Hey whats going on everyone? This is James Campbell here just wanting to give a little back to the community by starting this Well. I have been a member here at pocketfives for a long time and at this point I feel like one of the OGs. I am 28 years old and have been playing poker professionally for the last 5 years. Upon graduating college I worked for about 6 months in the financial industry before poker started to take off. Once i gained a solid foundation in poker I left work. I am married, my wife is a teacher, and we own a home in the city that we grew up in. We don't have any kids yet but we do have a dog that is treated better than most children.
I was first introduced into poker in 2004 when I was a junior in college. I came home to visit my family and I walk into the house and my Dad is playing online poker. He showed me the basics and from there the rest is history. I have always been very competitive my entire life playing sports throughout high school and college so when I was introduced to poker it felt like a new form of competition to me; especially tournaments.
I have had a lot of success in poker but with success comes failure. It has been a fun ride over the last 5 years but there has been some ups and downs along the way. Ive been ranked as high as # 1 here at pocketfives but two years ago I was barely mentioned at all. It just goes to show you the variance of the game and how the game is constantly evolving. You have to be willing to adapt or you will get left in the dust. People are getting better and better at poker and I don't think that trend is going to change.
I feel very lucky and fortunate for everything poker has provided for me in life. I still enjoy playing the game and I look forward to going to work most days. I don't feel like many people can say that about their job. Poker has also given me the opportunity to travel to see some great places throughout the world that if it wasn't for poker I may have never visited. I have also met some really cool people and some have turned into really good friends. I love the freedom of being my own boss and it has given me a great deal of financial freedom that I truly appreciate.
Ok, I think that is enough about me. Feel free to ask any questions about life, poker, or anything at all.

James, met you once when we were on the same opening table in the PCA. You were very professional and enjoying playing with you (AJKHoosiers on same table as well).

Do you play cash games, or are you considering transitioning at some point after you and your wife have kids?

Who was the biggest influence on your game?

Do you think Lithuania has the hottest chicks in the world? :P

Yes I started with a $50 deposit at pokerstar. I went through about 500 bucks over the course of 6 months learning the game and by the summer about 6 months later I started to make turn a profit, nothing serious maybe a few thousand. You have to remember though this was 2004 everyone was still pretty bad. There was no Cardrunner or PXF to teach people how to play so people had to learn on there own. In other words I was still pretty bad but everyone was that much worse. I think it would be so much harder trying to make your way up the ranks through micros now because people have gotten so much better.

Thanks Jason. I enjoyed meeting and playing with you too! Not the easiest starting table at the PCA that year. I have played a decent amount of cash games over the years but haven't had much success. MTTs and cash games are completely different games. I enjoy dabbling in a cash game every now and again but I really just love tournaments. I love the competition and while there are clearly winners and losers in cash games I don't think it compares to the thrill of winning a big tournament. Even when I have kids I will still be playing MTT's just not as much. I actually can't comment on the chicks in Lithuania because I have never been there. I was very impressed with the woman in Barcelona tho. That would have to be my vote.

Royne, you need to open up your game a little more. You are probably playing too tight. Mix in a few more 3 bets and try to play a little more aggressively. My friend who is a member here, Tigerram723 was having the same problem as you and we sat down, put a session in and that was exactly what he was doing wrong playing way too tight. I got him to open up the game a little more and his results have gone through the roof. Hes crushing low-midstakes now and got 2nd in the dng for like 15k I think. I worked for New York Life doing financial planning; mostly insurance, annuities, and mutual funds. I didn't enjoy it.

Jayson skipped one of your questions sorry. The biggest influence on my game would have to be my Dad hands down. He is my biggest fan, supporter, critic. He introduced me to the game as well so without him who knows if jcamby33 would exist. As far as responsible for the progression of my actual game I am pretty much self taught. I don't really talk to many players about hands other than my close friends Bry23, Panamatony, Tigerram723 and my brother Shambless.

How can someone from Lowell ask me how shitty Marlborough is? Lowell enough said. If I didn't live in mass it would probaly be Florida or Southern California because I don't like the cold winters and I love the beach. The Celtics will win the NBA Finals this year and I can't wait to go see a couple playoff games. Red Sox arent't off to the best start but I will still set the bar at 90 wins.

I don't remember did we both have AA? I remember somebody trying to slow roll me talking in the chat about it and we both flipped up aces.

 

Originally Posted by P0KERPR033

I don't remember did we both have AA? I remember somebody trying to slow roll me talking in the chat about it and we both flipped up aces.

yeah. you said i was cool. but i think you might not think i am cool for slowrolling you.

how do you feel about slowrolling people?

any advice to an up and coming mid stake grinder other than volume and run good?

Do you play backed or are you playing on your own roll? In your opinion through your network of poker friends and obviously personal experience do you think its beneficial to be backed or to play on your own/...Than I wanted to ask one more...I am about break/even down a little online player...Do you recomeend coaching or training site to make me become a winning player? and if so any recommendations?...

James, congrats on all your success! I used to be roommates with Bry in college so I've seen you play on and off and watched some of your play while playing.

What are achievements are you most proud of both online and live?

What was the hardest part about going from the 9-5 grind in finance to the poker grind?

How do you keep getting better and what advice and you give to a micro/low stakes player on improving their game?

Thanks!

hey james, good well so far, gonna try to come up with a question for later...

just a heads up, the well is a lot easier to read if you quote the person you're responding to so you can just read the question and then your response right in a row instead of having to scroll up a lot.

looking forward to teh rest of th well

edit: you just started quoting people right as i wrote this...so ya

How long did it truly take you to breakout, and how is it possible to have the staying power you've had ?

Who helped you out the most with your game and how?

How long did it take for you to not take bad beats and variance personally or are you just one of those guys who are strong mentally?

Do you have any friends or people you have helped that would be nice enough to help me out? My older bro and his friends are solid midstakes regs so Im trying to extend my network of help since I've heard that can be a huge help.

You are one of my true poker heroes James; a lot of players go up in the rankings, raise a legion of fans, and 6 months later nobody remembers who they were or what they ever did. You have managed to stay at the top of the game for long time, although somehow you are not mentioned as often as others who can't even spell the word poker.

I don't have any questions for you (well, I could ask "that" question, but I'll save you the challenge of having to be honest without hurting my feelings), just wanted to show my public respects to a real poker legend and a class act person at the tables.

Good luck

What are some ways you stay ahead of the game? How do you study your/others/the games? how do you think outside the box?

Your on the button with 1010 and 24 BB. Gboro780 is in early position opens with a min raise of 1600, and pokerjamers three bets to 3975 from the highjack. Both players have around 20 BB. What is your plan of attack?

 

Originally Posted by Acanthopis

How long did it truly take you to breakout, and how is it possible to have the staying power you've had ?

I would say my breaking point came when I was about 6 months after playing full time I just got back from Aruba and was on a huge downswing and I was starting to doubt myself and questioning if poker was for me. I was on a 40k downswing and it was a good chunk of my bankroll at the time. I ended up winning a 100$ mtt on party poker for like 15k then Sunday I ended up winning the 200r for like 40k. I felt like a played great and the 200r was the toughest tournament online at the time so it gave me a lot of confidence.

 

Originally Posted by BamaHockey437

Who helped you out the most with your game and how?

How long did it take for you to not take bad beats and variance personally or are you just one of those guys who are strong mentally?

Do you have any friends or people you have helped that would be nice enough to help me out? My older bro and his friends are solid midstakes regs so Im trying to extend my network of help since I've heard that can be a huge help.

I guess I would have to say bry23 or THE_ALPACA. Those two are really the only people who I discuss hands with. I have helped some of my friends Tigerram723 and my brother Shambless with there games alot and even though it was to benefit them I think that it still helps me alot and keeps me fresh hearing their thought process behind hands.
I feel like you have to be mentally tough for poker so I try not to let the bad beats bother me. Obviously there are times where I tilt from time to time but for the most part I keep it under control. Im not proud to say but I have gone through a couple laptops from punching screens.
I wish you the best of luck but as far as having someone help you out I can't volunteer one of my friends to go over hands for you. If I were you I would try and learn from your older brother and his friends. I think going over hands and having friends who play poker are huge.