The Well: Shaniac, 2.27.07

[shaniac]

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“My oldest friend introduced me to gambling when I was 21, teaching me blackjack at Sandia Casino”

Were you guys playing advantage BJ?
If yes, do you care on expanding? ie count method, betting units, method of play etc.
Have you learned any other advantage gambling games besides poker?

PS: Really enjoyed this well.

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Lol definitely no advantage, we were just gambling. I remember at first I was very stressed about losing money and one of the dealers (my friend was a regular by then, friendly with all the staff) said to me "you really have to stop caring so much about what you might lose." I think that statement was a positive influence on my gambling mentality.

[shaniac]

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I was wondering what you do after you bust out of an event, or lose something significant due to your own mistake(s)? Or in general, what you do when you are on tilt or dissapointed in yourself when it comes to poker. What do you do personally, on a regular basis to improve your game?


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I never think I have the answers, and I think remaining flexible in your thinking (especially important to never think you have the game mastered) is the key to remaining ahead of the curve. Mistakes that send me to the tournament rail do haunt me, but I keep in mind that the trick winning a tournament is maintaining mental focus throughout the event (this is where the best players separate themselves, imo) and that I will have the opportunity to try and achieve that focus again soon.

[BananaDan]

If you went busto and had no backer/anyone to loan money from. How would you go about building a new roll from scratch?

[raindrops]

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How do you think weed affects your play? Is it different live/online? Favorite smoking device? Do you have any plans/ideas of quitting? (i don't currently).Do you think it's a good idea or bad idea to start growing your own supply?

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I live in California, where the voters of the state have endorsed an initiative that makes medical marijuana somewhat widely available. The law also allows me to grow up to six plants (and six immature ones), and I would love to grow my own once I move into a bigger apartment. Therefore, in California, and the other dozeon-or-so other states that have passed MMJ initiatives, it's a "good idea" to grow your own, and I think everyone who wants to see grass decriminalized should feel duty-bound to contribute to the process by cultivating a garden (if possible).

As for how smoking affects my play, it's hard to say. I've been an "all day every day" kind of smoker for more than ten years, long before poker, so it's just part of my normal psychological makeup. It does sometimes tax my endurance and my concentration, so I certainly don't recommend that people go out of their way to play stoned, but for me, it's probably central to my ability to remain centered and detached.

Edit: As for favorite smoking devices, I'm almost strictly a joint/spliff man. I like rolling with Club papers, which are gumless, rice papers, very thin, and I feel that a nice, one-layer joints gives the best overall taste and smoking experience.

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I love you.

[NorthernGuy]

Pot is for idiots.

[raindrops]

Explain?

[aejones]

lol @ every well in MTTc turning into an inquisition on drug use

[uclabruinz]

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lol @ every well in MTTc turning into an inquisition on drug use

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He's 29 years old and claims to have been stoned for ten years straight, and that being stoned is central to his poker playing. You don't see the relevance?

Shaniac is by all accounts a great guy, but he has a serious addiction problem and it is very hard to believe he's not severely harming himself with it. Some of us think he sets an awful example for the younger poker players by (a) doing what he does and (b) openly discussing it in at least a neutral way.

Hopefully at some point he gets the help he so clearly needs.

[registrar]

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lol @ every well in MTTc turning into an inquisition on drug use

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He's 29 years old and claims to have been stoned for ten years straight, and that being stoned is central to his poker playing. You don't see the relevance?

Shaniac is by all accounts a great guy, but he has a serious addiction problem and it is very hard to believe he's not severely harming himself with it. Some of us think he sets an awful example for the younger poker players by (a) doing what he does and (b) openly discussing it in at least a neutral way.

Hopefully at some point he gets the help he so clearly needs.

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I'd been stoned for more or less 15 years and have no doubt that drinking and smoking pot helps my game. My results have sucked since I quit.

I think it is damaging but I think you kind of realise this at about the time your body starts telling you you're getting old and get kids and can't be so moody and withdrawn so easily and realise that you're not fully in control of your own mind. Shaniac has about five years to go.

I think the 'setting a bad example to our younger readers' line is spurious.

[uclabruinz]

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I think the 'setting a bad example to our younger readers' line is spurious.

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You think he sets a good example?