9.30am and the Wind Streams By

It's 9.30am and the sun is sparkling. It so bright that my eyelids provide no protection. I am wide awake. Not only because of the sun but I am sitting on the back of a moped (scooter) weaving in and out of the morning traffic. I haven't been on a a bike since I was about 11 and this time it wasn't for show. We slip in and out of the traffic at what seems to me 100km an hour. However I am sure it can't be that fast. I'm wearing a small white helmet and big goggles. On top of this my new military green jacket, couples with lapels and a million zips makes me feel at worst a 1960s movie extra and at best a 'Che' wanna be.

I am thoroughly enjoying this moment and will never forget it. The reason for the rush is not because I am on my way to work, or late for an appointment, but actually I am on my way home from a very big night. I was pretty wasted until 5 mins ago when the wind blasted off my face as we accelerated down a eight lane motorway. It started off at 11.30 when I met up with some mates and played some cards. I steadily drank and a roller coaster chip ride brought me from $50 to $1000. I am ecstatic and drunkenly concentrating on my pocket which has the equivalent of $1000 in $10 bills folded over and squished into my pocket.

I will go home and through this money into the air like a child and collapse. I have two and a half hours before I start work.

Korean equivalent to $750

Aims

Goal for this month.

• Read 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra' by Nietzsche
• Finish Harrington On Cash Games Volume 1
• Get into the habit of exercising.
• Reach 25 wall posts on my blog.

Idea for next month. Read Conscience of a Liberal and get back on The History of Western Philosophy

Brain Strain

I was awake until 5am on Thursday morning. Wednesday is my usual poker night, which I have blogged on before. This is the 4th week in a row I've cashed out a good amount. This week finished slightly later than usual and I didn't get home till just after 4.30am. I have the strangest feelings after a long poker session.

A session usually last 5 hours and during that time I will have one or two beers, food and generally a relaxing and good time. However consistently and continuously my analysis is in hyper mode. Every hand that I play, and I play a lot more that the usual player, I run through a list of questions which have no definitive answer. What did he raise with pre-flop? Why is he betting? Should I raise? What are the pot odds? What are the implied odds? Can I bluff? Will this be profitable? Remembering all the time that your money is at risk. I find the game pretty easy to crack and I have already gained a reputation in our small game.

The problem is, however, that I just can't get out of this mode of thinking easily. It's not just poker, it happens after a long reading session on politics or philosophy. I lie down and close my eyes. My body is exhausted but my mind continues to buzz. It feels like my brain molecules are whizzing around at a hundred miles an hour, riding on an adrenalin rush that just won't go away. I replay hands in my head over and over again, smile at my victories and analyse my loses. I make plans for future games or books to read. If my mind wonders off from poker every imagination seems more vivid and runs like a video in high speed. Like an electro-chraged spark my brain jumps from one topic to the next and back again. Sometimes I feel if I just put the pedal on accelerate and went where ever my my mind wanted to take me then my head would explode in a shower of light. I have such vivid dreams after these episodes.

I think it may just be a consequence of a average active mind, running on the last of a nights excitement, in conjunction with a tired body. It makes me think that instead of a constant 5 hour poker session I should try it with a classic novel or textbook.

Full of it

Ah, flopping boat after boat last Wednesday actually did me some harm. Not only did I triple up in the first 10 mins of the game but I also thought I was invincible for the rest of the night. I ended up chipping and drawing away at my stack until I eventually busted. It was only after that that I started to concentrate and play again.

I have become really good at reading a few players hands at my regular game through a mix of tells and betting actions. Twice I induced big river bluffs which I could easily call and once convinced someone to check their trips on the flop which allowed me to draw to the nut straight on the turn for free. I only ended plus $50 bucks. I wish I'd left after the first 20 mins but I can to play and win and although the later of the night was a tough trip it allowed me to practice some abilities which in the end paid off. Role on next week.