It's that time of year again. The World Series of Poker has begun at the Rio. For any serious poker player, your life revolves around the few weeks every summer where you can go nose to nose with the greats and take a shot at poker immortality. Just thinking about it gives me a rush. I don't know of any other pastime where amateurs can step up to the plate against legends so easily, which is part of what makes the experience so amazing - any schmuck can pony up some cash and get a chance to test their skills against a poker great...oh, and win retarded amounts of money of course.
This is my third WSOP, and the first time I'll be able to play in more than one event, which is pretty awesome, but somewhat tricky because I have to set a schedule for myself ahead of time (which I suck at). There happen to be great deep-stacked tourneys at the Venetian, Ceasars, and Binions running concurrently, so I really have to pick and choose my battles. The first event that I'm pretty sure I'll be playing in is the $1500 Omaha Hi/Lo event this coming tuesday, and fortunately, Binions is having a $200 Omaha event tomorrow that I'll be playin in, that should serve as a nice little warm up. I played in the first two NL events at Binions, and enjoyed them a lot - They start you off with a bunch of chips, and play for 30 minute blind levels, which is great considering the buy-ins are so cheap - Anyway I whiffed on the first one, and took 27th (of like 260) in the 2nd one for like $250. Meh. Regardless, the fields in these are super soft, and with the structures being so great, I intend to play as many of them as possible. Its just incredible that there are so many events and games going in Vegas right now - I could seriously play 24 hours a day for the next 6 weeks. OK, I have to try and get to sleep - Sadly, I'm not used to going to bed before 5am, so I have to start training myself to act like a normal human if I'm to function well during the day.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Luckbox
I'm back in Las Vegas, having spent about a week back in NJ for a wedding. The traveling was dogshit, and cost me an arm and a leg, but it was well worth it. It's hard to describe the relationship I have with my best friends (how can any 20 year relationship be summed up in a few lines), but let's just say that they are family to me, and seeing as this was the first of us to be walking down the aisle, it was a huge deal. When Mike first got engaged about 2 years ago, it was a big moment, but the full weight of it didn't really hit me until I saw him in his tux the morning of the wedding. The sight gave me goosebumps. Here was my boy, who I've shared 20 years worth of laughing, crying, fucking up, and more laughing with - about to have one of the biggest days of his life. It was pretty awesome, and I felt honored to be a part of it. The ceremony was beautiful, his bride looked gorgeous, and afterwards we went to some sick country club to drink, dance, and dine on some amazing food - I started my consumption off with a nice foundation of Red Bull (like 5 or 6), and eventually switched to Hennessey and Red Bull right after the cocktail hour. It all gets kinda hazy from there. I was bombed and giggling like a school girl the whole night, and at one point it occurred to me how fucking lucky I am. I seriously have the best friends in the world, and no matter how long I go without seeing them, or what little nuances of our lives change, be it girlfriends, occupations, or residences, it's still always the same with us. It makes any shit you have to go through in life a whole lot easier when you know you have your friends and family behind you.
In poker news, I've just been grinding online since I've been back, and its going well. More importantly, the WSOP starts in a little over a week, which I'm totally pumped for. I've been playing some great tournament poker, and I really feel like I'm on the verge of a big score - if I run half as well in poker as I do in life, then my bracelet is basically all but locked up :o)
In poker news, I've just been grinding online since I've been back, and its going well. More importantly, the WSOP starts in a little over a week, which I'm totally pumped for. I've been playing some great tournament poker, and I really feel like I'm on the verge of a big score - if I run half as well in poker as I do in life, then my bracelet is basically all but locked up :o)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Contentment
Had a pretty incredible last few days, and its looking like I'll actually be spending the next few months in Vegas, as opposed to going back east. Im in a position where I should be able to play in a bunch of the WSOP events, and for me to just pass up this kind of opportunity would be pretty silly, so home is here for now. It saddens me a bit that I won't be with all of the amazing people that I spent time with last year, but when I look at the bigger picture and my long term goals, I think its pretty clear that I have to be in Vegas right now. Don't get me wrong, though, I really do love my life here, but it's always hard to think about a long stretch of time away from my family and friends.
As for playing, the last few days have been great, having had winning sessions on 4 out of 5 days. After hearing about how great the game is for months, I finally went down to the Bellagio to sit in the 30/60 Omaha Hi/Lo game. It's supposedly the best O8 game in town, with a ton of loose players and sick action. Also, there is an interesting "kill" in effect that brings the game up to 40/80. Basically, any time a hand gets to the flop, and one player scoops the pot, the following hand goes up to 40/80. So for example, if I raise from the button, the BB calls, and just check/folds to my bet on the flop, the following hand is 40/80. So I'd say at least 70 percent of the time, we were playing 40/80. Pretty sick. As for the game itself, it definitely wasn't the loose shootout that I had heard about, but there were definitely some bad players, many of whom seem to be regulars. Also, WPT champ Paul Darden, and Jean Robert-Bellande (of WSOP and Survivor fame) were in the game, which was kinda fun. Darden played really well, made some pretty sick reads and just didn't make any mistakes. Bellande, on the other hand, played way too many hands, and actually ended up pumping like 800 into the game in like an hour or two. Fortunately, I was the recipient of a few hundo of his :o) Between his donations and the weak play of some of the regulars, I quickly realized that sitting in the game was most certainly +EV, and the jitters I had from playing higher than Im used to, and with famous people, quickly subsided. Once the game got short handed, I decided to call it a night, and ended up a little over $700 winner. Played the following day as well, and made another $200 or so grinding it out against the same regulars. Evidently, I had arrived after the game had settled down a bit - apparently that morning the game was nuts, with betting being capped on every street and multiple $4000 and $5000 pots. Sick.
A friend from Nantucket was in town this weekend, and on Monday I was able to go look at some real estate with him. He's considering buying a place out here, and it was a blast getting a chance to look at some amazing houses that I otherwise would have never seen. Honestly, I've never been really interested in accumulating wealth or materialistic interests. Hell, I went to school for music, and never had any real concern with being "wealthy". Even with poker, I obviously talk quite a bit about money on here, but it is honestly just a way of keeping score - you need x amount of money to pad your bankroll in order to move up to bigger games and play in more tournaments. For me, all I want is to be in a financial position someday where I can travel and play on the pro tour. Although that takes a substantial amount of money, it's really the freedom that I am after, as I am really not that concerned with material things. All that aside, when I laid my eyes on some of these houses, the first thing that crossed my mind was "I want this - make money." I felt a slight pang of guilt over my reaction, and mulled things over afterwards, about wealth and happiness and if it is only natural to want the finer things in life. In all honesty, I don't think there is anything wrong with it, and as long as everything is kept in perspective, you're on the right track. I certainly realize how insanely lucky I am to be able to live the life I live, and I'm usually pretty good about not worrying about the things I don't have, but damn, if you saw that infinity pool, you can bet your ass you'd want one too!
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” - Epicurus
As for playing, the last few days have been great, having had winning sessions on 4 out of 5 days. After hearing about how great the game is for months, I finally went down to the Bellagio to sit in the 30/60 Omaha Hi/Lo game. It's supposedly the best O8 game in town, with a ton of loose players and sick action. Also, there is an interesting "kill" in effect that brings the game up to 40/80. Basically, any time a hand gets to the flop, and one player scoops the pot, the following hand goes up to 40/80. So for example, if I raise from the button, the BB calls, and just check/folds to my bet on the flop, the following hand is 40/80. So I'd say at least 70 percent of the time, we were playing 40/80. Pretty sick. As for the game itself, it definitely wasn't the loose shootout that I had heard about, but there were definitely some bad players, many of whom seem to be regulars. Also, WPT champ Paul Darden, and Jean Robert-Bellande (of WSOP and Survivor fame) were in the game, which was kinda fun. Darden played really well, made some pretty sick reads and just didn't make any mistakes. Bellande, on the other hand, played way too many hands, and actually ended up pumping like 800 into the game in like an hour or two. Fortunately, I was the recipient of a few hundo of his :o) Between his donations and the weak play of some of the regulars, I quickly realized that sitting in the game was most certainly +EV, and the jitters I had from playing higher than Im used to, and with famous people, quickly subsided. Once the game got short handed, I decided to call it a night, and ended up a little over $700 winner. Played the following day as well, and made another $200 or so grinding it out against the same regulars. Evidently, I had arrived after the game had settled down a bit - apparently that morning the game was nuts, with betting being capped on every street and multiple $4000 and $5000 pots. Sick.
A friend from Nantucket was in town this weekend, and on Monday I was able to go look at some real estate with him. He's considering buying a place out here, and it was a blast getting a chance to look at some amazing houses that I otherwise would have never seen. Honestly, I've never been really interested in accumulating wealth or materialistic interests. Hell, I went to school for music, and never had any real concern with being "wealthy". Even with poker, I obviously talk quite a bit about money on here, but it is honestly just a way of keeping score - you need x amount of money to pad your bankroll in order to move up to bigger games and play in more tournaments. For me, all I want is to be in a financial position someday where I can travel and play on the pro tour. Although that takes a substantial amount of money, it's really the freedom that I am after, as I am really not that concerned with material things. All that aside, when I laid my eyes on some of these houses, the first thing that crossed my mind was "I want this - make money." I felt a slight pang of guilt over my reaction, and mulled things over afterwards, about wealth and happiness and if it is only natural to want the finer things in life. In all honesty, I don't think there is anything wrong with it, and as long as everything is kept in perspective, you're on the right track. I certainly realize how insanely lucky I am to be able to live the life I live, and I'm usually pretty good about not worrying about the things I don't have, but damn, if you saw that infinity pool, you can bet your ass you'd want one too!
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” - Epicurus
Saturday, May 3, 2008
April
This has been a pretty turbulent month for me on many levels - Poker wise, I'm not running well, which has led to some really inconsistent cash game results. I have played in a few more tournaments than usual, and bubbled the final table of one of the Venetian Deep Stack events for like $700. Ended up losing a race in a button vs. blind situation, and had the coin flip gone my way, I would have been in great shape to make the top 3 and some real money (1st paid $16k). Oh well. Also had a few final tables in some small online tourneys last week for like $400 each, which helped ease the pain of cash game torture.
As for real life, Im trying to figure out what I'm doing this summer, and I have to do it fast. I'm really tempted to go back to Nantucket for a few months, since last year was amazing, but I REALLY want to be out here for the WSOP. I'd like to try some of the non-hold 'em events this year, and from what I hear, there are people just setting money on fire in the cash games. A guy I know out here said his buddy was basically living in the 2/5 NL game at the Venetian and averaging 12k a week during the Series. Pretty mind-boggling. Whatever I decide, I have to do it fast in order to give my roommates ample time to find a replacement. Also, I have to be back in NJ in like 2 weeks for a wedding, so if I bail, I'd probably just do so then and drive east instead of flying to NJ, flying back, and then driving out a few weeks later anyway. Ugh.
Thats all for now - The next couple of days will determine what I'll be doing for the next few months, so hopefully a solution will present itself.
Peace
As for real life, Im trying to figure out what I'm doing this summer, and I have to do it fast. I'm really tempted to go back to Nantucket for a few months, since last year was amazing, but I REALLY want to be out here for the WSOP. I'd like to try some of the non-hold 'em events this year, and from what I hear, there are people just setting money on fire in the cash games. A guy I know out here said his buddy was basically living in the 2/5 NL game at the Venetian and averaging 12k a week during the Series. Pretty mind-boggling. Whatever I decide, I have to do it fast in order to give my roommates ample time to find a replacement. Also, I have to be back in NJ in like 2 weeks for a wedding, so if I bail, I'd probably just do so then and drive east instead of flying to NJ, flying back, and then driving out a few weeks later anyway. Ugh.
Thats all for now - The next couple of days will determine what I'll be doing for the next few months, so hopefully a solution will present itself.
Peace
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