Matt Blogs the WSOP: Week One Report

Date: Mon, Jun 9, 2008 Professional Internet

Here are some of the stats from the events I didn't write up in detail.

Event 5, $1,000 NL Hold 'Em with Rebuys

Starting stack (after rebuy): 4,000
Stack after rebuy period (with add-on): 18,050
High water mark: 23,275 (Level 7)
Low point before busting: 3,400 (Level 1)
Busto: Level 9

Event 7, $2,000 NL Hold 'Em

Starting stack: 4,000
High water mark: 25,300 (Level 6)
Low point before busting: 3,925 (I missed the first two hands and they were both my blinds, heh)
Busto: Level 9

Event 9, $1,500 NL Hold 'Em Six-handed

Starting stack: 3,000
High water mark: 156,700 (Level 10)
Low point before busting: 3,000 (as far as my notes remember)
Busto: Level 12

Event 13, $2,500 NL Hold 'Em

Starting stack: 5,000
High water mark: 13,600 (Level 3)
Low point before busting: 1,400 (Level 1)
Busto: Level 5

I'm really pleased that I've doubled my starting chips in all five events that I've played, but of course disappointed that I didn't make a nice score any of the times I went deep. I'm not feeling so great right now (I seem to get sick every time I come out here), so the best and worst plays feature will have to wait until next time while I get some rest.

Tomorrow I play Event 17, $1,500 NL Hold 'Em Shootout. Wish me luck.

Writing a Book with Dusty

Date: Sun, Jun 8, 2008 Professional Internet

I am excited to announce that Dusty and I are writing a book. As many of you know from Dusty’s blog, I am in Portland visiting with him. Over the past few days, we’ve been able to iron out the details of a book that we’ve been considering for the past couple months. It was such a cool moment yesterday when it all came together. We want to make this book remarkable and until then, weren’t sure how.

The intent is to provide the definitive source for poker mental game instruction, with the added bonus of Dusty providing the best NL instruction in print. It will be informative and entertaining, and show a unique glimpse into the minds of one of top poker players. You’ll get an in depth look at how he made significant progress in my program; understand the talents that makes him a top player and more importantly, how you can acquire those skills. Many of you have asked Dusty, “How he is able to grind so many hands?” The question that you really want answered is, “How I can become a grinder?” In the book I’ll show you how.

I’ve had the desire to write a book for awhile. I actually started a book on the mental side of golf a couple years ago, but I wasn’t ready. My program was just getting started and though my clients were having success that didn’t mean that I was ready for a bigger stage. It was pretty painful to come to the realization then that what I had written was total crap. I’ve long felt like I could do some really cool things in this world and to see myself failing was tough to swallow. It took some time and help from my family to understand that it just came down to the fact that there was more I needed to learn.

I’ve learned what I needed to on the coaching side to write this book. My program is solid and now my focus is on becoming a great writer. I’m a good writer and I’m going to work hard to be a great one. I love this Jordan commercial, because it reminds me of the work that’s require to achieve greatness.

At some point, Dusty and I want to get all of you involved in this book. We’re not sure how yet, but your input will be greatly appreciated.

Discuss this blog here:
http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14033

Running Good Again In Life

Date: Sun, Jun 8, 2008 Professional Internet

Jared and I were doing some joking around during my recent poker sessions this week and we came up with a realization. I have spent way more time bitching about running bad and not as much time talking about when I run well because I have long been afraid of flaunting success to the poker Gods. Of course, it is crazy that I even think that poker Gods even exist, but just on the .01% chance that they do, I have been afraid to post about how well I run at times for fear that I am flaunting it in their face and they will soon make me pay dearly for that. Then Jared made a half joking point that totally makes sense. Maybe the reason they treat me so poorly at times is because I am usually speaking poorly of them and rarely ever giving them credit when credit is due. So with that I would like to personally thank the poker Gods and give them their due credit for this run.

I have run so stupid good it’s almost laughable this month. It hasn’t necessarily gone well at the higher stakes as you can see, but this is easily my best run of my life at 5/10nl. And this is over a pretty decent sample size as well so I am pretty fired up. As you guys know I have recommitted myself since my trip to California and good play plus running hot has paid off quite nicely. It has helped me recover from a longish dry spell and once again has me fired up about poker. I have made quite a few changes in the way I play as well and there is no doubt that a decent amount of this recent success is attributable to my improved play. I was playing well before this run, but now I can officially say that I have improved my game a fair amount.

Having Jared in town has been a lot of fun. Chamber’s Bay was not quite as good as we had hoped. Chamber’s is slated to host the 2015 US Open and I am a little concerned that it may be disappointing to some. It is a very good golf course, but not quite as good as I was expecting. All 3 courses at Bandon Dunes are better than Chambers in my opinion. That may have been the problem though for us as we were judging Chamber’s in relation to Bandon, which are all incredible courses, because they are owned by the same company and they are both right on the water. Chamber’s is newer though and it is very possible that enough improvements will happen that make it as good as some of the Bandon courses so we will just have to wait and see.

Today we played Pumpkin Ridge which is my home course and had a blast. The course has finally recovered from a very long winter and was in great shape. Jared played well for his first time around the course and shot a 74 with bogies on the last two holes. He smoked me and took me for $20. I shot 78 and struggled with my game some….sigh. I guess I am a poker pro now and not a pro golfer anymore so what can I expect? I still hit a lot of quality shots, but not with the consistency that I used to. I think if I focused on my game for a month I could be right back to where I used to be and maybe someday I will do that. Right now though I have too good of a gig with poker so golf aspirations will have to remain on hold indefinitely until the time is right if ever.

www.10thgreen.com is coming along well too. We have been working on it quite a bit lately and I truly believe with all of my heart that someday it will become THE PLACE to visit for all serious golfers. I truly think it has that potential. I am very entrepreneurial by nature and am excited that I have a home run of an idea. I have invested significant resources into this project and if it turns out to be a big flop, it won’t be for lack of effort. With any new idea where you are trying to create a market where a market currently doesn’t exist, there is a ton of risk involved, but I feel like if there was ever going to be something to take a risk on, www.10thgreeen.com is it. Wish me luck.

After golf today we went to Portland City Grill which is my favorite restaurant in Portland. My wife couldn’t make it so it was just Jared and me that went. After having such a great trip and running so well, we decided to baller it up a little bit and each order some Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac . I normally don’t splurge on stuff like that, but I figured it was worth it considering you only go around once and I had never tried anything like that. So I guess I can cross that off of my “Bucket List.” Bucket List is a great movie btw. The drink cost $130…lol. The first half of the drink I thought was a little brutal to just sip as it is quite strong, but by the last half I sort of started to acquire a taste for it and then it was absolutely awesome. I am totally glad I tried it. I may not order it again for a very long time, but am glad I ordered it tonight. It is definitely worth a shot if you are looking to ball it up. The food was amazing as per usual and Jared and I had a great conversation. Jared and I have become very good friends as of late. I have blogged before about how happy I am to have made so many great friends over the last few years. Good friends are not always easy to find, but over the last few years I have made several including my best friend of all, my wife.

Discuss this blog here:

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85831#post85831

Matt Blogs the WSOP: Event 9, $1,500 Six-Handed No Limit Hold 'Em

Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2008 Professional Internet

Well, unfortunately it didn't happen for me today. Here's a rundown of the hands.

Peter Marr (good internet player) is on my left. Avery Cardoza (who I just met the day before, but who certainly plays well enough) is two to my right. Both have chips, and both are clearly playing to win. In fact, our table probably has more chips than any other table.

800-1600 blinds, 200 antes.

Hand 1: Avery opens for 4k in the cutoff. I make it 13k in the small blind with AcJh. Peter calls 13k cold. Avery folds. Flop comes J93 with two spades. Check, check. Turn comes 2s. I bet 18k. Peter calls. River comes Qs. I check. Peter moves all-in. I fold. Peter shows AsJc.

Hand 2: The button limps. I limp in the SB with 66. Peter makes it 8,900 in the big blind. Button folds, I call. Flop comes 422. Check, check. Turn is the 9s, bringing a two-flush. I bet 13k, Peter calls. River is the Qs. I bet 16k. Peter calls. My hand is good (he claims to have had AK, and I believe him).

Hand 3: Avery opens on the button for 4500. (Avery has opened the button literally every time it has folded to him.) Small blind folds, I call with 4d3d. The flop comes 952 with two diamonds. I check. Avery bets 8k. I make it 25k. Avery moves in for 40k more. I call. He has KK. Despite hitting a 3 on the turn, I do not win.

Hand 4: Very next hand. Avery opens in the cutoff for 4k. I call in the small blind with 77. Peter calls in the big blind. Flop comes J82. Checked around. Turn is a king. Checked around. River is a seven. I bet 8k. Peter makes it 20k. Avery folds. I move in for 50k more. Peter calls and I win. (Peter shows KJ.)

Hand 5: Very next hand. Folds to me on the button, I make it 5k with KhQh. Peter makes it 16.5k. Big blind folds, I move him in for 58k more. Peter calls with AJo. Flop comes AKK. Turn A. River Q.

1000-2000, 300 ante.

Hand 6: Folds to me in the small blind and I make it 6k with Jc4c. Peter calls. Flop comes 972 with two clubs. I check, Peter bets 11.5k. I move in for 68k. Peter folds.

Hand 7: Avery opens on the button for 5500. I call in the big blind with T9o. Flop comes A94. Check-check. Turn comes 2. I check, Avery bets 8k, I call. River comes 9. I check, Avery bets 13k. I make it 35k. Avery moves me in for 45k more. I call, he shows me AA and I'm done.

I'll post a few thoughts on these hands, as well as an overall report on the other events, later. For now I'll just say that I probably could've played the last hand a little better, but I was destined to lose a ton of chips on it (if not necessarily all of them). The rest of the hands I think I did fine. Oh well. I'm going to play the $2,500 NL tomorrow. Another day, another tournament.

Bryce's favourite experience of England

Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2008 Professional Internet

Everyone had a monocle and top hat.

Matt Blogs the WSOP: (Sort of)

Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2008 Professional Internet

I'm sorry I haven't been posting more, but I played 12-hour days on Tuesday and Wednesday without cashing, and was exhausted at the end of each. I played 12 hours+ again today, but luckily this time I ran like God and I now have three times the average chip stack going into day two of the $1,500 shorthanded NL Hold 'Em event.

I promise I'll do a better write-up of everything later, but for now I need to get some sleep.

OK, one hand.

Blinds 100-200, the cutoff opens for 550. I call in the small blind with 55, the big blind calls. The flop comes 655. Check, check, the raiser bets 1,000. I make it 2,700. Big blind folds, raiser makes it 6,500. I think for a while and then call. Turn is a 7. I check. Raiser moves me in for 7,500. I call (of course), and he has J9. I think maybe he picked up a flush draw on the turn or something.

Long long way to go, of course. I'm gonna give it my best shot.

Engaged

Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 Professional Internet

Hahaha, I am not engaged, however two of my three brothers got engaged in the past month. I think it will be cool having sisters as I grew up in a household of 4 boys, myself being the youngest. The girls are amazing so I am real happy with my brothers' decisions, I have gotten to know the girls for quite some time already.

As for myself, I just got back from Nashville, TN on a business trip for my internship. Needless to say the car ride was long and it was very hot. I am very excited to be back. I am missing all my friends at home and cannot wait to try getting home July 4th to see everyone if I can. I just count down the days until I get to go home or get back to Penn State.

As for poker, it has been the same deal, I have not had much time to log many hands but have done well when I have had the chance. Other than that I hope everyone is doing well and I will keep trying to update the blog on a weekly basis.

-Presh