So the year has gone on, I've played a bit here and there and I want to play more and more as the World Series of Poker approaches.
I've got my eyeballs on two events - the first will take place on May 29th, it's the Colossus. Click on the word to learn all about it. What will likely be the largest poker tournament in history, with at least 5 million dollars in prize money up for grabs as well as of course a bracelet - all for the low low price of only $565.
As a piece of history, and with my wife and kiddo out of town, I don't know that I could forgive myself for missing this one. I have recently pre-registered, the first time in my life that I have ever done this, and because of this I will for sure be playing in a bracelet event for only the second time in my life come Memorial day weekend.
The second event that I'd very much like to play in, and am planning on it, is the Monster Stack, two weekends after the Colossus. This bad boy bracelet event gives players, for the low low price of $1500, an amazing structure and a HUGE amount of chips to go along with it. Last year the winner took home 1.3 milly. There is some serious cheddar at stake, not to mention WSOP history.
Both of these promise to be once in a lifetime poker playing opportunities, and I am excited and very much looking forward to them. But there is the matter of recompense.
I feel somehow that I owe something to someone, perhaps the poker gods, perhaps THE God, or perhaps simply myself.
Of the half dozen or so events that I've played since my last post, I haven't seen nary a wisp of a cash. I haven't gotten anywhere near the money, in anything. Well, okay, after checking my ledger I see that I min-cashed at Commerce in the middle of March, but my notes point out that save for a crucial flip early on, I lost every race and picked up zero premiums on the way to my $355 pay day.
Last week I held my annual WSOP satellite in my garage. 9 of us plunked down $170 each for a $1500 bracelet seat. The winner gets a seat in the event of his choice, but also has to share any winnings with the rest of the group 60/40.
Well I was the first one out. With nearly a hundred big blinds, I could not fold my KK to a five bet shove pre-flop. Of course my opponent had AA.
Lesson learned. Even though I rationalized it at the time, correctly stating that the villain was one of the more aggressive and capable players in the satty, it was truly a horrible call-off by me. As aggressive and maniacal as the craziest of players can be - they are still never bluffing with 100 bigs behind pre-flop, unless for some reason they want to light their entry fee on fire. Put it this way, this particular opponent, and 99 out of 100 others, would not have re-shipped KK to a cold four bet.
My opponent in this case, is able to play like a maniac on occasion, and is tough and aggressive, but he was never, ever bluffing there. I should've flatted his three bet instead of four betting him. Failing that (I'm okay with a four bet as he would likely 3 bet JJ, QQ or AK to my UTG raise) I should have for sure tanked at the very least and took a read, then I very likely could've found a fold and proudly mucked my kings face up.
Instead I got to sit around for 7 hours as the rest of the guys played down to the WSOP seat.
So, not my finest hour.
But even worse, was the night before. I played in the Bike Quantum, an absurd multi-flight re-entry tournament that nonetheless is a cheap way to get in a lot of hands.
For 6 hours I played very well. Accumulating despite a dearth of starting cards and managing to avoid the experienced players, who as usual multiplied as the bubble approached.
Just before we redrew to 2 tables, I had a bit of an implosion. I went from 45 bigs to less than 15 over the course of 3 hands. I tried to get clever, make moves, whatever, and simply missed the flops spectacularly and compounded my misfortune by refusing to let go until long after it was too late.
It was a long walk back to the car for me, I was very frustrated after I have been playing so well, to so foolishly spew off chips by losing patience.
So here is my promise as my recompense.
I vow to play as much as I can between now and the 29th, while still putting my family and job first of course - and in doing so I will also promise to not push things, to not get impatient and try to 'outplay' my opponents when either A) I have very little or no equity in the hand, either by virtue of crap cards, a whiffed flop or bad position OR B) I find myself against one or more experienced players who will give little fear or thought about tangling with me.
The latter was really my downfall the other night. I have recently taken great pride at being able to avoid trouble, or at least extract myself from it early on to minimize the damage. This last time, I was simply being stubborn against opponents that I knew damn well played in the Quantum at least 5 or 6 times a week. No reason for my ego to get in the way and hang on when deep down I knew I needed to let go and look for better spots.
Ah well, poker. Just when you think you've got it licked, it comes back and kicks you right in the jackpot.
So I am sorry, poker gods or whoever, and I promise to do better. I promise to sit back and let good cards come when it is time to do so. I promise to sniff out the weak and prey on them, and to avoid the larger wolves that inevitably arrive along with the bubble. I promise to be the great player that I know I can be - if I stay within myself, and see the forest for the trees; the big picture ahead.
Actually, two big pictures.
The biggest tournament on record, ever. And another tournament that is massive and awesome.
Can't wait.
