Back on the Felt: Day 1B of the Millionaire Maker and a Shot at Redemption
This post is all about Day 1B of the $1,500 Millionaire Maker at the World Series of Poker. It’s one of the most fun and value-packed tournaments of the series, with long levels and massive fields. First place is guaranteed to be at least $1,000,000, and I’m here for it.
Refreshed and Ready
After a rough Day 1A, I started Day 1B with a good night’s sleep, a solid gym session, and a fresh batch of homemade juice. Nutrition and mindset are part of my prep, especially when these events are long and emotionally draining. Bobby, meanwhile, headed off to play the Seniors event at the Venetian and even interviewed some legends of the game, including Kenna James and Kathy Liebert.
Strategy Behind Late Registration
Yes, I registered late, again. But with 60-minute levels and 25K starting stacks, coming in with 30+ big blinds still gives you plenty of play. Plus, I knew if I didn’t bag this flight, I’d fire two bullets tomorrow. Planning is key when you’re navigating large-field events.
I got seated in Paris, which was a good omen. Within minutes of sitting down, I picked up 50 bigs and was off to a solid start.
Key Hands and Hand Breakdown
One of my favorite hands of the day came with KQss in the big blind. I defended, flopped top pair, and played the hand cautiously until the river paired the board. I decided to lead for value, and sure enough, got paid off. I think it was the right move to avoid a missed value opportunity if I had checked.
Later, I played another important hand where I opened with pocket Kings and ended up busting. It was just one of those cooler spots, KK <99 where the board ran out in my opponent’s favor.
But before that, I did manage to win a big pot with KJ, flopping top pair and navigating the board carefully against two opponents.
What I Learned (Again): Always Stand Up When You’re All-In?
Okay, maybe it’s not a real strategy, but there’s something to be said about players who stand up during their all-ins. Bobby always stands up, and sometimes it seems to work for him. I usually sit still and sweat it in silence. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time for me to join Team Stand Up.
Bob’s Side Quest
While I was grinding Day 1B, Bobby was running deep in the Seniors event and managed to double up a few times. But ultimately, he busted too, though he did get the honor of going out to Kathy Liebert, one of the best to ever do it.
The Rebuy and Mental Reset
After busting my first bullet, I knew I couldn’t walk away from this one. I rebought immediately. The second entry started better, I visualized my chips in the bag from the moment I sat down.
I didn’t make Day 2 this time either, but the process of playing well, learning from each hand, and staying grounded is all part of the journey.
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