I'm back...

Havent posted in a couple of days due to no play.

I hadnt played in a couple of days when I went down to the casino on saturday. I left early in the morning about 6:00, stopped and ate some breakfast on my way. It was about a 2 hour drive to Caesars. The were holding the midwest reginal championships.

I arrived just after 8:30, and went straight to the pokerroom. I had never played live before and when I arrived at the desk asked what type of games they had spread. By looking around I could tell that it was still early and they only had about 5 games going. I also if they rated poker players. I was informed I needed a players card, I asked to be put on the waiting listfor a 1/2 nl game and went back to the desk where they do those type of things.

At the desk there were a couple of drunk mid-twenties hillbillies. Quite the entertainers while I waited in line to get my player card. I then headed back down and when I checked the board for where I was in the que they announced they were putting together a $120 STT. I thought I would give it a shot, and figured they paid first and second.

Well the STT was a winner take all with 15min blinds and 1000 starting chips. The blinds strated at 25/25 and followed a reasonable schedule but this was no doubt a turbo.

There was a lot of entertaining banter at the table. Several of the players were involved in a last longer. I opted not to participate b/c I figured I might need my $ for another STT or 3. I came out fast and caught some cards about 6 hands in. I knocked out hte first player and had the chip lead. I managed to pick up several other pots and held out fairly well.

Before I knew it we were down to 3 players. One player had a significant chip stack, I think he knocked out 4 players and I had knocked out 3. He ends up knocking out he third guy bringing us heads up. Half Jokingly I asked if he wanted to chop, since he had me out chipped at this point 3:1. He paused for about 3 seconds and said sure why not. Sweet! I had my buyin for the Mega satellite. I might note that this player had been killing a cash game before the STT and had 3 racks of chips I would guess at least 4-5k.

I ended up tryin another STT with a $65 buyin, which was even more of a turbo with 800 starting chips. I didnt fair so well in that one.

I registered for the Mega Satellite, it was a $550 buyin and a satellite to a $5k ME. The mega started with 2k in chips and 30 min blinds. I was able to double up early. I was confident in my game and played great.

I made some good reads (althoughI dont have time to go into them now :-( I have to get to bed soon). I managed to become the table captain at my table and in very good shape.

I was really dissapointed when I busted out 23 of 106 though. Only 10 places paid the ME entry with the leftover going to 11th place.

My table was playing real tight, with several short stacks. I had seen several walks, although I was never lucky enough to get one. I was on the button and a player 2 to my right limped in for 600. The blinds were 300/600 with a 75 ante. I held QT and I had about 14k in chips. I raised it up to 2800. He thought and called. I was actually hoping he would lay down his hand like he had done so many othertimes when his limp was raised.

The flop came down 79K. Not bad I flopped a gutshot. He checked and I bet out another 3k. He called. I was concerned that he held a K at this point. The turn was a T, giving me at least a little something. He checked and I checked behind him hoping to hit my gut shot on the river. The river was another T, giving me a set. He checked and I gave it some thought. I decided to go for the push and figured unless he hit a set on the flop I was golden. WRONG! I totally forgot about the infamous J8! and my opponent hit a straght on the Turn.

O well that the way it goes sometimes. I did have my opponent covered, but only by 75 and I was all in the next hand with the ante's. I felt that I played a great game, and loved the experience. I wouldnt trade it for anything and look foward to playing more live tournaments.

I played with a couple of pro-players and met some nice people. I am going to try and play at least 1 live tournament a month.

I did hit a bad session at the 1/2 NL table after my mega bustout. It was tough, and lost when I was getting my $ in with the best hand. I never went broke, but was definetly sucked out on, and paid off a river bet more than once. I wont base my success on 1 session though.

My bankroll is back down, but it was 100% worth it IMHO. I have $300 in my br right now, and have stepped down to $25NL. If I hit $200 I am going to step down further, but am fairly confident I can build it back up.

I only put $225 back in my online br, yesterday and am back up to $300. I am going to implement a 50% weekly profit cashout plan. Any profit I have over my $225 next sunday night I am going to cashout 1/2 and use it for whatever. It may be for a live tourney or to take my wife out to dinner. I am just going to make sure I start to cashout at least weekly. If I hit a big tournament score I am going to cashout 75% of it. I just feel like it is time to start rewarding myself for my progress. I am going to exclude rakeback from my withdraw calculations.

I know I have rambled long enough, I am tired and not thinking the clearest, and have no plans of proofing my entry. Anyway, good luck at the tables!