Today was a great day for me in terms of results! I really have been spending a lot of time working on my tournament game as of late! Within the past week, I’ve gotten pretty far in a bunch of tournaments but I haven’t finished through in the end game. Well today was a breakthrough for me as my confidence has sky rocketed because I placed 1st out of 199 players in the $109 Rebuy today online. The payout was nice for the day but I’m really more ecstatic about winning the tournament than the the prize itself. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if I would be happier about this win than getting 3rd place in another tournament with a higher prize. On paper, yes the bigger prize money sounds better but the feeling of winning a tournament is so hard to describe in words that winning really is nice. But after reflecting on it, I think that most people would be much happier about this win but I wasn’t (don’t get me wrong, I’m still happy to win). My girlfriend asked me, why aren’t you so happy at dinner today? And I thought about it and I believe this is why…
I know it may seem easier for me to say something like that where the money doesn’t matter as much because I have had much success in the past but I do believe in the words that I hear often that “money comes and goes.” What’s important to someone is on a person by person basis but to me it’s the feelings, the sense of accomplishment, and the world around you that I feel is most important. What point is there to money, if you only have yourself? Really take the time to look around you to see what you have and be thankful for it. I’m very fortunate that poker has been very successful for me but I’m more fortunate about the family and friends around me that share a piece of my life with me. For that, I thank them for being a part of me and I think that is infinitely stronger than winning an MTT.
Wtg Randy. Can’t wait to see you win a live event also.
Great Post, hit the nail on the head. I think movies like ‘I am Legend’ and ’28 Days Later’ give us a little insight into life without people…. Pretty Damn Dull…..!!
Grats for the win! Winning a mtt really is a hell of a feeling!
I railed you in the last 30min of that tourney. When you were headsup close to the end, in my opinion you overplayed that AT hand pretty badly. Your opponent got very careful in the headsup play and played pretty weak and passive. So when he made that big reraise (not sure anymore if was a 3bet or 4bet) I think it was really obvious that he had a strong hand there. Considering the way he played before his move here just cried for a premium hand. I was very surprised then to see you shoving that AT. He called with AK but you got lucky and hit the ten.
What were you thinking in this hand?
Greets
I am very impressed with your 1st place finish. Congrats!! What impresses me even more is your attitude towards life. May your great attitude continue to bring you success my friend. I will strive to be just as positive if not more!!!
I’ve not been nearly as successful in terms of winnings or reaching high stakes, so I am glad to hear this from some one who is so accomplished. I love poker, and sometimes I play out of boredom. However, most of the time, I sit down to play my best with the aspiration to WIN. Last night I played an MTT with around 4400 people, trying every step of the way to win it all. When I finally busted in 53rd place with my KK<A5, I got pretty upset and I let it bother me until this morning. The point of this is that I spent almost all day hiking in the woods today with my girlfriend and had an amazing experience. So, I guess all I'm saying is I can relate and thanks for sharing this with the poker community.
Congratulations for the 1th place!!!
And thanks for the article! Your are a “true” poker player!
Regards, Javier.
Money is important only as a means to an end – improving your life and attaining happiness. It’s up to you to decide how to use your wealth to maximize your happiness. As a good poker player, I’m sure you have no problem figuring out how to maximize your EV from “life”
Great article. You have a great handle on what is really important for someone with as much success as you have. I appreciate your insights into this and would want to hear them more often.
I struggle very similarly with poker in this regard. As mostly a tournament player, I don’t think I play nearly the volume I should. These feelings you describe are a big reason when I look back on it. When I’m not getting wins (no matter what my ROI looks like), I’m not pleased (even worse when I completely bust)… always feels like a kick to the jewels. Even though I realize that’s standard, and you can’t really tell anything about your results from one tournament, or one session, or a month of sessions, really… I tend to shut it down if I make a horrendous decision or get bit by variance, rather than make the adjustments and put in the work.
When I pick up that big win, or even just a small win that gives me any sense of accomplishment, I tend to similarly shy away from returning to the tables. Even though a tournament win is hardly a new event for me, I still get that sense of euphoria and endorphine high from winning or reaching a new high in my bankroll. Afterwards, I look back and wish I had played more (I don’t believe in rushes, but I do highly believe in environmental factors in poker that can effect your results – the way you’re playing, the opponents available, your body chemistry).
I realize how irrational both of these are… but usually only after the moments have passed. I’ve been playing for three years now, and I still haven’t broken this feeling (even though I believe it is progress that I realize it happens). I don’t like losing… and like losing what I’ve won even less.