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Poker has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. Memories of
my grandfather’s home games and learning to play poker from my father are
some of my earliest memories.
I was hosting poker games for my friends by the age of 15. They were fun
once we realized not to let the older guys play with us, and take all our
cash.
We are of Basque decent, gypsies to some people. The Basque people are
nomadic people who have never really bought in to the whole
“work-for-the-man” way of life. My mother and sister are tarot card and palm
readers, and if you ever meet them, they will freak you out.
I’ve been watching them blow peoples minds for many years. We believe in
family and friends. If I could steal a line from a Merle Haggard song as our
credo, it would be “We like livin’ life, and bein’ free.”
My life has been an interesting one. After high school I began my travels. I
figured the military would show me the world. It showed me some of it, but
mostly it showed me that I didn’t belong in the military.
Too many bosses for me, but I completed my three years and received an
honorable discharge. Next was university, and the study of English
literature. I enjoyed studying the great thinkers and writers but came to
the conclusion that the people I was surrounded by were a little stiff.
I need a little more action in my life then these elbow-patched professors
were offering. No offence to anyone in this sort of vocation, I’m writing of
a time and place, not a generalization.
So I said to myself that the only way I was going to be happy was to live
free, and that’s exactly what I did. I sold everything I had, except my
clothes and my motorcycle, and I hit the road. For three years, I traveled
and worked as a bartender. Playing pool paid the rent more than once, and
the periodic poker game usually saved my butt in some manner.
Life was a little tough then, but I didn’t know it. Living by my wits was a
rush and I have no regrets. I eventually settled down and got a job on the
oil rigs where I became a driller and made some nice coin.
Around the same time I met my future wife. Meeting her has given my life
structure and more love then even a great guy like me deserves. We currently
are expecting our first child and are ecstatic about it. She gets the whole
freedom thing, and supports what I do, unless I do something stupid. Then
she kicks my ass. She’s not a bad player herself, periodically winning our
weekly home game.
Drilling oil wells became an internal issue after awhile. I realized I was
contributing to the slow destruction of our Mother Earth and decided that I
should find a better way to make money. Now I build houses with a high
school friend.
It’s been almost four years that my brother and I began our work with poker.
We recognized the boom poker has taken and decided to hone our skills. We
have read every book and played many hours.
My brother is a very sound low-limit player who is doing very well at the
$10/$20 level. My study is in the no-limit area, and I’m playing in as many
tournaments as I can. Getting to the top takes time. Poker is a difficult
game to master, but like everything else, hard work and a good attitude will
prevail.
I play poker because it’s fun, competitive, and I know if I continue down
this road it is going to pay off. Every dog has his day and I will have mine.
Being a professional poker player isn’t about ego or money. It’s about using
my abilities to provide a lifestyle for myself and my family without having
to make some other jerk rich while I’m doing it.
I plan to share my experiences and exploits with poker players of all levels.
I can steer a new player around a trouble spot, can shed some light on some
poker theory for an intermediate player and will soon be studying the habits
and practices of the pros.
Poker players are free. That’s the life for me.
Source: Bodog
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