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Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey [new update]

edited September 2013 in Poker Chat
Best of luck Pat

We're in desperate need of some more diaries ;)

Only joking, good luck, I'll pop in regular.
«13456718

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  • edited September 2013
    Introduction - For months I've been wanting to post a thread to track my progress. Having been inspired by various threads, I've finally decided this would be a great place to post it. In this thread I will post my Poker 'career' to date, the highs & lows I've encountered along the way, and regular updates of my day to day progress. 

    Backstory

    I started playing poker about 3 years ago when I stumbed across Facebook poker. I started with the 9 player sit and gos and soon found a playing style that worked well. Playing tight in the early stages when the rewards were small and using that image to my advantage to steal wide in the latter stages when the rewards were high. From the moment I played my first hand I was hooked and as strange as it sounds, it seemed as though I was destined to play. 

    The two year wait until turning 18 and legally being able to play began. I can honestly say that the 6 months leading up to my 18th birthday were the longest of my life. I'd played on a few sites before turning 18 with little success and I knew that I had a long way to go until I'd be a consistant winning player online. So I put my game to work. I read stratergy and watched videos, desperately trying to improve my game before I could make a substantial deposit when I was finally legal to play. Eventually came my 18th birthday, March 24th of last year. I can't put into words how elated I felt waking up on my birthday, knowing the wait was over and the constrictions of being 17 had finally gone. 

    For my birthday, myself and 4 friends went to London. Over the course of the weekend I won over £600 in 4 hours of live poker play. I knew good things were ahead. But unbeknown to me, my path to becoming a winning poker player had only just begun. 

    Initial Playing days

    After the exuberance of my birthday had worn off, I was unsure what to do. I held a firm belief at the time that I was a winning live player, but knew that online poker was a different game entirely. I had just under £1000 in my bank from my birthday, but knew that could soon vanish. I decided upon a $400 deposit on Full Tilt Poker. Within a week of playing $25nl cash, I'd doubled my initial deposit. I felt unbeatable and started taking shots at $50NL and even $100NL. I had little idea of bankroll management at the time. Looking back, the sample size from which I won that money was laughable. 


    The heater finally wore off, and my previous account balance of $900 had diminished to just $200. I had no idea what to do. I finally found 6 max turbo sit and gos and these became my main game. I was going to college at the time and making a fair amount of money playing them on the side. I'd applied to University and had conditional offers from various institutions to study Business. Over the summer, my plan was to grind the 6 max turbos as a job and enjoy my time off before starting University in September. 


    After finishing my exams, I began just that. I was the happiest I'd ever been. I had as much financial secruity as a low stakes sng player who'd just finished college could have. I had great friends who I met up and went out with on a regular basis. After 6 months of hard work I had a girlfriend.

    Just when my life felt as complete as it could for an 18 year-old, it got turned upside down. A couple of weeks into my summer, the site I played on, Full Tilt Poker got shut down by the US department of justice. All players on the site, could no longer access their accounts. You couldn't play poker, you couldn't withdraw your funds. Suddenly my entire liferoll was in limbo. I still had some money in my bank account, but much of which had been spent on my new computer. 


    A couple failed deposits on different sites later, and my dreams of having a carefree summer was lost. I had lost all the money to my name. I was in limbo, praying for Full Tilt Poker to reopen. 

    That summer was the hardest of my life. I lost faith in my ability to play the game that I loved, which in turn caused me to lose faith in myself. I no longer wanted to see my friends, my girlfriend, or even spend time with my family - All because I left like a failure. Slowly everything I'd worked for over the past year had been taken away from me. I felt as though I had nothing. My relationship with my friends deteriorated and I no longer wanted to do anything or see anyone. I pushed everyone away. My girlfriend wanted to work through everything, but I wanted nothing to do with her. We eventually broke up.

    University - 

    Eventually August came and I collected my exam results. They were good enough for me to study Business Management at Bath Spa University. So with my mind now on University and not poker, I felt a rejuvination. I saw my friends for one last night out before I before I left. The atmosphere was unbelievable, it was as though everyone was beginning a new chapter of their lives, whether it be work, university or travel. 

    The next day, feeling worse for ware, I moved to Bath. I felt a mixture of emotions but ultimately I was glad summer was over. I was really lucky to be put with great flatmates who I've got on with since day one. Freshers week was incredible. For anyone not familiar, freshers is the first week of University and it essentially comprises of a week of drinking/socialising. During the next few months I got on with my University, but I couldn't help but feel as though something was missing. 

    Fast forward a few months and a few more failed deposits later, with my poker bankroll on Full Tilt still in limbo, I felt disguisted in myself. How can I go from making a healthy amount over thousands of SNG's, to being a complete loser? Looking back, it was my own fault. I was playing cash way outside the restraints of my bankroll. But at the time - losing felt like the worst thing in the world. 

    Skypoker

    That brings us to December, when I made the transition to Skypoker. I put £15 on the site, and after winning a small tournament, I just had enough of a roll to begin playing the £5 Double or Nothings. To my surprise I was actually winning at them! In the two weeks of December I turned a £15 deposit into over £400. I felt incredible. However, it wasn't the money itself that made me happy. More importantly, it was the belief in myself that the money gave me. After such a painful and low period of my life. A period that I wouldn't wish on anyone - I was back.

    Christmas came, and I went home during the middle of December. I decided not to take my big computer/dual monitors home with me because I'd be going to Mexico for most of the time period. Due to not having my computer, I wouldn't be able to mass multi-table the double or nothing's like I was used to. Boredom soon sunk in and I couldn't resist HU/6 Max cash. Running bad and playing worse, I lost most of my bankroll in a couple of days. After the holiday, I went back to University as soon as I could - back to the poker grind. All went well and within a week I was well on track to rebuilding my roll. 

    I had rebuilt my roll back to over £300, but then came Friday the 13th. I lost over half my roll within the space of 2 hours. I lost so many coolers in a row, I was in pure disbelief. I lost with AA to KK, QQ to JJ, AK to AJ, AK to AQ in what felt like 20 times in the space of two hours.

    It felt like a bad dream, like I'd wake up any moment. At this point I could have quit. My account still had the same amount as a week prior. Yet I just wanted to escape the pain. It was though I just wanted it to be all over. I lost the rest within 20 minutes playing PLO. So there I was, in pure dismay. I once again had nothing. The next couple months were a blurr. 

    March

    Fast forward to March and I was considering selling my entire computer setup. From the 'gaming' desktop to the dual montiors. Everytime I woke up, my computer was there. My datebase of hands, my former graphs, the dual monitors. All for one purpose, poker. 

    With my money still locked up in Full Tilt Poker, I felt as though it was time for me to give it one last shot. If this wouldn't work, I would quit. I just couldn't put myself through the anguish of gaining so much mentally, and then having it taken away at the blink of an eye. I finally decided to put £100 into my poker account with the intention of playing as many Double or Nothings as I could, praying to succeed. 

    March proved to be a success. My bankroll grew by the day, and I was soon 12 tabling a mixture of £5.50 and £11 Double or Nothings. About a week into March, I realised I was actually on pace to reach Priority club (£1000 in rake for the month) - something I didn't think was possible at such a low buy in level. During March I played an incredible amount. 


    March was a long but fulfilling month. By the end I was so sick of SNGs and Poker! I actually made Priority club with a day to spare, even after taking 3 days off during the course of the month. Including cash for points, I'd grown my roll from just £100 to £1000. I was truly overwhelmed. But once again, it wasn't the financial gain that benefitted me the most. It was the sense of acomplishment. I had finally proved to myself that I was a winning poker player. All the self-doubt left me that day. I felt blessed. 

    'You won't truly be successful until you say, I dont need that money, because I've got it in here."

    April and Beyond -

    Because I played so many STT's between Jan-March I was eligable to participate in the Team Skypoker tournament. The top 30 players based on volume played from each donomination: cash, mtts and stts - were invited into a tournament with the chance to win a sponsorship package and represent the site. I believe a total of 87 people entered the tournament, and the top 6 would win a sponsorship package. 

    I'd looked forward to the tournament for weeks, telling close friends and family of my oppertunity to represent the site. During the middle of April, the time finally came to play it. I slowly bled chips for the first hour and my hope of a sponsorship deal faided. Just when I thought my chance was over, I got involved in one big pot. A calling station was on my right and he was defending his blind a huge amount. I was forced to wait for value hands. Eventually I was dealt AK and I raised from the sb. The station called and I hit top pair. I bet 3/4 pot on both the flop and turn. The river was scary as it paired the board. Against a better opponent I'd check fold the river, but I knew this player would call worse. I decided to shove, repping a missed draw. My opponent tank called top pair...... worse kicker, giving me a much needed double up. 

    From there, I slowly built up chips. My Jacks held up against KJ and before I knew it, we were down to the final 20. Eventually came the bubble, when the tournament was down to 7 players. With only 6 sponsorship packages, one player would be left empty handed. I had a tough table, with the respectable LOL_Raise to my left. I was in a dominant position, and with the blinds high, I was shoving wide to steal. But then, disaster. My shove was called off and my hand was dominanted, I lost and my chip stack cripped. I was down to a lowly 30,000, with the average around 55,000. I was at serious risk of being the bubble boy. Thoughts of failure were entering my head, believed I had once again let my chance slip.

    However, over the course of the next few hands my aggression paid off and after 3 bet shoving wide, I was once again in a dominant position. LOL_Raise shoved UTG and was called by an opponent with a very similar chip stack. LOL_Raise actually got lucky when his outkicked ace paired the board. It was over. I had done it. I had won a Skypoker sponsorship package. After that tournament I felt comfortable in my ability to play poker. However, more importantly, I finally felt comfortable with myself. 


    Final Thoughts -

    The Team Skypoker tournament has given me something intangible, something that can never be taken away from me. Even if I never win a hand of poker again, I wouldn't feel a sense of failure like that of before. I'd be happy because if it wasn't for the mistakes I'd previously made, I wouldn't be where I am today, not only in poker but in life. 

    'Sometimes, it's the most difficult times that make us grow, gain compassion and empathy and find strength we never realised we had.'

    Present Day - 

    I currently still play the £5.50 and £11 double or nothings, with the intention of moving up through the stakes as my bankroll grows. My goal is to buy a Rolex Datejust by the end of this year as a symbol and reminder to myself - that dedication and hard work can ultimately pay off. I'm currently ranked top 20 for sharkscope 2012 leaderboard 'any game by network - Sky'.

    In July I'll be playing the £550 GUKPT, and in September I'll be playing the SPT main event at Dusk Til Dawn. Both paid for under my Sponsorship deal. 

    I thank you for reading my journey so far. I'll try to keep motivated and update this thread as much as possible and please feel free to post any questions. I look forward to playing on the same table/s as you on the felt.  

    -

    Patrick Walsh 
    (patwalshh)

  • edited May 2012
    Funnily enough about 5 years ago I started playing poker on the Facebook 9 man SnGs too. I was a bit older though. I didn't play my first hand of poker until.....errrrrrr.......I'd turned 40. Sigh, 22 wasted years.

    Good start Pat, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

    Edit; I've now read the parts you posted after my original reply. Great story. Hopefully you'll be getting that FTP money back soon if the rumours are true.
  • edited May 2012
    best wishes Pat,
    and good luck with building your roll
    :-)
    devon
  • edited May 2012
    Hi Pat, it was nice to meet you in Cardiff.

    I remember just arriving at your table, and the first hand I watched you agonise tank fold AKs in the BB. I was like what? surely you have to call.
    Then i saw the result, you were up against AA and KK i think! it was a great fold, reads ftw...

    Anyway, i look forward to reading about your progress and gl.
  • edited May 2012


    wp for team sky poker.  gl.



  • edited May 2012

    What game and what levels you thinking of playing.
     GL.


  • edited May 2012
    Enjoy the journey m8,
     
    Good luck here on sky, am fairly new here as well, hope you find it as much fun as I do.

    From what GregHogg says I hope we dont meet on the tables or there are less reads "online" than "live" :-0

    Mike 
  • edited May 2012
    Thanks for the initial response guys, its really motivating me to write more.

    Good times to come! 
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    Thanks for the initial response guys, its really motivating me to write more. Good times to come! 
    Posted by patwalshh

    Best of luck mate.

    Love the intro to your diary. Gives us a full insight into your poker world.

    Will look forward to reading this somemore.

    GL

    Daz
  • edited May 2012
    Interesting read Pat

    Congratulations on the sky sponsorship, great achivement

    played many DYMs with you and i have no doubt your fly up through the levels

    Good luck with your journey, see you at the tables

    Mondo
  • edited May 2012
    Awesome read so far, look forward to reading more :)
  • edited May 2012
    Longest post ever award goes to.....

    Only jesting, nice read.
  • edited May 2012
    Good read Pat ,if memory serves me correct you are from my home town in Devon so i wish you all the success.
    Any player that can mainly stick to the double or nothing stt format deserves credit for the grind they have to put in .
  • edited May 2012
    Thank you for all the encouragement and support so far! I have now finished my intital draft. Sorry it's so long, but I wanted to put everything there and set the scene. If you can't be bothered to read it, no problem haha - cliffs are pretty much at the bottom. 

    I will post an update later. Thanks again
  • edited May 2012
    Very interesting read, can honestly say I wasn't expecting it to be that long lol but I did read it all, and did find it quite captivating.

    Some pretty nice acheivements you've accomplished already... do you have any targets in mind for your next goal, other than buying a rolex and taking down a GUKPT obv?
  • edited May 2012
    Awesome read Pat, was good chatting with you the other day in the dym, good luck with your tournies later on in the year!
  • edited May 2012
    nice story - I'm not sure what happened mid way through, it turned into a ron com lol

    very similar to me in fact, I'm also at uni playing a lot hoping to one day make this my profession but if not have a business degree to fall back on lol 
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    Very interesting read, can honestly say I wasn't expecting it to be that long lol but I did read it all, and did find it quite captivating. Some pretty nice acheivements you've accomplished already... do you have any targets in mind for your next goal, other than buying a rolex and taking down a GUKPT obv?
    Posted by Lambert180
    Thanks for the post Lambert. It's always a pleasure playing with you at the tables. It's a shame that we didn't bump into each other at Cardiff. 

    As for goals, I'm not sure long term. I just want to take it one step at a time and see how I get on. I'd love a 5 figure cash one day, and definely play the wsop in a couple of years time when I'm 21 - whether it be via satellite or if I have to buy my way there.
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    nice story - I'm not sure what happened mid way through, it turned into a ron com lol very similar to me in fact, I'm also at uni playing a lot hoping to one day make this my profession but if not have a business degree to fall back on lol 
    Posted by percival09
    Ahh thanks. What uni are you studying business at? Did you play the student poker championships this year?
  • edited May 2012
    Probably one of the best reads in the forum.

    Great to have you here Pat.

    Good luck to you and I am looking forward to some updates on this thread.

    Cu at the tables.
  • edited May 2012
    Great day to post my first entry. I played about 32 double or nothings total, but for some reason sharkscope only tracked the 20 or so this evening. 




    This evening's session started pretty horribly, but I was really glad to turn it around. 

    (+£49.50 for the day)

    --

    Thanks to the league stars freeroll, I've won my way into the £5k roller tomorrow. Which I only luckboxed my way into after shoving Kx fairly deep from the sb and being called by 88.. Only to hit a king on the turn. Nevertheless I'm really looking forward to playing. Wouldn't even mind a min cash to go towards the Rolex. I'll probably end up playing the BH main and mini too. 

    Was going to post a couple of hands from today, but they aren't working for some reason. Will look into it and see if I can post them. Open to any questions people have for anything, ranging from general stuff to poker strat. 

  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    Probably one of the best reads in the forum. Great to have you here Pat. Good luck to you and I am looking forward to some updates on this thread. Cu at the tables.
    Posted by GreekWay
    Stopped reading after 'one of the best reads in the forum'. Haha only joking. Thanks for the post it means a lot. Really hope I can post some exciting material including a few large cashes in the future. 

    Thanks again
    patwalshh
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey : Stopped reading after 'one of the best reads in the forum'. Haha only joking. Thanks for the post it means a lot. Really hope I can post some exciting material including a few large cashes in the future.  Thanks again patwalshh
    Posted by patwalshh

    I am totally honest Pat. It's a great opening post for a thread.

    I wish you the best and I will have my eyes on you.

    Are you only grinding DoNs at the moment?

  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey : I am totally honest Pat. It's a great opening post for a thread. I wish you the best and I will have my eyes on you. Are you only grinding DoNs at the moment?
    Posted by GreekWay
    I'm currently grinding a mixture of the £5.50 and £11 DONs. However, I currently feel as though I'm moving sideways instead of progressing. I find myself going into autopilot and just pressing buttons, instead of really thinking about my opponents range, and adapting to different individuals. If the traffic on the site was better, I'd be a lot more inclined to reduce the number of tables I play and focus on 6 higher buy in DONs. 

    EDIT: I saw in a different forum that you play chess? 
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey : I'm currently grinding a mixture of the £5.50 and £11 DONs. However, I currently feel as though I'm moving sideways instead of progressing. I find myself going into autopilot and just pressing buttons, instead of really thinking about my opponents range, and adapting to different individuals. If the traffic on the site was better, I'd be a lot more inclined to reduce the number of tables I play and focus on 6 higher buy in DONs. 
    Posted by patwalshh
    By playing these 5.50 and 11 DoNs how many points approximately do you generate a month?

    How many tables are you playing on Sky?

    I think couple of higher DoNs run on rush hours. Also at the end of the month many players use DoNs to boost their C4P.
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey : By playing these 5.50 and 11 DoNs how many points approximately do you generate a month? How many tables are you playing on Sky? I think couple of higher DoNs run on rush hours. Also at the end of the month many players use DoNs to boost their C4P.
    Posted by GreekWay
    At peak, I play 12 tables and tile them. There's a picture in the origional post of an example of this. I could probably play more, but I'm a massive fan of tiling the tables. I'm interested in buying a 30" monitor - but right now, I'm happy playing 12.

    --

    In March I made priority club, so 10,000 points. But that was by playing 7 days a week, under the schedule of:

    12.30pm - Load up 12 tables of a mixture of 11s/5.50s

    5.50 pm- Load up 12 tables of a mixture of 11s/5.50s, and when down to 8, load up another 4 until a full 12 have been reloaded. Normally finishing the session at 7.15.

    8pm - If I'm not feeling burnt out, load another mix of 12. 

    --

    But this month, I'm playing more of a relaxed schedule. Hoping to just reach between 6,500 and 7,000 points. I literally needed a few weeks off after March haha. I do notice a few more (weaker) regulars play DONs at the end of the month, but seemily doesn't make a substantial difference.


  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey : At peak, I play 12 tables and tile them. There's a picture in the origional post of an example of this. I could probably play more, but I'm a massive fan of tiling the tables. I'm interested in buying a 30" monitor - but right now, I'm happy playing 12. -- In March I made priority club, so 10,000 points. But that was by playing 7 days a week, under the schedule of: 12.30pm - Load up 12 tables of a mixture of 11s/5.50s 5.50 pm- Load up 12 tables of a mixture of 11s/5.50s, and when down to 8, load up another 4 until a full 12 have been reloaded. Normally finishing the session at 7.15. 8pm - If I'm not feeling burnt out, load another mix of 12.  -- But this month, I'm playing more of a relaxed schedule. Hoping to just reach between 6,500 and 7,000 points. I literally needed a few weeks off after March haha. I do notice a few more (weaker) regulars play DONs at the end of the month, but seemily doesn't make a substantial difference.
    Posted by patwalshh
    Seems a busy schedule to me. You should consider yourseld a rakeback pro then.

    When you say load tables do you load a new one as soon as one finishes or you bust? Do you constanlty keep the number of tables to 12 whatever happens?

    Have you thought of either playing some cash or give a few shots at MTTs? Everyone says that cash is the best way to grind and I completely agree.Also if you can put this kind of volume into cash, I think you could make more money in the long run.


  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey : Seems a busy schedule to me. You should consider yourseld a rakeback pro then. When you say load tables do you load a new one as soon as one finishes or you bust? Do you constanlty keep the number of tables to 12 whatever happens? Have you thought of either playing some cash or give a few shots at MTTs? Everyone says that cash is the best way to grind and I completely agree.Also if you can put this kind of volume into cash, I think you could make more money in the long run.
    Posted by GreekWay
    I'd consider myself a relatively high volume player, as far as DON regs on the site go. I aim to make the same as I pay in rake, but over the long run I'm about 3% shy. I load up 12 tables, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes. And if it's the 5.30pm session (prime time/happy hour), I'll load up as soon as I'm down to 8. That way they all finish around the same time at the end of the session.

    I definitely agree that cash is more profitable on the site. But as of right now, I feel I'm too spewey to play it. I definitely tilt at cash, which is something I feel I've alleviated from my sng game by 95%. If I did play cash, I'd want to play 30NL and above. As a goal, i'd love to become a 100NL HU specialist/reg, but right now that's just a dream. In terms of MTTs, I've started to encorporate the mains into my daily grind. 
  • edited May 2012

    looks like another good diary to add to the list i already read, gl and i'm sure i'll see you at the tables
  • edited May 2012
    In Response to Re: Patwalshh - My Ongoing Journey:
    looks like another good diary to add to the list i already read, gl and i'm sure i'll see you at the tables
    Posted by SHANXTA
    Thanks Shanxta, nice to have DON regs in this thread.
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