Grinding Live Poker Post Black Friday

I knew in advance I was going to loose my job on March 31st, 2011. At the time I was grinding a lot online on Pokerstars and Fulltilt Poker. I did very well in 2010 on both sites but didn't have much success in big Live MTT's. Well I still haven't but I made some goals and the main one was to play live poker more. I was lacking the table skill needed to take on players in a live setting. After I got laid off I continued to play online and rarely made the trip to casino to do so. Only live games I played were the WSOPC in mid March. I was able to make a deep run, was solid at reading the hands as they played out, but lacked the live table skills.

Two weeks passed and my goal went out the window. I continued to play online like a maniac with little to moderate success. Then one day some one up there must have heard my whimpering cries, because on April 15,2011 the all mighty DOJ stepped in and shut down online poker as we know it.

At first I was bummed and disappointed about it. I tried looking at all the positives. Maybe this would be the kick in the booty that I needed to get out there and grind the live games? I been told by a lot of poker friends and pro's that cash is where the money is at. All the pro's make their money there and MTT's are just for show, a chance to hit it huge, a shot in the dark, and a way to accomplish your dreams in one tournament. Yes, MTT's are fun, but cash is where the real money is they said.

Post Black Friday my new goals were to:

1. Play a lot of Live tournaments
2. Play a lot of Live Cash games. Learn it, live it, DO IT!!!

I wasn't a cash player. I actually hated sitting at the casino's where all the drunk's were. For one there is that long drive you have to do and not to mention you actually have to get out of bed...geeez how annoying live poker could be I thought. So all my emphasis was on tournaments and I stayed away from the cash games.

So I began to do my casino trips and play live cash and mtt's. I played MTT's at Pachanga and Morongo and chopped them both. Nice. As for the cash game I needed to start of slow and played the 100 max $1/$2 HENL at the Morongo. After a couple hours I had more then tripped my buy in. I got lucky I said so went home about my business. This was a great boost to my confidence and allowed me to trust myself and my "skill".

I slowly played more and more cash games. I took a trip to The Bike with my TPT/OPT Poker buddies Paul and Tracey. I did ok in the MTT and didn't cash, but afterwards I crushed the 40max $1/$2 HENL. I made my buy in for the MTT and a lot more. That day I staked Paul in the MTT and he busted out as well with out cashing. I stacked him in the 40max cash game and in 1hr came back with the cash and mtt stake. Made it look easy. I after experiencing my "short" success I knew if I could do it, then most definitely would. Paul is a much better player then I am. So he proved me right and won.

Scott Diamond

I continued to grind it and took a trip to San Manuel with Scott. They only had a 300max $2/$5 HENL game and played for a couple of hours loosing about $100 there, but got to watch and learn from Scott a great deal(pictured right). While I took a loss, it was a big learning experience and more table time. Besides I made all back and then some playing black jack. :)

I been playing about 4 times a week now. I now play the $1/$3 and $2/$5 HENL with a lot of confidence. My biggest win was a 14hr marathon cash session good for $3k and that was in the $1/$3 200max. That day I was going to play a MTT, but the cash game was going so good that I never left the table. My tournament which up to this point my favorite poker game, so I thought. I wasn't upset or regretful that I had missed it. The cash table is where the money was and me being unemployed....

Street3

I have a very good feel for the tables. I don't come in raising or trying to make any moves. I study those cash games, get to know who my opponents are, and what style they are playing. I get a feel most importantly of who the Reloaders are. The guy that is going to bust and yell CHIPS PLEASE!!! Cha-ching!!! Thats my best friend at the table and the one that gets my full support. ;)

At first I was disappointed and upset the DOJ stepped in and shut down the Online sites, but now that I am having such good success I thank them. I support their choice 100% I have no intentions of playing in any site. I don't care if it gets approved, or some how FTP and PS come back for any reason. I might even send them some flowers and a thank you card.

Thanks to Scott aka @DeputySD and Steven aka @Street3(pictured left) for their continued support. Its always good to have friends to talk poker and get advice from.



I am finally improving at the game I like to play with out all the online unnormal continuous bad beats. Hope to continue to do well.

Thanks all,

-Angel 'gijoe' Valdez