Thanks to all the (mostly unknown) readers

Just received my new stats from blogger and the July was the month with the most traffic so far (700+ vistors). The vistors more than doubled in the last time (even compared to the heavy traffic January while I was in Tunica). So far people from 24 different countries accessed my blog (mostly german speaking countries but also USA, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia and many others).

So I just like to say thank you. It's fun to write this blog anyway but it's more fun to see that there are people out there who are interested in reading my stories.

As said before I have plans for the next months and hope I can realize them and write about great "poker adventures" in the near future.
And as you can see ... the Shadow doesn't hide in the shadow anymore (at least not completely). So if you recognize me at a tournament please let me know as I would be happy to meet you somewere out there...

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A real champion!

Look at this video from cardplayer.com:

Joe Hachem Interview

Joe Hachem talks about last years WSOP, his win and his overall feelings being a celebrity. On the last days of being the 2005 WSOP Champion he shows again his great personality and that he was (and still is) a great ambassador for poker. Two years in a row we had great winners with great personalities.

Whoever wins (and I wish Hachem and Raymer all the best) ... I really hope he will fit into the shoes of the 2004 and 2005 champion!

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WSOP Main Event starts in 19 hours...

...and I'm back home in Munich :-((

Didn't imagine that it will be that hard not to be there before I was there for the first time. It's a great experience and now I can really understand what's the magic of the WSOP. As of today it was reported that the event has already over 7,400 sign-ups and will be the biggest live poker tournament ever.

But I'm already making plans ;-)) The WSOP Circuit 2006/2007 schedule is published and they start in Lake Tahoe in September. The buy-in for the main events of the circuit has been decreased (from 10K to 5K) and I hope they offer smaller than $1,000 pre-events as well (maybe $500). Don't know which events will be possible during the circuit but I will try to play there. Most probably it will be Tunica again in January but I'm not sure yet.

I haven't tried to qualify for this years main event because of my fathers 70th birthday but I will try for next year for sure.

Another important change will be about my live and online play. One thing is that I will try to play less online and more live tournaments. I had indeed a run of bad cards in the beginning of my WSOP days but in addition I think the higher number of online play before the trip hurt my live game and it took me some time to adjust.
The other thing is that my online play will be more planned. I will pick some MTT's and SnG's as a permanent schedule and will stick with that plan.

Good luck (and good cards) to all of you that are at the WSOP - especially: Jan & Katja, Michael Keiner, CaptainGermany and Fuel55.

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Almost time to come home

Three great weeks are almost over now. For those who are interested here's a little update what happend the last 10 days (only little poker content).

Back in Los Angeles my girlfriend had an appointment so I checked out Pechanga between South Los Angeles and San Diego (right of I-15)

Pechanga Casino

Pechanga is a nice Vegas style casino with a huge pokerroom (about 50 tables). Unfortunately I was to late for the tournament and just played some 3/6 limit. The softest game I played so far that made me an easy 3 BB/h.

The next day I played the tournament at the Bike in Bell Gardens again ( I cashed there on my last visit). And again it went o.k. in the beginning surviving many of the 90 players. But shortly before we reached the money (last 18 got paid) I was severly short stacked and the blinds and antes started to bite. But a pair of JJ that held against AK and KQ almost tripled me up (and busted two at once).
I reached the final table of nine with a stack of 15,000 with blinds at 2000/4000 and 300 ante ... again time for a big move. The opportunity came with QQ and a caller with A6. Unfortunately my Q's didn't held this time as an Ace showed up on the flop and no more help. I was severly crippled, survived another all in by making a straight on the river but was all-in (and all-out) on my blind in the next round. But cashing again and making a final table and 9th place was a nice ending of the poker week.

For the next days we went to Miami, the Everglades and the Keys. Unfortunately it was raining in Florida during the first days.


Rain in Miami

But it got better (and we got a nice sunburn) the next days


Harbour of Miami


Road through the Everglades


Alligator in the Everglades


Sloppy Joe's Bar on Key West


Sunset on Key West

And after being on the southernmost point in the continental U.S. (which also is the southernmost point I have ever been)...


90 miles to Cuba and 150 miles to Miami

...we went back to Ft. Myers and have to fly back home in 19 hours and 40 minutes :-((

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Shadow in the media

...well kind of ;-))

Have a look at that clip from cardplayer.com:

http://play.rbn.com/?url=/realone/cardplayer/demand/video/0/071306-18-Clare-Miller.rm&proto=rtsp&site=cp

Congratulations to Claire Miller for winning the bracelet in the seniors event. But if you look in the background there's Shadow playing the second chance tournament (the guy with the black Full Tilt hat). We were down to three tables at that time - so it was close before I busted out.

I was thinking about playing the 2nd chance or the Venetian tournament but decided for the 2nd chance just to play a last time in the Amazon room. This video-clip is a nice memory for a great week and a perfect ending of this years WSOP story.

Oh, and a remark regarding Phil Helmuth and chinese poker:
As I left them last night they already played a few hours. After we came back at noon (9 hours later!) for a last stroll thru the Amazon room Phil and the Asians still played the game - only Johnny Chan and Phil's partner had been away ... he now sorted his cards together with Annie Duke. Those poker players are crazy...

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Finally ... on the last day!

I scored ... yes you read it correctly! I finally scored and took down a satellite for $1,120. That one started with a tough decision. On the first hand I found KK in late position. A lady in middle position made it 200 to go (25/25 blinds) and I raised to 400 (we got only a thousand in chips!). But then the BB raised all-in. The lady folded and I had to decide what to do. This was my last satellite for this years series - only the 11pm second chance to come. Should I risk to leave on the first hand? But hell, I got so much crap the whole week, KK lost yesterday and cost me a satellite but if I don't play this what else should I play?

I went all-in, he showed AJ and my kings held up. Doubled up plus some change ;-)

I was chipleader and never looked back. Didn't get much playable but was able to bully around with some medicore hands. Finally it was the lady (shortstacked) and me. She survived two all-in's with a lot of luck and I decided that I make a deal with her (I get the two $500 chips and she gets the $120 in cash) if she wins one more all-in. I would have been really dissapointed if I would have lost that staellite and went out with nothing. But no, no deal. I finally broke her with pocket sixes and took all the money. I exchanged the two chips later for full face value.

Later I played the 2nd chance but nothing great here. No cards, slow and rocky table. Recovered after being almost dead two times but finally went out on 27th of 130.

On my way out I watched Phil Helmuth playing chinese poker with some guys. Everybody had about 50 grand in front of them and they played it for $1,000 per hand (resulting in $5,000 to $10,000 thrown around on each round). Later Johnny Chan joined them. Wow, he is great! Helmuth and the other two players sorted their cards each together with a friend (chinese poker is weired!) while Johnny Chan made it on his own and always ended being the fastest in sorting and grouping his cards.
Phil Helmuth is a nice and charming guy that entertains a whole table ... as long as he is happy himself. Looks like chinese poker is pure fun for him. No whining, no bad beats for the poker brat.
On the next table they had the Magician and some other players that busted from the HORSE playing regular poker with stacks of $50,000 to $100,000 in front of them.
That was fun to watch.

This almost concludes my WSOP report for this year. Don't think I get more play tomorrow. Maybe one or two tournaments in Los Angeles next week. But beside this we will be on another two weeks of holiday with swing dancing and driving around and relaxing at the beach. So expect less posts in the next time.

Looks like I'm little in the red for the trip but that's fine. As said before: I had fun anyway (even more with that win) and it was great to be there. I'm not complaining about the fact that I didn't make it to event #17 or #18. It was good to get comfortable with the way this whole thing works. The WSOP is definitely different to all I've seen before.

The satellites are great cash cows and if you play them often enough you will overcome the bad beats and cold decks and make some good money. I will be back next year but if possible I plan to make it two weeks to get me more time to become comfortable with the action. Most probably the next WSOP will be in about 10 months as they plan to schedule it earlier due to ESPN's TV requirements. And maybe it will be held at the Caesars. Both the time and the place would be a great improvement.

I've heard a lot of complaints about Harrahs and how bad this whole thing is. I have to disagree. Sure I've seen horrible dealers, weired floor decisions and other stuff. But this is such a big thing that there is no way it will be run perfectly. There's always way for improvements - but all the floor people, dealers and helpers (including the reporting staff from cardplayer) are doing a great job. If you complain show me that you can make it better ... otherwise shut up! Sorry for the hard words but I really start to get sick from all those people and posts that know how this can be run better and how horrible this is. And I'm not talking about the real pro players and some serious concerns that will be adressed and improved with the players council (this is a whole different issue).

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I'm jinxed

The good news: I get playable cards and I even hit something sometimes. This satellite started great. I picked up some pots early and let some pay for overrating bottom pair. And my QQ send one to the rail and cost another a huge amount. In the middle of the tournament I had some tough decisions. The hardest one was to lay down AQ against an all-in that would have cost me 80% of my stack if I lost the race. At the end we were three players left. I was middle stack but we had a big chipleader. So it was clear I had to make a move as soon as I got a monster or any possibility of a deal would be dead if the small stack busted out. That opportunity came one hand later. I was in the big blind and found KK. UTG folded and the big stack raised 2xBB. I went all-in and he called immediately. He wasn't happy to see my Kings as he showed QQ. But this time the ladies hated me - a queen hit on the flop. No more help and it was over.

I wouldn't call this a typical bad beat. We both played it perfectly. There's no way I could get away from my kings and no way he could let his queens go in that situation. The call would have cost him only 30% of his stack if he lost. And even if we would have seen the flop before ... with a queen on the board and no ace my money would have went in here in any case. But it still hurts being an 80% favorite and losing in a situation that would have resulted in being a true contender to the "no-so-much-ahead-after-the-hand" chipleader.

And for all of you that have to read everything about my misery - here are some more photos from the HORSE ... another tough table with Juanda, Ivey, Lyle Bermann (the WPT guy), Raymer and Cindy Violette (the blond in pink at the edge of the second photo)

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The HORSE Tournament

Today was the beginning of the $50,000 HORSE Tournament. They had about 150 participants and almost all of them are poker celebrities. On every table you find them fighting for a 1,700,000 first prize (16 places paid).

Just take a look at this picture:



You find Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Andy Bloch at one table and right behind them Mike Matusow, Mike Sexton and the Poker Brat himself Phil Helmuth (who obviously had to much party the night before as he started to fell asleep between hands).
In the back you can see Jennifer Harmann getting a massage.

Have you seen the book under Barry Greenstein's chair? Yes, it's his own book "Ace on The River". On every tournament he hands a copy with a personal autograph to the person that busts him. Nice move ... would be interesting to see who gets it this time ;-))

After watching the HORSE for some time I played two satellites myself. The first one ended with a horrible beat. I was holding AQ and raised them to three times the big blind. I got about two callers. Flop was Q37 and I bet half of the pot. One caller. Turn was a 9 and I bet half the pot. I got called and the river was a 10. I was pot comitted so I went all-in knowing what would happen now: He showed me KJ for a runner-runner straight. I think Poker Brat would have gone ballistic on that one...

Next satellite was much better. With 4 people left the blinds got tough. Small stack went all-in, I went all-in with a medicore stack (which of course was small compared to the blinds) and the chipleader called. He had A2, small-stack had KT and I had KJ. The board came A2x (ugh!), Q and the 6. What? I even didn't needed runner-runner after the flop. Just a simple T! ... there's no justice in the world ;-))

And just to remember what the WSOP is all about - these are all the bracelets of the FullTilters (except this years bracelet from Allan Cunnigham - his fourth).

The bracelets in the Full Tilt lounge

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It's getting better...

...but better is still not good enough.

Had a good 2nd chance tournament last night. Was able to double up quite early and got some nice cards to play with. Unfortunately it was a roller coaster later and I ran from big stack to average down to short, up to average again and then I stayed short for a long time and again wasn't able to catch much playable. Finally I was out on 25th of 174 (18 got paid) with 66 (called by 99 that improved to a set on the flop and a full house on the turn).

While my play started Katja Thater from 50outs was still in the $2,000 Pot-Limit game and they were short to get into the money. Katja was short on money too. Too bad I couldn't really see much from down the hall so I ran up and down for some time between hands. Finally they made the money and Katja was still in. I later heard that she went out on 53rd (54 got paid).

Two more days to came and I still hope for cashing something, too

And here's a shot from the Worldchampion Joseph Hachem (still in the Pot-Limit Event)

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Bad timing...

...for my worst run of cards ever.

I can play whatever I like (2nd Chance, Satellite, MGM Tournament) ... you name it and I lose it. It's horrible! I get nothing playable for almost all-time. And those seldom occasions I have a hand it will be beaten by some of the worst bad beats I ever had.

Under these circumstances an 18th place of 88 in the MGM tournament isn't that bad. But the way I ended it was typically for the way things are going this time: Severly short stacked I find AA on the button. It's folded to me, I raise all-in and BB calls. Shows Q6 and gets a 6 on the Turn and a Q on the River. Yes, and I shouldn't forget my Full House that was beaten by Quads in a Satellite. There are so much more and I'm currently tired ... tired from bad beats.

But there are nicer things to write about. Even with those bad run of cards I have a great time. I enjoy being at the WSOP. Yesterday I was watching the final table of the $1,000 rebuy tournament - just as Andy Bloch called Allan Cunninham's all-in. Andy had 99 and Allan AQ. A queen on the River sealed Andy's faith and he was out at 7th. I'm sorry for him as I rooted for him to get a bracelet. Eventually Allan Cunningham won the tournament. The pros are strong this year.
Tonight I was just at the right time again as the final decision was made in the ladies tournament. Another bad beat story were a 6 on the River ended the dreams of one of the ladys. But beside that this is just a great moment. Again a picture can't tell what happens when somebody wins his (or her) bracelet. Just one great memory about the WSOP.

I haven't won anything so far but all those impressions are so great that I don't regret to be here. And if time allows I will be there again next year.

Tomorrow is a little easy going as we have to change hotels and I skipped the 11am at the MGM. Instead I will play one more satellite and the nighty 2nd chance again.

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Bad beats and nice shots

Let's start with the good one. I made some nice (photo)shots of the pros during the $10,000 Omaha tournament. The two I like most are these from Daniel Negreanu:


Daniel kidding with the girls (at the Ladies tournament) during a break from his own tournament. On the way back he had to give autographs and I got this funny shot:



Daniel is a really nice guy who seems to be joking around all the time at the tables as well as off the tables. But I was absolutely impressed from Chris Ferguson. He was just busted from the tournament and he still was available for photos and giving autographs. It's amazing that the railbirds can't imagine how somebody must feel if he just busted out of a $10,000 buy-in tournament! But Chris was calm and friendly all the time. Great player and great personality.

Shortly after that shots my 2nd chance tournament started with 157 players. My satellite before didn't went good as I was busted early with JJ's vs. KK's.
The 2nd chance was much better and I was able to maintain an average stack most of the time. With 52 players left (2:15 h into the tournament and 100/200 Blinds + 25 ante) I got AT diamonds in middle position. Raised to 500 and got two callers. Flop came T84 (with two hearts). BB checked, I bet 1,000 and the second player folded. BB went all-in and had me covered. I was sure he had hit the 10 but with a worse kicker so I called. He was disappointed about my call as he hoped to buy the pot with his T3 of hearts flush draw. Turn was blank and the river was the 4 of hearts ... good night folks :-(

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WSOP for the first time

I'm there and it's great!

You've seen the pictures? You have to see it live!
It's Mekka for poker players and evey poker player should see it at least once.
I followed all the information so closely but being there is something totally different.



We arrived late afternoon and after we checked in at the Venetian I decided that I want to go to the Rio just for a first look (and taking some photos of course)



The room was in full swing: Tournaments, cash games, satellites.
I spotted several players immediately: Annie Duke (looks nicer than on most pictures but the army-like dress is awful), John Juanda, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson and others.

And my first picture of the day: Phil Gordon at the tables.



I took my time to get comfortable with the room, visited the FullTilt Lounge and got a nice T-Shirt. But I wasn't in the mood to play immediately.

So we went over to the Wynn were I used the rest of my poker compdollars at the coffee shop. The meal was great as always.
Now I was in the right mood for some satellites at the Rio. Unfortunately the first one was really short as I was the first out missing a 15-outer :-((
The second one went much better but being second of ten as the short stack (no deal) doesn't gain you anything. Well, more to come :-)

Met Michael Keiner shortly (he just won a satellite) and we talked a little. Saw Katja and Jan but didn't reach them as they played in a satellite.

Went over to the Aladdin to play the 2am tournament ... but the poker room wasn't there. They moved it in the main area due to the construction (Aladdin is converted to a Planet Hollywood Casino). Too bad - they had such a nice and quiet room. Now it's noisy and hectic. And the tournament was awful: They just had two tables (to much cash games) and 20 alternates. No way! I skipped the tournament and decided to skip the Aladdin completely for this trip. Too bad - I always liked the tournaments here. Hope they will be good again after construction is over.
On the way out I checked the Paris. Same here - loud and noisy poker room within the main floor. Won't play tournaments here.

Back to the Venetian and a short peek into the Venetian poker room. That one looks great. And I put the Venetian 8pm tournament on my list.

Enough for tonight (it's now 4am and I need some sleep).

Tournament atmosphere during the WSOP 2006

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Vegas tomorrow

Sorry - absolutely no poker content in this post! ;-))

We spent the last two days in Los Angeles for some vacation and had a great time.

Some nice swing dancing in Burbank with Swingerhead (a great band I wanted to see live for years) and Lindy Groove in Pasadena. Today we just strolled around at Venice Beach and in Hollywood. I wasn't at the Chinese Man's Theater for years and the area changed completely. They built a new shopping place with lots of restaurants. Great improvement for this part of Hollywood Boulevard.
More dancing tonight at the Memories (with the Wiseguys).

Got nice sunglasses at Venice Beach. As I need prescription glasses I found some clip-on sunglasses that perfectly fit on my regular glasses. Don't know if I need them for playing poker but at least I have sunglasses now ... and you really need them here. The weather is absolutely great and it's around 32 degrees celsius.

And tomorrow morning we are heading to Las Vegas. We were lucky again with our rental car: booked the smallest category and got a Chrysler mini-van. Great car for the 5 hour road trip. :-)

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Slowing Down

My last qualifer wasn't a success as my QQ were cracked by a set of 7's quite early. Well, Daniel Negreanu missed a final table because his aces were cracked by a set of 7's from Dutch Boyd - so I shouldn't complain about my mini bad beat ;-))

This was my last online tournament before our trip. I'm just slowing down a little, getting everything arranged and having a good time.

That includes that I follow the WSOP action closely on cardplayer.com. I really love their coverage. It feels like you're almost there. About the above mentioned tournament with Boyd and Negreanu. This was the $2,500 NL Short-Handed. Dutch Boyd finally won the tournament defeating WSOP 2005 winner Joseph Hachem. I really wished Hachem his second bracelet, but nevertheless this 2nd place shows that he isn't a fluke. He was truly a great ambassador for poker during the last year and I'm sure he will continue to be a big name in the future.
During that event something very odd happend - something that shouldn't happen in a professional tournament: Whose chips are they, anyway!

Regarding my plans to play event #17 - this doesn't look good at all. Seems they have already over 500 people. I assume it will be sold out and I might be late even if I win enough satellite tokens for a buy in. So I'm mentaly prepared to take a shot on the $2,000 Pot-Limit one day later. So I have to win two more tokens :-((

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