World Series of Poker

This will mark the first time since 2003 that I will not attend the World Series of Poker.

In 2004, I was still working full-time and didn't know how to play poker very well. However, I nearly made the main event field, finishing 10th in a super satellite where 1st-7th won $10,000 seats and 8th-9th cashed for more than $1,000 (crazy money to me then).

My friends had already gone out and didn't even know I had went deep in the satellite. I remember wandering around Fremont alone after it was over, shellshocked.

I stayed at the El Cortez for nearly a week. That feels like so long ago.

In 2005, I was a player. My understanding of the game is far better now, but that summer saw me at the height of my love for poker and desire to improve each day, prove I could play with the best.

I plunked down $10,000 cash to enter the main event ($5,000 of my money, $4,000 from backers from my regular home game, $1,000 combined from various friends).

I stayed with several friends for two weeks at the Orleans. At the airport, I emptied my pockets to go through the metal detector, then got asked to take off my shoes. I watched, horrified, as my money clip with more than $5,000 sat on the conveyor belt. (A friend on a seperate flight had the other $5,000.)

When we all arrived at the Orleans, I laid all the cash out on a bed and we gawked at it, hardly believing that I was about to hand it all to a Rio cashier so I could play in a poker tournament.

I busted near the end of Day One, when a young Scandinavian raised all-in on the turn with a flush draw over the top of my pot-sized bet. I called with two pair, but a spade hit on the river to cripple me. (Hey, first bad-beat post in the blog!) I went out soon after with AK vs. TT.

In 2006, I didn't have the cash to buy in to the main event, but I played two preliminary events, the $1,000 no-limit hold 'em and $1,500 seven-card stud. Neither went well.

Again, I stayed for two weeks, this time at the Gold Coast, within walking distance of the Rio.

On one of the final days of the trip, I went deep in another super satellite for the main event, this time getting $907 for coming in 7th out of 87. Three players won seats.

I was content with not going out there this year (bankroll issues), but following all the updates every day really has me wishing I could make the trip.

Maybe I'll win the lottery Wednesday night.