When I was on staff at Camp Wahanowin, there were a lot of
Montrealers there. So here’s what I know about Montreal. The women are all
good-looking and the guys are all dweebs. That’s not an opinion, or even a
generalization. That’s a fact. Or at least it was in 1979.
Montrealers there. So here’s what I know about Montreal. The women are all
good-looking and the guys are all dweebs. That’s not an opinion, or even a
generalization. That’s a fact. Or at least it was in 1979.
So if I were venturing to Montreal back in the day, I
would’ve had more than poker on my mind. Circa 2014, I’m a deliriously happy married
middle-aged man (“middle-aged” is actually a fairly generous term for what I
am) and so I have only poker on my mind.
would’ve had more than poker on my mind. Circa 2014, I’m a deliriously happy married
middle-aged man (“middle-aged” is actually a fairly generous term for what I
am) and so I have only poker on my mind.
So here we go again. I won a seat in the modestly priced
Pokerstars Canada Cup. It’s a $3300 buy-in with a $2 million guaranteed prize
pool. I won it online (in one shot, thank you very much). This trip will
be different. I know, I know, you’ve heard that before. But this time it’s
truly true. Let me tell you whyly why.
Pokerstars Canada Cup. It’s a $3300 buy-in with a $2 million guaranteed prize
pool. I won it online (in one shot, thank you very much). This trip will
be different. I know, I know, you’ve heard that before. But this time it’s
truly true. Let me tell you whyly why.
First of all, to update you poker-wise, lately I have been…
how do I say this without sounding immodest?… awesome. I’m playing the best
poker I’ve ever played both online and live. At least, based on results, I am.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to say that on the cusp of going into a
tournament.
how do I say this without sounding immodest?… awesome. I’m playing the best
poker I’ve ever played both online and live. At least, based on results, I am.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to say that on the cusp of going into a
tournament.
More importantly though, I really don’t give a shit. I
really don’t. That’s so crucial. And I’ve talked about this before. Of all the
many advantages that the young pros I’ll be facing hold over me – math skills,
memory skills, poker skills, strategic skills, stamina, strength, big-game
experience, OK I’m getting depressed now – the single greatest advantage they
have always held is the power of not giving a shit. And this time I can match
them… log for log.
really don’t. That’s so crucial. And I’ve talked about this before. Of all the
many advantages that the young pros I’ll be facing hold over me – math skills,
memory skills, poker skills, strategic skills, stamina, strength, big-game
experience, OK I’m getting depressed now – the single greatest advantage they
have always held is the power of not giving a shit. And this time I can match
them… log for log.
I always whine and bemoan the fact that in other tournaments
I’ve won my way into, whether we’re talking about Monte Carlo or Copenhagen or
The Bahamas or other venues in North America, I’ve always had to go to a lot of
trouble to get there. It’s a week off work, away from my family, away from my
clients, the planning, the organizing, the guilt, oy the
guilt. Wearing that burden on my shoulders, more than anything else, has been
my Waterloo. Y’see, they know. Those kids know. They see a guy like me and they
know I’ve worked too hard to get there, just to bust out in the first hour.
They know I can’t, I won’t. And I know they know. And they know I know they
know. And they exploit that. It stifles my game.
I’ve won my way into, whether we’re talking about Monte Carlo or Copenhagen or
The Bahamas or other venues in North America, I’ve always had to go to a lot of
trouble to get there. It’s a week off work, away from my family, away from my
clients, the planning, the organizing, the guilt, oy the
guilt. Wearing that burden on my shoulders, more than anything else, has been
my Waterloo. Y’see, they know. Those kids know. They see a guy like me and they
know I’ve worked too hard to get there, just to bust out in the first hour.
They know I can’t, I won’t. And I know they know. And they know I know they
know. And they exploit that. It stifles my game.
Well there’ll be none of that doublespeak this time! This
time we’re talking about Montreal, a mere stone’s throw away. I’ll shoot in
there Thursday morning and play my normal aggressive game come what may. I will
not back down. The tournament starts at 11:00 AM. I’m not even flying in until
the morning of! Whaddya think of THAT!? And lemme just say this about that. If
I’m back in my office in Toronto by 3 PM I’ll be happy as a clam. And let me just
say this about THAT. Why the fuck are clams so damn happy?
time we’re talking about Montreal, a mere stone’s throw away. I’ll shoot in
there Thursday morning and play my normal aggressive game come what may. I will
not back down. The tournament starts at 11:00 AM. I’m not even flying in until
the morning of! Whaddya think of THAT!? And lemme just say this about that. If
I’m back in my office in Toronto by 3 PM I’ll be happy as a clam. And let me just
say this about THAT. Why the fuck are clams so damn happy?
I’m going there with a “fuck you” mentality. That’ll be my
mantra. I’ll start early. So when the Porter Airline stewardess says “Can I get you
anything, plop up your pillow, Mr. Caplan?” I’ll say “Fuck you, Stew”. And when
the cab driver says “Where to?” I’ll say “Fuck you, Vishnu!” And when… well I
think you get the idea. But when that first pimple-faced poker nerd tries to
3-bet me from the Big, well let’s just say my actions will speak louder than my
words. I may bust out early, but I can promise you one thing. I will not be
making any friends on this trip!
mantra. I’ll start early. So when the Porter Airline stewardess says “Can I get you
anything, plop up your pillow, Mr. Caplan?” I’ll say “Fuck you, Stew”. And when
the cab driver says “Where to?” I’ll say “Fuck you, Vishnu!” And when… well I
think you get the idea. But when that first pimple-faced poker nerd tries to
3-bet me from the Big, well let’s just say my actions will speak louder than my
words. I may bust out early, but I can promise you one thing. I will not be
making any friends on this trip!
I leave tomorrow morning. Maybe I’ll write you from the
plane. The little plane. The 1 hour flight in a tiny space that I will be
taking without the luxury of drugs. Hmmm, maybe I’ll drive.
plane. The little plane. The 1 hour flight in a tiny space that I will be
taking without the luxury of drugs. Hmmm, maybe I’ll drive.
virgilgoestoeurope 
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