Final WSOP ME Satellite

Probably played my last WSOP Main Event satellite today. Busted out in epic proportions by losing before registration was closed. Basically lost 1/3 my stack when I 3-bet a LAG (from limited hands) with JJ, flop came Qxx, turn K and had to fold to a shove. The last 1800~ went in when I raised MP with Ad7h and getting 5 callers, flopping 973ddd, and check-raising all-in and ran into a set of 3s. Obviously I blanked my 9 outer (was hoping that I would have 14 when I check-shoved) and was out in 30 minutes.

I'm pretty much done playing between now and my trip. With a couple more assignments and a midterm in the next week, I won't be spending much time play (if any) due to school work. On the other hand, a friend of mine (essentially non-poker playing) will be coming down to Vegas with me from July 2 to 5, so that's going to be alot of fun with the various parties (Bluff, Everest, 2+2) that we'll be heading out to, and definitely checking out a show and of course showing him around. Will try to squeeze a few STT and/or mega-satellites in before I play 1D, so we'll see how that goes. Not going to leave much time to sleep, but who sleeps in Vegas anyways.

That's it for now, hopefully I haven't used up all my run-good yet and still have some left in the tank for the Main Event.

Ship the WSOP ME Seat x2

Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 - Joe Louis Arena

The game was a blast - the atmosphere was definitely disappointing considering the game itself is a "one-game-take-all" for the championship. Will post a more detailed blog later about the experience, but here are some pictures.

Outside Joe Louis Arena


Pre-Game Warmup


National Anthem


Opening Face-Off


Post Game Hand-Shake

Poker can be Frustrating

I think tonight is the first night where I've genuinely been annoyed and peeved in general about poker. I mean bad beats happen, I let them slide pretty easily - don't ever get upset over it, probably don't even show any emotion when a 2 outer come for an underpair or some guys hit his runner runner for a straight against my top set.

Tonight was different, it was just frustrating in a sense that big hands ran into bigger hands, just always having the second best hand in a big pot, or losing the critical flips yet winning the one that has a pot that is really irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

This is the first time for a long time where I actually feels a bit tilted, and just have a sense of not caring anymore. I know that feeling definitely crowded my judgment in a couple of the tournaments I played, but part of me just didn't want to continue anymore and don't really care if I busted out. As I write this, I'm still grinding out one last tourney that I started - I'm definitely taking a break for the next couple of days just to get poker out of my head before playing the 200 seat guaranteed on Stars on Sunday.

At the end of the day, I don't think I really have the right to complain after winning a WSOP ME seat just recently, but when I graph my all-in EV and see how I'm running so much lower than expectation, I wonder whether I might've won a second seat by now.

Close by No Cigar

Had another deep run in the $33R tonight, but it was not meant to be. Went into the final table 2nd in chips, and was able to chip up some more until we were down to 7 players. First I lost a flip with 66 < AK < A3 when A3 moved in UTG as a short stacked, I raised on top with 66 on the button and AK called all in from the SB. Obv. an A had to come on the turn to keep AK around, otherwise I would have had about 1/2 the chips in play with 5 players left. Very next hand, CO raised 3xbb (I cover), I shove and he snap-calls about 25 BB with KJss. Of course he flops KKx and my AQ goes up in flames.

Was down to about 24K~ with blinds at 4k/8k. Managed to double through a couple of times, AQ > 99, Q9 > 10-7 to get back to average stack. Last hand shoved K7 in the SB with about 15bb and ran into BB's A9.

Very disappointed to not have done anymore in this tournament, all of these players were really bad IMO. A couple here way too tight, and a couple calls way too wide. I guess that's how it goes sometimes.

WSOP Check List

[]Get money
[X]Book flight (1 way flight leaving July 2, will book return flight pending on my performance in the ME)
[X]Book hotel (booked Bellagio from July 2-7, will stay elsewhere if I'm still around after that date)

WSOP Plans

Still a bit pumped up over winning the WSOP Main Event seat - one of my goals for the year has been accomplished! Also, it allows me to be proactive in trying to % of myself, instead of keep telling people that is interested in buying that I might/might not play.

So the plan is to fly down either on Canada Day, or July 2nd, and register for the Main Event. The chances are that I will probably play Day 1D, as there is quite a few different parties going on around that time. Right now I only have a 1 way flight booked and will probably book my return flight after I see how I do in the Main Event - obviously the plan is to make the final table but obviously only 0.0015%~ of the people started the tournament will make it that far. Depends how I do, I might play a couple of the side events either at Venetian, Caesar's Palace, or a smaller buy-in tournament at the Bellagio. I also plan to stay around and catch UFC100 if I can (obv. if I bust first day I might just fly home instead of hanging around for another week). As you can tell, my plan is still very much in the air, and will likely just take it as I go.

If anyone is interested in buying a % of me in the Main Event, I'm currently selling 1% at $110, or if you buy more than 5% I'll do a even 1% for $100. If interested, please contact me at westside8 [at] gmail [com]

Now that I've won my seat, the next couple of weeks will probably see a decline in my volume. Will still probably play and try to get into a couple of the $650 WSOP Satellite on Stars on Sunday, but other than that I will need to focus on my school work for a bit with mid-terms around the corner.