Saturday 31 December 2011

2012 Here we come.

So as we end 2011, I have already set some of my plans for 2012.  I will indeed be working part-time now and will be dependant on poker as an income to feed my family.




I am excited and scared but largely optimistic.  Ultimately, I am confident my game has improved hugely in 2011, thanks to my coach who I worked with for 4 months and the hours I put into studying.  I hope it is enough to get to where I want to be in 2012 and that I can continue to improve so I can exceed my own expectations.

While 2011 was a good year in most ways, I am still disappointed I did not get to the WSOP this year and tho MTT are low on my agenda right now, I am hoping SNG profits will help me expand into some big live tournaments in the years too come.

So my goals,


JANUARY Goals

1500 games- Any SNG type.

12 hours study -Mainly in HEM but also finish Moshman HU book.

Blog each weekend - This is enjoyable and helps me focus from week to week.

15 Fitness sessions - I would like to think I have gained a few pounds over Christmas but if truth be known, the last nine months have contributed to me being at my heaviest weight ever and at the age of 37, if I don’t get it gone now, it will probably be here forever. As I am struggling to reach round to wipe my own arse, I had to add it.

Profit target $1500. - I don’t usually aim for cash targets but as this money will now be feeding my family, I have included it as a necessity.

2012 Goals
Reach Supernova on Stars.

Profit target $20,000

To be on at least 1 Sharkscope Leaderboard throughout the year.

For the first year as a semi-pro, I am aiming low and hoping to smash these targets in order for me to calculate more worthy targets to reach in 2013.

2012 Bucket List
Have a poker related article published in a magazine.


I wish you all a Happy New Year, good luck at all your tables apart from the ones i'm sat at.  Enjoy the celebrations.

Saturday 24 December 2011

Christmas Treat

Prior to the New Year, I will be posting my January goals as well as my longer term 2012 goals but for now thought I would just post something you may find useful over the festive period and into next year.


Top Ten Tilt Tips
 
At number 10 -
The classic, simple yet effective, TAKE A BREAK. Do something else, if it cannot be something un-poker related, make it some poker study, read a book or magazine, watch a video or surf the forums.
 
At 9 -
If the BR has a shocking look about it because of the bad cards, do something about it. Cash in some of those player points and boost your role. On paper it makes no difference whatsoever, but a small part of your brain will welcome the sight of a healthy role and the good feelings will translate into better decisions during the down periods.
 
In at No 8 -
If you cant take a break as you are soaring towards SuperNova Elite and you are saving your player points for the car then try this.
Each time you are sucked out on the river after being called by K3 for all you chips only to have your AA beaten foe the 3rd time in the last ten minutes, LAUGH OUT LOUD. Seriously the power of laughing holds huge benefits. It will keep the good chemicals flowing to and from your brain and enable you to accept the tough cards and continue to make the correct decisions time and again.
(The Chinese have classes purely for laughter, like we do for aerobics. Business men and ladies walk in on there way home from work to just sit in a room and laugh out loud at each other. Sounds stupid, looks ridiculous but it works.)
 
Number 7 -
While the cards are playing up and every opponent seems to be calling you light and hitting, use this to your advantage. Make some effective notes on your opponents dubious plays and benefit from them in the future.
 
At 6
A change is as good as a rest. Try a set of something different. I am predominantly a 9man turbo SNG player. I recently turned to 18mans during a particular bad spell and have not played a set of 9mans for the last week due to instantly going on a heater.


The change to something that is not as comfortable will increase the concentration you will have to engage in the game and thus assist with your decision making and minimise any tilty decisions.
 
Number 5 -
NIT UP. Nobody likes playing uber tight and not really taking part in the game, but if the cards are taking the piss don’t give them too much opportunity to do it over and over. Don’t do it for too long but if only one river screws you in a SNG and you go out, you will feel better than if you get screwed on the river 10 times in the same tournament.
 
At 4
As the big pots lost mount, make a note of them. List your hand and next to it put the hand that beat you. List each big pot whether you lost or won. You may realise once its on paper that you are not being that hard done by after all. If your list continually shows AA beat by K3o and KK beat by Kjo, then try the other 9 suggestions on the list.
 
At number 3
While you have a pen and paper making lists, try dividing a piece of paper into two columns. Have a private competition between yourself and the tilting devil within.
When you make a bad decision on tilt, you usually know that it is a bad call, shove or raise even before you do it. When this is the case mark a point down for the devil, when you perceive the play to be correct mark a point down for you. Your competitive streak will minimise the bad plays as you will not want to lose this game too.
 
New at number 2 -
Now this will sound stupid BUT I guarantee that if you give it a go, you will handle tilting in a much more effective way.
Firstly, I once saw footage of Mike Matusow in a big tournament. He was way ahead with only one card to come. He verbally declared something like “I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO STIFF ME, HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, THIS WILL BE A QUEEN”. His opponent only had two queens to win the pot and sure enough, there it was a big fat queen on the river. Now think of what effect that verbal comment had on MATUSOW, I bet he felt way worse than if he had sat in silence and was willing to accept any outcome.
Now that may be a big coincidence yes, but I implore you to give this a go.
As the hand is in play and you have your money in good, AGAIN, of course. Verbally call for cards which will not hit your opponent.
I KNOW this sounds ridiculous but I tried it once and now use it every time I play. Obviously you may call for a 4 and it might not be a 4, but you will come to realise that many cards that come don’t make your opponents hand and it is only a sparse few that are pissing you off.
Plus you will find yourself hurriedly calling out for cards that don’t even exist like the “16” that I shouted for yesterday that did not materialise which will in turn put a smile on your face.
 
And the Christmas number one way of reducing the effect of tilt.
Go back to basics and ensure you are making the right plays. I would recommend going back to your own safety blanket of whatever that may be. I have some favourite strategy videos that I will watch again, you may have a favourite book or chapter of a book. On top of this, if you have it, get HEM up and start working through previous hands and any other study tools or software you have like SNGWizard. After this you will be able to see how amazing you are playing, how unlucky you really are and be able to understand that the more you play in this way, the cards will turn and you will get back to winning ways.
 
DO NOT THINK THE POKER GODS OWE YOU ANYTHING - MAKE THE CORRECT DECISION BASED ON WHAT THE CORRECT DECISION IS, NOT WHO OWES YOU WHAT.
 
Merry Christmas everyone!!



SNG coaching opportunities at
http://www.doubleagentpokercoaching.com/

 

Sunday 18 December 2011

Good week and almost ready for the leap..

A good week at the tables in an unexpected format has been a welcome feeling as we run towards Christmas and a couple of weeks of minimal poker as I get back to family times.

Almost entirely 18mans and the first time I have played them, so suffice to say, i'll be sticking with them for the foreseeable.  The good news is that I dont see some of the names in these games that send fear up my spine.  Yes, you Mr abarone68, although your Canadien crew TimmyOx and N0BigDeal pop up a bit too often too.  Sick of seeing this at my tables 



Whilst I enjoy the way these boys play and learning from them, I am usually happy to see them playing somewhere else.

I am spending more time with a couple of students I have at the minute and enjoying that especially as they have some good potential, hopefully post some graphs early next year when their results really kick in.

It should be a quiet couple of weeks pokerwise as I scale it down over Christmas so I can go hell for leather in January.  My work is almost sorted and it should be January 1st when I get to work 9 days per month and aim to use poker profits to feed my family.  (Hope they eat well over Christmas).

I doubt I will blog on Christmas day, unless something insane happens, so
Have A Merry Christmas guys and girls, hope the big fat guy in the red suit brings you something nice.  I'll take some rungood if you read this big guy.


You should be so lucky!!!
See you at the tables.

Saturday 10 December 2011

BIG News

Well, if you have not already heard.  My time with my Team MOSHMAN coach came to an end and I was promptly offered a position on the coaching team as their newest coach.



Needless to say, I snapped their hand off and I am now a bonafide coach, way before I planned to be.  And if Team MOSHMAN think that I have the knowledge and capabilities to bring something to their stable of coaches then that is enough of a tick in the box for me.

So - check this out -  http://www.doubleagentpokercoaching.com/ I am going to see if I can grow a stable of students to get my coaching off to the biggest and best start that I possibly can.  If truth be told, I really enjoy coaching and while it is probably never going to be as profitable as playing. it comes with a lot less stress and worry and more of a warm fuzzy feeling.

So massive changes in my plans this week and what do you think happened to my game with that vote of confidence, I must have been unplayable right?  You could not be more wrong, I am in the middle of the longest losing streak I have encountered for a long time, and I don't seem to be able to get out of it.  Same old story, I have not won a flip for an eternity, I have not outdrawn anybody in a big pot for the same length of time, and playing poker sucks again.  So as I start to ask people to trust in my abilities my form takes a turn for the worse. 



Fortunately we are coming to the end of the year.  I say this because the leaderboards on Sharkscope hold a lot of weight and accountability in the poker world.  While at the beginning of the year I was all over them (well the $15 9man ones, anyway), the middle of the year saw me concentrate my focus onto the satellites for the WSOP and with Black Friday, I ended playing them under that screen name altogether. 
Having set up my new home on Stars, I have no doubt, I will be in the top half of the leaderboard again, if not all the way at the top. Plus this time I will have a nice Team MOSHMAN Coach badge next to my name.

I have made an offer of some free Hand Histories on The Hendonmob.com so you can see how by  following this link http://www.thehendonmob.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41990

Time to go make some of this money back before I get too many students.  Lucky I got some rest last weekend huh.

Sunday 27 November 2011

Slowing down

  


I have taken the foot off the gas, in poker terms, this week and will again for the week to come.  My brother flew in from the USA on Friday for a flying visit as he left again Sunday morning.  He was only here two nights so we had a lot of catching up to squeeze in.  I miss my brother a lot so there was no way I was going to waste time trying to grind a profit this weekend.  We went out, played some pool, drank some beer and ate indian food which was great.
            




Another reason for the slowdown is the fact that my coaching contract with Team Moshman has 8 days left to run and I have more than met my contractual obligations for the number of games to be completed.  I have learned a lot in the last 16 weeks, more about how to analyse and improve my play opposed to actually playing differently.  I have gained some invaluable knowledge from my coach Mitch and I can only apologise for my 1000 game break even stretch which has hit me recently which has meant I have not made as much money for Team Moshman (and I) as I would have liked.  I certainly owe Mitch a drink or two so hopefully bump you in Vegas soon Mitch.

And to carry the non-poker theme forward.  I am treating the Mrs to a weekend away next weekend and I have promised NO Laptop.
I try to do this once a year when the weather gets colder.  We barely see each other all year long due to work commitments.  Well we never get a day off together anyway.  So with the colder weather due to set in, we should have snow by the end of the month so I heard from the weather man, I whisk her away to a small cottage in the country with an open fire in the living room.  We arrive Friday, I lock the door behind us and we dont unlock it again until we leave again on Monday morning.  We keep the fire lit all weekend, I cook all the food, pour all the wine and beer and we get through a whole load of DVD's, chocolate and a LOT of some other stuff!!!!!!



So with that in mind, I might miss next weeks entry but I am sure you dont begrudge me that.

Sunday 20 November 2011

Storm before the storm

Im already getting nervous, even before my wages are cut and my families well being relies on a few games of cards.
I am putting together some plans and ideas so that the transition can go as smooth as possible.  On a basic level it is thinking about my targets that will get me the $$$ through the door.  I really need to work out the best ( and cheapest) way to withdraw my $$$ and move it about.  I usually go through moneybookers or skrill as it is now known and a bank card, but it has been a while since I have taken any money out of stars and I dont want to get stung with crappy exchange rates etc.

My bankroll is moving nicely towards having enough to play in the $30 games but after a few games in them tonight and the importance of maintaining a reasonable ROI, I am thinking right now that I wont progress straight away and rather bide my time until I have completed a few successful months working semi pro at this game.

I think my proper working hours will probably change around Christmas sometime, so I am hoping I can get serious around January time and make my first cash out at the end of that month.  So if it is January, I will be aiming for,
2000+ games, of which I plan on playing 10% of those at the $30 level and the rest at $15.  This averages out at 66 games a day.  I feel comfortable with that number and hopefully in time i'll see that I can play a lot more than this.  Playing this many would enable me to get Supernova on Stars which affords some nice $$$ bonuses along the way, about $5700.  With a 30% increase in VPPs, this would increase that by another $2600, so i'll be aiming for that as the year goes on.  $8300 before my profits kick in sounds like a good start and something to build on.

I have cut back on my clothing allowance and i'll be stocking up on extra underwear so I can sit around the house most of the day in them.
I have taken note of Daniel Negreanus set up and i'll be employing an assistant, I will set her up a twitter account which will be @Motherinlaw.  I am not a vegan so @Motherinlaw will be making some egg and bacon rolls for me while she looks after the kids whilst I play.  @Motherinlaw is amazing and I guess i'll be seeing a lot more of her soon.

I guess I should make time to get to the gym to huh?

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Coming soon - Leap of faith!

Its official, I will very sonn be working part time and my wages cut by about 40%.  If I cannot make in excess of £800 -(not $800).  Even then I will be behind as we wont have my extra poker winnings that pay for a few of the extra luxuries that we enjoy.

Probably one of the bigger leaps of faith I have taken considering the wife and kids depend on me.  I thought this might spice up my enthusiasm and get the guts turning over a bit.
Since this all happened in the last week or so the poker gods thought that they would give me a tester and give me some crappy cards my way,

"A bit worrying".  Not really.  See at the moment 200 games would take me over a week.  So over a week, no profit, move on to the next week, if it happened two or three week on the spin, no great shakes - get paid at the end of the month and think of the VPP's.

With the new "fewer hours at work" me, I should be able to play between 1500 to 2000 games a month, so this little downswing in the graph will last about 4 days and it will be business as usual.



I am certainly feeling the pressure a little bit even before my wages are cut.  A few butterflies in my belly, a feeling I have not felt in a while, hopefully they can give me more focus.  I hope I can cope through the bad times and keep grinding it out.
The nerves increased again in the last few days, the washing machine blew up, spent a fortune on concert tickets for the family and had a dodgy run of football bets go the wrong way.  BUT in the new schedule of things the football bets will be reeled in to the minimal, the family wont go without, i'll make sure of that and I have a fall back nest egg for incidents and accidents.

So I have it all in place, I think.  I have read everybodies accounts on what it takes and what you need in reserve and i think I have it all.
I am not a mug ( I hope).  I can always go back to work full time if I need too but I am hoping to cut more hours or quit altogether at some time in the future.

Thought I might start to blog once a week as my transition into semi-pro takes place.  It might make some interesting reading, I might get some monumental advice from a reader and it will hopefully keep my eyes on the prize.  I will blog every weekend if I can (some might be short and sweet), that way I dont have to blog whore across the firums and twitter and the regs will know that a new post will appear over the weekend or Monday at latest.

In the next post, i'll let you know what my projections are for the future and when the grind will really count as the wages are cut and the pressure mounts.

Just realised, I must have


Monday 7 November 2011

OMG

I cannot write while I feel this way.  My poker friend who I am coaching seems to be coming along nicely, while OMG my game seems to be falling apart.  Had a 3 day problem with the internet which needed 4 British Telecom engineers to have an input, even if 3 of them were on the phone in India somewhere and I could not understand much of what they were talking about.
All fixed and I set about putting in more volume than ever before, bring on a downswing which has been the biggest for a while and for some reason more painful than usual, especially as I am on the brink of cutting my hours at work to grind more, as my first step to quitting all together.

So all in all, not a great time to be writing about the joys of my life.  Its bloody cold outside, the Mrs is working nights so I have the kids all day while she sleeps and I am bloody miserable.  I even drank alcohol tonight which I usually only do at Christmas every couple of years.

Screw google images, screw poker for the rest of the night and why the hell do I have to wait until 130am to watch Monday night NFL.  Can you guys put it on a couple of hours earlier so we can watch it at a half reasonable time.  I have got so much to moan about right now - Depressed.

If any of you people out there see me in the next week or so (doubtful as I am stuck at home with kids most of time) feel free to shoot me or just walk up and kick me square in the balls, it will cheer me up.

Hopefully i'll be back soon with some cheerier stuff.



Friday 28 October 2011

Poker coach?

Well, my BR is still creeping up along with my HEM graph.  The dips in my graph seem to be smaller and I feel like I am managing to control the variance a little better, if that is possible.  I mean I am not aggravating it with tilty play.



You may remember a little while back I began to coach my boy (age 11).  I did post some information about it in a forum somewhere, 2+2 it I think, and war broke out with two armies of FOR and AGAINST slagging each other off as I ducked for cover.  For those of you who thought it was a bad idea, you will be pleased to know I have knocked it on the head, for now at least, as he has started big school and I want him to study hard.
This has given me a tiny bit of free time which I am now using to teach my first student so I guess I am officially a poker coach.



Strictly speaking, it is more of a trial poker coaching arrangement.  A buddy of mine has followed me for a while, read my blogs and asked my advice.  I always do what I can to help anyway but when he asked for some further time and effort in exchange for cash, I agreed.  I tried to evaluate the time that I will spend coaching him and work out how much I would have won over that period if I had played at the tables myself and charged him that, which we are both happy with.   I also agreed on a NO WIN NO FEE basis, but he is pretty good already so I dont see this being an issue.

Things have started well and I am putting in lots of work and ideas that I have picked up from my coach.  I have completed a couple of hand history reviews and already had a one on one session with another one planned for tomorrow.

If this goes well I am hoping to open the doors on my coaching career.  Dont get me wrong it will only be SNG's as my cash game and MTT strategy suck right now, but hopefully by the end of next year, I can get a couple of students and take it from there.  I enjoy being coached and I have enjoyed passing it forward so who knows. 
My aim for next year is to get on the Sharkscope leaderboards.  I dont feel this will be too hard as long as I play a reasonable amount.  I would almost be on there now, if my play was not split between FTP and STARS, and I have only played for about 5 or 6 months this year.
If I can sort out my work schedule, I should also be able to attain Supernova too, so I should be in a good position to advertise as a genuine, proficient coach, if that is the route I decide in taking.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Being a Poker Player Aint Cheap!

Well, it has been a while but things are going pretty well.  I have been working with my SNG coach now for 8 weeks and have learned a LOT.  Most of it has been how to properly analyse my game and that of others using HEM which is invaluable.  This is improving my ICM skills and post flop play and its paying off.

I am still grinding the $15 SNG's but not too any great volume which is disappointing.  I have the last two months at 750 games and 500 games.  While it felt like I was putting in lots of time, the real grinders are managing 3000 per month, which is just way beyond me unfortunately.  I am maintaining close to 8% ROI which I am pleased with but I have gone down to just 6 tables.  I find that when I am playing 9 or 12, I have a bad run of cards and suddenly I am doing my tits, wheereas when I play 6 tables, I notice my downswing sooner and rest for a while before my next set.  Do need to get back to 9 tables at least though.

I am heading towards my target of $2500 before I head up to the $33 games but I have had a lot to pay out for from my bankroll over the last couple months.

Being a Poker Player Aint Cheap!

Firstly, I purchased HEM, while essential and probably the best money I ever spent $100 gone.
2nd, SNGWizard, again essential, again $100 gone.
3rd, My coaching from Team Moshman is on a NO WIN NO FEE basis.  A great deal, invaluable, great coach BUT almost $1000 gone.
Add in a spare mouse, couple of new books and a desire for a new monitor and I'll say it again
Being a Poker Player Aint Cheap!

So to see my BR go from $300 towards the end of July to $1800 now, I feel slightly deflated but in reality, I should be quite pleased.  I have another 2 months on my coaching contract and then after that, I will hopefully see a speedier rise of my BR.

Off to play live at the IPO in Dublin, next weekend.  I have had some good results there last two years with 4 final tables from 6 tournaments but nothing in the Main event and no winners trophy so hoping to turn that around.

All in all

Wednesday 10 August 2011

You still here!

Ok, I see my blog is still getting visitors without any additions since prior to the WSOP.

So, I thought I would hit you all up with an update.  Obv I missed the WSOP and I actually did not play that much what with Black Friday and all.  I have had too migrate to stars as this really is the only option I can find for the traffic I need.  I heve never really liked Stars which is probably due to playing there years ago, being terrible and being taken for all my money most of the time.

  ALL IN


I only really started to put in some real volume a coupe of weeks ago and my Stars aim is to maintain Platinum star status this year and go for supernova next year.  After a good start I had a 30+ game downswing which really hurt and got me asking questions again but I have since put it right back on track. I have added HEM to my arsenal finally, but I am not sure it is going to be much help for now.    Even at 12 tabling right now, I dont have enough time to look at all the relevant figures.  Maybe when I am a bit more conversant with it, I will use it more effectively.


The big news is I'm going to get me some coaching.  While, I think that I am competant at the stakes and games I play, I still feel I could make good use of some professional coaching.  While it will eat into my profits short term - long term it's a no brainer.

Long term aim.  Fully Pro by the end of 2012 and maybe doing a bit of coaching myself.  I am changing my hours around at work to assist with stuff at home which coincidentally will give me more grindng time.



I am going to try and get more active on the forums.  I must get rid of the "What if I sound like a knob" attitude.

I will prob blog once a week for now and let you know how i'm going and to keep my focus.  So if nobody is listening then it will still be a good tool for me.

Good Luck
P.S - Anybody got any idea when I might see my Full Tilt money again?

Saturday 21 May 2011

Decision Made.

I am not going anywhere - yet.  I have really struggled to play enough qualifying events to really make a run.  I hate playing a 40 seater tournament with only 1 prize, I have not got the time to qualify to the bigger satellites and maybe, just maybe, I aint good enough,

                                              
Either way, I am pretty disappointed in the whole episode.
                                              
I considered going to play some lesser events but seems to be pointless and a bit disjointed from the actual object goal I was aiming for.

I have been spiralling out of control due to the disappointments on failing my mission. 
                                              
Not to the point of losing my BR because I haven't, but I have no motivation to play whatsoever.  When I am playing, I am playing some weird crappy HU or even Omaha.  (1st time came 30th from 400 and won $13 - WooHoo)

I have spent more time coaching my boy who came 40 something in a 1500 player tournament which he satellite freerolled into.  He won $12+ for no outlay.  I did not help him at any point so he is coming on very nicely.
        
                                                                      

For now I guess I am off to the land of Mickey Mouse for the next couple of weeks, then a weeks holiday in the UK.  Hopefully when that is done my appetite will be whetted once more and I can figure out some new goals and get back too it.

So - For now MISSION FAILED.
 
I appreciate everybody who has followed and given their input, positive or negative.  I cannot think of a good reason to continue boring you with the odd graph and bad luck story every week or so, so I guess I am signing off for now.

Look out for me on the SS leaderboards as I have not drifted to far off of the $5 - $15 9man SNG table so hopefully i'll make it back up there.

When I can think of a good enough reason to darken your doors again, I will hit you up.  Good luck at the tables all.

Sunday 8 May 2011

What Should I Do Now?

Quick update for you.  Still no seat, still not enough BR.

Ok that sounds terrible but it's not all that bad.  I am now getting into the final stage of WSOP satellites on PKR weekly, which is good.  Last week I played in the weekly final, 33 in the field, prizes were 1 package for the winner but another 12 got there money back almost $215.  So, I should have cruised into the money at least but when my two year old was climbing all over me for 15 minutes solid and my 88 on the SB was facing a smallish raise from the button who had raise folded from the same position 2 times in the last 5 orbits, I shoved with a medium stack.  Needless to say in my tilted state my 88 bumped into JJ and did I not improve.  Always next week, although i'll try and get the little one to bed earlier or looked after.

In the $1 Full Tilt WSOP satellite tonight, almost 11000 players, I came 190th.  I made 1 mistake that really cost me but even with perfect poker that one is gonna be hard to conquer.

My foray into the live arena did not happen either last week.  I had a row with the Mrs and got the hump on Saturday night.  So opening my eyes on Sunday I realised I still wanted to fight the world and felt it was not the best idea to drive 4 hours for a game of poker only to be met with the inevitable suckout and then get thrown out for lumping the unlucky sole that rivered me.
 

So I have two finals this week one on Monday and one on Wednesday so i still dont want to book my Vegas trip yet.
I have the dates of 26th June to 5th July planned if I don't qualify as that is best with childcare/work etc but that will mean I will stick to the Venetian Deepstack and maybe a Binions event or two.  That is not ideal but hey.  Hopefully, if I can bag a package this week my plans may change. 

I also have the option of not going of course.  My BR is just topping $5500 which is lower than planned but I have found it hard concentrate on satellites whilst 9 tabling my SNG's so it has ended up with just one table open concentrating on the satellite.  This obviously has affected my profit but aswell as that it has affected my appetite for the game.  Once I finish a satellite, either just outside payday or qualifying to the next step I seldom feel like loading up a few sets and I stop playing.  So I have a question.
Should I stay or should I go?

Firstly, (Dont laugh).  My mum has asked to tag along.  I coached my mum from a complete novice to having a sharkscope like this,
 
 
so not bad right, even if one tabling is killing her profit line.(She loves the game and makes friends and chats rather than trying to earn a living - Lucky girl)  So, if my mum goes we will share a room (no not a bed) so I have priced it up where I could stay at the Venetian for 9 nights plus Virgin flights for £600 ($900ish).  So a good price.  My schedule for tournaments would come to slightly over $2500 and with a few incidentals my BR is gone if I don't bink a nice payday.  And I did not even play the WSOP.
OR - I could just get back to grinding, make another $10k this year, which I think should be very do-able without the satellites getting in the way and start planning for next year.
If you are reading this through a link from a forum, please chuck down your views on what you think I should do.  If not make a comment right here.  I will tally up the results and take it into account.
 
I appreciate you guys n girls following my adventures, I am enjoying reporting back although wished I could have reported some more positve results for you.  After my interview was posted I had over 150 hits in a day which was my new record, so thank you all.
 

Fingers crossed and Good Luck at the tables.

Thursday 28 April 2011

Interview out.

My interview with http://www.davegambler.com/ is out now.  Think it reads OK let me know.

I now have the legendary Kathy Leibert following me on twitter.

Thats not her, come on google imagesThats better.

Things are on the up but still no seat.  I declined any payment for the interview, instead asked to pass on any monies to the Cancer Research charity.  The interview has also been forwarded to a well known poker magazine who may publish it, so the word is out big time and i'm going to look a bit of a knob if I dont get to Vegas now.
I have decided the trip should have a larger meaning than just little old me off to Vegas on a jolly so IF there are any profits then Cancer Research will get a healthy cut.
I am also wondering if one of the bigger sites might want to put me into a smaller event at the WSOP whereby we can put all profits to the charity.  Some need a good press right now.  If anybody has any good contacts let me know and i'll get hassling.

In case anybody is wondering, YES, like many, my close family as well as extended family have had numerous run ins with the big C,  mostly happy endings but not all i'm afraid.  My sister-in-law is running the New York City Marathon in November, so if anybody has any big wins and is feeling generous then you could donate through her to Cancer Research - http://mskcc.convio.net/site/TR?px=1974408&pg=personal&fr_id=1460&et=YoUnEjFFxduJKVPOKB3aqw..&s_tafId=12204

Good Luck Lisa, rather you than me.

I am looking to book my Vegas flight after this weekend, mayber Thursday but I have a couple of good chances at bagging my seat first, one is the survivor contest live, and the other a 1 seat in 10 final on PKR on Wednesday (if I can get time off work - and only 11 played this week).  So still plugging on.  Looking forward to the start of the new month so I can get focused again, but having a few days off to spend with family and freshen up my live game.

Glad the payments have started to get sorted in America, lets hope they can get you all playing again ASAP.

Good Luck all.