Follow Me On My Journey As I Make My Way To The Top Of The Poker Ranks - SPL Dream Big Or Go Home

BigPChef Is Going Pro

"Follow me on my journey as I make my way to the top of the poker ranks." HA! Now that is a tall order. Especially coming from a true donkey poker aficionado as myself. I have never considered myself a good poker player. I am not terrible by any means, but I reserve the word "good" when it comes to poker to those who win on a consistent basis. I most certainly do not qualify for that. I win time to time...mostly because I go for the big bang.

For some reason the idea of grinding it out does not appeal to me. Although, perhaps it should. I mean most people go to work at least, 5 days a week and it's a complete grind. You are told what to do, and when to do it. You are also regulated to how much time you get to eat, and how much time you are allowed to take a shit. Becoming a professional poker player can be considered a grind, but it pales in comparison to a normal 9-5. Shit, at least you can chit chat at the table, and order delicious fried rice table-side. None of which is really possible in an office setting.

So How Are You Going To Go About This - Experiment Phase

Well, since I am all about doing things big and fast (gotta be a sex joke in there somewhere), my first crack at going pro will be a 'fly by effort' if you will. I am throwing normal fundamentals out the window. What do I mean by that? I plan on taking some money, and hitting up the local casino (card room - as there are no slots) and playing poker with my "natural talent"; albeit, a fairly lacking one. I will not follow any guide, or any book. I will not properly manage my bankroll and will start well beyond my means. I will not focus on the math of it all. Instead I will simply sit down at the table, play my cards and my opponent to the best of my "natural"ability. The natural ability I have gained from playing years of Texas Holdem. I have been playing poker for 17 years now, that has got to count for something. At the very least, I should have an advantage over the brand new fish at the table.

On the flip side, there will also be more calculated approach to this experiment. Regardless of how my phase 1 plays out, I will give my alternate plan a fair shot as well. My alternate plan consist of finding a poker book written by a professional (right now I am leaning towards Daniel Negraneu) and follow their guidelines to the T. Whatever wisdom they bestow, I will do my best to follow. I will try my best to let go of my own instincts, and stick with their brand of poker.

Phase 1 (10 Days)

Below are the details of how my journey will commence...

• Place: Casino M8trix - poker room (not even a room, it's sorta just a cluster of tables in the middle of the "casino")
• Time/Day: TBD - but most likely will be playing 5 days a week from 2:00PM - 8:00PM (game availability pending)
• What: Texas Holdem
• Stakes: 1-3 NL - $200 max buy in
• Bankroll: I will be starting out with $2000(that allows me to buy in a total of 10 times - I will not buy in more than once in any given day)
• When: I will be starting this venture come this Sunday afternoon, Feb 11th

What the outcome of phase 1 will be is anybody's guess. For those of you who know me IRL, I assume you think I will go broke with two weeks time. That is a very possible outcome. I do however pledge to play the best poker that I know how. I will not donk off my stack on trash hands and I will not go on tilt (both are much easier said, than done).

Prediction: My $2000 starting bankroll will be at least, $3000 by the end of the 10 day experiment.

Phase 2

Playing by the book...

• Bankroll management
• Mathematics (barf)
• EV
• Game Theory Optimal Solution (i.e. player range)
• And any other mind numbing notion that I can barely wrap my brain around (Obviously I need to read the book first to see what all these will be.)

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In the end, both may be a success or both may be a failure. But I think either way, all of us are going to have a little fun. I will update everyone on here daily and inform them of how my session from the previous night took place. I may even add a little chart to track my progress. I assume phase 2 will require something as such anyway. So please join me on my journey to the top and wish me the best of luck.

** Please Note, 20% of my winnings (if there are any) will be donated directly to the @spl. After all, I am doing this for the love of poker. And that is exactly why the SPL was created.

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