I just saw today that Pokerstars updated their SCOOP schedule coming up in May.
SCOOP Schedule
I really like this schedule as some of the high buy in events are actually going to be reasonable enough of a buy in to play. Having this in May is seriously great for most online players as it serves as a serious warm up to the World Series of Poker. My goal now is to prepare myself mentally by playing a variety of games and looking through hand histories. I've been in a great habit of going through hand histories the last two days to find mistakes and successes.
Whoa I just 3 bet a guy all in with A7 of spades in a Turbo on Full Tilt................typing dots until something happens................he folds...want proof?
Full Tilt Poker Game #18924271013: Turbo Fiddy (143601761), Table 23 - 120/240 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:50:10 ET - 2010/03/03
Seat 1: watson5j (8,659)
Seat 2: ProjectSix (6,200)
Seat 3: luckyML97ft (1,720)
Seat 4: bigace223 (3,580)
Seat 5: gettym (2,031)
Seat 6: MikyMcDermott (5,380)
Seat 7: Michael_Bosco (4,375)
Seat 8: kice32 (4,180)
Seat 9: quantum leaper1 (3,980)
watson5j antes 25
ProjectSix antes 25
luckyML97ft antes 25
bigace223 antes 25
gettym antes 25
MikyMcDermott antes 25
Michael_Bosco antes 25
kice32 antes 25
quantum leaper1 antes 25
watson5j posts the small blind of 120
ProjectSix posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kice32 [7s As]
luckyML97ft folds
bigace223 folds
gettym folds
MikyMcDermott folds
Michael_Bosco folds
kice32 raises to 480
quantum leaper1 folds
watson5j raises to 1,200
ProjectSix folds
kice32 raises to 4,155, and is all in
watson5j has 15 seconds left to act
watson5j folds
Uncalled bet of 2,955 returned to kice32
kice32 mucks
kice32 wins the pot (2,865)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,865 | Rake 0
Seat 1: watson5j (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: ProjectSix (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: luckyML97ft folded before the Flop
Seat 4: bigace223 folded before the Flop
Seat 5: gettym folded before the Flop
Seat 6: MikyMcDermott folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Michael_Bosco folded before the Flop
Seat 8: kice32 collected (2,865), mucked
Seat 9: quantum leaper1 (button) folded before the Flop
They think I raise so light sometimes...well I do sometimes, but I like to 4 bet shove.
I want to play in the next NAPT event in Connecticut come April 7-11, and I'll be doing my best to win the package through Pokerstars.
whoa whoa whoa whoa I just blew up with AK. I mean is this guy ever showing me not at least one Q with a straight draw.... enough blogging after you see this horrendous play. Spit blahhhhhh pukee....get that out of me. I just 9th leveled myself in a $26 sit n go.
Full Tilt Poker Game #18924337244: $24 + $2 Sit & Go (143856378), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:54:31 ET - 2010/03/03
Seat 1: IWantUrMoney515 (4,626)
Seat 2: crisp714 (5,390)
Seat 3: robo_1985 (1,005)
Seat 4: plzdontcall1 (855)
Seat 5: kice32 (327)
Seat 7: loosenuts99 (2,490)
Seat 8: happymonkey123 (3,080)
Seat 9: Djibril Cisse (4,200)
IWantUrMoney515 posts the small blind of 80
crisp714 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kice32 [3d 7s]
robo_1985 folds
plzdontcall1 folds
kice32 folds
loosenuts99 folds
happymonkey123 folds
Djibril Cisse folds
IWantUrMoney515 calls 80
crisp714 raises to 480
IWantUrMoney515 folds
Uncalled bet of 320 returned to crisp714
crisp714 mucks
crisp714 wins the pot (320)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 320 | Rake 0
Seat 1: IWantUrMoney515 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: crisp714 (big blind) collected (320), mucked
Seat 3: robo_1985 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: plzdontcall1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: kice32 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: loosenuts99 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: happymonkey123 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Djibril Cisse (button) didn't bet (folded)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
To LA and back
I made a trip down to the Commerce Casino and the LA Poker Classic on Monday. I immediately learned lesson #1 of the trip. Don't play immediately after driving from Las Vegas to LA. I don't know if it was because I hadn't released any of my pent up 3:30 hour drive energy, but I played the first $335 tournament like most of the other Commerce players with a dream. Starting with 3000 chips doesn't give much time to get it going. I played a hand with JJ where there were 3 callers, so I called from late position and the button came in. We went 5 handed to 8 7 6 two club flop. 3 players check to me and I bet 300 into 500. The button who had been playing pretty tight thinks for a second and makes it 1250. With only 2500 in my stack, I either play for it all or fold. I regret not playing for it all here since in a tournament like this, especially since I eventually called this guys all in later in the tournament with an impatient 77 vs his 99. Chalk up tourney number 1 to some bad decisions.
Tourney #2 was the 1k the next day. With 260 players, I got knocked out around 69th place on the second hand back from dinner break. I raised the button and was reraised by an internet regular and good player. I decided to go all in with my A9 suited here despite a tiny instinct to keep grinding. My entire tournament was a grind of small ball and dead cards. He showed AK, game over.
I picked up my game for the $500 shootout as I have total confidence in winning a one table tournament. I drew a great table where the talented and unpredictable Chino Rheem only made it through about 2 hands. Other than him, I only recognized one other solid internet player, but pretty much avoided confrontation with him despite getting it in AK vs AQ and splitting the pot early on. Despite not participating in probably 95% of hands for the first few hours, I managed to get all the money in KT vs JT 3 handed for a chance to go heads up with an older, southern gentlemen who was aggressive, but who I believe I had a very solid read on. Several times, I made laydowns to him and was shown the best hand. KT vs JT happened and the 789 flop sent me out in 3rd.
I only played one satellite to the main event and made a 3 bet with 22 to a late position aggressive player raise. Unfortunately, the BB overshoved with 99. The pot odds were close to 4.2 to 1. Since even the worst case scenario of an overpair is 4 to 1, I made the call and missed after the 3 4 6 flop. This hand did bother me a little bit because I wasn't really prepared to call the stack behind me and would have elected to fold had I been paying a little closer attention to stack sizes. My style has always been to understand the math of the game and how the constant mathematical dynamics are changing. Stack sizes and paying attention to how they are changing, what odds you may be getting in certain situations, what stack sizes are going to force you call, what positions you are putting other stacks in based on your stack size, and many other factors go into a hand. It may just be the result of the hand and me not getting a chance to play for over $1 million in one of the best tournaments of the year, but I'm a little bitter.
I'm trying to close out February and finish strong with a good weekend showing. I'm looking forward to Saturday and Sunday and lots of tournaments. Regardless, it has been a fairly slow month with 1 tournament win in the $55 on Pokerstars. With an FTOPS all month and not much success, that won't often make for a winner. I've had worse months though and by no means is it over. We still have two big days ahead.
Tourney #2 was the 1k the next day. With 260 players, I got knocked out around 69th place on the second hand back from dinner break. I raised the button and was reraised by an internet regular and good player. I decided to go all in with my A9 suited here despite a tiny instinct to keep grinding. My entire tournament was a grind of small ball and dead cards. He showed AK, game over.
I picked up my game for the $500 shootout as I have total confidence in winning a one table tournament. I drew a great table where the talented and unpredictable Chino Rheem only made it through about 2 hands. Other than him, I only recognized one other solid internet player, but pretty much avoided confrontation with him despite getting it in AK vs AQ and splitting the pot early on. Despite not participating in probably 95% of hands for the first few hours, I managed to get all the money in KT vs JT 3 handed for a chance to go heads up with an older, southern gentlemen who was aggressive, but who I believe I had a very solid read on. Several times, I made laydowns to him and was shown the best hand. KT vs JT happened and the 789 flop sent me out in 3rd.
I only played one satellite to the main event and made a 3 bet with 22 to a late position aggressive player raise. Unfortunately, the BB overshoved with 99. The pot odds were close to 4.2 to 1. Since even the worst case scenario of an overpair is 4 to 1, I made the call and missed after the 3 4 6 flop. This hand did bother me a little bit because I wasn't really prepared to call the stack behind me and would have elected to fold had I been paying a little closer attention to stack sizes. My style has always been to understand the math of the game and how the constant mathematical dynamics are changing. Stack sizes and paying attention to how they are changing, what odds you may be getting in certain situations, what stack sizes are going to force you call, what positions you are putting other stacks in based on your stack size, and many other factors go into a hand. It may just be the result of the hand and me not getting a chance to play for over $1 million in one of the best tournaments of the year, but I'm a little bitter.
I'm trying to close out February and finish strong with a good weekend showing. I'm looking forward to Saturday and Sunday and lots of tournaments. Regardless, it has been a fairly slow month with 1 tournament win in the $55 on Pokerstars. With an FTOPS all month and not much success, that won't often make for a winner. I've had worse months though and by no means is it over. We still have two big days ahead.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
2010 Goals
All of these goals refer to multi-table tournaments (MTTs)and apply to both online and live tournaments where I pay a buy in and prize money is rewarded based on place in the tournament.
1. Win a World Series of Poker Bracelet
2. Cash in the main event of the WSOP
3. Win a live tournament
4. Win 10 NL Hold 'em tournaments
5. Final Table 100 tournaments
6. Final Table 15 Sunday Majors
7. Win a Sunday online major tournament (Tournaments that count on Pokerstars-Sunday Warmup, Sunday 100R at 2:00pm Est, Sunday Million, Sunday 500, Sunday Second Chance, and Sunday 200R, on Full Tilt--Sunday Brawl, Sunday 750k or 1 mill, and Sunday Mulligan
8. Win a major series live or online (UBOC, FTOPS, WCOOP) tournament.
9. Final Table 5 major tournament series both live and online.
If I think of more, I'll add them later.
1. Win a World Series of Poker Bracelet
2. Cash in the main event of the WSOP
3. Win a live tournament
4. Win 10 NL Hold 'em tournaments
5. Final Table 100 tournaments
6. Final Table 15 Sunday Majors
7. Win a Sunday online major tournament (Tournaments that count on Pokerstars-Sunday Warmup, Sunday 100R at 2:00pm Est, Sunday Million, Sunday 500, Sunday Second Chance, and Sunday 200R, on Full Tilt--Sunday Brawl, Sunday 750k or 1 mill, and Sunday Mulligan
8. Win a major series live or online (UBOC, FTOPS, WCOOP) tournament.
9. Final Table 5 major tournament series both live and online.
If I think of more, I'll add them later.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
My Sunday Pledge..Everyone Wins
I read a forum thread on Pocketfives on Saturday with a bunch of poker players pledging money to the Haiti disaster. I decided to donate 5% of my total profits at the end of the day before the day began. As it turns out, Sunday was one of my best Sunday's playing in a while. I was patient and cashed in several tournaments including a 5th place in the Full Tilt Sunday $1 Million Guaranteed. At the end of the day, Haiti was looking at $2650 from me.
I'm going to equally divide this between 3 charities, American Red Cross, UNICEF, and Doctors with Borders. I'm glad several people in the poker community pledged part of their biggest day of the week and number one ranked player "Doc Sands" started off the rally with a simple thread in a forum. Hopefully, everyone out there gives a little to help a country that is desperately in need. After reading through some articles and seeing a 200,000 death toll possible with over 1.5 million people homeless, my heart and prayers go out to that nation. At the same time, it's great to see the good come out from people in the world. The world needs more of that good everyday.
I'm going to equally divide this between 3 charities, American Red Cross, UNICEF, and Doctors with Borders. I'm glad several people in the poker community pledged part of their biggest day of the week and number one ranked player "Doc Sands" started off the rally with a simple thread in a forum. Hopefully, everyone out there gives a little to help a country that is desperately in need. After reading through some articles and seeing a 200,000 death toll possible with over 1.5 million people homeless, my heart and prayers go out to that nation. At the same time, it's great to see the good come out from people in the world. The world needs more of that good everyday.
Friday, January 15, 2010
What are Goals Without Accountability?
Happy New Year! (half way through the month I know) While my blog entries have dwindled over the life of this blog, my focus on my goals for the year has not. Last year, I reviewed my goals through a blog. This year will be no exception. Without further ado,
After much thought and reflection, I've come up with some of my goals for 2009.
1. Win 1 major online tournament series event including the UBOC, FTOPS, WCOOP, SCOOP.
Ship it!!!!!!! I won a WCOOP in September in the $215 Limit Hold 'em. I actually just returned from the Bahamas where they gave me my official WCOOP bracelet. I hope it's the first of many....
I know I got a 3rd in the UBOC Limit Hold 'em tournament as well....hmmm. Maybe I should play more limit tournaments even though that UBOC should barely count as a major online tournament series for a small limit tournament.
2. Final table 2 major online tournament series tourneys including the UBOC, FTOPS, WCOOP, SCOOP
See number 1. Mission accomplished..kind of. The FTOPS has eluded me this year.
3. Win a World Series of Poker Bracelet
3rd place in Pot Limit Omaha...very close but no cigar and this will from now on be listed as the number 1 goal.
4. Win a live tournament
3rd place in the WSOP and no cashed in any live tournament outside of the WSOP. I don't know exactly what's going on in the live arena. I haven't played that many and maybe just volume is where I'll find that win.
5. Win 10 online tournaments
I think this needs to be more specific, but what I meant was online multi-table tournaments with probably over 100 players.
I won 10 on Full Tilt including those small $75 other game tourneys (3 wins in Pot Limit Omaha, HORSE, and Omaha Hi/Lo), a $26 7-game mix and $26 heads up, so not as impressive as NL Hold 'em wins.
I won 2 on Pokerstars, the WCOOP and a PLO8 $215.
I won 2 on Ultimate Bet.
Total wins of 14 and I don't feel satisfied at all. I had a total lack of no limit wins. (Foreshadowing my goals 2010 post of course...)
6. Play a satellite to every live tournament main event where I enter a preliminary event
I'm pretty sure I did this except for when it was not +EV for me to do so. I did not win any of these satellites, so while I accomplished this goal, it did not achieve the desired results of putting me in a big tournament.
7. Reach 80 final tables including all events with over 50 entrants (not including sit and gos)
45 final tables on Full Tilt
16 final tables on Pokerstars
7 final tables on Ultimate Bet.
Total of 68 final tables online + 1 final table at the WSOP= 69 final tables.
8. Win an entry to a European Poker Tour event and go play it.
Fail
9. Play at least 5 events in every live tournament series I enter where there are at least 20 events.
I did not complete this goal because the Bellagio had bad numbers for tournaments. That being said, it shouldn't be considered a failure because I had specific reasons for not playing at least 5 events. I played more than 5 at the LAPC and WSOP because they had great turnouts and soft fields. The Bellagio was a different story at certain points of the year.
10. Win 1 Sunday major from the following list of tournaments: Sunday Brawl, Sunday Million, Sunday 500, Sunday Warmup, Full Tilt 750k or 1 mill, UB 200K, Full Tilt Mulligan, Stars 200 Rebuy
None of my wins included one of these.
Overall, I had an exciting year when it came to poker, but it was much different than 2008. In 2009, I had two larger cashes in games that weren't even No Limit Hold 'em that basically gave me what I needed for the year compared to 2008 where I won several more mid-range prizes. All in all, I'm still playing poker and have goals ready in the next blog....
After much thought and reflection, I've come up with some of my goals for 2009.
1. Win 1 major online tournament series event including the UBOC, FTOPS, WCOOP, SCOOP.
Ship it!!!!!!! I won a WCOOP in September in the $215 Limit Hold 'em. I actually just returned from the Bahamas where they gave me my official WCOOP bracelet. I hope it's the first of many....
I know I got a 3rd in the UBOC Limit Hold 'em tournament as well....hmmm. Maybe I should play more limit tournaments even though that UBOC should barely count as a major online tournament series for a small limit tournament.
2. Final table 2 major online tournament series tourneys including the UBOC, FTOPS, WCOOP, SCOOP
See number 1. Mission accomplished..kind of. The FTOPS has eluded me this year.
3. Win a World Series of Poker Bracelet
3rd place in Pot Limit Omaha...very close but no cigar and this will from now on be listed as the number 1 goal.
4. Win a live tournament
3rd place in the WSOP and no cashed in any live tournament outside of the WSOP. I don't know exactly what's going on in the live arena. I haven't played that many and maybe just volume is where I'll find that win.
5. Win 10 online tournaments
I think this needs to be more specific, but what I meant was online multi-table tournaments with probably over 100 players.
I won 10 on Full Tilt including those small $75 other game tourneys (3 wins in Pot Limit Omaha, HORSE, and Omaha Hi/Lo), a $26 7-game mix and $26 heads up, so not as impressive as NL Hold 'em wins.
I won 2 on Pokerstars, the WCOOP and a PLO8 $215.
I won 2 on Ultimate Bet.
Total wins of 14 and I don't feel satisfied at all. I had a total lack of no limit wins. (Foreshadowing my goals 2010 post of course...)
6. Play a satellite to every live tournament main event where I enter a preliminary event
I'm pretty sure I did this except for when it was not +EV for me to do so. I did not win any of these satellites, so while I accomplished this goal, it did not achieve the desired results of putting me in a big tournament.
7. Reach 80 final tables including all events with over 50 entrants (not including sit and gos)
45 final tables on Full Tilt
16 final tables on Pokerstars
7 final tables on Ultimate Bet.
Total of 68 final tables online + 1 final table at the WSOP= 69 final tables.
8. Win an entry to a European Poker Tour event and go play it.
Fail
9. Play at least 5 events in every live tournament series I enter where there are at least 20 events.
I did not complete this goal because the Bellagio had bad numbers for tournaments. That being said, it shouldn't be considered a failure because I had specific reasons for not playing at least 5 events. I played more than 5 at the LAPC and WSOP because they had great turnouts and soft fields. The Bellagio was a different story at certain points of the year.
10. Win 1 Sunday major from the following list of tournaments: Sunday Brawl, Sunday Million, Sunday 500, Sunday Warmup, Full Tilt 750k or 1 mill, UB 200K, Full Tilt Mulligan, Stars 200 Rebuy
None of my wins included one of these.
Overall, I had an exciting year when it came to poker, but it was much different than 2008. In 2009, I had two larger cashes in games that weren't even No Limit Hold 'em that basically gave me what I needed for the year compared to 2008 where I won several more mid-range prizes. All in all, I'm still playing poker and have goals ready in the next blog....
Saturday, December 12, 2009
My Mind's Battlefield
So I can talk about the countless final tables coming up short in the past month, but that can only come off as whiny. I can talk about my inadequate performance at times, but that would deny that the fact that I've learned a lot. I just want to talk about the battlefield that is my own mind.
First off, I've just passed my two year mark of living in Las Vegas and earning my living by playing countless hours of poker. This is not video poker or something with a house edge, but a mind game between individual players where the outcome of the contest is determined by both skill and luck. I've won a lot of tournaments, made a bunch of final tables, and have not cashed in probably close to 85% of the tournaments I've played. That being said, I'm a consistent winner in the long run, which is all that matters in the game. The problem with the long run meaning more than the short run is that we live in the short run. My daily emotions are focused on the short run. My competitive desires strive for the present. Certainly, I've blogged about my long run goals and what not, but every day, I wake up and have to go compete. The ultimate determination of my long run success relies on my mindset as a competitor.
I play primarily tournament poker where the prizes are top heavy and 1st place is the only thing that feels great most of the time. I've walked out of the World Series of Poker with a 3rd place finish and over $90,000. At the time, I didn't want to talk to a soul. I went to a celebration dinner and night out, but all I wondered was why I didn't win. When I went to bed at night and woke up in the morning, I was haunted by being so close. Winning a WCOOP bracelet a few months later felt better for less money because I won. Over the last few months, I pondered what was next. Surely, winning a WCOOP bracelet and being so close to the greatest prize of them all had to mean something towards my talent........
So now, I've come to a realization. To take this thing to the next level, I need to control my mind. My mind has become a constant battlefield between snap judgment and reaction vs. the thoughtful right reaction. It has become a battle between good habits and a few bad habits. It has become a battle between curiosity (paying off players on hands that make no sense) and the correct decision. The battle lasts to the point where it's all about positive energy versus negative energy, the I can versus the I don't think I can. To really take this thing to the next level, I have to conquer my own mind. My goal for the next 6 months is to play the best possible poker 100% of the time. My A game needs to be my D game, and my D game needs to be my A game.
I'm writing this blog because something has been bothering me. When snap emotional decisions make up what is anything in my life, I've found it to be a harmful force overall. I've taken up the practice of yoga along with the meditation that I've talked about in the past. I've always succeeded at everything in my life, and maybe have never faced enough resistance in my own mind. This is a battle that I think we all have to fight at some point in our life. I'm glad I've found mine within the scope of a game I love to play and call my profession.
I took at class at Miami University that was a special sports psychology class. I often draw upon the things that I learned from this class, but now I think I fully understand how it relates to what I need to be. We are only as strong as our weakest thought or negative impulse. I'm going to be better.
First off, I've just passed my two year mark of living in Las Vegas and earning my living by playing countless hours of poker. This is not video poker or something with a house edge, but a mind game between individual players where the outcome of the contest is determined by both skill and luck. I've won a lot of tournaments, made a bunch of final tables, and have not cashed in probably close to 85% of the tournaments I've played. That being said, I'm a consistent winner in the long run, which is all that matters in the game. The problem with the long run meaning more than the short run is that we live in the short run. My daily emotions are focused on the short run. My competitive desires strive for the present. Certainly, I've blogged about my long run goals and what not, but every day, I wake up and have to go compete. The ultimate determination of my long run success relies on my mindset as a competitor.
I play primarily tournament poker where the prizes are top heavy and 1st place is the only thing that feels great most of the time. I've walked out of the World Series of Poker with a 3rd place finish and over $90,000. At the time, I didn't want to talk to a soul. I went to a celebration dinner and night out, but all I wondered was why I didn't win. When I went to bed at night and woke up in the morning, I was haunted by being so close. Winning a WCOOP bracelet a few months later felt better for less money because I won. Over the last few months, I pondered what was next. Surely, winning a WCOOP bracelet and being so close to the greatest prize of them all had to mean something towards my talent........
So now, I've come to a realization. To take this thing to the next level, I need to control my mind. My mind has become a constant battlefield between snap judgment and reaction vs. the thoughtful right reaction. It has become a battle between good habits and a few bad habits. It has become a battle between curiosity (paying off players on hands that make no sense) and the correct decision. The battle lasts to the point where it's all about positive energy versus negative energy, the I can versus the I don't think I can. To really take this thing to the next level, I have to conquer my own mind. My goal for the next 6 months is to play the best possible poker 100% of the time. My A game needs to be my D game, and my D game needs to be my A game.
I'm writing this blog because something has been bothering me. When snap emotional decisions make up what is anything in my life, I've found it to be a harmful force overall. I've taken up the practice of yoga along with the meditation that I've talked about in the past. I've always succeeded at everything in my life, and maybe have never faced enough resistance in my own mind. This is a battle that I think we all have to fight at some point in our life. I'm glad I've found mine within the scope of a game I love to play and call my profession.
I took at class at Miami University that was a special sports psychology class. I often draw upon the things that I learned from this class, but now I think I fully understand how it relates to what I need to be. We are only as strong as our weakest thought or negative impulse. I'm going to be better.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Get knocked down 7 times, stand up 8
It's Monday. It's also known to me as the day after Sunday. Yesterday was a awful mess of a poker day. While over the course of a poker day involving roughly 25-30 tournaments, I'm going to make mistakes. Minimizing those mistakes and being consistent are the keys to staying in position. Yesterday was simply one of those days where I kept getting knocked down. Even when it seemed the clouds were breaking, another bad beat or tough break. Countless big pairs into big pairs in situations where the average good player always goes broke. The number of bad beats and horrible hands that could have left a mark in my memory are gone now. It's Monday and time to stand back up. October is most likely going to be a negative month. I didn't really win anything this month and likely won't be playing too much until Sunday.
The takeaway from yesterday though is my overall demeanor. Even when the last bad beat took hold in the Sunday 500 on Pokerstars while we were in the money (QQ vs K2 with a shocking K on the turn), I stood up and was ready to live another day. I've had plenty of bad days since being a professional and even since playing poker. If you let them affect your confidence or your self worth, that's when it becomes a problem. Sometimes long periods of time don't go well. I've even had 4-5 months where it has felt like this. Then all of a sudden being able to manage the losses and staying focused leads to big cashes and those tournament victories when all the luck finally changes.
If you want to play poker even semi-seriously, you just have to learn to accept that losses are part of the game.
November starts the final FTOPS of the year, which is Full Tilt's big series. I've joined a 1,000 per man leaderboard competition for Nov 1-Nov 11 to really motivate me to play long and play well over those days.
On another positive note, I did get a 4 day trip to the Bahamas for the WCOOP bracelet ceremony. I'll also be working hard on satellites to the Pokerstars Carribean Adventure, which is the 10k main event down there. It's probably the 3rd biggest tournament of the year. They also have a full schedule of other tournaments that looks intriguing. The tournament takes place Jan 5-Jan 12.
The takeaway from yesterday though is my overall demeanor. Even when the last bad beat took hold in the Sunday 500 on Pokerstars while we were in the money (QQ vs K2 with a shocking K on the turn), I stood up and was ready to live another day. I've had plenty of bad days since being a professional and even since playing poker. If you let them affect your confidence or your self worth, that's when it becomes a problem. Sometimes long periods of time don't go well. I've even had 4-5 months where it has felt like this. Then all of a sudden being able to manage the losses and staying focused leads to big cashes and those tournament victories when all the luck finally changes.
If you want to play poker even semi-seriously, you just have to learn to accept that losses are part of the game.
November starts the final FTOPS of the year, which is Full Tilt's big series. I've joined a 1,000 per man leaderboard competition for Nov 1-Nov 11 to really motivate me to play long and play well over those days.
On another positive note, I did get a 4 day trip to the Bahamas for the WCOOP bracelet ceremony. I'll also be working hard on satellites to the Pokerstars Carribean Adventure, which is the 10k main event down there. It's probably the 3rd biggest tournament of the year. They also have a full schedule of other tournaments that looks intriguing. The tournament takes place Jan 5-Jan 12.
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