Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Back in the spring, the teacher of my entrepreneurial class recommended a series of books by Robert Kiyosaki, a self-made millionaire who grew up in Hawaii (poor kid) who was the son of a hard-working public official. Although his father made plenty of money, he always had to work hard for it. His father's friend, on the other hand, developed businesses and systems that allowed him to make millions by barely lifting a finger.

The original book by Kiyosaki is called Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which is an euphenism for these two men. Although Kiyosaki's father was not truly poor, Kiyosaki felt that the way of his friend's father was the path to financial freedom, while his own father's way was only the path to harder work. I highly recommend these books to you.

Here's a gem from one of the books (I do not remember which):

The purchase of Manhattan Island is said to be one of the great bargains of all time. New York was purchased for $24 in trinkets and beads. Yet, if that $24 had been invested, at 8 percent annually, that $24 would have been worth more than $28 trillion by 1995. Manhattan could be repurchased, with money left over to buy much of Los Angeles.

Signing off from Vegas

It wasn't a very post filled trip, I know. But with the writing work good, that's nice for the pocketbook.

They're in the Amazon Room now playing for $8 million, four handed for awhile now. I float in there now and then to check the progress, but mostly keep up with it on PokerNews.

It wasn't quite the summer of '06, but I enjoyed the trip. Only broke even playing poker in town (but have won nearly $2K online just sitting around in the media room the last couple of days). Just couldn't win the coinflips or otherwise might be up $5K or more.

Hopefully, the work I've done here will pay off when I return with my continued writing for PokerWorks and Rounder. I'm also feeling strongly about turning more seriously toward tournament poker. Even though I haven't been very lucky on this trip, I feel I'm making good reads and having the courage to act on them, whether it's calling a big bluff on the river or calling an all in with 4-4 when I am convinced my opponent has two high cards. I'll be working on building a bankroll for the FTOPS and WCOOP events. Maybe I can make some noise.

But first and foremost, it's wedding planning. Amy and I get married in just over a month and we have to pick out the cake and flowers. I am very excited about the future and spending my life with her. She also puts up with my poker playing, which most normal people would think is pretty crazy. Amy's a keeper.

But now I must pack up and drive back to Binion's to catch six hours sleep. My flight's at 8:30 in the morning.

Good night from Vegas.

Steven Paul-Ambrose dealt at my table. I busted with A-K vs. 7-7 on a K-9-7 flop. Vanessa Rousso also busted on the hand when she called all in on a flush draw. (High blind structure = crapshoot = much gambling). I got a very nice backpack full of PS swag for my troubles.

Moneymaker and Raymer sit in the front row of a PokerStars media event I attended Tuesday.

On top of the stratosphere prior to riding Big Shot.

Antonio Esfandiari in training

Amy and me safely in front of the not so real lion at MGM.

Barbara Enright and Phil Hellmuth were inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame at the press conference. Enright was at my table briefly in the $150 Limit Hold'em event at the Binion's Poker Classic in which I finished 10th.

Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and WSOP Commish Jeffrey Pollack discuss the Ante Up for Africa tournament at the annual pre-main event press conference.

This display near the WSOP entrance is an epileptic's worst nightmare. You would just have to see it in action to understand.

Sorry for the dearth of posts

Usually, I post almost daily during my Vegas adventures, but this year I just haven't had the time. This is a good thing, though, because it means my work has kept me busy, which in turn means I actually get paid for the stuff I do on here for free. You can read most of my WSOP reporting at www.pokerworks.com.

I've also spent the better part of the past week with my friend Brian and Heather and then Amy, when she came for the weekend. So I didn't write about or play poker for several days.

I did participate in the media/celebrity event on the 5th, which this year was the all media/no celebrity tournament since any celebrities playing that day participated in the Ante Up for Africa charity tournament. That was a real clusterfuck too. I wanted to cover it, but with rail birds ten deep and media prohibited from inside the ropes that proved pretty well impossible.

It was fun showing Amy around town. We rode the gondolas, we rode the Manhattan Express, we stayed at the Stratosphere over the weekend and rode the Big Shot. It reminded me a bit of my first trip here in 2001. Now, when I see people standing in my way looking at the light show on Fremont Street, I mutter "tourists" under my breath as I dodge them on the way to a poker game or buffet. It was nice to actually be a tourist again for a few days.

Now I need to try to get into some of these $500 or $1,000 second-chance tournaments they are running at the WSOP during the last week. It's my last chance at a big score since I didn't cash big or try to win a main event seat. I must admit I am very envious of the players still in it. There's no ride in poker like it.

OK, here's some photos for your enjoyment.

Hi again

I've been so busy the past week that I have found little time for blog posting and such. I've played quite a few tournaments, and though I feel I've played well, I've had little success in them. I finished 10th in the $150 limit hold'em event at Binion's last night, making only about a $250 profit in the process and just bubbling the final table. I didn't get one of those cool Final Table card covers they are handing out, which pissed me off. That's my only cash in a tournament so far, after having played 5 or 6 of them. I'm still up for the trip, however, since I've yet to have a losing session in a NLHE cash game and I chopped 2 of 4 satellites I've played at the WSOP. (I'll probably play a lot more after the main event begins to try to get into some of the second chance $500 events.)

Amy is flying in Friday night and I can't wait to see her. I've got to find some Cirque de Soleil tickets to one of the shows. It's her birthday Sunday and I want to treat her to the best one ever.

My friends Brian and Heather are flying in this evening and they will be here for several days. (They are the ones who I went to The Price is Right with.)

So other than a few things like the media/celebrity tournament and Ante Up for Africa tournaments on Thursday I won't be playing or writing about poker much in the next week.

Check http://www.pokerworks.com/ when it's working to read some of my posts. I think you will find the Bickering at Binion's article pretty entertaining. Dan Michalski, who still fondly remembers 2006 whenever he and I drink together, is writing some good stuff, as is the man himself, Craig Cunningham.

I've run into just about all of the writers I worked with last year, but this year just isn't the same. It seems everyone's got bigger gigs which keeps them all busier than before. There have been fewer dinners and drinks last year. (Or maybe I'm just not invited.) I long for 2006 too Dan.

But 2007 isn't bad either.

Hey, at least I found a can of sweet tea.

Who has time to play poker?

Or to post blogs?

I've been super busy the last few days, hence the lack of posts since Monday morning. Evert at Rounder had me interview Vanessa Rousso, Dutch Boyd and John Phan at the Rio pool while they came down for some photo shoots Monday. Apparently, they all have the same manager, a fellow named Eric who acts like he stepped right out of "Entourage." In other words, he's the kind of guy this Southern boy would just as soon punch in the nose as talk to. But I bit my tongue (and sheathed my fists).

The players were all very nice. Rousso probably has an 180 I.Q. She is something else intellectually. Phan bought me a pina colada (even after I insisted he shouldn't). And I found out I was wrong about Boyd. He's not an egotistical dickhead at all. He asked me about my poker, about Tuscaloosa, he called my last name cool...I'm not sure what happened exactly with the whole sordid PokerSpot mess, but he's OK in my book.

I played a little 1-2 NL at Binion's Monday night and won exactly $200.

Tuesday morning I had a lunch meeting scheduled with two Golden Nugget executives. We talked about all of the new addition to the casino, including a planned club/restaurant/gaming area that will open up into Fremont Street and feature balconies a la the French Quarter. This will open in December.

The work I'm doing is quite the extreme from the newspaper world. With this article, for example, my job is to essentially blow smoke up their butt so they might buy an ad in the magazine and to just have good overall relations in case we might need something in the future. Definitely not the kind of thing we do in the newspaper business. I've now officially turned to the dark side of journalism.

I played the Omaha Hi/Lo tourney at Binion's Tuesday afternoon, but busted out to a fish who played every hand and hit every hand. Later, when I went back, I noticed he was not among the final two tables. Big surprise.

After my bustout, I came over here to the Rio media room to finish up some of the profiles and worked until nearly midnight. I then went back to Binion's and crashed. Today has been filled with buying a new digital voice recorder for a Q & A session with WSOP media director Nolan Dalla, followed by more work.

So far in three days, I've written three player profiles, one casino feature, two articles for PokerWorks, transcribed the lengthy Q & A with Dalla, talked to Hoyt Corkins for our Ask Hoyt feature and started compiling the Southern Roundup for the next issue. Kiddies, it's time for me to go play some poker.

It's great to be in Vegas

Touched down around 9 p.m. last night, took the bus to the new car rental center and grabbed my car and headed downtown to Binion's. Grabbed the room key from the front desk and took my crap up to my room and then headed over to the Golden Nugget to meet with the guys from Rounder Magazine. They were there shooting the next Rounder girl in front of the shark tank of the new pool.

Last summer, they were in the process of building that new pool and it seems a wise choice. The pool surrounds a large fish tank (with plenty of sharks in it). There's two decks above the tank and a water slide that goes right through it. They also deal blackjack and what not out by the pool. It's most impressive stuff and I wouldn't be surprised if the Nugget gets business from people who just want to stay there to lounge around the pool. They're shooting poker pro Vanessa Rousso out there tonight for the cover of the next issue, which they will be passing out when the main event starts. Perhaps Rounder Magazine will take off and me getting involved on the ground floor will pay dividends.

I grabbed a late night breakfast at Binion's Coffeeshop (probably my favorite place to eat in Vegas, even if they have eliminated the Chinese menu there) and then headed up to the room. By then Ted was back and we chatted for a while before I drifted off to sleep.

He's done well since last summer, with a $100K+ cash in a Fiesta Al Lago tournament at Bellagio last October. Me, I've just disappeared from poker completely until now. Maybe I can come back with a big bang.

It sure didn't start this morning, however, as I dropped $100 in a 4/8 Omaha Hi-Lo game in rapid time as I waited for Ted to shower so we could head to the McDonald's at the Plaza for some coffee. You'd think if you raised a kill pot to $12 under the gun with A-A-2-K (one ace suited in clubs) you could narrow the field, but I ended up seeing a nasty flop of Q-Q-9 with three other players for a cap of $30. I got creamed by A-3-5-Q. A third queen on the turn trapped me as I had to call the guy down to make sure he didn't have 9-9 in the hole since I had the nuts if he didn't have a queen. I've been playing a lot of O/8 online lately and been doing well so I think I'm going to give the $200 O/8 tournament at the Binion's Poker Classic a shot tomorrow.

We got our coffee and headed over here to the Rio. It's set up a lot differently this year, with the final table, cash games and satellites all switched around to different parts of the convention center. Not sure I like the new look (also a lot darker with most of the overhead lights turned off), but I understand the need to keep things fresh.

Now I'm sitting in the media room waiting for many of my old writing pals to file their way in as the morning progresses. I had to sneak in while the security guard's back was turned as I can't get my media credential until 11 a.m. so I'm stuck in here for the next couple of hours.

In what should be of surprise to no one...

...I'm going to Vegas.

I'm leaving Sunday afternoon and getting in around 10 p.m. (I really love flying into Vegas at night.) I'll be staying at Binion's with Ted (again) and driving back and forth to the Rio.

I was able to get some work writing for Linda at PokerWorks, so depending on how that pans out I may stay for the duration of the WSOP. If not, I'll come back after the Fourth of July (and before Amy's birthday.)

Unfortunately, my bankroll is fairly weak so my play may be limited. I am in the process of "whoring" myself out (Amy's term) by selling shares of myself in some of the Binion's and Venetian tournaments, which will allow me to play more of them.

It's not quite like the heady days of last year when I touched down at McCarran with a main event seat in the future. If I'm going to make some cheese, I'll really have to work it.

Richard Brodie banned from Harrah's

One word sums this up --ridiculous.

Poker pro Richard Brodie has been banned from all Harrah's properties for making four royal flushes in the past year in various Harrah's casinos in Vegas. He's too lucky for Harrah's apparently. Read Richard's thoughts on the matter here:

http://www.brodietech.com/liontales/blog.htm

I think the Quiet Lion is taking his WSOP bannishment pretty well. Of course, Richard is a very well-mannered fellow. I don't think I could show the same restraint.

Vegas or bust?

I've thought about things a lot lately. Graduating from college for a second time will make a fellow ponder his future. Some things aren't in doubt. Like I'm going to marry Amy Harper. I'm going to have children. You know, those big things.

But when it comes to employment, my future is very much in doubt. The safe thing to do would be to mass email my resume to every available employer within 200 miles, find a decent job and take it. Isn't that what I was running away from when I left my newspaper job two years ago?

One thing I've come to realize, even though I tried to suppress it during this past year, is that I love poker. I don't obsess over the game like the fanatics who spend all day on the message boards, 5-table online games and effectively eat, sleep and drink poker. But I do love it. Winning money playing a game you love is intoxicating. Making money writing about it is gravy on top of that.

I've gotten involved with this new Rounder magazine, which is published just up the road in Birmingham. It's a guppy in the shark tank of poker magazines, but it is improving and I think it has good momentum going for it since it was first published in January. Plus, it has a centerfold every month, and we know how horny poker players love good-looking women. That makes it stand out.

I don't see any living I make in the next few years not including much of the income coming from poker in both of the above methods. The game is just ingrained in me and it keeps me out of a tie every day. I'm looking into real estate really hard, speficially buying and reselling foreclosures, but until then it's pretty much poker.

I hadn't planned to go to Vegas this summer, unless I could win a seat into the main event. My feeble efforts proved fruitless in that regard, so now it's left to me to seek a writing job out there. Perhaps I can convince Rounder that they need some eyes and ears in Vegas. I hope so. Reading about the WSOP and listenting to some podcasts has given me the itch again, and that's an itch that's hard not to scratch.

WSJ article about Harvard poker session

Some academics got together with Howard Lederer and Annie Duke recently to discuss the skill factor of poker in an attempt to legitimize the game in recent efforts to pass new legislation to overturn the September ban on online gaming.

Lederer had this interesting comment:

The "vast majority" of high-betting poker hands, he says, are decided after all players except the winner have folded. So if no one shows his cards, Mr. Lederer says, "can you legally argue that the outcome was determined by luck?"

Here's the link:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB117812153189389684-lMyQjAxMDE3NzA4MzEwMjMxWj.html

Roshambo on Ultimate Bet

Probably you've figured out by now that rock, paper, scissors has finally gone prime time with a game dedicated to it on Ultimate Bet. I used to think I was good at Roshambo (before I even knew it was called such a thing) when I would play friends and family in a game of first to 10. I actually have never lost a match of that length, though I probably haven't played others of high Roshambo ability...I tried to get Iggy to play me in a first to 10 game last summer after the blogger tournament at Caesars, but he got distracted after I pulled ahead and I got bored waiting for him to come back and left. I tried to continue the match later at the Excalibur, but he insisted on best of 3 and beat me. That guy is such a scam artist!

So anyway, UB is now offering up the game on its site. Unfortunately, for you high-stakes Roshambo players, the max bet per game currently is just $2. With a 10 percent rake out of every pot, the game is probably unbeatable in the long run. I sat down with $20 Sunday night and got spanked 18 games to 10. So ends my attempt at a professional Roshambo career.