Dr. Pauly wrote a book 'The Tao of Poker'. Also has a twitter account same name. Losing the last few tourneys the way I have makes me think I should write 'the bah of poker'. Pretty sure that god hates me...And I don't even believe in him...lol. I realize that my "expectation" in the situations I'm losing is way in my favor, I just want to win them...happy I'm up 7 bills from cash play.
Moving to the Peppermill for the next two nights. 2 freebies, so I'll take advantage of it. Nicer casino, nicer rooms, flat screen with real channels. GSR reg rooms have tube TV, and you don't even get comedy central! I mean Really?!?! And I'll get to work out in a real fitness center. Pmill has the nicest, cleanliest fitness place I've worked out at. Pool heated and open all year too.
Had cioppino for dinner at Charlie Palmer's Fin. Great except: who the hell thought it was a good idea to put red bell peppers in it? And I'm not talking a little either. We're talking tons.
Bed. Tomorrows another tourney.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Change (lather, rinse, repeat)
God I hate getting unlucky in poker. If there is a constant in this game, it's name is variance. If there was one thing I would change in the world it would be that! Or not getting lucky. Forget all that "world peace" crap... Nothing can emotionally jerk you around like this game, other then a woman. Prozac becomes your best friend because she'll actually listen to your bad beat stories...lol
The bad news is I got unlucky 4 times in the 100k guarantee yesterday and knocked out. The good news is that I made $270 playing $1/2 last night, and that today is another day. Keeping a level even emotional keel at this game can be very tough. You absolutely can't let the dissapointing tilt you. Trying to level the emotional swings in this game is my biggest challenge.
On a different note, I'm in love with my iphone4. Might be lust. Hard to tell... Wife told me that she would never see me again if it had breasts. I told her there's an app for that...
I've converted all my poker information on to 'Poker Journal" app. Incredible app. Tracks all the info I want with great filtering and graphing capabilities. I love the "tipping" and "tokeing" buttons allowing you to keep track of those easily. Ability to track multiple bankrolls. I highly recommend the app.
I know I dissed the Grand Sierra earlier but, there are a couple of things I do like about it (besides reminding me of the late 70s disco scene!). They allow dogs here. I'm a dog lover, have always had dogs, and miss mine when I'm on the road. People walk through the side of the lobby by Starbucks to take them out for a walk, so I get my puppy fix every morning.
Time for a workout.
The bad news is I got unlucky 4 times in the 100k guarantee yesterday and knocked out. The good news is that I made $270 playing $1/2 last night, and that today is another day. Keeping a level even emotional keel at this game can be very tough. You absolutely can't let the dissapointing tilt you. Trying to level the emotional swings in this game is my biggest challenge.
On a different note, I'm in love with my iphone4. Might be lust. Hard to tell... Wife told me that she would never see me again if it had breasts. I told her there's an app for that...
I've converted all my poker information on to 'Poker Journal" app. Incredible app. Tracks all the info I want with great filtering and graphing capabilities. I love the "tipping" and "tokeing" buttons allowing you to keep track of those easily. Ability to track multiple bankrolls. I highly recommend the app.
I know I dissed the Grand Sierra earlier but, there are a couple of things I do like about it (besides reminding me of the late 70s disco scene!). They allow dogs here. I'm a dog lover, have always had dogs, and miss mine when I'm on the road. People walk through the side of the lobby by Starbucks to take them out for a walk, so I get my puppy fix every morning.
Time for a workout.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Day 1
Got up early, got a nice workout in right after a cup of Starbucks. Workout facility packed with "women in aviation" attendees. Finally saw one that wouldnt scare the pentagon to cut The defense budget.
Got the details on "best all around player". Paying 15 places, 1st 4k, 13-15 $300. Must cash to get points. $500-$2500 events have 500 points. All others have same points as entry fee. Points divided up same as % of prize pool as cash placing. I.e. you win $300 event and 1st gets 25% of monies, you also get 25% of the 300 points = 75 points.
I'm excited for today. Ran into a couple of the regular circuit players last night. Big snow storm likely today, expect that the 100K today won't make the number of players, so there will be a nice overlay.
Time to shower then eat. Updates on my twitter account @BrunoWolfe at breaks
Got the details on "best all around player". Paying 15 places, 1st 4k, 13-15 $300. Must cash to get points. $500-$2500 events have 500 points. All others have same points as entry fee. Points divided up same as % of prize pool as cash placing. I.e. you win $300 event and 1st gets 25% of monies, you also get 25% of the 300 points = 75 points.
I'm excited for today. Ran into a couple of the regular circuit players last night. Big snow storm likely today, expect that the 100K today won't make the number of players, so there will be a nice overlay.
Time to shower then eat. Updates on my twitter account @BrunoWolfe at breaks
Thursday, February 24, 2011
World Poker Challege
I fly to Reno tonight for the World Poker Challenge (WPC) at the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) for the next couple of weeks. DeepStacks University is sponsoring the series. DeepStacks is the on-line training site fronted by some of the new young guns and a few of the better known pros: Mike (the Mouth) Matusow, Michael (the Grinder) Mizrachi, Tom (old guy...lol) McEvoy, to name a few. They expect some big fields, and as a result some big prize pools, due to the "names" attending. I expect the same. It'll be a nice change to have some larger fields, as the last couple of years we've seen tournament entrees decrease, and in an effort to increase entrees entree fees decrease. Just about every series has had this happen, with the exception of the WSOP and a couple of the other bigger events out of the USA. This economy has stripped a lot of people of "disposable income", and that's where a lot of the entries used to come from, and where a lot of a professional poker players income comes from.
I've got a good feeling about this series. A few people have a piece of me, and that's always encouraging. I'm happy to have them have a vested interest in my performance, and I take it very seriously. I know the money isn't large amounts, but that isn't what motivates me when someone has a piece of me anyway. I'm motivated by the personal relationship and the confidence in me.
A few words about the Grand Sierra Resort. It's a 70's ish place and to say it's a bit on the dumpy side would be kind. Opened in 1978 as the MGM Grand, it went through a series of owners before it was bought in 2005 by an investment group that named itself the Grand Sierra Resort Corp. It's been in receivership since 2008, when that ownership defaulted on loans to JP MorganChase. Frankly, not much has been done to upgrade the place in the last ten years. The rooms for players in the tournament are $30/night (with the $10 Nevada tax thrown on top...bah). As someone once said about the GSR "You get what you pay for, and probably less." True dat. But the price is right so I'll stay there except for the 2 free nights I have at the Peppermill. I'll go back and forth to keep my expenses low. I workout on the road everyday, so the work out facilities are important to me. The "Health Club" would be better called a workout room. Most of the equipment is either dated or slightly functional. One of the elliptical trainers has had the same squeak for the last 2+ years. It's like an old friend I look forward to seeing now....lol. Several of the restaurants are good though, especially Charlie Palmer's (great steaks and seafood), and the wine bar 'The Reserve' is good although a little expensive. Another good thing about the GSR is that it has a Starbucks in the Lobby. For me, a big plus. Nothing worse, after playing poker all night, then a crappy cup of coffee in the morning. Poker staff is good, and Charles Williams runs the tournaments and poker room very well. For every $100 in tourney entry fees you get $2 in comps that are good at any food place in the GSR, except for Starbucks...
I'll be giving updates this series at every break on my twitter account @BrunoWolfe. I'll also post on my blog daily. There's always a lot going on at every series, and with the "names" coming for this one I expect even more.
I've got a good feeling about this series. A few people have a piece of me, and that's always encouraging. I'm happy to have them have a vested interest in my performance, and I take it very seriously. I know the money isn't large amounts, but that isn't what motivates me when someone has a piece of me anyway. I'm motivated by the personal relationship and the confidence in me.
A few words about the Grand Sierra Resort. It's a 70's ish place and to say it's a bit on the dumpy side would be kind. Opened in 1978 as the MGM Grand, it went through a series of owners before it was bought in 2005 by an investment group that named itself the Grand Sierra Resort Corp. It's been in receivership since 2008, when that ownership defaulted on loans to JP MorganChase. Frankly, not much has been done to upgrade the place in the last ten years. The rooms for players in the tournament are $30/night (with the $10 Nevada tax thrown on top...bah). As someone once said about the GSR "You get what you pay for, and probably less." True dat. But the price is right so I'll stay there except for the 2 free nights I have at the Peppermill. I'll go back and forth to keep my expenses low. I workout on the road everyday, so the work out facilities are important to me. The "Health Club" would be better called a workout room. Most of the equipment is either dated or slightly functional. One of the elliptical trainers has had the same squeak for the last 2+ years. It's like an old friend I look forward to seeing now....lol. Several of the restaurants are good though, especially Charlie Palmer's (great steaks and seafood), and the wine bar 'The Reserve' is good although a little expensive. Another good thing about the GSR is that it has a Starbucks in the Lobby. For me, a big plus. Nothing worse, after playing poker all night, then a crappy cup of coffee in the morning. Poker staff is good, and Charles Williams runs the tournaments and poker room very well. For every $100 in tourney entry fees you get $2 in comps that are good at any food place in the GSR, except for Starbucks...
I'll be giving updates this series at every break on my twitter account @BrunoWolfe. I'll also post on my blog daily. There's always a lot going on at every series, and with the "names" coming for this one I expect even more.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Admiration
The uprisings in the Middle East are astonishing. Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, etc. And now we hear of rumblings of the same discontent in Iran and some of the major Middle East countries. The risks these people are taking are unfathomable. Mostly, it is the young people who are tired of no freedom, no jobs, no hope for anything other then to wake up each morning, find something to eat, and go to sleep that night. We are at an amazing time in the history of the world because we are seeing the people in these countries rise up against despotic rulers and risk their lives to over throw them. And clearly none of this would be possible without the internet and social media young men and women.
There was a tremendous amount of "Monday morning quarterbacking" regarding the Obama Administrations responses regarding Egypt. I don't profess to be an expert on the Middle East, but I do think the responses and tones were appropriate. Libya is a different matter because Qaddafi is now massacring his people through the use of mercenaries and thugs. I want our countries leaders to stand up and say "enough" to Qaddafi and that he must leave NOW. We are the country that became a country because we believed in freedom, stood up and said we wouldn't take it anymore, and fought to have it. I have the Declaration of Independence on my ipod and read it again yesterday: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The people in these countries are trying to obtain what we have now.
As a country, we should tell them that we support them. Regardless of the color of their skin or which god they believe in. We are supposed to be the good guys. For way too many years, from the Shah of Iran to Mubarak, we've propped up these Middle East despots because our leaders believed that it was in our national interest to have "stability" there, and to have our military bases there. We made millionaires and billionaires of some of these evil dictators. CNN reported that Mubarak was worth somewhere between $25 and $70 billions dollars. That's BILLION, with a B. While the average person in Egypt lived on $2 a day! And we know because of those actions that radical Islam bred and grew it's hatred of the US to a point where they've attacked us many times.
I'm happy that Hillary Clinton said condemned officially Qaddafi's violence against Libyans. We should come out and say that we are for ALL the peoples of the world to over throw unelected and oppressive rulers. That we stand with them. Then maybe we'll be admired again. And we'll admire ourselves...
There was a tremendous amount of "Monday morning quarterbacking" regarding the Obama Administrations responses regarding Egypt. I don't profess to be an expert on the Middle East, but I do think the responses and tones were appropriate. Libya is a different matter because Qaddafi is now massacring his people through the use of mercenaries and thugs. I want our countries leaders to stand up and say "enough" to Qaddafi and that he must leave NOW. We are the country that became a country because we believed in freedom, stood up and said we wouldn't take it anymore, and fought to have it. I have the Declaration of Independence on my ipod and read it again yesterday: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The people in these countries are trying to obtain what we have now.
As a country, we should tell them that we support them. Regardless of the color of their skin or which god they believe in. We are supposed to be the good guys. For way too many years, from the Shah of Iran to Mubarak, we've propped up these Middle East despots because our leaders believed that it was in our national interest to have "stability" there, and to have our military bases there. We made millionaires and billionaires of some of these evil dictators. CNN reported that Mubarak was worth somewhere between $25 and $70 billions dollars. That's BILLION, with a B. While the average person in Egypt lived on $2 a day! And we know because of those actions that radical Islam bred and grew it's hatred of the US to a point where they've attacked us many times.
I'm happy that Hillary Clinton said condemned officially Qaddafi's violence against Libyans. We should come out and say that we are for ALL the peoples of the world to over throw unelected and oppressive rulers. That we stand with them. Then maybe we'll be admired again. And we'll admire ourselves...
Friday, February 18, 2011
Perspective
The last 12 months or so have been brutal on my wife and I, physically and emotionally. It went something like this: cold, flu, bacterial infection turned sepsis-hospitalized, prostetitis, wife got MRSA, I got MRSA-hospitalized for 7 days, allergic reaction to Sulfa based drug for MRSA-back in hospital, home care nurse finds heart issue, MRSA again, male dog (13 yrs old) diagnosed with cancer and had to euthanize in a week, mother-in-law suffers stroke and passes in 2 weeks, father (biological) dies, dad (he raised me) dies.
Tough year. But no matter how hard you think you have it, there is always someone who has it worse. In the middle of all that mess, I was playing some $1/$2 no-limit at the Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, explaining to a friend why he hadn't seen me playing in quite some time. I told him my trials up to that point, and how hard it was and how tough I had it. Almost like some "badge of courage". A young kid a couple of seats to my right, early 20s, head hanging down looking at the table quietly spoke up "I had a tough year, too". "Yeah, mine was probably worse. Hospital three times, almost died twice.", I said. "Sounds like a tough year. I'm not trying to one up you", he calmly said. Never raised his head or his voice. Didn't say anything else but something about the way he said it had me ask him how bad his year was. "Well," he said, never raising his eyes from the felt, "my mom lost her job and had to move in with me. My girlfriend was already living with me. They didn't get along before and it just got worse. Neither of them had jobs and I was supporting both of them. Then mom got cancer and she died. Then I lost my job. I couldn't pay my mortgage and my house went into foreclosure. Then I got cancer. It's terminal. My girlfriend couldn't handle it all and she left me. I don't blame her, it's a lot to handle. I got evicted from my house a couple of weeks ago. I'm staying on a friends couch."
A few hands later, he lost the small amount of chips he had in front of him, graciously said goodbye to the table and left.
I'd never seen before and I haven't seen him since. I don't know what happened to him. But I'm grateful to have spent some minutes with him, because it put things in perspective for me...
Tough year. But no matter how hard you think you have it, there is always someone who has it worse. In the middle of all that mess, I was playing some $1/$2 no-limit at the Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, explaining to a friend why he hadn't seen me playing in quite some time. I told him my trials up to that point, and how hard it was and how tough I had it. Almost like some "badge of courage". A young kid a couple of seats to my right, early 20s, head hanging down looking at the table quietly spoke up "I had a tough year, too". "Yeah, mine was probably worse. Hospital three times, almost died twice.", I said. "Sounds like a tough year. I'm not trying to one up you", he calmly said. Never raised his head or his voice. Didn't say anything else but something about the way he said it had me ask him how bad his year was. "Well," he said, never raising his eyes from the felt, "my mom lost her job and had to move in with me. My girlfriend was already living with me. They didn't get along before and it just got worse. Neither of them had jobs and I was supporting both of them. Then mom got cancer and she died. Then I lost my job. I couldn't pay my mortgage and my house went into foreclosure. Then I got cancer. It's terminal. My girlfriend couldn't handle it all and she left me. I don't blame her, it's a lot to handle. I got evicted from my house a couple of weeks ago. I'm staying on a friends couch."
A few hands later, he lost the small amount of chips he had in front of him, graciously said goodbye to the table and left.
I'd never seen before and I haven't seen him since. I don't know what happened to him. But I'm grateful to have spent some minutes with him, because it put things in perspective for me...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Hello and welcome!
My hope is that you'll find this blog of some interest and that I will also. I know I have a voice and know I have some things to say. I started this blog because it gives me an opportunity to do that. I hope that I'm able to convey them in a way that reflects what I actually think, and that you will find it interesting.
I'm a professional poker player, a fly-fisherman (former guide), and, as my wife says, a “critic“. I’d like to think I'm more of a social commentator. I tend to look at things and see how they can (should?) be different (better?) than they are, and I'm able to articulate that. Movies, customer service, poker hand play, whatever. Just about anything. Perhaps that's a good quality, perhaps it's not. But it certainly gives me a point of view that I’m enthusiastic about…
A little bit about my poker life: I began playing Texas Hold-em in 2000. I had played lots of the typical home game poker we used to play (spit in the ocean, baseball, etc.) before the poker boom, but never Texas Hold-em. The electronics company I was employed with (Arrow Electronics) put together a gambling trip to Black Hawk, Colorado as an employee morale booster. My wife and I went, and I played some Blackjack, took a break, and walked by the poker area in the casino. I stopped for a few minutes to watch and, although I didn’t quite understand it, it was obvious there was much more skill involved then Blackjack. I thought I could play it, came back to the casino a few days later, and lost $200 in about 2 hours…at a game where the maximum bet or raise was $5!!! At that point I was interested enough that I decided that I had to be able to play this game better than that, and put some time and effort into finding places online to learn: Poker School On-Line, 2+2, etc.
In 2001, a couple of months before 9/11, I was laid off from my mid-level manager electronics job. Bad timing. Nobody hiring mid level managers, due to the internet bubble bursting. And after 9/11 nobody hiring anybody, period. So, I decided to take a year off from job hunting, finish my basement, and learn how to play poker. I found a home game tournament in Denver, won it, and have been profitable since. Finally took a job at FedEx in 2003 as a Driver. Met “Adam” there and he hired me to be a fly-fishing guide for his Guiding Service on weekends. Was fired from FedEx in 2006 because, frankly, I wasn't very good at being a FedEx truck driver. Something about “hitting things with trucks“. Didn’t really like the job anyway...
At that point I decided to try guiding and poker full time for a living. On-line and home games. In 2008 Colorado finally raised its ridiculously low $5 max bet rule to $100, making live play at a Colorado casinos financially worth the time. I stopped guiding, and now divide my time between my family, outdoors, and poker. On-line, Colorado casinos, and traveling to play smaller buy-in tournament series. I’ve had some success, and been making my living from it since.
I'll use this blog for deeper thoughts and ruminations about whatever things that I want to expand/pontificate about, and my Twitter account (@BrunoWolfe) for updating how I'm doing in poker tournaments, quick quip social commentaries and whatever trout I just caught fly-fishing. I hope you find it interesting and fun. I’ll keep doing it as long as I do and you keep reading it.
Ciao
I'm a professional poker player, a fly-fisherman (former guide), and, as my wife says, a “critic“. I’d like to think I'm more of a social commentator. I tend to look at things and see how they can (should?) be different (better?) than they are, and I'm able to articulate that. Movies, customer service, poker hand play, whatever. Just about anything. Perhaps that's a good quality, perhaps it's not. But it certainly gives me a point of view that I’m enthusiastic about…
A little bit about my poker life: I began playing Texas Hold-em in 2000. I had played lots of the typical home game poker we used to play (spit in the ocean, baseball, etc.) before the poker boom, but never Texas Hold-em. The electronics company I was employed with (Arrow Electronics) put together a gambling trip to Black Hawk, Colorado as an employee morale booster. My wife and I went, and I played some Blackjack, took a break, and walked by the poker area in the casino. I stopped for a few minutes to watch and, although I didn’t quite understand it, it was obvious there was much more skill involved then Blackjack. I thought I could play it, came back to the casino a few days later, and lost $200 in about 2 hours…at a game where the maximum bet or raise was $5!!! At that point I was interested enough that I decided that I had to be able to play this game better than that, and put some time and effort into finding places online to learn: Poker School On-Line, 2+2, etc.
In 2001, a couple of months before 9/11, I was laid off from my mid-level manager electronics job. Bad timing. Nobody hiring mid level managers, due to the internet bubble bursting. And after 9/11 nobody hiring anybody, period. So, I decided to take a year off from job hunting, finish my basement, and learn how to play poker. I found a home game tournament in Denver, won it, and have been profitable since. Finally took a job at FedEx in 2003 as a Driver. Met “Adam” there and he hired me to be a fly-fishing guide for his Guiding Service on weekends. Was fired from FedEx in 2006 because, frankly, I wasn't very good at being a FedEx truck driver. Something about “hitting things with trucks“. Didn’t really like the job anyway...
At that point I decided to try guiding and poker full time for a living. On-line and home games. In 2008 Colorado finally raised its ridiculously low $5 max bet rule to $100, making live play at a Colorado casinos financially worth the time. I stopped guiding, and now divide my time between my family, outdoors, and poker. On-line, Colorado casinos, and traveling to play smaller buy-in tournament series. I’ve had some success, and been making my living from it since.
I'll use this blog for deeper thoughts and ruminations about whatever things that I want to expand/pontificate about, and my Twitter account (@BrunoWolfe) for updating how I'm doing in poker tournaments, quick quip social commentaries and whatever trout I just caught fly-fishing. I hope you find it interesting and fun. I’ll keep doing it as long as I do and you keep reading it.
Ciao
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