July Poker Update

I'm continuing to play at Hollywood Casino in West Virginia and Delaware Park in Delaware.

At Delaware Park this weekend I had no results in either the satellite or the $150 noon tournament. I was happy that I actually left at a decent time and returned home before midnight to keep my sleep schedule intact. The four hour round trip does begin to wear on me even with the Wawa stops to keep me refreshed. I can't wait until something gets closer. I did make another final table of a $150 noon tournament the previous week but went out in 9th place for only about $600. First place was over $5K. The blinds and antes were huge and I pushed in late position with A5 and the big stack big blind woke up with AK and luckily I spiked a five. Later I raised with JJ and a shorter stack pushed with AQ and I was committed to call but couldn't fade the Queen. Then it gets folded to the small blind who completes. I have 77 in the big blind and push. The small blind barely has me covered but snap calls with T3s and hits his ten. When I ask him his rationale he simply says he had me covered and shakes my hand. Not sure I really understand his move there.

I had a fun cash hand at the $2/$5 table at Delaware Park. The under the gun player who is very active and aggressive raises to $15, a young Asian solid, aggressive player raises to $80. I have about $250 behind and smooth call with QQ. Given the Asian players previous play, I should have realized that he only raises with premium hands. The original raiser calls another $65. The flop is 559 rainbow and we all get our money in. The Asian player has KK and the original caller has.......25o. Crazy game.

I finally had a successful cash game session at Hollywood even while losing $400 at Pot Limit Omaha. I was able to make about $2K in a nine hour session playing $2/$5 NL. At one point I was playing with a very solid aggressive player who told me he learned how to play from Phil Galfond (OMGClayAiken). He played a very impressive game and quickly doubled his starting stack primarily going after orphaned pots. He told me that two of his friends both had a $12K session playing $5/$10 NL at Hollywood.

Delaware Park is having a $550 Iron Man tournament on August 20th with $50K in chips and 60 minute levels with minimal breaks. A dealer told me they expect it to go about 36 hours and the final table will be televised. $100K is guaranteed. Should be interesting.