Screw poker. It's mostly heartache and wasted hours, sapping your resolve and willpower, and making you wish you'd had a more meaningful life. The tournament life makes you aware of your frailties, and makes you long for the better things in life. The impossible dream.
The impossible dream is of course, owning a supercar. Really, who wouldn't want one? To this end I've decided to shut down the website, scrap my whole schedule, and use all the money as a down payment on this baby. By the time the dealership finds out I don't have the balance I'll be long gone, most likely living in Mexico. The backers will be upset, but it's unlikely I'll ever see them again. Thanks for the money guys sorry it didn't work out...
The impossible dream is of course, owning a supercar. Really, who wouldn't want one? To this end I've decided to shut down the website, scrap my whole schedule, and use all the money as a down payment on this baby. By the time the dealership finds out I don't have the balance I'll be long gone, most likely living in Mexico. The backers will be upset, but it's unlikely I'll ever see them again. Thanks for the money guys sorry it didn't work out...
Cue the harp music.
That dream was a short lived one. The reality is in fact this picture instead of course.
Sorry. I'm sure my sense of humour will get me into trouble someday.
Going to the Rio earlier, then just handing over $15,000 in exchange for 22 unremarkable little bits of white paper to buy in for the first 11 WSOP events on my schedule was a surreal experience. I've played the series plenty of times before of course, and it's still the collection of tournaments to play far above all other for a number of reasons in my opinion, but I've never before handed over such a lump, and bulk-bought in for my events like this. To be honest it felt kind of empowering and cathartic to do so. Not having the indecision about what events I may or may not play in the next few weeks depending on how the trip goes. Simply having a schedule and adhering to it. It's a big factor in why this site exists, and so far I'm very happy about it. I'm just acclimatising, settling in to my accommodation, and I don't at all feel the need to play sit and go's, cash games or anything like that simply for the sake of it. I'm just gearing up for my first event in 2 days time and resting up and preparing. Had a swim today, met up with a buddy for lunch and did a bit of admin work both on the house and online, keeping busy and alert. Few messages back and forth, and spoke to my wife on Skype for a bit. Seeing her little Russian head smiling back at me cheered me up and reminded me that balance in life is very important, yet I'd guess that around 90% of poker players either have a crappy balance at best, or none at all at worst. It's all just about the next game, which is a bit soul destroying if that's really all you have.
I managed some exercise(swimming), food shopping and plenty of other bits and poker didn't really enter into it. In two days obviously it's another story, but until then I'll get as much R and R as I can manage, and catch up with friends old and new.
On the subject of old friends, I was very happy to see popular former Pokerstars executive, super nice guy and all round good egg Dan Goldman making the last two tables of event #12, the $1500 Pot-Limit hold-em. I originally met Dan when I played in my first Aussie Million in 2003 in Melbourne, and we've been friends ever since. I popped over to say hi and sweat him for a bit after buying in for my tournaments, caught up with more old friends and made some new ones. When I went over they were 15 handed and Dan was resolutely not playing any hands. He eventually decided to loosen up and play aces, which then materialised into quad aces and a full double up. See? Patience IS a virtue. In truth, Mr G can move and shake when needed with the best of them. Even when folding Dan seemed to be having a blast and enjoying the WSOP experience, which I think is how poker should be but sadly more often than not these days, isn't. When last I looked he'd made the final table and they were 8 handed, so it'd be nice to see one of the good guys win something of note. My 22 bits of paper signal the start of my campaign this Saturday. If I can play well and have half as much fun at the table as he seemed to be having, it'll be the perfect way to start.
That dream was a short lived one. The reality is in fact this picture instead of course.
Sorry. I'm sure my sense of humour will get me into trouble someday.
Going to the Rio earlier, then just handing over $15,000 in exchange for 22 unremarkable little bits of white paper to buy in for the first 11 WSOP events on my schedule was a surreal experience. I've played the series plenty of times before of course, and it's still the collection of tournaments to play far above all other for a number of reasons in my opinion, but I've never before handed over such a lump, and bulk-bought in for my events like this. To be honest it felt kind of empowering and cathartic to do so. Not having the indecision about what events I may or may not play in the next few weeks depending on how the trip goes. Simply having a schedule and adhering to it. It's a big factor in why this site exists, and so far I'm very happy about it. I'm just acclimatising, settling in to my accommodation, and I don't at all feel the need to play sit and go's, cash games or anything like that simply for the sake of it. I'm just gearing up for my first event in 2 days time and resting up and preparing. Had a swim today, met up with a buddy for lunch and did a bit of admin work both on the house and online, keeping busy and alert. Few messages back and forth, and spoke to my wife on Skype for a bit. Seeing her little Russian head smiling back at me cheered me up and reminded me that balance in life is very important, yet I'd guess that around 90% of poker players either have a crappy balance at best, or none at all at worst. It's all just about the next game, which is a bit soul destroying if that's really all you have.
I managed some exercise(swimming), food shopping and plenty of other bits and poker didn't really enter into it. In two days obviously it's another story, but until then I'll get as much R and R as I can manage, and catch up with friends old and new.
On the subject of old friends, I was very happy to see popular former Pokerstars executive, super nice guy and all round good egg Dan Goldman making the last two tables of event #12, the $1500 Pot-Limit hold-em. I originally met Dan when I played in my first Aussie Million in 2003 in Melbourne, and we've been friends ever since. I popped over to say hi and sweat him for a bit after buying in for my tournaments, caught up with more old friends and made some new ones. When I went over they were 15 handed and Dan was resolutely not playing any hands. He eventually decided to loosen up and play aces, which then materialised into quad aces and a full double up. See? Patience IS a virtue. In truth, Mr G can move and shake when needed with the best of them. Even when folding Dan seemed to be having a blast and enjoying the WSOP experience, which I think is how poker should be but sadly more often than not these days, isn't. When last I looked he'd made the final table and they were 8 handed, so it'd be nice to see one of the good guys win something of note. My 22 bits of paper signal the start of my campaign this Saturday. If I can play well and have half as much fun at the table as he seemed to be having, it'll be the perfect way to start.
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