Made Platinum Star - Bought WSOP Seat

I earned 10K FPPs in the past 2 weeks, getting to platinum star today. Then I purchased my WSOP seat with FPPs. Stars puts most of the money right into your account. Thus, I still need to buyin - but it is basically official. Tomorrow I buy my plane ticket.

On a major heater

I have mostly played limit, but have played 30 or so SNGs - mostly $60 turbos. I have been killing the games. I am up big at 5/10 limit, and doing well in SNGs. Sunday night, I played 18 SNGs - 2 $114 turbos and 16 $60 SNGs (2 sessions - one 10 tabling, one 8 tabling). I cashed in 8 or the 18, earning 4 firsts, 3 seconds, and 1 third. To make it better, one first and one second were in the two bigger buyin SNGs. This is certainly not a sustainable earn rate - but I certainly enjoyed the run on Sunday.

Enjoying PokerXfactor

I debated for a long time whether to go with cardrunners or pokerXfactor. I went with PokerXfactor since I thing now I need more improvement in tourneys, and also they do have some very good cash players that should still improve my cash game skills. I have really enjoyed watching the videos there - both tourneys and some of Rizen's cash game stuff.

Gotta run - will try to update again soon.

Limit poker, and progress towards platinum star

I got clearance from my wife on Friday, April 18th to play the opening event of the WSOP. I decided to use my pokerstars FPPs to buyin. The problem: I was not platinum star and needed to become it. Bigger problem: I had 40 FPPs in my account last Friday, and I needed 10,000.

Since then, I have been playing quite a bit. Probably 2-3 hours a day, ranging from 3 (when kids are around) to 10 tables. I have played some NL and SNGs, but most of the time has been at 5/10 limit. Today I have about 6,000. It will be a busy weekend.

Limit poker used to be my bread and butter game. Then, after a downswing in late 2005, I never enjoyed it again. However, I was in the mood to "gamble" more, and sat down a limit table a few weeks ago and loved it. Further, many players were making big mistakes. I probably still have quite a few leaks, but I think my game is quite a bit better than the competition. I don't know if there is any better feeling in poker than value betting a very marginal hand and getting paid off. (E.g., you raise 88, bb calls, flop is K63. He checks, you bet, he calls. Turn is a J. He checks, you bet, he calls. River is a 9 - and you fire again when he checks and get paid off by AQ or 76.)

I am going to study hands by nside (http://www.nsidestrate.com/blog/) and others at ITH. I would love to move up to 10/20 or higher in the next month or so.

Tourney news

I finally bought PokerXfactor recently, and started watching some of the videos. There is nothing super-surprising in there for me yet, but I think watching the top pros go through their thought process is still really helpful for me. I have watched one JohnnyBax tourney and some Rizen cash games and have really enjoyed watching them and I think I am benefiting by seeing how they think about hands. The price isn't cheap, but $200 for 3 months is pretty small if I can gain any extra equity in my $1500 buyin WSOP tourney this summer.

Several updates - and going to the WSOP!

A life update

Life has been crazy. I am currently a teacher at a small liberal arts University. I never knew I wanted this type of job, but once I got here, I liked it. I recently interviewed, however, at a major University. I got an offer, and our family is in the process of deciding what to do.

Poker update

I have played a lot more limit holdem recently - the players are just bad. I am doing well, although I am not sure how much of that is running well.

WSOP 2008 Update

I am going! I got clearence to play event #2, the $1500 opening weekend donk-a-thon. I might play event 3, if I bust out early of event 2. I certainly am not planning to bust, however. I plan on using my stars FPPs to buyin, but have to hit platinum star this month to make it - time to grind!

The school year ends in two weeks, so I will be posting more soon.