Hey Guys I dont have too much time to write but I just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone was interested in joining a sweat session with me in the PC chatroom tomorrow. I did one last week when I ended up taking 3rd in the 16.5kG on Full Tilt Poker for $2200. Unfortunately I had given very short notice so I don't think too many PC members were even aware that I was holding one.  I got all positive feedback from the members that did swing by and I think this would be a great opportunity for all serious tournament players. It doesnt matter what your experience or skill set is. The beauty of poker is anyone can learn it.

Basically the way it works is I will start my tournament session around noon eastern US time. I only play on two sites and so you can search me on either.

Pokerstars: Rex5578

FullTilt: Rex55

You can choose whichever tournies you want to sweat, pull up my tournament tables and then ask me questions in the chat room about hands I play, bets, opponent reads, pretty much anything you want about tournament strategy. I will not discuss anything WHILE the hand is going on, but after all action on the hand is complete, I will be more than happy to offer input. I will most likely be playing between 2-4 at a time, but I will focus my strategy talk on the 1 or 2 mtts where I have the deepest stack or is the furthest along. I understand the afternoon is not an ideal time for everyone who might be interested, but I will be having more of these throughout the next few weeks at varying times. If there is a time slot or day you prefer please leave a comment here or send me a private message and I will do my best to accomodate you all.

Discussing tournament strategy is an active and constructive way to learn about poker as opposed to dwelling on the variables we can't control. I like to have sweat sessions like this because I feel it can be a very valuable asset to you and it also helps me stay sharp and on top of my game. I take my tournament game very seriously and I hope you guys make the most of this chance.

Cheers to seeing some of you tomorrow and to having another deep run :)

Gl with your personal grinds xxx

I'm sorry it has been over a week since I blogged, I normally like to do at least 2 a week, but sometimes Life weaves distractions and I get caught up in the web. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but could be -EV for poker if I become too entangled. But today I decided its going to be all about poker. I am going to be doing an afternoon tournament session on Full Tilt Poker (Id Rex55) today starting at noon. (eastern time) I will also be available for an hour or two in the PokerCurious Chat room to answer questions. It will a sweat session of sorts. You can pull up my tables and I will be happy to go over any questions or strategy topics you might have regarding hands I play. Any discussion or questions about hands will take place after the hand is over with, and I will not be telling you my hole cards while the hand is in progress, but will be more than happy to share with you what I had once all action is complete. So I hope to see some of you there this afternoon. If it goes well and there is good feedback/interest I will make this more of a regular thing, mixing in different times and days to accomodate everyone's schedule. 

I had a great time playing the PC Bounty Freeroll this past Sunday, finishing 3rd. The bounties are interesting for me because I have to adjust my strategy slightly, due to the added incentive of knocking me out. Just about everytime I open a pot or shove all in, there are eager players ready to take me out with any two cards :) So it was cool getting deep and making you all work for the bounty. And of course Congratulations to Infalicious who got my bounty and then went on to win the freeroll!!! (where was the heart? ;P )

Other random things going on in Rexnation:

*I am one final step away from successfully solving a Rubik's Cube, something I had wanted to learn for a long time but just never got around to.

*I played Wii for the first time this past weekend at my parent's place because my brother had just got it and it was soooooo cool. Amazing to me where technology has rocketed to from the Atari set I had back in the 80s. (Although still gotta love atari imo). So of course I went to Best Buy yesterday to get a Wii because I just had to have it and then impulsively decided to buy a MacBookPro while I was there too. I had been thinking of getting a Mac, mainly because my sister has had a MacBook for 3 years and swears by it, and also because Phil Galfond recently got one.  And in my own twisted reality if I can play on the same kind of laptop he does then maybe his genius will indirectly rub off onto me (I know so ridonkulous).

So far I absolutely Love it. It took me a lot of fumbling around yesterday and multiple phone calls to my sister to get going, because all I have ever used is Windows, but now that I am becoming familiarized with the Mac, I am loving it.

*I went to a Pumpkin Patch last week and brought back 3 huge pumpkins to carve for Halloween. My friends are having a Halloween Party (still not sure on my costume yet) and so a few days before the party we are going to carve out cool Jack O' Lanterns and my friend is gonna make fresh pumpkin pie with the gunk we scoop out. Pumpkin pie is actually one of my favorite types of pies although I don't think I have ever tried fresh homemade so that should be really good i'm thinking.

Ok so before I get too long winded and lost in this blog I need to get registered for the tournaments :)

Hope to see some of you in the chatroom.

Gl with your personal grinds. xxxxx 

The deadline for the 2nd Rex55 Blog Contest has been met, and I am excited to reveal the winner. This player has an unwavering passion for poker, mixed with her thirst for knowledge, determination to improve, and selfless contributions inside the poker community and especially here at Poker Curious.

I am proud to say the winner of the Free PXF Membership valued at $150 goes to XPOKERCHIC!!

I have no doubt at all that you will make the most of this opportunity girl, and I think after a month's training at PXF, you will be a force to reckon with. I will be happy to answer any questions or provide recommendations you might want about the site, regarding the most effective way to use their limitless resources. Congratulations XPOKERCHIC!!

Read Her Winning Blog Entry Here

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I want to leave you with a short piece of mine regarding tilt...somewhat of a creative thought, free style writing approach.

Poker can be a very isolating lifestyle.
We are in constant conflict with those who don't play... trying to explain to them a feeling they cannot understand...justifying our choices for their approval.

Poker can be so lonely at times.

Poker can cage us.

Grinding through tough times when all seems lost.  Alone in our rooms zombie-like...fighting sleep, fighting hunger.. to just get even.

Why did I play these stakes? How in the **** does he keep hitting the river? Is he cheating? Do i suck? How come whenever i take a shot i lose? Why do i keep playing cash games and losing what i won in tournaments?
Caged...

Poker can force us to visit parts of ourselves we don't want to meet.  Sitting there reading the needling chat...trying to stay calm. The hairs on your arm rising, ears getting hot and red....no! I'm NOT gonna tilt!! How did i get stuck this much? I'll just climb stakes. Win one hand and stop. Get it all back in one shot.

.....................................why the **** did i do that?

Poker can surface our ugliest factions.

Mistakes...so many mistakes.

We have all lost money we should not have lost.

Money that could have been avoided.

We make mistakes for whatever the reason.  Even when we know better.  Even when we are more intelligent and reasonable than our actions. Why do we do this?
Even the near dangers of busto, or felting, or rockbottom don't interfere with our skewed determination. We blindly push forward...on the chase. Why???

You must remind yourself that these dark times are temporary. If you are going through them...trust me you are not alone.  And soon you will be standing again, as long as you didnt destroy all the hard work. As long as you didnt erase countless hours and documented hands because of uncontrollable emotions. Focus on improvement. Be as Constructive as you can during your downswings, until the wave of good fortune rises in your favor again.
Fight it! Be Stronger Than it!

Poker can be very solitary. And yet, perhaps it is to force us to see, that true success will always be found within. Once we conquer our own minds...therein lies our victory...

-Chetna "Rex55"
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Here are a few excerpts from other contest entries:

"...losing isn't the only form of tilt. There is winner tilt as well. This is where you've won a few pots and start to feel invincible, like you can't lose. If I had a dollar for every time I saw someone get a massive chip lead early in a tournament only to turn around and donk it off I'd be rich by now. Tilt Costs YOU, not them. Try to remember that the next time you feel tilt rearing its ugly head. It is like jealousy or unforgiveness- the person you feel this towards usually has no idea that you feel it or if they do, they don't care. In the end you only end up hurting yourself." -VeraWW

"All would agree that the issue of Tilt must be one, if not the primary causation for the bustage of most players in an MTT.  Though I also from time to time enter a bit of tiltage, I rarely have adverse feelings towards my opponents.  I inevitably get angry with myself for either overstepping my push-read or underestimating the value of an opponent's hand. I guess to each his/her own, but I just don't understand getting tilted over another's quality play but Self Tilt I can totally understand." -Jarlith44

Thank you again for all those that participated in the contest. I enjoyed reading all the entries and will be doing another blog contest in few weeks time.