About the blogger...

I think that in the spirit of interesting blogging (and following Pauly’s rules of engagement), I should tell you all more about me. Tell you about me personally, and what my motives and purposes are for my blog.

I am in my mid-20’s, and reside in the Chicago suburbs. I have lived around Chicago my entire life. My beautiful wife of just about 1 year and I have a townhouse that we share with our 2 dogs, Wiggum and Cooper. Within the next 2 years or so, we will hopefully share our abode with another little one—but this one will probably not have a name quite like the 2 dogs. We are both proud grads of the University of Illinois—Oskee Wow Wow, Illinois! My career has taken me many places at a young age, and I am currently in Corporate Sales. It’s very challenging and generally keeps me on my toes. It should be obvious by now that one of my pastimes (I’d hate to call it a hobby since I feel that I am getting pretty good) is playing poker. I have played ‘poker’ since I was 3. It probably sounds like a fish tale, but I have witnesses who can corroborate. My Grandfather operated Video Poker machines in taverns, and I grew up working in his business and industry. When I first came around his office, the first thing I was given to pass the time was a video poker machine. You can see it many ways—potentially inappropriate, to encourage an impressionable youngster with poker. Or—you can see it as a very good way to stimulate mathematical and strategic skills.

An early exposure to the game of poker led to my interest in versions of the game that involved greater skill and far more advanced thinking. Hence—games like Texas Hold ‘Em.
Like many, I have the semi-regular home game(s). I play in some larger live tournaments, and have gotten into playing online. My first foray came with a referral bonus on Pacific Poker. I got in during the $100 referral period. My first 2 tournaments yielded about $600 in winnings, and I was on my way. What happened next is pretty ironic. My wife ribs me, telling me that it’s like something out of a movie—like a Rounders (I love that she can equate something to that movie now…I recently turned her on to it. I also got her into playing cards—another story for another time!). My car broke down—and it wasn’t cheap. My clutch went out, and my bill was $1300. I took my bankroll on Pacific Poker, and went to earn my $1300. I played at cash tables; ranging from 5/10 limit up to 30/60. Within another 4 days or so, I had taken my $700 bankroll up to over $2500. Once I hit that level, I did the safe thing, and pulled $1300 out to fix my car. Glad I did it, because I hit a very terrible run of cards, and went bust. All this was against the better advice of a friend—Justin “One More Card” (I’m sure its only a matter of time before we have some quotes from him on here—or he has his own blog). He saw that I was getting antsy and a little bit on tilt. His advice was to only break into a cash table with what I was comfortable losing that night. I did that first, but that $300 went REALLY quick. I went against his wise words…and continued to lose almost all the rest of my bankroll.

I am now busted (only in Pac Poker, not overall J)—hence the play recently in the free roll tournaments.

But my experience has taught me something (I think it—nobody else really has to)—when I stick to my game and remain disciplined, I really can play. SO—I have set a goal for myself, and I think I will try to track some of my progress toward this goal on this blog. I want to play in the MAIN EVENT at the WSOP next year. I don’t have a specific detailed plan—but my overall plan does include refreshing my online bankroll, and using that same disciplined play that paid off my car to gain entry to the main event. I’d also like to be able to play a WSOP NL event prior to the main event, just to have that experience before I play for $10+ million.
So—what will you see on my blog? You will primarily see my experiences with the great game of poker…my home games, tournaments, online play, etc. You will also see commentary about other games—ones that I watch, read about, etc. Things like the WSOP, WPT, etc. And—read frequently enough, and I bet you will find a funny story about my wife, or dogs, or something of the like.

I hope you are entertained, enlightened, or moved in some way by my writings. Hopefully I can be a positive contributor to a very healthy poker blogging community. I am proud to join, and hope that I can make all the veterans proud with my insights and writings on the game.
AND—if you see me playing online (mainly at Pacific Poker—handle=Hexum311 and Party Poker—handle=Bradstreet31), give me a shout!