Almost 3 months as an almost pro (LONG)

[jaxUp]

So, as many of you know, After playing poker with some decent success for a year, I decided not to bother getting a "real job" for the summer, which began for me on April 19th. As the 3 month anniversary approaches, I thought I would share my experience with the rest of the micros.

My plan was to play approximately 30k hands of 5/10 6max each month. At 1BB/100, that would be about $3k/month and would be enough to pay for my next semester of school and all my expenses.

My experience has been about what I expected it would be: reasonably interesting, somewhat monotonous, and exceptionally lonely. My friends are all out of town for the summer (and like far out of town, some out of the country). This leaves me spending just about every day with my girlfriend, which much to my pleasure I still enjoy a lot.

A typical day for me goes like this:

-wake up in the late morning and do typical morning stuff
-go on 2+2 and waste time
-once I've read all the threads I want to I either play poker or watch a movie
-leave the house for some reason. My biggest problem in the first month was not leaving the house enough. It got me into a sort of depression, so now I try to walk somewhere every day.
-go on 2+2 and watse time
-play poker or watch a movie

Now, my gf works crappy shift work so whenever she is home spending time with her takes over whatever other activity is usually in that time slot. This means that there are some days where I play no poker at all.

Here is a timeline of my poker playing:

end of April
I generally like the freedom that poker lets me have. Poker is going pretty standard with no exciting up or down swings. 5/106max has always been a bit cruel to me, so I am not too put-off by it any more. School has just finished, so I'mm really enjoying my downtime.

early May
I notice that I haven't run really hot for a while and begin to fantasize about what it would be like. I start to run well, and then break even again. I talk to our very own MrWookie about it and he helps me loosen up a bit and leaves me feeling good about myself and poker. That, however, does not change my luck and I continue to basically break even (which I am pretty okay with since RB and bonuses are very good).

late may
I start to run a bit worse and get more frustrated with the limit monster. I stick with it because I am a trooper and easily reach my 30k hand goal.

June
I am finally pissed off at poker and certainly not playing my A-game any more. At some point in early June I get pissed off and put a small hole in the wall with my fist. I feel very stupid following this and decide I need to chill the [censored] out. June is fairly busy for me, so I only play 7500 hands in the first three weeks. It is a very nice break and I don't miss playing at all.

By the 4th week of June I realize that I need to get some money coming in. I am still pretty annoyed with poker, so spurred on by wookie's early NL success I decide to dive in to NL100 having no NL experience and run very well. I enjoy the newness of NL and don't feel disgusted while playing it

July so far
I lose everything that I won in my hot NL run, but don't feel bad about it. It was very obviously an unlucky run (with a little bad and inexperienced play mixed in). I start to run normal in the NL100 again and all is well with the world. I get into a little 5 card draw and 7 card stud to mix it up just for fun.

Here is a graph of of my limit this summer, followed by my NL graph:






So, at the end of everything, I basically make nothing from actually playing. Fortunately, bonuses and RB are delicious and I have pulled about $7k so far this summer. I will probably comntinue to play in my other school breaks simply because it's an easy way for me to make money. However I think that next time I am going to get a crappy part time job, or volunteer somewhere simply for the socail aspect of it.

I will answer any and all questions that you guys have for me about poker or my glamorous life as a pseudo-professional rakeback and bonus whore

[Ainex]

I agree that getting out of the house for ANY reason at all is mandatory to avoid the seeping in of depression/stagnation.

I gather this was AP?

[jaxUp]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree that getting out of the house for ANY reason at all is mandatory to avoid the seeping in of depression/stagnation.

I gather this was AP?

[/ QUOTE ]

no, a lot of it was whorring B2B, and the rest was mostly Party with a few other sites where I played just for bonuses.

[Bilgefisher]

Your log is very good indication of what happens when a hobby becomes your job. Great post. Very interesting to see the change in thinking.

[shadow.]

Hi jaxUp,

I frequently have problems with regard to running bad as [censored].

This procedure has solved all of my problems!!!!



Helpfully,

John

[Ainex]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi jaxUp,

I frequently have problems with regard to running bad as [censored].

This procedure has solved all of my problems!!!!



Helpfully,

John

[/ QUOTE ]

Sheesh $200 a hand? Now THAT is variance.

[jaxUp]

I have discovered Party BJ already, but I am down a bit so far. I plan on playing more this week since I'm due to run good.

[shadow.]

[ QUOTE ]
I have discovered Party BJ already, but I am down a bit so far. I plan on playing more this week since I'm due to run good.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi jaxUp,

I am very pleased to know that you know about the cash machine that is PPBJ!

Don't worry, you ARE due for a good run of cards. Just be sure to figure out when the RNG is hitting for you and bet MAXIMUM for MAXIMUM EV!!

If you are particularly adventurous, I might suggest PartyCasino! I would provide a wonderous screenshot, but I haven't played there for a month, after a particular disastrous run at Roulette. Luckily, my $500 bets on Red granted me a spectacular $250 no deposit bonus from the benevolent Dikshit!!

Lovingly,

John

[kiemo]

That 6 max graph is crazy, I feel I have to goto the eye doctor now to make sure my vision is straight.

One of the reasons I have stayed outta 6-max, variance swings like that might drive me insane!

[freedom18]

hey jaxup i was wondering what you think of others doing this ... do you reccomend it ? 7k in 3 months just in RB and bonuses is not bad at all when you can continue to learn the game and soon eventually beat it over time