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. 

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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.