Rookie

I’ve played NL Texas Hold 'Em on Xbox and Xbox360 games. A lot of fun, but it doesn’t really go anywhere, ya know?

I’ve grown a little bolder and played a few cash games in Las Vegas and broke even. I’ve played a few tournaments back home and busted out too quickly. A little too quickly. OK, way too quickly. Most of the time I was simply misreading the strength of my opponent’s hands, getting aggressive, and missing straights or the occasional full house while I’m going all in with trips or worse.

Lately I’ve been playing in online games. Not for money, mind you. I’ll only play online if it’s for play money, such as ESPN’s site or Xbox360. I won a few single table tournaments and did okay on the multi-table tournaments, but never got enough points to enter some of the bigger events.

Recent I made the bubble on ESPN's Daily Big Play the first time I tried it (this past Monday) which gave me the 60 qualification points for the Sunday Qualifier. In the Daily Big Play, I finished in 19th place out of some 420 players. You had to be among the last 20 standing to get an entry into the Sunday Qualifier. Today I played that Sunday Qualifier tournament (some 300+ hands) and made it within the required top 25 – I finished in 22nd place, out of 319 players. In both those tournaments I played really tight, picked a few spots to be aggressive, and made it in by the skin of my teeth. I could have busted out really easily in several instances. But hey – I made it. And the first time, too. It’s giving me some confidence that maybe I’m not as bad as I think I am. :-)

Today’s play gets me a slot in the final tournament on Sunday August 26th. In that tournament, you have to win it all to move on. Rather than getting in by the skin of my teeth, I'll have to be a bit more agressive. Can’t wait.