Preparing for Vegas and the WSOP

What is going on everyone? I am excited to be back blogging on Cardplayer and hope you guys are happy to have me back! I have alot to talk about since I haven’t blogged in quite some time. However, I wanted to make this first blog about what I have experienced the last 2 years at the WSOP and getting ready for this summer.

This will be my 3rd full summer in Vegas for the WSOP and I couldn’t be more excited to get there! My first time there I was caught up in all the hype and all there is to see in Vegas. I bricked the whole series until the 2nd to last event which worked out really well for me as I got 2nd in the $5k 6 max for $619k, but in 2010 I changed it up and decided to party alot less and focus on playing as much as possible. This strategy worked well as I cashed 5 events with a final table and a deep run in the main event, finishing 55th. This year I will be doing the same thing. Don’t get me wrong, I do alot of fun stuff and spend alot of time enjoying Vegas, I just don’t get drunk and goto clubs every night so that I am hungover and miss the next tournament or even worse, play it not feeling 100%. There are tons of people going out every night and you gotta learn to say no alot. Some of the things I do now to enjoy the summer but still play everyday are:

*The NHL Awards Show at the Palms-3rd year going to this and I just have an amazing time every year. You get to see a great show and meet and hang out with the players. Tickets are very limited and I get them the day they come out each year.

*UFC Fights – The Ultimate Fighter finale is held at the Palms also and I love the show, so seeing all the fighters around and going to the fights is always a good time. MGM also has some big UFC fights sometimes during the series and I highly recommend checking one out live if you haven’t before. We went to UFC 100 and sat on the floor about 5 rows back and we had a blast!

*Great Food – I love trying out all the amazing restaurants in Vegas and can recommend plenty if you are interested.

*Movies/Pool/Shops – Relaxing stuff like seeing good movies/hanging out at the pool or spending some $ at the great stores in Vegas

Those are just some of the things I like to enjoy while I am there. Everyones taste is different and alot of people like to go out clubbin and partyin and there is obviously tons of great places for that too. Just be prepared because its a really really really long summer if you are playing alot of events and cash as well. By the time the Main Event comes around in July you want to be ready to go because I can tell you from first hand experience that it is exhausting to play that tourney thru day 7 after playing 20 events leading up to it.

Some other things that are important to me for the summer:

*being in a nice place…it makes me feel like I’m going home when I have a really nice condo at Palms Place with a balcony, 2 flat screens, huge bed, hardwood floors, kitchen, nice bathroom with a jacuzzi and a pullout couch too. I love grocery shopping and saving $ on breakfast and some late night snacks and stuff. Nothing against staying at Rio-its just more comfortable for me not to stay in a hotel for a month and a half and eat out all day everyday.

*getting some exercise and at the same time saving cab $ by staying close to the Rio. Expenses add up really fast when you are on the road for a month and a half and its always good to cut them where you can.

Most of all have fun and take it all in…if you haven’t been to the WSOP you are in for a treat. It is ran extremely well and it is just action packed huge fields and lots of fun. And it takes place in my favorite city…I have been fortunate enough to have 2 good summers at the WSOP and the way things have gone the past 5 months I need a huge summer this year too! I can’t wait to get started. And as always, please come introduce yourself…I get tons of people that come up to me on tour that I have become friends with that read my blogs. Cya in Vegas!!!!!