I was going to play today in the inaugural event of Winnin O the Green at the Bicycle Casino at 4pm today, but I am going to Las Vegas to sweat my good friend JC Tran.

I am hoping I can get into the draw party at Pure at 10pm tonite to do some networking for the FallenHeroesLA.org foundation. We took a loss in our event this year and there are many families counting on us to help them in the future.

Go to Pokerroad.com forums and I posted some videos in the OtherPokerRoad suggestions thread I think you will enjoy. They are with Nam Le, JC Tran and David Rheem.

I am still waiting to figure out how to get them posted here first.I am hoping to play a tournament in Vegas while I am there so I will get back to you all this weekend.

Thanks for your support and as always…

Take Care….Be Safe……..

I was invited to play in the Media event at Commerce Casino last Friday Night. The winner gets a free entry into the WPT Invitational and there was also a free buffet dinner, now how could I turn this down.

These are always fun. My very first big tournament was the 2006 Media Event at Legends of Poker. I had alot of fun in that and Frankie Odell ended up getting the 10k seat for former players that were allowed to play. He turned that into a 2nd place finish that year to Joe Pelton.

I represented Wisehandpoker.com and there were 56 entries from all the media who cover these tournaments. There are so many great men and women who cover Poker and they all were very good players themselves.

Steve Liscomb even sat down with us and played. We started with 2000 in chips with 15 minute levels. I played a little wild at first and was down to 775 chips when I went all in with KK and two callers and this took me on a mad rush building my stack to 15,000 pretty quickly.

John Caldwell, former editor and Chief at Poker news had a huge stack and took a beat by one of his colleagues and left him short. He moved all in on the next hand and I had KQ spades so I went all in to protect him. The flop was Js-10s-8h and the turn was another spade and there were 6 of us left.

The blinds were getting high very fast and with 15 minute levels there was no time to wait for a big hand.

With three of us left I had 66 and pushed in only to run into AA and I finished third. Gary Gates from Poker News ended up winning and Gary, hope you do well in the invitational.

It was a blast playing with all of the Media people and I look forward to seeing you all on the Tournament Trail this year.

Take care….Be safe……..

Sorry for not posting sooner all, there was a glitch in the wisehand software which is now fixed, plus I have been under the weather lately. BUT I am BACK….

After spending ten days in the hospital with a very bad case of celluitis, due to a ruptured blood clot in my lower right leg and 5 days in bed at home taking IV antibiotics 2 times a day, I went against Doctors orders and let 6 of my friends talk me into playing the $335.00 NL event at the LAPC.

I arrived at Commerce at 11:30am, because I had a feeling there was going to be a field of around 800 players. It was raining hard and although it was Presidents Day and the tourney started at 1:00pm I did not want to stand in any lines. My leg throbs when I stand for awhile.

I registered rather quickly and went up to the ballroom and it was already buzzing with people. I laid down on a couch by the elevators and elevated my leg until my good friend Paul “The Machine” Valencia showed up. Then Big Josh, John Mcneely, John Yuson and a few other guys from the Exterminators Poker Crew that I used to play with arrived.

The line was just as long as the very first event which had over 1600 players and I began to think to myself, why in the world am I here. I was tired and weak, but I was out of the house with the guys and it was good to see them.

The tournament started a few minutes after 1:00 pm and the line was all the way around the outside of the room. There were already 950 people entered and Matt savage was going to allow the players to wait and get in as alternates up until level 4. With 40 minute levels and only a 3000 chip starting stack,the elimination’s were fast as players were trying to build their stacks early.

In the first event I let the huge crowds intimidate me. I played differently worrying about how many players there were and instead of focusing I lost concentration and played bad and for awhile. When I finally got it under control and built a decent stack my AA was cracked.

I was at table 41 seat 4 and to my right was Fabrice Soulier, the Full Tilt sponsored pro from France. I knew who he was and he was very aggressive. I played rather tight the first level and half way into the second level I was down to 880 chips after my Ace high heart flush I flopped, lost to a full house when runner runner threes came to give my opponent his full house after flopping a set of fives.

I stayed focused and did not let the noise in the ballroom or the two beats I took to get me down.It worked because by the middle of level 4 i was up to 25,000 chips 3 times the chip average and I was taking Fabrice’s chips often. My reading ability was right on and I was focused and surprisingly energetic.

One hand that almost tilted me came when the blinds were 300-600. I raised under the gun to 1800 chips with A-10 of hearts.The small blind called as did Fabrice in the BB.

The flop was Q-7-J. I checked the SB checked as did Fabrice. The turn was a K…no flush draw at all. I checked, after all I had the Ace high straight and I wanted to see how the other two played this hand. The SB bet out 2500 chips and Fabrice immediately put half of his stack in, roughly 8,000. I had him covered by 11,000 chips, so I went all in!

The SB folded, Fabrice banged the table and said,”I have to call you” He turns over QQ for a flopped set and he was trying to trap me so bad because I had been a thorn in his side all day. He had told me earlier he was going to get me sooner or later and I know it was just poker frustration on his part talking, because he is actually a nice guy.

When I turned over my straight he was disgusted. I was surprised to see his QQ also. The turn was a 3 and of course the river was a 7 to fill him up.

I had him and would have had close to 40,000 chips if i won the hand. I still had 11,000 and it was above average so i took a few deep breaths after shipping my stacks to him.

The next hand I was in the BB with 6-5 of diamonds and 4 raises to 1800 in front of me.I had 600 in the pot already and with close to 8,000 chips out there I tossed in 1200 more.

The flop was 4d-7d-Qh….I had a straight flush draw and a flush draw and a straight draw. One player bet 3600 chips and was called by a short stack and of course I called the 3600. I thought about pushing here, but decided against it. The turn was the 8d…giving me the straight flush…My opponent went all in and of course I called and he had Qd-Jh, the all in guy had KQs and I was right back up to 27,000 chips.

I continued playing good and our table was finally broken six or seven hours into the tournament.A total of 1362 players got into this event and around 100-150 were turned away.

Just after the dinner break I had 99 and the pot was raised to 3600 chips. I was close to 60,000 at this point so I called. The blinds were 600-1200 with an ante. I was new to this table. The raiser had a pretty good stack and the guy to my right had told me this player was very very aggressive over betting pots in position.

The flop 2-9-2…beautiful….he bet 6000 and I raised him another 6000 he just called. The turn another 9….he went all in and I called…he tables AA and when I turned up my 99 he just walked away without saying a word.

I was moved to another table and took my stack of 118,000 with me.I was hurting but I was amazingly focused and my concentration was paying off. At this new table I immediately get JJ out of position and I raise to 3600. Theres a raise after me to 8500 and the BB goes all in for 15k. I fold my JJ and the two players show there hands. the second raiser had 10-10 and the BB had Ak and a king hit the flop.He doubles up and the 10-10 is still in with around 8 or 9000 chips left.

I told the BB what I laid down and he did not believe me.However the player to my right saw my cards as I folded them and he verified what I had said.

About a half hour later I pick up JJ again and raised to 500 as the blinds were now 800-1600 The player who raised me went all in for his last 10k and the other guy goes all in for 19k as he lost some chips and was playing recklessly. I thought for a moment and I called. First player show KQ off and the other player has AK again and I table JJ.

The flop had an Ace and the BB guy started pumping his fist until the turn ….another jack and I bust them both and I am now sitting at 156,000.

The table was broken and I moved to my last table of the evening. We were getting close to the bubble of 99 players and we were at about 131 close to midnight.

Average chips were around 90,000 at this point and I went card dead but picked up a few blinds here and there to stay around 156k as we were winding down for the evening.

It was almost 2:30am and we were going to end play in about two minutes. I have 88 in the BB and the blinds were 2000-4000. I raised to 12000 against the limper and he called.

The flop was 8-9-3 and he went all in for his last 12k. I called and showed my set of 8’s he tabled J10 clubs and hit a 7 on the turn for a straight and as we counted our chips up to bag for the evening I had 131,000 and average was 99,000. I was 9th in chips as we went home to return Tuesday at 4pm to finish, 41 players made it to the second day and it was a very long drive home for me as I was exhausted. I was not use to staying up so late and my leg was throbbing, but the excitement of making day 2 helped ease the pain a bit.

I arrived back to Commerce around 3:30 pm on Tuesday and the ballroom was filled with players again. I have never seen so many people at Commerce for a tournament series and Matt Savage and his tournament staff were doing an EXCELLENT job with every aspect.

A few of the fellas came to sweat me and the day started off really good for me. I had Q-10 of diamonds in the BB and was raised by the SB with two limpers in the pot to 18,000 chips. There was 38,000 in the pot and 12k more for me to call, so I did. The flop was 3-10-2 rainbow and it checked to the small blind who bet 20k. I thought for a moment and almost pushed, but I had not played with this guy and he could of easily had an over pair so Ijust called, because he had me covered. The turn was another 10 and he went all in…I looked at him and thought for a moment and No way do I believe he has a 10 so I call and he tables 99 and I double up to 280,000 right away.

I play very solid and we are down to 14 players when I get Ad-Qh on the button and the blinds just went to 10,000-20,000. I raise to 60k and the SB calls. The flop is 10d-Qd-10h. I bet 80k and the Sb calls me. The turn is 3d and this is where I make my mistake.I bet only 80k again and the SB calls. Now I know he does not have a 10 or a flush because he is going to raise me.I knew he did not have a 10 on the flop either or he would of raised me at this point in the tourney.My gut said to go all in but I knew i had him and he was bluffing and he only had 85k more. I am suprised he did not shove it on the turn.

The river was a Js and I put him all in and he called turning over 8-9clubs to hit a gut shot on the river. How sick was that. Clubs no draw on the flop or turn. He apoligzes to me saying he was trying to mix his game up and did not think i was that strong. I am crippled doen to 110k and if I win that pot I have over 500k to put me chip leader.

I finally get all my money in with AS-7 diamonds with 12 players left and get called bt KQ and a Q comes on turn to bust me.

I collect 3646.00 tax free dollars for my effort but first place was 93,000 plus a 10k seat to the main event.

I had a good run and was happy I made it through a huge field. I had the taste of a final table and possible win just infront of me so I am very pleased at the way I played and I am looking forward to the rest of the year.

Take care and Be safe……………………………..

I have been playing some really good Poker as of late.Winning those satellites have given me a big confidence boost. I do see one weakness I need to work on though and thats Heads Up play.

I have done it on-line several times, but not very often live. I did make a huge comeback in the super satellite, but there is always room for improvement in one’s heads up game.

Yesterday was Event#4 at the LAPC and 800 players showed up to play the $335.00 NL Holdem Event.With 40 minute levels and a starting stack of 3000 chips you have to play good and catch some luck.

I decided to watch the table play for a bit before doing anything. I did not know anyone at my table yesterday and with the blinds only being 25-25 I had at least 8 hands to see before the BB hit me.

It appeared to be a very tight table and early on I just did not have any cards to play. With the blinds being small and the pots at my table being small, it was not worth the risk of trying to pick up a 125 chips here and there with nothing in my hand.

Halfway through level 2 I am at 2975 in chips when I look down at AQ of spades.There were 3 limpers in front of me so i raised to 200 chips as the blinds were 25-50. Now I have not come into a pot raising yet in the first hour, but one player called me.

The flop was 6d-Ah-Ad I actually bet 500 chips into this pot and he called.The turn was the 7s and I bet 1200 chips into the pot and he calls. The river is the Jd and I check because there is a diamond flush out there and I think he was chasing it. I only have 1100 chips left and I check and he turns over 7-10 diamonds for the flush.

I am a little upset, but I take a few deep breaths get up and stretch for a minute and sit back down to play Poker.

I build my stack up to 10,000 chips by level 6 after catching a few hands and some players making moves. I called an all in of a guy with QQ and he had KQ and I won that race.I flopped a set of sevens and another player went all in with a gut shot straight and the guy to my left folded 99 and would of been in the pot if Mr gut shot did not go all in.

Early in level 7 and more than two-thirds of the original 800 players are gone and the average chip stack is just under 10k. I am sitting on just a bit over that when I get AA in the BB. The SB raises the pot as there are two limpers in the 200-400 with 50 ante level. He puts in 1600 chips and I re-raise to an extra 4000. The SB goes all in and table Ah-8s and I turn over my AA. The As-3s-2h hits the flop and the turn and river are spades also and I am finished for the day after 5hours of play.

I made a nice profit this week however, I sold my super satellite voucher for $950.00 to give me a total profit for a few days work around $2100.00.

I am going to have my surgery in the next few days so I will not be playing any Poker for a few weeks. I will be at home and I will try and find something interesting to write about.

Check out my video blogs over at Pokerroad.com in the forums. They were fun to do and hopefully soon I will be able to post them here.

Take care….Be Safe…..

Finally all my patience is paying off. Now if I can only turn some of this good poker I have been playing in satellites into a win today in the $335.00 Event #4 at Commerce Casino’s 2009 LAPC.

I played 2 satellites last night and a super satellite. I chopped an $80.00 and took two thirds of the money in a $120.00 satellite.A very nice $900.00 profit. I then entered the super satellite for $130.00 and played against 13 other players, its a winner take all mini tournament where you get a voucher for $1,050.00 and $50.00 cash,second place actually received $350.00 in this satellite.

I started off playing real good and after about 2 hours and 45 minutes I was heads up with this guy who was a really good and aggressive player.

He had me out chipped by about 24,000 and honestly, his arrogance got to me a little bit. He was just throwing in huge stacks of chips the first few hands and with the blinds at 300-600 and a 50 ante I went all in and won to double up. A few hands later, I went all in again and know we were even in chips.

I could see he was steaming and I had a few friends watching and rooting for me. After winning a small pot I was now the chip leader and I am dealt Q8 of hearts. He looks at his hand and again tosses in a big stack. I know he is doing this with any two cards and I see he is really upset and losing alot of his chips, so I go all in.

He turns over Kd-3d and on the flop is an 8 and I take down the super satellite, as he berates me for going all in with that hand.

Nice 3 hours of work and a very nice evening at Commerce. I am playing event #4 today, so I am hoping my good will continues.

Take Care….Be Safe…….

It was an absolute madhouse for the LAPC Opening Day at Commerce casino here in Los Angeles.I sat down to play against 1,592 other players in the $335.00 NL Holdem Event.

I had entered on Tuesday night after winning a satellite and I am glad I did. I arrived at Commerce at 12:15pm pst and the line was the largest I had ever seen at Commerce. I thought I was at the Rio for a WSOP Event there were so many players waiting to register.

The ballroom was already buzzing with people and Matt Savage and his staff did a fantastic job setting it up. They ran string s from wall to wall and had the table numbers posted above the tables. This made it so much easier to find your table as in years past the numbers of the tables were on the back of the dealers chairs.

Since the field was so big yesterday and they had players coming from the tent on the patio and from downstairs, it made it so much easier to get into your new assigned seat.

Commerce handled the 1593 players with ease. It was an amazing site to see on a Thursday afternoon and it was great for Poker. The largest tournament in Commerce’s illustrious career and they did not disappoint.

Originally the prize pool was going to pay the top 72 players however, due to the large turnout it was changed to the final 100 players with first place pocketing $128,000.

Over 900 players busted in the first 4 hours, me included. In level 4 I had Ad-Kh and made a raise from the button. The BB, Allen Le (Nam Le’s brother) who I have played with often re-raised me.I thought maybe Allen was trying to steal the blinds and antes so I just called him. The flop came out Kd-Qd-Jd in that order giving me top pair and a flush draw, Royal Flush draw. Allen bet I went all in and he tabled KK for a set.I was actually surprised he was that strong, but I had so many outs and I thought I was going to hit one of those 12 outs either on the turn or the river, but they did not come and my day was over.

With so many players I did not want to sit another level and nurse my chips. I took a risk and I thought I had the best of it. I played good again and I am not at all disappointed.

I played a $120.00 satellite and chopped it with another gentleman and took some video of the days event for Pokerroad.com to post in the forums.

I will not be playing until Sundays event as I need some rest, this stomach injury is really kicking me in the posteria.

Take care …..Be Safe……..

Played in the $245.00 NL deep stack event last night at the Hustler Casino.There were over 226 players and the $45,000 guarantee was met.

About 20 minutes into the event I am on the button and there is a raise to 350 chips when the blinds were 25-50. There was only 125 in the pot and in the early goings a few of the players were over betting to try and steal the 75 chips in the pot. Some new strategy I have seen lately in Deepstack events.

I disagree with this strategy in the first level of play trying to get 75 chips with a 200 bet when you risk losing.

I look down at my cards and I have AA and I raise it to 900 chips. The player insta calls me.
The flop is Q-3-5 rainbow and he checks and I put in 1200 chips. He raises to 2500 chips and I go all in. Again, he calls instantly and tables QJ. He looks surprised when I turn over my AA but the surprise look goes away when a J hits the turn. I had 200 chips left and put them in a few hands later with AKs and lost.

So There was still a grip of traffic and I have never played cash games at the Hustler before. I got into a 100-300 no Limit for $200.00 and 6 hours later walked away with $880.00. Eased the pain a bit.

Till the next one……………Take care….Be Safe…………

Last Night at the Hustler they had a $45,000 guarantee NL event for $345.00.They neede 150 players to make the guarantee and only 144 showed so the Hustler had to put up only $1800.00.

It was a tough night, 5000 starting chips again and I had AK suited about 4 times and could not hit a flop. I played with no more than 6500 chips until I busted 43rd with Q10 hearts on a flop with two hearts. I was so short stacked 4100 chips, there was no way no one was not going to call. I had 44 as my only pocket pair of the night and I folded them due to a big raise infront.

I was patient and had one lucky hand to keep me alive when my A9 beat AJ on a all in for my last 3200 chips to double me back up.

I have no gripes about my game, again made to great calls last night on perfect reads but they were very small pots.

I feel good still about Poker for 2009 and I know a nice payday is on the horizon..

Take Care….Be Safe…..