Flatline (my friend filled online league) has ended the first season of the year, and yours truly sits at the top of the leader board.
I am so far ahead in fact, that I was able to miss our last tournament last night, and still be untouchable. It's been a good year so far for me in the company of these fine fellas - especially the calling stations and tilt monkeys.
I am up close to $600 profit, $100 of which I was able to parlay into a WSOP satellite in our group (where I finished a close second to the winner) and transfer some other funds to a player in need of reloading.
In the realm of live poker, I recently busted out early of an HPC event in which I played fairly poorly. But I also bubbled in the fantastic Venetian noon deepstack last Friday. I was 25th out of 200 players. I played pretty well. I will make that tournament my game of choice when I return to Vegas - the starting stack and structure are par excellence.
My brother, of whose recently found poker playing prowess and overall pimpness I am very proud, actually made the money, finishing 13th!
On the opposite side of the tournament realms, last Sunday I played in a super-turbo at the Aliante Station casino; a grand fun time where I was able to outplay everyone at the table - only to bubble again in fourth place when my opponent hit a gut wrenching 3 outer on the river. Still, in hindsight, it was a whole hell of a lot of fun.
I truly rose to the occasion, without a single premium starting hand, and outplayed and outmaneuvered just about everyone in a pretty silly shovefest of two tables and 2500 starting chips.
My poker game, when I pay attention and apply myself, is pretty damn good right now. However, facing the cold hard reality, that supplementing my income through micro-stakes online or a from a live poker tournament or two every other month, is not bloody likely, has cooled my devotion to the game a bit.
This is fine. I think I'm much happier with poker as a hobby of fun, rather than a soul-sucking win at all costs pursuit.
Can't wait for next months H.O.R.S.E. at my house. My home game has been thriving and evolving rapidly - my own play therein has been good as well, I'm near the top of the leader-board and have cashed several times this year. Very much looking forward to a fun filled year on that front.
