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

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

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’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

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

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

The next tournament I’ll be playing is NAPT Mohegan Sun. I haven’t played much poker at all lately and told myself I wouldn’t play until the next time I really felt like it. I’m going back to my old approach of less quantity, higher quality play. Only playing events I feel like and schedule them in advance. These are all things I could get away with not doing (or half-assedly doing) when I lived in Vegas, because it all came to me. It’s a weird psychological thing, but I’m sure it’s part of the reason why my live results suffered last year.

Anyways, I am looking forward to the Mohegan Sun event. After the NAPT I’m probably gonna drop by the Borgata in Atlantic City for their tourney series, which has a $7.5k HR and $3k ME. I’ll see how I feel after Mohegan and go from there.

Later,

- Adam

Well, poker’s pretty much consumed me the last 5 years. It was all I thought about. It feels great to move out of Vegas and take a step back from everything. I almost feel like a different person. It’s a relief. The Vegas lifestyle is just not something I desire to be apart of. It’s a tough city. It’s next to impossible to meet someone who isn’t a stripper, hooker (pardon me, “escort”), shady, and/or crazy etc etc. I certainly don’t need to live in Vegas to do my job, especially with the live poker economy the way it is (doubt you’ll see me playing too many Bellagio tourneys this year).

When I was packing up a bunch of my things were never unpacked from when I initially moved in….12 months ago. I never went to get a Nevada ID. I think that in my subconscious, I never moved in.

The last day before I left I did some work with WSOP Academy over at Caesars. Knowing full well the target audience is inexperienced amateurs I went in with an open, positive attitude and it ended up being a good experience. I thought it was pretty funny when I sat down at one of the tables and they all agreed I was a better dealer than the other pro’s there instructing.

“Go figure, the internet player with 7 fingers is the best dealer here!”

My badass dealing skills probably made a bit more sense after I informed them I performed as a magician at private parties and restaurants when I was in grade school. I’ve been dealing with cards for as long as I can remember.

Well, I’m currently in Omaha, NE with my dad. He’s been helping me move and we’ve just wrapped up the third day of travel. We should make it make home by tomorrow night. I’m just staying at my parents until I find my own place. Already have a few realtors talking to me despite not yet being in the state, lol. I’m looking forward to going out and checking out properties. Specifically, I’ve been looking at contemporary lofts, condos and lakehouses. I’m looking forward to having my own home base away from poker.

If I’m taking a step back from poker, I must be taking a step towards something, right? I’m considering doing some more tournament coaching/staking. Maybe I’ll finally go over that FTOPS ME hand history for PokerVT. I might open my own gamestore. I’ve been researching real estate. I could goto school and study subjects relevant to my agricultural investments. I’ve been talking with an old friend I used to play baseball with and am going to get involved helping coach his team.

I mean, I can pretty much do whatever I want.

When was the last time I had a blog entry this long, positive, open and honest?

Feels great!

Later,

- Adam

After playing poker the last few years I’ve realized how much free time I have. I really should put it to good use. Although I’m not sure what I’d study at this very moment, the thought of going to school no longer leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, I never did goto college. Poker just kind of “happened” to me. I was just a kid on crutches, graduated HS, and started having six figure scores. Maybe it’s time I really challenge myself and become an intellectual. I just don’t have the same passion for poker as I once did. I never thought playing poker was reaching my full potential as a human. It’s been a great resource and has left with me a lot of great travels/experiences. However it will not consume my entire life.

Last time I posted I had mentioned handling my audit and how I thought the IRS owed me some money. Well guess what? They canceled my audit case. El oh el, leave me alone IRS, kthx!

My life ramble is over. Maybe I’ll start updating more often.

Shrug. Later,

- Adam

William Thorson was on my direct left in the $5k PLO and after building his 15k starting stack up to 60k he went on break after 150/300 and sat out the rest of the day (2/400, 3/600, 4/800, 60min levels), coming back to 45k at 500/1k with 16 left (8 paid, 1st 110k) on day 2. I stayed like a sucker and played the tournament, ended the day with 72k. I busted out in ridiculous fashion early on day 2 and William ended up winning/chopping 3 handed. I ran into him at a bar after the event and he explained he was “out buying a suit” while he was sitting out. Then he “ran into some friends” and one thing led to another etc, lol. Nice life, William.

I’m back in Ohio, still waiting on being audited. For some bizarre reason the case seems to be moving at a slower pace now that I’m fairly certain they owe me money. Imagine that?

I’m going to be skipping Biloxi and possibly Borgata as well. I’ll be grinding online tourneys (FTP 2xing guarantees and UBOC) for the rest of this month. Get my audit (aka bank error in your favor) taken care of, then head back west for LAPC and NAPT.

That’s all for now.

Later,

- Adam