Silver Linings

My start to September at the cash tables hasn't been any better than the end of August. Hopefully things turn around soon. I've taken some steps to try and be better prepared focus wise heading into and during each session, and I think my play has improved some as a result.

I ended up splitting my SNE freroll of the WCOOP $5200 Main Event into ten smaller WCOOP events. I like that this reduces my variance, and it means many chances to work on my tournament game. Unfortunately, it also means I have to play ten tournaments!

I busted fairly early in WCOOP #1 ($215, 6-max NLH), outlasting maybe a third of the field. In WCOOP #3 ($215 NLH) I outlasted 70% of the field but couldn't make it to the money. Tonight, I spent 8 hours playing WCOOP #9 ($1050 NLH, 2-day) and got off to a good start. Unfortunately, my situation turned similarly to EPT MC, as after building up a well above average stack after the first six levels or so, I became completely card dead. Things got worse when I lost a flip with AK AIPF for ~22 bbs or so against 99, leaving me with 7bbs. At this point in the event, there were around 210 remaining and 180 cashed. Fortunately, I was able to win one flip and then pick up a lot of dead money jamming, and managed to somehow squirm my way into the money. Technically, I actually made it into the second pay bracket for $2,176.20. Given the freeroll nature of the event for me, that's $2k I didn't have yesterday so I'm pretty happy, especially given I was down to 7bbs at one point closing in on the bubble. I was actually quite surprised at how reckless many players (including a couple PS pros who I believe only play tournaments) with 30-40bb stacks were being very close the bubble - I guess maybe they were in a go big or go home mindset and didn't much case for cashing small.

Anyway, I'll be taking tomorrow off and hitting the cash tables again Thursday. My next WCOOP event isn't until Monday, so it'll be some time until the next tourney grind begins. 7 more to go!

Oh, I should also mention that during the first couple hours of WCOOP #9 tonight I was also busy drafting the 2010 edition of the Nit City Nutpeddlers in Chicago Joey's SSFR Fantasy Football league. I'm pretty happy with my team - notables include: Ray Rice, Pierre Thomas, Brandon Marshall, Hines Ward, Joseph Addai, Kevin Kolb/Eli Manning splitting time at QB, Jeremy Maclin, Zach Miller and the Vikings defense. It would be great to improve on my second place finish from last year!