As an only child, I didn't have brothers and sisters to play board games with. Instead, my father and I would play Rummy, BlackJack, 5-Card Draw, and 7-Card Stud. We never used chips - it was just win or loose.
I am hardly any kind of math whiz, so I consider myself more of an instinct player. Although I'm horrible with numbers, I am a logical thinker. While I can't spout off what the numeric odds are to win or loose a hand that I'm playing, I usually have a pretty good idea where I stand. I watch the players at the table, identify their comfort range, isolate the weak, and when all else fails... go with my gut.
I've always considered myself a cash game player however, the Moneymaker Affect, 'Rounders,' televised poker tournaments, internet gaming (now illegal in the U.S.) and forward thinkers like Matt Parvis and Matt Savage, have made it difficult to deny that tournament poker is where the industry will build its foundation toward becoming mainstream entertainment.
In the summer of 2008, I decided that I would begin my journey in competitive tournament poker. Below are documented cashes as I attempt to rise through the ranks of the tournament circuit.
Queen of Diamonds
Sun 7/13/2008
The Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, CA
Buy-in: $50 + 15
Entries 230/Prize Pool $11,144
2nd Place - $2,200+
Big Poker Oktober Deepstack
Fri 10/3/2008
The Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, CA
No Limit Hold'em
Buy-in $100 + 20; $5 add-on 1000 chips
Entries 568/Prize Pool $55,096
6th Place - $2,755+
National Championship of Poker
Thu 10/16/2008
Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, CA
Event #2 - No Limit Hold'em
Buy-in $200 + $30; $5 add-on 1000 chips
120 Entries/Prize Pool $23,280
15th Place - $325
Sunday Guarantee
Sat 01/10/2009
Ocean's Eleven Casino, Oceanside, CA
Weekend Tournament - No Limit Hold'em
Buy-in $60 + $10; $5,000 Guarantee
112 Entries/Prize Pool $6,720
5th Place - $600
L.A. Poker Classic
Sun 02/01/2009
Commerce Casino, Commerce, CA
Event #11 - No Limit Hold'em Deepstack
Buy-in $300 + 35
Entries 760/Prize Pool $221,160
27th Place - $1,438
California State Poker Championship
Sun 05/18/2009
Commerce Casino, Commerce, CA
Event #18 - 7-Card Stud
Buy-in $300 + 35
Entries 162/Prize Pool $50,000 + seat added
13th Place - $750
Deep Stack Extravaganza III
Mon 06/08/2009
The Venetian Resort, Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Event 12 - No Limit Hold 'em
Buy-in $300 + 40
Entries 839/Prize Pool $242,890
55th Place - $486
The L.A. Poker Open
Thurs 11/06/2009
Commerce Casino, Commerce, CA
Event #1 - No Limit Hold'em (Day 1a)
Buy-in $200 + 20
Entries 1075/Prize Pool $500,000 Guaranteed
56th Place - $600
California State Poker Championship
Sat 05/07/2011
Commerce Casino, Commerce, CA
Event #2 - Limit Hold'em
Buy-in $200 + 20
Entries 207/Prize Pool $50,000
11th Place - $700
Noon Daily at Caesars Palace
Sat 05/29/2011
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
No Limit Hold'em
Buy-in $80 + 5
Entries 100+/Prize Pool $Unknown
1st Place $1,414
More to come. . . .
*Actual willings exceeded the officially reported prize due to chopped purse agreement.
