Started with a $1/$2nl challenge, now we're here.
😮WARNING!! IMA 2+2 VIRGIN!! FIRST DAY AT THIS!! FIRST THREAD!!
The Goal is Simple - $40k in One Year (starting Jan.1st 2013) playing only $1-$2NLHE, and $1-$3 NLHE cash games. Most of my play will be @HSIPoker (90% of play), @HollywoodPoker (5% of play) in southern Indiana, and other (5% of play). I will make the occasional trips Vegas, Chicago, etc. My buy-ins will be least $300 and no more than $800 in all daily sessions. If I lose a $800 bullet in the first hour of play, then I leave. Therefore a losing session will never exceed $800. I am committed to play an average of 30-35 hours a week. All statistics (running total $, $/hr., #of hrs. win/loss ratio, etc.) will be tracked through my Poker Journal App. The max buy-ins on both of these games @HSIPoker is $300 up to half the big stack at the table (i.e. big stack has $1400, then new player can buy-in for $700, or other players at table can add up to $700 to their chips). Also @HSIPoker players can straddle from any position, so $1-$2 plays like a $1-$3 or even $2-$5 w/deep stacks. Side note: Just yesterday a maniac player at $1-$2 nlhe straddled for $350!! I will also play no more than $5k worth of tournaments for the year ranging from $300-$1700 buy-ins. The tournaments will be recorded separately, and will be added or deducted from cash game total profits at the end of the year (ending Dec. 31st 2013). I will stay committed to this all year and I will not stray from my rules. I can guarantee I will post at least twice a week, and would even like to link a monthly video segments throughout the year. If you stay with me on this journey, I can promise you I will stay with you throughout the whole year. You can count on total transparency in my poker grind. I will share honestly the ups and downs, the brutal swings, and sprinkle in some spice and substance. All while trying to spare you the bad beat stories. I rather do naked snow angels in freezing temps than listening to someone’s bad beat story. For future reference if you share one with me, I will act like I care, but I will really be thinking of when will this bad beat story end!! You can also follow - http://twitter.com/RayzRayl
Background – Starting playing seriously at age 25 during the Chris Moneymaker boom. Duh! It was around the same time I was teaching middle school math. I left teaching to create my own destiny. I started out playing low limits and have played as high as $25-$50 NLHE online. I am like most of you that have $ tied up on Full-Tilt. I am mostly a cash game player, and have played very few tournaments with very little success. I bricked the WSOP Main Event twice (I bought in once, and the other seat was a won through PokerStars). I seem to come up short on the big buy-in tourneys. My biggest score in tournaments are a couple of $20k cashes, and biggest score in cash games are a few $10k sessions. Sometimes poker was my full-time job, and sometimes it was supplement income. Right now it is my full-time job. I own a few rental properties, so that helps take the pressure off the grind. My girlfriend (15yr. relationship) and I have 2 girls (2yrs and 9yrs) that are joys of my life. My biggest challenge is explaining to them along with everyone else that I play poker for a living. I struggle with the fact that I am basically chasing money, and not doing anything productive. On the flip side, I do like the higher levels of thinking, the competition, and the pressure that poker offers me. Furthermore, I am not a gambler! I go straight to the poker room and straight out, nothing in between (no dice, no colors, no slots, no blackjack, etc.). Don’t get me wrong though I will bet anything I have an edge on. Most of all, I am a man devoted to my faith. Side note: I don’t see playing poker as sinful behavior, or gambling. I define gambling as anything where I’m not a favorite to win long term. More about me . . . thrive on competition, unique, introvert, outside the box thinker, gym fitness member, a bit anti-social, well mannered, authored my memoir at age 30, every other weekend drinker, love my church, entrepreneurial thinker, tennis junkie, green thumb, and I think cats are skittish.
Reason for Goal – The challenge itself is the ultimate reason for this goal. I was recently in a conversation with a friend of mine, and he was stating that $30k/yr. was a realistic earning for a $1-2, $1-3 nlhe grinder. I discussed that an “A” player putting in 40hrs/wk. can possibly make $40k/yr. He said, “no way”, and I said “I’m going to do it.” And that’s how this goal started. Reason 2) Simple – the goal will keep me staying determined to play flawlessly, and it will keep me focused at the task at hand. This goal allows me to stay “hungry” the whole year. I enjoy the pressure of striving to achieve something that is challenging. This challenge will keep me waking up each day and grinding. The satisfaction of achieving this goal will be half the fun, and the journey getting there is the other half. My subscribers, followers, and my post will keep accountable; and keeps me determined to play my “A” game. Thank you in advance for subscribing/following! Reason 3) it keeps the pressure off me playing the bigger games. I always told people the “poker lows” hurt more than the “highs” feel good. If that makes any sense to you! There were times when I was playing bigger limits where I would lose $5k in a sesh. Trust me those days sting! When I lost that amount of cheddar I would always think of what I could have done with that money; i.e. remodel the kitchen, go on shopping spree, buy a used car, get a golf membership at the country club, etc. When I win it’s like “cool”, but when I lose big it affects my whole psyche! With this goal I am managing my losses where worst case scenario is an $800 losing day. Reason 4) the $1-$2 NLHE is the most popular poker game around. There are more $1-$2 players than any other game. This will give a good idea of what’s a realistic earning from a solid $1-$2nlhe player. I want to do this for all the grinders. There is not a truer grinder than a $1-$2 grinder. Big Ups to all the 1-2ers!
Cliff Notes – Can I? Or can’t I? Make $40k in 2013 playing only $1-$2 and $1-$3 NLHE. Playing at least 30hrs/wk. and buying in for no more than $800 a session! I will also invest no more than $5k in tournaments in 2013 that will be factored into the $40k/year goal. I will post often with full transparency. I thrive on competition. My motto is look good, feel good, play good. I like puzzles. I have a degree in Mathematics. This is my very first post on 2 + 2 forum. 
All feedback welcome.
Thanks,
Rayz
Started buying the NIO dip this week ... come back in ... the waters are warm!
That's not a dip! It's more like a death spiral.
The whole green sector has been getting destroyed. Maybe you want to chuck some money at XPEV too. You're going to need some charging so consider BEEM and BLNK. Also some solid state batteries (Quantumscape). And a way to recycle batteries (ABAT).
Some of my great decisions getting in during peak green mania ^ 🙄
PayPal has been on the mend recently. Although lucky for Rayz he got out when he did. When it legged down to 50 he likely would have went broke trading on that million dollar margin
Ur all doing a great job.
Keep quiet.🤐
i love how in your mind you're framing it as we're all a bunch of haters who don't think you can succeed
nobody is saying you can't lose the weight etc - we're just saying you do stuff impulsively without much real thought or reason put behind it - such as being effectively broke and putting what little bankroll you have into a pickleball court you can't afford and to start construction in the middle of winter before the ground thaws
buying expensive dogs that were clearly not requested and getting kicked out of the house on christmas
doing an arbitrary weight loss challenge which means you don't have any meals with your family
we're rooting for you to succeed, the issue here is you and everyone else have very different definitions of what success looks like, you and you alone are going to see making your target weight as a victory - everyone else is just confused by it and sees everything you gave up in order to do it
i love how in your mind you're framing it as we're all a bunch of haters who don't think you can succeed
nobody is saying you can't lose the weight etc - we're just saying you do stuff impulsively without much real thought or reason put behind it - such as being effectively broke and putting what little bankroll you have into a pickleball court you can't afford and to start construction in the middle of winter before the ground thaws
buying expensive dogs that were clearly not requested and gettin
i better say something so you don't take over the spot as Rayz's #1 fan! i agree with everything you wrote obviously.
you're kidding yourself if you think he had regular meals with his family before the advent of this moronic weight loss challenge. he's clearly busy doing whatever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do it, with very little concern for anyone else's (including his family's) opinion on it.
@Rickroll thanks for being a big fan of mine. At least wait little bit after I post, so it doesn’t look like ur sweating me as much.
I don’t hv a lot of time for the weak minded folks. Not even gonna respond because u sound utterly ridiculous. Oops there’s @masta too. Thanks fans.
Seriously, no one took even money at 130 is awesome! Unbelievable
@Rickroll thanks for being a big fan of mine. At least wait little bit after I post, so it doesn’t look like ur sweating me as much.
I don’t hv a lot of time for the weak minded folks. Not even gonna respond because u sound utterly ridiculous. Oops there’s @masta too. Thanks fans.
Seriously, no one took even money at 130 is awesome! Unbelievable
"Weak minded" is thinking that this weight loss challenge accomplishes anything. Here's a challenge, take the 25k or whatever you have left and make some actual money so you can fund your kids' college.
I don't think you'll do it, or that you could really. Would you rather have a dad who set you up to succeed in life, or one who built a sick pickleball court and starved himself while struggling to match mom's half of rent on the house they will soon take a HELOC on before losing
the thread makes more sense imo if you accept that he just isn't a reliable narrator.
He's right, you know. Nobody's doubting you can lose weight. It's just really stupid. You're not proving anyone wrong by losing weight, if anything you're proving your fans right.
Why is it stupid to lose weight if I wanna lose weight?
Why is it stupid if it’s something I wanna do?
Ur all amazing.
. Here's a challenge, take the 25k or whatever you have left and make some actual money so you can fund your kids' college.
I don't think you'll do it, or that you could really. Would you rather have a dad who set you up to succeed in life, or one who built a sick pickleball court and starved himself while struggling to match mom's half of rent on the house they will soon take a HELOC on before losing
I’m sorry u guys hate that I been semi retired ever since this thread started. I’m sorry u don’t wanna believe poker has been my profession for last 20 years. I’m sorry I paid my oldest daughter’s college tuition & she will graduate next year. I’m sorry I’m building a sick pickleball court. I’m sorry I paid my wife’s car off. I’m sorry I hv a Tesla and no debt (outside house). I’m sorry my wife and I split bills evenly and I hv always paid. I’m sorry u guys sweat me so much.
Im sorry the fan club here is most likely in debt, working full time, over weight, and don’t hv the luxuries, flexibilities, or freedoms that I do.
Keep watching.
I’ll prob take tomo off just for shits n giggles. Life is gd.
ngl, BS's "semi-retired" lifestyle sounds exhausting and more work than i do at my 40 hour/week career (granted, i maybe only work 10hrs/week). but i am jealy he gets to go play poker whenever he wants. but dude is going to be "semi-retired" for the rest of his life. like, i dont see how actual retirement happens. i guess hope the housing market keeps going up and sell the current house and downsize to a small house? i honestly don't see a path other than that in his 50s/60s+
Get ur laughs in. idgaf.
#fulltransparency
I’m sorry I paid my oldest daughter’s college tuition & she will graduate next year.
I thought years ago you said college isn't worth it anymore and you weren't going to offer to pay for your kids because you didn't want to encourage/pressure them to go. I didn't agree with it at the time, but after reading a WSJ article about college costs/grades/teachers this weekend I was starting to agree there are better paths out there for a lot of kids.
I may be misremembering what you said about college and maybe you said nothing close to what I thought.
losing some lbs is great, most of us probably could use to do that , myself very much included, but what is the end game here when you hit your goal? gotta assume you're going to start eating again. are you just going to gain all the weight back? extreme diets seem to rarely be sustainable long term and i believe people tend to gain more than they lost in many instances. is the goal merely to get to whatever lb and then **** it? or is there a plan to try to keep some/all the weight off?
I thought years ago you said college isn't worth it anymore and you weren't going to offer to pay for your kids because you didn't want to encourage/pressure them to go. I didn't agree with it at the time, but after reading a WSJ article about college costs/grades/teachers this weekend I was starting to agree there are better paths out there for a lot of kids.
.
Never said wasn’t going to pay for kids college. What I may hv said is college is overpriced and overrated. Some professions u need college and some u don’t. My daughter wants to teach, so she needs an Education Degree from a certified college. She is getting that now at IUS.
I may hv said that I’ll never send my kid to a big name college where the tuition is absurd. Just doesn’t make sense to graduate and leave that school w huge amounts of debt. Kind of defeats the purpose in my eyes.
My girl can get her education degree at IUS and it will still pay the same as if she went to any big school. Also, she will leave not owing a dime to anyone.
honestly, this isn't meant as a dig, but with your non income, your kids are going to get generous need based financial aid packages from those "big name colleges" which state schools don't give out to where it could be cheaper to go to a 50k a year with financial aid than 8k a year IUS with no financial aid
that was certainly the case for me, Umass would have been the most expensive school for me to attend, by a few thousand because they were the only one to not give any sort of financial aid
losing some lbs is great, most of us probably could use to do that , myself very much included, but what is the end game here when you hit your goal? gotta assume you're going to start eating again. are you just going to gain all the weight back? extreme diets seem to rarely be sustainable long term and i believe people tend to gain more than they lost in many instances. is the goal merely to get to whatever lb and then **** it? or is there a plan to try to keep some/all the weight off?
When hit the goal I’ll drink a beer, have a deep dish pizza, and breadstick w beer cheese from my favorite restaurant (Sportstime) here in town.
Going to 145 is just a challenge for me, but I can guarantee u I’ll never b one of those types that gain more post diet. I’m too vain to look fat. I’ll just try my best staying in the 150s for as long as possible post diet. Never ever will I be a fat lard.
honestly, this isn't meant as a dig, but with your non income, your kids are going to get generous need based financial aid packages from those "big name colleges" which state schools don't give out to where it could be cheaper to go to a 50k a year with financial aid than 8k a year IUS with no financial aid
that was certainly the case for me, Umass would have been the most expensive school for me to attend, by a few thousand because they were the only one to not give any sort of financial aid
That’s gd then. Nice work.
We may agree here! I’m just never paying 50k/year or wd get loans for $50k/yr college. It’s moronic imo.
The goal of college is to get a job. The goal of a job is to make money. When u leave a college w tons of debt ur already playing the game wrong. This is all my opinion.
i'm just saying that few people even apply to those schools because they see the tuition tag
the school i went to is now 65k a year, before loans it was reduced to a small fraction of that
the big thing about those big price tags is it's more of a system to charge more to those who can afford it rather than the actual price - over half of the kids at those "big name colleges" are on need based financial aid and don't pay anywhere close to the sticker price
I had to come back because I have questions. Feel free to answer all of them as competitively as possible.
Are you shaving your body hair?
Have you ever tried Nair?
Is that a crocodile tattoo?
How many reptile tattoos do you have?
Which one is your favorite reptile tattoo?
Will you ever get another reptile tattoo?
Are those antelope underwear?
Does your wife prefer the underwear that might look like antelopes or the ones of the reef fish?
Where can i get underwear that drop panties like that?
Have you played pickle ball one time since the project started?
Has your wife or kids played pickleball with you in the last two years?
How much money do you have left?
Does your wife have any idea of your financial situation?
Do your wife or kids read this thread?
How many hours of poker have you played in January?
What is your emergency plan if you run out of money?
Would you rather run out of money with a pickleball court or have $8k with no pickleball court?
What will cost more, all the reptile tattoos or the pickleball court?
Is there anything you arenÂ’t the best in the world at?
If you could play pickleball to the death vs one person on here who would it be?
I have more questions that are equal in importance, but Im going to smoke a fattest joint and fall back into the peanut gallery, please God let it be forever this time. I had such good discipline for four days staying away. You know, I don't like being stuck in the crowd, and the streets don't change but maybe the names, I ain't got time for the game
I had to come back because I have questions. Feel free to answer all of them as competitively as possible.
1) Are you shaving your body hair?
2) Have you ever tried Nair?
3) Is that a crocodile tattoo?
4) How many reptile tattoos do you have?
5) Which one is your favorite reptile tattoo?
6) Will you ever get another reptile tattoo?
7) Are those antelope underwear?
8) Does your wife prefer the underwear that might look like antelopes or the ones of the reef fish?
9) Where can i get underwear that d
I like this for some reason, so u got me, IÂ’ll answer.
1) Yes always. I don’t hv a lot of chest hair, and none on back; but i do shave my chest scragglies. Those hairs around the nips I just donÂ’t like.
In summer months I shave everything. Legs, armpits, chest, etc. etc.
2) No
3) Yes
4) 3. All my tattoos are original. My Dad drew up most of the tattoos. He’s my favorite artist.
5) The crocodile
6) Haven’t had the urge for another tattoo.
7) not sure. Buffalo maybe
8) she never voiced an opinion on either.
9). Saxx boxer briefs. Can get online $20/pair. Ur balls will feel like they r nestled in angels’ hands.
10) no. Too cold.
11) yes. Within 6 months. It’s not fun playing w them tho. I mean I do it for fam fun, but it’s not competitive fun. I hv another group for competitive fun. It’s like tennis. It’s no fun for me playing somebody who isn’t 4.5usta.
12) $26,500ish.
13). Most likely has a general idea. Isn’t it nice of me to spend $10k on this court for fun family times? Knox is gonna love the basketball. Shay (tennis player) will love the pickle. Sara’s mom plays pickle and will come over to play. Shd get a lot of use.
14) kids highly unlikely. Sara may stalk idk. She knows where to find, but cd prob care less too idk. We never talk bout 2+2.
15) 38hrs @$109/hr. Haven’t played last 5 days due to sickness. Hoping to get back Wednesday.
16) I feel I shdnt run out. I’m just too gd at poker to run out. If do, we hv a couple inventions that I will pursue. Cd b a blessing in disguise. That’s on back burner for now.
17) run out w a bball/pickle court.
18) lol. Pickle by far. That concrete is gonna b a hefty price tag.
19). Many things.
20) I’d rather play tennis. Tennis court wasnÂ’t allowed nor did I hv the room for it. Idc bout anyone here, so no desire to hv death match. Matter of fact, in 11+ years here on 2+2 I don’t think I hv ever posted on anything but my own thread. I just don’t care what others r doing. My only concern is myself.
Enjoy the fatty. Ima hybrid fan. Don’t want a lot of that sativa, and don’t want a lot of the ‘in the couch’ indica, so we always go right down the line, hybrid.
Ty @LarryLegend.
Alt coins nearing the bottom but not there yet, we hopping back in? And by we I mean you, I've been accumulating already.
