Running down a dream...

Still running hot.

Last week, I busted early in Flatline.

This week, I finished second.

Again, felt great against the group. Ran into good cards just often enough to really pile on the aggression towards the end and reap the benefits of big stack poker. Still, there were a couple of hiccups along the way, that while not successful in their outcome, were good learning experiences.

First, I had to crawl back from a crippling blow at the hands of Sven (an oft lauded opponent here on this blog, who is a damn good player and also a friend and poker confidante). I flopped a monster with junk - two pair, and was so determined to felt him that I didn't raise the turn and instead smooth called my way right into his rivered straight.

I don't think my play was way out of line, but it was probably less than ideal. Sven likely would've tanked long and hard if I'd reraised the turn, and very possibly folded if I had given him the wrong price. Ironically, if he had called, even though I would have been far worse for wear chip wise (probably felted in fact) it would have at least been correct. I didn't have enough of a "monster" to justify my play of trying to get Sven to spew chips. In the end he had too many outs on a scary board, and he hit one, much to my chagrin. Thankfully, he didn't put me all in with the nuts, I likely would've called.

I bounced back quickly though, and then managed to spew some more against my other good friend (and sometimes quasi-poker confidante) Cali. Cali, along with Titan, are the two guys who I KNOW if they raise in early position always, ALWAYS, have something. Usually aces or kings.

Cali was kind enough not to put me all in when I flopped top pair queen kicker, but he did just about value bet me to death - and I let him. If I had been savvy enough I suppose I could have raised his lead out bet on the flop (though I would've been nearly short stacked with this move) and then put him on AK when he shoved. I really should have put him on this though with his pre-flop raise, and folded my trap hand (which was KQos).

Thanks to a couple of lucky breaks I pounded my way to the finish line, stealing mercilessly and quite simply outclassing a lot of my opponents with c-bets and cutoff/hijack stealing. It felt GREAT.

Then it was 3 handed. Sammy Ro proceeded to implode with ill timed steal attempts out of position, twice I swatted him down with the goods and then a third time with air when he was ridiculously short stacked.

Finally it was me and a new guy. I had him on the ropes, then he rivered a four outer and I found that I suddenly didn't have the will to wait him out. As far as I could tell he was fairly solid, though pretty ABC poker - I know if I hadn't let myself get a bit tilty I could have bore down and outplayed him.

As it was - with the blinds enormous, I made an ill advised steal attempt on a harmless looking flop that turned out to have hit his computer hand (Q7) perfectly. When he smooth called my button raise (I had J9) I should have readied myself to release the hand if I blanked. A normal c-bet was out of the question, I was short stacked.

At any rate, I feel GREAT about Flatline right now. I'm also excited about this Wednesday night of Worldline, a series of tournaments we're running to award a single winner a seat at this years World Series of Poker! I feel I have as good a chance as any, and frankly a better chance than most.

Speaking of Vegas, that's where I'm going a week from this Friday - for some serious tournament poker immersion. I have 5, yes 5, tournaments scheduled for me on the trip. I'd be pretty bummed if I didn't cash at least once, but I have to be realistic, and also go first and foremost for FUN.

If there's one thing that I've learned about poker, that it's ABSOLUTELY not worth doing if I'm not having fun - first and foremost. I would love to cash in Vegas, but I'm going to approach the whole venture with a sense of fun and a chance to hang out with my buddies, shoot the shit, see the sights, and laugh.

Speaking of laughing - I've been up and down on Full Tilt, but slightly more of the latter. I really believe that it's a bit of variance, a bit of being out played (especially at the $5 sit-n-go stakes and up) and a bit of a savage rake that is omnipresent at all low and micro stakes.

Still, I will persevere, and lower my BR requirements as needed. Full Tilt just recently added micro cash games (1c/2c blinds) which I've enjoyed a handful of times to great success by simply turning off my brain and playing only premium cards and betting monsters for value.

I need to stay away from SNG's that are technically bankroll safe but at the limit - $2.25 a pop seems to be about right. I've really had the most success (even when I don't cash) at the larger MTT's. I've gone deep, many, many times. I've qualified for the double deuce tournament in 60c satellites 4 TIMES. So clearly, I'm not stinking up the joint.

Ah well.