Running Bad

Well I have decided to scrap the SnG Bankroll building project for now, as I am getting crushed by bad cards at first, and decisions now since I am on tilt badly. Just putting too much pressure on myself, so I will work on what I have to maybe get into a FTOPS event, play well in the BBT (I hope!) and just have fun. I understand variance is a part of poker, but it just seems like sometimes no matter what, you can't make the right decision. Off from playing Tuesday, only playing the BBT Freeroll on Wednesday, off Thursday, then MAYBE some late night cards or Friday or Saturday. Or who knows, maybe I will take the weekend off and finish reading the final Harry Potter book.

One SnG, One Win

Just time to play on SnG on Saturday, between family obligations and starting to ready the Harry Potter book. Played the best I have in a while, and ended up winning after a rather lengthy heads up battle that saw me starting down 2 tp 1, then up probably 3 to 1, called a hammer bluff when he ended up flopping 247 to win with two pair, and finally catching back up and finally beating him after about 12 minutes of heads-up.

Sit N Go Results July 21, 2007: 4th (+$17.00)

Starting Amount: $132.50
Current Bankroll: $136.50
SNG Profit/Loss: +$4.00
Total Profit/Loss: +$4.00

One $26 Token still in Account
BBT Freeroll July 25, 2007.

Near Misses

Played a couple of qualifer tournaments with 2 of my $26 tokens last night. The first was a qualifer for the FTOPS Event on August 13th. 2 seats paid, plus $23 cash for 3rd. I ended up going out in 4th when my KJo flopped trips but after checking the flop, bet out at the turn and we reraised by the CL, at which point I came over the top for all my chips. He called and showed the case King with an Ace kicker, and IGH 4th. Also played a sat for the nights $30K which paid 13 $100 seats, and I finished 9th. Played very well in the 30K, even with an early hit of an opponent cold calling me on every street with 45o to hit a straight on the river against my trips. Worked back up and eventually finished 60th, however it only paid to 42nd.

Sit N Go Results July 20, 2007: 4th (-$5.50)

Starting Amount: $132.50
Current Bankroll: $119.50
SNG Profit/Loss: -$13.00
Total Profit/Loss: -$13.00

One $26 Token still in Account
BBT Freeroll July 25, 2007.

Rough Night

Didnt play well at all, although played very tight and was out drawn some and just not aggressive enough other times. Took a shot at a few satellites for the FTOPS and crapped out on all of them. Started by SNG challenge/bankroll building.

Results July 19, 2007: 5th (-$5.50), 5th (-$5.50), 3rd (+$3.50)

Starting Amount: $132.50
Current Bankroll: $125.00
SNG Profit/Loss: -$7.50
Total Profit/Loss: -$7.50

Three $26 Tokens still in Account
BBT Freeroll July 25, 2007.

Building My Bankroll

Lately I have been just donking money off, trying to go after the big things, when I really am not bankrolled right for it. I have about $150.00 left in my Full Tilt account, but also have 3 $26 Tokens. I figure to give myself a couple of shots tonight on Sats to a FTOPS event (which one I havent decided, but with business travel and my wife's birthday I have to choose carefully, not just sign up for the next Satellite to run). I have decided once I get down to about $120.00 I will work on what I used to do, playing Sit N Go's. I will use the 5% rule and never have a buy-in more then 5% of my total bankroll, so if I dont cash in the first 4 $5 SnG, then I will be dropping down. My goal is to build my bankroll back up to $300+ to give myself a decent shot at qualifying again next year for a World Series of Poker event (unless of course the wife is pregnant, then no trip for me next year!). I will document my progress, including my starting amount and my results. If I dont use all my tokens tonight (and I doubt I will), I will give them a shot for assorted event, or maybe the MATH on August 13th once I get to my hotel for my class in Colorado. And with any luck I will be able to cash in the BBT freeroll (56 players, and I think it cashes 11 or 12 people!) next Wednesday. I also think I got a few extra dollarso on PokerStars from finished 3rd in the 67Suited WSOP Fantasy league. That I may work on my cash game on Micro levels ($.01/$.02) and see what comes of that. Plus I have almost 4,000 Full Tilt Points, and 900 FFP on PokerStars, so I will look into using those to help my bankroll. Wow, long post for me this time. If anyone has any help with how to post picuures, let me know, I want to try to start saving screen shots and posting them here for thoughts by players much better then me.

So Lame

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

Apparently the only words that even came up in the search was "dead" (and only twice!), as in "drawing dead". Well least I dont have to worry about anyone being offended.

Heading to NJ this weekend, hope to play in the Midnight tournament at the Trump Taj tonight.

Double Cash at the Daily Double

Was actually trying to quailfy for the 50/50 last night. Lost in a $6, $8, and $14 satellites, the $14 one when having the best hand until the river with only 25 people left and 17 getting seats. Decided to play my usual tighter game in the Daily Double, and even though in both touranments I was down to about 1,000 of my 2,000 starting stack, I eventually managed to work myself up that I was easily cashing in both tournaments. I ended up finished 24th in Daily Double A, 26th in Daily Double B. Netting me a total of $140+ for the night. I also managed to fnished 2nd to Tin Man for best average finish, as he finshed 30th in the B, and when I went to sleep he was already in the Top 16 of the A, thus making his average no worse then 23rd to my 25th. Not a bad night all things said.

My Adventures at the World Series of Poker

To say that it was an interesting event would be an understatement. I showed up a day early to register, and the place was a zoo! Registering early however was a great move, and confirm my registration after the 12 Noon start of the current days tournament meant no lines at all. The Amazon Room is huge, and very dark. No outside light to speak of, so you would have no idea what time of day or night it was when you are playing there.
I found my seat assignment, and decided to "scout it out". What I found out was my table was actually out in the "tent" outside the convention center. It turned out to be a good thing.
When I finally started playing on Saturday, my plan was to play the first hour very tight, with blinds at only 25/50. That plan when out the window very quickly as I got AKsuited twice and 5 pocket pairs in that first hours, and hit ALL of them on the flop. I quickly chipped up to almost 5,500 chips (we started with 3,000). After that my plan was back on, as the cards didnt come for the next couple of hours. Just after 3:30, during the 4th hour, I got AK again, and the flop came out AQQ. My opponent check and I bet, he just calls. Rag on the turn, same betting. Rag or the river, same betting. I figure my two pair with King kicker is good, and my opponent turns over AQ for the flopped full house! Needless to say I was crippled at that point, down to 775 chips. Two all-ins in the next four hands give me tremendous suckouts on the river both times, and I am back up to just over 2,000 as we head to the 2nd break.
I play tight poker for hours after this, probably playing maybe 7 hands in the next four hours, going all-in on the flop on ALL of them, and never got a call. I actually managed to chip my way up to 8,500 by the dinner break. At this point we are informed that there are only 630 left (out of a non-Main Event record of 3,158), so there are only 306 people left to go when we get back before we start getting paid. At this point I go completely card dead after the break, as the only hands I win were in the big blind when I am given a walk, so I have 5,000 chips - blinds are at 400/800/100 Ante - and they finally break my table at 9:40 PM (Yes, I was at the same table for almost 10 hours). When I get into the Amazon Room (finally!) we learn that the player count is down to just over 500, and I sit down with my 5,000 chips and realize how much trouble I am really in. On other guys sucks out just as I sit down to double up to 18,000, and he is the next smallest stack next to me. I can only wait out 5 hands and I get AK in the Big Blind and push it. I get a call from UTG (who has already bet out 3,000), and he flips over QQ. I never improved and out I go right around 500th.

So, I felt really good about how I played the whole time, and found it to be a great experience. I plan on trying again next year, and hopefully will cash next time.

I did manage to play some more 40/50 people tournaments at the Stratosphere (where I was staying) during the rest of my time in Vegas, and actually won on Monday afternoon (chopping 3 ways) for a $600.00 payout after tipping the dealer. In all I left Vegas up almost $800.00, and with a lot more experience at live poker and confidence in my own game.

Taking some time off now - from online poker at least. I will be up in Atlantic City the weekend of July 13th-15th, and may play some, but online I may just not play in July. I am feeling kind of burnt out right now, and need to spend some more time with my family and working on helping organize my 20 year high school reunion.

So this isnt good-bye, as I know I will be back to play in the BBT Freeroll that I managed to finish 25th in despite playing on 20 of the 39 events (I just wonder how I would have finished if I had played all of them). And with the 4 times yearly FTOPS surely coming around again soon, I will be out on the virtural felt again soon enough. I will still be here reading everyone elses stuff, and posting when I can, although it may not always be poker related.

Thank you everyone for all your support and for all that you have taught me this last year of online poker, I feel my game has gotten SO much better thanks to everyone I have met online, being it the bloggers in the BBT, or all my friends on 67 Suited.