Sunday Re-cap

After winning 2K in cash games on Saturday, I decided to play the Sunday Million (530). I also participated in a 9-way side bet (300). I barley made it past the first hour, was eliminated from the side bet by the third and lost $1,500 on Poker.com. Even still, it was a successful week.

Birthday Boozin'

When you're a kid, it doesn't feel any different, but it's actually starting to feel a little different as each year passes. Maybe it's the realization Matt (younger brother) is graduating from college in a week and I am going back to college. Eh, whatever...

I went to the Fox & Hound at 10:30 after watching live updates on Cardplayer.com of the WPT Championship. I was pulling for Kirk Morrison, but Carlos Mortenson staged a very impressive comeback, eventually clinching the title and nearly 4 million with KJs vs. A4o AI PF. I can't say I am too surprised. Carlos has had a number of deep finishes in major events in the last year and I believe he is staked by Erick Lindgren. Normally, the fact of being backed by a particular individual would be irrelevant, but Lindgren has a knack for staking soon-to-be superstars. Carlos was one beforehand, but he apparently made some poor decisions in game selection at the cash games. Other phenoms of Lindgren include, Bill Edler, Robert Mizrachi and Peter Feldman. Anyways, I drank a number of Crown & Cokes and headed out. As it was a Friday, most of the regulars including Grime, Wiggins, Stephanie, Kaitlin, Mike, Sheryl, Janet, Jared and others mostly filled The Fox & Hound. I accepted a challenge of 'Dice' against Wiggins then another and I believe another. 'Blind Squirrel Theory' has yet to come through against Wiggins; I have yet to win a match of best out of three in 5 or 6 attempts. Shortly after midnight, several of us went to Lakeside. I watched as a few hands of blackjack were played and participated in further boozin'. We had a bite in the cafe. I opted for a prime rib sandwich with cheese fries while Wiggins and Jared had the breakfast special. Each meal was inhaled as quickly as David Blaine gasping for air. Thereafter, we went for a few games of pool at Goal Post, but it was late and drinking no longer seemed very enticing. We grabbed a taxi, head back up Kingsbury Grade and as I have done many times before stumbled back to the condo safe and sound.

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I placed 22nd of 281 participants in the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. It was a $20 buy-in with .01 of each buy-in going into the prize pool and the remainder matched by Poker Stars and sent to the HSMF. It was an impressive finish considering I didn't log-on until after I busted out.

Essay

Constructive criticism only please...

Essay

Kill Phil

If it were an inexperienced player or in effect 'trying to trap one's opponent', I would find the following hands annoying. However, we are talking about Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth certainly isn't one without flaws, but he has a small ball approach unlike anyone else.

The following hands are from Day 2 of the 5 Star Poker Classic, courtesy of cardplayer.com.


Seat four raises to $4,000 preflop and Phil Hellmuth calls from the button. The big blind calls and the flop comes AJ10. It checks around to Hellmuth, who bets $3,000. The big blind folds and seat four raises to $10,000. Hellmuth calls and the turn is the J. Both players check and the river is the 2. Seat four checks and Hellmuth bets $12,000. Seat four calls and Hellmuth turns over K-Q for the nut straight. His opponent flips over AK and mucks his hand.

After Chino Rheem enters the pot, Phil Hellmuth raises to $15,000 preflop. Rheem makes the call and the flop comes Q43. Rheem checks and Hellmuth bets $5,000. Rheem raises $13,000 more and Hellmuth makes the call. The turn is the 8 and Rheem bets $30,000. Hellmuth minimum raises to $60,000 and Rheem goes into the tank. After a few minutes, Rheem mucks his hand and Hellmuth turns over pocket queens for a set.


If his composure stays in tact, Hellmuth will certainly be a threat throughout the tournament.

Sunday Re-cap

I didn't play any of the tournaments on Sunday. Besides playing a 100+9 on Full Tilt, I didn't play any tournaments this week. In the 100+9, I busted two tables before the money. After losing a coinflip and 70/30, I bluffed the rest of my chips with A2o from the button.

I had a very succesful week in the cash games, winning 6 of 7 sessions, for a profit of $2,700. Since returning from Los Angeles and a three week hiatus from online poker, I have posted winning marks in 8 of 9 sessions for a profit of $3,800.

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Best of luck to all my friends still remaining in the 5 Star World Poker Classic. I am prepared to fly to Vegas for the final table should one make it.

Lucky, lucky

Exhibit A:

AI with a nut straight and a gut shot straight flush draw against a flopped flush. The straight flushy came on the turn.

Exhibit B:

I am drawing a blank, but I remember it was very gross. Even though it was worse [in terms of situation] than the other, I cannot recall.


Off for a few beverages...

Groovin'

What a relief! Since returning from L.A., I have posted a winning session each day for net earning of $2,200.

I also wrote a poker essay last night. "A picture is only worth so much" discusses the path toward the misconception of a hands actual strength. I am putting it aside for a few days. I will finish editing early next week.

Here is an excerpt:

"In order to simplify the process of playing pocket pairs before the flop, players tend to ‘group’ pocket pairs of similar strength, playing each pair in the group alike. For example, a lot of players will not fold pocket kings before the flop. In essence, they play pocket kings, as they would pocket aces, for any amount of money before the flop."

Gbecks wins Triple Crown...

... in a 24 hour span!!!

After winning the UB 200K, Gbecks has completed the third leg of the Triple Crown. Yesterday Gbecks won 11 Rebuys on Stars & 109 6-max on Tilt. Amazing! Congratulations, Gbecks!!!

Winning Streak

I did not play any of the Sunday tournaments. Considering the bankroll and ambitions of playing the WSOP regardless of winning a seat via satellite, it would not make sense. I'll play them from time-to-time, but it is too expensive to play them every week. Instead, I played cash games on Poker.com. In the last two sessions, I have won nearly $1,200. I have been 8-tabling between .50/1.00 & 1/2 (full ring). It has been going quite will. If I can stick to the grind, I should be able to do quite well before the WSOP.

R.I.P.

The last laptop remaining in the arsenal has deceased. Its life was of little meaning, as it was replaced last year by a newer, faster laptop. As a back-up, it saw few hours at the poker tables. It will be remembered for its near death experience when it released smoke and a burning aroma while Breyer was playing on World Poker Exchange.

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I also hired a new student, Jeremy, whom will be playing .25/.50 & .50/1.00 NL on Poker.com.

Last day in Southern California

I have had an enjoyable stay in Southern California and am looking forward to moving back at the end of summer. With the weather a little questionable during the afternoon hours in Northern California, I am going to play golf with Russell at Porter Valley Country Club for a few hours before driving back to Lake Tahoe. It will be a long, boring drive. With the cell phone coverage inconsistent, I will resort mostly to satellite radio.

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From 5-Star World Poker Classic

Event 3:

1st: Jared 'TheWacoKid' Hamby
9th: J.C. 'PrtyPSux' Alvarado

Event 4:

2nd: Jonathan 'Jcardshark' Little
7th: Marco 'CrazyMarco' Johnson

Event 5:

With 15 players remaining, Tim 'Tmay420' West is in 5th.

It wasn't for a lack of trying...

In nearly two years of professional poker, I have found it important to surround oneself with a strong supporting cast. At no point should a member become superior or inferior to any other member. As with any group dynamic, each member will take on a role of his own, but it still remains the same. Each member shares an equal role in furthering the progress of the groups' success. The poker world is not a journey meant to be taken alone. 'I am only as strong as those whom I stand beside.'

I have stood beside some of the best in the poker industry over the past few years, but I am now standing alone. I am the cause of my own suffering, but I meant in no way for the trialing events of the past year and a half to effect in such a negative light. I had no right to expect certain ideals in others, should have been more considerate toward the group and should not have left suddenly although it would not have done much good if I stayed.

It has been pointed out countless times I am too trustworthy. I admit it is the cause of the destruction, but it is also the reason for many of the strong friendships I have made in the last four years. It was a double-edged sword. Sometimes the situations worked themselves out; in others they did not. I tried to make decisions for the better of the group, but it is obvious I had many lapses of judgment. However, it soon reached the point I could no longer handle the blows. I realize I should not have expected others to get in the middle, but it would have been helpful to hear something other than, "You had it coming," after an occurrence of being taken advantage of.

I am very appreciative and hope only the best for each of you. I want you to know I did all I could to fix the financial situation. It may be argued I was obligated to do so. Maybe I was, but in any case, I clearly got in the middle, looking out for more than just myself. I didn't want you to have to go down the same road I had gone down so many times.

In the end, I think I'll make a much better elementary school teacher, than a poker player.


Cheers Lawrence

Michael 'BraveJayhawk' Jensen

Analysis: WPT Mirage

Why did Steven Frederick blind himself out of the tournament with 5 and 6 players still remaining? How could Stan Weiss call a 3-bet AI with K5s with 4 players remaining against the second chipleader? The answers to such questions are usually difficult to answer, as mistakes of this magnitude are usually made by amateur players. However, Frederick claims himself to be a professional poker player. I guess he can claim the jitters as reason for his timidness at the final table, but I think he should have come more prepared for his first televised final table.

Speaking of prepared, Harry Demetriou came to play, giving himself a great opportunity of winning the title. In the early stages, Demetriou was relentlessly aggressive against Robert Mizrachi and somehow induced Weiss into making several poor decisions.

I was impressed with Demetriou's play throughout the final table, but I was left puzzled after watching the final two hands of the tournament.

Why did Demetriou call an additional 845K [after raising to 400K himself] with KTs and not elect to play for the remaining 1.4 million Weiss had left? He could have taken a shot as the 2/1 chipleader and raise AI, rather than simply calling in position. Remember, Weiss was first to act after the flop, or in this case, first to bluff.

I feel the manner in which Demetriou elected to to play the hand made the final hand very questionable.

With only the big blind invested and knowing Weiss was potstuck, why did Demetriou raise AI with K6o? Just the hand before, he invested nearly 1.3 million with KTs, declining to play for the remaining 1.4 million until seeing a flop. In the final hand, Demetriou invested his remaining 2 million with far less invested and a much weaker hand.

If he was willing to play relatively light on the next hand, I think Demetriou should have chosen to play for the additional 1.4 million with the KTs.

Agenda

I have played very little poker over the last two weeks. It just hasn't seemed appealing lately. However, I played a $500 PL Omaha Shootout against Anoob this afternoon. Ship it!

Since I am planning on going back to school in the Fall, I have began the enrollment process. Third time's a charm? Who knows? Unfortunately, I already ran into a slight difficulty. In order to be eligible for transfer, I need a mathematics credit. Luckily, I was kicked out of the lone math course I enrolled in at KU. Apparently, I was not eligible for the course, even though I had already passed a course of greater difficulty in high school. Uck! Therefore, I am going to have to take an online course over the summer. Looking forward to it, of course.

On Saturday, I am driving to Los Angeles for Easter and a few errands scattered throughout next week. It doesn't look like Bellagio is in the horizon. Although it has been one of my primary goals to play in the WPT Championship, $2,500 satelittes don't seem feasible for the time being.

Going back to school is clearly the correct decision. Over the past several months, poker has lost a better part of its appeal. I am by no means quitting, as it would be a completely unrealistic possibility. However, it is time the agenda is filled with other, more constructive, goals and ambitions, not just poker. It hasn't been a harsh realization, just a realization. I am not the player, at least not at the moment, capable of accomplishing the lofty goals I have set out to achieve.

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Justin 'Looshle' Pechie made a valiant run in WPT Foxwoods, finishing in 14th place. Among his tournament accomplishments are 3rd in $2,500 NLH at the WSOP and 1st in $1,000 LHE at the LAPC.

Professor Plum

With 8 players remaining in the EPT Grand Final (Monte Carlo) Josh 'Professor Plum' Prager is in fourth chip position. 1st place is a whopping 1,825,010 Euros. Best of luck!!!

Sunday Re-cap

It was a short-lived existence in the Sunday Million. Actually, it only took one hand. I 3-bet the flop with middle set and was called by the post-flop raiser. The turn completed open-ended. I bet half the pot and was called. The river was real nasty, completing top open-ended and brining three spades. I went AI anyway, as most players in the tournament qualify via satelitte and have very little poker intellect. Thus, they will often call light. I wasn't called as quickly as I had feared, but I was beat nevertheless. Villain rivered top set. For my efforts, I finished ninth from last. Not too bad.

As for the WSOP Mega Satelitte, FT 400K & Stars 2nd Chance, zip, zilch and zero.

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WSOP Satelittes: -$2712.50