EH, NO

Looks like my last mobile post didn't go through, so here's the recap of my WSOP 2008 experience: Started off pretty well, actually alot like last year. Early on I took a hit when I picked up pocket tens on the second hand of the day. After an Ace fell on the turn, the aggro dude at my table shoved a bunch of chips in and I laid down my pair. I think it was a bluff, but I didn't wanna kill my stack just minutes into the tournament. Took me from 3,000 to about 2,400. Anyway, things turned around when I took the same dude down pretty hard, calling his suspicious bet on the river. He showed a stone cold bluff on a board with two face cards. I showed a pair of 7s and was on my way to building a decent stack. My big hand during Level 1 came when I limped with pocket 8s, called a preflop raise, and watched a lovely K-K-8 flop unfold before me. My first big mistake of the tourney was that I wasn't able to put my opponent all-in here, as I think he had QQ, JJ, maybe even AK. I slowplayed my full house, check-calling his big bet on the flop. We both checked the turn (!), then unfortunately, a flush card hit the river, I tried to represent a flush bluff with a big bet, but my guy didn't bite. He put me on the flush and folded. I showed him the full boat. The mistake: I shoulda put a small bet in on the turn. He only had about 1,200 left in his stack and there was about the same in the pot. If I bet 400 or so on the turn, he'd have to call for a pot that size, and probably would just stick the rest of his money all-in. Missed opportunity and lesson #1 learned.

Our table broke around the start of level 2, and I slowly built my chips up. After folding about 20 hands in a row, I was down to 4,200 and we had our first break of the day. When we got back to the table, the antes kicked in, and I started going into blind-stealing mode. Pushed all-in preflop three times and took the blinds, 550 at a time. Ran into a problem when a big stacked pro at my table made a stand and milked a ton of chips off me. Then I picked up pocket Aces twice - the first time I was able to exact some revenge on the big stack. Limped into the pot, he raised and I flat-called. Checked the flop, he bet, and I came over the top. He folded, and I took down about 1,800 of his chips. At that point, my stack was at 5,200. Unfortunately, the average was about 5,800, and I was feeling the pinch. Then I look down at pocket tens and decide it's time to pull down a real pot. Made a small raise preflop, and a guy in late position goes over the top. I call him and we see the flop: J-8-2. I decide to make the big move with a check raise all-in, putting him on AK or AQ. Three fourths of the plan worked beautifully: I checked, he bet, and I shoved all-in, hoping to send a strong message. Unfortunately he was holding pocket Kings and insta-called. And that's where my WSOP 2008 journey ended. With a whimper.

By the way, I realize how bad this play was. The smart play on this flop would be a small bet. I would get exactly the information I needed with a $700 bet here. I'd put the feeler out, and he would surely have gone over the top with his kings, and that woulda been the end of that hand. Instead, I got into desperation mode and felt the need to build the stack or go home. Lesson #2 learned. A big, fat, $1,500 lesson.

The kicker: Tonight, I went to the California Casino with mom and sister Nana. I sat down at a stupid video poker machine and hit two jackpots worth $1,200! Made me feel ashamed to call myself a card player. Lame. And I'm sorry I didn't make this blog more interesting this year. Thanks for checkin' in, and we'll do it again next June!

Ok first 2 rounds done. we started with 3000 chips, I'm at 4700. The field is 2706 players, 270 will make the money. Pee break time!

Seat 1 table 1 is ready to play. Already about 2500 players and still growing. shuffle up and deal in 5 minutes.

Let's get it started in here.

DAY 1: IT'S ABOUT THAT TIME

OK, today's the day. In 2 hours the cards will be in the air, and event #27 will officially be on. Hope to have updates throughout the day, assuming I make it through the day.

No turning back now. Table 1, Seat 1? Weird.

BABY STEPS

It's Friday, and I'll be touching down in Vegas around 11:00am. First stop, check in at Harrah's. Second stop, the Rio to register for WSOP event #27, the $1,500 buyin No Limit Hold 'Em tournament. Honestly, I'm not feelin' so confident. I haven't really played competitive poker in quite some time, but I'm trying to convince myself that this will somehow work in my favor against the pros I'll see at the table. Maybe my inept fumbling at the green felt is exactly what I need to build up a monstrous stack of chips on Day 1. We'll see how it goes.

My plan going in: don't bust out like a punk in the first half hour. It's time to learn this game again. On day one, I play cards, not people. Wait for the big hand. Flop a monster. Put the chips in with the great hand and hope it stands up to a good hand. Don't donk off my stack holding one measly pair. Remember the gap concept. Play position. Don't steal blinds until they're worth stealing. Don't bluff the maniac. AQ suited is inherently evil. Baby steps.

But God help the table if I find 6-8 suited in late position.