I am still alive and playing!

I have not blogged in a very long time. Why? Well, mostly I play live mtts which means lots of travel and when I'm not traveling I'm relaxing with my girlfriend, and playing with my dog and two new puppies.

This last year I traveled a ton and had a few minor successes but nothing to write home about. I had a 9th, 14th, 18th in WSOP ring events all disappointing and got all 3 aipf with the best of it. I got 3rd in the inaugural RunGoodGear dries for 19k which was ok but still disappointing. I cashed my first bracelet event this summer which was fun but disappointing lmao. I just recently had a 5th and a 6th in a couple decent mtts but lost 77 to 1010 aiof of A67, and then lost 1010 to AK in the other. Poker is a grind and variance is real but i love the game and plan on lots more deep runs.

In the last week after two full years away from online I deposited on Bovado and have been grinding a little. I also did some work and updated my website variance101.com and included a page with the links to all the articles i wrote for pocketfives.

I am still giving lessons occasionally and always trying to improve. Maybe I'll try and start blogging some again and sharing my adventures.

WSOP 2104

Wow a blog, hmmm. Pretty much have forgotten all about my blogging experiences. Been grinding live since black friday mostly and just don't seem to be at my computer as much. Maybe we will try and start blogging some again.

Was in Vegas for wsop May 30th through June 11th, cashed the $1500 milli maker and the $1100 MSPT at Venetian but nothing worth mentioning. Heading back July1st thru 11th for the $1111 lil drop and for the Main event. Hopefully something will happen worth blogging about.

Been grinding cash a bit and enjoying it, basically poker is awesome. Until next time, bye.

Only 3 weeks

It's only been 3 weeks since I did any blogging, meh. I was in Durant in April and had a less than amazing 0-12 MTT series and about break-even at cash. Hey, cant win them all, but it was a disappointing series. Nevertheless I came back to Tulsa planning to take a couple days off then get back to grinding, but I got a nasty head cold and was completely out of it for two weeks. I don't get sick often, but it seems when I do, I get really sick. So I grinded out a cold watching a bazillion movies and emptying my DVR, and finally got to feeling better. Unluckily we are having some of that odd Oklahoma weather and I am still running into a ton of hot/cold situations so I hope to keep the cold away.

This last week I have played a few sessions of cash, a freeroll, and a weekly tournament. The freeroll was a bust, the tournament was a bust, but I did have a couple decent cash sessions to make a profit. I will probably be mostly playing some cash trying to increase my WSOP bankroll, but I will be playing the Main event of a series in Siloam Springs this weekend. It's a $350 20k that usually has a decent turnout. Other than that my next couple weeks will mostly be full of cash games and preparation for WSOP. I fly out the 29th and plan on staying for the whole series. I am still ironing out all the details but I am excited for another WSOP.

I went to the WSOP in 2011 for 32 days and thoroughly enjoyed it. My trip was planned for 2 weeks there, one week back, and then I planned to fly back for the main for a week. Once I was there I couldn't leave with all that action so I changed some flights and stayed.  Last year I was forced to miss the WSOP and hated every minute of it. The WSOP is just one of the things a poker player should try not to miss, the action is everywhere and amazing. This year my plan is to go for the whole thing and I hope to have some break out moments.

Good luck to all the grinders out there and I hope most of you get to experience the WSOP, even if just for a week or a weekend.

If you are interested in taking poker lessons or would like any information visit http://variance101.com/# or email me at variance101@gmail.com. #TeamVariance101

Variance

Meanwhile, I have been running up against it. It is Thursday and I have been in Durant, OK since last Thursday. I am 0-11 in MTTs and I am down $103 at cash. Sounds like a great trip so far, ay? Lol, luckily for me I understand variance and poker and I am not sweating it. I have built decent stacks in several MTTs but was unable to capitalize and get to the end. There is still 2 MTTs left for me a $350 50k tomorrow and then a $1100 300k on Saturday. It only takes one, and I plan on doing what I can to play my best.

On the cash front I have only played 4 sessions. I won a nickel the first day I played at 2/5, then lost half a buy-in at 1/2 in 10 min the next day and got invited to dinner so hopped, and then I didn't play for a couple days. My next session was 2/5 and I lost 1k my first hand with AA verse KJ, good times. I did grind my way back to $100 winner than night though. And my last session I lost AK
Poker has streaks, sometimes we run good and sometimes bad, its all about understanding it and handling it better than the other grinders. The last couple days I just went to the room and relaxed after busting the MTT. Sometimes not pushing it is good, sometimes pushing it and grinding is the way to go. You will find me doing both. Tonight I am going to go grind cash and try to play my best, that is truly all I can do. I am ready to book a winner, LEGGO!

If you are interested in taking poker lessons or would like any information visit http://variance101.com/# or email me at variance101@gmail.com. #TeamVariance101

1 Mirrion

I woke up early and drove the 3 hours from Tulsa to Durant yesterday to play in the 1 million gtd series at Choctaw Casino. Yesterday was a $350 50k, a $240 10k, and a $125 5k. I played all three and finally go above start stack in the $125, lol. I was off to a good start but didn't make the money. There is a 50k Player of the Series contest that pays 30 places and 10k for first. We get 2 pts per registered event and then a point per place in the money, so there is incentive to grind. I was lucky enough to have a god 2/5 nl session between the noon and 5pm MTT to cover most of my buy-ins for the day, but still came out a little loser.

Today is the Silver Ring event the $450 100k. Tomorrow is the Gold Ring a $550 200k, and next weekend is a Platinum Ring 1k 300k. Through the week there are lots of 20k, 10k, and 5ks and should be a few guys chasing points.

I would like to throw a shout out to Daniel Hughes for getting 9th in the 50k yesterday, he got it in good with JJ vs 97 but the villain flopped the nuts, lol, run better. Also congrats to Louay and Willie both from Tulsa who got 8th and 7th. Nice work Tulsa players.

248 players in the noon yesterday, so today should have even more. Pretty impressed with the Thursday turnout, this may be a bigger series than I thought. Good luck to all the grinders out there, keep improving and play your A game.

I have a new article coming out on P5s this weekend so keep your eyes out. It is about Live Reads and Leveling ourselves, hope y'all enjoy it.

If you are interested in taking poker lessons or would like any information visit http://variance101.com/# or email me at variance101@gmail.com. #TeamVariance101

Blogging? Whats that

Wow, I have been a little lazy when it comes to writing. I haven't blogged in a week or two and just now finished up and article that was due Monday. Luckily Dan is amazing and allows me some leeway as most of my time is spent playing and some weekends I stay hella busy. So when due dates come around Monday he will let me have a day or two if I am running behind. Also it seems my articles are usually posted over the weekend so I do not think it messed with his planning, but who knows. Thanks for being awesome Dan!

As far as poker goes, 2013 has been really good for me. Obviously not to the extent of lots of players, but I am having a decent year. It feels good, especially after having such a dismal year in 2012. Tomorrow I am heading to Durant for the 1 Million guaranteed series at Choctaw Casino and then will finalize my plans for WSOP.  I am hoping for a good series at Choctaw, but I am also planning on playing quite a bit of cash so I hope the action is good.

Action in Tulsa has actually been on point. I mean we always have some decent 1/2 nl but here lately there is often a 2/5 nl, there is PLO a couple days a week and one is a big 5/10 with a 25 Mississippi straddle, And we also have a huge 10/20 Omaha 8 crowd playing everyday on 1 or 2 tables. Action has been decent here, I can't complain. SO if in the area, get to Riverspirit we be gambling.

If you are interested in taking poker lessons or would like any information visit http://variance101.com/# or email me at variance101@gmail.com. #TeamVariance101

V101

What up everyone? I just ate Chipolte for the first time, it was pretty good. Pretty sure my next mexican adventure will be Chuy's. Things have been going pretty good for me. I am having a solid 2013 and am very happy to be planning on some upcoming events. My last cash session on Tuesday went like shit, but occasionally one will. I have been doing very well at cash and will be heading out tonight for some more. Tuesday I was on a good 1/2 table but only for a little bit. I was rivered for the first buy-in and then ran into AA with top pair verse a guy that would have played bottom pair or air the same way. I was kind of hungry at the time so I decided I would just cut my losses at two buy-ins and get them the next time. Often times I will try and grind it back if the game is good, but I got the feeling it was time to go and went with it. Sometimes just knowing to follow our gut can be really important.

Tomorrow is the $350 50k day1a at Riverspirit and I will be there. Not only will I be there, but I will be there by 10 am when they start. Yep, you read that right, 10am. Why in the hell would a tournament start at 10am when they know they will have less than 150 players a day? If anyone can think of a good answer, please let me know.

I am hoping I make day2 so I can break out my new RunGoodGear that I ordered. Obviously just by wearing the gear all players instantly start to run good. You can get your own gear at this link. http://rungoodgear.com Make sure to check out the site and get yourself some gear ordered. RunGoodGear is owned by an up and coming poker player who does a lot for poker, so get to the site and order some gear to show your support.

Next major stops for me will be the 1Million guaranteed series the 18th through the 31st in Durant, OK at Choctaw casino, and then the WSOP. I am sure I will hit up a couple MTTs between but that is for sure the next two events I am excited about right now.

I have been on pocketfives quite a bit posting/replying in the forums and reading articles. There is a ton of good info there so go check it out and join in on the discussions to improve your game.

I am excited about the Final Four and really do not know what to expect. Obviously most expect Louisville to run away with it, but I think any of the 4 teams could win it all. Of course WSU will have to play really well, but all that means is they need to do what they have been doing.

Freaking brutal how Yu Darvish barely missed out on a pefect game, i was so sick for him. Truly the last few pitches were not that great and maybe he should have tried to dig a little deeper instead of count on the defense. Still an amazing feat and I am sure he will get another attempt with his skill.

Good luck to all the grinders, make sure your IBR is on point and keep working hard.

If you are interested in taking poker lessons or would like any information visit http://variance101.com/# or email me at variance101@gmail.com. #TeamVariance101