Johnny Poker Returns to Vegas — Part 3: Next!

Photo courtesy of Thom Karmik

One of the most critical bits of advice shared with me by my friend and nationally-celebrated mental performance coach Jim Fannin, was to never dwell on the past, keep my mind focused on the present, and when a setback occurs, say “Next!” and move onto the next challenge.

As a writer, I have to break the rule a little bit.  After a nearly 13 hour ride in the $1000 no limit Texas hold-em tournament in the 2013 World Series of Poker — the same event last year in which I made the final table and won nearly $70,000 — I busted out when my Ace King suited (a very good hand) was beat by a pair of Jacks (a slightly better hand.  I finished in the top 400 out of the nearly 3000 entrants — not too shabby, but far short of my goal of winning the championship bracelet.

I’m proud of how I played, and I don’t have any regrets.  The trouble is that when you play the conservative “tight/aggressive” style I employ, you need to occasionally get dealt some good opening hands.  And unlike last year, when a top hand appeared in my grasps when I really needed it, this year, in the 13 hours of play, I never was dealt any of the best 3 hands — Aces, Kings or Queens.

So it is time to say  “Next!” and prepare for the next challenge.  That one starts at Noon PDT today (3:00 PM EDT), “The Little One for One Drop No-Limit Hold’em.”  This will be the second largest competition of the World Series (behind the Main Event of course), and 10% of all proceeds are sent to One Drop—a non-profit organization established in 2007 by Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil.  One Drop strives to ensure that water is accessible to all, today and forever by developing integrated water-access and management projects around the world. In the U.S., One Drop is a public charity that undertakes innovative activities in which water plays a central role as a creative force to generate positive, sustainable change worldwide.

I’m headed to the gym, to take on my second day of weight training under the long distance training of the world’s great poker physical fitness expert, Josh Bowen.  Check it out below, and I will keep you updated regularly as always on my progress at my Facebook Page and on Twitter.