Euro trip then back home

Again its been a ridiculously long time since i've updated my blog and I apologize to anyone reading regularly.  Life has been hectic since black friday and things are finally starting to get back on track.  After the wsop I moved up to montreal and started to play some husngs on stars.  The month I was up there i lived with primordialaa, nemoindenial and adolpho.  It was a fun time in a new and exciting city, but i missed the u.s type lifestyle and decided to move to Toronto after the lease ended.  

In between I went to Ept Barcelona but didn't have any success there.  I came back to Toronto  and started to play a lot more in order to get SNE.  I had awesome roomates, Thedutch4141 and his gf the Dutchess and grinded a ton.  I played some wcoops and ended up winning the 10k HU for about 120k.  I sold a good % of action since it was such a big buy in but it was still a nice score.  I had a really volatile month (and career) and had huge swings both ways. 

 I decided to fly to Italy for EPT san remo where I am now.  Primo and I are playing the hu tomorrow (in like 7 hours i cant sleep) and then he is going to Vienna for Junglemans bootcamp and I'm going to prague to meet skai and jonas (who attended my boot camp) just to hang out there and check out the city.  Things have been pretty exciting for me outside of poker recently.  I have started working with a fantasy football website called buzzdraft which will be launching in a few weeks, as well as working on an affiliate and making plans to start a few businesses in Austin with primordial.  

I am slowly getting out of poker and into a career which i think will be more structured and the potential for more money.  There are very very few people in poker who are considered rich relative what most consider rich in everyday life.  Sure having a few hundred k saved up in the bank might be a lot relative to other 24 year old kids, but its certainly not enough to be set for life.  Most poker players don't even have close to that much money.  

People outside looking in see my life as glamorous and sort of rock-star like, but they don't really understand the dynamics of the day to day operations.  Yes flying to Italy last minute to play an international tournament where you win a million for first might sound amazing, but doing it over and over and being disappointed when you leave really takes a toll psychologically.  It's really no way to live.  As a job poker is unbelievably stressful.  You can go to work and lose money, a lot of it, and its not pleasant.  The highs of winning do not compare to the lows of losing.  Poker has treated me so well over the past year and a half as a pro monetarily, but for some reason it always feels unfair and I cant really put it into words.  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to travel the world and make money, but I think its time to shift my focus.  I don't really think I'm the type of person cut out for poker long term and I'm kind of glad its like that.  I am emotionally attached to winning or losing and take it personal when things don't go my way.  I always looked at poker as a stepping stone to get to where I want to be, and although I might have been consumed with it for a while, It has served an integral purpose in my career goals.  I don't see myself ever quitting poker completely, but my goal is to make it my hobby and not my job.

I will try to update this more

GL

Ankush

Wsop- Moving to Canada

It's been a really long time since i've updated my blog.  I went out to the wsop for a month and a half but didnt have much success at all.  Started with a 2 outer in the 25k HU and ended with losing QQ to KQ in the main event.  Overall it was one of my worst downswings (even worse when its live) and now I am in the process of recovering from it.

On a brighter note, I will be moving to Canada very soon to continue playing online.  I haven't decided between toronto and montreal quite yet but will in the near future.  I am going to put a relatively small amount online and try to grind up at the 2-500s.  I have no doubt that i will be playing higher within the next couple months.

For those of you who have not signed up for Lock Poker, you should contact me right away.  The site is great for traffic up to the 500s, cashouts are quick, easy and secure unlike some other U.S sites and overall the software is by far the best out of all U.S operating sites.  If you have any questions, feel free to message me on my aim (detwings871) or send us an email at rakecrunch@gmail.com

I also have started tweeting, so you can follow me at Mandavia87.

Thanks for following,

Gl

Poker in the U.S? I think so..

Poker is NOT dead.  Black Friday took a toll on everyone but we have to look past that now and figure out our options for the future.  Some people are considering moving overseas, but a lot of online players have too many obligations here in the U.S to even consider a move.  If you still want to play online in the U.S (in a safe environment), some of the sites still operating are seeing an influx of players and action starting to move over from their former employers like stars and Full Tilt.  Big names are starting to make the transition and if you would like and get a SICK rakeback deal + free coaching from either myself or Primordial AA,  follow these simple instructions.

    Lock Poker- Super sleek and innovative software
  
    35% rakeback, 200% Deposit Bonus up to $1,200, and automatically entered into the Lock Rake Races
  
  
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    Create an account
  
  
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    33% Rakeback, 110% Deposit Bonus up to $600
  
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    Download the client from THIS link:
  
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    Create an account using the signup code:  CRUNCH
  
  
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    Email me at ankushmandavia@yahoo.com , and let me know your username and email you signed up with, that way I can double check you properly got put under us
    






If you end up raking 1k on either of these sites, you will receive a half hour of coaching from your choice of myself or PrimordialAA!


In addition to this, If you would like to open accounts on any European sites (Ipoker, Partypoker etc)  Please dont hesitate to email me at ankushmandavia@yahoo.com.  


You can also email me if you need solutions to getting $ on any sites.



I will also be running a HUSNG bootcamp from May23-May29 in Barcelona spain.  The link to the 2p2 add can be found here http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/185/heads-up-sng/husng-boot-camp-pistons-barcelona-may-23-29-2011-a-1025978/ . Please PM me or Palinca on 2p2 if you are interested as spots are filling quick.


Thank You for reading,


Pistons87
    

Husng Turbo crushing...other games not so much

I have been traveling a lot lately so it feels good to take some time off and get back to Atlanta.  I'm going to the Braves game tomorrow with some old friends so should be a good drunken time.  Unfortunately my last drunk experience ended in disaster.  I lost close to 50k drunk playing 2ks, 25 50, plo, superturbos while in Berlin.  I don't remember too much, but i definitely didn't feel too good when my account was drained by 50k the next day.  I looked at the hand histories and had played ADZ124 HU and some other great cash players.  Not the best idea.

Although this was a major setback, I've been grinding like crazy to make it up, and with rakeback I almost have.  I'm up close to 80k since I reset my sharkscope a few weeks ago...so I definitely have been running/playing well in normal turbos over my last 1k games.  It feels like a waste to spew some of this money back in games that aren't my  bread and butter, but what can you do besides learn and move on.

I'm pretty much giving up on my superturbo dream to one day be like primordial or r-quaresma, and just focusing on what i'm good at, which is stars and full tilt turbos.  I have 600k vpps this year and have made a substantial profit even with the set backs (5ks, Isildur, sts, drunk) so I am in no way disappointed about the year profit wise.

I am thinking about going to Sanremo and for sure going to Madrid.  I will update from one of these locations.

GL All!

EPT Berlin

I am currently in Berlin, Germany for the latest stop on the EPT series.  I have managed to make the money of the tournament (7.5k Euro) and have 100k in chips (190k avg) going into day 3.  I played well and aggressive all day  but ran QQ into KK for a monster pot before the days end, knocking me to the brink of elimination.  I will need to play well today and have some luck in order to advance to day 4.

Overall Berlin has been really fun so far and the Pokerstars hotel and casino have been first class.  I have been hanging out with some good friends that I've made at previous tournaments.  Dibasio, Mtvdeuem, Piggybank, Trader, Berndsen are all here so theres a good bit of HUSNG regs.  I wont be able to play the Heads-up event today because I still have a few chips left in the main, but I'm hoping one of our fellow regs can take it down.

So far I haven't got to experience much of Berlin nightlife because of the tournament, but we plan to go out to the clubs in the next coming days, should be a lot of fun.  I hit a massive downswing on Full Tilt, but at 2ks down  its more controllable.  I'm still avoiding 5ks like the plague, and my swings/stress have been so much lower which is nice, although 30k swings are still easy to come by.  I'm going to focus on rebuilding on both sites as soon as the EPT is over.  I haven't decided whether I'm going to stay in Europe for San Remo and Madrid of go home and come back.  Its tempting to stay, but it seems like its going to take a toll on me to stay in Europe for that long.  I'm more tempted to stay now because I've fallen in love with live tournaments, and would like to play San Remo.  Shander and Bas were nice enough to invite me to Amsterdam, and I have some other invitations to stay at various places here.  I guess it will be a game time decision.

I will post pictures of Berlin soon...hope you enjoy the blog.

Pistons87

EPT EPT EPT

I will be updating this blog a lot more regularly and realize I've been slacking a bit.  I took about a 3 week break from poker and have recently just got back on the grind.  I am up a good bit on the year so I am certainty happy about that.  I have cut down my play a lot, and as a result I'm up more money, go figure.  Its a lot easier to profit when you don't have to worry about hitting a new vpp goal every other week.  From now on I plan to just play whenever and let the vpps roll in.  I have 500k already this year so getting Elite should be no problem

If you filter my sharkscope on both sites, you'll see I'm down 100k+ in 5ks and up 100k+ in anything lower.  This is my cue to cut back on 5ks and only open sit when a massive whale is online.  I'm still up considerably this year because of rakeback, cash games and full tilt.

There has been a lot of debate about the recent HUSNG.com power leaderboard.  I was placed 9 which I am very pleased and thankful with.  With a list like this, some people are always going to be unhappy with the results.  This is why I took my last post down, after I realized I even forgot a few people.  But overall, I think the list is filled with some of the best players in the world.  You can find it here. http://www.husng.com/content/husng-power-rankings

I'm going to EPT Berlin on April 2nd and will be flying back (most likely) on April 12th.  I'm pretty pumped to see some of my old friends from PCA and other live events.  I'll be going to Madrid April 5th after that and coming back on the 15th, only to be at the WSOP 25k HU on the 29th.  So much traveling.

I will be updating at least once a week so keep reading!

Shout out to Jayluf for hosting me in DC, was a lot of fun. And she does love you.

downswings :/

Blah.  Im on a big downswing this month and most of my losses are to Isildur1 in 5ks.  I feel like ive been crushing him but the variance is huge in those games and hes been depleting my bankroll slowly.  Ive lost a lot of people tons of money from them buying my action, which feels awful.  Everything is good when you are running and playing well, but when you downswing everything sucks.

I went to visit Primo and Mel last week and had a great time.  Thank again for having me guys, I had a lot of fun minus losing millions to Isildur :/.

Still working out daily and getting back into shape.  This is my first valentines day with no gf in like 6 years.  Kind of sad but shit happens.

God the tone of this post is awful.  I really shouldnt complain because I'm still having a good year, but everything sucks on a downswing lol.

I decided not to go to Copenhagen and just hang out in Atlanta until Mardi Gras on March 5th.  I'm really pumped for that.  If anyone is gonna be in town let me know and we can meet up.  If i know you, we still have some room in our hotel so get at me on AIM or whatever if your down.

Hope to Upswing soon....GL

January Recap- Feb goals

January was a great month for me.  I profited a lot from both HUsngs and cash games and a little sports betting haha thanks primo!  I earned 193k vpps so far this year, and have been playing a lot of high stakes.  I feel that as my bankroll has grown, I have become more comfortable with the high stakes games and do not stress when i lose a couple.  5ks still sting a lot, but 2ks and 1ks are limits I can handle.

This post has a very different tone from some posts I made in December.  How quickly things can change in this game.  In December I wanted to grind only 230-570s.  One day in Prague I decided to sit a 1k, and I'm really glad I did because I have had some huge months since then.  I am still being cautious because I know how deadly downswings can  be, but I am definitely taking more risks by open sitting high stakes.

I'm also a lot happier with my life outside of poker.  I have started working out daily and eating a lot healthier, and can see results already.  It was a little disappointing to get big in college because I was so skinny by the end of high school and through my first two years of college.  I feel like I am getting back to my glory days now, and I have the right mindset.

I have some really busy and fun things planned for the upcoming months.  I'm going to go visit Primo and my cousin in Austin with Jayluf and we are going to try to go to the Superbowl next weekend. BLACK AND YELLOW.

Also, I'm planning to go to Copenhagen at the end of Feb for an EPT and stay with DiBasio most likely.  In march I plan to go to Mardi Gras with some college friends and some poker guys also.  After that I'm going to Panama City with some other friends, up to DC on March 12th for my sisters birthday, and then finally St. Patricks day in Boston with other college friends.  I'm really excited for all these, so lets see how much poker I can get in and If i can make it to everything

Poker goals for Feb are 100k vpps and 40k profit before rakeback.  I also have started dabbling in the superturbos on FTP and they seem really soft so I might be playing more of those while waiting for games on stars.

Shout out to PompYouUp who took down the Borgata 350 for 25k and the 1k HU at PCA for 23kish! congrats bro..

Thanks for reading, GL

PCA

PCA was a ton of fun.  I met most of the other sicko HU regs and we had a blast.  I went 0-4 in events busting the 10k main, 5k HU 5k bounty shootout and 1k HU.  Luckily my trip was salvaged by "Scottybcash" when i had 20% of him in the bounty shootout.  He cashed for 73k, and lost on a sick suckout, but it definitely got me close to even on the trip.  I met so many regs, too many to name.  Pretty much everyone whos anyone was there with a few exceptions.  I cant wait until the wsop to see everyone again.

Online has been treating me well as of late.  Husngs have gone in my favor so far this year (with the exception of today) but I am still being carful because i know how sick downswings can be.  Currently first on the ss leaderboard only 18 days in which doesnt mean much, but i hope its a sign of good things to come and hope to maintain the winning streak

I was planning on going to biloxi after pca and then maybe borgata, but I might just take a break from live events and just stay in Atlanta.  I miss my freinds at home and I havent really "lived" there much in the past 6 months because of traveling.  I'm really gonna try to get into a routine of eating healthy, working out and getting back to a normal lifestyle.

My next stop will probably be EPT copenhagen at the end of February and then we will see what else comes up.

Gl All

2011

2011 has treated me well so far.  Currently I am first on the Pokerstars leaderboard for heads up with 62k in total profits from HUsngs.  Unfortunately, I am down about 30k in cash games so its not as glamorous as it sounds.  Add another -6k from sports betting and PCA entries, and I'm hardly up on the year.  How did Arkansas blow that game so many times?  Last bet of the college football year will be on Auburn -2.5, so even though i hate to say it as a Bulldog fan, Go Tigers!

I will be heading to PCA tomorrow and am registered for the 10k main, 5k HU, 2k Battleship, 1k HU and will probably play some other events.  I want to go there to have fun and am bringing my family (a nice little vacation for them) not to be stuck inside in paradise playing poker all day.

Will be interesting to meet all the big internet names, will post updates from PCA.

HEATERRR