I'm (essentially) done!

Live: 18.5 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $3,806.85

Well, I did it. At least the "hard" part of it. I can easily run off the remaining 250 hands online to complete that part of it. But the bankroll is there, so I'm in the WSOP.

Hot hot hot!

Live: 15 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $3,301.85

I ran very very hot tonight, and in just 5 hours I picked up most of my losses from last week. I could be nearly $100 closer if I had played a couple hands a little differently, but just being back within reach is a major victory for me.

Break-even live session

Live: 10 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $2,556.85

After a 7 hour session, I ended up down about 4 BBs, which is too bad because now the chances of me reaching my bankroll goal are almost completely gone. I've got the extended weekend, so I'm not completely out of it yet.

Quick morning session

Live: 3 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $2,644.85

I played 30-40 minute session and ran pretty hot. Of course, I'd much rather run hot in a live game, but I'll take my wins when they come.

Squeezing in a few more hands

Live: 3 hours
Online: 1033 hands
Bankroll: $2,619.25

I played another session this evening, as I had a bit of free time. As I was quitting, I found my way to this thread on twoplustwo which brought a semi-well known scandal back into the light. It's a long read, and it's both scary and infuriating. I don't play at either site (never have, never will), and while the threat of online cheating does exist (and does happen), my risk is relatively small as I play for small amounts.

A quick online session brings a rebound

Live: 3 hours
Online: 804 hands
Bankroll: $2,593.30

Running hot online is nice, but because of the difference in bet sizes between live and online (30 BB online = 1.5 BB live), having a monster run online will not help me to reach my goal.

It's getting worse

Live: 3 hours
Online: 631 hands
Bankroll: $2,567.60

Tonight was a crushing blow to my chances of playing in the WSOP this year. Too many runner-runner draws came in to beat me, and I dropped ~35 BB in 3 hours. I've still got time, but I will need to be lucky to make up that much lost ground.

Too tired to play live

Live: 0 hours
Online: 631 hands
Bankroll: $3258.60

I had intended to go out to the Mirage tonight, but I felt too tired to play so I just ran off a couple hundred hands online instead. I'll try to get out tomorrow afternoon.

Off to a bad start

Live: 0 hours
Online: 339 hands
Bankroll: $3258.40

I sat down to 4-table for the first time tonight, and things ran really poorly. It was a -65 BB swing over a period of less than an hour, mostly due to running into bad spots. I'm going to be lazy and not post hands during this run and just post the running totals.

Taking a shot at the WSOP

Thanks to a bankroll infusion from the government (economic stimulus package), I think I am close to having enough funds to take a shot at the $1500 limit hold'em event in the World Series of Poker. The event will run from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8.

I plan to enter the tournament if the following conditions are met between now and June 4:

1. At least 15 hours of live play at 10/20 (Mirage)
2. At least 1500 hands of online poker
3. Bankroll > $3500

Right now, the bankroll stands at $3322.70, so variance will have a large role to play in this. If I'm running well, I will easily be over $3500. If I run poorly, the money won't be there and I'll sit out this year.