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The game has changed.

Hi folks.. seems strange saying that after not posting in quite some time. A quick look below reveals my last post was over 4 years ago on 4/16/11 in the immediate aftermath of Black Friday. Feel free to read all about that below or online somewhere. This post (and posts going forward) start a new chapter.

First, some background/updates about me. Whether you were ever a reader of this blog (or if you've just found it) some things have changed with me.

Following BF, I took a "9-5" job and enrolled in community college. I completed my Associates Degree in Business Management. Through discipline, I saved up money, continued building my credit, and ultimately bought a house here in my hometown in Colorado.

Without going into a crazy long post here, suffice to say I've been a homeowner for nearly 2 years now, have a wonderful, supportive girlfriend, and hold a higher education degree (continuing on to get my Bachelors).

Getting somewhat back on track with the opening line above: what role does poker play in my life these days? Well, seeing as how I stayed in the United States after Black Friday, my options for playing in any kind of serious "midstakes" capacity, naturally, are limited.

Late last month I stumbled onto Bovada. After looking closer at the site, it turns out their payouts are incredibly reliable and their volume and MTT schedule is far more robust than I imagined was still available to US players.

So after scoping it out for awhile and following threads in some online forums regarding the site, I decided to make a marginal deposit and take up some small stakes MTTs.

I immediately had success and started getting serious about forming an evening MTT schedule. In just 12 days, I've played 244 MTTs (since July 5th) with six outright 1st place wins (2 last night) and 15 total final tables.

Due to Bovada's "anonymity policy", the only way to verify my results is by taking screenshots of the tourney lobbys. Readers of this blog know that this is something I've always done anyway so, no big deal! Below are the lobbys of each of the six MTTs I've won in the last 12 days.

7/5:   1st in $2.20 - 204 Players
7/6:   1st in $11 - 304 Players
7/9:   1st in $5.50 6max -  65 players
7/15: 1st in $11 KO - 77 Players
7/16: 1st in $27.50 KO 6max - 141 Players
7/16: 1st in $5.50 - 408 Players

Stay tuned for more folks, lots more fun stuff to come.. guaranteed. 

Hey follow me on Twitter @Adamsapple19 - I'll probably give you a follow in return. 

Black Friday

The day has finally come. Since 2006 when the UIGEA was passed and my tiny poker world flashed before my eyes I always knew this day would come.

It appears to be over folks. If you live in the US Pokerstars is gone and Full Tilt will shut its doors in the next 36 hours or so. They will likely never return in the capacity we knew them, or ever.

One thing I need to stress is for no one to blame the US Dept. of Justice. They did their job and enforced the laws as they are on the books. Clearly the masses are not against playing poker online. Please reserve your anger for those forces within our society who would seek the passage of legislation effectively forcing their way of life on everyone.

Social conservatives (religious and "family-oriented" groups) in this country focused their energy in 2006 to see to it the UIGEA was passed. And the UIGEA is why the events of this day took place. We should seek to ensure there is ALWAYS a voice on the other end to defend against the strong voices of those who would tell us how we can or should live our lives.

What does the future hold? I don't know. It is more than likely sensible regulation of online poker will be passed and US-based sites will be up and running within the next year or two. But it will never be the same. We will always think back fondly on "the good 'ol days".

As for me I am not sure. While this day is a shock to me it isn't exactly unexpected. Sadly I don't have the savings I would like to have and it's unclear at this point when I'll be able to get my online funds returned. This is a pretty dark day for me as I've basically devoted the last six or so years of my life to studying and honing my skills in this game.

As of right now I'm unemployed and basically looking for work. I may return to college now and take it more seriously than before. Poker is certainly not out of my life but I doubt it will ever occupy my day-to-day functioning as it has for so long now.

So for now I say goodbye my friends. For those who have been reading this blog diligently through all my moaning and complaining I tip my hat to you and thank you. I may come back and post updates on what's going on with me or with online poker. I do enjoy writing.

Good luck out there and please remember what I said about always making your voice heard even if you think it won't matter or there is no point. Because if you don't speak up and say how you feel then someone else will... and you may not like what they have to say.

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Edit: Please let your voice be heard and join The Poker Player's Alliance here. They have ways for you to spend just 60 seconds and send emails to The White House, Congressmen/Senators, and State Representatives. We only win this fight when we the people make our voices loud enough so MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

Edit: Today, Monday, April 18th, The PPA released new emails to be sent to the Attorney General, President Obama, and members of Congress and the Senate. These new letters call for the immediate return of player funds and continue to demand that sensible poker legislation be passed. Please take a few moments and read the letters and send them off.

A Momentumless Year

The title sums it up. What a lackluster year it's been. Everyday on the grind is a frustrating one. In years past I would never go so long between results. Sure, there were bad times. But nothing to match the longevity of this year. And really it extends into the last half of last year as well. I basically blame it on a sharp increase in opponent skill and a turn for the worse in the variance chapter.

Yesterday I got 2nd in the $15 SS on UB that I won like a month ago. It was worth like $580. Thank God too or else I would have needed to drop down. Then today I get 11th in a $22 360cap on Stars and 9th in the 13:00 $22 (15K) for a pathetic $250. First was worth just under 4K. These are the scores I'm supposed to be hitting but are completely alluding me.

I can just never get momentum. Every time it seems like a heater is finally coming things cool off just as quickly as they warmed up. I've never had so few top-three cashes in this number of games. I feel like perhaps it's time I started to change my expectations toward poker. Perhaps in this new ultra-aggro world, where more people than ever understand correct push/fold strategy, people just aren't making enough mistakes for me to crush midstakes tourneys like I used to.

I'll probably let this year finish out before I start to truly accept that possible new reality. I seriously hope I don't have to do that.

April (3rd) Fools

It's a dumb name for a post but I couldn't come up with anything else ha.

I got 5th today in the Sunday $55 (25k Guarantee) on UB for about 1.5k. First was worth 6.3k. It was a tough FT battle and as usual I got it in pretty far ahead and as the story of the year goes I couldn't hold.

It folded to the SB (who mentioned he is a reader of this blog earlier in the FT) who shoved into my BB with about 15bb (I can't remember but I think we both had roughly 15bb to start the hand) and I snapped w/ A10o. He showed 89o (making me a 2:1 favorite) and I watched the board fall Q788x. It was quite reminiscent of my 5th place finish in the $10 1r1a on FT a couple weeks ago when my AQo lost to A9o (xxxx9).

I've been stuck in this rut for what feels like eternity now. Even though the game has gotten tougher I'm still getting my money in ahead. At the end of the day that's all I can do.

A Little Something At Least

I guess I got real lucky and shipped a $15 tourney on UB for 1k. Wins like these seem to be all I can muster up these days.

Yesterday I finished 5th in the morning $10 1r1a on Full Tilt for about $800. First was 3k. I played my heart out. I got the money in consistently ahead but couldn't hold, including a big AQ < A9o (xxxx9) to put the dagger in me.

I used to win tourneys like that on the reg. I used to ship midstakes tourneys left and right and these days it's not that simple. I feel like it's a combination of me running under expectation + people making less mistakes late.

Anyway I'm just marching on. I've been playing during the day for the last few weeks and so far I pretty much love it. It's 7pm here and I'm done for the day and usually I'm done a lot sooner.

Good things happening soon... they have to.

Two Wins Today/Announcing Sunday Packages

Won two tourneys today. They were both variance control tourneys I talk about so much.

Again, these tourneys not only help to keep the bankroll stabilized but they keep confidence high, something very important to being successful in poker.

Starting today I'm going to be selling pieces of packages I put together for Sunday MTTs.

The package for this Sunday (March 13th) is as follows:

Currently this package is sold out. However, when I have pieces of a package for sale (prbly most Sundays) I will have a page here on my blog with a listing similar to the one above. Typically, I think I'll be selling 50% of my action. I'll post my contact information when I have a package for sale.

Update

Had some real-life stuff going on there for a few days and ended up not playing for like the last five days of Feb. It's working out for the best cuz now I'm on a sleep cycle where I'm awake during the day.

I'm getting sick of being awake all night and sleeping all day. I don't feel like I'm part of the world ha. So anyway I'm gonna try out this daytime schedule and see how I like it. I might even join a gym and start getting some exercise. Doubt anything bad can come from that.