I love playing poker and would not trade my life for anyone else’s, but playing these tournaments can be dejecting when you’re in a cold spell.  My experience and wisdom on the tournament trail does not immunize me from the despair of repeated failure, and that’s how I feel right now. 

The WSOP is a great opportunity for me and other pros because there is so much less talent, on average, in these tournament fields.  It’s donkey heaven out here.  This makes my single cash so far even more frustrating that it would otherwise be.  It’s especially confounding because I earnestly believe I am playing very well and I don’t believe I have been overmatched by anyone at any time.

Also, I’m lonely.  This is a long trip and being by yourself in Las Vegas, on a weekend night especially, is strange and isolating. 

Recognizing that I needed them, I recently took two days off and returned to action yesterday feeling refreshed.  Alas, I could only muster a about 400th out of 2,700 players in the latest massive $1,500 Event.  I was undone, somewhat ironically, by the arrival of a donkey at my table.  Despite the relatively late stage of the tournament, he began splashing around in every pot, completely unafraid (or unaware) of the consequences.  He made for a rather confusing opponent, and he stumbled into a couple of spots where I donated a bunch of chips to him, and that was that.

All I can do is play well and keep plugging away.  I am an expert at separating my emotions from my poker (Sug D doesn’t tilt), but I’m not above admitting that the WSOP grind is bumming me out right now.