[O Doyle Rules]

Hello All!

I am now 32 days into this challenge and it is safe to say that I will probably never feel the same aboout playing online poker again. Last week I reported this challenge had started to turn into to fun for me. After this week, I will be just very, very glad when this challenge is completed. Jane, get me off this crazy thing! (Obscure Jetson reference)

I got off track a little this week so I played late Saturday night and last night to get back on pace. This morning I am one exhausted man working this morning on about 5 hours of sleep. Playing while tired has definitely cost me. I feel if I had quit playing when I had wanted to, I would be easily up 3-4 times what I am now.(Unfortunately, not an option.) Both Saturday night and last night were big losers for me.

On the bright side, the talk around the house has went from "Why are you doing this?", to "Can you do this?", to now "What will you do with the money if you win it all?" Seriously, my wife and family have been great throughout this whole thing and very supportive.

Has this been worth it? Without a doubt, yes. It is true that I would have stand to win more money that what I am currently up over the past 32 days, but this still pales in comparison in the thrill and anticipation of playing in the WSOP.

My thoughts have started to drift about playing in the WSOP and when I complete this challenge I will have about three weeks to prepare myself. I have played just a few B & M tourneys, finishing in the money only once. Most of my multi-table tournament experience has been online where I have had some success. I have won two smaller tournaments online, (about $1700.00 in one and around $ 600.00 in another) finished 4th in a WSOP qualifier once, where they took the top two, had a few other final table finishes and have been in the money many times. In saying that though, I realize I will have little or no edge over anyone else playing in the WSOP. (And fact I realize that many, many players will have a huge edge on me due to my limited B & M tourney experience) I admit that even the infamous Granny Mae holds an edge over me. This is where I am asking for your all's help. With just three weeks to prepare for the WSOP, what steps should I take to improve my odds at the WSOP. (Book suggestions, links to excellent posts, any advice that you all could personally provide to me, would all be greatly appreciated.)

I wasn't quite as productive this week from a hand count standpoint playing 20,881 hands over 49 hours, an average of 426 hands per hour. Even with the drop in productivity, I was able to knock off three hours off my estimated hours to complete this challenge. I have always played alot of online poker, but it is a world of difference when you have to play. My heart goes out to the ones that are doing this for a living. (Especially the ones that are 8 tabling, grinding it out, playing 40-50 hours a week.)

Results so far:

Hands Needed: 120,000
Hands Played: 91,229
Hands Left: 28,771

Estimated Hours: 292
Hours Played: 222
Hours to go: 70

Winning/Losings: + 573.00

Projected date of challenge completed: June 14th

(This might be a little optimistic, it could be a day or two later, but I am going to shoot for it.)

AND FOLKS, please remember this is the original hand challenge to the WSOP. Please do not accept any cheap imitations!