Improving MY Game for the WSOP

(Blog from the 2006 WSOP Main Event)

OK, I’ve got my seat. I’ve got my plane reservations. I’ve got my motel room. I’ll cab it from the airport to the hotel. I don’t expect to do a lot of traveling around Vegas so there’s no need for the added expense of a rental car. All preparations have been made so now I need to worry about the main preparation…..my game.

I live in Georgia so live play is limited to home games. I just can’t see gaining a lot but I’ll ask the guys that I play with to help me with any tells that I may have. I’m pretty quiet and calm at the tables. I’ve patiently played for hours when I was card dead just to finish the night around even. I can’t really book these as winning sessions but I do leave them feeling that most other players would have become frustrated (which I did) and lost by playing the trash hands that I was dealt (which I didn’t). I don’t really need cash game experience. I need more live tournament experience. I’ve got 2 options for this: Biloxi and Tunica, Mississippi. Biloxi is 2 hours closer but I haven’t played there for a long time so Tunica it is.

I’ve come to Tunica to work on my live tournament skill so I scheduled the trip from Thursday-Sunday. There is a daily tournament at noon at Sam’s Town, an evening tournament at the Grand, and a midnight tournament at the Gold Strike. I’ll see how many of these I can fit into my schedule.

Thursday—I got a late start leaving out this morning so it was actually around noon when I left. It’s a 6.5 hour drive to Tunica so I got to Tunica around 5:30 (different time zone). Once I get checked in, get up to my room, grab some supper, and get my head right after the long drive, it’s around 7:30. I’m too late for the evening tournament so maybe I’ll play the midnight tournament. I played some cash game at Sam’ Town and made around $100 but it should have been much more. Damn, I’m tired. Forget the midnight tournament. I’m headed to bed.

Friday-Sunday—I played in a total of 4 tournaments and put in around 15 hours in cash game play. In the money in 2 of 4 with one final table. Went out in 4th in that one. Overall, I’m up $300 for the trip and I learned a few lessons to take with me to Vegas.

LESSON 1- Get plenty of rest so I can play my top game.

LESSON 2- Don’t take maniacal play personally even if they’re an ass. They will draw out on you.

LESSON 3- If you won’t chop with the locals, you will become a target (shouldn’t apply to the Main Event but may if I play other daily tournaments on days off).

LESSON 4- Absolutely wait until action is on you before you even look at your cards. I got this from someone else that telegraphed their moves EVERY hand. They would hold their cards if they were folding or cap them and start counting chips if they were calling or raising.
LESSON 5- Don’t take maniacal play personally even if they’re an ass. They will draw out on you. I know this is the same as lesson 2 but the guy REALLY was an ass.

Sunday afternoon- I guess it’s time to drive back to Georgia. Not as much tourney play under my belt as I would have liked but there’s no way to improve 10 fold in the next month. Time to just settle down and take my game to Vegas.