Two Plus Two Newer Archives - My First Post: Turning Professional

Please go easy on me it is my first post [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]!

Hope to get some good responses from esteemed poker players like yourselves with lots of experience [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]:

I am a 21 year old poker player (I turned 21 today [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img], April First [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]!). My name is Senojea, which is my birth name, and a name held in high regard in my tribe. During tribal chants, I am called "Sitting Donkey" or "The Donkey that Sits." Though I realize poker players that are bad at the game are called donkeys, I can assure that is not the case with me, as I have made a lot of money [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]. I have been playing poker since I was 15 years old; 6 years now! I feel like I have been playing longer than most of you, so I should be two to three times better at this game (depending on whether you have played for two or three years, if you're a newbie and have only played for one year, I am probably 6 times better than you- work hard and you will get the experience needed!). Also, I have been playing at the Indian casino on our reservation in Northern Michigan (Soaring Eagle). It is funny that the casino is named Soaring Eagle, because that is my father's tribal nickname; and he is the chief of the tribe! I am somewhat superstitious since I do believe in luck, so I think that certainly is a way of Vatswani, our Chippewa Indian God of War, telling me that I am destined to be a poker player. I think of Vatswani as the god of poker too, since poker is war at the tables and I am not friendly. Because of that, I sacrifice two goats and one baby chicken to Vatswani on the third of every month, so that I may hit my draws. Something of this magnitude can be no coincidence.

Perhaps, a little more on my poker background. I started at 15 years old playing against other Chippewa teens for marbles and tiger teeth. We eventually graduated to arrow heads, and lastly settled on playing for coins and real dollars. I used to win about 28 ptbb/100 hands playing short handed with "Squatting Dog," "Alert Dragon" and "Ugly Duck." Sometimes, a girl would join in our games that took place in back hills wigwams and in dark tee-pees, lit only by glow of the outside fire roasting the previously caught cat. I realize it is illegal to capture and barbeque cat in America, but on our reservations, we can pretty much do whatever we want. Besides, we got the idea from our friends, the Chinese. Playing poker in dimly lit teepees was tough, but sometimes I would use it to my advantage. If I didn't have that good of a hand, I would sometimes bet, take it down, and tell them that I had a full house instead of two pair. They could barely see the cards in the light, but I flashed them quickly (I made sure not to lie about cards obviously- I did it discretely; i.e. face cards look alike, sometimes a four looks like an ace, etc.) and raked the pot.

After the many backroom games, I took my prowess to the local casino, Soaring Eagle, to play against the best from other tribes in the area (and some old white men). I found the old white men to call too much, so I only bet when I had good hands- and this strategy worked! I play a lot of 1-2 NL hold them and I do quite well.

I don't like to brag, but I've made overall in 6 years a little over ten thousand dollars. In fact, I've probably made more than that, but we spent so much on smoking the pipe, I cannot remember where the rest of my funds went [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]? Anyways, I feel like I have given you enough information. I know that since my primary work has been done playing 1-2 NL hold'em (I always buy in for 86 dollars, since that is the year that I was born; this strategy seems to work and please Vatswani very much) and that 1-2 is mid stakes because it is not as high as people playing for one thousand ($1,000) dollars but much more than the small time players who play for tool booth change.

Well, I have been advised by some people in my tribe that I should use my ten thousand dollars to play in the world series of poker this year (WSOP). I heard there are many old white men (confirm/deny?) that play in these tournaments that are not very good. A good friend of mine that has advised me of this, "Quiet Goat," says that I will make a lot of money and make my tribesman proud. My father frowns upon this action- so I don't know what to do.

I have also heard there are smaller events so that I can spread my money out between several tournaments. Is this true? Should I do this? So many questions, I feel the burden of ten thousand cowboys pressing down on me [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]. What should I do, I'll be very grateful if you help me [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img].

All advice appreciated,

Thanks,
Senojea

P.S. I was the movie rounders religiously. I feel like although Mike had thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) before he went to Vegas, he did not have the experience I have had (I have been playing in a casino since I was 18- the Americans who have been playing in a casino since they were 21 have 3 years less experience- so I am 24 in poker years; and wise beyond that). So, if Mike had 3 times more money that I have, I have to be 3 times the player to have the same chance at success as him, correct? Surely, with the way the game has evolved, I am at least 3 times better than Mike; and I feel he did some questionable things in the movie (poker strategy and bankroll management wise). Also, though we do not know he succeeds at the WSOP, we assume that because of the happy ending of the movie.