Party of 8 - Got there!

Been a while since my last post. I'm always keeping myself  busy between grinding and working on my game (and with my students on their game), but the last month or so has probably seen me push myself to the limit, getting ready for SCOOP (in 1 week time!) - But the main reason for not writing was just a general lack of motivation.

For most ppl It's very hard to step out of their comfort zones - Think I'm better than avg in the field, but def not *uber* exited about trying new stuff I prefer skipping. Tonight I passed one of those tests - I actually made dinner! For real ppl! And not just Mr's Tilt - there were 8 of them! And they survived! (I think/hope). What might not sound like a big deal to someone, was a great deal for me... Was getting ready for this for days!
Making it work puts so much more confidence in me, that hard work (and I'm super exhausted ATM) can make everything possible, even when pure talent and desire are not 100% there.

My business's slogan is *Work Hard - Get There*. That's what we do.

Promise to write again before Scoop. Promise to write again after shipping a Scoop. Promise myself Il'l take some time off after Scoop to rest and get better... BUT FOR NOW JUST FOCUSED ON GETTING THERE.

TY

TY (thank you) for being there for me. TY for loving me. TY for supporting and tolerating me. TY for inspiring me. TY for giving me the strength to put up so much shit (and still keep getting back for more the next day). TY for being you, my one and only.

50-50

I'm not sure If I ever wrote about this before, but life's always 50-50... It's the way I look at life ever since learning that all though Poker's a game of skill - most of the ppl of the world, even the intelligent part, aren't able to accept it.

so shortly speaking

50-50 It's going to rain.
50-50 I am going to win the lotto today.
50-50 Ill die today (or you). (That's also 50% that we gonna live!).
50-50 I'll be traveling to some exotic Island over the upcoming holidays.
50-50 every hand vs every hand in poker...

etc...


Believing in the 50-50 theory makes you look at the world in a very optimistic way - No matter how deep in shit you are, u still have a 1 in 2 chance of making it! That's pretty good, right?

Lately I was talking about miracles with some of the closest ppl in my life. Some said they don't believe in such, some said were just unlucky by nature.
So whatever, I don't need no fucking miracle.
I always have 50%, that will do, and I'll take my chances...

(I did start thinking about this classic miracle...)

I'm Smart

I am Gaby.
Exactly six years ago today, I turned my biggest dream in life into a reality (New Zealand with Mrs Tilt).
Ever since getting back, I work really hard, pursuing new dreams.
I am stronger than most ppl in this cool VID,

while being mistakenly perceived, even by some of the closest ppl in my life, as a degenerate gambler...

I will not give up on my self even when shit seems to be tough.
I'm smart. Ill continue being like me, be like Gaby.

My New Chess Era

No, I'm not getting back to playing chess. Just got asked by my team manager (I still play for a club the first/top Israeli team championship) to get on board (literally) for a couple of games, since he didn't have all of his top (and active) players available.

Playing chess for a living is an even shittier decision than picking up Poker. You grind your balls out, for basically very little/almost no income. As I said in my first post ever in this blog, that with Poker, at least you have the dreams about actually getting rich one day...

When I was a "Chess pro", I used to study a lot and was pretty good at the theory part. Like with Poker, you can choose tighter or more aggressive approaches to the openings (obv there's mixed strategies too). I was normally choosing the more up to date *loose* openings - playing those, had to have me up to date, with all recent developments. Basically retired now for almost a decade, I changed my philosophy completely - I can't compete with the young guns at the theory part, so I choose more random openings, and try *exploiting in vacuum* and getting my midgame skills (assuming I have such) on board - as if I was a cash player who's looking to get his edges on the post flop part, avoiding the pre flop 3-4-5-6 betting wars... Funny that the way that online poker evolved over the last year (with so much of the game going from to the pre to the post) - has some correlation to the way I look at chess now.

This was my first ever post written from my mobile phone. That's because I have a new and shiny one. #Bragggggg

Happy TCOOP everyone, may you flip well :)

Cheers,
OMGImsoChess

GG 2015. GL 2016.

Apparently didn't write a single post during December. Been very busy (2 weeks in Prague~), Been somewhat ill... A lot of stuff happening work-wise, almost didn't have the time to stop and think about posting.

This year has been both the best and worst in my life. Worked my ass out, enjoyed a lot, didn't get rich...
Have a lot of positive vibes going into 2016, it will certainly bring a lot of new challenges, aside from the ongoing existing ones.
I wish all my family and friends the best times in 2016 - Ill do my best to be the best I can be, both for my self and for all of you.

Fully confident that 2016 will be great.

Happy New Year !

Saturday AM from my balcony

It's been a while since I was awake this early on a Saturday morning, after already having my night's sleep. Decided I gonna use this quiet hours, and sit for a while in my balcony, drink a cup of tea (should be warmer than normal today, but morning is pretty chilly here since balcony faces the north side, which isn't sunny), and reminisce about the times, when I loved balconies, more than any other place in a house.

Years ago, when I didn't even really know what "Grind stands for", I used to spend nights and nights at my in-laws balcony, while staying there on weekends, during the warm summer nights, grinding my shirts out...
A couple years later, when we were looking for a place to buy, I stated that I won't agree on getting a place without a balcony, since I love it too much. Right after moving in, I spent like 4, out of the first 6 days working, in my non-sunny balcony. I'm not sure I've visited it more than 4 times since.

Being ill for quite a long period of time changes my perspective about *the race*. It's not that I lost motivation - I can't, it's stronger than me. But I just have to be way smarter in the way I approach it. I know I'll sound old, but I have to say I'm definitely not getting any younger....

Just one week left before Prague, and I reckon I gonna devote this last week (before a pretty long biz-trip) mostly for some rest, quality time with Mrs Tilt and mental preparation. Oh, and if someone knows a way for me to get better quickly, that helps too.

For now Ill be seating here, drinking cup of tea, and reminisce...