CARDRUNNERS

What's Your Edge

ezmogee's Poker Blog

May 24, 2009

Okay, I admit it - my game is rusty. I didn't play poker for about two weeks, because my attention was fixed elsewhere. It's kind of startling to me how easily I'm able to forget about poker when there are opportunities or people that appeal to me far more than sitting behind a computer :) On the surface, this shouldn't really be surprising. But when I'm alone, I spend the bulk of my free moments playing or thinking about poker. So the fact that I'm just as easily able to drop it, makes my wonder why I emphasize it so much during my free time. I don't know the answer...it might simply the money, it might be desire to improve and get better. And it might just be that poker is how I react to free time. I know so many people that spend their free time lounging on the couch watching TV - I'd rather spend that same time earning money and challenging my mind.

So why do I say I'm rusty? Well, after 2+ weeks off the game, I auto-dropped 10 buyins attempting to make a return. It was actually kind of startling how poor I felt about my game. Now admittedly, I ran pretty atrociously, but my reads were off and my timing was horrendous. So last night, after Shabbat, I decided to get my head on straight, drop down in stakes and play until I'd found my groove again. I promised myself nothing above $600 NL (and obv I was multi-tabling $5000NL a few hours later) but whatever. As expected, I dropped about $4k playing 6 tables of $400 and $600NL which was annoying. But I hunkered down, continued to grind, and clawed my way to back to the green.

Around this time, I noticed that a huge fish from the mid-stakes games was clearly tilted and deciding to kamikazee his way to riches or bust at the $5000NL tables. I'd told myself nothing above $600NL, but couldn't pass up open seats directly to his left, so I short-bought for $1,500 on the tables, and just tried to play super tight. I got some cards, made a few thousand at the higher stakes tables, and continued to win in other games ultimately booking a ~$5k win. It was really gratifying to pound through a few thousand hands and to feel like my game was starting to feel sharp again. It's something that I haven't done in a long time, and I always enjoy a challenge like this.

To anyone who's not in the poker world, it might sound insane that after a mere two weeks, I'm talking about my game being rusty. But that's just the way it is...the players online are so good and so tough these days, that if you're not playing every single day, you're at a disadvantage. The games and reactionary tendencies of opponents are actually changing every week, if not every day. It's kind of startling, but online poker is cutthroat. That doesn't mean it's not beatable for someone looking to work hard - it most certainly is. But with so many talented young people in the game, I don't think you can win in mid-stakes games without spending at least 5-10 hours/week thinking about, analyzing, and breaking down your hands.

So....on to my 2009 WSOP goals. I will be out in Vegas for only about three weeks, and won't be able to play many events. I figure I'll focus on the cash game action and try to make a run in some of the juicer 10/25 and 25/50 games.

Goals:

1. Don't go insane in Las Vegas like I have the past two years.

2. Successfully figure out how to wire money to the Bellagio.

3. Concentrate when playing WSOP events. They may be all day patience festivals, and I need to work on staying calm. I always try to play too many hands, and outplay people. I never give anyone credit in WSOP tournaments. This is why I always run up stacks at the beginning, only to incerinate them in epic fashion. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS. PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE. Care about your money - these tournaments have huge payouts - often over $500k for first. Why don't you care more?!

4. Win $50,000 in cash games - between online and live in the 3 weeks I'm out there.

5. Work on improving my live poker game - talking more at the tables, trying to manipulate opponents with my speech.

6. Have fun, make new friends, and uphold my dignity. Las Vegas is a foolish place, and I'd like to think I can carve out my own niche of tranquility in an otherwise pulse throbbing city.

Anyone have any good suggestions for goals?

Holla,
Ezra Moses

PS - thanks for all the comments on last blog post. Interesting that dividing by zero almost goes unnoticed.

Entry Tags:

May 24, 09 14:00:56

good luck in vegas ezra. I think I plan on being out there sometime during the series this summer so we should def hang out.

Alex

doubleR_F

May 24, 09 15:21:05

There should be a beer pong goal in there somewhere.

Przytula

May 25, 09 01:45:44

no rhino goals?

MarkWahlberg

May 26, 09 16:15:23

great blog. nice to hear u get stuck and then book a nice win. I cudnt agree more about the cutthroat ways of online poker...especially online cash games. It is beatable but u really gotta be putting in solid hours 7 days a week. GL in the WSOP spewtard(trying to motivate you).

charliemultitable

May 27, 09 01:46:55

gj to u sir

RodeoBlue