London Life and Vegas PreviewTuesday marks the end of the longest period without going abroad for over 5 years. Over 2 months in London with no trips anywhere. It's felt weird! I made two visits to Nottingham but that's it. I've been grinding the live cash games here really hard.
Cash GamesIt's been hit and miss to say the least. I'm playing bigger stakes than I have before - not that I've never played this high before, but it's never been my daily grind, so I've never really experienced the swings before. I started with a downswing, not big by any means for the games, but felt big, followed by a break even stretch, and only in the last couple of weeks have things gone well. Overall, it's not been great, but I'm not feeling down about it or anything.
The action is hit and miss also. Long spells of bad dry games waiting for action, and then the odd night of excitement, where you just hope to be on the right side of variance in the crucial pots. I've been tested by some really tough regs, and that's prompted a lot of off the table studying - something which I haven't felt like I needed to do for a long time. A good kick up the arse, and I've found the game theory stuff I've been doing to be fascinating.
Extra CurricularDominated by two things - a health kick, and Russian study. I've been gyming most days, a half hour run, burning 450cal over about 5.3km. Followed by half hour of weights. Eating well, and no alcohol or fizzy drinks. I feel great.
Russian has been going great. It was really tough and daunting at first but has gotten easier. And the weekly lessons have provided a much needed structure to things. I can now talk about myself, my family, my routine, my hobbies. I can talk about the weather, make plans, talk in simple past and simple future tenses and more. My course comes to and end now, and keeping up with study whilst in Vegas etc is going to be a real test...I am so motivated, and not exactly busy, so it's no problem fitting it in. Vegas is busy though...
Life in London is just really cool. It's not even London that makes it cool, though our view is sick and the choice of games is great. I just love our flat, and having a routine, a home. I feel like I'm building a future here.
VegasNow then! Could not be more excited and motivated for Vegas. I really really feel like I'm going to win something huge, and I won't be the only one in the group either. Big things from the Brits this summer you'll see... My plan is the same as every year. Tournaments as much as I can, $1k-$5k mainly WSOP events, but picking the best of the rest when WSOP is less good. Cash on the side. Dinners and nights outs very much last on the priority list, but always fit in a few.
The team: I'm sharing in Palms Place with Fat Scott. Aggro Santos many of you will know, won 2 SCOOPs last year in 3 days and recently the sunday million. He's no good at real life poker though!
Mitch flys out Sunday, Stato and Keith on the 16th, Deadman is already out there.
I've got a big prop bet with Scott. I win the bet if I can find one exercise or machine in the gym (non-cardio) that I can lift more / do more reps than him on. He btw, is an absolute unit, he's looks like the Michelin Man on steroids. He's obviously much stronger than me in basically every department. I only need to find one machine to beat him on. I think I've got a few tricks up my sleeve though
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So that wraps up the update. Any questions about anything, do post, let's bring the diary back to life!
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