2008 from the felt
Well here we are headed into the New Year and just like last year I am starting things off broke. My poker roll has been destroyed, I have no car insurance…again, my license plate are expired, I have several people demanding the money that I owe them, I am tired, I am hungry, I have been very sick lately and I have a girlfriend that hates poker. 2008 is going to ROCK!
Back in November I had a reasonable amount of money that I could use to play my favorite game. However, that all ended when I got a call from one of my favorite Companies in the whole world, Bank of America (bastards). Bank of America seems to think (and they are right) that I should pay the money that I owe them for the credit card that I had. Here’s the deal, I went over my limit somewhere back in 05 and BOA thinks it about time that they got paid. Anyway, I had to give them just about ever cent I had and on top of that I have to pay them $300 a month or they will go after my personal property. Not that I have any personal property that’s worth anything. Most valuable thing that I owe is probably my X-box…No not an X-box 360…just an x-box. Broke again.
The word broke has a lot of meanings and interpretations, so let me define it for you. I have been eating Ramen and tuna for longer than I can remember, I live in a one room apartment in the ghetto of Kansas City, I have been rolling pennies for gas, sneaking into movies, and writing bad checks to pay for car repairs. There is more but you get the idea. I am sick of being broke. My day job is not enough to dig me out of this hole that I am sitting in, so I have to build up a bank roll once again. The problem is every time I win a few hundred dollars someone like the bank calls me and it all disappears again. Let’s hope that this time I can build up a bank roll before that happens.
Last week I was able to turn $100 of X-mas money into $400 at a local tournament. I am off to a good start. Now I have to see if I can dodge my girlfriend long enough to pay a little poker. Tonight I might have that chance. She has to work until 11:00 which gives me a little bit of time. I get off work at 4:30; I can get to the casino by 5:00; maybe get onto a table by 6:00; which gives me about 5 hours to play. Also, she is working all day tomorrow and I have the day off. Wish me luck.
When I read Barry Greenstein’s book “Ace on the River” he talked a lot about not playing poker when you are not feeling up to it. He said that before a big game it’s important to be well rested and well feed. Players who have slept have a considerable advantage over those who have been at the tables for 15 hours. When I read this I thought it was very good advice, it’s a shame that I will have to ignore it almost every time I play. I tend to play poker whenever I cannot when I should. Today I skipped lunch (cus I am broke), and I haven’t sleep well in days (I have been sick). However, I have no other time to play so it’s now or never, and like any good gambling addict I am choosing NOW. What would Barry say? He would probably tell me to grow a spine, stand up to my girlfriend and play poker when I feel better. Of course, I date a Latin Woman and it’s not just an option.
…It would be like arguing with a fire as it burns down your house.
Question of the day
Does anyone know a good way to build up a bank roll from scratch?
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
There are simple bankroll measures if you are a winning poker player. For example the 20-25 BI (NLHE) or 300-500BB (LHE) are good guidelines for almost any limit. I had 11$ in Stars from about 3 years ago, which I rediscovered in August. Playing 2c/4c I ran that up to 100$, where it stands now. It’s not much, but that’s what you mean by building a bankroll from scratch. It’s a lot of work and a lot of hands and it can be boring. But money from poker should not be seen as income, just use it as fun money.
There’s a wonderful post by AaronW from 2+2 about bankroll management, it’s great great great:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthread.php?t=60644
Which brings me up to my second point: I think you should put the little money you have into a good meal or so instead of playing poker, or if you must, just do it online, where you can get your fix at the lowest levels (pennies). But if you have debt collectors knocking on your door, then you should focus on paying those things off first and foremost.
Hey ZombieJack,
As I read your post all I could think of was.. I feel your pain.. I really do. I think we’ve all been where you are.. or close enough to realize what a constant battle debt and their collectors can be. I seem to be living to my means regardless of what my job is paying me. On Dec 1st they were canceling my auto insurance because I was a month late.. I drove to my tournament the next day without insurance. My next Friday’s paycheck was already spoken for by a whole new group of bills… I had my last hundred in my pocket and I was off to the casino.. Luckily, I won $800 by chopping with 5 people left in the tournament…
I can’t seem to increase my bankroll either.. it seems every time I win.. I really needed the money for something.
In regards to your question of the day.. I’m thinking just put a % of your winnings (no matter how small) away and do not touch it.. let that be your bankroll savings and build off that. When you play from the bankroll only buy in for a portion (maybe 30-40% ) of what is saved.. that way you can avoid the bankroll going completely empty again. The % put aside for your bankroll will be based on what you can spare… it’s better to put away a small amount and be patient while it grows than to put away more than u can spare and dip into it..
Good Luck!! And have a great New Year’s.. I hope 2008 brings you some great luck.. and cards!
Sandy