Tournament Still Slow, Cash Games Better

I played the 1.5k no limit holdem yesterday which attracted 2700 players. I survived to about 600^th place, unfortunately missed the money, but I felt like I played well and had a few good situations. I busted out Joe Sebok early when my QQ held against his AK. The turn downward came when I called an all in after raising in early position with 99 and a short stack pushed with 55. He flopped quads and so began my slide downward.

The good news for the day was I played some cash games at the Rio and ran reasonably well. The level of play was pretty marginal and I guess I will start playing more of these cash games to help pay for the WSOP, which I have been unable to make any money in. I did wake up with AA vs. KK and we went all in pre flop and my aces held up. Also, when I went to sleep last night Noah Schwartz was chip leader in the Bellagio event with 6 players left. Noah is also having a somewhat slow series, maybe this will turn it around for him.

One interesting thing I have found about the WSOP is the Aces Club players lounge. For about 100 of us and a membership fee there is a lounge right out side the tournament room where you can relax, eat, play online, and talk poker in comfort. What is most interesting is to watch some of poker's notable like Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Roland De Wolf, Barry Greenstein, and others sit around and play Chinese poker every moment they are not in an event. I am not sure the stakes they are playing, but they seem to be pretty significant. There is also some funny interaction that goes on. Apparently Phil Hellmuth is doing a "documentary" on his quest for a 12^th bracelet. I can't wait to see that when it comes out. He was talking about some poker trading cards with his picture on them and called them baseball cards. Daniel quickly corrected him saying Phil you are not a baseball player, which I'm not really sure he got, then Phil pulled out several cases of Old Milwaukee beer which now have a picture of him on them, and placed them in the ice chest. In the 2 weeks I've been there I haven't seen any player drink even one. I do have to say that Phil is a genius in getting his brand out there, but he is a bit self interested even when the cameras are off.

Today is a 3k no limit event which if the beginning to run a little better trend continues should go better. Tournament poker can be quite frustrating and it has proved to be just that for me so far this WSOP. I am hopeful that as I enter the 2^nd half of this series that I will find success.

For more information on Roy Winston, you can visit his website: www.oraclepoker.net or send him an email: [email protected]