The idea of playing poker for a living was sold to everyone as glamorous back in 2004. This is the reality of playing for a living, looks worse than a 9 to 5.
Not necessarily. This is the reality of grinding low stakes. It appears they’re playing 1/2 or 2/5 at most. There’s almost no money to really be made at these stakes especially in a high rake private game. If you can profitably play 5/10 or 10/20+ the reality is far different. Games run less often so it’s less of a grind yet you can make significantly more money. The recreational players have more to lose and are far less nitty.
@@dan22482 Yea Dan, but you're forgetting that requires having a big bankroll to try that out. These people don't have $15,000 to go sit at a 10/20 table each day... When poker is your only source of income you don't go put all your money down on one day of play. Your scenario is reasonable for people that have $60 grand to $100 grand that they don't care about.
it's worse than going to school and work at the same time because you have to study all the time in addition to playing. then you have to find the best games..... sometimes that is commuting more than an hour. sometimes you play 8,12,20 or even 30 hrs straight( if the game is great).
Times change. In 2004 I could Make a good living playing. After 2015 or so I couldn't. Your best hope grinding 1/2 with a bad beat dollar or 2 taken from each hand is to break even at the table, make $ on comps, and pray you hit a bad beat one day.
This is such a great documentary...it isnt trying to glorify or denounce professional poker but keeping it real showing people both sides who also do it successfully and also the dark side of it all too..
This might sound crazy but some players actually can play better drunk, if you're an addict booze acts like a stimulant to some people including me, it kinda blocks out all the noise and allows you to play from muscle memory in a more aggressive way, hard to explain but I can confirm for some people it can make them play better, and I'm not just saying that as a confused drunk, I have like 7 million hands on PokerStars, tens of thousands of mtts played,
Not sure if this was a planned objective from the director, but this documentary is one of the reasons why Poker is still viewed as gambling for so many people who are clueless about the game. I am a professional poker player. Been doing it for almost 10 years. And like me, there's thousands more. But it's not easy money. You have to study on a daily basis. And you have to be able to go through periods of bad luck (because there is, obviously, luck involved) and keep on grinding. But if you can't buy dinner or pay your bills, because you had a bad week/month, then you are doing something wrong.
I was a grinder for 5 years, I found that sleep and staying healthy are just as important as how good of a player you are, playing over 15 hours a day and not sleeping well are the worst things you can do.
Great documentary! I had forgotten about it, and watched it years ago but had to re-watch it. Watching Danny just made me sad though. His addiction has clearly resurfaced and has begun to rule his life again. I'd love to see how Danny is doing today. Hopefully not dead or homeless from his alcoholism.
but drinking too much makes you feel like you are better.....but in reality it just makes you sloppier, louder. riskier and you miss out on subtleties.
Thats so crazy. I forget what he said the HORSE buy in was, but thats always been a prestigious event. Eleventh is a hell of an effort in that tournament. To double your money finishing 11th out of 800 does kind of suck.
Quote of the movie, " I have such a huge edge I think I can afford a few mistakes......I can only recall one hand I played badly". From the guy fifteen drinks in the tank but out of the tournament. There's something to be said for not recalling all of your mistakes. Maybe you think you play better. Maybe you do.
People who are grinders are losers. I am great in poker and am a net winning player, but I have a normal full time job. By the way, I finished 4th in WSOP this year.
@@OneEyedJack01 I was in the Stud event. I am a stud specilist and placed in the money three times in WSOP in that event. I also won (split three ways) borgata stud event few years ago.
without the hypnotizing music it sorta sucked, didn't go anywhere. But with the music its kind of a nostalgic trip. Also like the inclusion of the fish pool at Rio
Real world of poker addiction. These guys are not playing poker, they are not working on their game or on themselves, they are just lazy and hope to win by chance. Life never rewards you for your lazyness.
My Dad liked a flutter on the horses. He tended to win more than he lost. I'll never forget when he said to me one time "It's betting if you can afford to lose and gambling if you can't".
I play tournament poker. Its a total grind. You play all day and get sucked out on AA against KK or worse. It just gets boring so you give up and then come back. It fills the time I have left before I have to cash in my chips for real.
Very insightful and entertaining, especially for a rec player from Australia. Well done for showing the 'true' side of grinding. Genuinely sad for your and Cornelia's loss, though mate.
Others have stated already but definitely a super depressing documentary. 46ish minute mark is as raw of a view into the life of a compulsive degenerate gambler as it gets. Sad that he sincerely believes he’s conquered his gambling and drinking addictions. That said, it’s really a top notch documentary. Well done.
Yes Anthony I completely agree mate, I honestly believe he is a borderline alcoholic to think he can play better drunk. You make more mistakes when you are drunk, you are there to win money to live and pay your bills and make a life for yourself. He definitely has the skills to become a pro but just needs to change a couple of things.
@@marshawnlynch6244 I’m in that situation now man it sucks ass big time I’m scared to go up stakes and take that bigger risk coz it’s took me months to grind what I’ve got in my account 🤦♂️
It’s amazing back in the early teens of 2000 , myself included , thought that they were poker pros , it’s crazy to look back at , how big poker was back then , I would estimate at least 97 percent of “poker pros” from that day are no longer poker pros lol
Agree. I was earning a decent living winning thousands every month playing party poker and pacific poker. Black Friday hit and never cashed a dime online again. My live play is currently mediocre, but my ROI isn't enough to make a living. Occasionally I play live recreationally, but have accepted that the game has evolved and left my mediocre skills in the dust.
It's because poker evolved. It's not good enough to just play the opponent anymore. You need to study and put in hours of work every week outside of playing to remain relevant today.
I live in Vegas for many years now. I don’t gamble aside from my five dollar parlay on the UFC each weekend, just to make the fights a little bit more exciting. Never really got into gambling. But I can tell you, there are a lot of people who live here who do make a living as professional gambler. But noticed the difference between the successful poker player, who has a protein shake, oatmeal and a healthy breakfast after a good sleep. The guy who drinks, 15 beers, and is stuffing his face full of junk food late at night. Completely different approaches, and different outcomes.
Been playing poker for over 25 years as a recreational player, and I am Positive cashflow. In my years I have learned that every poker player thinks they are better than they actually are. Some are way better than others obviously but players peg their skill higher than they actually are, no matter what level. Too many attribute their misses as just bad luck, and their big scores and years as skill as opposed to a lot of good luck mixed in there. This documentary has further substantiated this...
I was thinking alot about this comment. I too have been playing that long honestly a little longer. What you said is true for 95 percent of the players out there so many don't do anything to improve and feel they have a lock on the game with their current play style and knowledge. To me poker is ultimate example of self-responsibility it's all on you if you succeed or fail. You can choose to be a student of the game read study and play with players that may be better than you and try to learn. Or you can live in the world of denial blame your losses on bad beats and never really examine your own skill level. But at the end of the day thats great you want to be in a room full of people who think there are the best player at the table and exploit the mistakes that they are bound to make. Well said sir remember don't tap the glass.........
@@danwittal1788 One of my own problems was that I was a regular winning player at the limits I play, so for years I just kept playing the same type of tourneys and games as a hobbyist. I never really took my game to the next level. It has evolved so much in last ten years. I decided to really study and learn and memorize new concepts and strategies and realized there was so much areas I could improve. I am winning but more now but still learning to take to next level. I am finding I am the minority out there. Even long time grinders out there from 15 years ago I bump into still have no idea of some of the newer strategies I have learned now, so I know they too are not expanding and investing the effort to learn to get better. I have. feeling some of those featured in this video are players who plateaued years ago.
Ran casinos for many years all over the world. In a couple of places we had poker rooms and as you say, so many people think they’re better than they are. It’s like an international standard.
lol yea… that Andre guy is talking how he’s out of shape & taking power naps. Everything he probably does is unhealthy right?. Like he says… grinding is being a degenerate
No not everybody who plays for a living is like these guys.... I made over 80k... A year for the past 2 years.. playing mostly 2/5 and 5/10.... So yeah please don't confuse dumb poker players like these guys from New York... With real players.... These guys are a joke... They would be lucky to beat the 1/2 game where I play..No Cap....real talk.
the picture is a perfect example of a true masterpiece going undetected...untill one day......and then....it will be acknowledged.....THIS FILM IS A MASTERWORK....on the level with California Split...Rounders....and The Cincinnati Kid......AND it is GREATER ...
It's old. Not a single player ever mentioned ranges, balancing, GTO, or equity. If they are not using those terms today, they're not grinders. The fact that not a single one ever mentioned bank roll management shows they are bad grinders.
@@OneEyedJack01 Exactly Jack. The other posts on this video saying it can be done I'll not dispute - IF you are a skilled player. But that's not any of these guys.. None of them. According to IMDB, this was completed in 2011, so well after the Poker Boom but nowhere recent. These guys are bad regs - or perfect for the house, except he got blackmailed and robbed too. Literally everyone is this video lost.
There is no more of a sad existence than running around playing live cash games underground to make a living, especially if you aren't very good which seems to be the case with these players.
Lou i dont see how you can say they're not good, we never really get to see how they actually play. The guy who came in 11 th certainly must be pretty good, i,d bet he's better than jamie gold.
@@shivasirons6159 well I searched his online screen name from pokerstars and his biggest win online was 2200$ or so plus he had the phonecall about "unfreezing his funds" at the bank so it's safe to say he isn't doing too well, I'm not saying he was horrible, just saying it takes a really good player these days to make profit steady with a family and so on.
That choice of chips for an underground game is horrible. Those are so easy to buy off Amazon. I play at a house game and they have chips I've never seen and can't find them online. The host won't tell anyone where he gets them and to me that's added security
I thought the exact same thing when I saw those chips- same chips used in many houses games. When I ran a game, I took inventory of the chips before and after every game. The day I found extra chips at the end of the night was the day I bought a new set.
Ever since the mid 2000's when I won a free roll poker tournament I've wanted to be a professional poker player. It's a lot harder than this documentary makes it seem. I read books, study charts, and play online almost every day. Yet my win rate isn't enough to earn a living. Mostly because I play in small stakes games. Saving up to move up in stakes is extremely hard. It seems like every time I start building up a bankroll a car breaks down. Or my hvac breaks. Then I have to dip into the bankroll. But I keep grinding and hopefully one day I'll be able to quit my day job.
Poker is a dying game. Most of the fish quit and moved on. Now its tons of regs trying to out GTO one another. Yeah there is still a fish here and there, but my point is you ain't quitting your day job any time soon.
Dude it's got a heck of a lot harder than when this documentary was made. The game is borderline 'solved' now. So those that excel are pushing really small edges and choosing the right games etc. It's no where near as easy as it was back then. That's why you're struggling. You're better off putting your time into trying to develop some sort of business on the side.
@SPQR_14 I never saw this comment. Yeah online there aren't many fish. But there are still tons playing live cash. The down side is its pretty high variance. It feels like the bigger the fish the bigger they suck out.
So we've got one low stakes grinder that has no money management skills, and isn't actively studying the game away from the table, another one who's basically a loose cannon with no etiquette at the table, and a club owner who doesn't pay his rent on time. These aren't professional poker players, these are avid poker players who make bad money decisions in life. I hope the best for them, I really do, but most grinders I know in the areas where I play would eat these guys for lunch. If I ever did decide to quit my day job and play poker full time, you can bet that 75% of the time would be spent studying, when not at the table. You have to keep studying this game because it's constantly changing. The average player today is heaps better than the average player in 1998.
Excellent excellent excellent. I spent a few years in these rooms and you captured the emotion perfectly. I was lucky, then not so much, and got out, and it appears you probably did too. Your movie will likely inspire many many others to quit once and for all.
“That guy hasn’t had to work in 15 years Worm” “You don’t think that’s work what he does. Grinding it out every day on his fuckin leather ass. No thank you”
I think if you're young with no family trying to make a living through poker could be fun but trying to support a family grinding out low stakes sounds extremely unwise. It would be hard to move up stakes too because so much of your winnings will be used to support your family. This documentary really shows poker is best as a side hobby.
I saw that when I was in college. I thought it was called Kid Poker, before Negraneau made it big, but I could be wrong. If you remember the title, please let me know, because id love to watch it again somewhere.
@@Zoggyboyzimmy I've been playing for 10 and no it isn't, of it was easy everyone would be doing it, and since you're winning so much what's your online screen name so we can see some receipts about your winnings? Oh let me guess you just play live and you have no receipts?
The main aspect that I really like from this documentary is the outlook that poker gives people. The club owner got absolutely screwed over and put into hospital and he still seems absolutely fine, as he knows just in poker, he got dealt a bad hand and his just unlucky right now but luck changes and he will bounce back… Anyone else would be in the ditches having lost everything. Just like what Daniel said, if he went broke, he would be unphased; and I believe that. I dont think he would batt an eye at losing all his wealth, he simply wouldn't care. Andre is an extreme example, where he neglects basic needs, just to reach his poker goals. Although you have to give him credit for his determination. This documentary got bad reviews but I think it has a lot of depth, if you look out for it. Well done to the director.
I think Daniel would definitely be phased if he lost everything and had to start all over. He just might not let it keep him down like some people would. There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Those who get back up after being knocked down no matter how many times. And those who give up and lay there. Most of the time the truly successful people are the ones who always get back up.
People will try to goad you,. They'll try to own you. But this isn't a gunfight. It's not about pride or ego. It's only about money. You can't lose what you don't put in the middle. But you can't win much either.
there was a lot the club owner was leaving out, most likely he fell behind on rent because he is gambling addict and got evicted even the court ruled against him.
Hasn't paid rent in a few months and he is flabbergasted the landlord has locked him out of his illegal poker room and telling him he needs to pay. And then he has the nerve to go to the police to lodge a complaint with lies 🤯
I had a close relative with a gambling addiction, not related to poker, and it almost ruined him, but after meeting the right person in his life, and with a lot of help from us his family, he slowly pulled it around and has not looked back. However he readily admits that just on odd occasions he could easily fall back into again.
What if I’m unemployed but not broke, no kids, no wife, paid off car, cheap rent, and 50k in savings as well as 4k per month in income from peddling weed..??
I like to keep my poker philosophy to myself but no one reads my comments anyway so. " The KEY to poker is aggression, the SECRET to poker is folding".
I’m pretty sure I watched this years ago, it’s obviously older. Still, really good and hits home. I know exactly how you guys felt, I’m still waiting for my big break. Cashed at the WSOP circuit last week but, not as good as I wanted to. …always unlucky at the end it seems! That’s poker!
This was shot in 2011. i really wonder what happened to all these guys. Games got more difficult. i doubt they were able to hold on to poker. except for Dnegs that is
Yeah, I used to play from 2011 - 2015 - games got harder and harder. I was still winning, but really questioned what I was doing with my time, and got out.
This is what poker used to be like everywhere. There werent freerolls and endorsement deals for the top guys, where they can play any two cards in some tournament, and still get appearance money if they lose early. Its the way poker should always be. A tough way to make an easy living, complete with all the rollercoasters that come with it. Making a living playing cards should be that way for all, otherwise everyone would be doing it.
He acts like a fool at the table. He doesn’t have what it takes to be a pro. You don’t see pros jumping around like a idiot and yelling at other players.
If you are playing poker just for income, and you do not enjoy, then you will burn out fast. You have to love this game, or you will hate playing for a living.
I don't get it. How is it legal to deny a tenant that ability to retrieve the possessions that are legally theirs? Laws must be hella different in Canada. In my neck o the woods a landlord would be hard pressed to eject a tenant who was straight up squatting in their house, not paying a penny and pissing on the walls let alone lock out a tenant without cause and steal their stuff to boot.
@@danploeg I honestly dont think he was behind on rent. I think the landlord knew he could get away with taking advantage of the situation. Guy paid in cash and probably wasnt smart enough to get receipts.
The difference in Rounders was he was griding at limit poker like a 10/20 limit game and his goal was one big blind per hour which would equate to a $20 per hour job, hence the the term grind like a regular 9-5 grind. This is why he decides to jump into the no limit game and risk his bankroll to escape the grind. The best quote was "You see, I learned how to win a little at a time. But finally I've learned this: if you're too careful, your whole life can become a fuckin' grind."
Idk considering he beat a field of 800+ people for 11th over 3 days of play I’d say he’s actually +EV for each drink he’s had, and then apple picking in the morning right after, some people are built different
I like that rule. 40+ buy ins. Write out a plan and stick to it for moving up and down according to bankroll and not feelings like we all do when we get started. We all just want that big score at first until we realize that this journey takes discipline.
@@casecold1864 who am I to judge? Someone who has given everything for his family, given up fun and poker and travel and women etc. That's responsibility. Going to a stable job every day. That's a real man.
@@freddiehavens9066 You're a lawyer not a fast food worker or a n Amazon worker. If people don't have the choice, abilities, or made the effort with studies the poker world has it's appeal.
If you have $40,000 worth of equipment, why wouldn't you pay your landlord $6,000 just to at least get your stuff out of there? Pay $6,000 or lose $40,000...Seems like a no brainer.
Not anywhere near $40,000 worth of equipment. At a stretch the actual business might be worth some money if you have good, regular players. He’s as dodgy as his landlord.
The "Cincinnati Kid" club manager has some very funny lines. " I cruise around the law,I don't break the law" very good advert line offering to run a game for the law laugh 😆 😄 😀 smile 😁
I’m so disturbed over this guys drinking and thinking he plays better after 15 drinks he fits the exact mold of everyone i know who does the same thing and has a real problem
He is an addict, period. Passed out drunk while playing a poker tournament tells you everything you need to know about him. He's just feeding his addictions and pretending that it's all about supporting his family.
@@OneEyedJack01 I have played with guys like this a thousand times one dude all coked up rebought in a 60-dollar tourney 10 times, great people to have at your table they let their ego's get the best of them and usually have an attention span of a fruit fly.
I watched this a few years back and had been thinking about it recently and wondering what Andrei specifically. Dude really loved the game - not sure he was actually any good though. Would be funny to see him pop up playing the nosebleeds or find out he's crushing online,etc. Cool to see underground scene in my home city back during the boom, as well.
Word to the wise…Alcohol will never, ever help you make better decisions. Very sorry about your loss of the baby. My wife and I have been there several times ourselves, and it’s heart breaking 💔.
"Without risk and adventure, life is not life."
I love this quote so much. Lawrence is my hero. Thank you for this documentary.
They might be exciting but life is about who you are inside. Imo
Same here
The idea of playing poker for a living was sold to everyone as glamorous back in 2004. This is the reality of playing for a living, looks worse than a 9 to 5.
@xdefyy This exactly!
Not necessarily. This is the reality of grinding low stakes. It appears they’re playing 1/2 or 2/5 at most. There’s almost no money to really be made at these stakes especially in a high rake private game.
If you can profitably play 5/10 or 10/20+ the reality is far different. Games run less often so it’s less of a grind yet you can make significantly more money. The recreational players have more to lose and are far less nitty.
@@dan22482 Yea Dan, but you're forgetting that requires having a big bankroll to try that out.
These people don't have $15,000 to go sit at a 10/20 table each day...
When poker is your only source of income you don't go put all your money down on one day of play.
Your scenario is reasonable for people that have $60 grand to $100 grand that they don't care about.
it's worse than going to school and work at the same time because you have to study all the time in addition to playing. then you have to find the best games..... sometimes that is commuting more than an hour. sometimes you play 8,12,20 or even 30 hrs straight( if the game is great).
Times change. In 2004 I could Make a good living playing. After 2015 or so I couldn't. Your best hope grinding 1/2 with a bad beat dollar or 2 taken from each hand is to break even at the table, make $ on comps, and pray you hit a bad beat one day.
This is such a great documentary...it isnt trying to glorify or denounce professional poker but keeping it real showing people both sides who also do it successfully and also the dark side of it all too..
"I Wana make good business decisions while I'm here" "I'm 15 drinks in" lmao... classic
he is/was an addict. mannerism dont lie. i hope he got help for it
This might sound crazy but some players actually can play better drunk, if you're an addict booze acts like a stimulant to some people including me, it kinda blocks out all the noise and allows you to play from muscle memory in a more aggressive way, hard to explain but I can confirm for some people it can make them play better, and I'm not just saying that as a confused drunk, I have like 7 million hands on PokerStars, tens of thousands of mtts played,
@@loudorchen9897 Yes you're totally right! What's your pokerstars handle by the way?
@@djdrogs yawnkiss, yawnkus, kick my nuts, No Limit soulja, few others
@@loudorchen9897 I 100 percent agree. I play way better and focus way better when im drinking. not drunk. (usually )
Not sure if this was a planned objective from the director, but this documentary is one of the reasons why Poker is still viewed as gambling for so many people who are clueless about the game. I am a professional poker player. Been doing it for almost 10 years. And like me, there's thousands more. But it's not easy money. You have to study on a daily basis. And you have to be able to go through periods of bad luck (because there is, obviously, luck involved) and keep on grinding. But if you can't buy dinner or pay your bills, because you had a bad week/month, then you are doing something wrong.
@@dabadaba530 well, poker without money is not poker.....stay in your lane dude.
@@dabadaba530 the people who think poker is gambling or the ones paying this guys bills every month haha.
But do you have blockers to your opponents nut range though?
Anything with money wagered on random events is gambling, therefore Poker is gambling.
Chess is not gambling. There is nothing random about it.
poker is gambling
I was a grinder for 5 years, I found that sleep and staying healthy are just as important as how good of a player you are, playing over 15 hours a day and not sleeping well are the worst things you can do.
Plus the eating is a chore when u tired and hungry 😤
Discipline needed to compete in any games
I did it for about 7 years and aged about 20. Between nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and not eating or sleeping, it was starting to kill me
That's a fact
@@tristarperfecta1061 so instead of going to bed earlier you decided to quit ?
Great documentary! I had forgotten about it, and watched it years ago but had to re-watch it. Watching Danny just made me sad though. His addiction has clearly resurfaced and has begun to rule his life again. I'd love to see how Danny is doing today. Hopefully not dead or homeless from his alcoholism.
I care about my family back in Canada so much that im going to make sure im intoxicated for the entire tournament.
Drinking and poker is like drinking and fighting.......drinking never wins
but drinking too much makes you feel like you are better.....but in reality it just makes you sloppier, louder. riskier and you miss out on subtleties.
Right??
finishing like 7th-20th in a tourney is so disappointing because you dont really make much, and the upside was so close, great docu
Thats so crazy. I forget what he said the HORSE buy in was, but thats always been a prestigious event. Eleventh is a hell of an effort in that tournament. To double your money finishing 11th out of 800 does kind of suck.
Matt's pullout game, is about as strong as his poker game. Great documentary, thanks for sharing it.
Thank you all for that shared their time in this. My Name is Roger V. I live in Reno, Nevada. Chase your passions✌
Quote of the movie, " I have such a huge edge I think I can afford a few mistakes......I can only recall one hand I played badly". From the guy fifteen drinks in the tank but out of the tournament. There's something to be said for not recalling all of your mistakes. Maybe you think you play better. Maybe you do.
People who are grinders are losers. I am great in poker and am a net winning player, but I have a normal full time job. By the way, I finished 4th in WSOP this year.
@@jamesl9539 lol sure kid
@@jamesl9539 not in the main event, you didn't.
@@OneEyedJack01 I was in the Stud event. I am a stud specilist and placed in the money three times in WSOP in that event. I also won (split three ways) borgata stud event few years ago.
That being said, it is really hard to win a tournament. I really thought I was going to win, but ran into a very very lucky guy who won it.
Drunk & tired is NO WAY to play
A great little documentary which has been nicely shot and cut. About the real world of poker playing. Well worth a watch
without the hypnotizing music it sorta sucked, didn't go anywhere. But with the music its kind of a nostalgic trip. Also like the inclusion of the fish pool at Rio
Real world of poker addiction. These guys are not playing poker, they are not working on their game or on themselves, they are just lazy and hope to win by chance. Life never rewards you for your lazyness.
My Dad liked a flutter on the horses. He tended to win more than he lost. I'll never forget when he said to me one time "It's betting if you can afford to lose and gambling if you can't".
This really does show the absolute grime in the midst of “golden age” of poker
I love this documentary. Its so raw and made me think about life. I m very sorry for your loss. You were very brave filming this. Thank you.
What a beautifully done docu. Thank you.
"This guy" at the tournament who flipped over the pocket aces against Danny's kings was poker pro Sorel Mizzi.
I play tournament poker. Its a total grind. You play all day and get sucked out on AA against KK or worse. It just gets boring so you give up and then come back. It fills the time I have left before I have to cash in my chips for real.
I am a Grinder too, only with Day Trading ... I relate to this 100% ... great work.
Stop it as soon as you can dude, it's even more gambling than Poker
Very insightful and entertaining, especially for a rec player from Australia. Well done for showing the 'true' side of grinding. Genuinely sad for your and Cornelia's loss, though mate.
"I'll take AK suited over a blonde any day... Call me gay." - LOL
thank you I listened to him two times to see wtf he said I thought he said blunt
Gay!!! HAHHA
Do a follow up, would like to see what everybody is doing today
Broke af bummin it. Old af
Others have stated already but definitely a super depressing documentary. 46ish minute mark is as raw of a view into the life of a compulsive degenerate gambler as it gets. Sad that he sincerely believes he’s conquered his gambling and drinking addictions. That said, it’s really a top notch documentary. Well done.
Yes Anthony I completely agree mate, I honestly believe he is a borderline alcoholic to think he can play better drunk. You make more mistakes when you are drunk, you are there to win money to live and pay your bills and make a life for yourself. He definitely has the skills to become a pro but just needs to change a couple of things.
"I play better when i drink"...famous last words
Probably drive better too
My father who was the best card I ever knew once said to me "drink or play cards don't do both" ... solid advice
@@danwittal1788 your father is man of wisdom
he had me believing until he said "it's limit, so I can afford to make few mistakes"
imagine drinking 7/7 for years .. just to play better, i rather quit trying
I have great respect for Lawrence! He is such a self-reflected and intelligent guy that has experienced a lot in his life.
I needed this. Not sure if I'm giving up or going in full time however, I needed this.
Keep a job. Part time poker as a side hustle is the way to go…
As someone who gambled to eat for 6 months in 2020, don't do it unless you have no other choice.
@@marshawnlynch6244 I’m in that situation now man it sucks ass big time I’m scared to go up stakes and take that bigger risk coz it’s took me months to grind what I’ve got in my account 🤦♂️
Go in full time, bro. Don't listen to these posts. You are a winner!!!
90% of gamblers quit right before they would have scored big.
This is a sick documentary how lucky was I to stumble across this
Sick is the right adjective for this documentary.......but I think I have a different meaning of the word than you do.
@@TheBierman19 grow up mate. If you don’t like it then don’t watch
I liked it, and I am grown up much more than your childish mind.
@@TheBierman19 just because my vocabulary is different to yours has nothing to do with how childish I am. Your definitely a 15yr old boy 100%
It’s amazing back in the early teens of 2000 , myself included , thought that they were poker pros , it’s crazy to look back at , how big poker was back then , I would estimate at least 97 percent of “poker pros” from that day are no longer poker pros lol
After the shooting everyone stopped. Very few are still playing
Agree. I was earning a decent living winning thousands every month playing party poker and pacific poker. Black Friday hit and never cashed a dime online again. My live play is currently mediocre, but my ROI isn't enough to make a living. Occasionally I play live recreationally, but have accepted that the game has evolved and left my mediocre skills in the dust.
2003 playing Phil Hellmuth on Ultimate Bet while living in East Palo Alto, him in Palo Alto hahaha . So old it was a fukin limit table.
@@okiedokiepushmowing9032 that’s because U.S players left the international pool. They used to just give money away online
It's because poker evolved. It's not good enough to just play the opponent anymore. You need to study and put in hours of work every week outside of playing to remain relevant today.
I live in Vegas for many years now. I don’t gamble aside from my five dollar parlay on the UFC each weekend, just to make the fights a little bit more exciting. Never really got into gambling. But I can tell you, there are a lot of people who live here who do make a living as professional gambler. But noticed the difference between the successful poker player, who has a protein shake, oatmeal and a healthy breakfast after a good sleep. The guy who drinks, 15 beers, and is stuffing his face full of junk food late at night. Completely different approaches, and different outcomes.
Such a good documentary. Does anyone know how the subjects are doing, present day?
I would love to see a follow up to this.
This was done really well guy’s! Very real and raw look at struggling players today. I hope you’ll get some
Recognition for this project.
Been playing poker for over 25 years as a recreational player, and I am Positive cashflow. In my years I have learned that every poker player thinks they are better than they actually are. Some are way better than others obviously but players peg their skill higher than they actually are, no matter what level. Too many attribute their misses as just bad luck, and their big scores and years as skill as opposed to a lot of good luck mixed in there. This documentary has further substantiated this...
I was thinking alot about this comment. I too have been playing that long honestly a little longer. What you said is true for 95 percent of the players out there so many don't do anything to improve and feel they have a lock on the game with their current play style and knowledge. To me poker is ultimate example of self-responsibility it's all on you if you succeed or fail. You can choose to be a student of the game read study and play with players that may be better than you and try to learn. Or you can live in the world of denial blame your losses on bad beats and never really examine your own skill level. But at the end of the day thats great you want to be in a room full of people who think there are the best player at the table and exploit the mistakes that they are bound to make. Well said sir remember don't tap the glass.........
@@danwittal1788 One of my own problems was that I was a regular winning player at the limits I play, so for years I just kept playing the same type of tourneys and games as a hobbyist. I never really took my game to the next level. It has evolved so much in last ten years. I decided to really study and learn and memorize new concepts and strategies and realized there was so much areas I could improve. I am winning but more now but still learning to take to next level. I am finding I am the minority out there. Even long time grinders out there from 15 years ago I bump into still have no idea of some of the newer strategies I have learned now, so I know they too are not expanding and investing the effort to learn to get better. I have. feeling some of those featured in this video are players who plateaued years ago.
Some Dunning Kruger effect at play, no doubt. Some endeavors suffer from this more than others. Poker is one of them.
Ran casinos for many years all over the world. In a couple of places we had poker rooms and as you say, so many people think they’re better than they are. It’s like an international standard.
Sad and depressing documentary. Do the opposite of what these guys do.
Haha literally
Well said
lol yea… that Andre guy is talking how he’s out of shape & taking power naps. Everything he probably does is unhealthy right?. Like he says… grinding is being a degenerate
No not everybody who plays for a living is like these guys.... I made over 80k... A year for the past 2 years.. playing mostly 2/5 and 5/10.... So yeah please don't confuse dumb poker players like these guys from New York... With real players.... These guys are a joke... They would be lucky to beat the 1/2 game where I play..No Cap....real talk.
When Dan talks about playing in a tournament and having 15 drinks, he’s fooling himself if he thinks that’s manageable.
Dude talking about good business moves at poker table, yet 15 drinks deep 🤣
seriously... Falling asleep at his desk too....
Well done documentary. Loved the back story of each person and had me pulling for each one. Thank you for telling their story.
Wow, what a great documentary. I was hooked from the start.
the picture is a perfect example of a true masterpiece going undetected...untill one day......and then....it will be acknowledged.....THIS FILM IS A MASTERWORK....on the level with California Split...Rounders....and The Cincinnati Kid......AND it is GREATER ...
Absolutely loved it, what year was this filmed? Doesn't seem super old but also doesn't seem super recent. I would guess 15 years ago
2011
@@M_Teague Yes, that TV Lawrence showed looked a little dated.
It's old. Not a single player ever mentioned ranges, balancing, GTO, or equity. If they are not using those terms today, they're not grinders. The fact that not a single one ever mentioned bank roll management shows they are bad grinders.
@@OneEyedJack01 Exactly Jack. The other posts on this video saying it can be done I'll not dispute - IF you are a skilled player. But that's not any of these guys.. None of them. According to IMDB, this was completed in 2011, so well after the Poker Boom but nowhere recent. These guys are bad regs - or perfect for the house, except he got blackmailed and robbed too. Literally everyone is this video lost.
Old enough the guy was using a pay phone to call home.
There is no more of a sad existence than running around playing live cash games underground to make a living, especially if you aren't very good which seems to be the case with these players.
Lou i dont see how you can say they're not good, we never really get to see how they actually play. The guy who came in 11 th certainly must be pretty good, i,d bet he's better than jamie gold.
@@shivasirons6159 well I searched his online screen name from pokerstars and his biggest win online was 2200$ or so plus he had the phonecall about "unfreezing his funds" at the bank so it's safe to say he isn't doing too well, I'm not saying he was horrible, just saying it takes a really good player these days to make profit steady with a family and so on.
Living paycheck to paycheck making a slave wage is the way to go I guess.
get back in your wage cage Wojak
Existence is a sad existence unless you're hot shit, even then it will eventually become a sad existence.
That choice of chips for an underground game is horrible. Those are so easy to buy off Amazon. I play at a house game and they have chips I've never seen and can't find them online. The host won't tell anyone where he gets them and to me that's added security
Amazon was still selling books in 2009
I thought the exact same thing when I saw those chips- same chips used in many houses games. When I ran a game, I took inventory of the chips before and after every game. The day I found extra chips at the end of the night was the day I bought a new set.
Ever since the mid 2000's when I won a free roll poker tournament I've wanted to be a professional poker player. It's a lot harder than this documentary makes it seem. I read books, study charts, and play online almost every day. Yet my win rate isn't enough to earn a living. Mostly because I play in small stakes games. Saving up to move up in stakes is extremely hard. It seems like every time I start building up a bankroll a car breaks down. Or my hvac breaks. Then I have to dip into the bankroll. But I keep grinding and hopefully one day I'll be able to quit my day job.
That's always the hardest spot.
Keep your job. Poker part time is the way to go
Poker is a dying game. Most of the fish quit and moved on. Now its tons of regs trying to out GTO one another. Yeah there is still a fish here and there, but my point is you ain't quitting your day job any time soon.
Dude it's got a heck of a lot harder than when this documentary was made. The game is borderline 'solved' now. So those that excel are pushing really small edges and choosing the right games etc. It's no where near as easy as it was back then. That's why you're struggling. You're better off putting your time into trying to develop some sort of business on the side.
@SPQR_14 I never saw this comment. Yeah online there aren't many fish. But there are still tons playing live cash. The down side is its pretty high variance. It feels like the bigger the fish the bigger they suck out.
This was so good I wish it was longer , could’ve put an hr on top , Good job , Sorry for your loss , Goodluck 🍀
So we've got one low stakes grinder that has no money management skills, and isn't actively studying the game away from the table, another one who's basically a loose cannon with no etiquette at the table, and a club owner who doesn't pay his rent on time.
These aren't professional poker players, these are avid poker players who make bad money decisions in life. I hope the best for them, I really do, but most grinders I know in the areas where I play would eat these guys for lunch.
If I ever did decide to quit my day job and play poker full time, you can bet that 75% of the time would be spent studying, when not at the table. You have to keep studying this game because it's constantly changing. The average player today is heaps better than the average player in 1998.
Excellent excellent excellent. I spent a few years in these rooms and you captured the emotion perfectly. I was lucky, then not so much, and got out, and it appears you probably did too. Your movie will likely inspire many many others to quit once and for all.
“That guy hasn’t had to work in 15 years Worm”
“You don’t think that’s work what he does. Grinding it out every day on his fuckin leather ass. No thank you”
I think if you're young with no family trying to make a living through poker could be fun but trying to support a family grinding out low stakes sounds extremely unwise. It would be hard to move up stakes too because so much of your winnings will be used to support your family. This documentary really shows poker is best as a side hobby.
This is a real life Rounders
Life is certainly an adventure, really enjoyed video, thank you.
This feels like it’s a documentary that aired on HBO in the late 90s with the landscape shots with the horn heavy jazz playing over the shot
I saw that when I was in college. I thought it was called Kid Poker, before Negraneau made it big, but I could be wrong. If you remember the title, please let me know, because id love to watch it again somewhere.
What a great documentary. Honest and real. Thank you.
As I heard once, poker is the hardest way of making easy money...
It’s not that hard
@@Zoggyboyzimmy it’s tough if you want to make a living from it. 99.99999% of people can’t sustain it long term.
@@Zoggyboyzimmy it's pretty hard
@@loudorchen9897 ive been playing full time for 4 years and its easy =]
@@Zoggyboyzimmy I've been playing for 10 and no it isn't, of it was easy everyone would be doing it, and since you're winning so much what's your online screen name so we can see some receipts about your winnings? Oh let me guess you just play live and you have no receipts?
Thank you, this has so much meaning, and lessons, in poker and in life.
The main aspect that I really like from this documentary is the outlook that poker gives people. The club owner got absolutely screwed over and put into hospital and he still seems absolutely fine, as he knows just in poker, he got dealt a bad hand and his just unlucky right now but luck changes and he will bounce back… Anyone else would be in the ditches having lost everything. Just like what Daniel said, if he went broke, he would be unphased; and I believe that. I dont think he would batt an eye at losing all his wealth, he simply wouldn't care. Andre is an extreme example, where he neglects basic needs, just to reach his poker goals. Although you have to give him credit for his determination. This documentary got bad reviews but I think it has a lot of depth, if you look out for it. Well done to the director.
I think Daniel would definitely be phased if he lost everything and had to start all over. He just might not let it keep him down like some people would. There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Those who get back up after being knocked down no matter how many times. And those who give up and lay there. Most of the time the truly successful people are the ones who always get back up.
People will try to goad you,. They'll try to own you. But this isn't a gunfight. It's not about pride or ego. It's only about money.
You can't lose what you don't put in the middle. But you can't win much either.
If the guy didn’t get behind on rent he would’ve had no problem, he was making 2K ea night , he must’ve lost it all playing 🤷🏻♂️
6 guys should’ve pitched in a grand ea to bail him out 1 time 🍀
there was a lot the club owner was leaving out, most likely he fell behind on rent because he is gambling addict and got evicted even the court ruled against him.
Stumbled upon this and it starts in my home city. When was this filmed?
Hasn't paid rent in a few months and he is flabbergasted the landlord has locked him out of his illegal poker room and telling him he needs to pay. And then he has the nerve to go to the police to lodge a complaint with lies 🤯
He HAD been paying rent, the landlord lied and said they hadn't
@@spiffinz In his own words he said he hasn't been paying for 2-3 months and it's the landlord's fault for letting it get that far.
@@UnarmedZombie hmm..... upon reviewing that piece of dialogue its technically possible to interpret it that way yes.
Exactly! He blames the victim of his deadbeat ways for his situation.
I wonder if the director ever got paid on the $100 bet on getting his stuff back
I had a close relative with a gambling addiction, not related to poker, and it almost ruined him, but after meeting the right person in his life, and with a lot of help from us his family, he slowly pulled it around and has not looked back. However he readily admits that just on odd occasions he could easily fall back into again.
If you're broke and unemployed, gambling is the last thing on earth you need.
DUH!!
I'd argue a woman is the last thing you need. At least you might win at the gambling.
@@marshawnlynch6244 unless you meet a woman with a good job.
Ehh, poker is one of the few games you will find in a casino where you can get and edge on and win at
What if I’m unemployed but not broke, no kids, no wife, paid off car, cheap rent, and 50k in savings as well as 4k per month in income from peddling weed..??
I like to keep my poker philosophy to myself but no one reads my comments anyway so. " The KEY to poker is aggression, the SECRET to poker is folding".
absolutely!
win as much as possible, lose as little as possible.
Lol ya who needs GTO when you know that
how is folding a secret
everyone knows about folding
@@OGRE_HATES_NERDS not a secret, THE secret... difference between a pro and a rec... pro's rarely get married to their hands.
This was a Great Video! You should make documentaries. Great Job!!!
lol this was a documentary filmed in 2011
I’m pretty sure I watched this years ago, it’s obviously older. Still, really good and hits home. I know exactly how you guys felt, I’m still waiting for my big break. Cashed at the WSOP circuit last week but, not as good as I wanted to. …always unlucky at the end it seems! That’s poker!
Congrats, Jeff!
243rd place. $941. I see u Jeff
well they're talking about "full tilt pros" and FT went down 2011.
You're right. It came out in 2011.
This was shot in 2011. i really wonder what happened to all these guys. Games got more difficult. i doubt they were able to hold on to poker. except for Dnegs that is
Yeah, I used to play from 2011 - 2015 - games got harder and harder. I was still winning, but really questioned what I was doing with my time, and got out.
5:10 "I'll take AK suited over a blond everyday, call me g @y" 🤣🤣🤣
Dad wearing sun glasses at the dinner table is a certified bad ass.
Really enjoyed watching this documentary, well done, you caught some really amazingly true poker lovers worlds man! Well done!!! :-) :-) :D :D
This is what poker used to be like everywhere. There werent freerolls and endorsement deals for the top guys, where they can play any two cards in some tournament, and still get appearance money if they lose early.
Its the way poker should always be. A tough way to make an easy living, complete with all the rollercoasters that come with it.
Making a living playing cards should be that way for all, otherwise everyone would be doing it.
12 years later Andre is still living at home playing $1/$2 on the side. He is a pro "grinder" haha
Lmfao 💀 🤣
Rakeback pro
🤣
Andre was super annoying
He acts like a fool at the table. He doesn’t have what it takes to be a pro. You don’t see pros jumping around like a idiot and yelling at other players.
Beautiful doc your a very talented film maker. Really enjoyed it thank you, I wish you and your family the best!!!
If you are playing poker just for income, and you do not enjoy, then you will burn out fast. You have to love this game, or you will hate playing for a living.
Daniel's answer about freedom is pretty spot on.
Well done, i liked the mood music behind it. Best of luck.
I don't get it. How is it legal to deny a tenant that ability to retrieve the possessions that are legally theirs? Laws must be hella different in Canada. In my neck o the woods a landlord would be hard pressed to eject a tenant who was straight up squatting in their house, not paying a penny and pissing on the walls let alone lock out a tenant without cause and steal their stuff to boot.
This is a commercial space different rules. Sounds like he was behind on rent.
@@danploeg I honestly dont think he was behind on rent. I think the landlord knew he could get away with taking advantage of the situation. Guy paid in cash and probably wasnt smart enough to get receipts.
@@sols.2525 he lost when in front of the board. They are normally sympathetic to tenants.
Thank you for sharing such an important and intimate look into your life. Hope you and your wife are good. Great Doc.
“My goal is to win a couple of big hands each night” - that’s from the film rounders my dude
In Rounders its "one big pot an hour"
Its not about winning big pots, its about doing whats right in your situation...
The difference in Rounders was he was griding at limit poker like a 10/20 limit game and his goal was one big blind per hour which would equate to a $20 per hour job, hence the the term grind like a regular 9-5 grind. This is why he decides to jump into the no limit game and risk his bankroll to escape the grind. The best quote was "You see, I learned how to win a little at a time. But finally I've learned this: if you're too careful, your whole life can become a fuckin' grind."
Multi table 7 card stud is not very smart, you must remember every card that has been folded to play ultimately.
I can’t imagine how he couldn’t watch himself change with every drink and realize how much it is affecting his performance
Can you watch yourself change with every card game and realize how it's affecting you?
@@OldMcDnald One better be. One should definitely try harder if one cannot.
@@OldMcDnald One better be. One should definitely try harder if one cannot.
Idk considering he beat a field of 800+ people for 11th over 3 days of play I’d say he’s actually +EV for each drink he’s had, and then apple picking in the morning right after, some people are built different
@@miketang8719 lmao wut? You’re judging off a tiny sample size, galaxy brain
I so enjoyed this documentary, thank you.
50/50. Heartbreaking. Been there too. This is not “oh well” time.
Losing a few buy ins should not mean your aren’t eating that week. You need 40+ buy ins at your current stake minimum
100+ id yea but yea
I like that rule. 40+ buy ins. Write out a plan and stick to it for moving up and down according to bankroll and not feelings like we all do when we get started. We all just want that big score at first until we realize that this journey takes discipline.
Yes but your talking about degens..lol so 1 buyin.. they lose they borrow lol
These guys couldn't smell bankroll even if it smacked then in the ass with rolled up kings over aces.
100 is the standard. Just lik in the stock market, no more than 1% of your porfolio should be in a daytrade.
57:20 “ I have such an edge in this tournament, I can afford to make a few mistakes” 15 drinks in. What a joke!
I heard former pro and 3x bracelet winner Dutch Boyd say almost all poker pros go broke, take heed young gamblers..
Pros with no BRM go broke. ie people like life looser Mike Matusow.
Most even go broke more than once.
Well put together film. Any others by this filmmaker?
Lots Matt Gallagher is his name. His partner actually was just nominated for an Oscar
I have to watch all gambling movies no matter what.
I cannot imagine having a family and living this way. Irresponsible.
Yes, but it makes for a good documentary. People love watching train wreaks.
your so correct!!!
Hey, you can always sell your ass at the tram station.
Different people different lives bro, who are you to judge. They bring in the money, period.
@@casecold1864 who am I to judge? Someone who has given everything for his family, given up fun and poker and travel and women etc. That's responsibility. Going to a stable job every day. That's a real man.
@@freddiehavens9066 You're a lawyer not a fast food worker or a n Amazon worker. If people don't have the choice, abilities, or made the effort with studies the poker world has it's appeal.
When was this filmed?
Pretty sad all around.
That's the reality of gambling
Any clue when this documentary was filmed?
It came out in 2011.
If you have $40,000 worth of equipment, why wouldn't you pay your landlord $6,000 just to at least get your stuff out of there? Pay $6,000 or lose $40,000...Seems like a no brainer.
Not anywhere near $40,000 worth of equipment. At a stretch the actual business might be worth some money if you have good, regular players. He’s as dodgy as his landlord.
4:47 “someone control the fat guy with the glasses “ 🤣🤣😂
The "Cincinnati Kid" club manager has some very funny lines. " I cruise around the law,I don't break the law" very good advert line offering to run a game for the law laugh 😆 😄 😀 smile 😁
"that's big screen tv" Lol effin' classic, man
Yo I was rolling when he said that shit 😂😂
What year was this from?
38:00 dude's dad is sitting at the table with goombah sunglasses, talking with food in his mouth while trying to give life advice 🤣
What year is this documentary from?
2011.
Thank you.
I’m so disturbed over this guys drinking and thinking he plays better after 15 drinks he fits the exact mold of everyone i know who does the same thing and has a real problem
He is an addict, period. Passed out drunk while playing a poker tournament tells you everything you need to know about him. He's just feeding his addictions and pretending that it's all about supporting his family.
@@OneEyedJack01 I have played with guys like this a thousand times one dude all coked up rebought in a 60-dollar tourney 10 times, great people to have at your table they let their ego's get the best of them and usually have an attention span of a fruit fly.
I watched this a few years back and had been thinking about it recently and wondering what Andrei specifically. Dude really loved the game - not sure he was actually any good though. Would be funny to see him pop up playing the nosebleeds or find out he's crushing online,etc. Cool to see underground scene in my home city back during the boom, as well.
First comment! Daniel Negreanu looks young. When was this made?
2011
when he had his own hair
@@TheGeniegenius lmao
@@TheGeniegenius the hell are you talking about ? He has his own hair. Hair transplant shouldn't be made with others !
@@bsat23ub his new hair was taken from the head of a virgin. hope it wasn't yours
Hey man, this was a fantastic movie!!! thanks for sharing
Word to the wise…Alcohol will never, ever help you make better decisions. Very sorry about your loss of the baby. My wife and I have been there several times ourselves, and it’s heart breaking 💔.