need to help, it may have caused some people to react or think negatively.

I give, because of one thing, because I am selfish. You might think that doesn't make sense, but once you know my secret, you might just do the same too.

Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

Almost my entire cash roll at one point

The more I give the more I get to give and it goes on and on. You might think it gets easier but it doesn't. As the amounts grow you are tested more and more because your mind is trying to reason with you, and it defies logic to give it away to someone you barely know. Last year I played a lot in a private game where I was surrounded by all kinds of characters. I've seen them snort cocaine and take meth on the table, I'm pretty sure they are mostly involved in illegal businesses, some were loan sharks and possibly drug dealers too. I remember saying "their money is better off in my hands". Indeed it was because I would do good things with it whilst they probably spend it on the next party, next high or even worse. One night I won $7k+ and the next morning I sent $1k to a local teacher fighting cancer.

Moving in the right direction

We like playing with our friends' kids or our nieces or nephews. Have you tried giving kids something and asking them for a little back? Offer them a whole bag of candy and ask for one little piece back. Even though we never wanted or needed a candy in the first place, but I bet you the one that actually shares with you will be your favourite, and you will give him or her more stuff in the future. Although the kid is well within their rights to say now that you have given the whole bag to them, it is theirs to decide what to do with and who to give to. But it is just natural for us to give more to the one that shares.

Don't worry, I put it in the bank already 

If you're like me and believe there is a higher being watching over us, and that He in His own words challenged us to test his promise and generosity, then you'll understand why I give generously and with a pure heart. Because the more I give, the more I get to give, which means the more I get to keep too. 

I've come across people who are generous with their resources. One guy offered free accommodation for backpackers who are stuck in Cambodia because of Covid19, and he also takes in stray dogs. One poker pro friend I know once wrote a $100k cheque to a cancer foundation right after a tournament win. Another gave money for locals to help with their education and other personal needs. I know some of my friends are going to joke that they contribute to the locals every night too, but these guys ask for nothing in return. 

If you or you know someone in genuine severe financial difficulty (because I had people asking me to help them fix their car, but I am looking to help people who don't have a car and may be evicted or even starve to death if they don't receive help kind of difficulty), drop me a message on happyriverpoker@gmail.com and if I can help I will do my best.

30 days, 200 hours, June Report

June has been a super hectic month for me. I have been working most of the month on my own with lots of drama in between. The purpose of this blog is to inspire those who dream of being a poker pro and also other people who live vicariously through my life. So many of my old poker friends have seen me grow from a fish to who I am today, and I still argue that I have just grown to become a stronger fish. But in poker, as long as there are players worse than you, you can be profitable.

The 777 club has been growing well with lots of new players this month. So I have had the opportunity to have some rest in between but still I played 200 hours this month. 95% of the time it was 2/5 Omaha but I played 3-4 sessions of Holdem as well. Action has been really good with quite a few sessions where the game lasted really long. The longest was a 33 hour marathon where I only slept for 1.5 hours.

Big pot that I wasn't involved in

I had a horrendous month last month and June started horribly as well. By the end of the first week I was stuck deeper and at one point even looked like I might lose all my profits this year. But from the 6th onwards I started clawing my way back and almost recovered half of my losses from the previous month and registered my best month ever since I started working at the 777 poker club.

So much has happened and the drama I had to go through, the people I had to deal with, the problems I had, but I must say, June was one of the better months I have had this year. There's so much I have learned about myself, about how to run a poker room, Cambodian culture and also learning to be grateful and happy. I sometimes hate myself for the depths I would stoop to for the business, but I keep telling myself one day I will look back when I am sipping on a pina colada enjoying the fruits of my labor. Also I will try to write my whole story, from how I got started on poker to where I will be, because I think my story could make a really good novel or even a movie or TV Series.

I still don't have time to exercise, I don't even have time to sleep some days. I barely have any spare time left but I guess it is a sacrifice I have to make at the moment. At least I am not gaining weight, but I am definitely not losing any. So on the front of health and weight, it is not going great.

Maybe I have been too patient with some people

As usual I have allocated funds to give away as charity. But I am also actively trying to do things to help others. Whether it's lend a helping hand, listening to someone's problems, trying to make peace between some guys who used to great friends, offering someone in need to pay for their rent, giving a friend a quick loan to get out of a tough spot, or to teach my staff and inspire them to great things, I try to enrich the lives of the people around me. But I was quite disappointed to learn that some of my efforts are not appreciated at all. Maybe it's culture, maybe it's bad past experiences, but no matter how hard I try, at my own expense, my staff still doesn't know how good I am to them, and couldn't care less about me or my vision. But I have learned that I can't change everyone. And there might be people who think I am a phoney, but as long as I do my best, that's all I can do.

The good, the bad, the ugly

Sorry guys I have been super busy and haven't had the time to post more than one post a month, but I will try my best to do so.

As a poker player, agent, host, I have come across so many different people in my career. If I were to estimate how many different individuals I have met on a poker table, I would put the number in the thousands. I have met some really great people who have since become my good friends but once in a while you would come across some really shitty characters.

If you want to judge your daughter's boyfriend, have someone spy on him on the poker table. Because I feel that poker brings out the real character of every person. I've seen some of the best guys, willingly give back most of the pot to another who's made a very obvious mistake. And I've also seen the worst who would try to win the pot by a technicality.

One of the worst guys I've met is from Hong Kong and I wish I knew him better cause I would gladly post his name here. A friend of mine was obviously folding his hand when the chip protecting his cards accidentally crossed the line. The guy insisted it was a call and my friend relented even though he showed down Jack high. This was only one of the many dick moves he made within a 3 day period that I witnessed.

Over the years I have loaned money to people I thought were friends to help them out. Surprisingly none of them helped me when I was down and out. One guy even had the audacity to contact me again after owing me for years. He said he's happy to see me doing well. Well my friend, me doing well doesn't mean you don't owe me anymore. He couldn't even say sorry and has since continued to ignore me.

Earn money to live, not live to earn money

I've had people scammed me with fake bank transfer receipts, angle shoot on the table, stab me in the back, and even called the cops on me. I am pretty sure I went to jail because someone sold me out. But over the years I have learned to forgive them. One guy who owed me about $1000, disappeared, blocked all contact about 4 years ago. Recently he reached out and apologised and offered to pay me back. I didn't take his money. Not because I don't need it, but his change in attitude and apology deserved to be rewarded. Not many people have the guts nor the decency to reach out to an old creditor.

Recently I've met someone who generously gave his money to locals he barely knew. One of them had teeth problems but to have them fixed would cost them months of their salary. The guy willingly paid for it because he wanted to make her smile (literally).

When you spend hours a day with some guys you get to know their characters really well. Money is the best test of character. Some people are the way they are because of how they were brought up. There's nothing wrong with looking out for oneself, but I wished the world had more selfless people. Maybe you might think there's nothing wrong to protect yourself but I can personally testify to getting opportunities, doors opened for me, or solutions out of problems that I would not have gotten had I not been a genuine, unselfish person. Selfish people may seem to get ahead or do well and even become super rich, but only happy people realise that we earn money to live, we don't live to earn money.

31 days, 219 hours, BIG LOSS, May Report

May was brutal, and I am glad it's over. I hope it gets better from here. A few interesting facts in May. I played Omaha only in the entire month. Not even one hand of Holdem. There were two days the game ran for 32 and 34 hours respectively. I lost in both those sessions.

If you need proof that the life of a poker player is hard, this is it. You can have 8 winning months in a row but one bad month can kick you down into the abyss. If not for 3 sessions where I won more than $1500 each, I would have had it much worse. So how much did I lose? Slightly more than $12000. To put in into perspective it is about 2-3 years of apartment rental in Cambodia.

One of the few rare big pots where my AA double suited held up

I'd admit I played bad in quite a few hands, but I would say 70% of my losing hands were unlucky and 30% were due to bad play. I have a few in mind like when I had 22 outs and missed, ace high flush one outered by the straight flush, top full house vs quads multiple times, you know the drill. At one point every pot I lost I actually felt my heart ache.

But a few things I am proud of, firstly I never threw a tantrum or got visibly angry. I may take a few seconds to compose myself then I continue to laugh and joke with the others. Sometimes I would get these beats whilst having to deal with other stress or problems at the same time. But overall I am pretty proud of how I juggled everything and kept my sanity. On losing nights I would be disappointed but I always went home positively and still thankful and feeling blessed to even have this opportunity. Midway in my downswing I still gave to charity because the Cambodia's Children Fund was doing a matching donation drive.

Another rare night when I came back from -$1500 to be up $2000

Thankfully Covid19 is still under control in Cambodia. We can hang out at restaurants and live life normally. Before my downswing got out of control, I told the dealers if I can cash out more than $5000 that session I would treat them to sushi. Mind you I bought in for $3000 that day and I had $1500 in front of me at the time. I ended up cashing slightly more than $5000. But ever since the sushi meal, my results just looked like the stock market crash. No more sushi for you girls!

Great restaurants in Phnom Penh

I have not been able to play football because of my schedule, but I have started intermittent fasting and it seems to be working. I am trying to push my fasts to be 18-20 hours long. I am working every single day for 220 hours a month. I don't know how long this will continue for but I have to push on and hopefully I will have better news to report end of June.

30 days, 229 hours of poker, April Report

It has been a while that I have played every single day in a calendar month. There's 720 hours in a 30-day month, and I played poker for 229 hours. That's 31% of my time. At my age, I would think that is a minor miracle.

Average stack on 1/3 omaha

I was doing well for the month until I had a $2000 losing session close to the end but still ended the month in the black. I will probably share my results at the end of the year. But I can say I did much better than last month. This also marks my fourth winning month in a row. 12 winning months out of 14 since I started playing cash games full time.

Interesting fact is this month I am down playing Holdem but up playing Omaha. The Omaha game at the 777 poker club is super fun and action packed. It's quite common to have pots of $2000 and up. Almost everyone at the game is really friendly and funny, so it is quite entertaining to play even on a losing day. There's some intelligent conversations going on, and believe it or not, I am learning new things almost every day.

Action packed games

At one point I was trying to learn Spanish and I got decent traction. Occasionally there are other players that speak it too that I can "practice" with but so far I am still pretty bad. I have not been able to play soccer and have been eating fattening foods like pizza and fried rice. I have put on a lot of weight so now I have been bringing my own salad dinners to eat healthier.

Chips, Tea and Rabbit Food

I am very thankful that in Cambodia we are living a life that is so different from almost the rest of the world. We have a poker game every day, hanging out with friends, the opportunity to earn a living while so many people in the world are struggling to make ends meet. I wish you all the best of health wherever you are.

What we should all learn from COVID19

Some people say, everything happens for a reason. If we do not learn anything from COVID19 it would have happened for nothing. Over the last few weeks, from my observation and also reading lots of comments from many different angles, this is what I have learned and trying to learn from all of this.

1. We are all equal

We are all human beings with the same anatomy. Not money, race, religion, position, authority can make you immune from COVID19. No one is more superior than another.

2. Times of trouble brings out the best and worst in humanity

All across the globe there are medical practitioners risking their lives working non stop to save lives, people volunteering their time to help others, whilst there are selfish people not following instructions and putting more people at risk, causing panic, placing blame, spreading hate and fear. Which one are you?

3. Leave God out of this

God gave us freedom to choose what we want to do, but God also gave us a brain to make wise decisions and not do stupid shit. We are in no position to say God this God that. I don't care what you think God told you, He told me to tell you to shut the F up. (PS: I am religious)

4. Learn to appreciate true value

Masks, toilet paper and food are worth more than previously expensive stuff. I remember the story of Pablo Escobar burning $3 million dollars to keep himself warm when he was on the run. In times of need you'll see the true value of life, time, friendship, family, health, and how vain it is to pursue materialistic possessions.

5. Mother nature fights back

We are not taking care of mother earth that we are over populating. It is natural for mother nature to fight back. Covid19 will have a vaccine and cure soon. But there is no vaccine for climate change. We are close to crossing the point of no return and Covid19 is just a reminder if we don't take care of our home, it is going to "take care" of us.

Just a random picture from my window so the preview pane has something to post

Some people are fighting for their lives, some people are fighting to save people's lives, some people are fighting for their rights, some people are fighting random people on the street because of their skin colour. Some fights are worth fighting, some are outright dumb. Let's strive to make the world we live in a better place, be better people ourselves, be nicer to the people around us, take care of the world we live in.