Marc Karam Blog

This is my first post since the WSOP, which didn’t go too well for me, as usual. I didn’t play as many tournaments as I would have liked, I think I was around 0/10. Instead of skipping almost every NL event in favor of the mixed games which usually start in the afternoon, next year I will probably always play the noon tournaments and if I happen to bust then I will play the 5PMs. I’m still most likely going to play the majors like the $50k HORSE and a couple of $10ks.

After being on the road for most of the last three months, it’s nice to be home. I don’t have any major tournaments planned this month except for a couple of charity events in Montreal next week. I’m pretty excited to play in them, one is a golf tournament and the other is poker, both hosted by NHL players. The golf tournament is going to be hosted by Roberto Luongo and the poker will be hosted by Vincent Lecavalier. For more information about the poker tournament, please go to http://www.casinosduquebec.com/montreal/en/events. From what I hear, hockey players tend to be really good golfers so I’ve been working on my game quite a bit recently as not to embarrass myself in front of them, lol. I’ve broken 90 in a couple of freakish rounds, but I’m still averaging around 97. This isn’t too bad since I’m still fairly new to the game, but when you’re playing with scratch golfers it can be very frustrating. I’ve started to work with a coach once a week and that should improve my game drastically.

Back to poker now, before I convert this into a golf blog. I’ve been grinding a lot this month on Full Tilt, almost exclusively at Rush Poker. I’ve put in around 700k hands of Rush so far since March. Now that I’ve made a strict schedule for myself, I’m playing 40 to 50 hours a week, which equals around 100k hands per week (averaging around 2200 hands/hour while 12-tabling). I’ve actually played 16 tables a couple of times and I get over 3k hands/hour. From what I understand, the world record is 50k hands in 24 hours with profit, I think I can do 60k in one day and I’d be willing to make some sort of prop bet to do it with profit.

At first I was kind of scared that it would feel like a huge grind, but it’s nothing like that at all. I’m really comfortable with it now, and I always have a show or movie playing on my computer so the time really flies by. I never thought I’d be grinding $1/$2 and $0.50/$1 on a daily basis, but playing that many hands an hour can really add up.

As far a live events go, I’m hoping to play a few EPT events this year, and the Full Tilt Poker Series – España in Barcelona from December 2nd -5th. EPT Barcelona is also from November 22nd – 27th so I’ll probably be there for both.

As I was about to submit this blog, I noticed they just added $2/$4 Rush tables, so you’ll know where to find me!

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So that didn’t go as planned. I was at a pretty tough table all day – JDags, David Oppenheim, a few other pros and only one or two soft spots. I started off pretty well in 2-7, but after that first level it was just a downward spiral. Oppenheim pretty much owned me all day in the big bet games sitting two to my left, 3-betting me at least half the times I opened.

One tough hand I played against him – I make it 1,600 at 300/600/100 with TT from MP and he makes it 4,400 on the button, I smooth call (150 BBs effective). Flop J65. Check check. Turn 4 I make it 6,600 he calls. River 6, I bet 7,200 he tanks for a bit and makes it 20,200. I thought for like 5 minutes before folding.

PLO also cost me a bunch of chips, one where I flopped a set and the board 4-straightened by the river and I folded to a bet, and another with 5678 on a 55T flop and had to fold to a big 3-bet on the flop by David Baker.

Hopefully the rest of my series goes better. Golfing today and tomorrow then I’ll most likely be playing the $2500 2-7 Triple Draw tourney on Tuesday.

GL to everyone playing.

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It’s been a while since my last blog, almost a year and a half. From now on I’ll be blogging here for Bluff – let’s see if I even remember how to do this.

My WSOP experience is off to a good start. Last night I touched down in Vegas and checked into my room at The Venetian, my home for the next six weeks. My flights were on time, my bags made it okay, and I got through customs without issue. That’s a great sign as I’m usually already tilting from one of those things by the time I get here.

I’m really excited about this year’s WSOP. I’ll be playing in the $50k mixed event today, my biggest tournament ever, along with a bunch of other events throughout the series, mainly the mixed games. I’ve made up a rough schedule. I’ll throw in a few more NL events depending on how I feel that day.

May 28th – Event #2 Player’s Championship – $50,000
June 1st – Event #7 2-7 Triple Draw – $2,500
June 5th – Event #14 2-7 Draw Lowball NL – $1,500
June 8th – Event #17 NL Hold’em – $5,000
June 14th – Event #27 7 Card Stud Hi-Low – $1,500
June 16th – Event #31 HORSE – $1,500
June 18th – Event #35 HU NL Hold’em – $10,000
June 19th – Event #37 HORSE – $3,000
June 23rd – Event #43 HORSE – $10,000
June 26th – Event #48 8-Game – $2,500
July 8th – Event #57 Main Event – $10,000

I’ll be leaving Vegas around July 1st to attend my cousin’s wedding in Ottawa, but I will be coming back on the 7th to play in the main event. His bachelor party is here in Vegas from June 10th – 13th which is why I don’t have any tourneys listed for that week.

I’ll also be playing a ton of golf as soon as my friends from Ottawa arrive next week. Our favourite course here is Bear’s Best, but there are so many nice courses we want to try. Last night I was playing a $60/$120 mixed game at the Bellagio and I was chatting with a couple of guys at the table. Turns out they’re both pro golfers who play on the Canadian and Asian tours, and we’re going out to play a round tomorrow. They offered to help me out with my swing – my friends aren’t going to know what hit them next week. Well, not quite since a couple of them are scratch golfers and I’m still barely breaking 100, but I do feel a little more confident every time I play.

Back to poker, I’m really excited about the tournament today. I’ve been playing the mixed games religiously for the past couple of years, and I feel good going into it. At least the rake is only 4% in this tournament compared to 11% in most of the other events. I’ll recap Day 1 tonight or tomorrow morning. Hopefully good things to write about!

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