Following my final event in Las Vegas for the trip, I got my ducks in a line and spent a few days catching up with various people in town, cooking, golfing, packing up, shopping, etc etc. Now I'm wrapping up the fall series of updates with a post from back in the bloody freezing UK. I have a dog sleeping soundly on my feet whilst typing in bed, so it's not all bad.
The package
Everyone with shares has now been emailed with a breakdown (a financial breakdown, not one of the nervous variety). Whilst no one's going to be retiring to the Bahamas quite yet on the returns, we've had a stab at a bunch of events, had a few cashes, a lot of deep runs, and everyone got back a sizeable chunk of their original outlay. Whilst some armchair critics out there will likely have a scoff at this (welcome to the world of the Interweb), the reality of poker, and particularly tournaments, is that once the money is invested in a buy-in, it's effectively considered already gone, and any return on that investment is always a good thing. That's pragmatically the only way to view it, however talented you might be, or think you are at the game. When the planets line up, you ping something big, and that hopefully springboards up to bigger and far better things. A few events this time could have gone better, or I might just as easily have busted earlier, but from a consistency viewpoint, I was happy with my overall game, I was tuned in, not afraid to take chances, and kept a good balance on and off the table to avoid any burnout. I'm easily my own strongest critic, and those who know me better than the casual reader know that I take what I do very seriously, even if my table manner and style of writing sometimes portrays the polar opposite. I extended the trip twice this time, and honestly would have loved to stay out here even longer, but I have a few UK commitments, and need to come back, so it's regroup and prep for what's next to come. More on that in a bit.
Everyone with shares has now been emailed with a breakdown (a financial breakdown, not one of the nervous variety). Whilst no one's going to be retiring to the Bahamas quite yet on the returns, we've had a stab at a bunch of events, had a few cashes, a lot of deep runs, and everyone got back a sizeable chunk of their original outlay. Whilst some armchair critics out there will likely have a scoff at this (welcome to the world of the Interweb), the reality of poker, and particularly tournaments, is that once the money is invested in a buy-in, it's effectively considered already gone, and any return on that investment is always a good thing. That's pragmatically the only way to view it, however talented you might be, or think you are at the game. When the planets line up, you ping something big, and that hopefully springboards up to bigger and far better things. A few events this time could have gone better, or I might just as easily have busted earlier, but from a consistency viewpoint, I was happy with my overall game, I was tuned in, not afraid to take chances, and kept a good balance on and off the table to avoid any burnout. I'm easily my own strongest critic, and those who know me better than the casual reader know that I take what I do very seriously, even if my table manner and style of writing sometimes portrays the polar opposite. I extended the trip twice this time, and honestly would have loved to stay out here even longer, but I have a few UK commitments, and need to come back, so it's regroup and prep for what's next to come. More on that in a bit.
Away from the table
This is where the updates swerve away from hand histories and chip counts, but at the risk of sounding like a two bit article writer, the feedback I get regarding non-poker stuff I write generally suggests that it's well received so until I get an overwhelming vote to the contrary, I'll continue.
This is where the updates swerve away from hand histories and chip counts, but at the risk of sounding like a two bit article writer, the feedback I get regarding non-poker stuff I write generally suggests that it's well received so until I get an overwhelming vote to the contrary, I'll continue.
Golf
This was a big part of the trip for me this time. From the outset I'll say I'm not a great golfer, which is to say I birdie occasionally, and generally point the club in the right direction. I had a bit of a late start in life with the game, but have found I enjoy it a lot, it's good for the mind and body, and I'm lucky enough to have patient and chilled friends, one of whom is also a PGA pro who's slowly helped me to improve and learn technique. In Las Vegas in particular (outside of the Summer months when the desert heat just makes playing simply unbearable) there are some amazing value golf deals to be had, and over forty (yes FORTY) golf courses set around Nevada, with stunning views and varying challenges. I wish I'd known all this sooner, but in future trips this will most certainly be part of my routine. As the saying I've now learned goes "a bad day of golf is still better than a good day at work". I can certainly attest to this. I'm improving over time, and hope to play more when both time and good weather permit.
This was a big part of the trip for me this time. From the outset I'll say I'm not a great golfer, which is to say I birdie occasionally, and generally point the club in the right direction. I had a bit of a late start in life with the game, but have found I enjoy it a lot, it's good for the mind and body, and I'm lucky enough to have patient and chilled friends, one of whom is also a PGA pro who's slowly helped me to improve and learn technique. In Las Vegas in particular (outside of the Summer months when the desert heat just makes playing simply unbearable) there are some amazing value golf deals to be had, and over forty (yes FORTY) golf courses set around Nevada, with stunning views and varying challenges. I wish I'd known all this sooner, but in future trips this will most certainly be part of my routine. As the saying I've now learned goes "a bad day of golf is still better than a good day at work". I can certainly attest to this. I'm improving over time, and hope to play more when both time and good weather permit.
Getting away from the strip
Time spent with friends was of great importance. I'm blessed to have some great friends in Las Vegas. My good pal Gary and the dogs Rocky and Trixie rank right up there. We had a lot of laughs, and any time spent with dogs is never time wasted in my opinion. Dios Mio man.
Time spent with friends was of great importance. I'm blessed to have some great friends in Las Vegas. My good pal Gary and the dogs Rocky and Trixie rank right up there. We had a lot of laughs, and any time spent with dogs is never time wasted in my opinion. Dios Mio man.
A lot of my pals here work in the industry or are players obviously, so we kind of had to grab time to meet and socialise when it was possible with our respective schedules. Generally we made it happen, and it's great that despite the poker connection, for the most part we rarely talked about poker, and instead just ate, drank, laughed and did silly stuff. It made me very happy to see you guys. You know who you are.
I also escaped once or twice out to hike and see stuff. As I have said, the U.S, and especially Nevada, is a beautiful place. If ever you visit, get out and see stuff away from the strip. Don't just drink and gamble. You'll thank me for it.
I also escaped once or twice out to hike and see stuff. As I have said, the U.S, and especially Nevada, is a beautiful place. If ever you visit, get out and see stuff away from the strip. Don't just drink and gamble. You'll thank me for it.
The future
As a few of you know, I quit my job prior to leaving for this trip. After two years it had simply ran it's course, and I needed new challenges, new ways to earn and also more freedom to do the things I want. I am by no means afraid of hard work, but the 9-5 soon became a 7-7, and I was constantly exhausted and never got to go out any more as I was always too tired, plus my earnings, though regular, were significantly lower than they had been through poker. So here we are. No regrets, and it was overall a great experience, but I needed to be my own boss once more, whatever I come to be doing.
As a few of you know, I quit my job prior to leaving for this trip. After two years it had simply ran it's course, and I needed new challenges, new ways to earn and also more freedom to do the things I want. I am by no means afraid of hard work, but the 9-5 soon became a 7-7, and I was constantly exhausted and never got to go out any more as I was always too tired, plus my earnings, though regular, were significantly lower than they had been through poker. So here we are. No regrets, and it was overall a great experience, but I needed to be my own boss once more, whatever I come to be doing.
My poker plans in 2018 include likely the Venetian DSE and possibly the Wynn in February for the whole month, but most importantly of all, I now have the freedom in my calendar to play the WHOLE duration of the WSOP in the Summer, and not just three weeks or so, which greatly curtailed my freedom with scheduling for the last two years. I'm very happy and excited about this, and I hope to be playing in a much bigger schedule of Summer events, this time once again including the WSOP $10K main. Early days, but that's my plan. There is also a chance I may be travelling to play some cash and occasional tournaments some locations overseas, possibly Macau. In amongst all this I have a few business projects I am also hoping to get started on, so I'm certainly going to be busy. It's not going to be a full on poker year, as I left full time poker for a reason, but I'll certainly be playing more now that I'm able to again.
I'd like to end with a line to the people who show support, either by investing, or with messages, or even just by saying the right thing at the right time. Some are friends, some investors, some I've never even met before. I mess about at the table, but away from that I'm a little more complex as my close friends know. Let's call it "special" and just leave it at that. I'm very guarded about who crosses the line between acquaintance and close friend, having made some really horrible choices over the years (haven't we all?), but I do know some really good people, and for the sensible words of support, encouragement and understanding you give, as always, I thank you.
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