Gimme One of Them, Gimme One of Those

Land of the Free, My ASS!!!

2011-04-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well the Feds have shut down online poker which makes it rough on us full-time players. I'm still in shock over the whole situation and it still doesn't seem real. With all the problems going on in the United States, it seems right for them to invest tons of time/money into getting it shut down. Kind of amazing to think that you can't play poker online in your own home with the money you have earned. What are they going to do next? After this debacle, nothing will surprise me. The United States of America is supposed to be "the land of the FREE", I think not people! Everything I've heard/read the past few days indicates that it will not be up and running anytime soon. My next step will be to travel the hour and play at the Horseshoe in New Albany, IN to play cash. Hopefully that goes well for the next 6 weeks, then its onto the World Series of Poker in Vegas for 6 weeks starting on June 1st. After WSOP, I will have to adjust accordingly and figure out what is the best thing for me to do.

Thing were looking up a bit for me this year, in my last session I won the PokerStars $162 at 4pm on Wednesday for $14.5k, I also took 10th in the Wednesday Quarter Mill that night for around $2500. Hopefully I'll go on a live heater in New Albany, the games should be really soft so should make some decent money. Its been a fun ride the past five years doing this full time, have got to see a lot of the world and met some interesting people, made some new friends, and got to do what I wanted the majority of the time with the freedom that poker allows you. But now that online poker is done, only time will tell what the next step in my life will be. I don't know when I'll post again, but I should update fairly often during the WSOP. GL me, should be an interesting 6 weeks of live cash ahead. RIP Online Poker!

Later
K-Rock

Poker Update

2011-03-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

It has been a pretty rough start of the year for me so far in 2011. I can't seem to get over the hump and catch the heater. I did win the $162 on PokerStars a few weeks back for 15.5k and I've got some other 5-8k scores in various tournaments. I've had a lot of final table bubbles over the past few weeks also in some pretty big tournaments. I got a 11th in the FTP 163 on a Sunday that was 54k to win where I got QQ in versus A9o to be 3 of 10, instead I was crippled and out 11th. I also got 11th in the Stars 109 turbo at 830pm on the same Sunday when it was 20k to win, where I was 1 of 12 and debacled. Earlier this week I got 10th in the 162 on Stars where I lost a pretty big flip on the river. I feel like I'm playing really well though, and have been putting in a lot of volume so hoping I can break through soon.

On the live front, my next live tournament will be the $10k WPT event at the Hollywood Casino on April 9th in Lawrenceburg IN. It should be a pretty soft tournament as there is a NAPT event going on at the same time, and something else but can't think of what it is off the top of my head. After this tourney, I don't expect to play live again until the WSOP this summer in Vegas. We got our house booked, and will be staying out there for 6 weeks. My plan is to play as many live tournaments as possible, I'm just hoping not to get burnt out.

The NCAA opening weekend was a lot of fun hanging out with my friends and enjoying some cocktails. Hopefully this time next year we will see IU in it as the future looks brights with the recruits we have coming in over the next few years. Purdue lost their National Championship(to get into the Sweet 16) game last night getting humiliated by VCU. It is really funny listening to all the boilermaker fans rip on Tom Crean and IU, when what has Matt Painter actually done since he has been there? He had 3 of the best recruits still left from the 2007 recruiting class, yet he won 1 Big Ten title that he shared with two other teams, and couldn't get them into the elite 8. Granted Robbie Hummel has been hurt for most of his career, but it still has to be disappointing to them. At IU, we are expecting final fours, national championships, at Purdue they play to get into the Sweet 16 which is also known as the National Championship in West Lafayette, IN. But hey, whatever floats your boat ya know? On that note, Boiler Out as your time is over. Now it is time for the Hoosiers!

K-Rock

Biloxi WPT

2011-01-30T21:04:00.000-08:00

Things didn't go to well down at the WPT in Biloxi for me. I got 33rd in the $1k where 18 paid, lost QJs vs 99 all in pre flop where a Q was in the window but a 9 was also in the flop for 36BB's. I got 25th in the $2500 where 18 paid, I had a big stack the whole way and things went bad at the end. I ran AK into AA then 99 vs AQo to bust. I never really got anything going in the main event and never picked up any hands. I busted day 2 with 99 vs Shannon Shorr's AK on a QT8J board for around 45k at 300-600. I also got sick on this trip making it the third time I've gotten sick in Mississippi on 3 visits. I won a 109 turbo on stars while down there for around $7k to book a profit online while down there. I got crushed in the two sessions since I've been back. It hasn't been a good start to the new year at all, but hoping February will produce better results.

I just plan to grind online for the next few months and hopefully book some wins. I don't plan to play live again until the WPT comes to the Hollywood in Lawrenceburg IN in April. The WSOP schedule came out for the summer and it has me pretty excited. We just booked our house for the whole summer, so hopefully I will hit a big score this summer. That about sums it up, take it easy

K-Rock

Online update and Biloxi WPT

2011-01-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

I have put in quite a bit of volume so far this month and I've struggled a little bit. I'm currently down around $4k so far. I'm currently playing my last tournament of the day which is the $109 45k guaranteed on PokerStars, I put in a small session this afternoon so I'd have time to pack later tonight for Biloxi tomorrow. I have had one good session this month where I made around $12.5k with four final tables. One of them was the 90k on PokerStars where I got 5th for a little over 5k, but was highly disappointed as I came in as the chip leader with a 2-1 advantage on second place. I also got 2nd and 3rd in the Full Tilt 30 rebuys in the same day. I'm not sure how much volume I'll put in while I'm in Biloxi for the WPT. I'm hoping I can make some good runs down there.

Here is a list of the events I will be playing...

Tuesday January 18th- $1070k NLHE
Wednesday January 19th- $1580 NLHE
Thursday January 20th- $660 NLHE 6 max
Friday January 21st- $2600 NLHE
Sunday January 23rd- $10k NLHE Main Event

I could end up missing some of these events if I happen to make day 2's. This will be my second $10k event that I have played, I cashed the last one which was the Main Event in 2009, so hoping to go deep in this one too. I will be tweeting updates to http://twitter.com/K_Rock2525. Those updates will also transfer over to facebook. Thats about it, GL me! Take it easy

December Update

2010-12-17T12:50:00.001-08:00

December started out a little sluggish, but I had a big night a couple of nights ago. I shipped the 4pm $162 on Stars for 14.7k, got 4th in the 50 cubed at 1030pm on Tilt for $2.8k, 2nd in Big Double B on Tilt for 1.9k, and got 3rd in the 101 Heads Up Hyper Turbo on Stars for 1.6k. I'm up around 11.5k on the month to this date after the big night. I have put in over 460 MTT's already this month. Not sure how much more I'll play with me leaving for Vegas on Tuesday to go watch IU play some basketball and with the holidays coming up.

In my last blog I talked about moving out, I still plan to but apparently the place I'm wanting to move into hasn't been remodeled yet so the move in date has been set back. I'm hoping for it to be done sometime in January and hopefully before I leave for Biloxi on the 17th. Notre Dame gets to play vs Miami on New Years Eve in their bowl game. Hopefully the defense played like it did to finish the year and I think well be alright. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year since I probably won't post before the new year.

Later
K-Rock

Update

2010-11-28T15:12:00.001-08:00

I haven't really played much the past few weeks as I've been just taking it easy. I ended up profiting around $7k for the month, so not too shabby. My next session will most likely be Wednesday. Matt and I booked our trip to go play the WPT at Biloxi in January. I'm hoping to put in a lot of volume from now until Christmas. I plan to move into the new place right after Christmas so going to be quite busy doing that.

IU basketball for the future looks as bright as ever. With the recent commits we should be back to being a top tier basketball team once again. Tom Crean has done an excellent job and I'm very pleased with him as the head coach. I went to assembly hall Friday night for the first time in probably five years and it was a good time. I can't wait until the 2012 season. Notre Dame finished the season strong and ended up at 7-5 with 3 other games that could of gone in their favor. The defense has been playing really well and hope that continues into their bowl game.

That about sums it up,
K-Rock

Online Update

2010-11-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

I didn't play too much to close out October but have started off well in the month of November. It was turbo night on Full Tilt on Wednesday night and I shipped the 109 6 max turbo at 11pm for a smooth $9500. Also on the same night I shipped the 109 turbo on Poker Stars at 1am for $7500. I'm hoping to put in a lot of volume this month and hopefully the positive results will keep showing. It appears I'll be heading to Biloxi in January for the WPT events. I'm not quite sure what my schedule will consist of but this is the plan I'm shooting for right now...

Jan 18th- $1070 NL
Jan 19th- $1580 NL
Jan 20th- $660 NL 6 max
Jan 21st- $2600 NL
Jan 23rd- $10k NL Championship

I want to say congrats to mattster24 for chopping the Wednesday Quarter Mill for a cool $43.7k this past Wednesday. Big timin I must say! That sums it up, take it easy.

K-Rock

WSOP Southern Indiana and some online

2010-10-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Figured I should probably update the blog since its been awhile. I recently played in WSOP Southern Indiana in New Albany earlier this month. I didn't fare to well only cashing one event. The cash was for a little more then $1k in a $550 buyin. I was doing really well in the money until picked up 88 and 4 bet an older crazier women and she snapped if off with KQ. I couldn't hold for the chiplead pot with 19 left. I also bubbled a $350 buyin in pretty sick fashion where I lost a huge pot with Q8 vs KK all in on the flop of QJ8. I built back up only to run QQ into AA and ended up sticking my money in with 66 as a short stack to run into QQ. I didn't last too long in the main event either when I got set over setted in a big pot at 100-200.

Online has been going really well still since the huge score back in September. I won the 109 turbo on Stars on the 13th for $13k, and also had four final tables on the 11th where I didn't run too well at the final table in these. I can't really complain because I ran really well in the Stars 109 turbo.I plan to play some tomorrow but not going to put in a high volume schedule. Hopefully next time I post the positive results will keep showing.

Currently watching ND down 7-3 to Navy and Navy is inside the 5 about to score again in the 2nd quarter. Sigh!

Later
K-Rock

Biggest score Ever!

2010-09-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

I've gotten off to a hot start in the month of September. I took down the Full Tilt 163 yesterday at 3pm for around 27.4k! This is the biggest score I've ever had and it feels awesome. I ran really and I mean really well deep in this thing. I also won the Full Tilt 30 rebuy on Monday for 9.5k and got 4th in the same tourney on Sunday for around 4.8k. I hope the run good can continue the rest of the month and into the WSOP circuit in New Albany at the beginning of next month. I plan to take off until Sunday where I'll be playing a few tournaments while watching football all day.

Notre Dame beat down on Purdue Saturday in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated. They have another big game this Saturday against Michigan. Michigan beat up UCONN pretty good and the game has me a little nervous. I'm sure it will be a dogfight to win. That about sums it up, GO IRISH!

Later
K-Rock

Upcoming Sched

2010-09-01T14:35:00.001-07:00

I've been taking it easy the past few days getting rested up for WCOOP that kicks off on September 5th. Planning to put in a lot of volume this month before hitting the WSOP Circuit in New Albany at the beginning of October. Not too much has been going on, I turn 27 this Saturday so looking forward to having some fun that day. That is
about it for now, I'll keep this updated as much as possible during WCOOP.

Later
K-Rock

Downswing

2010-08-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

I have been on a downswing since my last update. I had a deep run in the FTOPS 6 max event last Friday busting out 22nd for around $2300, but was 96k to win! I've had some deep runs in some other tournaments also but not able to close them out. I feel really good about my game and I think it will turn around soon. I plan to play tonight but will be taking off Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Going to hopefully put in a big schedule on Sunday and hope to make a big score there. Don't really have anything else to talk about, so hopefully will have better news at the next update.

Later
K-Rock

Grind Update

2010-08-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

I have been on a heater since my last update. I'm up around 15k in my last 3 sessions. I won the Full Tilt 40k for $11k, got 3rd in the 22 rebuy on Stars for $4500, got 4th in the Full Tilt 22 rebuy yesterday for $5900, and I won the the Big Double A on Full Tilt last night for $2900. Hopefully it will continue into this week. I only plan on playing around 6-10 tournaments tonight. I want to keep it slow since I'm playing the $1060 FTOPS event and want to put my full concentration into that one. I plan on putting in a bigger session tomorrow and Wednesday. I also might play on Thursday night after golf league but will be most likely taking Friday and Saturday off and back at it again next Sunday.

Later
K-Rock

Online Update

2010-08-03T11:52:00.001-07:00

I have been putting in tons of volume over the past two weeks. I've managed to make a small profit over this period. Notable scores were taking 4th in the Full Tilt 163 for $8300 where I lost KK vs AQ all in preflop to be tied for chiplead. That tourney was $23k to win. I also took 4th in the 50 rebuy turbo on Full Tilt for $3400 or so. I've had some final table bubbles as well, taking 16th in the Full Tilt 163 this past Sunday which was $57k to win! sigh! Have had a few 10th's and 11th's also. I plan to put in a ton of volume over the next few weeks also.

The Southern Indiana WSOP Circuit was released and I plan to be playing every single event. It is October 2nd-12th and hopefully can win another ring.

Here is the schedule....
Oct 2nd- $350 NL
Oct 3rd- $550 NL
Oct 4th- $350 NL 6 Max
Oct 5th- $350 NL Shootout 12pm
Oct 5th- $350 Horse 3pm
Oct 6th- $350 1/2 PLH 1/2 PLO
Oct 7th- $350 NL
Oct 8th- $350 NL
Oct 9th- $550 NL
Oct 10th- $1600 NL Main Event

These are all listed as 2 day events, so not sure why they are having a $550 the day before the Main Event but it looks like I could be multi tabling if I'd happen to make day 2 of the $550 on the 9th. That about sums it up, hopefully I'll start updating this blog on more of a regular basis. Also, would be nice if it was with good results every time too! Lol

Later
K-Rock

Home from Vegas

2010-06-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

The trip was the worst of my poker career. I ended up cashing one tournament out of the eight that I played. It was a $1500 WSOP where I came into day 2 with a stack of 64.1k which was well above average. Early on in day 2 I ended up getting KK in vs AQo for around 80k and couldn't hold when he binked an A on the turn. That cash was good for $3063. Usually whenever I struggle live, I crush online. That wasn't the case this summer as I lost in all five of the online sessions I put in. Oh well, there is always next year!

The plan now is to take off until Monday. I plan to play a few days next week which will obviously have to be Monday through Wednesday. I play in golf league on Thursday, my brothers rehearsal dinner on Friday, his wedding on Saturday, and probably relaxing on Sunday. That about sums it up, hopefully with my next update it will be good news!

Later
K-Rock

Update from Vegas

2010-06-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

This trip hasn't been to kind to me as I'm 0-5 and haven't made a dinner break yet. The last few tournaments have been pretty sick in the spots I've been in but couldn't hold, got coolered, and whiffed a huge draw. Oh well, I got four tournaments left and I'm staying positive that something good will come out of one of the events. I got the next few days off and I'm looking forward to going out and having a good time with Angie who coming into town in the morning. My next event will be Wednesday which is a $1500 WSOP.

Congrats to Matt "Mattster24" Sterling who took 9th last night in the $2500 PLH/PLO WSOP for $20k. He lost a flip to bust and would of been decent shape if he could of prevailed in the hand. He was seated next to Ivey for quite sometime so that was pretty neat.

Take care
K-Rock

Ready for Vegas

2010-06-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

I just got all packed up and ready to head out west tomorrow afternoon. I think my plane lands around 3pm Vegas time. I'll probably check in and register for the $1500 WSOP for Wednesday and head back to the room to start the online grind. I'm going to be giving updates at every break via twitter and here is the link to it http://twitter.com/K_Rock2525

You might have to copy and paste the link since I'm not sure how to make it linkable. I'll try to update my blog every night but I doubt that will happen so will try to do whenever possible. Time to run good!

Later
K-Rock

Online Update and Summer Schedule

2010-05-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

I haven't played that much online here lately and whenever I have it has produced bad results. I have played some MTT's here in the last week and have gotten deep in a few but couldn't win the key hands. I finally got my schedule figured out for the summer out in Vegas for the WSOP/Venetian Deep Stack Series. I'll be out there from June 15th through the 29th.

Here is a look at my schedule...

June 16th- $1500 NLH WSOP
June 17th- $2100 Venetian
June 18th- $550 Venetian
June 19th- $1000 NLH WSOP
June 20th- $340 Venetian
June 23rd- $1500 NLH WSOP
June 24th- $530 Venetian
June 25th- $1500 NLH WSOP
June 26th- $1000 NLH WSOP

Hopefully can come back with a big score in one of these. I'm hoping to put in some decent volume before I leave for Vegas but plan to play a lot of golf and have a few weddings to attend to. Take it easy

SNG update

2010-04-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

I've gotten off to a terrible start so far to reach my goal and not sure if I can recover. I've put in 471 SNGs already this month but I'm down around $1684. I have earned over $500 in rakeback this month though. This run has been one of the sickest I've ever had in terms of beats. I feel as if I should be up quite a bit considering the pots I've lost at the stages I've been in. I plan to take a short break as this has been pretty brutal and need to clear my mind. I doubt $25k for this two month stretch is attainable now, but I'm still going to try my best to make as much money as I can. That's it for now...I'll keep ya updated.

Later
K-Rock

Future Goals

2010-03-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

March Madness is almost over as the final four is set. It has been a great tournament with all kinds of upsets. Butler heading to the final four is amazing and hard not to root for them being from Indiana. My brackets were crushed after the opening weekend, so no shot to make any money in those pools. I do have Mich St. in a drawing at the local bar so wouldn't mind seeing them win it all either. It was really nice to see Kentucky go down in the Elite 8. So much talent, yet no results again for John Calipari. Hopefully the final four is as great as the whole tournament has been leading up to this weekend.

I have finally registered for classes this upcoming fall semester at Ivy Tech. I've been talking about going back for the past few years, but just now doing it. I was going to go to IUPUC but it turns out I was a draft dodger and can't get financial aid. I never signed up for selective service when I turned 18, had no idea that it was mandatory or even heard of it until I applied for FAFSA. This is one of the penalties for not signing up for selective service. So to all the high school kids, make sure you sign up for this if you ever want to attend college someday or get a government job. Talk about running bad!

I plan to hit it hard these next couple of months. My goal is to make 25k combined with rakeback. I will be playing $75/45's, $26/90's, $52/90's, and a few MTT's thrown in on Full Tilt these upcoming months. I've had some success in the $75/45's and they seem to be very beatable. We booked our hotel room for WSOP this summer, staying at the Rio from June 15th-29th. I plan to play at the Venetian Deepstack Series when I am playing live, I also plan to put in some volume online on days that I won't be playing live. That about sums up everything, I'll try to keep this updated throughout the next few months with totals of how much I'm up at certain points in the month. 25k!!!!!!!!!!

Later
K-Rock

SNG update

2010-03-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

I didn't have a very good month SNG wise, I only ended up around $1500 or so after rakeback well short of my goal. But overall it was a very good month with me winning the Freeroll on Full Tilt for $12k. I elected to just take the cash instead of using it on a $10k tourney. I also bricked out on the $240 6 max at the Midwestern Poker Regionals. I don't plan to play as much this month as March Madness is just right around the corner and I will be camping out at Mattsters house with his 5 TV set up. I probably won't update again until after this month. Hopefully will have our Vegas trip planned for the summer by then.

Take it easy
K-Rock

$12k Winner Take All Freeroll and SNG update

2010-02-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

I just took 1st place in the $12k winner take all freeroll tournament on Full Tilt. I got in this by finishing in the top 200 on the MTT leaderboard for January. There was 199 entrants so felt pretty good to win it. The $12k is a package deal that will let me pick from a list of $10k events that I want to play in plus traveling expenses. I'm not sure where I'll want to go or what not but it is very exciting. I had an awful week in the SNG grind and lost around $2k. So currently for the month I've played close to 700 SNGs and I'm only up around $600 bucks. Hopefully can turn it around this week though. That's about it.

Later
K-Rock

Quick SNG update

2010-02-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

After nine days of the month I'm up around $2500 through 486 games played. I've hit it pretty hard during the week and didn't play much this past weekend. I've been doing some sports betting and doing fairly well so far. Sports betting has always been a fun hobby for me as long as you manage your money correctly. March Madness is just around the corner and I can't wait for it. I probably won't put in much volume for March since the tournament will be running. I still plan to play the $240 6 max on Monday the 22nd this month at the Horseshoe in New Albany, probably the only event I'll play as I'm wanting to put in a lot of volume this month online. I'll probably update sometime after the live tournament and have a recap of it.

Later
K-Rock

Fell Short on the Goal

2010-02-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

I came up short in my quest for 10k. I ended up playing around 1373 SNGs and made a little over $7k profit off my play. I haven't gotten rakeback yet but that should total around $1k for the month. Also, got a $250 bonus for chopping the challenge with nubywood. Going to end up with a few tokens from Tilt on the MTT Leaderboard. So after all said and done I made around $8500 for the month of January. Another challenge has been issued this month and I'm up around $1100 after the first day. My goal for this month will be $10k profit again, going to be tougher with 28 days and I don't plan to hit it as hard. You have to set your goals high though....

Later
K-Rock

Sit-n-go Grind Update

2010-01-20T11:33:00.000-08:00

I got off to a real bad start to the month but have turned it around significantly the past ten days. Coming into today I have played 997 SNG's and I'm up around $6300 not counting rakeback. I was also 10th in the Full Tilt MTT leaderboard coming into today which that would be another $225 bonus if I can maintain plus an entry into a freeroll with 200 entrants with 1st place being a $12k winner take all package to any 10k event in the world. I'm on a pretty good pace to hit my $10k goal this month.

Next month is the Midwestern Poker Regionals at the Horseshoe in New Albany. This is the circuit that I won back to back events in. This year I'll only be playing a few events, so I have more time to grind online. I'm not sure which ones I'm playing yet but I'm looking at the $240 6 max as definitely being one of the events I play. I'm also planning to go to St. Louis in April for the WSOP circuit there. That's about it.

K-Rock

Haven't play much lately....

2009-12-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

I haven't played that much in the past month. I had surgery about 2-3 weeks ago and have been recovering from it. I probably won't play any until the new year. I'm going to begin my Sit-n-go quest on Full Tilt starting on January 4th at the latest. My goal is to make 10k playing the $52/90 and $26/90 KO's. I'll keep this updated throughout the process. That's about it. Take it easy

K-Rock

Update from the WSOP-C

2009-11-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

I ended up only playing two more events at the circuit. I played the $345 turbo on Wednesday and lasted fairly deep busting around 45th out of 180 entrants. I ran AQ into AK for around 23 BB. I also went deep in the 1k event on Friday busting 28th out of 132. I got my money in dead there with KQ vs KK all in preflop in a late position battle. I haven't played much online since my last update, except last Wednesday. I got 7th in the 33 rebuy on Full Tilt for a total of five final tables in that tourney last month. I also got 16th in the Full Tilt 50 cubed losing QQ vs JJ and TT all in preflop for a huge chiplead. I played a few sit-n-go's today and won a $48+4 90 person one for $1150. I might try putting in a session tomorrow afternoon. I have a EGD scheduled for Wednesday on my throat and doubt I'll be able to play. I'm hoping I can since FTOPS starts up at 9pm that night. I'm definately going to play on Thursday and possibly Friday. That about sums it up.

Take it easy,
K-Rock

P.S. Claussen for Heisman!!

WSOP Circuit Update and an Online win.

2009-10-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

I played in Event #1 on Friday and played today, both were $345 buyins, today was 6 max. I lasted around six hours in the first event losing a big flip. I only lasted an hour today, after whiffing a big draw then busting with 99 vs Q7 on Q72 when I was down to 20BB against a guy who was literally in every pot.

I have started getting back into the online grind the past few weeks. I've come really close to winning a tournament here or there but couldn't close it out. I finally got that win last Wednesday night shipping the Stars $10 rebuy for 10.6k. It was a pretty wild tournament the last three tables. I lost AA vs JT, AA vs KQ, and KK vs AQ all three all in preflop with three tables or less remaining for big pots. I'm really not sure how I won to be honest. About 7 hours before the win, I took seventh in the $33 rebuy on tilt for $900 which was disappointing. I've had a 5th, 5th, and 7th in that tournament in the last 3 weeks. I plan on putting alot more volume during this winter. I plan on playing online tomorrow, but then go back to live the rest of the week. So I'm probably not going to be able to play online until late next week sometime. I have bowling league on Monday nights, so I can't play any MTT's on Monday's. I'm also having a scope done of my throat next Wednesday. I've had reflux for the past 6-7 weeks and hopefully going to find out what is going on in there. I'll try to have an update later this week on the live front. Take it easy

Been a long time...

2009-10-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've updated this thing. Haven't really thought about writing any lately. I've had alot on my mind the past month or so. I've picked up some volume here lately with a few final tables but nothing significant. I have been running really bad deep in some of the tournaments. I'm hoping that changes this week I plan on playing possibly tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday or at least two of those. Indiana WSOP Circuit in New Albany kicks off on Friday.

Here is the schedule I'll be playing down there

Fri Oct 23rd- $345 NLH
Mon Oct 26th- $345 NLH 6 Max
Wed Oct 28th- $345 NLH Turbo
Thu Oct 29th- $555 NLH
Fri Oct 30th- $1060 NLH
Sat Oct 31st- $5150 NLH Main Event

The main event could end up being skipped but I'm playing as of right now. These are the softest fields you will find anywhere in the world. I have big expectations as usual. I feel like if I run decent big things could happen here. I'll probably update at some point through next week.

I want to give a congrats to Joby aa_thief_aa Bragg for getting 2nd in the 70k on stars last night for $9500. I'll be posting updates to the wsop circuit events on twitter, you can follow me using this link http://twitter.com/K_Rock2525

Take it easy
K-ROCK

Some Poker

2009-08-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

I final tabled the $235 6 max at the Horeshoe Classic a few weeks back. I took 5th for $1200 or so. The event only had 102 players. I got 96 in vs 42hh on 9h6x3h board in a blind battle for around half the chips in play and couldn't hold. I played the 2k Main Event and bricked out on it. I grinded the past few days with no good results. I had a deep run in the Stars Warm-Up but busted out 90th out of like 4200 players for around $1100. Other than that I haven't played a whole lot but I really want to get back into the grind starting next week. I'm pretty busy with golf and Matt's wedding this weekend. My birthday is on Friday, turning the big 26. Getting old sucks!!!! Thats about it, later

ISPC update

2009-08-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

I played in the 300 and 1k events at the Hollywood this week with no good results. I had the chiplead in the 1k with 16 left but busted 13th. There was only 43 entrants in the event though. I will not be playing anymore events over there. It was the most incompetent staff that I've ever seen in my life. I was in shock of what was going on there. The dealers were just beyond awful, never seen so many misdeals in my life. They were so slow and a few times were wanting to ship the pot to the losing hand. Had a few dealers who thought you could straddle in a tournament. The floor staff in the 1k event missed announcements of when the blinds changed. They did not run one satellite while I was there either. Good Luck to them trying to get good fields in the 1500 and the 3k next weekend. Also, good luck to them of ever wanting to have another WPT event after March next year. They need to get their shit straightened out and get it straightened out quickly. I guess I'll just end up playing more events at the Horseshoe Classic in a few weeks than have to mess with that over there. That about sums it up, take it easy.

Some Live Events Coming Up

2009-07-27T09:32:00.001-07:00

I haven't played any poker since I've come back home to Indiana. I've been taking it easy golfing and hanging out with friends and family. It feels really good to be back home in this great state. I have some live events coming up next week though in Lawrenceburg Indiana. The circuit is called the Indiana State Poker Championships(ISPC). I'll be updating on twitter if you would like to follow. My account there is http://www.twitter.com/k_rock2525. Looks like I'll probably play five events there.

Schedule looks like this
8/3-$300 buyin(deepstacked) start out with 15k chips and they have it listed as a 4 day event.
8/5-$1k buyin start out with 9k chips
8/6-$500 buyin start out with 6k chips
8/15-$1500 buyin start out with 12k chips
8/17-$3k Main Event start out with 20k chips

I don't know what the blind intervals are or anything, just the starting stacks. If I don't make day 2 of the $300 deepstacked, I'm going across the border to watch the Cubs play the Reds. I haven't been to a Reds game in years.

After that, the Horseshoe in New Albany has a circuit going on called the Horseshoe Classic which runs from August 14th-25th. I haven't exactly set a schedule for this circuit yet but I have a tentative one. I'm going to miss the $235 6 max event due to the ISPC Main Event being on the same day, I really like 6 max, oh well.

Here is what I'm looking to play in this series

8/19 $235 rebuy
8/21 $345(I don't know if these are 1 or 2 day events, if its a 2 day I'll be out due to mattster's bachelor party being on the 22nd)
8/24 $2100 Main Event start with 15k chips

The schedule is kind of crappy down there, mostly all being $235's but I might throw some of those in there if the field sizes are decent.

FTOPS(Full Tilt Online Poker Series) is right around the corner too, starting August 5th-16th. I'd say I'll pick up my volume online during this time too, should play anywhere from 3-5 events in this I would imagine. August looks like it will be a really busy month for me, which I kind of enjoy all the live tournaments that are going to be here. I'm hoping to give you an update on every live tourney, but sometimes the time gets away from me. That about sums it up, take care!

WSOP Main Event

2009-07-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Wrote this 1 week ago just haven't put it up online yet.

Well, I don't know really where to begin. I'm sorry I haven't updated since Day 1A of the main event, I just really haven't been in the writing mood whatsoever. I was trying to stay focused on the job at hand. I'm actually sitting on an airplane right now so you know that's not good news. Actually, sitting first class for the first time ever. All they had left and never wanted to leave a place so bad. I went into day 2A which was on Tuesday with 52.2k in chips and ended up having 240.4k at the end of that night while never being forced with a difficult decision. It might have been the easiest day of poker for me in my life. I got paid every time I flopped a monster. I actually played with Eli Elezra on day 2A, he is a very nice guy with a great sense of humor. It's really fun to play the game when you play with someone like Eli, it just makes you sit back and relax and really enjoy it. It also didn't hurt that I amassed a lot of chips during the day. I actually played a huge pot that could be aired on ESPN. I got in a three way three bet pot preflop with TT. The flop rolled out T84 with 2 clubs. The first player checked, I checked to the three bettor, he made it 12k to go, and the first player got out of the way and I decided to make it 32k to go and he instantly jammed in on me and I obviously called and he showed QQ. The dealer turns a 9 to give him extra outs. This is when Eli says lets get the cameras over here and we proceed to have to wait at least a minute for them to show up. The whole time my heart is pounding as its a massive pot and I keep telling the dealer to just deal the river. But I'm just a no name kid from Indiana so the dealer opted to listen to the great Eli instead of me and thankfully the river was an 8. Afterward a guy from ESPN came up and got my name and phone number. I had a few days to get rested up for the important day 3, I just mainly relaxed and watched TV.

So I come into Day 3 with 240.4k in chips and feeling really good about the way I had been playing. I was 62/2064 I believe heading into this day. I got off to a really rocky start and was at 65k about five hours in and was really down on myself. I had played really well in my opinion I just lost a lot of pots on the river. I ended up building from 65k to 511.5k to end the night though and was in great position again as I was 64/789 heading into Day 4. 648 places paid and the first payout was 21k. Today, which is Saturday was Day 4 started off really well I built from 511.5k into 700k right as the bubble busted without risking a big portion of my stack. Right after the bubble busted I got locked in a blind battle where I flopped bottom two pair verses top two pair and ended up losing around 250k in chips on the hand to knock me down to around 450k. I ended up getting back up to around 500k at 3k-6k with 1k ante when my bust out hand took place. A player under the gun opened to 18k and got a caller from middle position. I look down in the cut off and see KK and make it 57k to go. The under the gun raiser four bets me to 225k or so and the middle position caller folded, and it came back to me and I instantly shoved and he instantly called and flipped up QQ. The flop rolled out JTT and it looks pretty good. The turn was the nastiest card in the deck which obviously was a Q and the river was an A. That pot was over a million in chips, which would have been good for top 20 or so with 457 players left. Instead I'm out 457th for a 25k score.

I talked to a few of my friends and they said they were proud of me or something to that effect. I am very thankful to have them in my life but people who don't play poker for a living just don't understand how tough of a game this is and how frustrating it is. Everyone's always like yeah ole K-Rock plays poker for a living he's got it so easy. Yeah right buddy, you sit there for thirteen hours a day for four days knowing that first place is 8.5 million and you only get 25k after getting two outed for a top 20 stack with 457 people left that started with close to 6500 in the biggest tourney of your life. Also, when you do this for a living your not guaranteed that paycheck at the end of the week. It's a great feeling to cash the world series of poker main event, don't get me wrong, but not to bust in that fashion for that amount of chips. 25K seems so small, when first place is 8.5 million and ninth is 1.2 million. I put so much time into this one tourney and I'll always remember that hand, what could have been ya know. That's poker though, you can only try to get in with the best of it then it's out of your hands. I'm just so glad to be on this airplane heading home to see my family and friends. I've been away for around 42 days now and I'd say this is my last trip to Vegas for that amount of time. So hard being away from the people you love and that you see everyday in your life for that amount of time. First thing I do when I get back to Brownstown is go see my nephew, Skyler and my niece, who I haven't gotten the opportunity to see yet, Mallory. I've never been so mentally drained in my life, the hopes and dreams smashed by one hand, one card. I feel like I let a lot of people down and all I can say is that I put everything I had into this tourney and never quit fighting. I want to thank everyone who showed me support through text messaging and facebook. It gave me a ton of motivation and confidence to know everyone was pulling for me. I hope that one day I'll be back in the same exact spot that I was in today and hopefully next time my hand holds. That's all you can do in this silly game. Well I'm starting to ramble, so I should probably let ya go. I do plan on taking some time off to get some rest. Take care, later

Update from the WSOP inlcuding Day 1A of the Main Event

2009-07-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

I played in Day 1A yesterday of the WSOP Main Event. It has a very good structure starting out with 30k in chips and two hour levels with the blinds starting at 50-100. In the first level, I hit two boats and a straight flush but never got paid on any of them but built up to 37k at the end of the first level. During the second level, I had to lay JJ down on a 882 flop the opponent showed me AA. Dinner break rolled around and my stack had slipped down to 27k. After dinner break, in the third level I won AT vs KQ all in preflop vs a shortstack and a few other small pots and built my stack up to 40k by the end of the third level. Within the first 10 minutes of the fourth level, my stack dwindled to 29k after whiffing a openended straight flush draw plus an over. I somehow managed to run my 29k stack into 52.2k in the last hour of play without a showdown. So I go into Day 2A on Tuesday with a 52.2k stack when average is somewhere around 40k. Blinds will start out at 200-400 with a 25ante? I believe, it may be a 50 ante. So I'm sitting on 130BB or so and hopefully can run good on Day 2.

I only ended up playing a few more tournaments since my last update, deciding to go out and have some fun a few nights and just relax. One of them was a $1500 WSOP where I ran KK into AA right before dinner break in a 90BB in a blind battle. Matt "mattster24" Sterling got 5th in the $1500 Limit Holdem Shootout for a smooth $35k. He got very unlucky five handed getting AA cracked by Greg Mueller(who ended up winning the event) and right before that he ran AK into AA on a K high flop. Congrats to him though as it was a good score and a great accomplishment. That about sums it up, I'll try to have an update late Tuesday night or on Wednesday. It could end up being later though, if I bust I plan to fly back to Indiana as soon as possible. Take it easy, later

Been awhile...

2009-06-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't had any time really to update as I've been super busy out here. I finally got my first live score and it came in a $2k WSOP event and I cashed it for $4k. I busted Allen Cunningham in this event. I busted out 150th out of 1700 players or so. I haven't played awhole lot online, but did have a 7k score last Sunday in the 109 turbo on Stars. My schedule for this week is to play the $1k Venetian tomorrow, then the $550 Venetian on Monday, the $340 Venetian on Tuesday, the $340 Venetian on Wednesday, the $550 Venetian on Thursday, then I have a day off Friday, then the $1500 WSOP on Saturday. This is my busiest week yet, hopefully I can produce a big score. Then on Monday I play another $1500 WSOP and my last tournament on the schedule is the $10k WSOP Main Event on July 3rd. I might play a few more Venetian's if I make it past day 1A of the main event, since it will be like 5 days before day 2A. Thats about it on the poker front, if you want to follow updates on me you can by using the site http://www.twitter.com/k_rock2525.

My sister gave birth to a baby girl today and they named her Mallory Paige Cockerham. They are both healthy as can be so that is a huge plus. I can't wait to get home and see her and Skyler. I'll try to update sometime this week, take it easy.

Update from Las Vegas

2009-06-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't had any good results since the last update. I bricked three more live tournaments this past week to put my tally at 0-5. I built up a huge stack in the Venetian $550 on Friday only to lose massive pots when they really counted. I played online today and ran pretty bad. I have three live tournaments on the schedule for this week which are the $340 Venetian tomorrow, the $225 Venetian shootout on Tuesday, then the $550 Venetian on Wednesday. Dave and Helwig are coming out on Thursday and staying through Saturday, so I'll be taking some time off from the grind and hanging out with them for a few days. I'll be back grinding online on Sunday and I really haven't looked at the live schedule for the week after but I think its a full slate. I'll keep ya updated, hopefully with some good updates the next time I post. Take it easy, later.

Poker in Vegas

2009-06-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Well we rolled into Las Vegas Sunday morning around 5am local time. We got a hotel off the strip for the morning and made it into the house around 2pm the next day. It looked just as good as we seen in the pictures on the website. I picked up my first ever speeding ticket on the way in Illinois, I thought the speed limit was 70, nah it was only 65. Honestly, I haven't seen a speed limit that was 65 on an interstate since '97 or so. Oh well, back to the poker, I played in Event #5 on Monday at the WSOP, was a $1500 PLO event. Started with 4500 chips and the levels were an hour. I busted out in the first two hours losing 77A8 versus QT44 on 762 2 heart flop for a 6k pot. He had 3 hearts in his hand and I had one as well. River came 3 hearts, I was around an 80 percent favorite to win the hand. About twenty minutes later, I get AAT6 allin preflop vs AA85 and QJ99 and lose, was a 6k pot. I played in event #7, which was a $1500 WSOP NL event. Started with 4500 in chips and hour levels, same as the PLO event. I lasted a little over two hours in this one, before running TT into QQ for around a 10k stack. I never got anything going on early in this one either.

After I busted the PLO event yesterday, I came straight back and played some online MTT's. I won the 50 cubed on Stars for a little over $6k. I also took fifth in the 33 rebuy on Full Tilt for around $2k. I profited around $7k on the day playing online. This was my first full grind session online for quite sometime. I crushed last year out here online and I'm off to another great start. Tomorrow I'm playing in the $1500 WSOP NL 6 Max, this is the tourney I've looked forward to playing the most except for the main event obviously. I think 6 max fits my game really well live. On Thursday and Friday, I'm playing at the Venetian which both are $550 buyins. I'll try to update again in another few days or so, take it easy!

Getting closer to Vegas

2009-05-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't played much other than the FTOPS events with no luck since my last update. I've played PLO(pot limit omaha) cash games a few days this week with a little bit of success. I've been over at Mattster's house a few days this week watching him play and learning from him. I plan on starting to play alot more PLO cash games than the NLHE MTT's online. We will be leaving in about eight days to start the grind in Las Vegas. I've made out a schedule for the WSOP and Venetian that I will be playing. If you want to follow updates of me you can go to www.twitter.com/k_rock2525.com

Here is the schedule I'll be playing
June 1st- $1500 WSOP PLO
June 2nd- $1500 WSOP NLHE
June 3rd- $1500 WSOP NLHE 6 max
June 4th- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 5th- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 8th- $330 Venetian NLHE
June 9th- $225 Venetian NLHE Shootout
June 10th- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 15th- $2k WSOP NLHE
June 16th- $330 Venetian NLHE
June 18th- $2k WSOP NLHE
June 19th- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 20th- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 22nd- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 23rd- $330 Venetian NLHE
June 24th- $330 Venetian NLHE
June 25th- $550 Venetian NLHE
June 27th- $1500 WSOP NLHE
June 29th- $1500 WSOP NLHE
July 3rd- $10k WSOP NLHE Main Event

I might add more tournaments or take a few away just depends on how things go and what not. I'm hoping to update on here after every live tournament I just don't know If I will have time or that I will remember. That about sums it up, take it easy!

FTOPS

2009-05-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

I've played some FTOPS events on Full Tilt here in the last six days or so. The only one I did well in was the 300+22 on Sunday. It had right around 4200 entrants and I busted 22nd for $5500. First place was 259k, sigh. I ran 99 into a very good aggresive players AA for a huge pot, he went on to win by the way. I sucked out for huge pots all tourney deep though. I also went deep in the second chance on stars and sunday mulligan on tilt but not for any big scores. I plan on playing tonight which is turbos for the ftops. I also might play tomorrow night and most likely going to play on Sunday which is the main event for the ftops and that is a 500 buyin. After that though I'd say I will not play again until we head off to Las Vegas. It looks like we are going to leave either on the 30th or 31st, if you want to follow updates on me you can go to my twitter page http://twitter.com/K_Rock2525. I will be updating mostly at breaks or after the tournament for each day. You might have to copy and paste that as I'm not sure how to turn it into a clickable link. I'll probably update in about a week. Talk at ya later.

Been awhile.....

2009-05-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's been around a month since my last update. I haven't really done a whole lot either other then hanging out and playing some golf. I went to the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and made a little money gambling it up on the ponies. I did some betting on Saturday for the Derby and lost some of it back. I bet a 5 horse tri and had the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place finishers but didn't have Mine That Bird at 50-1. It was a pretty good time down there on Friday and even had some fun watching the Derby on TV Saturday. I've only had one online session since my last update and didn't have any luck. I plan on playing this Wednesday night though since Full Tilt is hosting FTOPS(Full Tilt Online Poker Series). I'll probably play about 4-5 sessions starting this Wednesday through the next Sunday and hopefully be posting some good results. After that I'd say I'll take it easy until I hit Vegas for the summer. We're going to be driving out on either the 30th or the 31st. I plan on hitting it pretty hard this summer out there. I'm trying to get a list of events together that I want to play. I've been talking to Matt about maybe playing the Main Event at the WSOP this year so hopefully that happens. I also created an account on twitter today, if you want to get updates on how I'm doing during the summer you can follow me on this link www.twitter.com/k_rock2525. I won't do much posting until the summer I'd say. My sister is having a baby girl in June and they picked the name Mallory Paige Cockerham. I'm going to miss the birth along with my nephew's 4th birthday since I'll be in Vegas. That about sums it up, take it easy!

Online Grind

2009-04-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

I've played three sessions or so since the last update with no good results. Mostly just played the scoop events on Stars. I've had some big stacks but couldn't put them to good use. Tomorrow is the 162 and 16 buyin heads up tournaments that I'll be participating in. Today in the 320 scoop event, I built up to around 24k early from the 10k starting stack but got rivered in a big pot to drop me down to around 18k when this hand came up. Blinds were at 125-250 with ante when I pick up A4dd in the cutoff and opened to 615, the sb called(who had rivered me in the big pot earlier and had been aggresive). The flop rolls out A84 with 2 clubs. The sb led out 750 and I made it 2555 to go and he called. The turn card was the T no club. He checked to me and I made it 3600 or so, he shoved and I called and flipped up the AT. River was a brick, good game me.

I plan on putting in a few sessions this week mostly just playing scoop events when I play. On Thursday I'm supposed to go the Reds/Mets game which should be alot of fun. Other then that my week is wide open. That's about it, take it easy.

Two Wins in One Night

2009-04-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

Last night I did something that I had never accomplished in poker. I took down two tournaments on Pokerstars winning the $11 6 max for $2200 and winning the 50 cubed for $5k. Last night was turbo night on Stars, it was the only reason that I played. I also final tabled the $22 5 card draw turbo but it was only for $120 or so, only had 66 players. Last night was also the first time I've played since my last update. Just been taking it easy mostly. Mattster also had a good night making around 10-11k on the day. So things are starting to look up for team mattster maybe? Tomorrow is the first day of the scoop events held on Pokerstars. I plan on putting in a session tomorrow afternoon. I'm still debating on whether or not to play in the Kentuckiana Heads-up Championships at the Horseshoe in New Albany this weekend. If I play, I'll miss the scoop events on Friday and miss a benefit auction for the local golf course on Saturday if I make it to day 2. Well see how things pan out from now until then. Take it easy, later

Some Online Poker

2009-03-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

I've played a little bit this week with no good results. I did get second in the 8.80 PLO hyper turbo on stars for around 500, but other than that it was brick city. I didn't feel like I played my best and throw in not running good and its a bad mix. I plan on watching the college basketball tournament all weekend again. SCOOP series starts next week on Poker Stars so I'd say I'll be playing quite a bit when that happens. Congrats to Joby and Crawford for both taking down the fiddy turbo on Full Tilt within the last two weeks for around 5k each. That is about all thats going on, take it easy.

Hanging Out

2009-03-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've just been taking it easy since I got back from the Midwestern Circuit last week. I played one day last week which was Wednesday night. I built up a few stacks but couldn't get anything going in the late stages. Other than that I've been hanging out and watching lots of Law and Order. I just simply can't get enough of that show. I don't see any poker for me this week at all. I'm geared up for this Thursday through Sunday to watch all the games this weekend. I'll be hanging out over at mattster's house all weekend I'd say. I plan on playing alot of golf the next few days. Also, hoping to get back on the exercise trail. I'm still losing weight and down 46 pounds now. I'm going to hit my goal pretty easily of losing 50 pounds before June. I'm going to set a new goal of losing 75 lbs before June. When I started I wanted to lose around 100 lbs total, like I said I really let myself go downhill after I quit the physical labor. That is about all that is going on, I'll talk at ya later.

What a short Main Event it was for me

2009-03-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

I played in the $2600 Main Event yesterday with high expectations. It lasted a little under two hours where I found myself in what I thought was a sick spot versus a very good online player. I ended up getting JTss allin vs 77 on K976 with 2 spades. The way the hand played out I could of gotten out preflop, on the flop, or even on the turn but I decided to play it fast and it backfired. I was around a 30/70 dog on this hand. Looking back on how how I played it I should of checked the turn to him to maybe get a free card or check folded. With how soft the field is and how deep in chips I would of been in I should of given up and cut my losses on this hand. Oh well, It was a great circuit for me and exceeded my goals. I'm not sure when I'm going to play online again, could be tomorrow night. The NCAA basketball tournament is almost here and that will take up alot of my time since it's my favorite sports tournament. That's about it, hopefully it starts to warm up so I can get some golf in. Take it easy

Update from Midwestern

2009-03-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

I got really sick on Wednesday night and ended up skipping the 340 on Thursday. I went back home to see a doctor to get some medication so I wouldn't get worse before the Main Event on Sunday. I played the 550 NL yesterday and turned my 6k into 14k before the first break. After the break, I got moved when I played a massive pot with 98ss vs AKo on a KsTx7s board. I whiffed and was down to 2k. I ended up losing JJ vs AK to the same guy all in preflop to bust.

I played online the previous two nights and broke around even. I went deep in three tournies but couldn't win the key hand deep. Looking back on all of my trips it seems like if I run hot live, I run cold online. Oh well, this trip has exceeded my goals already and can't complain one bit with the results. I would of never thought I would of won back to back tournaments here, let alone on back to back days. Tomorrow is the $2600 Main Event, hope to keep running hot and end this circuit with a big bang. I just plan on relaxing and getting some rest today. That about sums it up, Take it easy.

Back to Back

2009-03-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

I shipped the $230 rebuy event yesterday here at the Midwestern Poker Regionals. There was 167 entrants in this event. We chopped heads up, 13.1k each but I got the seat also which is $2600 so ended up making around 15.7k. I also got another trophy. I had a huge stack the entire tournament just getting my money in good in massive pots. I lost AJ vs A5 with around 15 left for a ton of chips but still was chipleader or in second. I didn't get involved much from there besides busting a shortstack with K2 vs his AQ. At the final table, I busted Joby out 6th when my KJ held vs his 98. We got down to 3 handed and I was 2/3 and turned it up a notch to build my stack. I busted the guy in 3rd with my KT all in vs his KK, 998QJ is how the board ran out. Pretty sick for him. If I lost I would of been 3/3 and not looking so great. Feels good to finally run good deep in some major tournaments. Congrats to Joby for getting 6th for $3900.

I played the $230 1/2 pineapple 1/2 holdem today and ran KK into AA for a monster stack in the pineapple portion. Tomorrow is the $340 and Friday is the $550, those are my last two events before the Main Event on Sunday. Saturday is an off day so probably try to get some rest that day. I think I might put in some hours online tonight but who knows. Thats it, take it easy.

Ship the Midwestern 230 6 max to the K-ROCK

2009-03-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

I shipped the 230 6 max today here at the Midwestern Poker Regionals for 12.8k plus a 2600 main event seat. I absolutley destroyed the bubble to go from 26k at 1k-2k to 85k before we actually hit the money. From there it was just totally basic, getting in good and holding. We got to the final table and I had 400k and there was a total of 880k in play. This kid busts the other four players and I find myself headsup as a slight dog. I just basically totally owned him in postflop play and ended up getting AJ in vs KQ, the board ran out AJxKx for the victory. I got a sweet trophy to go along with money and the main event seat. This was a big swing and ended my downswing. I finally got my confidence back.

I also played the 340 turbo on Sunday, and busted early losing 56cc on a Tc8c5x board vs QQ for a huge stack. I want to congratulate Joby for chopping 3 ways for 5300 he ended up getting second missing out on the trophy and the main event seat. Online, I got got sixth in the 33 2rebuy 1 addon on Pokerstars, losing AK vs 87 vs Wretchy(who is ranked 24th on pocketfives) for the chiplead. That tourney was 5k to win.

Tomorrow is the 230 rebuy, which I'll be playing for the minimum. I'm hoping to go back to back but that would be pretty wild. The funny thing about the 230 6 max today was I tried unregistering because I was an alternate and wouldnt get in for an hour. Luckily I didnt, Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Talk to ya later

Midwestern Poker Regional Event #2

2009-02-28T21:59:00.000-08:00

Today was a 500+50 buyin with a starting stack of 6k and 40 minute levels. I busted out fairly early today after building a huge stack before first break. Got up to 19.5k at first break and ended up busting at 150-300 with 25 ante. I got in with JT vs 77 on J72 for 38k. Quite questionable at the least. I just got done railing Crawford as he took 9th for $2100. Last night online I had several deep runs. I got one good score taking 6th in the Tilt 163 for $3600. I lost AT vs K8 with 8 left for the chiplead instead of getting me crippled. I won AQ vs AJ to get back up to a decent stack but than got A8 in vs KK against the chipleader. I took 10th in the 33 rebuy on Tilt and the 33 2 rebuy 1 addon at Stars. Both were for small cashes though.

Tomorrow is the 300+40 turbo at 3pm. Starting stack will be 5k chips with 20 minute levels so the play will be fast. I plan on playing online after I bust or ship it. I just started up the 109 1am turbo on Stars and the Tilt Turbo Fiddy. These are the only tournaments I've played today. Took it easy today after two 14 hour days and plan to hit it hard the next few days. That about sums it up, Take it easy

Midwestern Poker Regional Event #1

2009-02-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Today was a 300+40 buyin and I didn't last too long. I got KK cracked by 75 within the first 15 minutes to knock me down to 3k from the 5k starting stack. I then picked up T8cc and whiffed the flop of 764 with 2 clubs to knock me down to around 1200. I ended up shoving A9s at 50-100 and running into JJ. Played around 13.5 hours yesterday online lost around $400. I final tabled the 9.90 turbo only the final table paid on Stars which had 652 players. Third place was good for $880, I lost 66 vs A8 all in preflop which would of been a huge chiplead. In the 50re on tilt I lost AQ vs AJ all in preflop in the money for a double average stack. The plan for the rest of the day is to grind online. Tomorrow is the 500+50 NLHE. Hope to run good one time. Take it easy later.

Getting ready for Midwestern Poker Regionals

2009-02-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't played much the past few days. Just trying to get organized for the trip, leaving tommorow afternoon and plan on playing some online MTT's during the day. Friday is the first event and its 340 NLHE. I'm hoping to give updates after every live tourney but it could be tough. My plan for each day is to play a live event, when I bust or win it come back to the room and grind online. So most likely I'll be putting in 12-15 hour days for around 10 days straight. I usually do really well playing online on these trips so hopefully I can turn it around and get rid of this makeup and downswing. That about sums it up, Take it easy. Later

Still grinding it out

2009-02-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

Just been hard at it playing alot of SNG's. I've played over 800 since last Monday and I took Saturday and most of Sunday off. I'm starting to show good results. I made around $950 today playing 141 SNG's ranging from 12/180s to 27/45's to 36/180's. Mostly sticking to the 12/180s where I won one and had 3 2nd place finishes today. Been nice to close at least one of those 3 2nd place finishes out. I plan on playing tommorow night for around 6-8 hours. I might not be playing on Thursday, I have some personal stuff to do that day. I could end up playing a night session though, just depends on how stuff goes. The schedule for online for the next 8 days or so is just keep grinding the SNGs and cut some of my makeup out slowly. Than it's off to Midwestern for 10 days or so where I'll be playing live and maybe back to some MTT's online. Who knows, just going to take it day by day but I'm really enjoying playing poker again. I don't know where all the motivation came from but I hope it stays here. That about sums it up, Take it easy.

Grinding

2009-02-12T01:54:00.000-08:00

I've been grinding SNGS on pokerstars pretty hard the last 3 days. I played over 300 SNGS total and up to 15 at a time. The expierment hasn't worked out to great to start but had a turn around late tonight. I've been playing anything from the 12/180's to 36/180s. I'm actually on my second biggest downswing of all time. I've actually backed down limits to hope to cut into it without it getting worse. I've put in over 30 hours already this week and plan to put in 30 more. My goal is to get back to even before the Midwestern Regional Poker Championships which starts up Feb. 27th. It's a very makeable goal and as long as I stay focused and motivated I will make it happen. Nothing comes easy in the poker world, if you want to become great it takes hours upon hours of playing and studying. I feel like I'm on top of my game and results will show sooner or later. Let's just hope it's sooner then later.

I've been on a diet since January 1st, you know the same resolution of millions of people to get in shape every year. I'm happy to say I've lost 29 lbs. The energy I have here as of late is just awesome. I'm only sleeping 5-7 hours a day instead of the 9-12. I feel upbeat all day and night. I've been doing some lifting here and there and really want to get in a routine of doing it more often and on a set schedule. My goal January 1st was to lose 50 lbs before WSOP this summer and I should fly by that as long as I keep my mind on it. I've always battled with my weight, when I gave up physical labor to pursue poker I really let myself go to hell in a hurry. I didn't excercise or eat healthy at all. I think the biggest help of this diet has been the water I've been drinking instead of the pop. I haven't given up diet pop quite yet, I need that caffeine! Well thats about all thats going on with me, I hope to report some positive results my next blog. Take it easy!

Back to the grind...

2009-02-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

I played the last 3 days online and should of just not played at all, haha. I grinded for about 35 hours in the 3 days and got crushed. I had 3 10th-18ths in tournies that were 11k+ to win. Last night in the 109 2x at 11pm on pokerstars was comical. With 17 left, I lose AK vs AT vs A2 allin preflop for a huge chiplead. I double back up where I was at with KK holding vs QJ. Than I can't hold QQ vs 88 to bust me out. I ran about as bad the last three days than I think I have ever in a 3 day stretch. Oh well, I really enjoyed playing those 3 days and I see me putting in alot of volume in the near future. I think next week I'm going to grind some SNG MTT's on pokerstars and see what happens. I won't have the chance to get the big score, but maybe I'll just grind out some decent money doing it, without a huge downwing. I played around 10k worth of tournament buyins in the past 3 days. The Midwestern Poker Regionals are right around the corner and I'm anxious to get some live play in. That about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

Some Online Poker

2009-01-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

I played a few days last week and made a little bit of money but could of been alot more. I had 3 final tables, 2 of them in the turbo fiddy on Full Tilt. I got 2nd one night for 3k, that was my biggest score of the 2 days I played. In my last blog, I stated how I wanted to start playing alot more and I had alot of motivation. Well I've had some personal problems within the last week and I need to take some time off. I don't know how much yet, but I don't think I'll be able to put all my mind into it. If I'm not there mentally it isn't a good idea to play. I'll make sure and give ya some updates in my next online session, but not quite sure when that will be. Take care, later

Been Awhile....

2009-01-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

I'm still alive and kicking. I've been playing alot online here within the last few weeks with no good results, but not bad either. I didn't play much at all after the Mid American Poker Classic in early December. Took some time off, hung out with friends and family. I plan on putting in alot of volume over the next 4-6 weeks online. I'm hoping me and mattster can get together 2-3 days a week and play. It's so much better playing with someone instead of being in your room by yourself for up 15 hours a day grinding, especially when running bad. The next live stop for me is the Midwestern Poker Regional Championship at the Horseshoe in New Albany, IN. I believe the dates are Feb 26th through March 8th. I think I'll be playing everyday so hopefully can get a live win.

On a side note, we got our house paid for the month of June for WSOP. Here is the link, I don't know how to make it where you can just click on it but here it is: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p128510. So you'll have to copy and paste it. There will be 6 of us staying there for the whole month. It should be alot of fun. Well thats about it, I'll try getting this updated as much as I can. Later

Update from Mid American

2008-12-12T18:01:00.000-08:00

I skipped out on playing both the 500+50 and the 2k main event because of the prizepools being so bad. The 550 on Thursday only ended up with 91 players I believe so I decided to play online and it paid off. I took 2nd in the 50 freezout on Stars at 5:30 for $6800 and took 3rd in the 50 cubed on stars at 5:15 for 3k. I let the 50 freezeout slip away from me after having a dominating chiplead heads up versus a super weak opponent. He hit alot of flops and I didn't. In the 50 cubed on stars I got QJ all in vs A2 on AK2T board for around 70 percent of the chips in play 3 handed but a 2 hit the river. I also got 11th in the 20k on Tilt that was 6k to win and I was sitting 2/11 at one point. I had bubbles in the Stars 7pm 109 and Tilt 7pm 75. Oh well, still a pretty solid day and I can't complain. I'm thinking of grinding this Sunday which is rare for me but who knows. I want to give a shout out to Joby for getting 5th in the 300+40 on Wednesday for 2k, Mattster got 9th in the event for around 900 or so. I got rocked by Kurt(Te amo luna) in omaha flips in the hotel room in which I lost 10 out of 10 hands versus him. It was pretty disgusting as I was drawing dead 3 times to the turn out of the 10 hands. The next time I play online, I'll give ya update. Take it easy, Later

Mid American Poker Classic Events #3 and #4

2008-12-10T16:10:00.000-08:00

Event #3 was yesterday as it was a 200+30 buyin. I ended up making a deep run and finishing 18th which paid $377. I lost a big flip on the bubble to get me short. Today was the 300+40 buyin and I built up a decent stack before losing AK to 44 and 22 to A8 to end my day. Tommorow is the 500+50 and I'm thinking of skipping it and playing online as the prizepools here have been very week. I will definately be playing the 2k buyin on Friday. I hate to make it short like this, but I've got to get some other stuff done.

Mid American Poker Classic Events #1 and #2

2008-12-07T08:53:00.001-08:00

I've been pretty busy the last couple of days and haven't had time to update on these events. Event #1 was a 300+40 buyin and started with 7k chips and 40 minute levels. I was complete card dead in the first 2 hours and only managed to drag 1 pot but it was a big one. I picked up 33 utg and opened to 300 at 50-100 with around a 5500 starting stack. UTG+2 3 bets to 700 and another player calls so I decide to peel. The flop rolls out T93, I get it in verse both players and they have JJ and AK to get me up over 15k. I ended up with around 14.5k going into first break with the blinds going to 100-200 with 25 ante. A few hands after break I get JJ in vs AK for 14k and I couldn't hold and that dropped me down around 7k. Not alot happened until the 200-400 level with me have around 7k still and me calling a 4500 shove with AJ, the shover had KJ. K hit the river and I was down to around 3k soon busting after with me shoving J3 running into AA. Congrats to Steve Crawford in this event, for finishing 5th for 3k.

Event #2 was 500+50 buyin with a 10k starting stack and 50 minute levels. I lost a big pot early when I turned a flush with J9hh only to have my opponent to fill up with T6o on the river. I fought a shortstack entire first 2 hours and had 3k going into first break. I doubled up right after first break with a suckout of AJ vs AQ all in preflop to get me back to 6k or so. Than I flatted a raise out of the BB at 75-150 with 53hh after a raise and 2 calls. The flop rolls out 643 with 2 spades. I end up getting in vs KTss and got there on the turn to bust me out.

I'm not sure If I'm going to play the 200+25 down there or not since the fields are so small. If I don't I still have 3 more tournies down there with another 300+40, 500+50 and the 2k main. The next event I'm for sure playing is Wednesday which is the 300+40 and I'll try to have an update after that event. On the online front I played one day last week and had 2 final tables but very disappointing. I got 4th Tilt 50 single rebuy and the Tilt 50 rebuy for around $2200 each. That sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

A break from Poker

2008-12-01T13:42:00.001-08:00

I haven't played in over a week and have just been hanging out with family and friends. I watched IU in the Maui go 1-2 with a tough game vs Chaminade. I played ps3 a couple of nights with friends and played a classic game on NBA2k9 that went into 4 overtimes. I watched alot of football this past weekend also and Florida looks amazing. I'm actually glad Notre Dame's season is over, not sure if they will get to a bowl game or not at 6-6. They really don't deserve one. There is some serious talks Charlie won't be back next year and I think they should bring him back for at least one more year. When your starters on offense are mostly freshman/sophmores you can't expect them to be great. They have made a tremendous improvement from last year to this year. At 6-6, they blew 3 games they had in there in grasp, I think its a mix of youth and coaching to blame. They did the same thing with Ty Willingham fired him after Quinn's sophmore year, come on now give someone a chance before you up and quit on them. I don't know if Weiss is the coach of the future but let's give him a fair opportunity before letting him go.

Onto the poker front, I plan on playing tonight and taking off tommorow night due to the IU/Wake Forest game and the Duke/Purdue game. I hope I can get a session in tonight. I'll keep ya updated, I'll hopefully have an update after every tourney at Mid-American which begins on Friday. Talk at ya later.

Quick Update

2008-11-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

I have played a couple of sessions since my last update but nothing good has come out of either. I have been spending time with Angie and some friends for the most part and trying to enjoy life. I probably won't play again until the beginning of next week at the earliest, since Thanksgiving is next week I doubt I play awhole lot. The Mid-American Poker Classic is right around the corner and I am looking forward to get on live front again. That about sums it up, talk to you later.

Oh yeah quick note, Congrats to Mattster24 for winning the 320 Stars last Wednesaday night, he chopped it heads up for 47k but went on to win after chopping. Much deserved as he has been playing really good as of late.

Some Online play from this week.

2008-11-07T13:19:00.001-08:00

I put in some hours Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. On Saturday morning me and mattster24 decided to grind at 5 in the morning until college football kicked off. I final tabled the 5.50 rebuy on stars and finished 3rd for $1178.00. On Sunday night, I won the 50 single rebuy single addon on Pokerstars at 12:15am for around $2800 which I didn't play much on Sunday at all. On Monday night, I had a couple of deep runs, getting 11th in the 11rebuy on stars for around $700 and went deep in the 33 at 11pm and also got 6th in the 50 single rebuy single addon on Pokerstars. On Wednesday night I only played 2 tournaments the 320 on Stars and FTOPS Event #1 on Tilt. I bricked the 320 in the 2nd hour but made a deep run in FTOPS. I ended up building up a huge stack early on and was sitting really good at 92k at 800-1600 in the money. I than proceeded to run AQ into AK for 100k stack. That dropped me pretty low, but built back up to 75k without a showdown. I than ran AK into AA to a 40k stack at 1700-3400 to knock me back down to 35k. I ended up flatting a minraise with T9o from the BB and the flop rolling out T42 with 2 spades and got all in vs AQss and got it to hold somehow. That got me back up to around 75k or so. I than got another double with AQ vs 99 all in preflop to get me up to around 135k. At the 3k-6k level, I ended up running QQ into KK for around a 260k stack or so which would of been top 25, instead I was out at 144th. Paid around 500 profit or so, but I won a 20 person last longer at a $100 a person on pocketfives to profit $1900 from that. The next time I play with probably be Sunday night. Things are going really good for me right now in poker.

On the live front, The Mid-American Poker Classic is rolling around to the Horseshoe in New Albany, it will be here I think December 3rd-12th. I plan on playing every NLHE event down there. Also, I would like to break my non-cash streak in live, if I do that I like my chances. Seeing how I've cashed 3 live events this year and all 3 have led to final tables. Well that is about it, I'll talk at ya later.

Some online poker

2008-10-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

I didn't expect to play til Sunday at the earliest as I stated in my last blog. I played a few times in between and had a couple of 5k scores. I took 2nd in the Stars 109 turbo last Wednesday night for $5500. I also took 3rd in the 7pm 109 Stars Saturday night for around $5200. I played 6 tournies on Sunday and only cashed one, which was the Tilt 750k and it wasn't for much losing a flip. I sattied into 3 of the other majors so wasn't in for much. I played tonight and built up some stacks but ran into some bad luck. I lost AA vs QQ allin preflop for 50k at 250-500 to a ranked p5's player, which I simply can't beat no matter how good I get in vs them. I also lost AA vs KJ on J63 rainbow in a 24 buyin on Tilt in the money for 80k at 800-1600. I really don't know when I'll play again as I'm wanting to take some time off and relax. Poker is really stressing me out as of late, I shouldn't get tore up over getting 2 and 3 outed as I should be used to it by now. I'm also on one of my biggest heaters in my poker career so I should be wanting to play. The Horseshoe in New Albany is having a circuit down there next week called the Golden Boy. I might slide down there and play an event, but there taking 20 percent out for charity. Yikes!!!!!!! I don't know I'll play it day by day and see where it takes me. I'm going to try to live each day to the fullest rather than looking in the future. If I wake up and want to play poker, I'll play, if I wake up and just feel like watching Tv, I'll watch Tv, if I feel like going and hanging out with my friends or Angie, I'll do that.

On a side note, I found out last Monday that my sister is pregnant. This will be her second child,she has a 3 year old boy named Skyler. I really enjoy spending time with him when I get the chance. That is all that I have to say. I don't know when I'll update again, depends when I play I suppose. See ya.

Biggest online score ever

2008-10-22T00:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a super long time since I've posted so I need to update. Last week I played a couple of nights had a bunch of deep runs but the only significant one was me getting 4th in the 129 Bounty on Full Tilt for 3k. I lost 99 vs T4 for 40BB+ pot with 4 left in that. It was 8k to win. I played this past Saturday night last minute, and it paid off with my biggest score ever online in the Stars 162 for 19k. It was a great feeling and I ran pretty well throughout the whole tourney. I've played around 25 hours total the last few days and have had some deep runs but nothing special. Monday was absolutely brutal as I only cashed 2 of 30 tournaments on the day but today there was some progress. I'm taking off until at least Sunday, as I got some stuff going on the rest of the week. We'll I'll talk at ya later, Goodnight!

WSOP Indiana and Online

2008-10-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

I bricked both the 550 and 1060 on Thursday and Friday to have 0 cashes at the circuit. So disappointing to know how soft those fields were and not come away with anything. I plan on playing a bunch online the next month or so. I had 3 final tables last Wednesday night but got 8th, 9th, and 9th. I wasn't too happy about it but made around 2k on the night. I plan on playing tomorrow night and all day Wednesday so I'll probably have an update sometime this week on those sessions. That about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

WSOP Indiana

2008-10-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting on this subject sooner than what I have. I've just been really busy with alot of different things. My first event was last Thursday with the 300+40. I built up a pretty good stack to around 40k at 300-600 when I lost JJ vs QJ allin preflop for a 20k pot to knock me down to 30k. I just basically blinded down to around 18k when the blinds hit 600-1200 with a 200 ante. The button opened to 3100, who was an older aggresive player, I shipped in with Q7o and he obviously had QQ. The next event was on Friday a 500+50 event, in which I built an enormous stack and getting in very good about every time. I had around 120k at 1500-3k with around 48 players left and 36 paying. I had been very aggresive to this point trying to punish the bubble. I pick up KK in early position and make it 8100 to go and chipleader shoves over the top who had around 250k or so, I snap off and he obviously has AA to end my day. Sickest part of the hand is he is the only guy at the table who has me covered and I was probably top 5 or so at that point. I played the 1000+60 on Saturday in which I donked down hard and got all in with gutter vs set. I played the 300+40 on Monday which was a turbo event and busted after an hour and half or so with KQ vs AJ allin preflop. Tuesday was the 500+50 PLO event which I skipped. Today was the 300+40 event and I busted in the first hour. My AK was no good vs 77 on K7655 board and than I busted with KJdd on J979 board with 2 diamonds in which I was commited after the flop, I obviously got slowrolled by 77. I wasn't too happy and I let the guy know about it. Tomorrow is the 500+50 and Friday is the 1000+60 which I'll be playing both and hopefully winning one. I hope to play in the 5k Main on Sunday but it will take a win or satellite for me to play. I'm going to try to give you updates after each of these next two events. I plan on playing online tonight, I'll talk at ya later.

WSOP Indiana

2008-10-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

Wsop Indiana is here I justed busted first event right after dinner break. I got the 500+50 tommorow and 1000+60 on Saturday, I'll have all the updates from the tournaments on Sunday.

Poker and Football

2008-09-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't played much poker at all since my last update. I have played one MTT session and it was last Tuesday night. I didn't get anything going really except for getting a big stack in the 22 rebuy on Stars. We got down to 25 players and I lost QQ vs KQ allin preflop, AJ vs AT all in preflop, and than I ran KK into AA to bust out 17th or 18th. I've been playing sit n go's here and there and doing pretty decent. I'd say I'll continue to play more sit n go's then MTT's within the next few weeks or so. I have the World Series of Poker Circuit in Indiana coming up October 2nd so I'm trying to prepare for that. Once again I've set lofty goals for it. I always like to set my expectations high for myself as I know I can attain my goals as long as I stay focused and run average. Thats about all I have to say about the poker front.

How bout dem Irish? They are 2-0 now after taking down Michigan on Saturday. They have a tough test this Saturday on the road vs Michigan St. The Irish are getting 9 points this Saturday. I think this is way too many points. I'm trying to be unbiased in my thought process on this one and I just don't see how Michigan St. could be favored by 9 here. After posting this, I'm sure Notre Dame will get crushed, ha. Golden Tate has been a stud so far this year, he is just a sophmore who was impressive at the end of last year. I really feel in 2 years, which is Claussens senior year, they will be contending for the National Championship. They have so much young talent and I think they'll put the pieces together by than. Also, USC dominated Ohio St. in a big win this weekend. If I'm Pete Carroll I'm not sure if I could look myself in the mirror in the morning. Funny how one of his players gets arrested with a felony the weekend before but recieves no punishment. Well played there Petey boy. I hope karma catches up to you in the worst way. Your program is so dirty I can smell it here in Indiana. I'm just waiting for you to choke sometime in this season because it will happen. How you blew that national championship vs Texas I'll never know. I loved every second of it. Well I guess I need to simmer down for a moment as that is all I got to say on that subject. I'm going to play golf at French Lick next Monday with a bunch of other guys. This could be the last time I play this year. That is all I got, I'll talk at ya later.

Sunday Sunday

2008-09-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

I decided to play Sunday and play all the majors and 530 WCOOP(World Championship of Online Poker). I wish I wouldn't of played after dropping around $1800 on the day. I went semi deep in the Tilt Mulligan but lost a big flip with around 180 left. I only played around 8 tournaments on the day as I was trying to keep a close eye on football. I was pretty disappointed in the Colts performance. I took yesterday off as I had planned to play all day but didn't get much sleep from the night before so I took it off and watched Monday Night Football. I am going to play tonight though and hope I can get a good score. I doubt I play the rest of the week though as I'm going to go watch Journey tomorrow night and than I have golf league on Thursday. I'm most likely not going to play any all weekend as I plan to watch football non stop. I'm pretty excited about the Notre Dame/Michigan game and USC/Ohio St game. I'll have an update from tonight's session either tonight or tomorrow. I'll talk at ya later.

Online from last night

2008-09-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

I decided to play last night and it went pretty awful until the 27.50 turbo on Stars. I ended up getting 4th for $1265 and ran awful in that late. That was my only cash of the night and I profited around $450. I probably won't play again until Sunday. I plan on going over to mattster's house and watching NFL on his 5 TV setup and playing all day. My birthday is tommorow, I'm going to be turning 25. When I was in high school and you told me I would be playing poker for a living when I was 25 I would of probably told you were the dumbest person on Earth. There is 4 or 5 of us going out tommorow to celebrate and it should be a good time. I have a few shoutouts I'd like to make today before I log off. First, Congrats to Mattster for getting engaged to Lindsay Clem. Also, Congrats to Stephen "gtfobish" Crawford for getting his biggest online score ever of $2500 in the Daily Double A last night on Full Tilt. The kid has been crushing here lately. Well that about sums it up, I'll probably post on Monday at the latest.

Denny Crum Main Event and Online Win

2008-09-01T04:12:00.000-07:00

I decided to play in the Denny Crum Main Event yesterday and wish I hadn't of now. It was a 1900+86 buyin and it only got 54 players with it being 32k to win. I chipped up a bit early and ended up playing a hand bad and getting in with 97 on 862 flop vs KK and couldn't get there and it knocked me down to around 4k at 100-200. I limped 75dd from the sb after a limper. The flop came JT3 with 2 diamonds. I check called a bet of 400. The turn was a J and it went check check. River brought the 6 diamonds and I shoved and guy snapped with J8dd to have me outflushed. That bout sums up that circuit. I had no intentions of playing today and got the idea from Angie. I'm glad she talked me into playing as I won the 70k on pokerstars for 14.1k. That is my biggest online score of the year. I ran insanely good deep in this winning 3 flips at the final table. Also, I think this is the first tournament I've never been 2 or 3 outed in that I had won. I won a 3 way allin on the last hand when I had a 3-1 chiplead going into this hand. I picked up JJ on the button and the sb shipped and the bb called who had equal stacks and I snapped. They had 88 and AQ, the flop brought a J to basically leave them dead and another J on the river to win in style. This was a big win for me and finally got another 5 figure score. I plan on playing either later tonight or Tuesday night. I'll talk ya later.

Updates from last 2 tournaments at Denny Crum Poker Open

2008-08-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

I just got back home from busting the 500+50 buyin today. I built my 5k stack up to 9500 when I got J9ss in vs J7 on a J97 flop. Soon after we took a break, and right after break I raise ATcc at 100-200 to 550 and the sb called. The flop rolls out TT7. He check calls my 700 bet and the turn was a 6. He checked to me and I checked behind hoping he would lead into me on the river. The river was a 2. He checked I bet 1625 and he checkraised me all in for another 1675 and I thought for a bit, but the guy had already raised twice on the river and was called both times as he was bluffing. I called and he flipped up 66 for the turned set. That knocked me down to around 4200 in chips. Then I open A2hh in late position and the same player called, and the BB shipped in his 8 BB. I shoved over the top to isolate and the other player snapped. The shortstack had 55 and the caller had AQ. The flop came A52 which I was going to gain chips on the hand even thought the shortstack flopped a set until the Q rivered and knocked me out. I played in the 300+40 on Wednesday and never got awhole lot going in that either as I lost back to back flips to cripple me and I busted out of that fairly early. I'm not sure if I'm going back to down to play the 2k main event on Saturday or not yet. If I do I'll keep ya updated. I'm going to try to play alot of online next week. I got to get going though, as I have golf league soon. I'll talk at ya later.

Quick Update from Denny Crum

2008-08-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'm having problems with my internet connection here at the Horseshoe in New Albany. This will have to be a quick update. Played the 200+30 today and busted out on the 3rd hand when I get 98hh in vs KK on KT26 with 3 hearts. I couldn't get the flush to hold vs the set when he rivered another K. I just hung out most of the day, and since I was having problems with my laptop I couldn't play online tonight as planned, instead I procede to drop 1k in the 2-5NL game here. Whats funny though is I wouldn't of played in 1k worth of buyins tonight, so my internet connection screws me over. Also, who knows what would of happened online tonight. Well I gotta get, I hope the running bad ends tommorow. I'm not sure if I'll update til I get home Thursday night. I have a 300+40 tommorow and a 500+50 on Thursday. Talk at ya later.

Last minute decision pays off and Mattster24 dominating

2008-08-18T14:41:00.001-07:00

I decided to play the 109 turbo at 2:40 on Stars and the 109 turbo at 3 on Tilt late last night as I was bored and railing a couple of friends deep in FTOPS Main Event. I busted out of the Stars within the first hour but caught some good luck in the one at Tilt. I won KQ vs AQ all in preflop early on to get the double up. A couple hands later I 3 bet an aggresive player with J7ss and he mucked. Very next hand he raised I shoved in my 6k at 150-300 on the button with AJ he snap called me with A6 and I got it to hold for a top 5 stack. I kept building my stack up and soon after we were in the money. I won a couple of 60/40's to maintain my stack. Going into the final table I was 7 of 9. The players went flying out and I won A9 vs K7 and JJ vs K3 to bust 2 players. We got down to 3 handed and I ran A6 into AK. 3rd place was good enough for $3500.00. The big news from yesterday though was Mattster getting 4th in the Stars Sunday Warm-Up for 40k. He lost AK vs KQ 4 handed for what would of been a huge chiplead 3 handed. Instead he was the short stack 4 handed and he ended up busting out soon after. Congrats to him though for the big score and hopefully this is a sign to come of a big rush heading into some live events here within the next month or two.

I'm leaving for Gatlinberg, TN on Thursday morning and will be down there vacationing until Monday. I have a full slate of live tournies for that whole week when I get back. The tournament series is the Denny Crum Poker Classic at the Horseshoe in New Albany. I'll be playing a 200+30 buyin on Tuesday, a 300+40 buyin on Wednesday, a 500+50 buyin on Thursday, and the 1900+86 Main Event on Saturday. I'll be staying down there a couple of nights next week and plan on playing online if I bust early but who knows. I'll be keeping my blog updated nightly while I'm down there giving you the tournament summary. I'm really looking forward to playing down there next week. I've always thought I was a better live player than online and hopefully I can run average and play some good poker and well see what happens. I have a $600 fantasy draft coming up Wednesday night in which I'm partners with Mattster. I doubt I have any more updates until I get back from Gatlinberg and down at the Horseshoe playing live. I'll talk at ya later.

So many big stacks....

2008-08-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

I built up some huge stacks in alot of tournaments last night but caught no luck deep in them. I played the 24+2 buyin at 10pm at tilt. It was over 7k to win last night. I had a huge stack entire tourney and with 17 left I lose KK vs TT allin preflop for the chiplead. In the Tilt 50 single I ran TT into KK with 19 left but couldn't get the suckout there. In the Stars 11 rebuy I lose AK vs 77 for a huge stack with around 70 left. I final tabled the Tilt Fiddy Turbo and got 6th when I ran A9 into JJ in a blind battle. That paid close to $1200. I had a couple of other small cashes on the day but nothing big. I ended up profiting around $500. Such a sick day though for the stacks I had and couldn't get the big score. Well I'm running behind and gotta hop in the shower before I go golfing. I'll talk at ya later.

FTOPS and SNG's

2008-08-13T14:02:00.001-07:00

I played FTOPS 200 turbo last night and some SNGS. In the FTOPS turbo, I doubled early on with AQ vs AT to get a decent stack. I 3 bet a couple of times and had around 5500 at 120-240. I pick up KK in late position only to run into AA and AK for a top 10 stack, but I couldn't hit my 1 outer. I played in some SNGS on stars and ended up winning a couple hundred after getting 2nd in a 60/45 man. I ended up breaking even on the night which isn't so bad. I'm going to play some tournaments tonight probably start at either 9:30 or 10:30. I'll talk at ya later.

Some online play from last night

2008-08-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Last night was the first night I've played since the last update. Things started out pretty ugly from the get go as I got AA cracked twice in the 162 on stars but somehow still cashed. One of them was on the bubble where I flatted AA preflop vs a big stack and got a shortstack to squeeze and got all in 3 ways vs AK and 84o. I couldn't hold vs the 84o. It was probably the worst squeeze play I've ever seen as the guy shoved in his 11 BB which he has 0 fold equity. That pot was for a top 15 stack with around 160 left, I broke even on the hand though as AK had twice as many chips as him. I built up some huge stacks in the tilt 50 single rebuy single addon but went card dead and add a cooler and was busto short of the money. I ended up final tabling the 50 rebuy on tilt once again, this time for 7th for around 1k. I ended up losing around 100 on the day, which isn't anything really for the stakes I play. Tonight I plan on playing the FTOPS 200 turbo at 9pm and than just play a bunch Sit-n-go's. Probably multi table some $60/45 player and $60/9 player ones.

I shot a 79 in mens league on Thursday which is a pretty good score for me but really should of been alot better. I lipped out so many putts it was rediculous. Oh well, I don't plan on playing anymore golf until this Thursday mens league. I went to the state fair for the first time with Angie on Saturday. I really don't see how the people who put this on expect people to afford this place who have a family of 5 or 6. It was $7 for a tenderloin, $6 for cotten candy, $7 for mozzarella sticks, some of the games that last 20 seconds were $5 a person. I had a good time though. We walked around the whole runway and saw everything. Well that about sums it up, give ya updates either tonight or tommorow after tonight's session.

Oh yeah, I'd like to congratulate Stephen "aka smcrawford2, gtfobish" Crawford for recording his biggest score in a online MTT of $1800 for his first place score in the Full Tilt 3 dollar rebuy.

Back to the dark side of Online

2008-08-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

After having a great night on Monday night, I was hoping the rush would continue. The night started off great I ran into a couple of coolers but the poker gods bailed me out. I built up some pretty good stacks but going card dead deep didn't lead to a big score only led to a couple of small cashes and a couple of bubbles. FTOPS(Full Tilt Online Poker Series) started last night and I decided to play it. I grinded this tourney for hours until I won a pretty big sized coinflip to get me over average. This tourney started with around 5800 players and it paid 738 places I believe. I ended up busting around 830th when my TT couldn't hold vs 99 for 27k stack at 500-1k. Nothing like grinding a tourney for four hours and getting in that good for a good stack only to get 2 outed. So a night that started off great ended just worse than what it started. I ran absolutley running horrid at the end of the night. Oh well, thats how poker goes. I probably won't play again til Monday, but could log in some hours on Sunday. Well I'm bout to hit the shower and go play in mens league. Talk at ya later.

4 Final Tables, 0 Wins

2008-08-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

I went over to mattster's house and played online last night with him. I think playing with him motivates me and it really makes poker better all the way around. This is the first time I've played since my last post and I was really looking forward to it since I was going to be playing over at his house. I ended up with 4 final tables which that is new record for me. My first final table came in the Tilt 35k at 7pm in which I got 3rd for a little over $4700. This would be the only final table I got my money in bad as I was severly shortstacked 3 handed. My next final table came in the Tilt 33 rebuy at 8:30pm. I had a big stack the entire tourney but kind of dwindled away deep into it but won a flip and got AA all in vs QQ for a huge pot to get me into the final table. I ended up busting out 6th here as I lost AA vs AT allin preflop. That tourney paid a little over $1600. The whole night I had huge stacks it seemed like and was doing quite well until I lost KK vs AQ allin preflop in the 163 at Tilt for a huge stack. It didn't seem to matter though as I continued to build stacks. I was at the final tables of the 70k at 9:30 at Stars and 50 rebuy at tilt at 11:30 at the same time. I ended up getting 4th in the stars 70k as I lost 99 vs AK/K9 allin preflop for a pretty good sized chiplead. I also lost K8 vs T8 to a shorstack on the final table bubble who had shoved into me the last 3 times. I made the hero call but couldn't get it to hold. I ended up cashing that one for a little over $5200. I ended up getting 4th in the Tilt 50 rebuy for a little over $2300. I took a sick beat 5 handed in which I raised 88 on the button and the SB called. We were currently 1-2 in chips with me having the chiplead. The flop rolls out J98. He bets 15k into the pot I make it 45k he than makes it 81k and I shove and he calls with QJ. The turn brought his dream card with the T, and I couldn't fill up on the river. I would of had a dominating chiplead 3 handed. I ended up getting QQ all in preflop vs A8 but couldn't get it to hold either for 26 BB. That tourney was $6200 to win and I feel I left some money out there on that one. All in all, I ended up profiting around 11.5k on the day. I was still pretty upset last night the way the final tables went as I got my money in great in some big pots but couldn't get it to hold. I ran well though the majority of the night, it wasn't like I was sucking out alot, it was just having my hands hold at the right times. It would be super nice to run like that everyday, but face it we all know thats not going to happen. It could of very well easily been a 20-25k+ night though. I don't think I'm going to play tonight as I only got 4 hours of sleep last night, but I do plan on playing Wednesday night as FTOPS is starting. Oh yeah, before I forget mattster took 2nd in the Tilt 50 single rebuy single addon for $3800.

I played some golf yesterday with mattster in the afternoon. I shot a 40 from the tips playing it down as I'm doing that more often now. It makes the game tougher but thats how it's meant to be played. I started out 4 over after 4 with me just duck hooking my drive. I hit some crisp iron shots in which I hit 4 right over the flag stick. If I get my driver figured out and keep hitting my irons the way I have lately I could end up being a single digit handicapp I think by the end of the year. Which I don't really care about a whole lot, but it would be a good accomplishment since I haven't been a single digit since 3 years ago when I played everyday. Well that sums it up, talk at ya later.

Some Online Poker

2008-07-30T09:30:00.001-07:00

I hadn't played since my last update except for a few turbos here and there until last night. One of the turbos I got 6th in which was the Tilt Fiddy Turbo and I took home a little over 1k for it. I ended up with 5 cashes last night and barely turned a profit. I built up some good stacks but once I got in the money I couldn't get anything going. I lost a 65k flip in the the 18k guaranteed at tilt at 600-1200 which would of been good for a 3rd place stack instead out 21st. I also lost a 40BB near the bubble of this. I final tabled the 50 single rebuy single addon at Stars but it only paid around 450 as it only had 81 players. The other cashes were just min cashes where I lost flips in 2 of the 3. That about sums it up on the poker front and probably won't be playing any the rest of the week as I am super busy. If I do play it would be tonight or Sunday.

I have my cousins wedding this weekend in Greenwood. It should be a good time. Also, I mentioned in a previous post me and mattster were going to play in a 2 man scramble but it got cancelled. It got rescheduled for sometime in September and we still plan on playing it. I actually played really well in mens league last Thursday night. I came in with a 38 with a double bogey. I also had 3 3 putts which putting continues to haunt me. I'm playing in a 2 man best ball tournament with my uncle. It's a handicapped event which I dislike in a way since everyone complains about the winners being sandbaggers. I've always been tagged as a "sandbagger" which in previous years could of been the case but not anymore. I feel my handicapp is actually lower right now than what it should be. If I could ever learn to putt I could be a single digit handicapp pretty easy I think. I watched Step Brothers and Dark Knight this weekend and both were real good. I also want to say congrats to Joby "aa_thief_aa" Bragg for getting his biggest online score to date with a 2nd place finish in a 11 MTT for a little over $2300. That about sums it up, talk to you later.

Online Poker

2008-07-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

The break didn't last to long and I ended up playing tonight. Once again I should stick to my original thoughts as tonight was a total disaster. I cashed one tourney which was the 33 cake rebuy and it was small as I ran TT into AA there. I ran KK into AA twice tonight. I also lost a huge pot in the Tilt 50 single rebuy single addon in which I got AKcc on 874 flop with 2 clubs vs KK and couldn't get there. In the Stars 50 single rebuy single addon I raise QT and get called out of the SB. The flop rolls out TT3 obviously he has AT. Oh well, thats how it goes. Im taking tommorow off and going to watch a few friends play softball. That about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

Friday Night Pokah

2008-07-19T01:40:00.000-07:00

I decided to play tonight because there wasn't anything to do really. Some friends went out and hit up the bars and to be quite honest ever since I met Angie I haven't had the urge to go to the bars and make a fool out of myself. As you know if you have read my last couple of blogs I've been on a downswing and things started off awful again tonight but that would change later on in the evening. I had 3 bubbles tonight coming in the Stars 162, Stars 77 6 max, and the Cake 33 rebuy. The Stars 77 6 max was obviously the most brual as I had a huge stack the entire tourney. I lost a 90BB coinflip and a 120BB coinflip to the same exact guy all on the bubble. I held the best hand both times but couldn't get either to hold. I cashed the 11pm Stars 109 in which I lost a 26BB flip with AKs vs 66. I also cashed the Turbo Fiddy at Tilt where I got 13th when I lost A2 vs T9 and than ran 66 into 99 to bust. That tourney was 5200 to win and could of easily happened in "turbo" mode. Oh well, I ended up winning the 12:15 Stars 50 single rebuy single addon for a little over 3k. I was tied for the chiplead with 10 left and the other chipleader was at my table and was steaming a bit as I took a pot off him the hand before. We are playing super deep as we both have around 65 BB. He raised and a player flatted and I called with 86s out of the BB. The flop rolls out 882 rainbow. I check he bets, other guy folds, and I raise it up and he snap shoves and I obviously snap. He rolls over A2 in which im a huge favorite. The A turned and I was like here we go, but he bricked and I had a massive chiplead going into the final table. I ended up winning a flip on the first hand of the final table and took down another big pot with a flush draw that was uncontested. All of a sudden I had a 4-1 chiplead and was thinking that I will run the table over, I was dead wrong. Another player, basically ran the rest of the tourney over until headsup. In which I dominated him, he kept bluffing into me and I was snap calling every pair I had. I was in shock he kept bluffing his stack off to me and figured he would adjust. He had me down 3-1 headsup and I came back and took a 3-1 lead on him heads up. I ended up getting QJdd in against his 88 on a 742 with 2 diamonds flop. The turn brought the 8d and the river came the 2 fill him up and to double him right back up to make us even. Once again, I just kept chipping away at his stack. The final hand came where I called a raise with 97ss and the flop rolled out T85 with 2 spades. I ended up checkraising him on the flop and he shoved and flipped over A8. This one didn't end in dramatic fashion as I peeled off the 6 on the turn and leaving him drawing dead.

This tourney was a huge cofidence boost to me even though it's not the biggest score but it might be the biggest win for me. I've had a rough two weeks, I couldn't win a key hand when needed to be. That means me not holding on a 80/20, 70/30, 60/40. I couldn't win the key coinflips deep in a tourney. I had already made the decision tonight to take some time off from the game. When I say it's been a rough two weeks, I mean I can't sleep at night, lay in bed for hours upon hours thinking about the beats I just took. I've played poker for way to long now to let this affect me. I have had way worse swings than this one, most notably the 21k downswing last year from August through October. I rebounded though and made some serious money from November through Feburary. I just need some time off and get back to exercising daily like I was before I went to Vegas. That could be a huge part to my sleeping problems I really dont know. I do know when I exercised daily I felt better about myself everyday. I was always upbeat and in a good mood. One positive thing I can take out of this downswing was that I never gave up, never gave up in one tourney. I battled through and tried to make the best out of every tourney. Yeah, I might of cried to mattster on AIM about the beats, but I didn't let it affect my play one second. I don't know how much time I'll be taking off, its hard to take off time after a good win. It could be a few days, a week, a month I really don't know right now.

Me and Mattster are playing in a 2 man scramble on the 26th of this month. I'd say we'll be on the course a bunch this next week preparing for it. I really need to get my driver figured out as I hit it badly in mens league on Thursday night. I just haven't played as much golf this summer as I'm used to and its affecting my game as well. I really need to be playign 4-5 times a day and there is no reason not to really. I'm hoping Matt's putter is hot on next Saturday as it usually is this event. Last 2 years we have played we shot even and 1 under par. We'll have to do much better than that to get in the top 3. We end up with way too many bogeys and and if we eliminate them totally we could give it a run for a good finish. Well its past 5am here, time to try to get some sleep. I know when I wake up tommorow it will be a good feeling for the first time after a poker session in a long time. Take it easy, later.

Online Poker

2008-07-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since my last blog and I have been playing quite a bit of poker. I've had a couple of final tables both coming in the Tilt 50 rebuy. The 2 final tables though haven't turned into any profits whatsoever. I'm on a 4k downswing which isn't much at all, but it is my biggest downswing that I've had in awhile which is amazing for the limits I play. I have been running bad for the past 2 weeks. I don't think I've ran this bad in this amount time ever. I feel I'm at the top of my game and I wouldn't be suprised if I get a big score soon. The tides will turn it's only a matter of time. I really don't know when I'll play again but it's more than likely going to be on Sunday. I have mens league tommorrow which I'm looking forward to. I'm also going to get back into the routine of blogging after every online session. The WSOP Circuit schedule came out and Caesars Indiana is October 2nd-14th and I plan on being there about everyday. Also, there having a circuit in Gary, Indiana this year in late October which I'll probably make that trip too. That about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

Also, I wanted to say congrats to Stephen "smcrawford2" Crawford for getting second in a 30+3 MTT on stars last week for a little over 1k.

Been Awhile...

2008-07-09T13:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't really played all that much online since my last update. I played last Tuesday and didn't really have any good results. Went deep in the Tilt 50/50 at 930 but got 77 all in vs QQ on J97 and couldn't get it to hold for the chiplead with 17 left. I can't remember to many other details from that night, but didn't get the big score. I played mens league on Thursday shooting a 39 on the front and played poorly on the back and ended up quitting after 7 because of the rain. On Friday, had a family outing and had the fireworks deal. Then on Sunday through yesterday I went up and spent time with Angie. I played last night as a last minute decision and boy should of I just went to bed instead. I bricked every tourney I played in with a couple of deep runs only to bubble. Might of been the sickest night I ever had though, as I couldn't build a stack and when I did I lost a huge flip or got 3 outed. Oh well, thats how it goes. I plan on putting in another long session tonight and hopefully will show some good results. I'll talk at ya later.

Back from Vegas and another Online Win

2008-06-25T15:29:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted since I got back from Vegas as nothing much had occured until last night. Monday night was my first online session I put in since returning home last Wednesday night. I played some golf and spent some time with Angie. I played on Monday night and ran pretty poorly losing over 80 percent of my coinflip situations. I got deep in a couple of tournaments but lost flips in both and those didn't pay too great. I played last night and started off pretty slow as I normally do but kicked it in later in the evening. I played in the Tilt 50/50 got pretty deep in this and busted around 60th losing QJ vs A8 all in preflop for around 30 BB. I got a small return on that tourney. I played in the Tilt 50 single rebuy single addon again, the one I won twice in one week while I was in Vegas, I ended up getting 8th for around $600 but I lost a big pot with 10 left with AA vs K9 all in on a KJ8 flop when he turned a 9. I lost AQs vs AK all in preflop to bust out. I also went deep in the Stars 109 at 11pm when I busted out 14th with AK vs KT all in on a J425 board with 3 diamonds I had the A dia too bad he had the KTdia and I rivered a 3 for the wheel but not good enough to best his flush. That was for a second place stack instead out 14th for a $333 cash. I also went deep in the Tilt 50 rebuy at 11:30pm where I busted out 12th with 55 vs AT all in preflop for a 2nd place stack in which I thought the guy made a horrid call with the AT in this spot but oh well thats how it goes. I had a small return on this tourney as well. I ended up winning the Stars 50 single rebuy single addon at 12:15am for around $4300. I bascially ran this tourney over the entire way as I was top 5 the whole tournament. I owned a guy 3 handed in back to back pots to give me and 8-1 chip advantage going into heads up and I won KQ vs K3 all in preflop to bust the guy and to give me win. I have been crushing here lately online with 4 wins this month and alot of other solid cashes. I'm really happy with my play overall and I hope I continue improving my game and making some money.

I have played quite a bit of golf since my return to Vegas. I played awful my first outing in mens league on Thursday even though I shot a 43 which isn't horrible. I ended up going up to Indy for the weekend and spending time with Angie. I came home Sunday night and hit the links on Monday and turned in my best round of the year with a 76. I was really happy after the round and I was +3 combined on hole #1 both times. I played 9 holes yesterday and shot a 43 but made a couple of bucks playing against a few friends. Today was my scratch cup match for the rights to play in the championship and I got beat 1 up through 18 holes. I was 3 down through 9 as I played pretty poorly and my opponent made me pay for it. I ended up winning the first 2 holes on the back to get to only 1 down but he ended up winning hole 15 to go up 2 with 3 to play. I won 16 and 17 to get back to even going into the 18th. He ended up making a par and I bogeyed when I duffed a chip. I shot 86 to his 83. I hit 2 fairways all day and he missed just two. I didn't play my best game but I know he wasn't on top of his game either. It was a great match and probably the most comepetive 18 holes of golf I've every played. I really enjoyed it even though I lost as I just love competition. I hate losing though haha. I doubt I play any poker tonight as I have to get up at 7:15 in the morning to go to greenwood with my uncle to get fitted for a tux for my cousin Trista's wedding. I'm going to try to put in a session tommorow night, but I have mens league and not sure how much I'll drink haha. For the weekend, not sure what I'll be doing but it will probably involve some golf and I'll probably play some poker on Sunday night. That about sums it up, take it easy.

Venetian 1k and Online

2008-06-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

The only live tournament I played in since my last post was the 1k at the Venetian. This was a great structure that allowed alot of play starting with 15k chips and 1 hour levels. The tourney got 148 players and was around 45k to win. Not much really went on for me in the first two hours as I was complete card dead but was around 15k in chips going into first break. After first break, I should of went broke when I called a raise with AJhh and flop came T97 with 2 hearts. Luckily the guy played KK very slow. I was knocked down around 9k after that hand and just maintained it going into 2nd break with blinds jumping up to 200-400. I built that 9k up to 19k without showdown. I ended up getting AK all in preflop vs QQ for 40k stack at 300-600 and I whiffed. This was also the last live tourney I was going to play and it was really disappointing. I ran pretty bad in coinflip situations throughout the two and half week span I was out here.

Onto the online front, I played on Saturday night and didn't end up getting any big scores. I lost KK vs JJ all in preflop for a huge stack in the money of the 109 at stars. I ran really bad this night losing tons of 70/30s and some 80/20s as well. I took Sunday off from online and watched the Lakers/Celtics game that night and just took it easy. I ended up playing last night and it paid off. I took 4th in the Tilt 163 65k buyin which was good for $6800. First place was 19.6k though and would of been really nice to close that one out strong. I also took 8th in the 11pm Stars 109 which was good for around $800 but was around 7700 to win and I was 3/9 going into the final table. Oh well, I can't really complain how things went online for me while I've been out here in Vegas as I had 3 wins and that 4th place finish in the 163. I really am starting to enjoy playing online again but I think the big thing is I've been playing with mattster and it's alot more fun to talk about poker and sports with someone than sit in your room all day like your in prison.

We leave tommorow to come back to Indiana and I am so glad as it has gotten really old living out of a hotel for 17 days. I'm really excited to get back and start golfing again as I haven't picked up any clubs since a couple of days before we left to come out here. I think that about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

Venetian 550 and Venetian 340 Blowup

2008-06-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

I played in the Venetian 550 on Tuesday and never got too much going in this tourney. I ended up running 88 into QQ at the 200-400 level for around 22k in chips in a late position battle against an aggresive young kid. On Tuesday, my girlfriend Angie and Matt's girlfriend Lindsey flew out to come and see us for a couple of days. We went bowling on Tuesday night and I absolutley sucked it up and bowled a 78 and 99. Talk about stinking up the place. On Wednesday I took the day off from poker and we went and hung out all day. We ate at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville which was really good. We ended up going to the piano bar at New York New York which was a really good time also.

On Thursday I played in the 340 at the Venetian. I don't even know where to begin to talk about this tournament really. Each player started out with 12k in chips and I was down to 7800 fairly quickly losing with a boat to quads in which I feel I lost the minimum. With blinds moving up to 100-200 I got 66 all in vs AQ when I was the button and he was the BB and I got it to hold to push my stack up to 16k. I ended up getting J9s all in on the river on a board of 995QA in which I think I played the hand perfect to double up to 32k. I'm not sure what the guy had as he mucked. After break, I ended up gettin back down to aroud 17k in which I whiffed a huge draw holding KJcc on a T98 board with 2 clubs vs AQcc. Then the hand of the tournament was when I limped AA under the gun and it folded around to the button who limped and the sb completed and the bb checked. The flop came 653 with 2 hearts and it checked to me I led 2200 out and it folded to the sb who made it 6500 and I ended up shipping in my remaining chips and he snapped and showed me 42 for the straight. I was packing up my ipod until the 2 of hearts turned and than the 7 of hearts rivered giving me a flush with my AA and a huge stack. I was up to 49k going into second break. The guy with 42 kept saying what did you put me on and how could you think you were ahead. I replied "If I knew what you had I would of folded." Oh well, I ended up chipping up to 64k after break when the following hand took place. A guy raised to 5500 under the gun at 600-1200 and I picked up AA once again and just decided to flat. The flop came out 953 with 2 spades and the bettor makes it 15k which is over potsized and I ended up shipping on him which he had another 25k back and he called and flipped up 65ss which was middle pair and flush draw. I got it to hold and was up over 100k. A little bit later, I got AK all in vs KT in a blind battle for around a 50k pot and was up over 125k. I ended up just basically running the last couple of levels over from there and was up to 193k at dinner break and most likley the chiplead. I want to flashback to Tunica in January where I had a huge chiplead in the 1k at dinner break and over triple average with 38 left in the field. I ended up getting 21st in this tourney when 18 paid. That tourney was 66k to win and left me with major dissapointment. Back to yesterdays tourney I come back from dinner break and get moved to a different table which I liked since I was being somewhat super aggresive at my other table. First hand back I raise QTo on the button to 8k at 1500-3k and instantly get shoved on. No big deal as I had plenty of chips right? Very next hand I pick up JJ in the cutoff and open to 8k again, the BB ships 60k on me and I snap and he shows me KJ. I was pretty happy until the flop rolled out AQT and that was about it. That dropped me down to around 125k. I was still in great shape over double average. A couple of hands later a guy ships in 30k at 1500-3k still and I pick up 99 in the BB and make the call and he shows me A5. Once again, I'm thrilled to be in the position I'm in even more so when another player said he folded an A. It wasn't meant to be for me to hold there as the board ran out JJ2A7. That dropped me down to around 100k. Just a few hands later a woman limps in the sb and I check QTo from the BB. The flop rolls out QJ8 and she instantly shoves in 40k, I end up making the call and she flips over KQ obv the turn brought a K to give me an openender and the river blanked and all of a sudden I was down to around 60k. Just a couple of minutes later a player opened in the cutoff to 12k at 2k-4k and I shipped in 60k over him with KQo and he snapped me with AJs and I couldn't hit and was out of the tournament. The tourney was 38k to win and I busted out around 50th which was good for absolutley nothing but disappointment. I was in shock for awhile of what just had happened. To go from chiplead at dinner break, to out in under an hour is just mind boggling. I had a really great chance at a big score and it slipped away yet again. That about sums up the tournament and the way this trip has gone on the live front. I'll probably play online the next couple of days but I could end up playing the 330 at Caesars tommorow and I'll most likely play the 540 at the Venetian on Monday which would be my last tournament of the trip. I'm still up money on this trip since I've had some good online scores, but the live portion has been very disappointing to my standards or hell probably anyones standards seeing how I've bricked every live tournament. Thats about all I have to say about that. Mattster is currently in the money in the 2k wsop event with a pretty decent stack so hopefully he'll catch a few breaks deep in this one and get a big score. He has been playing awesome this whole trip and I think this could be his time to shine. I'll talk at ya later.

Some Online and Venetian 550

2008-06-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

I played a little bit online over the past couple of days. Didn't have any good results though. I went deep in a couple of 109's on stars but couldn't get anything going at the end. I played a couple of the sunday majors yesterday and didn't cash any of them. In the Sunday Mulligan on Tilt I got AA all in vs JJ on a T87 flop and I couldn't get it to hold for a double average stack. Other than that, nothing really major has happened.

Today I played in the Venetian 500+50. I've already busted out within the first six levels once again. I ended up running 99 into QQ preflop for 25k at 300-600. That is all I have to say about that tourney. Tommorrow I'll be playing in the Venetian 500+50 once again. I hope to play better and make a deep run. I think I'm going to play some online again tonight. I'll keep ya updated, take it easy.

Another Online Win and 550 Venetian

2008-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

I continued my heater last night and won the Tilt 50 single rebuy single addon again. I actually ended up chopping it up with the one and only mattster. I won a couple of flips deep in this to get me a big stack at the final table. Once we got 3 handed I ran JT into QQ on a QTT flop, I lost the minimum though as we checked the flop and I led the turn and he called, and than I check called the river. I ended up busting the guy in third with A7s vs JT all in preflop. Once we got heads up it was total domination by me, haha. Actually I hit a few flops on him and he didn't get too many cards. I ended up winning 55 vs his A6 allin preflop and when the 5 hit the flop it sealed the deal. We chopped it for $4300 apiece. I also final tabled the stars 50 single rebuy single addon. I got 6th for around $600, I lost TT vs Q9 all in preflop for 22 BB. Turned out to be a pretty solid night. This is the first time I've ever won the same tourney twice let alone in a 4 day span. This is also the first time I've won 3 tournies in one week.

I played the Venetian 500+50 buyin today. It was 66k to win today with around 460 players I believe. They have added more chips and give us 15k now instead of the 10k, well it didn't matter as I've already busted once again in the first 3 hours. About the third hand in I pick up QQ behind 2 limpers and make it 250 to go at 25-50. Both call and flop rolls out 654 with 2 diamonds. First limper checked, 2nd limper led for 550, I made it 1650 to go and the first limper folded, and the bettor shoved all in. I tanked for about a minute and folded. I really don't know what the guy had to shove there I'm thinking maybe 2 pair or a huge draw I don't think he shoves 14k more with a set. Nothing really much happened after that in the first 2 hours and I was around 13.5k going into 2nd break. Right after 2nd break I chipped up in a nice pot with 96s on a 8765 board. I was up to around 15k. Then, I limp with 63s after 2 limpers at 100-200 with 25 ante, guy behind makes it 1225 to go and I was pretty sure he had nothing. Folded to me and I made it 3700 to go and he thought for a minute and called. The flop rolled out A87 and I led 2600 and he quickly made it 5200. I tanked for about 2 minutes just acting like I had a big hand and I folded and he showed me Q6. It was a sick play by both of us, he just had position and made the sicker play. He told me if I led 4k on the flop he would of folded. I tip my hat to you sir! That dropped me down to 8500 in chips. I opened A3s in mp about 10 hands later and got called in 2 spots. The flop rolled out T22 rainbow. Checked all the way around. The turn was the 8 clubs to give me a flush draw. I checked guy led 3k into the pot and once again I didn't think he was strong to overbet the pot and I shipped in my 8k and he snaps me with 77 obv and I can't hit my draw. I'm not real for sure what is going on with my live play, I usually always get a big stack and not bust in the first 3 hours or so. I don't know if I have some tells or what, but it seems like when im whiffing flops or trying to make a move they are picking me off and when I flop a monster I'm not getting paid. I think I might take the next couple of days off from live tournies and get refocused. I'll probably play online or just take a break and having some fun in the sin city. Well I'm getting ready to play some online and I hope to keep the heater going, I'll talk at ya later.

Online and 260 Binions

2008-06-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

I played some online last night but just played a few Sit n go's. I played 4 60 turbos single tables and a 60/45 man. I bricked the 60/45 but in the 60 single tables I had 2 1sts and 2 2nds out of the 4. In of the ones I got second in I lost Q3 all in vs J9 on a 9433 board all in on the turn. Than I lost K6 vs K2 to the same guy to bust that would of given me back the chiplead. Oh well, I profited $492 off those 5 sit n go's so I can't complain. I also played in the 260 buyin at Binions today. You start with 7k in chips with 30 minute levels with the blinds starting at 25-50. I raised 33 at 25-50 get 4 callers the flop rolls out J53 no action obv. At 50-100, I pick up AA and an aggresive woman raises to 400 under the gun and I flat, the SB makes it 1200 to go she folds and I decide to just call again. The flop rolls out T88 he leads for around 1400 I just call. Turn is a 2 and he leads out 2200 and I shove in and he calls and shows me TT. That dropped me down to around 1200 in chips and I ended up doubling up with TT vs 44. The blinds jumped to 75-150 and I raise to 450 with around a 2400 stack to start the hand. I get 3 callers and the flop rolls out 532. I check and guy leads out 900 and I ship and he shows me A4 for the wheel. I'm getting sick of busting tournies very early. Me and mattster are going to go grab something to eat here in a bit and after that I plan on grinding online tonight to try to get another good score. That about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later.

Online Poker and Venetian 300+40

2008-06-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

I played online last night and got some really big stacks but couldn't get the big score for the second consective night. It was really aggrevating but I can't complain as I thought I played really well. I played in the 300+40 Venetian today and busted out in the first 40 minutes. I lost half my chips where I flopped a flush with the 87hh on a J42 all heart board. Guy led into me, I raised really big and he just called. Turn was the Ah and he shoved into me and I had to give it up. I was down to around 3500 when I limped with KQss after 2 limpers. The flop came out QT6 with 2 spades and I ended up getting it all in and was up against QT. I couldn't hit and I was eliminated early on. I came back to the room and decided to play some online and I ended up winning the 33 turbo at full tilt for 1k. It had around 113 players. Not a big score, but when you win any tournament its a special feeling. I think I might grind some Sit n go's or cash later on tonight. Well I'll let ya go, take it easy.

Also, I will be playing the 225+25 at Binions tommorow which stars at 2pm Vegas time. The Venetian is having an Omaha event so I won't be playing there.

Online Win and 340 Venetian

2008-06-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

After I busted the 550 Venetian last night, I came back to the room and fired up some tournies. The first tourney I started was the tilt 50 single rebuy single addon at 10:30. I got off to a real slow start until after the first break. I ended up getting a really good stack at second break. Right after second break though I lost QQ vs A9 all in preflop. I kind of stayed around the 20 BB chipstack until I won AK vs AQ all in preflop to get me a top 5 stack. I also got AA vs AQ all in preflop for a ton of chips. I was the chipleader with 18 left which was in the money. I ended up getting tripped over tripped though and was 10/10. I ended up shoving 98 and got called by A6 and I won to put me up to 21 BB. Very next hand , I get AQ all in preflop vs AJ to almost double up again and bust a player. I was chipleader going into the final table after being 10/10. I busted a player with KK allin preflop from a shorstack who shoved 53. I kind of just stayed around the same stack until 4 handed. I limped K6s in the sb and the bb checked. Flop came KQ4 with 2 diamonds but not of my suit. I checked and the BB checked and the turn peeled off a 9. I bet around 8k and he shoved in 40k and I called and was up against J5 and got it to hold. Than 3 handed I got 88 all in preflop vs 64 and got it to hold up to bust the guy and get headsup. The headsup battle didn't last long as I got T9 in vs KT on a 8549 board, which he had flush draw and I got it to hold. That tourney was 5100 to win. This was a big confidence boost and I hope this is the start of a heater. I didn't run to well in my other tournies though. In the 33 MTT on stars at 11:00 I lost back to back flips and got 3 outed in the money. I was in the top 5 of chips the whole way but no luck at the end. In the stars 109 at 1 I lost QQ vs TT allin preflop. In the tilt fiddy turbo I chopped AA vs K7 for 25 BB with 40 left and ended up losing a flip to bust out with around 36 left just short of the money. I also lost AJ vs A7 to the same guy in the turbo fiddy at tilt right after I doubled the hand before. Oh well, I can't complain as I got the win that I've been looking for.

I played the 300+40 buyin at the Venetian today. You start out with 6k in chips and 40 minute levels. I didn't do much in the first 2 hours and found myself with around 6500 in chips going into first break. A couple of hands back from break at 100-200 level I decided to limp KK in early position. A young player limped behind and it was 4 ways to the flop with the blinds coming in. The flop was AK7 and I led 500 into it. The young player made it 1100 to go and I just decided to call it. The turn was an A and I checked and he bet 4k and I only had around 4800 left and shoved and he obviously called and showed me AJ. I got it to hold and was up to around 12.5k. From there I ended up losing around 5k with JTs on a J638 board that I ended up folding on the turn and that dropped me to around 6500 or so. I built that back up to around 11.5k with the blinds at 300-600 without showdown. A very aggresive young kid opened to 1600 at 300-600 and I shoved in with KJ and he tanked for a bit and ended up calling with TT and I couldn't win the race. I busted out around 145th or so out of 327 entrants. The tourney was 29k to win today. I'll be playing onling later tonight and will be playing the 300+40 Venetian tommorow.

Also, I'm in the final four of the scratch cup at my local course. I was the 10 seed coming into the tournament. I upset the 7 seed who I beat 3 and 2. After that I had to play the 2 seed which was my brother, I ended up beating him 2 up. I'm starting to hit the ball good but with me being in Las Vegas for 18 days I doubt I'll pick up a club out here. So I'll probably be rusty when I get back for my next match but it's not like im supposed to win anyways. Thats about it, talk to ya later.

Online and 550 Ventetian

2008-06-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

I just got into Las Vegas last night around 9:45pm. I came straight to the room and fired up some tournaments. I ended up breaking even on the night. I had some good chances to get a good score and its really dissapointing. I had fun playing last night though for the second consective time that I played. That is a huge plus for me, hopefully I'll get the will to log some major hours once I get back to Indiana. I went deep in the tilt 22 rebuy last night but got my money in bad with around 13 left with me holding A5 and my opponent tabling JJ. I couldn't catch the 3 outer and I was sent packing. I basically dominated the 109 turbo at tilt that started at 3. I had the chiplead from about 140 left down to the final table. I ended up running TT into AA though and I busted 8th. 8th place was good for around $615 when first place was around $5800 to win. That was really disappointing but that is how turbos are. I lost back to back flips in the stars 50 single rebuy single addon to bust out 19th where the top 9 paid. That about sums it up online.

I played the 500+50 Venetian deepstack tournament today. The structure is pretty good with 10k starting stack and 40 minute levels. I started out hot, flopping a set with 99 in a 3 way with raise pot early on. The flop rolled out K94 and I got my opponent to call off his stack with AK. That shot me up to around 25k and I ended up getting to 30k at first break after winning a decent pot with AA. Right after first break I got all in with T7dd on 976 flop with 2 diamonds vs A9 and I couldn't hit the draw and that dropped me down to 24k. A few hands later I end up getting KJ all in vs JJ on QJ45K board to drop me down to around 14k. Sick thing about this hand was that the guy with JJ was a total manaic and was shoving on the flop and turn with total air. I ended up building my stack back up to 25k when I won a good pot with QJ vs JT on a J high flop. The blinds jumped to 300-600 with 50 ante and a good player shoved in 6k and I called him with 99. He flipped up A6 and the board ran out TT7A4 and he doubled through me. I ended up raising about 6 out of 7 hands with total air and building my stack back up to around 25k. Last hand before second break I get 88 all in vs A9 for 21k in chips and his A9 got there to drop me down to 14k going to break. Once again after break, I built my stack without showdown back to 23k. I blinded down to around 19k. Than I raised a limper with AJcc and he called the flop came K72 with 2 clubs. He checkraised me all in with KT and I called and hit my club on the river to get to 37k. A few hands later the button opened and I shoved over his 14k stack with A7 at 400-800 and he snapped me with A8 and he held up. From there I went total card dead and ended up having around 15k in chips with blinds going to 800-1600. I ended up shoving A5o and the sb tanked and finally called with AK, haha. I couldn't suck out and I busted out around 85th out of 297 entrants or so. The tourney was 44k to win today. Tommorow I'll be playing in the 300+40 at the Venetian. I'm starting to play online for the rest of the evening so I will talk to you later.

Poker from last night

2008-05-28T13:10:00.001-07:00

I decided to play one last time before I left for vegas last night. I built up some pretty good stacks in the 22 rebuy 6 max at tilt. I ended up busting out 7th with AJ vs KK all in preflop. First place was around 3k to win, I ended up gettin 350 or so for seventh. I also had a really good stack in the tilt 35k the entire tourney but ended up busting out around 27th. A good player raised utg and I had 33k at 1500-3k and shipped it in with AQ only to have a player snap call behind with AA. I also got JJ all in vs AK on a 432 flop in this tourney with around 45 left for a ton of chips. The guy made a horrible play and has made horrible plays against me in the past. I ended up losing around 400 on the night despite having a couple of deep runs.

I leave for Vegas on Sunday and don't return til the 18th. I have high expectations and lofty goals but I think they are attainable as long as I play the poker I know I'm capable of. Also, I'm hoping the poker gods will be my side for the trip. I think if I can run "decent" and play good fundamental poker I can get a couple of big scores. Well I let ya go, later.

More Poker

2008-05-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

I decided to play tonight and things have gone pretty bad. I'm not playing 100 percent focused and have decided to quit until WSOP. I don't know how much I'll play online out there. I want to take the time off to get focused and prepare for the live events. I have a good feeling I'm going to ship something. I am still playing right now but only have the stars 22 rebuy left. I leave for Vegas June 1st and will be coming home June 18th. I'll be playing mostly at the Venetian. Well that about sums it up, peace!

Random

2008-05-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't played a whole lot of poker here recently as I hate the game. Last Sunday, I played in the FTOPS 322 in which I lost a flip with 104 left AQ vs JJ to bust for an 8th place stack. That tourney was 263k to win obv. Be nice to catch a break one time deep in a big tourney like that. Most of the week I helped my buddy Dave put down wood flooring and I really don't miss the physical work grind at all. I played some today and built some stacks but nothing every happened that was noteworthy. Well I'm going to run but I'll leave ya with a hand history from the 500+35 FTOPS today.......
SJMIN posts the small blind of 60
K-Rock2525 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to K-Rock2525 [Ad Ac]
talv folds
ShizelReturns folds
IBPROPHIN calls 120
nomoballer folds
tedsfishfry has 15 seconds left to act
geeforce1 sits down
geeforce1 adds 4,675
tedsfishfry folds
pepochino folds
SJMIN has 15 seconds left to act
SJMIN calls 60
K-Rock2525 raises to 420
IBPROPHIN has 15 seconds left to act
IBPROPHIN raises to 2,890, and is all in
SJMIN folds
K-Rock2525 calls 2,470
IBPROPHIN shows [3h 3c]
K-Rock2525 shows [Ad Ac]
*** FLOP *** [3d Js 5d]
*** TURN *** [3d Js 5d] [7s]
*** RIVER *** [3d Js 5d 7s] [8d]
IBPROPHIN shows three of a kind, Threes
K-Rock2525 shows a pair of Aces
IBPROPHIN wins the pot (5,900) with three of a kind, Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,900 | Rake 0
Board: [3d Js 5d 7s 8d]
Seat 1: K-Rock2525 (big blind) showed [Ad Ac] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 2: talv didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: ShizelReturns didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: IBPROPHIN showed [3h 3c] and won (5,900) with three of a kind, Threes
Seat 6: nomoballer didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: tedsfishfry didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: pepochino (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: SJMIN (small blind) folded before the Flop

Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby

2008-05-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

I went to the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and it was fantastic. We got into the track around 10:30. That gave us time to set up shop and start looking at the racing forums. Me and my friend Matt Rohr had a really solid day. We picked the winner in six out of the first seven races. We also hit back to back trifectas in the 7th and 8th races. I have to give credit to my uncle on the 8th for supplying me with the winner in the trifecta. I got a voicemail with 2 minutes to post from him telling me to take the tri, I did and it payed around $395 on a 2 dollar bet. I ended up winning around $1070. Not too bad of a day for really having no clue of what your doing. The weather was the only bad part of the day. It poured most of the day, but it didn't really matter as we were pouring in the money. Me and Rohr also made our annual TV appearance again...HA. I haven't gotten the oppurtunity to watch it yet, but one of rohr's friends has it taped and I'm supposed to get a copy sometime.

I think I posted earlier in one of my blogs that I was supposed to be going to the Derby also. Well it didn't pan out and I ended up not making the trip. I bet the 9th and the Derby and whiffed my bets and lost around $80. I was really impressed by Big Brown and this is the first time in a long time I've thought a horse would win the Triple Crown. I just don't really see this horse getting beat. He will for sure go off as the 1-9 favorite in the Preakness. So there won't be any value in betting him. I don't even know if I'll even wager any bets for that race. It was a pretty good weekend though on the betting front.

I'm not real sure right now when I'll play poker again online. It could be later tonight or sometime in two weeks. I really have no urge to play anytime soon, but who knows. I plan on playing alot of golf from now until I leave for Vegas in June. I plan on buying a new driver with my winnings from the track this past weekend. On a side note, Tom Crean keeps landing recruit after recruit and I couldn't be more happier with the direction he is taking the team. Well I'll let ya go, take it easy.

Why I hate the game called poker

2008-04-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

I took quite some time off at the end of March and alot of April just for the pure fact of hatrid towards the game of poker. It's not really the bad beats or anything like thats it's just I don't have the passion to play like I once did. I shouldn't say I hate poker in general, I love to play live but have gotten tired of online play. It has become almost dreadful to have to sit and play in front of the computer all day. I find myself to become bored quickly and just can't stand it really. I would really like to see myself traveling alot within the next couple of years but that seems highly doubtful. Well enough whining, I got some notes from tournaments I played last night.

I played around 6-10 tournaments last night. I was doing really well in the full tilt 35k and went deep. With 16 left I was sitting around 6/16. I picked up AA utg and raised it up and got called from the BB who had called my last utg raise from the BB as well. The flop came KJ4 and he checked to me I led and he raised. I thought about it for awhile and was deciding on whether to just flat and try to trap him or just shove. I end up calling and the turn brought a T. He end up shoving in and I called and he showed me KJ. The river brought no such luck and I was out 16th. In the stars 22 rebuy I built up a pretty good stack. I ended up getting AA allin preflop vs KK and couldn't get it to hold. I ended up busting right in the money when I ran A8 into AJ in a blind battle for 30 BB. I have a cute hand history from the stars 162 from last night too.....
Dealt to K-Rock2525 [Qs Qc]
jdgobucks: folds
RGAWAY: folds
propokerkid1: raises 1600 to 1700 and is all-in
K-Rock2525: raises 60 to 1760 and is all-in
VARICO: folds
thebighouse6: folds
1BigAceHole: folds
honeyhocream: folds
PlopPlopPlop: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ac 9c 3s]
*** TURN *** [Ac 9c 3s] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [Ac 9c 3s 6s] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
propokerkid1: shows [7d Td] (a straight, Six to Ten)
K-Rock2525: shows [Qs Qc] (a pair of Queens)
propokerkid1 collected 3550 from pot
propokerkid1 said, "BYE"

The guy has the nerve to say BYE after a horrid play. Also, I just doubled through this guy like the orbit before when blinds were at 25-50 and he raised to 150 on the button and I shoved in 900 from the sb with ATo and he snap called me with K5o. I have one more hand history and this one is from the full tilt 50/50...
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to K-Rock2525 [Kc Qd]
RicardoDB folds
cashsimmons has returned
K-Rock2525 raises to 120
Adrius280506 folds
cashsimmons folds
jadedjason folds
NutsErryTime folds
dmkay folds
Gigaloff calls 100
Nyteride calls 80
*** FLOP *** [3s 4d Qc]
Gigaloff checks
Nyteride bets 360
K-Rock2525 calls 360
Gigaloff folds
*** TURN *** [3s 4d Qc] [2s]
Nyteride bets 720
K-Rock2525 raises to 1,505, and is all in
Nyteride calls 785
K-Rock2525 shows [Kc Qd]
Nyteride shows [6c 6h]
*** RIVER *** [3s 4d Qc 2s] [5s]
K-Rock2525 shows a pair of Queens
Nyteride shows a straight, Six high
Nyteride wins the pot (4,090) with a straight, Six high
K-Rock2525 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,090 | Rake 0
Board: [3s 4d Qc 2s 5s]
Seat 1: dmkay (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Gigaloff (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Nyteride (big blind) showed [6c 6h] and won (4,090) with a straight, Six high
Seat 4: RicardoDB didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: K-Rock2525 showed [Kc Qd] and lost with a pair of Queens

I just flatted the flop when he bet the pot hoping for another potsized bet on the turn. I got in good but couldn't get it to hold. Well enough about poker, onto what I have planned for the next couple of days.

Tommorow I have mens league out at the golf course. I'm going to play at 1 with a couple of other guys than I have league at 3 o'clock and 5:50. Should be a fun day and I hope I play well. On Friday, I'm going to the Kentucky Oaks with a good friend of mine. I went last year and it was one of the best days of the year. Hopefully I'll make it on TV again this year. Than on Saturday I'm going to a Kentucky Derby party which should be a good time. After that I have another party to go to that evening. So the next couple of days should be alot of fun. Well I'll let ya go, take it easy.

Alabama Golf Trip and Poker

2008-04-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in forever and It's mostly been because I haven't played any poker at all. I've been on the golf course alot. I left for Alabama on the 20th with 15 other guys and came home on the 25th. It was a really good time altogether and I put together a couple of solid rounds. I shot 81 one day on a par 72 with a triple bogey and 3 double bogeys. Would have been an excellent round if not for a couple of bad holes. I also shot 86 one day on a par 72 course which was the hardest course we played. I had a quad bogey and a triple bogey on front side along with a couple of double bogeys on the back. We played some poker a couple of nights down there and lost around 25 bucks. We played a bunch of 7 card and 5 card stud.

On the poker front, I decided to play some tournaments last night instead of going to a friends house for the wrestling pay per view event. I started out with the Stars second chance, and it was going real well for a while. I ended up losing four straight flips to bust out. Also, I played the 7 pm 109 in which I flatted a raise with AA trying to trap and the flop came TT9. I checked out of the SB, he led into me and I raised all in and he quickly called with JT. That knocked me down to around 6 BB and ended up losing AK vs 99 all in preflop against the same guy with JT. I built up a pretty good stack in the tilt 163 65k at 8. I ended up cashing this tournament but not for much as I lost 88 vs QQ all in preflop for 20 BB. In the tilt 33 rebuy, I ended up getting 5th for a little over $1800. I came into the final table 9/9 and at one point was 1/9. I won AK vs 33 all in preflop than I won a massive pot with AQ vs AJ all in preflop, where the board ran out JJ3TK. I ended up running A8 into AK for alot of chips in a button vs BB battle. Then I lost A3 vs K5 which would of busted a player and given me some chips to work with. I was left with .5 of a BB and busted out the next hand. At the same time I was at the final table of the tilt 33 rebuy, I built a big stack in the stars 22 rebuy. I was sitting 3/14 but end up busting out 14th. I ran AT into AQ vs a shortstack. Then I lost AJ vs 99 for a bunch of chips. Then I raised with 55 with around 15 BB and a player 3 bets me who was aggresive and I ended up sticking my chips in and he shows 98o. Obviously I lose that race. I made a pretty good profit on the day but still disappointing when you build stacks like I did and didn't get the big score. Oh well, there are more tournaments starting up every couple of minutes and I plan on playing some tonight. I got some stuff I got to get done before playing tonight, so I'll talk at ya later.

WSOP Indiana Event #10 and Event #11

2008-04-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy over the last couple of days and haven't got the chance to update on these two tournies. Event #10 was a 300+40 buyin starting with 2500 in chips. Now this tournament with the structure doesn't allow much play. I got AA cracked within the first 5 minutes by KJo and was down to 1500 quickly. I was lucky I didn't go broke as I feel I lost about the minimum. I built my stack back up 2200 with the blinds moving to 25-50. I limp called a raise with 96s against a manaic after 3 others came in also. The flop came 952 with 2 hearts and it checked around to the original raiser who led out 500 and it folded to me and I thought for around 30 seconds and ended up shoving in around 2k total. He thought for a while and he ended up calling with 77. The turn brought a third heart...he had the 7 of hearts...river came the fourth heart to complete his runner runner heart draw. I hate busting out early in events especially to donks. haha

Event #11 was a 1000+60 buyin and was a really good structure. Each player started out with 5k in chips and 50 minute levels. This is one of the events I've looked forward to the most because of how much play it has. The tourney started with 241 players and it ended up being 73k to win plus a 5k main event seat. I ended up making 3 big laydowns early on that two of them the players showed and had me beat but not sure about the other. I had 98s in the BB at the 25-50 level and the utg player came in for a raise and two more callers so I called. The flop came JT6 with 2 hearts, I checked, the original raiser led out for around half the pot came back to me and I called. The turn was the prettiest card in the deck which was the 7 clubs. I checked with the intention of checkraising and he checked behind. The river was the 3 hearts completing a possible flush. I ended up leading for around 800 and the player thought and made it right around 2300 and I didn't take long to fold and mucked it face up. He never showed his cards, but I think this early on in a tourney and no real reads on the player I thought it was best to muck here, as I don't see him doing this with anything less than the nut flush. The two other laydowns I made were where I flopped top pair top kicker and mucked on the river, the guy showed me where he had flopped two pair out of the BB. The other one is where I flopped top pair with a K kicker and I mucked on the turn of JT32, and he showed me JT. After those three pots I was down to around 3100 in chips. I ended up winning a pretty decent pot with AJ on a J93 board and the guy mucked to my checkraise on the flop. I built my stack back up to 5k right at first break. About 20 minutes into the 50-100 level, I picked up 55 utg and decided to limp, 4 other players joined in. The flop came AQ5 with 2 hearts. I decided to check as I thought someone behind had to of had an A. Well it checked all the way around. The turn brought the T of spades. I led 400, a player just flatted the 400, than a guy who was involved in literally almost every pot made it 2k to go, it came back to me and I tanked for 2 minutes, I wasn't debating a fold ever, but I wanted it to look like I had a tough decision. I ended up shoving in for around 5k total, and the player who just called the 400, instantly calls and I know im beat. The flop raiser now tanks for another 2 minutes and ends up calling with AQ lol, AQ in that spot is never good, are you kidding? haha. The guy who never raised and called both bets had it with KJ. The river brought no help and I busted early out of this tourney as well. This is maybe one of the sickest hands I've ever been in. First, I decide to slowplay and than the player with AQ decides to slowplay on the button with top two pair. If I lead on the flop or he bets out on the flop, I end up taking all his chips and would have a great stack of 10.5k. Oh well, that is how poker goes and I feel like I played great this whole circuit and even though I turned a profit it is disappointing in the financial column to play what I think might be the best poker I've ever played for two weeks. Also, congrats to mattster for placing 6th in the 1k event for just a bit over 11k. I know he is probably disappointed to as he lost JJ vs A2 all in preflop for 525k in chips 8 handed when there was only 1.2 million in chips in play. He would of had a dominating chiplead and no doubt the best player at the final table. Well I think it about sums it up, I'll talk at ya later

WSOP Indiana Event #9

2008-04-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

Well I went down to Caesars again today to play the 500+50 buyin 1/2 holdem 1/2 omaha. Me and Mattster got seated at the same table. The tournament started out with 100 players and 3500 starting chips. I started out kind of rocky early on but hit a groove in holdem and quickly found my stack up to 9k at 1st break with around 85 players left. I continued my hot start during the holdem session when I limped with J9hh after two limpers at the 100-200 level. The flop was KQT with 2 spades. A player led out for 700 and I made it 2400 to go and the player snap called me with only around 3k back. The turn was a pretty red 3 and the player quickly checked and I put him all, he tanked and called with KQ and I held up. That put me up to around 14.5k going into the omaha 150-300 level. I limped JT87 double suited from the small blind after 3 limpers. The flop came 976 with 2 spades but none of my suit. I ended up checkraising a guy all in and he quickly called with AT85 with 2 spades but I rivered the 8 non spade to scoop the pot. I got incredibly lucky to win this pot let alone chop it as he was basically freerolling it. I went on break with around 20k with around 34 left feeling really good about my chances as I had to of been top 3 if not chipleader. They paid 18 in the event and I was average in the money. Then all hell broke loose after the break. Blinds are 200-400 and we started out with holdem. I raised KQdd under the gun to 1100 and a loose aggresive player with 17k who was also top 5 in chips called. The flop was gin with it coming JT9 with 2 hearts. I led out 1600 and he quickly called. The turn card brought a J and I checked to him with the intention of checkraising him. He instantly goes allin for 14.5k and I snapped him. The player goes "oh S@#* !!!" and wouldn't flip his cards over until the river had peeled. He flips up 99 for the turned boat and I wasn't too happy as I thought I had it the way he acted. I ended up being down to around 4k in chips or so and ended up busting in the omaha portion at 300-600. This has to of been maybe the most disapointing live tourney I've played except for maybe the 1k wpt event in Tunica where I dusted off a huge stack after dinner break. That pot would of put me around 39k-40k in chips when the average at the final table would of been 35k and this is with around 30 players left! Oh well, I'm going to probably go down and play the 300+40 event tommorrow and give it all I got. Well I'll keep it updated, later.