Six weeks ago I set out to gamble for 365 days straight. I have gambled for 42 days straight days and here are some interesting facts and notes regarding the first six weeks.
-I have played poker 29 of the 42 days
-Of the 13 days I did not play poker I had a sports bet 12 of those days
-The one day that I did not have a sports bet or play poker I played online blackjack and won $7
-Of the 29 days of poker 24 of them have been winning days (one of the better streaks I have had in a while)
- I have made 29 basketball bets with a record of 16-12-1.
- I have made 27 baseball bets with a record of 12-15
-I have played in two home poker games and only one cardroom outside my normal room
I feel very good after six weeks and don't really feel like I have had to "get a bet in" or "make sure I gamble" before bed. It is kind of just part of my life. If I had not been doing this 365 day challenge I probably would have still made a bet about 37 or 38 of the 42 days. It certainly doesn't hurt that I have been winning. As mentioned I have won 24 out of 29 days at poker. That is very likely one of my best runs I have ever had at live poker. I have had periods of time where I won more money, but have not had many times in my life with so few losing sessions over six weeks. And of those five losing sessions, three of them were very small losses. It is has been a nice run.
Whenever I go on a hot streak in poker I always kind of expect it to end with a bang like a really bad beat or big loss. Last night appeared to be headed in that direction. I was playing in a very loose, aggressive, profitable game at my local club. The only problem was I just could not hit a flop or a draw to save my life. I was into the game for $600 in buy ins and down to my last $160 about five hours into the session. So I was down $440. Usually I don't let myself get stuck more than two buy ins ($400) in this game. I will just up and leave. However, this game was so juicy and profitable that I had to stay in the game. There was just too much opportunity. And like usual I was not on tilt. I was remaining patient and my confidence in poker is probably as high as it has ever been right now. I made the executive decision to stay in the game.
I had about $160 when the following hand came along. A very aggressive and loose player raised to $25 after their was a live $5 bet made. An even looser and more aggressive player (one of the craziest regulars at the club) made the call. I called with 88 and two more players behind me called. I was in a five handed pot with four loose, aggressive players who all had my $160 stack covered. As the dealer was preparing to turn the flop I was actually thinking in my head that I deserved to flop a big hand after how patient I had been in this session. Sure enough the poker gods blessed me with an 8 4 2 flop (rainbow). I had flopped the nuts! No matter what, even if I just took the pot now I would win over $100 on the hand which would be nice. But with these characters in the pot I was hoping for a big pot. I got my wish. The original raiser went all in and the crazy player after him called. The all in had set me all in. I pretended to think it over for 10 seconds and then called. Then the player behind me called! I am loving this spot! Yes I could lose and nothing is a sure thing but this is a big edge I have and this is what you dream of in No Limit Hold Em. Then the last player considered calling before actually folding 10 10. The turn was 3 and the crazy player said "I have a straight." It made me nervous a little bit but he was smiling wickedly and holding his cards like he was ready to muck and I was pretty sure he was messing with us. I just didn't want to see a big card on the river as I was pretty sure I was fading overpairs. An Ace hit the river which really scared me. It is hard to put someone on a 5 in this hand but with these guys nothing would surprise me. And of course AA from the original raiser was a possibility. But much to my delight the original raiser turned over JJ and the crazy player on my right mucked and the other player showed an 8 and I scooped a pot around $700.
So after hours of suffering with bad cards and missed draws my patience paid off and I was able to book a winning session. This session illustrates that in the long run if you play a solid game and do not tilt off your money patience is rewarded in poker. It also illustrates the importance of having a bankroll sufficient for the game you are playing in. Poker is a long run game and if you can stay in the game financially (bankroll) and emotionally (don't tilt) you can and will win. No matter how talented you are if you can't manage your bankroll and your emotions it is damn tough to win in the long run. This is why I believe that self management is as just as important if not more important than talent and poker fundamentals.
So my winning streak did not end with a bang. It continues. I have heard of people who have said they ran well for six months. I have heard and read stories of professional poker players who have had 40 straight winning sessions. So there is no reason it has to come to an end now. I am hoping I can keep it going for as long as possible. The gambling gods are indeed a fickle bunch. I will enjoy it while it lasts. And when it ends, I will try to play my A game. Because that is when true skill is required in poker--when you run bad. Anyone can flop sets and straights and win. But most are not capable of resisting tilt and losing the minimum when the cards treat them poorly. That has always been my specialty. When that time comes I will be ready to go to work.
Disciplined Degenerate
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