Adam Junglen

The WSOP is such a time warp. I can’t believe we’re already nearing August. I cashed in 2 of the 14 WSOP events I played this summer, with no final tables. My closest was 15th for in the $2.5k pot limit omaha event. My other cash was in the $3k “triple chance” no limit holdem event, I took 48th. Better than last year (as-if), but no final tables is still a bad WSOP through my eyes. Or at least, “non-satisfactory?” “Not good but not awful?” I don’t know, something like that.

I flamed out of the main event on day 4 in a ridiculous hand I’d pay to have wiped from my memory. I essentially bluffed/punted off my stack, soon after was “nit-rolled”, and then had to deal with an incompetent dealer who was way out of line with some of his actions. I’ll leave it at that, because he likely didn’t affect the final outcome of the hand. It was just icing on the cake of a very frustrating summer.

It’s nice to be back in Ohio. Vegas is so ridiculous, I don’t know how I lived there for a year. Looking forward to taking a break from poker and spending time back home. Maybe figure out something productive to do with my life.

That’s all for now,

Adam

Well there’s only a handful of events left at the WSOP. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to stay and play at the Bellagio or Aria series’. At the moment I’m not burned out and feel like I could, but no rush. I’ll decide when the series is over.

I’ve played “only” 10 events so far, but I don’t plan on missing another one. I’m only stuck a couple thousand on the series thanks to final table bubbling (15th) the $2.5k PLO event. That tournament had almost 600 players, which I heard was a 36% increase in field size from last year. Apparently tournament PLO is catching on, so that’s got me excited about playing in the $5k and $10k PLO events coming up. There’s also finally some middle buy-in NLH events coming up ($2.5k, $3k, $10k), and of course still a bunch of $1k and $1.5k’s. Kinda doubt I’ll be playing in the $25k 6max, although I’m honestly kinda tempted. We’ll see how the next week goes and how I’m feeling and decide. It’s clearly a ridiculously marginal spot, lol.

For the most part I’m really happy with my NLH game. I think my hand reading skills have improved a lot in the last year as well. I’m still running extraordinarily bad in all-in’s lifetime at the series and I hear you need to win those to win tournaments…no problem, I’ll just keep plugging away.

Well, there’s your WSOP update.

Later,

Adam

Well so far I’ve played 4 tournaments and haven’t cashed. The first week of the series is mostly low buy-in mass field tourneys, so no surprise on not cashing yet.

First event $1k NLH: 3k starting chips, built up to around 6k before getting involved in a hand with Blair Hinkle. Blinds were 75/150 and I opened KK to 400 from UTG+1. Blair called next to act and we were heads up to flop of 862. I bet 600 and Blair called. Turn was a 9. I checked and Blair bet 1050. Instead of making a hero/very weak fold I decided to shove my last 3,500 or so and ran into his set of 8′s. I had a very strong read I was beat when he bet the turn, but don’t see how I avoid going broke there.

2nd event $1.5k NL: Got up to 15k and made my first dinner break of the series. I ended up losing with KKs to JT on a JsTs9sTx board with around 300 left.

3rd event: $5k NL Shootout: Got heads up vs my good friend Aaron Been with 132k vs his 18k at 500/1k blinds. Lost a post flop coinflip to double him up. Grinded him down to 20k again then lost AA vs a FD/Backdoor straight draw. Then my fd+gutter vs trips (one time getting it in real bad). Topping it off was getting it in with trip 6′s vs his flush draw/gutter with 1 card to come. No such luck.

After losing the shootout match I took a few days off and played in todays $1.5k NL 6 max. Again I built up a starting stack of 4.5k to about 9k before losing a big flip with 88 vs AQ. Once I get ahold of some chips in the lower buy-in events I really feel like I can start playing my game. So far I’m not making any big mistakes and feel pretty good about the way I’ve been playing. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s $5k event. First NL freezeout with a buy-in > $1.5k.

Later,

Adam

I arrived in Vegas Sunday night and have been spending the last few days getting settled. I’m living back at Panorama Towers in a one bedroom furnished apartment, just for the summer. I’m really happy with it, it’s a perfect nook for me during the WSOP.

I’ve put together a nice lil $30k upswing online in my last few sessions. Been running super hot in $200-$500 super turbos on FTP, shipped a PS WSOP step, and took 2nd in a 50r. Nice to have some momentum going into the series.

Feels great to be back in Vegas. Been preparing for the summer grind and I’m ready to go.

- Adam

Life’s been good to me lately. I just got back from the Borgata in Atlantic City. New Jersey’s always been really lucky for me (lots of online success at Ray’s) and my first time at Borgata didn’t disappoint. Okay, well…maybe a little, as I “only” final tabled, finishing in 8th place out of 383 players.

The structure was absurd for a $3.5k buy-in event. It was scheduled for 5 days, but ended in 4. Despite the smaller buy-in 1st place was still a healthy $355k. I think it was only a post or two below this one I said moving out of LV would actually help my game, as I play better when I force myself to travel. Coincidence? Doubt it. Weird psychological thing I need to get over? Most certainly. 8th place paid out $36k

During the event I got into argument with a fine young gentleman named Igor Borukhov. Here’s a link to the Borgata blog entry. Basically, Igor kept folding out of turn on Day 2. I politely asked him to stop folding out of turn and he responded by arguing. He made it very clear he had no idea who I was, so I made sure he would never forget. He suggested we go fight outside after the tournament and I jokingly accepted and stood up. I don’t know what he was thinking threatening a five foot nothing asian kid who weighs a buck-ten (dollar and a nickle w/o leg, lol). I decided now was a good time to use my super power. I can be a pretty private/quiet guy sometimes, so forgive me if this is the first time I mentioned my super power. I have the ability to totally mindfuck someone. After I stood up, he stood up, then I took off my prosthetic leg, set it on the table and said “Let’s go!”

BAM!

Another Kodak moment. Igor was incredibly embarassed/red in the face/perplexed/owned, “so sorry bro, sorry man” etc etc. “No worries” .

Anyways I’d normally be really bummed out after “getting SO close to a win” but I’m satisfied with the end result. It’d been a long time since I made a live NLH final table. I thought I played really well during the entire tournament and going in I felt like it’d be one of the last events I play until the WSOP, so it felt good to put up a final table before then.

I’m very excited about the World Series. I’m moving back to Panorama in a furnished 1 bedroom unit for 2 months and will be so much better focused than last year. Last year the $40k was the first event I played and that totally messed with my head and my perception of the WSOP moving forward. This year the large buy-in event isn’t until the end of the series. I know what to expect and will be better prepared than ever. Don’t bet against me this year at the series.

Don’t provoke me either, lol.

Later,

Adam

I’ve just been takin it easy the last couple weeks. My run in the NAPT Mohegan Sun event lasted less than an orbit. I think it’s the first time I busted level 1 of a main event structured tournament. I got my money in on the turn with the nuts, drawing dead lol. KJo vs Brian Lemke’s Kd Jd on the board of Td 9x 3x Qd. So we both had the same nut straight but I failed to hold. Brian made a straight flush and I headed out the door. At least it wasn’t deep in the event.

Afterwards I went to Jackson NJ and hung out at Ray’s for a couple days before going home. I was there to play the Borgata $7.5k, but just wasn’t feeling it and booked an early flight home.

The WSOP is all of a sudden only a month away. I’m currently up in the air as far as where I’m staying. I actually am considering just getting a room at the Rio for a couple weeks at a time, maybe crash at a friends place for awhile between stretches of events I don’t play. I’m not going to put the kind of pressure I put on myself last year as far as playing as many events as possible. I’m also going to put an effort into grinding some live SNG sats and cash games. I’ll probably play around 12-18 events this summer, but I could see myself getting into a groove a getting over 20 again. We’ll see, but I’m really excited about the WSOP. I’m ready to redeem myself after last year’s run.

I’m currently contemplating an impulsive trip back to AC. I think I might fly in tomorrow and play the last prelim’s ($1.5k NL, $1k 6max NL and $3.5k NL main). Put in some more live cash sessions as well.

That’s all for now, cya around.

- Adam