I’m so sorry for not keeping up with this site. My ‘real’ job has been keeping me very busy. However, it is World Series time again, and I’m out in Vegas once again. I’m writing this from the tables at Aria slowly grinding a cash session. I’ll write up a trip report when I get a moment – but if you want some up to the minute updates, follow me on Twitter at @phrankerCO
I don’t have much to report. So far I have played in 3 events, made deep runs in 2 of them, but have no cashes to show for yet. I have only played 2 cash game sessions, 1 winning and the other losing. So, for 2 weeks, I really don’t have much to report on.
To keep up with whats going on, I use Twitter updates much more than anything else. Twitter is huge in the poker community and is much much easier for me. I am a terrible writer.
I’m playing a Venetian DSE event today and then another WSOP event on Sunday. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/phrankerCO) or find me on FaceBook(www.facebook.com/phrankerCO).
I had some really good feelings going into this event. I tried to satellite into the event, but was unable to close the deal on each attempt, so I just bought straight into the event. Luckily, I was able to use some of my cash game winnings from Thursday night to offset the buyin. The field was what I roughly what I thought it would be, a mix of old-timer grinders and under-21 internet kids. Standard field for Turning Stone.
We started of the tournament with 15k chips, 40 minute levels. I had a pretty easy and laid back first table. I was able to chip up with little uncontested pots through out the first 2 levels. Then I was moved to a new table. This table was a little more active to say the least. About the 2nd orbit after arriving at the table I raised under-the-gun with 56cc. A guy in middle position 3-bet me. This was the 1st pot I entered, so right away I figured this guy to be setting up a steal with nothing. It folded around to me and I had already devised my plan to cold call without hesitation nor rechecking my hole cards. Flop hit J5x, me for bottom pair, and was very dry. The plan was to check-raise strong, I execute as planned, and I drag another uncontested pot.
Three hands later, on the botton with the blinds at 100/200, I raise to 700 with 77 after 3 limpers enter the pot. We take a flop 4 handed and see 742hh. Checks to me and I bet about 80% pot, 2200. Same guy I had just executed the previous play on insta-shoves for ~15000. It folds to guy in the cut-off, and he starts tanking real hard. He basically announces his hand by tanking so hard, mumbling out loud if the other guy hit a set or not, without even noticing or any concern that I’m still in the pot. He finally convinces himself to go for it, and just calls the guys shove. I, of course, over-shove for the rest of the tankers chips, about another 5000, which I had him covered. He insta-calls. Its my 77 vs original shover’s 44 vs tanker’s A7hh for top set vs middle set vs top pair/nut flush draw. I fade the turn and river and knockout 2 players to become the tournament chip leader!!
That now sets me up to start playing the big stack at the table. I’m able to use a tight image and take a few uncontested pots every so often. I even knockout a small stack by calling with A4 vs his AK and flop 2-pair. Everything seems to be going right. Then, I go card dead for a while, but I’m not worried at all.
Sometime after the 2nd break, which would be after 4 hours of play, about the 7th and 8th level, everything just starts to go down hill. The hand that started it all was against a guy I’ll just call IDIOT. This IDIOT had a horseshoe somewhere up his ass, as he was able to call off his entire stack from under-the-gun with TT after a 3-bet and a 4-bet shove and ends up against AA vs KK. He spikes a T on the flop and everyone at the table starts to berate the guy. He’s oblivious to how bad of a play it was. So, the hand that starts my inevitable downfall starts with said IDIOT raising UTG. I have the guy covered at least 5x or more. I look down at QQ on the button and just shove it expecting to take it down. Both blinds fold as expected and the IDIOT tanks and announces, “Yeah, why not, I’ll play.” and turns over A4-off. Are you fucking kidding me. As if he would be ahead ever. Of course, you can assume the results and he spikes his 3 outer and doubles through me. It wasn’t a huge hit to my stack, but enough. This IDIOT now becomes the thorn in my side, as only a few hands later, I end up running TT into his limped KK and he doubles through me again. Un-fucking-believable. Those sort of hands don’t affect me at all, as I got it in bad and I’m OK with rationalizing my mistakes. It’s the mistakes that an IDIOT makes that get to me. Mind you, I didn’t tilt or anything, the TT vs KK hand would have played the same no matter what, but I sure did not need to double him again.
Now I’m nursing a short stack and just tighten right up and play the waiting game. I was able to keep my stack steady by stealing at the right times until I woke up with JJ in late position. I shoved it in and of course IDIOT wakes up with AA. Good game me, but to add insult to injury, as I stand up and get ready to leave, I hit the 2 outer on the flop, go to pull my seat back out and bink – A on the turn. Figures.
I took my defeat like always, and headed towards the door. I did stop to talk with the photographer for the event and he was cool enough to hook me up with some pics he shot while I was the chip leader. How cool is that.
So, what do you think I did next… yep, got on the cash game list and grinded until the early morning hours. And, just like always, I killed it. I played a very patient game for easily 6+ hours, making moves when possible and crushing the loose players that were playing stuck poker (happens while big buyin tournament players bust out and flood the cash games). I was in the 5/10 game for $1500 and cashed out a total of $4900. I had to carry 5 racks to the cage – think about that 
So, all in all, the trip turned out good. I’m on my way to go have lunch up at the lake with my parents and then relax for the day. I’ll be back in Colorado Monday night, and then it’s 10 days until I leave for the WSOP in Vegas. Woo!
So far so good. I went up to Turning Stone and played a super satellite on Tuesday night. I made the final table, only 4 seats paid, I busted in 8th. So close. Of course, I head over to the cash games and make back the satellite buyin plus some. I drove back late that night due to plans to see some friends in Rochester on Wednesday. I walked out plus $300. Not great, but not bad.
I went back up on Thursday to play another satellite, this one paid 10 seats, I bust right after break after making a really dumb read in 23rd spot. I shipped A high into a nitty guys top pair. Why I ever thought this guy was capable of making a move is beyond me. oh well. You should know where this leads me… right back into the cash games (they were spreading 5/10 btw). I play until 3am and cash out $1300 profit. Covered the satellite with $1k to spare.
I stayed in the hotel Thursday night and woke up Friday to play the Wicked Chops Poker Deepstack Event. The field was huge for Turning Stone, roughly 580 players. However, just about 300 of the seats were given away for free. The field was soft to say the least. But, it didn’t matter, I still busted right in the middle of the pack. Shipped top pair into a total donk who had actually flopped a straight – go figure. I wasted some time in a cash game before playing another satellite that was giving 20 seats. Made it deep again, but couldn’t work my way into a seat. After that attempt, I tried a STS that paid 2 seats. I 4-bet shove over 30BB with QQ and get called by AJos – and just like everything else that day – ace on the flop of course. What a bunch of idiots. I can’t really complain though, that is such a terrible call on his part I would make the same play every time.
So, that brings me to today. I drove back to Clyde last night for a good nights sleep and I am now about to head back up for the Heartland Poker Tour Main Event. I plan to play my regular game, just with a little more patience than normal – I’m due for a big win!! Keep an eye on the Twitter feed for live updates through out the event (pictures too).
I’m booked and ready to go. I’ll be going out to NY to visit my family this weekend and to play the Heartland Poker Tour & Wicked Chops Poker events at the Turning Stone Casino. The Main Event is the weekend of May 15, with prelim events the whole week before. I hope to satellite into the HPT Main and will play a few of the prelim events too. Should be a good week.
After I get back from NY, it will only be 11 days until I hit the road and drive to Vegas for the WSOP!! This year I will be staying for the whole series. I have already booked myself a 1BR Suite at the MGM Signature. I really like this place. It will make staying in Vegas for 35 days bearable. I will post a schedule of events I plan to play and of course will post frequently while I’m out there. The first week has an added bonus of it being a friend’s 30th birthday and a bunch of friends will be out there to celebrate. I hope it doesn’t interfere with my schedule to much. :-p
Here is a small glimpse at my suite for this year.
Well, like I always say, I’m terrible about keeping this blog updated. So, here is the recap from my trip in Feb.
I finished my trip at the Commerce during the LAPC with out a single tournament win. It sucked. I lost each event I played with such terrible beats. However, I did have an amazing session playing 10/20 uncapped. This was my first shot at 10/20 and I went in knowing that the table would try to come after me. I bought in for 150BB, which was nothing compared to the rest of the table, but just dominated the game. I ended up cashing out for 390BB for almost $5k profit. Not bad, covered all my tourney loses.
Then, I went to Tucson AZ to visit some friends that were in town for the Gem & Mineral Show. I had a good time. My friends rented an amazing house in Oro Valley, we ate good food, and had a great time. I stayed in town for 4 days then went to Vegas for the first NAPT series held at the Venetian.
I didn’t do too good in Vegas either. I again lost every tourney I played – but made up for it in the cash games. I also decided to fly my 2 friends out to stake them in some games to try and help build thier rolls as well as recoup some of mine. That didn’t work out either. That’s the gamble you take when staking others… but I’m sure they’ll get the makeup before I have to cut them.
All in all, I ended up dead even on poker, but was out all my expenses. I did have a good time, I met a lot of people who I feel will be beneficial to my game and I was able to show my friends the professional side of poker (which they have only seen on TV) – so… I can’t complain.
I will post my upcoming schedule when I have it all figured out, but the next stops are:
- NAPT at Mohegan Sun in CT
- HPT here at Golden Gates in Blackhawk, CO
- HPT at Turning Stone in NY
- Wold Series of Poker in Vegas
Not too much to report for yesterday. I played in the Heads Up tourney and drew a second round starting seat. I ended up playing a guy from Michigan by the name of Dash Dudley. Talk about running good. The guy finished 3rd on Jan 30 in a rebuy event without ever rebuying – and his luck was still rolling. First hand we play, I turn a flush and he ends up rivering a better one. Then, of course, I walk right into an overpair after he limps with KK. I seriously did not even get dealt an Ace the whole match. Go figure.
I played some 5/10-$400 for a couple hours and won 2.25 buy-ins before heading to the high stakes area for some Chinese Poker. I played $25 a point with some regulars, including Tom Schneider. I lost. What can ya do?
Today is the $250k Gaurentee NL tourney, starts at 1pm. I had breakfast with some friends who are out here visiting and now I am going to get some more rest before heading back for the tourney. gl me!
