My Poker Adventure Begins....

[taft]

Gl, gl! 

[GotWhatItTakes]

Sounds like an exciting journey.

Did you know you can qualify for the aussie millions on 888? Would be a great finish for your adventure to ship the Aussie Millions Main Event :cash:

[BookTheWin]

ya maybe if I hit a solid score give Aussie Millions sats a run but $1,050 finals that's some serious bankroll committment most likely to get into a final.  Go win a million and watch some tennis call it a week. 😃

[vongrundal]

 

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@BookTheWin wrote:

Plan on staying in Europe till like January and then go to Australia to watch Tennis lol.

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Good idea! Also planning to go to Melbourne in January. Could be fun if you cashcashcash and go as well! I'm in Brazil now but will be back in Europe in the end of november. Hopefully I will see you at UO Bucharest with a BookTheWin hoodie.

[BookTheWin]

that's pretty legendary to be chillin in Brazil that's gotta be fun.

[radge1]

Good Luck BookTheWin....though I think you're radio rental!😉

[jonny2192]

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@radge1 wrote:

Good Luck BookTheWin....though I think you're radio rental!😉

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Translation radio rental = mental, Just in case anyones confussed :)

[BookTheWin]

thanks for the translation 😃

[BookTheWin]

Poker Adventure Official Update #1

Well it's been a very long 3 days of heading across the border,  woke up early Monday Morning and after 2 flights, one was 10 hours and endless travelling it seemed finally was able to get marginal amount of sleep Tuesday evening.  Woke up at 4AM Wednesday waited till 7 to head to Central London and then took a 9 hour 20 bus ride to Glasgow for the Unibet UK Tour Glasgow event.  Then was dropped off at different station and wandered around Glasgow for around 90 mins asking strangers to point me in the right direciton.  Checked into my hostel and it said 7:30 Pm I thought reg closed at 8:10 so had fastest shower and sprinted amelessly once again before finally finding the casino, went to wrong casino initially :sad:.  Found out it was only like 7pm when I arrived and there was a 30 minute or so wait for the tournament, didn't have to panic, but don't have cell phone so no idea of the time, for the majority of the day.

 

Obviously with JetLag and just never sleeping wasn't in the best state of mind.  Met David from Unibet who is a great bloke who definitely helped me out getting everything sorted and was able to finally start playing poker on this trip.  Also met Johnny, Mathrim C, HensiePensie maybe someone else, I was very tired and couldn't think straight, which was great to meet people from the community.

I had like 50 hours of free thinking time and I did use it mostly to think about this tournament, really want to start off with a cash for multiple reasons.  Also almost didn't get past border control with my limited roll, but some ingenious planning barely let me past the border.

Also the night before I headed out, I really realized how stupid this was, and definitely considered flying back after my first flight...

Tournament #1 of 3 Unibet UK Glasgow.

25,000 Starting Chips (Goal was 140,000) If less than 121,000 or bust then playing Nottingham Saturday.

I was card dead pretty early, had KJ (Best hand early) opened flop was 569 or something 2 players bet and raised I folded, what's significant is they both did not have K high beat.   Then I led 650 into a flop and someone made it 6000 lol.  Then on a 883 flop someone bet 800 and I made it 2150 with nothing and they made it 11,000 so I was down to 20,000 just before the first break and still didn't win a pot on this trip.  No panic at all tho.

Someone opened 1050 I made it 5k with AK they rejammed for 8k more I snapped they had A8 off I held and was up to 39,000.  I still felt card dead after 2 breaks but was feeling comfortable at my table.

Level 7 to 9 I turend things up, played pretty well and managed to get up 90,000.  I didn't pay anyone off on the river till level 9 or even the turn.  Just picked my spots and took care of a pretty soft table.  I was feeling really good heading to the final 3 levels, definitely thinking Day 2 is in my sights....

Level 10 to 12 blinds started at 600/1200 to 1k/2k/300 at level 12.

We were playing some big pot poker for sure and I 3 bet A10 to someone and they 4 bet me and I folded punted off 10k quick.  Then was back to 92k etc and feeling better when it limped the button and I checked back K5 of hearts.  Flop came K46 with the 46 of hearts, dream flop I check raised and was rejammed for 50k and I snap called after I made it like 16k on my 3 bet.  he surprisingly to me for sure flipped over K10 for top pair not a kicker that would be jam everything...  Regardless I've gotta have at least even money equity turn brought 7 diamonds now I got too many outs.  835 heart...  River A of clubs and down to 45,000.  In my mind I was like win this pot and make Day 2!

That one was soul crushing for a bit.  I ripped the next hand over someone with A7 suited over a button raise and stole the pot then had 45 suited Flop 457 with 2 diamonds it went bet raise to me, I thought about the players etc and decided I liked my chances and jammed.  went Call Call and it was a good scenario was up against 62 (really weak player) then A6 of diamonds for a lot of outs but I like my spot 3 ways for sure.  I called out 5 Ball and turn was a 5 and the hand was over and I was up to 120k.  

There was some other big fluctations including a 100K pot where it was 107 vs my QJ on 1096, if an 8 came it woulda been 150k pot for sure and I missed that one which hurt cause Id be commanding chip leader.  But regardless I ended up with 141,200 chips.  Which was more than my goal and I made my first live day 2 which felt pretty good.  State of mind last 2 levels I was so sleep deprived that I saw a man holding his jacket and definitely seen him holding a Cat instead.  

Funny thing I definitely said all in a couple times last 2 levels 4 bet jamming AK off to someone who had 100k, I wasn't a Nit for sure.  

Just tried to extend my stay for tomorrow at least or 2 more days and they are fully booked so not sure what I'm doing today.  But I am in a solid spot to potentially cash and keep the dream alive.

[BookTheWin]

Small Update:  Couldn't afford to stay in Glasgow so randomly chose somewhere close Edinburgh.  So going to get my drinking shoes on and relax for once on this trip.  Everyone's in Glasgow for the big world cup qualifying match, maybe not that big, but still pretty big.  Good luck to anyone from the Community who is playing Day1B I hoped to stop by and check it out, but circumstances changed.  Ready to go for Day 2.  Told my buddy probably have a Top 5 stack and bang 5th after Day1A shark reads haha.  

 

[BookTheWin]

Official Update #2

Mind State- Panicked

In Glasgow still on Monday and till tomorrow morning, not sure what to do to be honest.

Definitely going to run up some cash today on Unibet to try get me till next week.

Right now financially I got about 6 or 7 days of cash on a NIT budget.

Pretty bad day financially with a decent bet lossed, punted 30 pounds or so at the Casino and didn't cash obviously in the poker tournament.

Time to just win some cash online and then play my final tournament on Saturday if I don't cash.  I do have another toureny on 21st but I can't last that long right now lol.

16th 550 pound tournament with 250,000 pounds guaranteed 200,000 starting chips lol.  That's my final tournament at the moment...

[WuDu]

Similar to the "Degenerate stories" on twoplustwo, I enjoy reading blogs like yours. I just hope your story ends with you making a big cash and using the money as a foundation for a happy life, instead of roaming the streets of Glasgow blowing randoms for lunch money...

[BookTheWin]

Minor Update: Scared to death ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Down to about 70 pounds and in Glasgow still running on a 30 pound/day burnrate so that's not that long left.  

Going to borrow 50 pounds from my mate later today to get me to survive till Sunday.

Sunday playing the 550 pound grand prix at DuskTillDawn in Nottingham.

Played  5 x 10 euro 5 player sngs yesterday on Unibet and won them all and then cashed out, but it takes a week to get paid.  So tuesday should get some cash, but right now I won't last till Tuesday.

If I cash Sunday it's all good in the neighborhood but I still gotta cash obviously and nothing is guaranteed in poker.  Besides that NMPFan is a robot.

Have a few tournament tickets left on Unibet and hoping to get the ones I won on Twitch soon so I can try and bink a score.  Thinking if I can run up 100 euros today to jam it all on a bet and cash out 200 euros if it wins.  

Just had a solid Chicken Caesar Salad that will definitely be the meal of the day.  If you see me at the tables just foooooooooooold. lol  

Good luck to everyone else at the tables

[BookTheWin]

Officially Screwed:

They disallowing my 550 pound ticket, despite an email suggesting otherwise to use this weekend.  Which means I went from 3 tourneys to 2 because that tourney isn't till 28th.

Relied heavily on this 2nd tourney best odds to cash probably 50% of the time I would have cashed now, I'm screwed.

[Magicadil]

Why are they disallowing the ticket? Are they saying its not valid?

 

As a Canadian citizen if youre stranded in a different country without financial means to get back you can seek assistance from the Canadian Embassy.

[jonny2192]

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@BookTheWin wrote:

Officially Screwed:

They disallowing my 550 pound ticket, despite an email suggesting otherwise to use this weekend.  Which means I went from 3 tourneys to 2 because that tourney isn't till 28th.

Relied heavily on this 2nd tourney best odds to cash probably 50% of the time I would have cashed now, I'm screwed.

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I really hope you find a solution. I have sent you a pm. 

The best of luck.

[BookTheWin]

The email stated it could be used for several events and not just the wpt 500 on oct 28th.  I asked them today just to confirm and they said sorry only for wpt 500.  So my fault for assuming from an email, I guess.  I cashed out some on Unibet yesterday it arrives Tuesday just a couple hundred cdn.  I'll get one of my friends hopefully to wire me 50 pounds or so to get me till then.  I'll sell my laptop or something if need be to get me till Tuesday.  I'm freaking out for sure going to try find a spot here tonight that I can grind all night long with a couple tickets I have left. 

[Magicadil]

Its time for the serious talk. No sugar coating it.

 

The situation you put yourself in is entirely your fault. You took a massive gamble (which breaks Safe Gambling ethics, etc) and it's actions like this is why I dont affiliate with many gamblers. You have to think logically especially when youre dealing with life or death type situations. Trying to turn nothing into something big is a pipe dream and should only be executed with a clear back up plan if you do happen to find yourself in the more likely scenerio.

 

I'll be honest, when I read your initial post it infuriated me a little and I had some not so nice words in my head.

 

Will I help you if you allow it? Of corse. I believe in helping each other when we're down because it makes the world a better place.

 

Do I think your judgement is flawed? Most definitely. I do wish you the best of luck and hope nothing but the best for you. But please, dont ever put yourself in a similar situation. It negatively impacts everyone.

[BookTheWin]

Obviously  had put it, I'm well I dunno actually.

The thing is impacting anyone negatively, I'm sorry for that for anyone and all that feel that way, never my intention.  

Let me if I may explain my mindset here, it's not an excuse, it's just my mindset.  

I won 3 live tournaments, needed at least 2 to even consider doing this.  

The first one I thought I had an edge in the field, arguable but my mind set I was in a certain percentile of the Unibet UK Tour Glasgow event.  I did make Day 2 and then lost 88 vs A4 river A I could have saved 50k but put most of my money in good.  Played the tourney pretty well, in my opinion besides that last call.

2nd tourney I figured I could use my 550 pound ticket to buy into day 2 of a tourney and have a 50% chance of min cashing. 135 get paid on Sunday I don't expect more than 400 to be there in Day 2 and 50% on ave id cash.

3rd tourney 30k starting 1500 buy in min cash 30000 starting 60 min blinds, deep structure to have a reasonable shot of cashing.

What was I leaving at home , nothing...  Sure family, but the fact is they have let me down significantly, they never offered to help.  I've been offered more help in the past hour from the community forum then my family helping me out on my life.

I worked for 6 months and then was scammed by an ex friend in vegas 10 months ago.  Been grinding check by check having to sell my possessions like xbox, a non 10lb laptop and grinded my bills with no help.

I'm in incredible pain, just this morning it took me a frustrating hour cleaning up my back once again like everyday to get on my day.  

So your telling me I could play 3 big live touranments quit the rat race of grinding bills and have a shot at getting enough cash to get pain free, get the dental surgery, and others that I require to get me to who I should be and start my life.   I'm going to jump at that opportunity, regardless of how bad I feel.

Then I classicly bust near the money of tourney 1, tourney 2 can't be used when I want and forced to take other actions to make tourney 3.  

Do I feel bad? Yup

Do I look bad? Yup

Is it a de g enerate ga mbling p ro blem?  Nope

I just want a shot at a life that I want and if I have to take the shot at it with no parachute, well it felt like the right play in my opinion. 

I am sorry for anyone that I am impacting negatively, but I wasn't going to sugar coat this adventure, life isn't all easy and I still have a shot at making a life and when your 29 and feel like you punted away your best years, sick of staying with your parents.  Sick of the pain, you just have to go for it and I don't regret this opportunity, without it I wouldn't have met some great people in Glasgow.

[Magicadil]

Don't get it wrong I still like you as a person and consider you a friend. I just wanted to share my opinion on the entire thing. My opinions arent always 'mainstream' but I'm also a very independent thinker.

 

Again, if youre ever in need of help there are many people on this forum including myself who can chip in some $ to help.

 

Take care & best wishes.

[Jami-Unibet]

No , you have not affected any of us negatively. No clue why anyone would say that. 

I feel really happy that you have taken the chance! Don't feel happy it didn't turn out as planned, but that's life. But like a phoenix, you'll rise for sure! 

And too bad you feel like that about your family, hopefully you'll get the relationship fixed. Family is important.

[Ametrine]

Yep, I think so too - sometimes people just need to make a drastic change and take a chance - you will still have the opportunity to go back home and live the everyday life, better take a shot at this adventure while you're young, right :)

If you decide you need some help, you will ask for it and you will get help - many people have given good advice and are willing to chip in a little, if you say you need it 👍

No need to set any extra pressure on yourself with negative thinking 😏

What's your next step now?

[WuDu]



Punted off 1000s in slot machines.

Degenerate gambling is not the problem.

Pick one...

I feel for people like you the whole casino atmosphere/lifestyle is too toxic. If you manage to bink one tourney on your adventure trip, be happy and see it as a parting gift to start a regular life at home, seek help from social workers, get as helathy as your insurance allows it, but the idea of making 50 grand playing MTTs with absolutely no bankroll is insane. From your last messages here it sounds like you're one step closer to "I'm not gay, but $20 is $20." That cannot be it...

 

[JillianP]

I don't understand why people are reacting so negatively?

I know a few people who have thrown a few belongings in a backpack and set off with just the money in their pocket.
Nobody bats an eyelid, it's practically de riguer for any student.

Life should be an adventure, especially while you are young and free.
Plenty of time to be old and boring later.

The fact that playing poker and hopefully making some money from it is part of the journey doesn't make it wrong, any more than wanting to use the entries you've won with hard work and sweat means you have a gambling problem!

[jonny2192]

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@JillianP wrote:

I don't understand why people are reacting so negatively?

I know a few people who have thrown a few belongings in a backpack and set off with just the money in their pocket.

Nobody bats an eyelid, it's practically de riguer for any student.

Life should be an adventure, especially while you are young and free.

Plenty of time to be old and boring later.

The fact that playing poker and hopefully making some money from it is part of the journey doesn't make it wrong, any more than wanting to use the entries you've won with hard work and sweat means you have a gambling problem!

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@JillianP The story has expanded a lot since the last posts. There was a long chat on twitch.