I am leaving for Vegas this afternoon. After a full year of crushing live play on a consistant basis, I am excited to see how I stack up against the games in LV this time around. My live play has improved 10 fold since the last time I was there. I was at a tournament this past weekend and the topic came up about the "best poker player in Youngstown (Ohio)". The next thing I know everyone sitting at my table was nominating ME as the best all around poker player they know. I was simply shocked to even be part of the conversation, much less to be considered the best amoung my peers.

To be honest though, my results have backed them up. I am consistently walking away a winner in both the home games and tournaments in my area. I have played 4 tournaments in the past month and I final tabled them all, winning one of them. In addition, after a brutal start to the year where I dropped almost 2k in 1/2 cash games (mosty from coolers, set over set, boat over boat etc), I went on a tear and I am up over 4k in the past 3 months.

Before you think I am tooting my own horn, I don't think I am the best. There are several players in these games I struggle against. I come home and plan strategies about how to play them and yet I still cannot figure them out. I think I beat most of the players in the game for one big reason. I don't tilt. I would say there are lots of players that are above my skill level, yet they take a couple beats and start spewing their chips away. I have learned over the years to identify tilt and somewhat prevent it and I believe that has been my biggest asset and why my game has improved dramitacally.

I plan on playing my biggest tournament to date. I will be playing the $500+40 at Bellagio on Wed July 4th at noon. Stop by and say hi if you like. See my picture on Facebook if you don't know what I look like. (Paul Harahuc. I'm the only one on there). I will also be at the 2+2 party on Friday.

I can't wait to see how I do. Good luck at the tables everyone!