So I went to Mohegan Sun, first time stepping inside of a casino since August. No regular poker though on this trip, way too crowded.
Started the day with $450 my self-alloted gamblin bankroll. By the end of the day the bankroll swelled to $800 after winning $100 at Blackjack, $125 at Craps, and $125 at Pai-Gow. No real interesting stories today, just a great time with some great folks.
And to top that off I won one of my two fantasy football leagues! I net another $250 for that feat, pushing my WSOP 2010/gamboolin' pot to $1,050.
Not a bad start, 1/4th of the way there!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Why I Will Never Wear A KC Jersey in Philly
God bless Philly fans, where would this world be without them?
Journey to the WSOP 2010 starting next week, more info forthcoming.
Journey to the WSOP 2010 starting next week, more info forthcoming.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
To the Bottom and Back Again (The Where the Hell Have You Been Post)
My head was still a mess from "the beat" and the subsequent bad luck that had befallen my trip from Saturday onward. The damages from the trip were basically 3/4ths my entire roll. 1/4th going toward the buy-in, 2/4ths going toward poker and table game losses and the other 1/4th safely tucked away in my online account. And if you read my trip report, you could tell that I started the losses draining from online as well.
Basically I was lucky enough to get out of Vegas with some bankroll still left in tact, and I had to salvage what I had left (bankroll and sanity).
Naturally, I thought I could just play through it, just like a slumping batter has to hit through the slump, so 2 days after I got back from Vegas I was at a table in Foxwoods playing a bounty tourney. To make a long story short: I made a sould read of this dorky Canadian guy who I thought was bluffing a flush draw on the turn, turns out he was just bluffing and bluffing dead. Got his bounty and knocked another person out. At the first break I was crusing at 10k above the average, hot streak continued into the second hour until I got involved in a hand I knew I shouldn't but I did because of my earlier sould read... I had A-J in an unraised hand in position, 3 people in. The UTG guy was one of those older folk you know spend almost every waking moment in the poker room because they have nothing better to do. This guy in particular I know I had seen/played him before but I couldn't recall any hands. So after the limp pre-flop and A hits the flop on an uncoordianted board, BB checks and UTG bets a smallish amount. At this point I want to isolate because while I think UTG may have an Ace I cant see him that strongly limp pre UTG. I bump and after some though and staring he re-raises. I feel in my heart of hearts I have this guy beat so I push all-in and he snap-calls.
A-J vs A-Q
Except this time it plays out like 88% of the time it should, he takes it down and he has me covered.
Deflated I wonder upstairs and sit down at a blackjack table, before I know it Im down another 400. Im feeling like complete shit when Alissa stops by to see how Im doing and Im looking like i just got punched in the gut a bunch. She suggests I stop (like any rational person would) but unwavering as usual I push onward and head over to a $25 Pai Gow table. Not 2 hours later ive got my 400 back plus abother 400 to boot. The entire family ends up heading on over to Mohegan where I continue my roll, winning 100 on rouletter, 100 on craps. A shitty day turned into a profitable one.
So why do I tell you about the last part? Well I gave up poker in person & online and dedicated myself to playing Pai Gow for a month and a half, testing myself to see how well I could do. Well like all table games, my streak ended and by the beginning of Septemeber I was completely tapped for cash on hand (when I say this I mean my gamblin money not essenetial money to maintain either my or my girlfriend's lifestyle, just to be clear) and I took some bad beats online to get me down to under a grand online. So I did one of the smartest things I had done in awhile and withdrew it all and stuff it into our savings. Not to be touched until I could justify it.
And there it still remains.
So thats the story, in that time I havent really thought about poker other than the monthly home games, which I also had been doing really shitty in.
Which brings us to tonight, I felt good. I ended up cashing in 4 of 6 tourneys with 2 wins. The final game I ran Js into As but not much you can do there on a 3-3-2 board.
So im back, and I'm starting the long journey back to the WSOP. I don't know if I'll get there this year but if things keep running well who knows. Kinda a half-assed first post no hands or strategy to speak of, but then again Ive never really been known for the math or strategy, thats what the other bloggers are for.
Hopefully I can make my re-journey a reality and I hope you all enjoy the ride via my blog (and twitter!)
Basically I was lucky enough to get out of Vegas with some bankroll still left in tact, and I had to salvage what I had left (bankroll and sanity).
Naturally, I thought I could just play through it, just like a slumping batter has to hit through the slump, so 2 days after I got back from Vegas I was at a table in Foxwoods playing a bounty tourney. To make a long story short: I made a sould read of this dorky Canadian guy who I thought was bluffing a flush draw on the turn, turns out he was just bluffing and bluffing dead. Got his bounty and knocked another person out. At the first break I was crusing at 10k above the average, hot streak continued into the second hour until I got involved in a hand I knew I shouldn't but I did because of my earlier sould read... I had A-J in an unraised hand in position, 3 people in. The UTG guy was one of those older folk you know spend almost every waking moment in the poker room because they have nothing better to do. This guy in particular I know I had seen/played him before but I couldn't recall any hands. So after the limp pre-flop and A hits the flop on an uncoordianted board, BB checks and UTG bets a smallish amount. At this point I want to isolate because while I think UTG may have an Ace I cant see him that strongly limp pre UTG. I bump and after some though and staring he re-raises. I feel in my heart of hearts I have this guy beat so I push all-in and he snap-calls.
A-J vs A-Q
Except this time it plays out like 88% of the time it should, he takes it down and he has me covered.
Deflated I wonder upstairs and sit down at a blackjack table, before I know it Im down another 400. Im feeling like complete shit when Alissa stops by to see how Im doing and Im looking like i just got punched in the gut a bunch. She suggests I stop (like any rational person would) but unwavering as usual I push onward and head over to a $25 Pai Gow table. Not 2 hours later ive got my 400 back plus abother 400 to boot. The entire family ends up heading on over to Mohegan where I continue my roll, winning 100 on rouletter, 100 on craps. A shitty day turned into a profitable one.
So why do I tell you about the last part? Well I gave up poker in person & online and dedicated myself to playing Pai Gow for a month and a half, testing myself to see how well I could do. Well like all table games, my streak ended and by the beginning of Septemeber I was completely tapped for cash on hand (when I say this I mean my gamblin money not essenetial money to maintain either my or my girlfriend's lifestyle, just to be clear) and I took some bad beats online to get me down to under a grand online. So I did one of the smartest things I had done in awhile and withdrew it all and stuff it into our savings. Not to be touched until I could justify it.
And there it still remains.
So thats the story, in that time I havent really thought about poker other than the monthly home games, which I also had been doing really shitty in.
Which brings us to tonight, I felt good. I ended up cashing in 4 of 6 tourneys with 2 wins. The final game I ran Js into As but not much you can do there on a 3-3-2 board.
So im back, and I'm starting the long journey back to the WSOP. I don't know if I'll get there this year but if things keep running well who knows. Kinda a half-assed first post no hands or strategy to speak of, but then again Ive never really been known for the math or strategy, thats what the other bloggers are for.
Hopefully I can make my re-journey a reality and I hope you all enjoy the ride via my blog (and twitter!)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Check this site out
Its not poker related but I'd like to pump up my girlfriend's blog for her.
Starry Nights Boutique
Shes a super talented crafter, and shes working on a memorable plaque for my first attempt at the WSOP, look for pics on here at a later time to see how it came out!
Thanks for stopping by!
Starry Nights Boutique
Shes a super talented crafter, and shes working on a memorable plaque for my first attempt at the WSOP, look for pics on here at a later time to see how it came out!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
New Content Coming Soon....
Never fear loyal blogosphere, the vacation from poker and blogging will be coming to an end soon. STAY TUNED!!!
Also have got hip to the times and signed up for Twitter: @BrianSlapinsky
See you shortly!
Also have got hip to the times and signed up for Twitter: @BrianSlapinsky
See you shortly!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Mish-Mosh Part II
First things first let me clarify my position on a previous statement I made. Hoy makes a point regarding my usage of the word "unimpressed" when talking about my experience with Vegas, so I intend to clarify my position.
First the backtrack: He does make a point that maybe "unimpressed" was the wrong word, but I only went there with one goal: playing poker. So I played lots of poker, there just wasn't any desire to do any actually exploring, although I'm sure there are loads of good stuff to see that I missed.
Im not really a nympho so that side of Vegas didnt appeal to me.
The only show I would have wanted to see was Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine but ironically he was in Boston when I was in Vegas. So the only thing left was gambling, and to be frank I can drive 45 mins anytime I want and be in Mohegan's poker Room. While keeping in mind I didn't see the Bellagio or Mirage poker rooms, only the Venetian really could compare to Foxwoods poker room, and without knowing the exact table number I think Foxwoods was still slightly bigger.
Was it really neat to see places I've only read about or seen on the TV? Absolutely. Ask TJ or SmBoatDrinks I was a total fanboy when it came to actually stepping inside the Rio and the Amazon room. I was in awe of the place more so than the millionaire poker players I've come to admire, respect, or despise. Although I did take a lot of pics of them, mostly Harmon because Liss is a huge Harmon fan. I loved the WSOP, which is why I said if I came back it would only be to play in another WSOP event. But my feelings were that if you moved the WSOP to Foxwoods, I'd still love it just as much. No offense to the Rio, Vegas or whatever.
So anyway thats what I really meant, maybe it was more correct to say I was unimpressed with the gambling since thats only what I did/wanted to do. If I go back for a second glimpse my perception could change, but until such time if I had to grade it I would leave the expierience as "incomplete".
Phillies
I, for one, am glad they traded for Lee instead of Halladay. This Lee trade was perfect for the Phils, we pick up a reigning AL Cy-Young award wining player who is still in the midst of a decent season and an extra bat for the bench where the Phils are hurting the most. And what did we give up? 4 prospects that do not include Drabek or the top outfield prospect. Big props to Reuben Amaro, Phils GM.
Football
KC camp opens on Friday and boy am I friggin ready to give up all free-time on Sundays. Im excited for my team and I think 6-10 is a realistic goal with the slight chance we go 9-7.
Poker
As I was getting my ass kicked live in Vegas, I also managed to drop $250 at 2/4 limit on Full Tilt in one night (more like 4-5 hours). My head is still is in shambles and I find myself struggling in live NL since I've been back in CT. Ive stuck to 1/2 S8 and HORSE online and im down about 30 bucks since 07/03/09. So im not doing well and going through this funk.
Thats pretty much it, I'll post more when I can think of stuff to say.
Thanks for reading.
First the backtrack: He does make a point that maybe "unimpressed" was the wrong word, but I only went there with one goal: playing poker. So I played lots of poker, there just wasn't any desire to do any actually exploring, although I'm sure there are loads of good stuff to see that I missed.
Im not really a nympho so that side of Vegas didnt appeal to me.
The only show I would have wanted to see was Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine but ironically he was in Boston when I was in Vegas. So the only thing left was gambling, and to be frank I can drive 45 mins anytime I want and be in Mohegan's poker Room. While keeping in mind I didn't see the Bellagio or Mirage poker rooms, only the Venetian really could compare to Foxwoods poker room, and without knowing the exact table number I think Foxwoods was still slightly bigger.
Was it really neat to see places I've only read about or seen on the TV? Absolutely. Ask TJ or SmBoatDrinks I was a total fanboy when it came to actually stepping inside the Rio and the Amazon room. I was in awe of the place more so than the millionaire poker players I've come to admire, respect, or despise. Although I did take a lot of pics of them, mostly Harmon because Liss is a huge Harmon fan. I loved the WSOP, which is why I said if I came back it would only be to play in another WSOP event. But my feelings were that if you moved the WSOP to Foxwoods, I'd still love it just as much. No offense to the Rio, Vegas or whatever.
So anyway thats what I really meant, maybe it was more correct to say I was unimpressed with the gambling since thats only what I did/wanted to do. If I go back for a second glimpse my perception could change, but until such time if I had to grade it I would leave the expierience as "incomplete".
Phillies
I, for one, am glad they traded for Lee instead of Halladay. This Lee trade was perfect for the Phils, we pick up a reigning AL Cy-Young award wining player who is still in the midst of a decent season and an extra bat for the bench where the Phils are hurting the most. And what did we give up? 4 prospects that do not include Drabek or the top outfield prospect. Big props to Reuben Amaro, Phils GM.
Football
KC camp opens on Friday and boy am I friggin ready to give up all free-time on Sundays. Im excited for my team and I think 6-10 is a realistic goal with the slight chance we go 9-7.
Poker
As I was getting my ass kicked live in Vegas, I also managed to drop $250 at 2/4 limit on Full Tilt in one night (more like 4-5 hours). My head is still is in shambles and I find myself struggling in live NL since I've been back in CT. Ive stuck to 1/2 S8 and HORSE online and im down about 30 bucks since 07/03/09. So im not doing well and going through this funk.
Thats pretty much it, I'll post more when I can think of stuff to say.
Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Mish-Mosh of Thoughts
Some left-over thoughts from the Vegas trip:
I usually never toot my own horn (because theres rarely anything to toot) but I handled the pressure of a major poker tournament like a pro. Never once did I feel over-whelmed or over-matched. I'd like to think that its because I went into it telling myself, yeah this is a big deal but its just a poker tournament, just like when I play the Friday 11am tournies at Foxwoods or whatever, only the size and buy in change.
Table talk is very strange at the WSOP. Discussion topics ranged from country of origin, to a discussion regarding wisdom teeth removal to the guy who knocked me out claiming he was a posterboy for a Flomax commercial. I like light-hearted table banter personally.
I've gotten puzzled looks from friends regarding my assessment of Vegas. I know I touched on it in my previous posts, but other than the WSOP and being at the Rio where the magic happens, Vegas did not impress me at all. Is this because I live in the state with the biggest casinos in the world? Possibly. Is it because I wish Alissa could have been there with me? Absolutely. I will probably return to Vegas, but it would ONLY be to play in another WSOP event.
I usually never toot my own horn (because theres rarely anything to toot) but I handled the pressure of a major poker tournament like a pro. Never once did I feel over-whelmed or over-matched. I'd like to think that its because I went into it telling myself, yeah this is a big deal but its just a poker tournament, just like when I play the Friday 11am tournies at Foxwoods or whatever, only the size and buy in change.
Table talk is very strange at the WSOP. Discussion topics ranged from country of origin, to a discussion regarding wisdom teeth removal to the guy who knocked me out claiming he was a posterboy for a Flomax commercial. I like light-hearted table banter personally.
I've gotten puzzled looks from friends regarding my assessment of Vegas. I know I touched on it in my previous posts, but other than the WSOP and being at the Rio where the magic happens, Vegas did not impress me at all. Is this because I live in the state with the biggest casinos in the world? Possibly. Is it because I wish Alissa could have been there with me? Absolutely. I will probably return to Vegas, but it would ONLY be to play in another WSOP event.
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