The 1st Fastlane Poker "home game" Is In The Books!

[MJ DeMarco]

So a bunch of us AZ guys got together on Thursday night and got a little poker home game going... nothing big, just $1 stakes and honestly, to call it "poker" would be a stretch. We played a lot of crazy games (7-card stud Q kills, wild cards, etc.) including the stalwart Texas-Holdem.

Here were the official results.

1st - MJ DeMarco +$280
2nd - @TheTruth +$98
3rd - @AndrewNC -$16
4th - @AllenCrawley -$24
5th - @JasonR - $45
6th - @Trevor Kuntz -$100
7th - @biophase - $156​

The point of this post is first, of course, to claim my bragging rights for the entire month.


Second, I haven't checked, but maybe there's an opportunity here for a website that helps local people form their own home games? And set up like a challenge league? I know this is the type of thing I would have used in the past. (Stress here is "HOME GAME" -- the is no house rake)

Third and most important, it illustrates that the forum is much more than "how do I grow my business" or "how do I make money" but about forging relationships OFFLINE as much as ONLINE.

I used to play a "home game" in Chicago before moving to Phoenix. When I moved, it stopped and I truly didn't realize how much I missed it until I played again, AND with a bunch of entrepreneurs who "get it". The conversation is illuminating -- instead of talking about how much one's boss is a dick or "my hours were cut", we are talking about sales funnels, conversion rates, and marketing ideas.

Folks, use this forum to your advantage. Contribute. Forge relationships. Find like minders in your area, go for coffee, get a poker home game going, or run your own B&P meetup.

While I had a shit-ton of fun last night, I actually learned STUFF just by virtue of LISTENING to the conversations that were being exchanged.

I also learned that when ordering pizza from Mr Cs, 45 minutes means 2.25 hours.

That said, I look forward to next month...

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

The 4th game is a GO tonight.

Since I haven't kept this thread updated, let me do so.

Game #1 (Jan): Top winner: MJ
Game #2 (Feb): Top winner: MJ (Even throttled @snowbank when he was in town, he made an admirable try though...)

and finally...

Game #3: (March): Top winner... wait for it... here it comes... MJ.

My fellow game players have contributed a nice sum of money to a custom poker table I will be buying.

I do, however, expect to lose tonight as gloating seems to induce bad luck.

 

[TheTruth]

Yeah that was a blast except for losing the last 8 hands I played including that grueling loss to you with quadruple 7's (and he beats me with quadruple kings folks) ...

To add to MJ's points, using the forum to connect with people is absolutely the way to go. I dropped so many "friends" and starting forming new relationships.

Whenever I talk with some old "friends" the self-depreciation and small thinking just rubs me the wrong way. It's like irritant. The new relationships I have forged (and keep forging) get rid of the irritant and it's like a breath of fresh air.

If you are "dying" to connect like minded people and forge great relationships, then be proactive.

There is a saying that is posted on the top of out blackboard and it states:

"Right Now Is Barely Fast Enough" -> Credit goes to @zen******* for engraving this into us when we went to visit his office.

That saying has become my favorite phrase ever since.

Want to play poker with some fastlaners? Right now is barely fast enough, let alone "maybe sometime next month" ... next month never happens.

So a bunch of us AZ guys got together on Thursday night and got a little poker home game going... nothing big, just $1 stakes and honestly, to call it "poker" would be a stretch. We played a lot of crazy games (7-card stud Q kills, wild cards, etc.) including the stalwart Texas-Holdem.

Here were the official results.

1st - MJ DeMarco +$280
2nd - @TheTruth +$98
3rd - @AndrewNC -$16
4th - @AllenCrawley -$24
5th - @JasonR - $45
6th - @Trevor Kuntz -$100
7th - @biophase - $156​

The point of this post is first, of course, to claim my bragging rights for the entire month.


Second, I haven't checked, but maybe there's an opportunity here for a website that helps local people form their own home games? And set up like a challenge league? I know this is the type of thing I would have used in the past. (Stress here is "HOME GAME" -- the is no house rake)

Third and most important, it illustrates that the forum is much more than "how do I grow my business" or "how do I make money" but about forging relationships OFFLINE as much as ONLINE.

I used to play a "home game" in Chicago before moving to Phoenix. When I moved, it stopped and I truly didn't realize how much I missed it until I played again, AND with a bunch of entrepreneurs who "get it". The conversation is illuminating -- instead of talking about how much one's boss is a dick or "my hours were cut", we are talking about sales funnels, conversion rates, and marketing ideas.

Folks, use this forum to your advantage. Contribute. Forge relationships. Find like minders in your area, go for coffee, get a poker home game going, or run your own B&P meetup.

While I had a shit-ton of fun last night, I actually learned STUFF just by virtue of LISTENING to the conversations that were being exchanged.

I also learned that when ordering pizza from Mr Cs, 45 minutes means 2.25 hours.

That said, I look forward to next month...

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I posted this here because after the 1st poker game (or maybe it was the 2nd?) @AllenCrawley and I instituted a rule of no smartphones at the games. This was because, well, some of us checked out of the game and checked into the mindlessness of our devices.

This video has 22+ million views. Its a great example why sometimes you just need to ban the phone. Meet. Look up.

 

[AllenCrawley]

Now the important part - how much money was cumulatively made at that table, while you were all just playing games?

That's an interesting question. I wonder if we could figure that out.

Your question caused me to reflect on that night again. Here's some interesting tidbits from those 6-7 hours that had nothing to do with poker.

• One was continually checking their phone because a shipment of theirs was held up in customs and there was lots of back and forth emails and texts.
• One shared a video that was created for a landing page that facebook traffic will be driven to. Asking for feedback and critiques.
• One gained a slight edge in poker by taking a focus and energy supplement sold by one of our own members @benhebert.
• One announced that they are quitting their well paid j.o.b. to pursue their fastlane business full time.
• Even tho @MJ DeMarco bought some junk food, others brought healthy food and all of us choose the healthy food.
• Great conversations around business, funnels, marketing, networking, health, relationships and travel.
• A few of us stuck around after the game to soak up the views, sounds, atmosphere and all around awesomeness from MJ's balcony while @Trevor Kuntz masterfully played classical music on the baby grand piano.
• Oh, and we also learned that MJ has no idea how to control the air condition in his new home.

 

[biophase]

The most awesome-est fastlane thing about poker night is that it was on a Thursday night and we played until 3am, and nobody had to leave early because they had to go to work the next day. It was also odd that nobody was even sleepy at 3am. LOL

 

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[biophase]

Is it possible to play nickle/dime no-limit hold em and lose $80 doing so?

Yes folks, it is possible. It is indeed.

This is fastlane... invite MJ to play poker.



Who brings a $100 bill to a $.10 - $.20 poker game? The guy who loses $80.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Gotta get one more game going before I bail out on Arizona! Who's in?

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Curious why you and MJ are moving out of AZ.
Has it worsened over the last 10 years?
Or just wanting something different?

Combination of things...

ONE...

The traffic has gotten insane from the influx of people coming from everywhere.

I'm in Queen Creek which should be mostly farm land and agriculture. But every farm and barren plot of land is being sold off to developers who are building crammed packed infill housing and apartments. It is like this in every suburb, sans Fountain Hills where I used to live. I don't think it is sustainable long-term and I think water will become a problem in a few years, after all, AZ is a desert.

That said, Utah is also growing like a weed so I don't expect traffic to be any better, however, I don't think sustainability will be a problem in 5 or 10 years.

TWO...

After 25 years here, I've gotten a bit tired of the insane heat (about 3-4 months a year) and welcome experiencing a change of seasons. I never thought I would welcome rain or snow, but as a person, I've changed a lot and don't do a lot of traveling. For me, my home is my resort, my vacation, and my palace-- so I don't need to "escape".

I'm actually looking forward to seeing some rain and snow and on the plus side, Utah is almost as sunny as Arizona. That said, Arizona has a special place in my heart and I still hope to build a timber home in Sedona (which is not any better on traffic and sprawl) so I realize that there is no solution there. However my Sedona property is 20 minutes from any civilization and touristy stuff. My new home in Utah is also in a small town void of any corporatized development, almost like going back 50 years in time.

THREE...

The political dynamics have changed with the Arizona population after the 2020 Election with the passing of the "eat the rich" tax plan known as Prop 208. While the state legislature looks to have nullified the law or weakened it, the writing is on the wall. Arizona has changed and as able-bodied producer who refuses to be a source of someone else's legalized theft, I decided to move. Utah seems to be more politically durable and business friendly, although it does have an income tax that was on par with Arizona (pre-Prop 208).

If I am wrong or don't like it here, then I move again.

That's the beauty of owning a business with Fastlane, CENTS dynamics... you can vote with your feet. Arizona loses 2 employees and 5-figures in taxes due to these stupid state ballot initiatives that they easily allow to appear in elections -- they essentially create an environment with fiat "mob rule" laws based on who has the most money to push their agenda to the unwashed masses. Of course, all dressed up in code, "it's for the children". The shtick is tiresome.

I assume you are over by Kamas or Heber.

No, I'm actually not E of Wasatch mountains, I'm in Alpine which is a SE suburb of SLC, about 1 hr 20m to Park City.

The initial focus of my search was Park City, Heber, Kamas, and Rideout ... but a lot of those nice offerings are in private communities with huge membership fees. I don't golf of ski, so I'd be paying for nothing.

 

[AllenCrawley]

The poker game resumed last month and continues tomorrow. I'm happy to say that my winning streak is still intact!!

Let's give a proper accounting shall we?

@1PercentStreet +$127.50 (tomorrow cards don't speak sucka)
@AllenCrawley +$58.00
@Red +$40.50
@MJ DeMarco +$31.00
@Eskil -$76
@VinceT -$115
@biophase -$134

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Ah yes another profitable Thursday.

@AllenCrawley, @JasonR, and @MJ DeMarco (myself) all doubled our money, and a some, tripled.

@Eskil, @biophase, @Red, and @allthatjazz -- left with empty wallets/purses. @VinceT scrapped by.

Next month I hope to taste the flavor of a little @Vigilante cash.

 

[Eskil]

Wow, I made it to 2nd place last night in the first Hold'em Poker Tourney! Only beat by @biophase after all the other players got eliminated one by one into the late hours of the night. For the first time I really felt like I knew what I was doing and could grasp the game fully. Hey this is fun! Thanks for a great and fun game night @MJ DeMarco , @AllenCrawley , @Red , @SteveO (+wife), and @AndrewNC

 

[Vigilante]

You might see some briefly on the table, but in a flash it will all be back where it belongs, and it will probably bring some new friends home with it. You guys (and gals) might have to put your big boy pants on though when I am in town. I don't get out of bed for less than a few hundred bucks.

 

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[oddball]

Interesting, lots of guys in Texas, we might have to try this.

 

[JasonR]

Not sure if MJ is bragging about taking home the biggest pot, or just trolling his own forum.

Was a blast. Looking forward to the next game!

 

[AllenCrawley]

Are we still playing dealers choice next time? I got a few new games up my sleeve.

You lost your dealer's choice privileges after that fiasco of a game you made us play, lol.

 

[DeletedUser2]

im, down for a game when in town.

Z

 

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[TheTruth]

Results

1st - @MJ DeMarco +$155
Tied for 2nd - TheTruth & @biophase +$35
3rd - @AllenCrawley -$32
4th - @AndrewNC -$75
5th - @JasonR -$120
6th - @Trevor Kuntz -$900+ (And still losing money. He's getting invoiced $1 every minute he is late to the poker game until the next game)

Yesterdays game went into the late hours of the night. There was various swings in wealth distribution during the night. At first, @AllenCrawley came out guns blazing, with aggressive offense, accompanied by some smooth tactical play by @biophase. They remained chip leaders for hours.

As the night went on though, people adjusted strategies, fatigue started to kick in a little and quite a few comebacks were made.

There was bluffing, scheming, made up rules, frustration, drama, healthy food, a bit of unhealthy food and a lot of fun.

MJ still sits proudly on his throne, but for how long? only the next game will tell ...



P.s. I also had the pleasure of bluffing @biophase out of a monster pot... (those 3's didn't mean anything )

 

[biophase]

Sounds good, I should be easy money. I'm going to hit up @snowbank for the ultimate tutorial the night before.

Snowbank won't be able to help you cause we aren't playing NLHE all night. We play a bunch of different card games that MJ makes up.

 

[AllenCrawley]

As long as you guys don't get into strip poker, I'd love to join in after our move to AZ.

@AndrewNC tried picking strip poker last time. Vetoed pretty quickly.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Snowbank won't be able to help you cause we aren't playing NLHE all night. We play a bunch of different card games that MJ makes up

If you actually tallied my winnings from NLHE and the crazy games, I'd bet I've won more at NLHE. So you guys can try using another excuse.

 

[Vigilante]

Here is MJ

Here is JasonR

And Borris

And Allen

 

[AllenCrawley]

@AllenCrawley - +43
@MJ DeMarco +$39

These four dollars mean more to me than any other amount of money.

 

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[Red]

I think I found my secret formula: Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino + Smart Caffeine + CILTEP = money made without the use of cleavage.

 

[Eskil]

Awwww.... our widdle guy is gwowing up.
Now can you help me? Because apparently my cheat sheet isn't enough....
ps: did you every bluff?

Lol...! Yeah I've officially graduated out of poker kindergarden... no more cheat sheets for me anymore.
Wait, what's four of a kind again? Lol.. j/k

Sure I'll help you next time, to get rid of some of your chips
I will leave the bluff question up for speculation.

 

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[SteveO]

Awwww.... our widdle guy is gwowing up.

If he gwows any more he won't fit in the house!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Is it possible to play nickle/dime no-limit hold em and lose $80 doing so?

Yes folks, it is possible. It is indeed.

 

[AllenCrawley]

Oh man. I've been so easy on you. Gloves come off tonight.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

MJ still sits proudly on his throne

Yes folks I retain the iron throne for yet another month.

The night started out rough with @AllenCrawley busting out of the gates with an early chip lead after taking me for several good beats. I was behind for the first few hours of the night, however as the midnight hour approached, the horses in front of me started to weaken as their stamina and conditioning faltered. The old man, who with superior conditioning (he trains in the early morning hours) slowly and assuredly steamed ahead. One by one, each horse fell aside, labored in breathing and beaten down by one nut hand after another. In the end, only two horses could finish the race. Should the race have continued on into the wee morning hours, they too likely would have finished with a negative cash count.

Yet again, the old man was underestimated and it cost my fellow competitors.

 

[Red]

Didn't I read somewhere on this forum that if you don't go bankrupt at least once, you're not doing something right?

I'm pretty sure I'm just setting myself up for success.... or some such drivel to make myself feel better... *sigh*