ìThere is no mind so machine like that you can depend upon it to function with equal efficiency at all timesî ñ Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

†I have played more hands of poker over the past three years than almost any other individual.† At times Iíve played unbelievable poker.† I have perfectly narrowed down my opponents hand range by street, having their exact hand range pegged by river.† This has lasted for whole sessions, whole weeks even a whole month.† During these time frames Iíll be in everyone of my opponentís heads knowing how they will react to bets on every street of every size and I can trick them to making mistakes.† The money pours in.

Then there have been sessions, weeks and even months where my brain seems unable to focus and think through a hand.† I play on autopilot, playing a standard tight unthinking game, making countless mistakes and having all of my opponents on a default hand range, not even trying to figure out how they are thinking and playing.† The money slowly flows away.

I have thought long and hard about why this is and have tried to maximize my time playing my “A” game.† I tried to design a lifestyle that would help me play my “A” game most often.† This included regularly working out, eating healthy, staying on a set schedule, and minimizing outside influences that could affect my game such as girls, alcohol going out partying etc., this helped me play my “A” game much more often but there were and still are times when I feel myself playing terrible.

ìThe desire for constant action irrespective of underlying conditions is responsible for many losses in Wall Street even among the professional, who feel they must take home some money every day, as though they are working for regular wagesî ñ Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

I think part of the problem is I like all successful and most unsuccessful poker players have a very addictive personality.† I crave action and am always tempted in play in the biggest game if it is soft.† Afterwards when the big games toughen up, it become difficult †to move back down and play in smaller games where my earn would be higher. †This often results in me playing in games where my EV is very small, sometimes even negative which results in losses, which result in me playing worse.† I have yet to meet a poker player who doesnít play better when winning or on an upswing and much worse than losing or on a downswing.† This is a downside of starting to take shots in games where you have a big edge, itís hard to move back down.

Itís hard to say what will knock someone off their A game.† I know friends who after breaking up with their girlfriend totally lose their poker ability going on massive downswings destroying their bankroll.† Normally a shot gone bad, will do the same thing to people, as will excess partying, drug use, a downswing, having too much money for the stakes they are playing or simple lack of desire.† Also overextending yourself playing too much poker for too many days in a row can also cause your brain to start malfunctioning.†† I just read an interview in Bluff with Andy Black saying, ìThe problem with many players during the WSOP is by the end of the series their brain starts to melt from too much pokerî, and I couldnít agree more.† From conversations with many of my friends I believe this happened to several of them along with myself during the WSOP. †Overall after these players have ëlost ití they hardly resemble the same player.†

Many of the qualities that make you a good poker player, mainly the ability to limit, suppress, and eliminate your emotions; making your brain machine-like, make me feel less human.† I am no longer that excited about big wins nor do get depressed over big losses.†† For poker I feel this is a very good quality but I find it carrying over to other aspects of my life.†

I no longer get excited about trips, vacations, dates, birthdays, tournaments or parties.† And inversely negative events donít bring me down.† Maybe I am just becoming some sort of zen-master, detached from the everyday emotions of living, but I donít know if it that is a good or bad thing.†

Sometimes I feel, as I know many professional poker friends do that Iím in my own little world.† I walk around with cards, hands and lines floating around in my head barley remembering Iím in the world of humans. I am fully focused on making money and the next time I can gamble.† I KNOW IíM IN MAJOR GEEK TERRORITY.

I think in the future Iím going to treat poker as an on and off job.† Iíll focus almost exclusively on it for a month then take a month off to travel, relax with friends and family and pursue other interests.† Poker in my opinion is not something you can just half ass, it requires a total lifestyle dedication to be successful at the highest limits.

I didnít play poker yesterday for the first time yesterday since May 25^th and boy did it feel good.† I can feel my brain turning from poker robot back mode back into normal human thinking.†

Tomorrow Iím planning on heading to Hawaii for a week and am planning on staying at the Waikiki beachside hostel.† From there Iím planning on traveling around the Hawaii islands and hopefully meeting up with some cool people. †There is also a chance that I will give up the hostel and go stay at the Hyatt in Maui.

Afterwards, I may return to Vegas for a quick recharge or continue on my travels elsewhere.† I donít have any set plans until I return to Michigan at the end of August for a family vacation and then to hook up with my friends for Welcome Week back in East Lansing, MI.† This blog will probably be lacking poker content for a while so donít plan on reading it unless you want to hear about my travels.