I went to lunch with my sister and both grandmas yesterday in Manhattan Beach.  It seemed California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) was the most appropriate choice.  I went with the 5 cheese and tomato pizza.  Hmm!  It was delicious.  What isn’t delicious, however, is driving on the 405 pretty much during any time in which the sun is out.  The journey began a 3:30.  If it wasn’t for a stalled car, the drive wouldn’t have been that bad.  Of course, in Los Angeles, it’s hard to go a day without a person trying to squeeze into your lane instead of safely backing in behind you.  I don’t have any patience for these persons.  In fact, it’s my goal that they are forced to come to a complete stop if they have the nerve to drive in the shoulder in the effort to change lanes.  Once again, I was successful.  The douche bag in the SUV couldn’t squeeze in and was forced to settle for the space between myself and the car behind me.  However, she apparently had similar intentions and didn’t let him in.  Instead of coming to a complete stop, Mr. SUV kept driving in the shoulder assuming he would be let in.  He wasn’t and before he could realize the shoulder width had been shrinking he grazed the barrier on the passenger side.  I guess we can’t call that reversed implied odds.

… playing on Full Tilt.  It’s ironic considering it’s the site I’ve had a majority of my success in staking players.  I struggle to remember any success on FT in the last 2.5 years.  Other than qualifying for the WSOP via freeroll and a brief stint of success playing 2/4 and 3/6 6-max, the experience has been quite forgettable.   That’s actually incorrect.  It’s hard to forget the experience after the consideration of the amount of money I’ve handed out.

I’m pretty much clueless at this point.  I felt a great deal of pain when Party Poker went away.   It was a gloomy day that foreshadowed the difficulty that I was about to experience in the post-PP era.  I prepared myself the best I could for the journey I had ahead after I decided to drop out of the University of Kansas in July ‘05.  I surprised even myself.  I’m still standing.

In the last few weeks, I described that I would be limping into the WSOP.  At this point, I’ll be crawling on my hands and knees into Las Vegas on June 3rd.  I look forward to hanging out with my friends, playing golf and enjoying the poker experience.  I had a great conversation with Patrick the other day.  We’ve been friends since life in the dorms at Kansas.  We discussed in detail the difficulty of playing this game.  It wasn’t anything that we could have expected.  I’ve been playing poker since August ‘01.  I started before than, but it was at the beginning of my freshman year at St. Mary’s that I became enthralled with the game.  I dedicated myself to it fully like nothing I had committed myself to before.  I played online poker for the first time on Poker Room in 2002 and started playing on a regular basis in August ‘02.  The journey has been filled with an array of emotions and experiences.  The longer I have played this game, however, the more difficult it has been to realize my talent again.

Last weekend I went to Hailey’s sister’s wedding in Hawaii.  There’s a double possessive!  I met the groom in November or December.  He’s a professor at Baylor in anthropology and recently earned his masters from UCLA.  At the reception, we spoke briefly over a beverage.  He asked, “What is the most important ingredient of being a poker player?”  He had acknowledged that several different ingredients were necessary, but he wanted to know the most important.  I answered, “The most important ingredient is the ability to emotionally handle the loss of money.”  It doesn’t matter if a player is really talented.  If don’t have the ability to handle a loss, that player will eventually fail.  At this point in my career, this isn’t the most important aspect.  It’s something else.  It’s obvious I can handle a loss if I’ve been able to play poker this long.  Now, the most important ingredient is the degree to which I can be honest with myself.

Patrick and I discussed the difficult in accurately accessing ability after playing poker for so many years.  Yes, I have a lot of experience, but how do I compare with the field over the course of time.  It’s apparent I haven’t adapted correctly in the post-PP era.  I had enormous success on PP, but it really doesn’t matter.  Even if, PP was available to U.S. customers again.  The games wouldn’t be the same as they were.  The players that have the ability to adapt will succeed.  Those that are honest with themselves will adapt quicker than those that are too stubborn and choose to stay where they are at.  I’m not sure exactly where I’m at in terms of the degree to which I’m being honest with myself.  There are a lot variable many of which I can’t control.  However, it’s the personal responsibility of the player to give themselves as many opportunities as possible to succeed.  With the ability to sacrifice,  a player will often limit the amount of opportunities they have.

I have no idea.  I started out very upset at the beginning of this pot and spoke with (2) clients during this post as well.  I feel much better.  Poker isn’t for the faint at heart.  Endurance is among the most important ingredients.  The long run is very long and I have enough fuel for a few more laps around the track.

    I’m tired of CP, so I decided it was a good time to try playing at Full Tilt again.  Apparently, FT didn’t agree.  If I can’t get anything going in the next couple months w/ PT3, I think it’s pretty much a lost cause.  I 4 - 6 tabled 1/2 6-max today.  I played very snug, running at 17.6/12.4/5.2 across 2,456 hands played.  I don’t think I’ve ever played this tight before, but I’d rather ease into it.  Overall, I played pretty well.  I raised out of the blinds, declined to cbet on Qxx, bet the turn (A) and check-raised all-in w/ air on the river (9).  Villain went into the time bank, but I didn’t have a chance in the world.  He turned top pair and rivered two pair.  I was down a buy-in or so and rr ai w/ bottom set against top two pair on the flop (AK9).  Ace on the turn and good night.   We’ll try again tomorrow.

I got a B in my anthropology course, so I got (1) A and (2) Bs.  Not to bad at all, I’d say.

I love flopping a set in a raised pot and disconnecting only for the other two player to get all in against each other and split the pot w/ AK on a flop of K97r.

    I decided yesterday to start playing (2) short spot sessions per day.  Instead of playing a single lengthy session which I been become accustomed, I realized I have to try something different.  In the PP era, I played 2-3 hours session of full ring.  I was very successful.  However, in the post-PP era, I began playing longer sessions to compensate for playing in smaller stakes games.  It just hasn’t worked out.  Therefore, I’ve decided to play (2) 2-3 hour sessions per day with a 2-4 hour break in the middle in which I get other work done.  Today went very well as I earned nearly $500 in the first session and $800 in the second.  I preach to my players the importance of putting in good hours, not just a lot of hours, but I also only allow my players to play (1) session per day.  I’m incorporating concepts from both to see if it works out for me.  It’s not that I tilt in longer sessions, but I’m not as capable of making that necessary lay down that I can make early in the session.  Also, I find myself not paying close attention to my games as the hours begin to pass.

As always, I have high hopes that this will help me figure things out and get back on track.  I hope the next week and a half goes well as I’ll be out of town Thursday through Sunday on a fishing trip in the Easter Sierra’s.  I get back on Sunday and leaving for Vegas the next day.  We’ll see soon enough.  I’m going to play each of the next (6) days until I leave on that trip.  I’ll only be playing 1/2 and full 2/4 and 3/6 using better than I have been game selection.

I’m still awaiting my last grade, but up to this point I earned (2) As, (2) A-s and (1) B so far this year.  Not bad considering I hadn’t completed an entire semester without dropping a class since Fall ‘02.  I dropped at least (1) class in 5 consecutive semesters.  Thankfully, that streak came to an end last semester and now have (2) good session, I mean semesters, under my belt.

Lastly, I was somewhat surprised David Cook won AI.  My mom and Hailey wanted him to win since fairly early on.  It’s not that I didn’t want DC to win, but I just figured David Archuleta would because he obv is the more talented of the two.  Apparently, genre trumped talent in this years AI.  It was the first time I watched AI as an avid viewer.  I saw all but (1) episode from 12 on down to the winner and saw a handful of episodes prior to that.  I’m looking forward to the next season, but I’ll choose to not watch the first few weeks as I think the opening tryouts are a waste of time and I get embarrassed for those people that actually think they’re good but they suck.

    Well, I’m 2/2 so far.  I thought I was a lock for no better than a C in Communication Theory, but I got a B!  In Asian American Studies, which ironically had nothing to do with studying the history of Asian Americans, I was tired of the professor for the last several weeks of the semester.  I missed several class and barely put in an effort into the term paper.  Nevertheless, I still received an A for my efforts.  I have one class left.  I got mid A and a mid B on the two exams that were worth 25%.  I went to class for the first half of the semester, but I slacked off during the back quarter.  15% is for attendance/participation.  I shouldn’t receive any less than a 12/13, considering I participated in class more than most.

I’ve always strictly multiple choice exams, especially when they include none of the above, all of the above and both X and X.  I’m not going to assume I’m going to get the best possible grade in this class as well.  I’d be very happy with a B.  I just hope I didn’t complete bomb the final.

    It was about time I had another disastrous day of playing poker.  I lost nearly every hand today at CP.  In 1,225 hands played, I managed to dust off 3k btw 1/2, 2/4 and 3/6.  I completely doinked off a stack in 3/6, because I was tired of MickSR 3betting me every single time I opened a pot.  Thankfully, he shut down the rest of the session and I managed a number of walks.  Other than that, I basically continued where I left off at the beginning of last week in the attempt to try and lose every big pot I play.  It’s very demoralizing.  This game can be quite cruel at times.  I lost in a variety of ways today which makes it fun.  It was sort of like CP gifted me with a goodie bag this morning.  No better way to start the day really.  At least I went back to school but then again I was saying the same thing a year and a half ago when I decided I was going back.    I’ll go broke before I quite playing those games.  If it’s incorrect to do so, well I hope my money is well spent, but I just can’t believe I can’t play those game profitably.

Apparently, I’m really going to be stumbling into the WSOP.  It’s going to take something special to come out this summer satisfied with the first half the of the year.  I’m not going to do anything drastic, so I’m going to need a little luck I guess for that to happen.  As always, most of my players are doing very well and I can’t get anything going.  I’ve gotten used to it I guess, but I’m pretty tired of it at the same time.

I’ve only receive one of my grades.  No need for them to be posted in a timely fashion obv.  I got a B in Communication Theory.  Considering I thought I was a lock for a C and thought it was possible I bombed the final, I’m thrilled.  I’m still awaiting the other two grades and for this terrible poker situation to turn itself around.

 Just a real quick post.  We had a good time in Hawaii.  It was a very nice wedding.  I obv got sunburned walking around Friday afternoon with Hailey.  I went wake boarding with her brother-in-law.  It was quite a site.  I actually got up the first two times but was unable to turn out of the wake.  Even so, it was quite an accomplishment since I’ve only done it on one other occasional successfully.

Poker wasn’t cruel this afternoon.  I booked a small win for confidence.  I’m feeling good and plan on playing every day up until I go on the fishing trip in the Sierra’s next weekend.

Finally, Gbecks…

He’s blogging.  Take a peekie.  Cheers!

http://www.bluffmagazine.com/blog/Garrett-GBecks-Beckman-85.htm

    I went to the Valencia Country Club w/ my brother today.  My time could have been better well spent.  Other than the hamburger I ate throughout the first couple holes, the round was pretty disgusting.  I couldn’t find the fairway.  Golf balls were splatter left, right and around about the lady’s tee box.  We only played the back nine and called it a day.

I booked a short, but profitabe session today which is quite encouraging.  I have a final tomorrow and then that’s the end of the school year.  Yesterday’s final didn’t go particularly well.  Actually, my grades are posted, so I’m going to go check how I did.  I needed a 30/35 to keep my B unless there was a curve.  I’m predicting a C and hoping I didn’t completely bomb the final and get less than 20/35, otherwise I got a D.  Drum roll please…

Of course I can’t find where to view grades.  No reason for them not to be in the same spot they were last semester.  Pretty standard.  Going on tilt…

Obv, they aren’t available until the 16th even though my professor said they’d be posted today.  Shocking.

I’m going to Hawaii tomorrow for the weekend for a wedding.  I’ll try to post on Friday.  They’re not ready for this farmer’s tan.  I think I’m going to get a few laughs.

    I might as well begin posting on a regular basis.  We’ll see if I can accomplish doing so.  I have a final on Thursday before I leave for Hawaii Thursday evening with Hailey.  It’s here eldest sister’s wedding.  I haven’t been to the Big Island in 12 years, so I’m looking forward to going.  I predict jet lag, boozing, sun burn and jet lag.  Unfortunately, it’s going to be a short trip, as Hailey can’t miss school.  I’ll be returning on Sunday.

Poker has been a disaster.  It’s been a nightmare really, but I’ll hang in there.  With the WSOP right around the corner, I’ll be pretty much limping into Vegas.  Oh well, it wasn’t ideal, but we have to deal with reality.  Matt and I have a condo for June and July.  It should be a blast.  If poker isn’t going, I’ll try to spend a decent amount of time on the links.  It only took a lifetime, but I can actually use a driver!  It was quite a thrill this past weekend smashing the ball down the fairway.  If it wasn’t for missing every put in excess of 6 feet, I may have been content with the round.  It’s a step in the right direction.

I want to include a person favorite.  Here’s the linky.  Cheers Lawrence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVuEpD9_IY