Back from the first weekend of the IP Poker Classic

Just got back from the first weekend at the IP Poker Classic. We had several of us make the trip with Tex, Bill and I staying at the IP while Lusky and DirteAA stayed at the Beau Rivage. Overall, I think it was a good trip for me. I did not cash in any of the tournaments I played in, but the Cash games kept me playing in the Tournaments. I left the coast on Saturday afternoon with $300.00 less in my bankroll than when I got there Wednesday morning. This includes, all living expenses also. I played in the following tournaments with a little synopsis of each:

Wed-$230.00 Main Event--card dead...lasted 5 levels

Wed-$110.00 Super Stack at the Beau--Bubbled...lost a key race that would have sent me to the final table as the chip leader. I overplayed my pocket Jacks in the BB against AKo with the only person on the table that could have hurt me. Ace hits the flop. That left me with not enough for the small blind. I double up twice and lost the final hand hand on a 2 outer. Several people told me they "Don't hate the play"...I mean I lost a coin flip, but I could have called his raise from BB and just dumped the hand when the Ace hit the flop...lesson learned.

Thursday- $60.00 freezeout at the Isle of Capri--Made a stupid move with pocket jacks against a board of 2d4h7c post flop. I thought the guy was c-betting with air. "Wild Bill" Phillips got 2nd so I had some return as we have percentages of each other. Bill also had quite a fan fare as all of the locals there admired his play. He even got a lunch date out of the tourney that could turn into a tutorship with older gentleman. He played great.

Friday-$340.00 IP Main Event with guaranteed $75,000-Started the tourney with a tough table. Strong Kid from Atlanta on my right with fellow GCP blogger "Da Rock" 2 to my left. Also had local guy Bert in the 7 seat. Lost a coin flip A-Q vs Pocket 10's

Friday-$230.00 IP 2nd chance tourney--Bubbled this one also coming out 14th when they paid 9. "Wild Bill" Phillips got 5th so I got a little return. I got knocked out on a questionable play. I thought it was terrible but Bill and Tex seemed to think it was "Defensible"...didn't feel too defensible when I was bounced 5 from the money. Oh well...lesson learned...AGAIN!!!

Got to meet fellow blogger and cash game specialist Reid from Mobile. We played in 2 tournaments together and he, Bill and I all cross-booked each other for a small percentage. I was real impressed with his game, and he is really cool and down to earth. He is a perfect fit for our blog team. Give'em Hell Reid!!!!

Not much more to talk about. I learned alot and played well in some spots...played great in some spots. The problem I have been having is I can play great/perfect poker for 6 hours, and make one mistake. Overplay Pocket Jacks to get myself in a coin flip for my tournament...and BAM!!! GeneD is putting the IPod away, rolling up his headphones, packing his backpack...and hitting the door. I learned from it yea...but I have to play better.

Wild Bill played great the whole time we were there. He went into heads-up play in the Isle of Capri tournament with the chip lead. He turned down a chop more than 4 times because he want to WIN!!! I played with him when we were down to 2 tables and was really impressed with his play. Here is a couple of pics of Bill in case any of you'll run into him. Be sure to read his blog also top left. Be sure to stop and tell him Hi, and that you saw his pic on http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/ ;-)

"I'm not good at math, just Geometry, like you know when they say two squared, you think two times two equals four, but really they really mean a square, Its really space its not numbers its space and its perfect space, But only in your head, because you can't draw a perfect square in a material world. In your mind, you can have a perfect square, you know?" Elijah Wood as Mikey Carver in "The Ice Storm"