My trip has taken a turn for the worse.  I had a disappointing finish in a Venetian tournament in which I held the chip lead entering Day 2.  It’s not often that I have a clear advantage over a field in terms of experience and skill, but I believe that was the case in this tournament.  With two tables remaining I felt I was a favorite to do something significant, but it didn’t happen.  The redraw placed a chipped-up and very aggressive player directly to my right.  I’m never going to allow myself to be run over, and that was what this gentleman attempted.  I knew it wouldn’t be long before I took a stand against him.  When I did, he outflopped me by a narrow margin and that was all she wrote.

After that I had a rather humdrum bustout in a WSOP $1500 event (couldn’t win a flip) and then bricked a few WSOP sit ‘n go’s (got it in good and lost), which have traditionally been a cash cow for me.  It’s gotten bad, but it’s not terrible.  I’m stuck only a relatively small amount out here.

Emotionally, the trip has really become a grind, so I’m happy to be taking a break right now. Yesterday I slept in and played no poker at all, and today I am off to Chicago to spend the weekend with Janeen and family.  I haven’t seen my pregnant wife in three weeks.  It feels like it’s been longer than that.

I’m already registered for Monday’s WSOP $1500 Shootout.  I’m officially on vacation until then.