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Server Time: 3/16/2010 1:32:18 AM PACIFIC |
 Question for Roy Cooke RE: Poker Life, Roy Cooke, 31. Oct 2003 09:18 | ||
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| Dear Roy, I am at a bit of a crossroads in my life and poker career, but first let me give you a quick background on myself. The past 3 years my life has become a predictable cycle. I would work my ass off with some crappy jobs pump up my bankroll to like 10 dimes, quit my job to pursue playing poker professionally only to fall flat on my face flat broke having to look for another job just to repeat the cycle. It has been humbling, especially when I would have to go back to my ex-boss and ask to rehire me, which has happened a few times and the times it didn't I had to look for another job. During that period I would play limits ranging from 15/30 to 40/80 winning about 1/4 of the Big Bet an hour. It was never enough, I would survive a few months and then go bust and have to look for a job again. I could never make enough to survive so I would have to use my bankroll for my expenses and then I would run bad in the most inopportune times and you know the rest.. Well during the past year, a period dating back 12 months to November 2002, I appear to have turned things around. I am averaging 3/4 of the Big Bet an hour in just a shade over 1000 hours playing only on Friday, Saturday and Sundays as I work the rest of my week doing some crappy job that pays 10 bucks an hour. My game has grown because everytime I would wake up early in the morning working some job I didn't enjoy it motivated me to work on my game, i.e. reading, studying, thinking and breathing poker. During some down times at work I would analyze and reanalyze situations at the poker table and be better off for it. I had a few revelations that I have implemented, such as not bouncing around in limits that I knew I couldn't afford to lose in, etc. And now I have poker stability, 3/4 of the Big Bet an hour. I have a nice little nest egg now as poker has more than supplemented my income but that is frustrating me now. When I collect my paycheck from my job every other week and see a sum that I can make in one decent session at the poker table I can't help but yearn to quit my job and try another stab at playing poker professionally. But after a few years of trying it unsuccessfully I have become apprehensive about it, scared. Luckily I live in Los Angeles, a place where there are plenty of card rooms and plenty of good games to choose from. I was thinking of taking a baby step and silent propping for like 15 bucks an hour. Meaning I get paid to play with my own money. I don't think I can handle going bust again, especially after how hard I have worked to get to my current position of poker stability and finally learning from past mistakes that I don't want to repeat. How did you maintain stability for all of these years? Roy Says: I played below my bankroll. Kept my stress level low, took vacations, worked out and invested part of my win for my future. I also eliminated any situation from life that stressed me out mentally or emotionally unless the person I was dealing with was a VERY important person in my life. Did you have more than 300 times the Big Bet in the limits that you played in over your career? Roy Says: Most of the time way more. I am a conservative guy as far as the gambling world is concerned. I like the low stress long term approach to poker. If you put yourself under stress it wears you down and affects your personal life. What did you do outside of poker to help maintain balance in your life so as to get your mind off the ups and downs of poker? Roy Says: I had a relationship (she is now my wile) that was independent of poker. She knew nothing (And still doesn't) about the game. I keep relationships away form the poker rooms. I actually don't socialize much in the cardroom environment and keep my life in two separate compartments. Something I think is very important, I kept active in the normal business world, so that I could move in and out of both sub-cultures. Any anecdotes or suggestions would be appreciated. Roy Says: I like poker better as a additional job. Actually now it is more for fun even though I still can perform well in the games. Once you play for the rent, the fun can go and it can become a grind. Treat the game seriously, study hard and keep your future in mind. Remember someday you will be 50, not as mentally sharp, with not as much energy, looking to retire with no benefits. Thanks for your time, Lee | ||
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| Re: Question for Roy Cooke RE: Poker Life, Mark Barnett II, 31. Oct 2003 10:19 | ||
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| 2 ideas get online where there are more options of tables *better table selection might help although not sure how much money is to be made on regular basis online versus B&M* get a part time job *helps ease the strain on the BR which is always a good thing* or something where you are time committed, however as you have noted having a full time job just sux *so many hours spent doing something you dont like getting paid less than what you think your time is worth* the critical part is having somewhere to be in a timely fashion, aka commitments. get out of the poker world some each day to stop and smell the flowers basically. Rule #1 of Poker Circumstances alter cases Rule #2 NEVER forget rule #1 | ||
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| RE: Poker Life humor..., Angel, 31. Oct 2003 14:01 | ||
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| on 31. Oct 2003 09:18 Roy Cooke wrote: > Roy Says: I had a relationship (she is now my wile) wile: NOUN: 1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare. ROTF - thank you Roy - I just got home from LA, am dog tired trying to unwind after a series of intense sessions and this typo had me in stitches. I can sleep now. lol | ||
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| Re: RE: Poker Life humor..., KJo, 3. Nov 2003 17:40 | ||
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| Who said it was a typo? :) Eli on 31. Oct 2003 14:01 Angel wrote: > on 31. Oct 2003 09:18 Roy Cooke wrote: > > > Roy Says: I had a relationship (she is now my wile) > > wile: NOUN: 1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare. > > ROTF - thank you Roy - I just got home from LA, am dog tired trying to unwind after > a series of intense sessions and this typo had me in stitches. I can sleep now. lol | ||
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