**** TJ’s Sundry Poker Adventures! 2025-26 ****
Hello again!
I’m coming off nearly a month in Las Vegas, and now that there’s some distance, and perspective, from the po
Thanks, everybody 😀
[quote=BigWhale]With having earned the buy-in and more; will you be taking another crack at Main Event this summer?[/quote]
The Main Event was a lifetime bucket list item for me, and I crossed it off last year. It was a whirlwind, and a truly exhilarating experience, that I’d love to do EVERY year, if I can.
But now that I’ve played it, I could only play it again if I could play it responsibly… which means being rolled, for a 10k MTT.
I believe in setting falsifiable criteria. If I win 100k+ in my summer Vegas trip, then I’ll feel rolled for it.
So I’d like to, if I’m able. As of now, I won’t.
But I have a goal and a dream to strive for.
may i suggest you pause for deep breath in acknowledgement of how your previous strict mental focus during many unfun substandard rounds meaningfully contributed to the record profit from last night
is not subperb poker an evolving system of applying appropriate pressure to various length levers
most often finding success within deftness for repositioning fulcrums unobserved by others
not allowing those poor rounds to get you down or get even more stuck provided the bankroll cushion and appropriate mindset for playing fast and free when the game invited it
congrats
The psychology and emotions of poker wins and losses is very interesting to me. For one thing, it’s demonstrably true that winning never feels NEARLY as good, as losing an equivalent amount feels BAD. Losing 2k in a night feels MUCH worse than winning 2k in a night feels good.
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Just discovered this thread!
I’ll disagree with the above for the reason from King Of A Small World: On a big loss I get numb and tell myself it doesn’t matter. On a big win I think it’s the start of a rush leading straight to multiple bracelets and a beach town condo.
In other words, wins give me hope.
Something entirely lacking from everyday life. At 60, I have never had anything ‘good’ happen at a job for example that wasn’t very quickly reversed if not actually transformed into a net negative.
But whatever. Looks like a great thread!
Lost tonight at G, -1.8k.
I took a nap after work before heading to the game, hoping it would be a good brain rinse. Unfortunately, I overslept, and was late to the game, feeling foggy.
Didn’t play or run particularly well. Got my first bullet in bad, with top two practically dead against top set.
This session was notable, because I picked up my last 200, instead of busting it. I was proud of myself for that. Small wins. Or at least mitigating the losses.
It’ll go back in the bankroll, to be deployed again for next time.
Notched two more winning sessions at T.
I’m gonna play there one more time in April, on Wednesday.
Then I’m eagerly anticipating an AWESOME April recap post.
We’ll see where it lands.
April recap: it was a fantastic, stupendous, sensational month, in every respect.
The April fitness goal was 11 workouts, and I met that goal, putting in 11 workouts. I’m losing weight steadily, sleeping better, and feeling more energized at work.
YTD weight loss: 14.6 pounds
For April poker, I absolutely SMASHED the volume goal of 10+ sessions, playing 18 (70.0 hours, including 253 hands online). And, obviously, I’m ecstatic about the bottom line result, +$26.8k.
Second-best month ever! You could say I was easily motivated to grind long hours, when I was getting so much positive reinforcement.
As tourney pros say, you don’t get to pick which tourneys you run good in. I couldn’t choose to run this well in April, and I’m keenly aware that it could all turn on a dime, but I’m glad I did. It came at a particularly opportune time, as I’m finalizing my plans for upcoming trips.
A big motivator, and a reason I even PLAY this much poker, is that it gives me the means to take poker trips, that I truly enjoy. It’s very validating for me that I’m still in action.
Now the calendar turns, and I set my sights towards May. It starts with a bang, with two consecutive weekends in Cherokee, for cash and tournament events. Can’t wait to bring you all along!
Then, at the end of the month, my DJ guy is going out of town, and I’m covering 5 of his karaoke shows, WHILE working full time, for what will be a very busy week. That’ll cut into a bunch of evenings that I could have been playing poker… but it’s fine, because DJing karaoke is a ton of fun for me.
So I’m not going to set volume or fitness goals for May. Directionally, I’ll work out as much as I can, and play poker as I’m able.
We’ll evaluate where it ends up at the end of the month… and then turn right back around to launch the new thread for Las Vegas!
Congrats on the spectacular results in both poker and non-poker pursuits. Very happy for you. I hope the arrow keeps pointing up.
+1. Way to go! Hope you find that the fitness part keeps getting better (easier?), as you get in better shape.
forward backward umop apisdn
d i c i p l i n e a u ! l d ! ↄ ! p
as your recent results show success from proper mindset does not only benefit card games
Great results all round. Way to go.
Worked in one final tune-up at T before I head to Cherokee next weekend, winning almost 1.3k.
The big hand was flopping top and bottom two pair in a raised pot, and checking, first to act. A short stack shoves, which the PFR reluctantly calls. I think I’m ahead of both, so I check/shove to squeeze, which the PFR wasn’t happy about, but called again.
Runout clean, and I turn up my hand and win.
Now I’m getting ready for a busy week at work, then hitting the road to Cherokee Thursday afternoon!
Again, positively time-traveled through work this week, and just arrived in Cherokee!
Free upgrade to a ground floor room at the Econo Lodge. Already running good.
Now, bed, then Flight B starts at 11!
They moved the buyin back to $400, which is fine. $750k guaranteed, which I’m sure we’ll comfortably cover this weekend.
Can't wait to read about your results. I would think your confidence is sky high the way you have been playing the last year.
Slept pretty good last night, then headed out for breakfast.
Had some rain yesterday, so the Great Smoky Mountains were living up to the postcard.
It’s a little chilly this morning after the rain, just 46F to start out today… and I only brought shorts for this trip. Someone tell North Carolina that it’s Spring!
Ah well, I’ll be mostly indoors anyway.
Got the usual breakfast spread.
Asked for onions on the hashbrowns.
I took my max dose of tirzepatide just yesterday, so I wasn’t able to finish it all.
I don’t exactly feel nauseous when I eat too much on this medication… just a little funny, like I don’t need to eat this much. I’ve also noticed that bigger bites of food make me feel funnier than smaller bites. It’s a weird feeling, takes some getting used to.
Heading to the casino now.
Poker players aren’t morning people.
First one in the room when they opened the doors at 9:30. I’d be almost halfway done with my morning by now, if I was working today.
We’ll see how long it takes to get a 1/3 game going, while we wait for this thing to start!
Good luck
They usually do 1/3 in the convention center during the WSOP, but after waiting an hour for a game to start, they tell me that’s only here on the weekends.
Should have gone to the main poker room for a game. No warm up this morning, oh well.
I’m fed, had my caffeine, lucky Day 1 shirt locked and loaded.
Let’s make it a long day today for this tournament!
First break, right on schedule with 70k, from a 30k starting stack.
Achievement unlocked: acquire green 25k chip.
I actually got down to half a starting stack early. I called a raise in the cutoff with KdQd, and shoved over a c-bet on the 8d-6c-5d flop. I got called by Tc7c, actually all in and ahead with K-high. Runout bricks out for both of us, and king high nothing takes it down.
A little later, I got a full double 3betting and 5bet shoving AA preflop, and holding against AKo.
I like my table. There is a TERRIBLE player two to my left, with a pretty good stack. I’d say he’s generally loose passive, unless he’s donking OOP in raised pots with any piece, and not folding. He also showed down limp/calling 87o from UTG. He got most of his chips by spiking a 5-outer all in on the flop to bust a player.
Feeling good, let’s keep it going!
Got him.
AA > KK
Nice to be catching AA, AND have it hold up.
Hopefully that continues.
On about 110k now
