Leak Ashamed and time to come clean (my story)

arod15 · #1 07-26-2005, 03:40 PM

So here's my story. After working real hard on my game I have finnaly become a consistent winner (been winning for over a year now but got especially good in March) . Since March this year I am up over 8K(net) playing 1-2NL both live and online (about 15BB and hour).

The sad thing is I have little to show for it. I still play 1-2 (because my roll is gone). You see over the same period of time (5 months) I have blown close to same if not more (probably more, havent kept close tabs) on table games such as bacarrat and BJ.

Luckily for me I have a great job and pay no rent, but I feel really disgusted with myself for not having more to show. I should be investing more, buying a house, giving to charity, sh%t give to my family back home in Chile who needs it. Anything could have been better than how I pissed my money away.

I post this as a promise that BJ will never be played by me again (at least not for a few years when I become more responisble). So I tell all of you don't fall into the same trap. Poker players are known to have gamble. This is part of what makes a lot of us good. When i play, I am feerless with my money and will take some chances others wouldnt (cause money is like water to me) and that is probably why I have won at a very high rate.

So what now? For me I guess my next challenge is to re-build and protect my bankroll. Also, I hope to be playing 10-25 NL by next years world series. Perhaps ill do it perhaps i wont, but one thing is for sure if I fail it wont be because of a leak.

#2 07-26-2005, 04:00 PM

It sounds like you may have combined two problems into one.

One: You are not playing poker with a poker bankroll. Your money from poker is mixed in with your money that you use for other purposes. If you go on a bad run, it can cut into your non-poker earnings. You should generally keep about 300BB in your bankroll, and skim off the top every month or so, although it appears that you don't really need that money anyway considering you have a great job and pay no rent.

Two: Your spending habits are likely poor in general. As a gambler, consider BJ and baccarat to be "entertainment" expenses, not a source for earnings. Set up an expense plan and budget for yourself. If you really feel like you want to regularly donate to charity and send money home to your family, then you need to manage your expenses.

glen · #3 07-26-2005, 04:23 PM

If you play 1-2nl, have a good job and pay no rent, and make 15bbs an hour, dipping into your non-poker money is not an issue.

tdarko · #4 07-26-2005, 04:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If you play 1-2nl, have a good job and pay no rent, and make 15bbs an hour, dipping into your non-poker money is not an issue

[/ QUOTE ]
and even if it were he's with eva longoria so what does it matter? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Maulik · #5 07-26-2005, 05:16 PM

If I remember correctly, I remember telling you this when we were playing 2/4 & 3/6 limit poker and you'd bet $10 on a number when we played blackjack. Perhaps there will be a reason for some posters to comment on this; but this has been brought up constantly for one year.

SoCalRugger · #6 07-26-2005, 05:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
As a gambler, consider BJ and baccarat to be "entertainment" expenses, not a source for earnings. Set up an expense plan and budget for yourself.

[/ QUOTE ]
Another way to approach this would be to create a 2nd bankroll for casino whoring. As long as it's done properly and with discipline, you could play blackjack under +EV conditions and show a nice profit.

mindflayer · #7 07-27-2005, 01:35 PM

so your here.. and you know non self weighting games can not be beaten in the long run..
Tell me why you play BJ or Baccarat.
are you addicted to the excitement? do you think you can beat BJ or baccarat??
do you play BJ online or in BM?
if its BM , do you card count?
does the casino employ a continuous shuffler??

do yourself a fav, stop playing BJ and Baccarat.

LIRob23 · #8 07-27-2005, 02:10 PM

arod15 · #9 07-27-2005, 02:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
so your here.. and you know non self weighting games can not be beaten in the long run..
Tell me why you play BJ or Baccarat.
are you addicted to the excitement? do you think you can beat BJ or baccarat??
do you play BJ online or in BM?
if its BM , do you card count?
does the casino employ a continuous shuffler??

do yourself a fav, stop playing BJ and Baccarat.

[/ QUOTE ]
no i dont play on the internet and i love the action its real exciting. At one point i counted but the continous shuffler has almost elminated that advantage. I agree i given up BJ for at least a few more years..

arod15 · #10 07-27-2005, 02:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The pit kills bankrolls and poker players my friend. STAY AWAY! Also I know you have had success at 1/2 NL but that and 10/25NL are worlds apart in terms of skill, toughness, and swings. Unless you have an ass load of money to burn I'd set your goals a little lower. Maybe to 5/10NL in a year.

[/ QUOTE ]

I always set my goals high. No point in shooting for 5-10 when if i fall short its like i accomplished nothing. While if i shoot for 10-25 and i fall short to 5-10 at least thats something (so maybe im aiming higer realizing it will be ok to fall short)..... And yes given my situation i could probably afford to play 5-10 comftorbaly right now But ive been disciplined not to...