Las Vegas

I am leaving Kansas shortly, departing from MCI at 6:25 A.M.. Quite early, I agree. I will certainly sleep during the entire duration of the flight. I am staying with my friends from Santa Barbara and will continue to have a lax playing schedule until December 5th. We don't have much planned through the weekend, besides the rodeo on Friday, but we will surely mix pleasure with business. For the most part, I will be playing mostly online for the first half of the trip. If I straighten a few knicks out, I will begin playing 5/10 NL at Bellagio by the end of next week.

Here is my tentative upcoming online playing schedule (no particular order):

Full Tilt - 1/2 + NL
Poker.com - 2/4 & 3/6 NL & 5/10 Shorthanded NL
Poker Stars - PCA Qualifiers
World Poker Exchange - Shorthanded 5/10 Limit

American Dream

Imagine living in a basement [with your sister and brother-in-law], slightly over-weight, middle-aged and have a passion for beer. Apparently, this particular character make-up is ideal for being a contestant on Deal or No Deal.

With 3 remaining cases, you receive a buy-out offer of $147,00. However, you have no safety net, as the remaining cases are 10, 100 and 500,000. It seems like an easy decision. Ask your loved ones for advice. If you plan on exercising better judgment, avoid asking family members, especially if you live with them. Confide in your best friend, in this case, the brother-in-law had some very insightful advice.

"You've got the half-million in ya case!"

"$147,00 ain't nothin!"

"No Deal!"

The American Dream, in this circumstance, opening 'one more case' makes great television. Our friend from Arkansas took the walk of shame and $10 credit toward a bar tab.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

As soon as I was I began to celebrate, Kansas gave Florida, yet another, opportunity. It goes without saying, I did not want to see OT. It does not take a genious; sending your opponent to the line with a two possesion lead with less than 30 seconds on the clock is usual not a very good decision. We did not need to go through OT, as we already got a pretty decent sweat, but it took 45 minutes to close the books. Thank God! I, along with thousands of other Jayhawk fanatics would have been crushed if Florida's final shot found its way through the hoop, which would have been the game-winner. Rock... Chalk... Jayhawk... KU!!! all the way through the night! Go KU!

Desination: Sin City

I am currently blogging from my exquisite hotel room, only at Imperial Palace (clearing throat). After I pick up Jagtalon at the airport, we are meeting up with Badbeatme & others for beverages and a relaxing night on the town.

Saturday will go as follows...

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Go KU!

Kansas v. Florida

Gobble, Gobble

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have selected a 'Pick Sick'.

1. Miami at Detriot
2. Tampa Bay at Dallas
3. Denver at Kansas City
4. Deal or No Deal
5. Full Tilt Invitational at Red Rock
6. Everybody Loves Raymond

Tomorrow night will be my last in Lake Tahoe before I leave for Las Vegas on Friday. I still have several loads of laundry and a lot of packing to do. It was quite a gamble driving the Mazda from Kansas. In fact, I was very impressed with its endurance cross-country. Next test: Destination Las Vegas & 4 Weeks in Sin City.

Happy Thanksgiving

Close Call

At my first table of a 175 Double Shoout Sat. for PCA, I got incredibly lucky on a number of occasions. Before entering heads-up play, I won every hand in which I got in with the worst of it. I had a very large chip lead from 5 players down and through heads-up play. On the first hand HU, my opponent doubled through with A2s v KJo.

After trading blinds for nearly a level, I was a 2 to 1 chipleader and got all-in with AK v AJs. However, I was quickly behind after a J came on the flop. Nevertheless, running straight cards gave me the winning hand. Phew, what a relief!

At the final table, a player was elimanted on the first hand and the chip movement continued to be swift. When the blinds reached 25/50, I began flinging my chips into the pot in hopes for a double-up. It did not take long until I was left crippled after 88 was unable to hold against KQo. I was sent to the rail two hands later, losing another race AQo v 77.

Los Angeles Xperience (LAX)

I arrived at the airport at 5:30 A.M. to a security check-in close in length to a lap around the track. I love L.A.

Sunday Re-cap

Poker Stars

Sunday Million (200+15)

Shortly after the second break, I was all-in with AQs v 88. Since I have only doubled-up in pair over pair situations in tournaments over the last two months, I blanked out & sent to the rail.

Heads-up Matches (200+15)

Bubbled. In the hand in which I was crippled, my opponent called a smallish bet on the flop and a half-pot bet on the turn. Apparently, J7 plays well on a K98Q board. I held 99, but my opponent caught a T on the river.

Full Tilt

FTOPS Main Event (500+35)

I raised AI PF from the BB with garbage on two occasions after the SB had merely completed. Since I had already moved against this opponent on two occasions, I checked my option, holding 86o, when the same situation arose yet again. Flop 853. SB bet, Hero raises AI, SB calls, SB shows AA. GG

Sagebrush

I met with a handful of friends from high school and others at Sagebrush, a bar in Calabasas, for a few beverages. I had not seen Amanda, Matt, or TJ in some time and I only on a rare occasion see Jim and Tufeld. Apparently, they had been drinking for some time before I had arrived, so I had plenty of ground to make up. If it was not for the bar closing at 12:30 (absurd, obviously), I would have made up a majority of the ground, but we decided to call it an early night.

Highlight from the evening: Amanda, frustrated after running into a few people she had not intended on seeing (seperate group of people), needed a little chuckle, so I did my best to oblige. "Look... two athletes (professional baseball players), a gambler and Tufeld!" If you do not know Tufeld, it would be difficult to appreciate.

Home Game

After sleeping in till nearly noon, I arose from my slumber, showered and got dressed. I went to a coffee shop with my grandma - turkey club & fresh fruit.

Then, I drove out to Santa Monica and met up with Cioffi at Starbucks. We browsed a bit on the Internet and played Pasoi. He took an early 3-0 lead after I made a crucial error on the second hand. However, his triumph was short lived; I won the next 5 hands and never looked back.

For the remaininder of the day, I was visiting with friends in the San Fernando Valley. I went to the Birmingham v. Westchester playoff game at 7:00. Russell is a good friend with the head coach of Birmingham, so we were able to watch the game from the sidelines. Birmingham won the game 47-0. The running back, only a junior, is a stud already receiving offers from schools such as Cal and Florida St.

As we were driving back to Russell's he made a few phone calls: the home game was on. It was just like old times - $20 buy-ink, .25 - .50 blinds. I lost $60.

"It's like another perfect day; I love L.A."

... Except when it comes of course to sitting traffic if you plan on leaving the confounds of your own home.

I arrived in Los Angeles in the early evening very energized in part due to a relaxing nap on the airplane. My grandpa picked me up from the airport and I spent some time with my grandparents and a close family friend before I met with a friend in Santa Monica. Mike Cioffi is a close friend of mine from St. Mary's, currently working for the Adam Carolla Show. I'd listen to the show myself, but I don't often find myself up early in time to tune in. We went to an Irish pub, shot the breeze for a couple hours and caught up on old times. Afterwards, I decided to head back to my grandparents to get some sleep.

Oh how I was calm and collected on the drive back. I came across 5-6 entrances onto freeway, all of which were of course closed. After nearly an hour and a half and a fresh tank of gas, I was finally able to find my way on the freeway. It is not often a detour leads to a detour, leads to a detour, leads to a detour, etc. In the meantime, I toured a decent section of Santa Monica and Venice. I am such a horrible driver, even worse with directions.

Vacation

I have a fairly hectic traveling schedule beginning on Wednesday:

15th - 19th: Los Angeles (vising family and friends)
19th- 22nd: Lake Tahoe (Grandparents in town)
23rd: Thanksgiving
24th - 28th: Las Vegas (Kansas v Florida, recreation)
28th - 30th: Lake Tahoe (skiing)
30th: Driving to Las Vegas
30th - 4th: Bally's (rodeo, going out with friend from Santa Barbara)
5th - 19th: Bellagio (WPT Event)

I am planning on taking a break from poker until I get back from LA, giving myself time to clear my head and figure a few things out.

Have I mentioned I love UB?

Gbecks informed me about a UB promotion, which was nearing its expiration. Apparently, if you final table one of (13) tournaments in addition to the normal payount structure you would also win an entry to each tournament in the upcoming tournament series. Sounds too good to be true? Well, yes it is. In actuality, if you final table one of the (13) tournaments you would receive an entry into a tournament in which the winner of this tournament would receive the package. However, I already enterted a 30+3 and UB would not allow me to unregister even though the tournament was 15 minutes from post time.

After the first level, I decided I didn't want to play any longer. I raised AI with AQ and K7 from UTG & UTG+1, picking up the blinds. Meanwhile, I was typing the following in the chat box: "Someone put me out of my misery. I'm done playing today." As I entered the text, I picked up AA in the BB.

Limp, Limp
SB minraises (idiot)
Hero raises AI
Fold, Fold, SB calls showing 77

Flop: 7xx

SB asks, "How's that"

Pretty good, I guess

Deep Stacks & Mega Satelitte

Full Tilt has recently added Deep Stack NL. I played mostly 4 & 8 (1600 buy-in), but I dabbled a little with the 1.50 & 3 as well. In a short session of roughly 500 hands, I came out ahead for nearly $1,100. I felt more comfortable playing with 200BBs, opposed to 100BBs, as I was never over-commited to a hand before the flop.

In my third attempt to qualify for the PCA, I found myself at the wrong end of a coinflip yet again. During the fifth level, I doubled up with AQs v KQo, lost half my stack in a 'Battle of the Blinds' from the BB with ATs v AK, and lost a coinflip with ATo from the B (button) after RR AI. The CO showed 88... Flop brought backdoor straight draws, picked up the wheel draw on the turn, and caught air on the river. GG

I am getting a little sick and tired of mega-satelittes. I estimate my losses at 11K. Although I do not feel I have played as poorly as my results, I must be doing something mechanically wrong. I have also played in mega satelittes for World Poker Tour Championship, Bellagio Cup and Festa al Lago; I can only hope my results at Five Diamond next month will be 'Merry'.

King of Zee's

While browsing around a bit on Full Tilt, I noticed Captain Zeebo sitting Heads-up 5/10NL. Although I had not intended on playing this evening, I could not resist sitting with the online poker legend.

Here are some selections from the chat box. For the most part, I was having a conversation with myself. Apparently, online poker celebrities don't have much time for grinders like myself.

Jennifer Garner: HU for your simpsons toy collection?
The Riparian: lol
Jennifer Garner: i'll but up my library of bangbus videos
Jennifer Garner: included are milf lessons and big mouthfuls

Jennifer Garner: i'm just about done... wanted to have bragging rights (Naturally, I kicked his ass)
Jennifer Garner: going to jerk off to you and zee justin tonight
Jennifer Garner: and ray zee
Jennifer Garner: and maybe even a zebra
The Riparian: later

Net: $502

Burning out... not really

It's been a struggle, no need to elaborate any more than I have. I played a few hours today, playing a mix of NL, SNG's and satelittes. The results were not spectacular, but I will turn things around soon. Gbecks recommended I try out Absolute Poker, so I will beging playing there tomorrow. The buy-ins are capped at 200 BBs, rather than 100 BBs. We'll see how it goes...

After finishing up my play for the day, I went to the grocery store, prepared dinner and watched a couple hours of Everybody Loves Raymond.

One more thing...

Happy Birthday, Gbecks! Drink up, I'll have a few for you tonight as well...

Winning Session

Golf... Well, I only lost $65. Considering how much I have lost in the past on the golf course, the round was more like a win, than a loss.

I got back to the condo, showered, made dinner and kicked back in my recliner to watch the WSOP. However, many thanks go out to ESPN for re-broadasting the the final episode of the Main Even, not Event #31. Instead of watching Tournament of Champions, I played a short session on Poker.com. I played (4) 5/10NL tables, mostly short-handed, with the exception of one full table. I was back to regular form it seemed, flopping sets, turning sets, winning coin flips... yada, yada, yada. However, I came up short firing a three-shell bluff, failed to get paid off in a few key spots, and was victim to a 3-outer on the river. The remaining half of the money made its way into the middle on the river, but he would have most likely put in regardless. At least I booked a winning session!!!

Net: 1,300 (ish)

12:45 Tee Time

The weather has been very warm in Lake Tahoe for this time of the year. I am pushing back my regular schedule and squeezing in as many holes possible until the temperature begins to drop. Afterwards, I am going to watch the WSOP on ESPN, most specifically Event #31 , $2,000 NL Hold'em, staring Colson10. If you look closely, I can be found in Carl's cheering section. I'll wrap up the day with a late session of poker, hopefully winning poker...

End to a long week...

It has been a miserable week, but it has finally come to an end. I finished in the middle of the pack in Sunday Million, going out with 99 to QQ and managed a mediocre win in the cash games. Instead of continuing the grind, I'm taking the rest of the day off watching football and playing 9-ball.

Losing Streak Continues

It seems I have forgotten even the basics, as I have been unable to post a winning day throughout the week (0/6). However, I have shown consistency. Throughout the week, I have been unable to win on Poker Stars, Full Tilt, Ultimate Bet & Poker.com. Furthermore, I wasn't able to post wins in 9/10-handed, 6-Max, 3-handed, and HU NL, Limit Hold'em & satelittes. My lone winning mark: $3 in side bets.

Apart from walking away before I self-destruct & maintaing a positive attitude before beginning each session, it is a struggle to point out many highlightes from the week thus far. However, I have had a plethora of hands leaving me scratching my head.

Playing HU 10/20 Limit Hold'em, an opponent maintained the lead in the hand with a handful of running draws. After turning trips, I bet, 3-bet, and called a 4-bet. Yada, yada, yada... he made his backdoor flush on the river.

However, tomorrow brings another day; Monday brings upon a new week.

Slumping

I just haven't found the groove in some time now. Just when it seems consistency is right around the corner, I find myself tripping over my own feet. Today, I played 5/10 on Full Tilt, WPT satelitte qualifier on Poker Stars, and NL and Limit on Poker.com. Limit poker is definitely a weakness of mine even though it was the only form of poker I played during the first half of my poker career. On Poker Stars, I qualified for the 650 mega satelitte (WPT) via 73+7. I also played a 165 DS (double shootout), 150 sat. for EPT Monte Carlo mega satelitte, and a 25 & rebuys for WPT. Please don't ask me why I continue playing the double shootouts. They have been very unkind to me as of late. I finished 3rd at my first table, lowering my already very poor success rate at making the final table nearing toward 5%.

Even though my bankroll has been slowing diminishing over the past several months & having come to terms over writing off the 17K in debts/loans I will [realistically] never be paid back, I am still optimistic I will turn things around. I am not holding myself to unrealistic standards for the final two months of the year, but I expect to make good decisions in regards to game selection (online) and maintain an appropriate playing syle in the 5/10NL at Bellagio (Nov. 30 - Dec. 19).