Poker saved my life

[TheGam]

Ok, it didn't save my life at all, I saved my life as all normal people would.

From a young age, I understood odds, probabilty and the universe. The more techincal areas where based on an over enthusic uncle setting me challenges in, odds, binary, speed of sound etc.. you get the idea.

I think I understood odds more than the average adult by the age of 10. For those that think I'm bragging, this post is far from that and more to explain how I feel.

I spent from the ages of 15 ish playing fruit machines, 18 playing fruit machines, drinking and betting in the bookies.

21 drinking more, taking drugs, occasional bookies, fruit machines cos they were there, casino's and spread betting.

I kind of knew I was not in a favourite position to win, but hey, we are talking 4% edge down, f**k thats nothing, I can easily run good on that edge for days maybe weeks.

You know what, some days I did and some days I didn't, but to me it was a buzz and it wasn't that bad? was it?

Well yep, cos I'm still paying back the money I owe and it wasn't all down to gambling, but it didn't help.

Then I met poker, I took it on as I would every other thing in my life head on. I lost £1000 learning the rules, I'm not gonna f*king play the fun games :-) (Arrogance intended)

So, I decided this was bad, stop playing poker. Like every other thing, stop drinking, stop playing fruit machines, stop whatever.

My life desn't work like that, I do what I'm not supposed to, I think to a degree that is in even the most sensible people.

So, I decided to read, about poker, about odds (which I knew, but didn't adhere to) etc.

You know what, I still played like every hand mattered, but slightly less badly than before. I then started doing the one thing a gambler (not a winner) shouldn't do.

I started recording my progress in everything, but mainly poker with a common piece of software.

Everything I knew and was adament about was there in black and white. I was a slightly losing player, that won occasionally and lost occasionally. F**k what a I doing!!!

What a f**king result, I now know it's all true, so I set about improving my game. Some months on I haven't paid any money into any accounts and have made a few withdrawels.

But that is not what this post is about, I now play fruit machines with the change in my pocket, waiting for my friends to turn up.

I only bet on sport when I really think the odds do not support the outcome. I don't play casino games, why.... because knowing what I know, really know, it makes me sick.


I guess this is almost an anti-post to all the people that say poker ruined their life. I believe them, but take a step back and look and it might just change your life.