$10,000 Poker Challenge (Prelude)

 A lot has happened since my last update. I will get to all that in another blog soon-ish. 

...but for now, I'm presenting a challenge to myself publicly, both because I need some outside motivation and also to hold myself accountable. 

The challenge is simple: start with a $10,000 bankroll and either double it by playing poker every weekend or lose it trying. For people who actually play professionally, this could hardly be considered a challenge, but for a recreational plebe like me -- it's going to be a real test of resolve. 

Quick recap of my "recent" poker endeavors:

- Played a decent amount of volume after quitting my job (summer 2019) up until I went back to Japan last year (right about when the pandemic hit). Won approximately $20,000 during that time. 

- Returned to the USA last summer with intentions of continuing to play (and finish a college program) in Vegas. Instead, went to Vegas and played very little. I did, however, complete my certificate in editing.

- Put forth a laughable amount of effort to play online. It just isn't something I enjoy much. Cashed out almost as quickly as I cashed in. 

...and that's it. 

Moving to Japan (perhaps sooner than later...more on that in another blog) is in the cards. Sadly, there is no poker in Japan....which is another reason why I want to pursue this challenge. 

**covid disclaimer: I am fully aware of the risks involved to myself and others by willingly interacting with other people in close quarters. Appropriate countermeasures are being taken by casino management (masks, plexiglass between players, etc). My interaction with people outside of the poker table will be minimal. Obviously I won't play/go out if I feel unwell**

The challenge rules:

- Play any form of poker and track all results. The challenge ends when my initial $10,000 bankroll gets to $20,000, $0, or I move away before I can finish.

- Play every weekend for a minimum of 25 hours (between Friday and Sunday) with the obvious exceptions of emergencies, illness, etc. 

- Stop playing if I lose $2,000 during a session. If things are going that poorly, it would be best for my psyche to just stop for the day. 

- Absolutely no phone use (outside of music) at the table. I generally don't listen to music when I play...but sometimes other players can annoy me to the point where I have to drown them out. 🤷🤷

- Updates every Monday with brutal honesty. No saving face. I am a flawed human and I make mistakes. Losing the bankroll would suck, and while I think it's unlikely, it can definitely happen. 

***

I've been spending the week brushing up on strategy. Generally, a reliable way to win at the stakes I will be playing requires one thing more than any other -- patience. Specifically, tons of preflop discipline and a willingness to pay attention to hands I'm not in. If nothing more, this challenge will be a good "digital detox" because I am going to be adamant about (no) phone use while playing. 

The hardest part of this challenge for me will, no doubt, be volume (hours played). I invariably start thinking about "locking in a win" as soon as I'm up a buy in or so. Logically, that's complete nonsense unless I were to stop playing forever. As long as I feel like I'm in a profitable situation, I will keep playing until I hit my volume goal. 

がんばります