2009 in Review - 2010 Goals

A little bit overdue, but seeing how I have only played maybe 100 hands of poker in 2010, still not too late.

Looking back at 2009.
1. Have my first 5 digit score
2. Final table one of the bigger Sunday tournaments
3. Work on my heads up game (cash)
4. Put in some serious volumn for MTTs (35~ tournaments weekly)
5. Satellite into the WSOP ME
6. Satellite into one other live tourney (EPT/Aussie Millions preferrably)
7. Work on my deepstack cash play

*strokethrough = failed, bold = accomplished, italics = partial

As you can see here, I pretty much failed on all except for 1, and that was qualifying to the 2009 WSOP Main Event. I guess since the package was worth $13000, and I won it twice, I can technically count my second win as a 5 digit score? Anyways, the amount of time I spent playing poker this year was definitely alot less than what I was hoping for, but that was due to other various life commitments/things that came up which prevented me from putting in the volume I was initially anticipating.

With less time spent playing, that obviously translate into focus onto one particular area (MTT/SnG) and less devotion into other games (HU/deepstack). I have no regrets about not achieving those goals - part of me recognized that the goals were quite ambitious to begin with, and secondly, poker in the end is still a hobby which has provided monetary gains, but still not replaces events from "real life". While I had a legitimate shot at possibly qualifying for the Aussie Millions, the results that I had in 2009 is still an achievement that I'm proud of.

Now, onto 2010. Refer back to a previous post where I mentioned that I am now officially out of university, full-time poker player is definitely out of the question. I am at the point where I envision myself working full-time while playing poker part-time as a hobby which hopefully will be able to provide some extra side income.

Here we go - poker goals for 2010.

1) Qualify once again for a WSOP Main Event
2) Qualify for one other non-US/Canada tour tournament event (ex. EPT, APPT, Aussie Millions, etc)
3) Continue to focus on improving primarily my MTT game
4) Achieve a 5% ROI in my MTT play in 2010
5) Non-result oriented, but continue to enjoy this game as a recreational hobby.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: 858578

What's been happening lately

I've managed to luckbox a relatively good run on Full Tilt just playing their hyper-turbo single table Sit-and-go. Basically you start with 300 chips, blinds at 15/30 and goes up every 3 minutes. Between those, a few of the 90-man turbo knock-outs and $70 hyper turbo satellite to a $535 buy-in Sunday major (which I obv. unregister and take the T$), I essentially averaged out to about a 3x buyin win per day over a 10 day period. The win-rate is definitely not very high, but given the amount of time I have put into playing, I am not complaining.



On another note, I recently took a stab at playing an Aussie Millions satellite, as well as a PokerStars Caribbean Adventures satellite. On the Aussie Million front, busted in 11/12 out of 51 when I had KK 6 handed (while I was third in chips) and ran it into AA (while someone else had JJ). The player with the AA also happens to be 2nd in chips, so at the conclusion of the JJ < KK < AA hand, player with the AA rocketed to the top with 2.5x the chips of the player in second place.

On to Sunday, where I got into the miniFTOPS main event, ran my stack up to about 3x starting stack (started with 7500), before losing JJ < AA again to drop back down to 10K or so, and finally went out when I shoved Ax OTB with about 10xBB into AQ, flopping a gutshot but not getting there.

Finally, PCA satellite. Doubled up early with my TT cracked JJ, blinded down for awhile, and misplayed KQ on a K73 8 board to a slowplayed AK. That hand dropped me down back down to roughly starting stack (3K) where I grinded my short stack for about an hour and a half. I did get lucky a couple of times while I was short to stay in the tourney (AQ = AK on J J 3 8 3 for example) but eventually busted in 240th place or so (40 gets seat, 750~ entrants) with first my JJ lost to AT all-in preflop. And last hand had me shoving 55 into a limpers 33 and he flops a 3.

I believe this weekend will probably be the last weekend in which I attempt to try to satellite into both PCA and Aussie Millions, meaning a trip to the Bahamas and Australia will have to wait at least another calendar year. For now..Monte Carlo April 2010 is the goal.

A decent come back

After my rant/tilt post last night, my Sunday started out pretty bad. Had a late start in both the Sunday 1/4 million, and the Turbo Takedown. Nothing interesting to speak of in those tourneys, just busted out by losing a flip surviving for less than an hour in both. So that means I've probably played 5-6 turbo takedowns by now and haven't cashed in a single one. Let see how long I can keep this streak going for.

Next up was the Sunday Million, and I pretty much bubbled every single multi-seat satellite I played in for that, and by the end of it, I probably spent enough on satellites to buy-in directly. As a result of my bad play, I obviously decided not to buy-in directly and play some micro/small MTTs to kill time. Basically I was 0-fer in cashes by the time the PokerStars Dream Job tourney came up.

I lasted about as long as it would take to eat dinner, basically flatting a mid-PP, and reading the EP's raiser c-bet as weak on a low flop (c'mon, he lead out with 2x pot) and I shoved, obv. running into a bigger pair (QQ). So after busting that, I was pretty much set on not playing for the rest of the night.

Lo-and-behold, SirWatts decide to make the final table of the PokerStars $200+15 rebuy tourney. And since we never know how long he'll last, I didn't wanna get caught playing a MTT nor start a cash game and have to leave. Which meant it was an excuse to start dipping into FTP's super turbo SnGs again. Contrary to the last couple of nights, I managed to have a good winning session, and of course laying a few bad beats along the way. So while I grinded to turn a couple of hundred in profits, SirWatts obviously decides to show me up by winning his tourney for $37K - congrats man!

So no, I didn't win the Dream Job promo (that would've been sick) but erasing the losses from the past couple of nights and being able to get back in the black is obviously a good sign.

Actually feeling tilted

This is the first time in a LOOONG time I've actually felt a little tilted. I guess the last time I remember it happening was while I was in Las Vegas last Nov with a bunch of guys from Canada's Poker Forum and losing a 500x big blind pot to a guy that hit runner runner full house to beat my flopped flush (all-in on the flop when I flopped it, he had overpair without the suit on board).

Back tonight, recently I received a bonus offer from Full Tilt Poker for $500, and obviously poker players can't turn down free money. So I asked Pinhead to ship me some moneys on Full Tilt so I can grind away at this bonus. While I enjoy Full Tilt's cash game, I really like their Super Turbo tourneys where you start with 300 chips, blinds 15/30 and each level is 3 minutes long. I know the structure is a crap-shoot, but after awhile, you are actually able to label some players and exploit their style. This structure also allowed tons of volumn, but obviously has HUGE variance. I've had mixed results but was still turning in a positive ROI in about 200 that I've played up until tonight.

Tonight came around, and I couldn't get anything going. I've always believed that running bad isn't just about losing the consecutive coin-flips, or losing while in a domination situation, but running bad also consists of no one having a hand when you have a big hand, or having a big hand but running into bigger hands, etc etc. And tonight was just one of those nights. Not only was I losing the 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, but I was simply getting slapped around by deck. Having AA in the BB while everyone folds, shoving AJ in the SB and running into AQ on the BB in a BvB battle. It was just frustrating - and by the time I got to type this blog entry, I honestly felt a slight bit of tilt setting in.

I really hate for my blog to become rants about bad beats and running bad - and I honestly thought I have been able to remove any emotional attachment to the results of this game, but I guess I still got some work to do.

On the bright side, Poker Stars is running a Dream Job promotions tomorrow (Sunday) at 7pm that I have been looking forward to for awhile. As of this writing, there is 226 players registered, meaning the overlay is at a whopping $100K right now. Obviously I expect a high number of last minute entrants, but this tourney will still have an overlay and hopefully I have saved my run-good for this tourney as it would be pretty awesome to win it.

Anyways, hopefully the next blog entry wouldn't be as negative as this one and the previous one!

Back at the Grind

So it seems lately I've found the desire to put some hours in at the virtual felt again. Nothing big, nor massive number of tables, just getting back into a bit of sit-and-go's and a bit of PLO. Ran pretty hot for the first couple of nights and positioned myself nicely in the "Battle of the Planets" in the high orbit section. However tonight just wasn't my night where overpairs were cracked by underpairs, players stacking off in dominated situation on the bubble and winning the 30/70. So now I need to essentially win 10 of my last 12 SnGs to be able to finish in the top 10 for the high orbit.

I went deep in a couple of tourneys (finished 28/1000+) but still short of the huge score. Coming up next is probably back at trying to grind out an Aussie Millions or PCA seat...

Just a few hands to illustrated my night.
QQ < 77 AIPF

Another 2 outer

Another one

Yeah..it's been pretty ugly.

Poker Stars Listed

Over the last couple of days, I`ve been listed by Poker Stars under their Poker Stars Twitter list on Twitter. I think that means I need to start updating this more often and maybe make this blog look better and more pleasing to the eyes. I`m sure I`m better off finding a webmaster over doing this myself though, as I am definitely not someone who is savvy with programing and web-design.

Bonus Clearing

Nothing new to report on, but I just realized recently that I have like $800 of bonus to clear on Doyle's Room. I guess I might have to move my business to Doyle's Room from Cake poker in my attempt to satellite into the Aussie Millions.

One tough game

Just had another tough session...played for about a stretch of 5 hours, and signed up for essentially all of the low-stakes tourney that started within 2.5 hours time span (buy-in from $2-$20 approx), and mixed in a couple of the $12 180-man turbos to fill up after I bust from a tourney.

I was able to accumulate a stack in almost all of the tourneys that I played tonight, but somehow just ended up losing the stack well short of the money. Not all of them were bad beats, but most of them were. Some were just me being overly aggressive and overplayed a few hands, but it's tough when you get players to put 160BB in the pot preflop with AA vs. their AK and they somehow make a flush from it. So other than a couple of min-cashes, there isn't really anything to show for tonight.

First real session in...quite awhile

It's been a good...3 months + now since I've put in any sort of an online session. Tonight's session wasn't even planned, but it sort of just happened when I ended up being wide awake at 2~ in the morning with nothing better to do.

For the last 2-3 months, I just never felt the motivation to play and put in hours. To me, poker will always be a hobby/game. I don't foresee myself ever taking it and turning it into a full-time gig. Therefore, as much as I have been able to take adv. of the poker boom the past few years (although not as much as others have obviously), I will only find myself playing it when I'm motivated to play, and having fun while doing it. As a result, the only hands I've played up until tonight, were essential micro-stakes games where I would fire up if a friend was playing, or just to see whether I was ready to take the plunge.

Back to tonight, I guess once again motivated by my desire to win a PCA/Aussie Millions package, I decided to load up a few MTTs and just get back into the game again. This is the first time in awhile (basically since I came back from the WSOP) where I played, with no other distractions. No MSN/Google-Talk/TV/Movie/Xbox 360/etc etc. It was simply 6 - 8 tables (which became 4 real fast) on my screen, and me trying to accomplish something.

Getting back into it, I once again received a full kick in a nuts, a reminder truly how cruel this game can be. I'm going to spare the details* (I will post about it...but it will be the last paragraph), but it was a frustrating session to say the least.

However, on the flip side, I found myself slowly being "back in the zone" where I made a couple of thin value-bets, a couple of relatively big river calls, and even a couple of bluffs. CLEARLY the few hands I played tonight is in no way an indication that I'm playing my best, I mean for all I know, all these things I was doing right was merely by luck/chance, but at the end of the day, at the end of the session, I feel the motivation coming back. A motivation to once again put myself in a spot to learn, to challenge myself, and more importantly, enjoy my time while doing it.

What's next for me? In life wise, I'm finally finishing up school, and joining the real-world (aka. starting a career) is on the horizon. Which means, having the opportunity to travel around to different parts of the world might come to end shortly. Which means...over the next little while, I feel as though my goals will be to satellite into various live events all over the world. If at the end of the day, I end up stuck in Canada the entire winter, while I will be disappointed, at least I HOPE I can say I tried my best.

So hopefully, I will be traveling down under for the Aussie Millions come Jan 2010.

*DO NOT read if you do not want the detail of my session. (aka the bad beats and the cold deck)
-out of the 6 MTT that I busted out in, 5 of the bust out (or majorly crippling) hands had most of the money go in the pot when I was at least a 2 to 1 favourte
-the other hand, well, KK > AA all-in preflop

WCOOP - Finally

So the first 2 weeks or so, I haven't played a single WCOOP tournament as much as I wanted to. Between various things coming up during the day, a cottage trip for the long weekend, and just not being able to satellite into some of the tournaments. With school starting again, that obviously gives me a change to play another tournament or so. So tomorrow, I will be playing the $215 NLHE "big ante" tournament. Looking at the structure, it looks like it will be a fun tournament for someone like me who plays a relatively LAGgy style. After that, probably won't play until the Sunday with the $215 tourney and hopefully the big main event. We'll see how it goes.

A Brief Session

I was able to put in a session today, basically registered for tournaments between 7-830pm EST or so. I think I played a total of about 8 tournaments, and right now I have 2 left. The $3.30 rebuy, and $27.50 Freeze-out.

I ran pretty deep in the $10 1 rebuy 1 addon tourney, but had essentially 1 bad orbit which caused me to go from top 30 in chips (with about 300 left - 128 paid), to busto.

Hand 1: A bit of background about the table, I have been essentially running over the table. Having taken about 2-3 uncontested pots preflop with a raise. Villain has been at the table for awhile, but I have yet to see any of his showdown hands and I haven't had to showdown too many hands myself. So here we go.

My stack: 60K, Villain's stack: 30K~
With blinds at 500/800 ante 75, villain raises to 2121 from the CO. I re-raise to 7200 from the SB. Villain shoves 50BB and I insta-call.

Board ran out: K 7 6 4 7. KJ > QQ

So instead of having about 90K in chips (would've put me in 5th or so), I get dropped to about average chip stack..and the next hand happens.

Hand 2: A couple of hands later, I'm OTB with 99. I think I might've misplayed this hand based on stack sizes.

MP (stack 17K) raises to 2200, CO (stack 24K) calls, I re-raise all in. MP folds and CO insta-calls and his KK holds.

Given the stack sizes, I think I might've been better off to flat preflop and not create a big pot preflop with just a mid-pair. In a sense I turned my 99 into a bluff in this spot, where as I should've played it with more caution in position. I originally chose to re-raise all-in, due to the fact that any 3-bet would already commit me to a 4-bet shove by either the MP or CO.

Hand 3: Very next hand, open shove with A5 with about 6K, gets called by the button, SB reshove, BB (which is less than SB) calls, button calls. It was A5 vs. A2 vs. 98 vs. 66. 66 rivered a set, 98 turned a pair and I was out.

Still in the $3R with 50BB or so, and the $27.50FO with average stack close to the bubble. Going to try my best to make something out of the last two tournaments.

Edit 1: Almost as soon as I clicked "publish post", AJ > AK on a AJx flop in the $27.50 and I'm down to 7BB

Edit 2: Doubled with AK < QJ to hopefully not bubble. Just folded AQ on a ATT89 board in the $3R

Edit 3: Shoved A3 into TT to bust the $27.50 FO.

Edit 4: What a spectacular way to bust out of $3.30R - KK < 66 < JJ

Quick Update

Just something quick. Barely played the last 2 weeks...probably squeezed in a couple of short session each lasting approximately 30 minutes. Nothing really to write home about, just 1 hand where I think I could've played it a few ways. Will probably make a post about it later. For now, another couple of weeks of hiatus from poker, and might get back into it when September rolls around.

Last Few Frustrating Days

The past few days haven't exactly gone well. Mixing in a bit of $0.50/$1, $1/$2 6max PLO, a game which I don't proclaim to be a good player in, but also a game that I know I'm +ev in. Also continued grinding the $12 180 man turbos and that hasn't gone well either. So right now, I'll probably be taking the next week or off more due to other things being busy. Between softball, Rogers Cup Tennis, and other things mixed in there, my next week to 10 days will be pretty packed. I might be able to sneak in a couple of short sessions here or there, but it won't be anything major.

Other than that, if you hate whiners/bad beat stories, you can stop reading. I'm just going to rant a tad in the next couple of paragraphs...(also allows me to actually have my thoughts recorded in case I decide to come back and read this or something in the future)

With PLO, I'm definitely not a great player at that game, but with that said, I believe at the level I play, I'm definitely a favourite at any random 6 handed table. It's been quite frustrated the last few days, as I've had numerous occasions where I've had the opponent move most (if not all) of his chips in drawing thin (a rarity in Omaha) and they somehow outdraws me. A couple of examples would be my top set + nut flush draw vs. his naked OESD + overpair. I got the villain to move his stack in when he was drawing to 5 outs and of course hits his straight on the river. Another one was when I had double suited AA78 against a complete LAGtard on the button, who held KK78 1 suit. I flopped a flush draw and no other draws available, and he hits his 1 K that would make him a set (but not my flush) and takes down a 250BB~ pot.

I've been learning more about PLO in general just by reading forums, and it's pretty frustrated knowing that my game is improving but the results isn't there.

It's been the case with the $12 180 man turbos. I've consistently been able to get to the final 36/27 with an average chip stack (which at this point M is at like 6 for average stack). Those times are essential push/fold situation, and I've had countless times where I lose the crucial 60/40, 50/50, or even 70/30. Of course, I understand the whole variance, but it's just pretty frustrating when it keeps occurring over a span of 8-12 tables.

Here's me hoping to get the "run bad" out of the way before WCOOP rolls around in less than a month.

First "real" Session of the Month

With exams over, I was finally able to get back to the virtual felt again. I've played a couple of really short sessions earlier this month, each maybe an hour or so in length - enough to bust a few of the $12 180 man turbos.

Back to tonight, I am just wrapping up my session now, which pretty much went as well as it could. Played for approximately 3 hours and between that time, I managed to only register for 4 tournaments, cashing in 2, and making about 3 buy-ins playing $0.50/$1.00 6 max PLO.

With tournaments, I signed up for 3 consecutive $12 180 man turbos, and signed up for the 11:40pm $27.50 turbo tournament as a late-registration. In the $27.50, I've ran pretty well lately, finishing in the top 100 at least 2-3 times in the last 5 that I've played. Unfortunately being the turbo tourney that it is, I simply couldn't win a crucial race at the end and busted out of today's at 38th place or something for essentially a 3x buy-in cash. Still waiting for the elusive big score since the WSOP, hopefully I will be able to put a few more decent sessions in the next little while.

...alright...this just in - what a roller coaster ride this tourney is. I busted out in 2 of the 3 $12 turbos middle of the pack, and had 1 left where I was sitting about 4th in chips when we got in the money. With about 28K in chips, blinds at 1K/2K with 200 ante, pretty much a shove/fold game - and this hand basically involved me open-shoving with 99 in MP, with both the button and SB (I barely covered the SB at this point) waking up with JJ and KK. Now...after a couple of double-ups, I'm essentially back to my original stack before losing the 99 hand. Will post a final update after I win this thing.

Final update: Busted 8th when QJ couldn't beat J10 for most of my stack, and had 70% of my stack in the BB with 83 and couldn't beat 66. Pretty much a nothing session, up a tad but nothing to talk about. It was good to get back to playing a bit again though. Still hoping to get a seat into APPT Macau, but the window of opportunity is getting smaller...

Hand Review Session

So I ended up playing a bunch of $12 180 man turbos again tonight, while playing those team Canada things on PokerStars...and at the end, when I look back at some of the hands, I have come to a conclusion.

I am officially a spewtard.

Upswing is Over

Finally hit the inevitable downswing from the high variance $12 180man turbo. It is definitely not unexpected, as I was probably running way above expectation given how high the variance for this tournament is.

Gone about 1/16 or so now with the 1 being a min-cash, and just losing all the hands I was winning during the hot streak. KK < Ax, winning crucial flips, etc. No complaints though as I still feel like I'm playing well and just losing due to cards.

Other than that, nothing is really new...just a quick update for now. Might not get to play much with final exams around the corner with 2 of them coming up in about 10 days. After that, will probably buckle down and grind a few APPT/EPT satellites and see what happens.

Solid Session + APPT

Since I've been back from the WSOP, first time I've managed to put in a solid session and at the end of the day, I feel like I did pretty well.

Basically grinded through about 12-14 $12 180 man turbos, and managed to min-cash about 3 times, and finished 1st and 5th respectively in 2 others. Also took down a $90 satellite into the $800 APPT Macau satellite, but sadly I have to unregister and keep the W$ for the time being as I am unable to play in the upcoming satellite.

The goal is still to try to win a seat to APPT Macau, and while I'm there visit friends and family in Hong Kong. Although the trip will overlap with CCSA playoffs, I feel the priority is a little bit higher with this. We will see if I end up winning a seat though, as due to my schedule, I might only have one shot at qualifying.

WSOP 2009

A bit of a recap about my adventures in Las Vegas this year at the World Series of Poker. In short, this year felt very much like last year when I headed down to Las Vegas for the WSOP Main Event. Albeit last year was my first time ever in Vegas, the only other major difference between 2009 and 2008, is that in 2009 I played in the Main Event, while 2008 involved me playing in several other side events.

Back-track a little bit to May of 2009. Obviously as any competent poker player, the World Series of Poker Main Event is probably the one event everyone looks forward to every year. Not only does it have the biggest prize pool compared to every other poker tournament in the world, the fame and prestige that comes with winning the tournament is like no other. Therefore, I decided in May, that I would attempt to either satellite into the Main Event, or sell enough action to be able to pay the rest and enter. I started approaching a few individuals, and was able to sell about 30% of my action between 2 players - but at that time, it was not enough for me to be able to cover the rest in order to buy-in directly. Therefore, it's time to take matters into my own hands.

While I did not have my hopes up in winning a seat to the Main Event via online satellites (I have been 0 for 5 thus far in major live tournament satellites), there was no doubt in my mind that this was the best way for me to get into this tournament. My lucky day came on May 29th when I managed to conquer a field of 223 players, defeating "Timex" Mike McDonald heads up for my first WSOP Main Event seat. With the newly found confidence (and money), I began grinding out more satellites, leading to a second win about 3 weeks later in the PokerStars 200 Seat Guaranteed Tournament.

With 2 seats won, it no longer require me to sell more of my action as I was essentially "free-rolling". Trip was booked, and I was off to Las Vegas.

I departed Toronto on July 2nd, coming with me was a close friend of mine, John, with his flights covered as I promised to do so prior to winning my second seat. Unfortunately another friend was unable to make the trip due to his training schedule. The first 3 days in Las Vegas included attending various parties put on by various poker sites, watching KA, and just wandering around the Las Vegas strip with the John. With John's departure on July 5th, it was time to get down to business, playing on Monday July 6th - Day 1D of the Main Event.

July 6th, 2009.
This day began on a good note, as I woke up at about 9am, feeling rested and refreshed for the series. An in-room breakfast later, I decided to make my way over to the Rio a bit earlier than expected to register, giving me time to relax at one of the poker lounges after registration so get ready for the beginning of the tournament. It turns out arriving to the Rio early was the best decision I made all trip, as after I registered at 1045~, day 1D was full and the Rio was no longer accepting registration after approximately 11am.

Play began shortly after noon, and I find myself at a table with 7 unknowns with 1 empty stack at the beginning of play.

My table consisted of mostly loose-passive players with a couple of loose aggressive player in which I have position on, an excellent table draw for the first day. I find myself involved in quite a number of pots was many of the players were content with limping in preflop, allowing me to play many speculative hands in an attempt to chip-up early. Unfortunately the day simply wasn't my day from the get-go, as I simply had too many 2nd best hands. If it wasn't for the passiveness of some of the players, the deep starting stacks, and slow blind structure, I would've been eliminated alot quicker than the 7~ hours I lasted in the tournament.

The day itself was a frustrating day, too many second best hands, and not being able to make draws are just a couple of reasons that led to my elimination. A couple of hands which can pretty much sum up my day.

Hand 1
Blinds 100/200, My Stack: 24000~, MP's Stack: 35000~
MP raises to 700, a player call, I call on the CO with AQss - 3 players to the flop

Flop A Q 3 rainbow
MP bets 1600, player fold, I call (although raising probably would've been a better play, I think I would've been able to get more value out of Ax hands play smooth-calling this flop)

Turn 8
MP checks, I bet 2700, MP calls

River K
MP checks, I bet 4200, MP calls and shows AK.

Hand 2
A little history before this hand. The table has been generally loose-passive, with 3-4, sometimes more limpers in each hand. Often a preflop raise would also be called in 2 or 3 spots going to the flop.
Blinds 150/300 - 3 limpers in EP and MP limps for 300, and I raises to 1400 on the button with AA, everyone folds.

The one time I have a hand preflop, I get no action. I guess it is better than I didn't go broke with AA against a stupid hand, but this hand is used as an illustration as to how I was getting no action when I have a big hand.

Final hand, was down to 8750, blinds at 150/300 with an ante of 25, and I am in the SB with AK. UTG+1 (or could've been UTG+2) raised to 900, getting 3 callers before it got back around to me in the SB. After looking at my hand, it was a decision on whether to move all-in, or make a raise to 3600~ and moving-in with any flop. I decided to move-in, as with this table, I could get anywhere from 0 callers, to getting all 4 other players to call and see a flop. After moving in, the original raiser took little time in putting in another re-raise over my all-in, meaning I'm going to need some serious help. Limpers fold and my AK is up against KK.

The flop brings K 5 3, turn x (I think a 7 or 8) and this 2009 Main Event is over for me.

Playing in the Main Event was a huge thrill for me, and it was also a great learning experience for me. Hopefully I will be back in 2010, and put in a better performance.

As for now, I am really unsure of the direction I'm going to take with poker and my life. While I definitely hope to continue to play, and achieve my goals of playing in other APPT/EPT events, poker will always remain a hobby, giving priority to other real life decisions. I will probably play for fun from now until the end of August, and plans for the future remains up in the air.

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.