To Vegas or not to Vegas

A little personal post about one of my big hobbies, poker. So if you're not into poker, just never mind this post and come back later.

As some people might know, I'm really into poker. I've played EPT and WSOP tournaments in the past. Last year I've played 3 events during the WSOP, but that trip was my worst run ever! My first ever wsop event (last year) was the 6 handed event, the big buy-in one. I loved the structure and really liked playing against the internet pro's as I'm adapted to that style and can win a 6 handed event online every now and then. I like to think I'm specialized in the short handed games (6, 4 and heads up). So last year I went out as 120th or something like that of the 800+ players, which was a nice achievement, but only 20 places later on I was going to be in the money. After that I played a "Saturday event" packed with donks and fishes. Of course I got sucked out and left that one after an hour of playing (and controlling the table). The main event was also on my agenda and started on the 4th of July, which should be a good day to start as people like to party the evening before and it wouldn't be as busy as start day #4. But also here, I got frustrated due to a annoying "Scandi" and busted with a tilt move having KQ. I knew I could have done better if I stepped away from the table, but that is easy to say now. Also other events in Caesars Palace and in the Venetian were so bad... Not feeling like telling all my bad beat stories but just to sum it all together the last event in Caesar's which make decide to go home 4 days earlier then planned.

BAD BEAT STORY ALERT! I played 2 hands in about 90 minutes. Strong hands and only 1 show down with a flopped set of Queens (QQ). So I'm in early position, the table was mixed with tight regulars and loose canons on holiday. On my right a tight regular (nice guy!) on my left a trash talking "MONKEY" who thought he could play every hand and win. So the regular on my right opens a standard 3x BB bet and I have KK and because the guy on the left is saying he wants to play, I reraise it 4x the initial raise. The guy on the left starts to talk about how good he is and moves all-in. (Inside my head, YES! gotcha donky!). Everyone folds to me and I insta call... The guy turns open, and I kid you not, 34 unsuited. FLOP: 3 3 4 TURN: 4 RIVER a blank. That was basically my 4 weeks of Vegas in a nutshell!

So how is it going now?

I've grown a lot during the last year poker wise. Played mainly bigger 6 and 4 handed tournaments and finished deep in a lot of them on PokerStars and even won a tournament here and there. Also the Heads up sit-n-go's are going very well. Playing against supernova's and supernova elite's without any fear and knowing I can crush them. So my short handed games are getting to the level I could make a deep finish in this year 6 handed event I played last year.

Today I got the oppertunity to select a major event for this year (wherever I want). GREAT! But to be honest I'm not sure what to do. As I know I can finish deep in a 6 handed event, the WSOP would be the first choice. But when I do that, I can also play the $1,500 NLH and the main event which are 9 handed. And I'm not sure if I want to play 2 crap shoots with my personal main event in the middle of them. Thinking about the vegas trip of last year, this could bring my confidence down as I will play 9 handed events all over the place (Caesars Palace, Venetian, MGM, yes I love the poker room in the MGM!, HardRock etc etc).

To Vegas or not to Vegas?

So the big question is. Should I play a EPT Barcelona or something, like 1 big event which is 9-handed or go to Vegas and go for the 6 handed event as my personal main event, with the chance of f***ing up my personal main event because I'm playing more 9 handed then I should?