My introduction -- 3 years later (2 Viewers)

[Robert]

I originally joined PCF three years ago but haven't been back since. At that time I was looking to replace some chips for my Paulson Viva Las Vegas set that were lost over the years. I was able to get in touch with Jeff and he was kind enough to send me a few, which brought me a lot closer to completion. It was extremely nice of him since I was only a member for a few days and our only contact was via messages. So Jeff if you come across this - thanks again.

A little about me:
I grew up in NC and started playing poker in 1995 while in high school. My friends and I loved the game so much that we started our own home game. We played every weekend - all throughout high school and well into our college years. In 2002 I started playing online poker and after graduating college in 2004 I moved to Las Vegas to play professionally. I'd never been to Vegas before but knew it was the place I needed to be. For the next several years I spent most of my time playing cash games around town, some tournaments, and grinding online.

By 2011 I was completely burnt out. Poker wasn't fun anymore and I only played to pay the bills. I knew I needed a change so I went to school to become an insurance agent. I was hired by a company and started working full time. The transition was difficult but I welcomed the change - the timing couldn't have been better because a few weeks later Black Friday happened.

A couple years ago my son was born. My wife and I made the decision for me to be a stay-at-home dad and I'm loving every minute of it. And now that I've had a break from poker and only play recreationally, it's becoming fun again. So I'm back on PCF to learn more about chips and eventually buy more sets. I'm looking forward to learning about the chip world and to be a part of this community - the one that left a positive impression on me 3 years ago.

-Robert

 

[Highli99]

Welcome! Great post

 

[Lemonzest]

Welcome! You really dodged a bullet there with Black Friday.

 

[detroitdad]

Welcome to PCF.

@Jeff

 

[markleteenie]

Welcome back, that's quite the poker journey!

 

[EasyE]

Welcome back!!

 

[Suited Connector]

Welcome back to PCF and welcome back to poker being fun again!

 

[WedgeRock]

Great first post. Welcome!

(And sorry about inclusion in the out-of-context thread.)

 

[Robert]

Welcome! You really dodged a bullet there with Black Friday.

I sure did. Several of my friends had large amounts of money frozen online - some had their entire net worth - and no clue if they’d ever see it again or what they were going to do with their lives.

 

[Robert]

Great first post. Welcome!

(And sorry about inclusion in the out-of-context thread.)

Thanks! I had no clue what the inclusion part meant (I’m still a newbie) but after researching it I literally lol’d

 

[Jeff]

Glad you’re back! If you’re ever getting out of poker again, you need to sell all your VLV chips to me!!!

 

[FordPickup92]

Awesome post, glad to have you back on the dark side!!! Hope you have an opportunity meet more wonderful people like @Jeff who helped you out then!! Sounds like you had quite a run there for awhile in the poker world, hopefully being on this site again will bring back good memories and enable you to make many new ones!!!!

Cheers, Brie

 

[Ben8257]

Awesome story of a true rounder!! I feel like even that guy with with perfect job that you think man!! I wish I had that job... Blah blah... Eventually it would get old!! Did you ever pocket any chips while you were playing over the years? I wish early on when I played at casinos in Atlantic City I knew what those chips would be worth today!! Welcome friend!! Fellow chipper Ben

 

[abby99]

Hello and welcome back.

 

[Robert]

Glad you’re back! If you’re ever getting out of poker again, you need to sell all your VLV chips to me!!!

You’ve got a deal, it’s the least I can do.

In the meantime if you ever wanna sell any barrels of the $5 or $25 let me know!

 

[Robert]

Awesome post, glad to have you back on the dark side!!! Hope you have an opportunity meet more wonderful people like @Jeff who helped you out then!! Sounds like you had quite a run there for awhile in the poker world, hopefully being on this site again will bring back good memories and enable you to make many new ones!!!!

Cheers, Brie

Thank you, glad to be back!

 

[Robert]

Awesome story of a true rounder!! I feel like even that guy with with perfect job that you think man!! I wish I had that job... Blah blah... Eventually it would get old!! Did you ever pocket any chips while you were playing over the years? I wish early on when I played at casinos in Atlantic City I knew what those chips would be worth today!! Welcome friend!! Fellow chipper Ben

When I was 19 and 20 I would use a fake ID to go to Atlantic City and to the boat in Myrtle Beach. I kept a chip from every casino I played at but when I turned 21 I never kept a single one. I guess because when I was underage there was always this lingering fear that I would get caught and kicked out, so the chip would be proof that I was actually there. But once I became of legal age I spent so much time in casinos that it felt like my 2nd home and I never gave it another thought.

Had no idea they are worth something today but I probably couldn’t find them if I tried.

 

[allforcharity]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Ben8257]

When I was 19 and 20 I would use a fake ID to go to Atlantic City and to the boat in Myrtle Beach. I kept a chip from every casino I played at but when I turned 21 I never kept a single one. I guess because when I was underage there was always this lingering fear that I would get caught and kicked out, so the chip would be proof that I was actually there. But once I became of legal age I spent so much time in casinos that it felt like my 2nd home and I never gave it another thought.

Had no idea they are worth something today but I probably couldn’t find them if I tried.

Well that's still an awesome story brother!! That had to be awesome!! I only played home games and tourneys before 21... But I was at tropicana on my 21st birthday!!! Sucks that you list all of those chips but hey with a little work you can get them all back!! Good luck on here and watch the bank account! They have habits here of running dry quickly! Again your chipping buddy Ben! Let me know if I can help with anything at all!

 

[Robert]

Well that's still an awesome story brother!! That had to be awesome!! I only played home games and tourneys before 21... But I was at tropicana on my 21st birthday!!! Sucks that you list all of those chips but hey with a little work you can get them all back!! Good luck on here and watch the bank account! They have habits here of running dry quickly! Again your chipping buddy Ben! Let me know if I can help with anything at all!

Thanks Ben, I really appreciate it. I didn’t spend my 21st bday there but here’s a true story about the Trop in AC.

When I was 22, I entered my first real tournament there. Up until then I only played cash games at the casinos and tournaments online. I think it was $100 + $20 with about 100 entries. Anyways I ended up winning it. Not only did I win it but I knocked out every single player at the final table to get the win.

Now I’m not a cocky or arrogant person but I left AC thinking I was on my way to poker glory - like the main event bracelet was next. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I ran like god that night and future tourneys brought me back down to reality with a quickness.

 

[Ben8257]

I have played in some of those tourneys up there and they can be brutal!! Never won any big ones yet!! Who knows what the future holds, have you played in many WSOP events? I much prefer recreation home poker atmosphere myself!! Guessing you still love those nice THC VLVs hope you can find something to compliment them well here... Btw by my math from your original post we are the same age... Although it took me until 3 months ago that I have been playing with below grade chips... PCF is awesome!!

 

[Dodger]

Welcome (back)! Some great stories already told above. Looking forward to more if you decide to share.

 

[DerberAlter]

In 2002 I started playing online poker and after graduating college in 2004 I moved to Las Vegas to play professionally. I'd never been to Vegas before but knew it was the place I needed to be. For the next several years I spent most of my time playing cash games around town, some tournaments, and grinding online.

Do you had a specific favourite casino?

 

[Robert]

I have played in some of those tourneys up there and they can be brutal!! Never won any big ones yet!! Who knows what the future holds, have you played in many WSOP events? I much prefer recreation home poker atmosphere myself!! Guessing you still love those nice THC VLVs hope you can find something to compliment them well here... Btw by my math from your original post we are the same age... Although it took me until 3 months ago that I have been playing with below grade chips... PCF is awesome!!

I’ve played in a handful of the preliminary events and the 2006 main event (the year Jamie Gold won). During the WSOP the cash games are almost indescribably good so it was hard to pull me away from the tables to register for a tournament.

I love my VLV chips. My friends and I bought them back in 1999 when our home game got serious. But they are hard to come by and can get expensive. I wouldn’t mind finding something more affordable to hold me over until I have more time to play.

 

[Robert]

Welcome (back)! Some great stories already told above. Looking forward to more if you decide to share.

Thank you. Some of this stuff I honestly haven’t thought of in years so it’s been kind of fun sharing.

 

[Robert]

Do you had a specific favourite casino?

Yes, the Palms - crazy I know. But when I first moved there in ‘04 the Bellagio and Mirage were the most popular poker spots (Aria didn’t exist yet). I liked the Mirage but found that the Bellagio had a significant amount of established pros, aspiring pros, and guys who thought they were pros.

My friend literally had to convince me to try the Palms and he was absolutely correct. MTV’s real world LV was just filmed there so It was extremely popular with the younger party crowd, as well as the business men who loved to gamble. The weekend 5/10 nl games were the best - especially when the crowd from club Rain would come stumbling into the poker room. Eventually the games dried up and I spent the majority of my time at the Wynn and Bellagio. But I would play anywhere I heard the action was good, especially after my Palms experience.

I don’t live there anymore but have been back occasionally and play at Aria.

 

[Ben8257]

It sucks recently a member had 39 VLV hundos available, I bought his CDIs I know he plans on repurposing the rest... Do you only have the 1s, 5s and 10s in your profile pic or higher denoms as well? They definitely are a higher prices chip but usually in great condition, availability is limited but they are around... Anything in mind for a future build? I'm sure you have been doing some window shopping!! Haha

 

[Coyote]

Welcome Robert!
Indeed, the saying goes that too much prayer makes the Priest sick of God
It's always tricky to turn your interest/hobby/passion into a job.

 

[Robert]

It sucks recently a member had 39 VLV hundos available, I bought his CDIs I know he plans on repurposing the rest... Do you only have the 1s, 5s and 10s in your profile pic or higher denoms as well? They definitely are a higher prices chip but usually in great condition, availability is limited but they are around... Anything in mind for a future build? I'm sure you have been doing some window shopping!! Haha

Man, I would’ve definitely purchased those 39 chips if I was around. And yes, those are the only denominations I have but would like to add $25 & $100. I also only need 3 more $1 chips to complete my original set, so hopefully I’ll get lucky and come across them.

As far as building another, I’m not sure. I’m still learning all the lingo and abbreviations so I’m not sure what THC or CDI means. I’ll do research on it to understand what the heck you’re talking about.

 

[Robert]

Welcome Robert!
Indeed, the saying goes that too much prayer makes the Priest sick of God
It's always tricky to turn your interest/hobby/passion into a job.

Never heard that saying before but it’s so true