Back from Borgata

Well, I am back home from Borgata and catching up on things at home. For those of you who were not following me on Twitter or my Live Updates page, I finished day 1 with 70K (starting stack was 30K) and went into day 2 with a slightly below average stack, but still plenty to work with. I felt my table was pretty good overall, but I ran into some tough spots getting 3-bet and 4-bet often where I just didn't feel the spots were good to get all the chips in.

I made one incorrect laydown, where after raising with Kh-Qh and getting called by the button. We saw a flop of A-Q-5 (rainbow) and after I bet the flop, he instantly and very aggressively shoved all in. It was such an obviously weak play that I really thought the player could not be that bad and must be trying to come across as weak so that I would call. I eventually made the laydown and he showed 10-J for a bluff with just a gut-shot draw to one of the 3 remaining K's. If I had gone with my first instinct I would have called, but I really thought that there was no way this player could be so bad to make an obvious bluff on that board when I raised from early position. So, the read was right and then wrong and I let the winner go.

A little while later, with my stack at 37,000 the blinds at 1,200-2,400 + 300, the same player limped as did another somewhat active player. I moved in from the button with A-Q and the first player (bluffer from the hand before) snap-called with A-8. He hit the 8 on the flop and I was done for the day.

I have to give special props to Kelly Armentrout - Acumen Poker's deepest finisher and only one to make the money, taking 66nd out of 919 players. She played a great tournament and navigated her way through some tough table draws both days. She also finished 12th last week in the Ladies WSOPC event at Caesars AC and in between had three straight cashes online, including a final table in the Full Tilt Daily Double last week. Great job Kelly! Can't wait to see what the next score is. I know it will be soon.

Congratulations are definitely in order for Team PPI Elite's Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah for taking down the event and first place prize of $319,536!

I also got a great note the other day from John Lecato who has won over 10 times the cost of his class in tournaments since January. Keep up the great work, John!

I really love hearing these stories and knowing that everyone's investments in training and hard work after the fact are paying off. It's why I teach and coach and I am always looking forward to the next success story. I really do need to start a student success page, so if anyone is interested in me posting any of your results or testimonies, send me an e-mail and let me know.

Tonight I am looking forward to the Go All In For Veterans charity poker tournament to support the Paralyzed Veterans of America. I posted about this last week, so you can see all the details there. I have heard from a number of folks that are going to be able to make it, so I look forward to seeing you all there. I am hoping that I take down first place and the WSOP Main Event seat, but I do wish everyone else good luck too :)

Well, I have lots of people to get back to today and some things to catch up on before heading to the event. Good luck at the tables and most importantly...

Decide to Win!