My Main Event Trip

After winning the $12K Main Event package on Sunday I didn't play on Monday and barely played today. I was trying to make plans for my WSOP trip but things have definitely changed. It turns out I'm responsible for buying into the Main Event and my account was simply credited with the package funds. This really changed everything. I thought I was going to be bought into the Main Event and just had to show up.

Once I was credited the funds I had no choice but to view that money as part of my bankroll. That being the case, I couldn't possibly justify buying into a $10,000 tourney... even if it is the biggest and most exciting poker tournament in the world! I'm very strict when it comes to bankroll management and despite temptation I've made a disciplined decision to keep the funds as part of my bankroll.

I was thinking I might compromise and still fly out to Vegas and play the last two $1500 WSOP events before the series is over. The last two $1500s are this Saturday (27th) and next Monday (29th). But I was looking at how much it would cost me to fly out there and get a room near the Rio (or at the Rio) on such short notice and the prices are ridiculous. Trying to rush a trip and getting killed in travel expenses isn't something I'm interested in. The WSOP will be back next year and every year after.

So basically at this point I don't have any plans to go to Vegas for the WSOP this year.

Its kinda sad I won't be playing the Main Event this year (despite my opportunity) but the reality is its just one tournament and I can use that 12K for a LOT of other different tournaments. I feel that keeping the package funds and adding them to my existing roll will help me build a substantial bankroll a lot faster than if I plump down 10K on one tournament and take a long shot.

I've never been a long shot kinda guy.

25K Project

I've really been slacking on this over the last few days. I've lost some of my intense motivation to get to 25K. I think the combination of a break-even period and winning the Main Event package on Full Tilt is to blame. I did run a SNG session tonight where I played about 30 games and only mincashed one SNG. It was unreal. I hate variance ha.

The roll is at $14,427 right now and Its been hovering in this range for over a week. Now that I don't have any "sidetracking" WSOP plans I should be able to get 100% of my focus back to this project. I've got 29 days left to reach 25K.

Oh and just to be clear (cuz I've had some questions and comments about this) the 25K Project is ONLY on Pokerstars. What I do on Full Tilt is completely separate from the Project. If I were including both sites in the project I'd already be over 25K ha.

Other Thoughts

Over the last couple weeks I've been strongly considering moving to Vegas at the end of the summer. I feel like being able to play online AND having easy access to live tourneys is a powerful combination. More about this later.

The gaming laws here in Colorado are changing on July 2nd and the ridiculous $5 maximum bet limit will finally be gone. It will become a spread limit $5 to $100 game and also we can directly buy in to any tournament. It used to be if you wanted to play the $1650 Heartland Poker Tour event you could only get in by satelliting in for $500 or less, you couldn't directly buy in. That changes in a couple weeks and I'm planning on playing the HPT tourney on July 17th in Blackhawk.

Then in mid-August the HPT is going to Mount Pleasant, Michigan where I happen to have friends. So I'm thinking about taking a week and going up there to hang out and play that event at The Soaring Eagle Casino.

Sometime before or between these two HPT events I'll have the Stars Project done and I'll have a 25K+ roll on that site. After I get back from Michigan in late August I'll prbly look into being moved to Vegas by early September.

I'm not 100% sure about all this yet but this is whats been circling in my head for a while now and it feels right. I feel like I've got the skill on the felt and the discipline with the bankroll to have a really successful career as a tournament poker player.

Thats it for now. I hope all of you out there are doing well with your goals.

glgl