Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Las Vegas, June 2010

It’s that time of the year for the World Series of Poker (WSOP), so I’m off to Las Vegas. I registered for two events, Event 11 (a normal, $1500, Texas Hold Em event) and Event 16 (six-handed Texas Hold Em). This may not have been the best time to play at the WSOP. I seemed to be running BAD as of late. I’m not sure what it is, but I just can’t seem to play very well. I thought the longer you play and practice at something, the better you get. It seems to be going the opposite for me.
So I arrived the day before event 11 and try to brush up my game at the local daily tournaments. I didn’t place in the money. I seemed to be knocked out near the bubble. I tend to win a couple big pots, and then just piss it away trying to knock-out other players, or get mixed up with another big stack chasing a hand that never gets there. Either way, I don’t win anything.
WSOP sign
Now it’s time for the WSOP. I start playing by chasing stupid hands, and before I know it, I have a short stack. I pick up a couple hands and I’m back to an average size stack at the first break. But then I can’t seem to keep it. Before I know it, it’s gone and I’m out of the tournament. I have dinner at the hotel and am given a ticket to see Bruce in the USA. A Springsteen tribute band that is playing at the hotel later that night. I also have a few coupons for free drinks. Maybe this is what I need.
I went back to my hotel for a couple hours to rest, and I thought I would be late for the start of the show, but am actually early. The show started off okay. It wasn’t Bruce, but this is my music, and I generally act like I do at a Springsteen show, singing along, hand gestures, etc. And it took folks a little while to warm up, but they got into it too.
Then I called the waitress over and ordered a coke. She brought it back, and asked for 5 bucks. I presented my coupon for the drink. She didn’t seem to know what it was about and leaned over me with her tray. The prompted her to spill an entire glass of red wine down my pants leg. Heather informs me that it doesn’t come out. Great… She came back later and said something like, ‘…it got all over me too…’ Sorry to hear that, it’s a part of the hazards of the job, I didn’t know it was a hazard of the customer. As you can see, nothing really goes right on this trip.
Bruce intheUSA2  Bruce intheUSA1
The next day, I play in a couple more daily tournaments, with nothing to show for it. It’s Saturday, so I go down to Mandalay Bay for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. Dinner is fine. But on the Tram ride back, a bachelorette party is on there. I’m minding my own business but one of them asks me, ‘Mister, will you take our picture?’ Yes, I am now the geezer that takes the pictures. I know she didn’t mean anything by it, but it just confirms that I’m now a geezer in most kid’s eyes.
More tournaments on Sunday. I’ve decided that I really have to tighten up and only play premium hands. While this may sound like a simple concept. It’s very difficult to implement when playing live cards. But I do my best. While I still didn’t cash, I did get a lot further. So that’s the plan for Monday.
Monday, and event 16 at WSOP is upon me. I start out with this in mind. But I get Q-T and have to play it, but sure enough, I loose. And a couple more hands like this. Next thing you know, I’m short stacked again. I sit back and try to tighten up. Finally getting Q-Q on the big blind. The first to act raises to 300, one caller. I come over the top for 900. He shoves all in. I have to call and he turns over A-K. The board hits, 3-K-K. I’m dead, and just for good measure, a 3 comes on the river to give him a full house. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m not staying in Vegas any longer.
I’m writing this on my flight home. I leave as soon as I could. I’m just so frustrated that it’s not worth staying. Teri asks, are you having a good time anyway? Well, NO! I hate losing, and it’s not any fun to lose. The weather is brutal, so hanging out at the pool isn't any fun. I guess this will give me opportunity to get the garden in shape, and clean up the bedrooms for the baby.

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