Another summer for me meant another summer in Vegas on the WSOP. I hate trading the good summertime in Europe for the desert heat. I'D far prefer that the WSOP can be in any other time of year. Even in May (love it was originally) could be better than playing in June and July.

It seems to me I always run bad in the course of the first four or five days of the WSOP, after I haven't adapted yet to the local time. Vegas is 11 hours behind Moscow. It's really tough those first few days to get at the right schedule.

I do think that, even if I'VE a bent to run bad those first few days, I'm at an advantage playing. I FEEL it's easier to evolve to important time changes if you are doing something. It's really important in those first few days to not fall asleep too early. Poker helps with that, helps me to get an entire night's rest as quickly as possible.

Kravchenko on his technique to WSOP Event #61 final table ($67,742)

For me, sleep is an important a part of maintaining focus for the six weeks of the WSOP. It will be important for any tournament series, but it's especially important for one of these long grind like Vegas. I never visit bed later than 2am, even though I'm losing big in some cash game and even if the sport may be very soft and i am winning big. There'll always be another game another day, but if you begin falling behind to your sleep on the WSOP it's tough to catch up.

I play on a daily basis on the WSOP, tournament or cash game. Cash games are a bit of easier because I DO NOT want to are available early and the money game requires rather less stamina than tournaments do. Plus I WILL set my very own schedule about breaks for food or to spend a little bit time with friends.

When I'm in Vegas, I'm there to play. Playing poker really is my passion. It doesn't make sense for me to return to Vegas if I AM NOT going to provide it my all and play up to I can, as many days as I WILL. As someone who enjoys swimming and hiking, I WOULD take one or two days off the entire series for slightly break at Lake Mead or Mount Charleston.But those days are rare. Besides, who may also be outside for terribly long in that summer desert heat? There have been days in June when the temperature reached 46C in Vegas! Even up on Mount Charleston, the temperatures were still just about 35C. It's impossible to enjoy any time outside when it's that hot.

I'm on the poker table, making money and pursuing my passion. Hiking and swimming is often looking ahead to me after I come again to Europe after the WSOP is over each year.

Alex Kravchenko is a member of Team PokerStars Pro. Photo courtesy of PokerPhotoArchive.com.

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