Was really looking forward to this as I hadn’t played a live MTT in an age. The Bruce poker ME was a €250 buy in, 20k stack and WSOP blind levels.
I sat down with Smurph’s other half, Martin and another couple of guys I recognised. I know a bit about Martin’s game and my strategy was to take it easy in the beginning and get as many reads as I could and then take it from there.
Pretty early on however I couldn’t help but get involved with many questionable hands. I imagine within the first hour my reputation was slightly Laggy. By the end of the first break, 2 hours in, my stack had gone from 20k to 30k to 13k to 35k. I only remember 2 hands in particular. The first was against Martin who had been active. We had plenty of banter at the table and he was raising my BB a lot. When he did it on this hand I looked down at a suited AJ. I chose to smooth call as even OOP I am comfortable playing flops against him. Flop comes A3A and I check knowing there is going to be a c-bet which duly comes. I don’t put him on an A as there is only 1 left in the deck and I know Martin will fold to any big reraise so I min reraise him. He flat calls. Now I’m not so sure he doest have a big A so I check the rag turn. He puts in a good bet and the pot is getting big enough to be crippling. I flat call anyway and check the river rag and snap call his big river bet, he tables pocket 3s.
The next decent hand is a bb special. There are a couple of limpers into my bb and I check my option with 84o. Flop comes K84. I bet half pot and a tightish mp player calls. I put him on KQ / KJ and bet out the rag turn which he calls again. There is a nice pot now but I hate to see the J fall on the river. I check to see what he does and he puts a pretty big river bet in which I call after concluding he is probably too tight to be in the pot in the first place to have KJ. Sure enough he tables KQ and that gets me up well over 30k by the first break.
After the second break I have a disgusting run of cards, I picked up a few small pots but lost a few big ones and my stack had dwindled to about 20k by the end of the second break.
For the 3rd session there were, again, only 2 hands of note. Early in the session I limped with pocket 66, a tight guy mustn’t have seen my limp because he raised 3bbs only, I called oop. Flop came 378, I checked and he checked back, I put him on AK/AQ immediately, turn comes 5 giving me the up and downer, I checked and shoved AI when he made a 5bb bet. After a long dwell he folded and I was happy that my read was good.
Later in that round I pick up JJ (my best hand after 5 hours of play) and I took out a shortie playing about 12k, bringing my stack to a high of 44k.
The game started at 4pm. It was 2am and blinds at 1.2k, 2.4k with a 400 running ante and I hadn’t found a hand or a spot to build my stack for a long time when I get AK in my BB. A tight guy raises the table standard to 6k. I knew he was tight and I figured he’s not doing this with less then JJ, maybe AQ. I had 26k at this point. Thinking about it I should have just called and shoved any A or K high flop, and got away otherwise but instead I shoved pre and was met with an insta call to show me KK. All that went through my mind was that the previous week AK busted me out of the Sunday mill when I had KK but I got no help in this one and walked in 66th. Over 200 started.
Looking back I think I picked up AK about 6 times during the tourney but my highest pp was JJ (twice). I loved the tourney though and look forward to the next one.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WCOOP # 20
I’ve been dying to play any one of the WCOOP tourneys since they were first introduced and this year was the first time I felt capable of actually competing as opposed to making up the numbers. I think my MTT play has improved massively over the last 12 months and I’m particularly fond of deep stack Tourneys. My main area of improvement, without doubt, is my new-founded ability to win pots with nothing. I have identified two particular requirements for this skill, balls and read.
I was disappointed to miss the first HENL 2 day tourney (a $500 buy-in) but time was not on my side. I was determined to play WCOOP 20 ($1050) but only if I satted into it. I decided to give the steps system a go the week before the tourney.
I Entered 14 Step 1s (2 of which were won) and returned 3 bubbles (worth $1.50 each), 2 step 1s and 3 step 2 tickets.
In the Step 2s I played 4 altogether as I won 2 step 2s in those and nothing else. So that was a waste of $90.
On Sunday I played 1 x double shoot-out ($27.50) and lost HU in R1. Finally, I played the $80 turbo sat - 15 tickets and I was eliminated in 40th.
The Divil inside me convinced me to play anyway so I bought in direct with 5 mins to go. 15k starting stack, 30 min blinds and in the wrong frame of mind.
3467 entered when reg closed leaving a prize pool in this $3m g’teed of $3,467,000 with a whopping $468k for 1st. My goal is to make the money, then see what happens. It pays a generous 540 people.
My table was really tight at the outset. I took the first 2 pots uncontested and observed the action with the help of PT3. The first decent hand I had was # 26 when I picked up AK and win 1675. Eight hands later KJ off is worth 1425. Half hour into the tourney I pick up AK again and take 1175. My 15k stack has grown to 17.5k and I have an aggro image, perfect.
But things don’t always go according to plan. AQ off in MP and I open my standard 180 (BB = 50). 4 of us see a flop of 8Q8 rainbow and I’m concerned that the blinds have been priced in with a wide range. I put out a feeler when its checked to me and this finds a small raise from the button. The BB calls and I’m priced to call but not happy. The turn brings a 6 putting 2 diamonds out there. I know I shouldn’t be in the hand but I have a feeling of invincibility. The BB and I check, the button pops 700 into the 2.4k pot and we both call. The river brings the JH and the BB checks again. I decide I need to put in a decent blocker so I know where I stand, any raise and I’m out, 1050 seems about right. Both the button and BB call. Button had QJ for a better 2 pair then me and the BB shows the 8 for the scoop. I’m amazed he didn’t raise for value. Anyway, all my building has just been eradicated in that 1 badly played hand. Stack down to 14.7k.
45 mins in my stack is 14.8k and I’m dealt 56 off in my bb. The table is loosening up. UTG min raises to 200 (bb100) and its folded to me. I call for the hidden value and the flop comes 344. This is not bad but its easy for the raiser to put me on some of this. I check call 250 and the 8h falls on the turn. I check call 900 now knowing he must be scared shitless of my hand and anyway, I have a draw. The river is the Jh. There’s 2800 in the pot. I’ve timed down on all streets here and do the same then I fire 1200 into him. He folds after a dwell. My confidence sky-rockets, a $1000 Buy-in and I’m shoving them off pots with rags!!
2 hands later and I’m dealt AK off OTB and open to 275, the BB calls and I end up loosing a 3400 pot to his K8. A couple later I get 77 EP and call. Myself and both blinds see 626. Its one of those where the blinds could have hit hard so I cautiously play it down and scoop 4300 after a 3 and 2 complete the board.
Into the first level after the break and I win an uncontested pot pre flop with my first 3 bet having picked up QQ. I then get A2 clubs and open with the bb only calling. Flop comes 376, 2 clubs and I flat call his 3 bb bet. Turn is an A and I call his 4 bb bet. I river a club and he checks. There’s 3900 in there and I pose a 1700 question. He quickly calls and shows A6 for 2 pair, I probably could have got a bit more, still, the stack is a healthy 21k now.
Almost 90 minutes in and I’ve been card dead when JJ arrives. I open raise and the BB 3 bets. I’ve been stealing liberally so am happy to peel off a flop which come AQ3. He fires and I have to let go.
Card dead for another 20 mins then 2 hands in a row have a big impact on my tourney. First KQ off in MP. I open raise, call a 3 bet and let go to action on a 5j5 flop. Then I open raise QQ and get 2 callers. I feel targeted. I’m on MSN with Eamon. Flop comes 4A4 (2 hearts). Fukc! I’m sandwiched between the 2 callers. It’s checked to me so I fire a 2/3rds pot-sized bet. 3rd guy folds, other calls. I don’t put him on an A and at least I have position. Turn brings a non heart 7 he checks and I’m thinking he may be drawing to the heart flush so pop out ½ pot bet which he calls. The 8c on the river brings a big 3900 bet from him. I eventually decide he’s doing this with a busted flush draw often enough and call to see his 54 off suit. I watch in disgust as a 19k pot is shipped his way and then realised how well he played it. My stack has just been decimated in these 2 hands to a paltry 8k. Blinds are 150/300 and about to go up.
2 hands later, still spinning Im dealt A9 in my BB and call a 3bb raise. Miss the flop and let go, another 1k lost. 7k left.
I’m deflated, pissed off for wasting my money thinking I could run with these guys and generally not a happy camper.
I walk around to clear my head and take stock. Okay, I still have 20 bbs, there’s a long way to go, it ain’t over till the fat-lady sings.
I gather my 7200 as the blinds go up to 200/400 and pick up AT of spades in the cut-off. I open to 999. The SB (with 200 more then me) calls. I don’t like this call given the size of his stack. Flop comes 873 2 spades, he bets 1600 so I shove my drawing hand and he snap calls. He shows T9 hearts. I thought he had top pair and figured I needed a spade or an A. The turn came Tc and the river 4d. I was absolutely convinced I lost to 2 pair and couldn’t understand the pot being shipped over to me, then I realised, he never had a pair on the flop, only a straight draw. Phew, back to starting stack.
I was disappointed to miss the first HENL 2 day tourney (a $500 buy-in) but time was not on my side. I was determined to play WCOOP 20 ($1050) but only if I satted into it. I decided to give the steps system a go the week before the tourney.
I Entered 14 Step 1s (2 of which were won) and returned 3 bubbles (worth $1.50 each), 2 step 1s and 3 step 2 tickets.
In the Step 2s I played 4 altogether as I won 2 step 2s in those and nothing else. So that was a waste of $90.
On Sunday I played 1 x double shoot-out ($27.50) and lost HU in R1. Finally, I played the $80 turbo sat - 15 tickets and I was eliminated in 40th.
The Divil inside me convinced me to play anyway so I bought in direct with 5 mins to go. 15k starting stack, 30 min blinds and in the wrong frame of mind.
3467 entered when reg closed leaving a prize pool in this $3m g’teed of $3,467,000 with a whopping $468k for 1st. My goal is to make the money, then see what happens. It pays a generous 540 people.
My table was really tight at the outset. I took the first 2 pots uncontested and observed the action with the help of PT3. The first decent hand I had was # 26 when I picked up AK and win 1675. Eight hands later KJ off is worth 1425. Half hour into the tourney I pick up AK again and take 1175. My 15k stack has grown to 17.5k and I have an aggro image, perfect.
But things don’t always go according to plan. AQ off in MP and I open my standard 180 (BB = 50). 4 of us see a flop of 8Q8 rainbow and I’m concerned that the blinds have been priced in with a wide range. I put out a feeler when its checked to me and this finds a small raise from the button. The BB calls and I’m priced to call but not happy. The turn brings a 6 putting 2 diamonds out there. I know I shouldn’t be in the hand but I have a feeling of invincibility. The BB and I check, the button pops 700 into the 2.4k pot and we both call. The river brings the JH and the BB checks again. I decide I need to put in a decent blocker so I know where I stand, any raise and I’m out, 1050 seems about right. Both the button and BB call. Button had QJ for a better 2 pair then me and the BB shows the 8 for the scoop. I’m amazed he didn’t raise for value. Anyway, all my building has just been eradicated in that 1 badly played hand. Stack down to 14.7k.
45 mins in my stack is 14.8k and I’m dealt 56 off in my bb. The table is loosening up. UTG min raises to 200 (bb100) and its folded to me. I call for the hidden value and the flop comes 344. This is not bad but its easy for the raiser to put me on some of this. I check call 250 and the 8h falls on the turn. I check call 900 now knowing he must be scared shitless of my hand and anyway, I have a draw. The river is the Jh. There’s 2800 in the pot. I’ve timed down on all streets here and do the same then I fire 1200 into him. He folds after a dwell. My confidence sky-rockets, a $1000 Buy-in and I’m shoving them off pots with rags!!
2 hands later and I’m dealt AK off OTB and open to 275, the BB calls and I end up loosing a 3400 pot to his K8. A couple later I get 77 EP and call. Myself and both blinds see 626. Its one of those where the blinds could have hit hard so I cautiously play it down and scoop 4300 after a 3 and 2 complete the board.
Into the first level after the break and I win an uncontested pot pre flop with my first 3 bet having picked up QQ. I then get A2 clubs and open with the bb only calling. Flop comes 376, 2 clubs and I flat call his 3 bb bet. Turn is an A and I call his 4 bb bet. I river a club and he checks. There’s 3900 in there and I pose a 1700 question. He quickly calls and shows A6 for 2 pair, I probably could have got a bit more, still, the stack is a healthy 21k now.
Almost 90 minutes in and I’ve been card dead when JJ arrives. I open raise and the BB 3 bets. I’ve been stealing liberally so am happy to peel off a flop which come AQ3. He fires and I have to let go.
Card dead for another 20 mins then 2 hands in a row have a big impact on my tourney. First KQ off in MP. I open raise, call a 3 bet and let go to action on a 5j5 flop. Then I open raise QQ and get 2 callers. I feel targeted. I’m on MSN with Eamon. Flop comes 4A4 (2 hearts). Fukc! I’m sandwiched between the 2 callers. It’s checked to me so I fire a 2/3rds pot-sized bet. 3rd guy folds, other calls. I don’t put him on an A and at least I have position. Turn brings a non heart 7 he checks and I’m thinking he may be drawing to the heart flush so pop out ½ pot bet which he calls. The 8c on the river brings a big 3900 bet from him. I eventually decide he’s doing this with a busted flush draw often enough and call to see his 54 off suit. I watch in disgust as a 19k pot is shipped his way and then realised how well he played it. My stack has just been decimated in these 2 hands to a paltry 8k. Blinds are 150/300 and about to go up.
2 hands later, still spinning Im dealt A9 in my BB and call a 3bb raise. Miss the flop and let go, another 1k lost. 7k left.
I’m deflated, pissed off for wasting my money thinking I could run with these guys and generally not a happy camper.
I walk around to clear my head and take stock. Okay, I still have 20 bbs, there’s a long way to go, it ain’t over till the fat-lady sings.
I gather my 7200 as the blinds go up to 200/400 and pick up AT of spades in the cut-off. I open to 999. The SB (with 200 more then me) calls. I don’t like this call given the size of his stack. Flop comes 873 2 spades, he bets 1600 so I shove my drawing hand and he snap calls. He shows T9 hearts. I thought he had top pair and figured I needed a spade or an A. The turn came Tc and the river 4d. I was absolutely convinced I lost to 2 pair and couldn’t understand the pot being shipped over to me, then I realised, he never had a pair on the flop, only a straight draw. Phew, back to starting stack.
Sometimes you have to make your own luck in tourneys, you just have to fire out a bet which, if called, means you’re out but if not, gives you a feeling that it might be your night….
PokerStars Game #20411222941: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/14 18:55:58 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (22481 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (9694 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (22785 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (14564 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (28973 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (208 in chips)
Seat 7: leg177730 (11490 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (12517 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (27448 in chips)
3Osomething: posts small blind 200
caszman88: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [9h 9c]
JollyGolly: folds
leg177730: raises 1200 to 1600
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: raises 5600 to 7200
caszman88: folds
leg177730: calls 5600
*** FLOP *** [6d Ac 4c]
3Osomething: bets 4400
leg177730: folds
Uncalled bet (4400) returned to 3Osomething
3Osomething collected 14800 from pot
3Osomething: doesn't show hand
We have 22k now and have fully recovered from the earlier decimation. Confidence is back but takes a knock when we loose 3 hands in a row, KJ off, 77 and then 88 at a total cost of 6k. Still, we are getting the hang of stealing pots….
PokerStars Game #20411415566: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/14 19:04:19 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (26997 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (9210 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (20961 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (15883 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (27973 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (7596 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (14092 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (27448 in chips)
caszman88: posts small blind 200
JollyGolly: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Qs Kd]
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: raises 400 to 800
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
lokern is connected
3Osomething: calls 800
caszman88: raises 1600 to 2400
JollyGolly: folds
mombasa: calls 1600
3Osomething: calls 1600
*** FLOP *** [6c 2d Ac]
caszman88: checks
mombasa: checks
3Osomething: bets 2700
caszman88: folds
mombasa: calls 2700
*** TURN *** [6c 2d Ac] [Jd]
mombasa: checks
3Osomething: checks
*** RIVER *** [6c 2d Ac Jd] [8d]
mombasa: checks
3Osomething: bets 3100
mombasa: folds
Uncalled bet (3100) returned to 3Osomething
3Osomething collected 13000 from pot
3Osomething: doesn't show hand
My image is now quite laggy which may help when…
…In every tournament there is a chance that you are going to hit a rush of cards, whether it’s big starting hands or hole cards that fit the flop like a hand in a glove. Read on….
PokerStars Game #20411655800: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/14 19:14:45 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (23547 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (10560 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (19301 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (22983 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (25373 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (7196 in chips)
Seat 7: lokern (51916 in chips)
PokerStars Game #20411222941: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/14 18:55:58 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (22481 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (9694 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (22785 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (14564 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (28973 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (208 in chips)
Seat 7: leg177730 (11490 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (12517 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (27448 in chips)
3Osomething: posts small blind 200
caszman88: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [9h 9c]
JollyGolly: folds
leg177730: raises 1200 to 1600
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: raises 5600 to 7200
caszman88: folds
leg177730: calls 5600
*** FLOP *** [6d Ac 4c]
3Osomething: bets 4400
leg177730: folds
Uncalled bet (4400) returned to 3Osomething
3Osomething collected 14800 from pot
3Osomething: doesn't show hand
We have 22k now and have fully recovered from the earlier decimation. Confidence is back but takes a knock when we loose 3 hands in a row, KJ off, 77 and then 88 at a total cost of 6k. Still, we are getting the hang of stealing pots….
PokerStars Game #20411415566: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/14 19:04:19 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (26997 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (9210 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (20961 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (15883 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (27973 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (7596 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (14092 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (27448 in chips)
caszman88: posts small blind 200
JollyGolly: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Qs Kd]
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: raises 400 to 800
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
lokern is connected
3Osomething: calls 800
caszman88: raises 1600 to 2400
JollyGolly: folds
mombasa: calls 1600
3Osomething: calls 1600
*** FLOP *** [6c 2d Ac]
caszman88: checks
mombasa: checks
3Osomething: bets 2700
caszman88: folds
mombasa: calls 2700
*** TURN *** [6c 2d Ac] [Jd]
mombasa: checks
3Osomething: checks
*** RIVER *** [6c 2d Ac Jd] [8d]
mombasa: checks
3Osomething: bets 3100
mombasa: folds
Uncalled bet (3100) returned to 3Osomething
3Osomething collected 13000 from pot
3Osomething: doesn't show hand
My image is now quite laggy which may help when…
…In every tournament there is a chance that you are going to hit a rush of cards, whether it’s big starting hands or hole cards that fit the flop like a hand in a glove. Read on….
PokerStars Game #20411655800: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/14 19:14:45 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (23547 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (10560 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (19301 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (22983 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (25373 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (7196 in chips)
Seat 7: lokern (51916 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (10641 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (38918 in chips)
JollyGolly: posts small blind 200
lokern: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Ts Ad]
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: raises 525 to 925
caszman88: folds
JollyGolly: folds
lokern: calls 525
*** FLOP *** [8d Ks Qh]
lokern: bets 1600
3Osomething: calls 1600
*** TURN *** [8d Ks Qh] [Jh]
lokern: bets 3600
3Osomething: calls 3600
*** RIVER *** [8d Ks Qh Jh] [4d]
lokern: checks
3Osomething: bets 3600
lokern: calls 3600
*** SHOW DOWN ***
3Osomething: shows [Ts Ad] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
lokern: mucks hand
3Osomething collected 19650 from pot
Aha, a nice pot and we went to show-down with the goods.
7 minutes later …
PokerStars Game #20411812128: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (300/600) - 2008/09/14 19:21:39 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (21447 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (13260 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (20041 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (32008 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (24773 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (8656 in chips)
Seat 7: lokern (41991 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (5526 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (42733 in chips)
caszman88: posts small blind 300
JollyGolly: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Ah Qd]
lokern: raises 1200 to 1800
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: calls 1800
3Osomething: calls 1800
caszman88: folds
JollyGolly: folds
*** FLOP *** [6c 3d 9d]
lokern: bets 3000
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: calls 3000
*** TURN *** [6c 3d 9d] [Ac]
lokern: bets 7200
3Osomething: calls 7200
*** RIVER *** [6c 3d 9d Ac] [Qs]
lokern: bets 12600
3Osomething: raises 7408 to 20008 and is all-in
lokern: folds
Uncalled bet (7408) returned to 3Osomething
3Osomething collected 51900 from pot
The flop call was affordable and gave me a monster pot. 60k chips in my stack now, the avg is 20k and we are inside the top 50!! Time to tighten up and be a little patient …
Seat 9: fabstinho (38918 in chips)
JollyGolly: posts small blind 200
lokern: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Ts Ad]
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: raises 525 to 925
caszman88: folds
JollyGolly: folds
lokern: calls 525
*** FLOP *** [8d Ks Qh]
lokern: bets 1600
3Osomething: calls 1600
*** TURN *** [8d Ks Qh] [Jh]
lokern: bets 3600
3Osomething: calls 3600
*** RIVER *** [8d Ks Qh Jh] [4d]
lokern: checks
3Osomething: bets 3600
lokern: calls 3600
*** SHOW DOWN ***
3Osomething: shows [Ts Ad] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
lokern: mucks hand
3Osomething collected 19650 from pot
Aha, a nice pot and we went to show-down with the goods.
7 minutes later …
PokerStars Game #20411812128: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (300/600) - 2008/09/14 19:21:39 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (21447 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (13260 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (20041 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (32008 in chips)
Seat 5: caszman88 (24773 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (8656 in chips)
Seat 7: lokern (41991 in chips)
Seat 8: TheTaker (5526 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (42733 in chips)
caszman88: posts small blind 300
JollyGolly: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Ah Qd]
lokern: raises 1200 to 1800
TheTaker: folds
fabstinho: folds
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: calls 1800
3Osomething: calls 1800
caszman88: folds
JollyGolly: folds
*** FLOP *** [6c 3d 9d]
lokern: bets 3000
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: calls 3000
*** TURN *** [6c 3d 9d] [Ac]
lokern: bets 7200
3Osomething: calls 7200
*** RIVER *** [6c 3d 9d Ac] [Qs]
lokern: bets 12600
3Osomething: raises 7408 to 20008 and is all-in
lokern: folds
Uncalled bet (7408) returned to 3Osomething
3Osomething collected 51900 from pot
The flop call was affordable and gave me a monster pot. 60k chips in my stack now, the avg is 20k and we are inside the top 50!! Time to tighten up and be a little patient …
PokerStars Game #20412350854: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (300/600) - 2008/09/14 19:45:39 ET
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (19747 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (11560 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (42057 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (54758 in chips)
Seat 5: Drant (56881 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (13432 in chips)
Seat 7: lokern (11691 in chips)
Seat 8: Gracie85 (16745 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (18006 in chips)
lokern: posts small blind 300
Gracie85: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [3d 3h]
fabstinho: calls 600
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: calls 600
Drant: calls 600
JollyGolly: folds
lokern: calls 300
Gracie85: checks
*** FLOP *** [5h Ks 3c]
lokern: checks
Gracie85: checks
fabstinho: checks
3Osomething: bets 1200
Drant: folds
lokern: calls 1200
Gracie85: folds
fabstinho: folds
*** TURN *** [5h Ks 3c] [Qs]
lokern: checks
3Osomething: bets 2400
lokern: raises 7491 to 9891 and is all-in
3Osomething: calls 7491
*** RIVER *** [5h Ks 3c Qs] [Jh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
lokern: shows [Kc 5c] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
3Osomething: shows [3d 3h] (three of a kind, Threes)
3Osomething collected 25182 from pot
Another one eliminated and we have consolidated our position with 68k.
9 minutes later and it’s getting too good to be true. We get JT suited in hearts in the BB and a 17k stack open raises in MP which I call. The flop comes T 7 T and we check call his 2789 bet. The turn brings the 4d putting 2 diamonds out there. I check and snap call his AI. He has 56 hearts and misses his up and downer, now we have over 85k and have moved to 21st on the leader board. There’s 2750 left at this stage, 3 and a half hours in.
I’m card dead for a whole hour, winning a bit but loosing a little bit more. My stack is at 75k 800/400/25 level when we pick up AK off OTB. A 15k stack opens in MP for 2400. I 3 bet and call his pre flop push. I flop an A, his KJ catches a J on the turn but no more help for him and the stack gets over 90k.
It takes another 45 mins before I pick up my next playable hand, QQ wins a 5k pot to get my stack back to 90k.
We are well into the 5th hour and again I have not played a hand in ages so am thrilled to see Aq sooted in the cut-off which I open raise to 3150 at the 1,200/600/100 level. The bb looks me up and the three carded flop reads 2 T 3. I bet 4200 when the bb checks and he calls. Turn is 8h and I disconnect. When I reconnect I check, and we check the 9 river, his miserable 4/3 off scoops. Next hand I get 99 and take the blinds, first pot I’ve won in an age. The stack has dwindled to 73k but at least I’m mega comfy with 60bbs.
Table '200800020 216' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: mombasa (19747 in chips)
Seat 2: kalsen2 (11560 in chips)
Seat 3: RiverMegl (42057 in chips)
Seat 4: 3Osomething (54758 in chips)
Seat 5: Drant (56881 in chips)
Seat 6: JollyGolly (13432 in chips)
Seat 7: lokern (11691 in chips)
Seat 8: Gracie85 (16745 in chips)
Seat 9: fabstinho (18006 in chips)
lokern: posts small blind 300
Gracie85: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [3d 3h]
fabstinho: calls 600
mombasa: folds
kalsen2: folds
RiverMegl: folds
3Osomething: calls 600
Drant: calls 600
JollyGolly: folds
lokern: calls 300
Gracie85: checks
*** FLOP *** [5h Ks 3c]
lokern: checks
Gracie85: checks
fabstinho: checks
3Osomething: bets 1200
Drant: folds
lokern: calls 1200
Gracie85: folds
fabstinho: folds
*** TURN *** [5h Ks 3c] [Qs]
lokern: checks
3Osomething: bets 2400
lokern: raises 7491 to 9891 and is all-in
3Osomething: calls 7491
*** RIVER *** [5h Ks 3c Qs] [Jh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
lokern: shows [Kc 5c] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
3Osomething: shows [3d 3h] (three of a kind, Threes)
3Osomething collected 25182 from pot
Another one eliminated and we have consolidated our position with 68k.
9 minutes later and it’s getting too good to be true. We get JT suited in hearts in the BB and a 17k stack open raises in MP which I call. The flop comes T 7 T and we check call his 2789 bet. The turn brings the 4d putting 2 diamonds out there. I check and snap call his AI. He has 56 hearts and misses his up and downer, now we have over 85k and have moved to 21st on the leader board. There’s 2750 left at this stage, 3 and a half hours in.
I’m card dead for a whole hour, winning a bit but loosing a little bit more. My stack is at 75k 800/400/25 level when we pick up AK off OTB. A 15k stack opens in MP for 2400. I 3 bet and call his pre flop push. I flop an A, his KJ catches a J on the turn but no more help for him and the stack gets over 90k.
It takes another 45 mins before I pick up my next playable hand, QQ wins a 5k pot to get my stack back to 90k.
We are well into the 5th hour and again I have not played a hand in ages so am thrilled to see Aq sooted in the cut-off which I open raise to 3150 at the 1,200/600/100 level. The bb looks me up and the three carded flop reads 2 T 3. I bet 4200 when the bb checks and he calls. Turn is 8h and I disconnect. When I reconnect I check, and we check the 9 river, his miserable 4/3 off scoops. Next hand I get 99 and take the blinds, first pot I’ve won in an age. The stack has dwindled to 73k but at least I’m mega comfy with 60bbs.
The BBs 3/2 suited busts my AK shortly after for a few chips, 6 hours in now and I loose another biggish pot to the sbs action when I let go my AK on the turn with the board reading 8Q84 double suited. 60k now at the 750/1500/150 level. The average is catching up with me but we are getting close to the money, about 40 to go before a cash in my biggest on line MTT.
Things tighten up and for the next hour its survival poker to make the money. The bubble pops at about 4.30am at which stage I have been blinded down to 45k with the cost of a hand running at 2500/1250/250. At this stage I’m thinking there’s another $300 at the next pay jump but if I blind into it I will have no chance at the decent money. Even though I have almost 20bbs I decide I’m shoving any hands in position. Add to this the fact that I have seen maybe 10 playable hands in 3 hours and the remaining field is full of top class players that’ll run over a small stack,I’m going to get excited when I see KQ with a chance to open the pot, it takes another 15 minutes to find such a hand and a spot…..
PokerStars Game #20417674261: Tournament #200800020, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level XIII (1250/2500) - 2008/09/14 23:54:35 ET
Table '200800020 342' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Dracospinner (203900 in chips)
Seat 2: jay1274 (130486 in chips)
Seat 3: Redimps3000 (220544 in chips)
Seat 4: OkTime4PlanB (63428 in chips)
Seat 5: Mary 717 (165409 in chips)
Seat 6: BeSje (65992 in chips)
Seat 7: ccmdsn (79838 in chips)
Seat 8: polarski (20428 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (33534 in chips)
Dracospinner: posts the ante 250
jay1274: posts the ante 250
Redimps3000: posts the ante 250
OkTime4PlanB: posts the ante 250
Mary 717: posts the ante 250
BeSje: posts the ante 250
ccmdsn: posts the ante 250
polarski: posts the ante 250
3Osomething: posts the ante 250
Mary 717: posts small blind 1250
BeSje: posts big blind 2500
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 3Osomething [Kc Qh]
ccmdsn: folds
polarski: folds
3Osomething: raises 30784 to 33284 and is all-in
Dracospinner: folds
jay1274: folds
Redimps3000: calls 33284
OkTime4PlanB: folds
Mary 717: folds
BeSje: folds
*** FLOP *** [9d 2c 8h]
*** TURN *** [9d 2c 8h] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [9d 2c 8h 3h] [Jh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
3Osomething: shows [Kc Qh] (high card King)
Redimps3000: shows [Kh Ad] (high card Ace)
Redimps3000 collected 72568 from pot
So the 15 minutes from bubble to exit cost my stack 10k, the decision to push was right and I was happy not to exit the tourney on a bad beat.
I was a bit disappointed that my cards were so dry in the latter part of the tourney, I needed another “rush” to get a bit deeper but it never came. Still, I’m going to try and satellite into the $320 Super Sat for the $5200 ME. Maybe I’ll even buy-in to the Super Sat direct. Watch this space…..
Boards is a tough place
I decided to write about my thoughts on short stack play in MTTs, as I had been thinking that I find myself short stacked a lot! I wrote it out a bit hastily and it was intended for my own use as a kind of aide memoir. For some reason I then decided to post it on boards without really take enough time to vet it.
I was specific in the intro that the article contained my thoughts and was what worked for me. It wasn’t intended as a guide. It drew criticism shortly after I posted it so I deleted it. I might edit it and repost.
I was specific in the intro that the article contained my thoughts and was what worked for me. It wasn’t intended as a guide. It drew criticism shortly after I posted it so I deleted it. I might edit it and repost.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
August Round Up
Have let the blog slip a bit which I guess most people do. So what’s been happening on the poker front?
(edit - can't yet figure out how to post graphs and stuff! will edit later)
(edit - can't yet figure out how to post graphs and stuff! will edit later)
I missed the one on the 24th because I was in Majorca for a week.
Haven’t made it to a live tourney since the last one posted about which is sad. I was to play in the SE EOM but the wife fell ill, good job as it only had 20 odd runners which was poor and I much prefer a larger field.
Since I won that few bob in the PS $55 I decided against cashing it all out and instead wanted to test myself at (what for me is) higher levels. Just checked my PT stats and post them below for the month. Started off the month well but fell away badly at the end. When I analyse the stats I see I played TAG when I started which is natural enough when hitting a higher level, made money, thought “this is eeezzzeee” and loosened up. BAD MOVE. I posted a few hands and the helpful feed-back is that my bet-sizing sucks, it’s too small. Must work on that.
(edit - can't yet figure out how to post graphs and stuff! will edit later)
So that’s the deal with the cash, my VPIP and PFR ratio sucks and I need to work on this too. Hopefully next months will improve. The BIG DIPS are caused by my non-belief in opponents going AI with the nuts. Must remember this also. Bad cash first month, down $450.
As for tourneys I scored a third-in-a-row cash in the Sunday Million, the 3rd was also my biggest cash at a little over $1k. Here’s the month of Millions …
(edit - can't yet figure out how to post graphs and stuff! will edit later)
I missed the one on the 24th because I was in Majorca for a week.
Over 32 tourneys for the month I’m up a little, but I have been taking shots at the $100 F/O and have yet to cash. Down $545 in those. In relation to the $50 tourneys I’ve spent $595 (inc 1 re-buy tourney) and have returned $265 odd so am down there too. In total for the month in all tourneys (32 of them) I’m up just under $100.00.
So that’s the poker round up. Have a nice week away with the wife and kids. Saw a spectacular show called “Pirates” in Magalouf, well worth going to if you’re in the vicinity. My eldest Joey went back to school to-day. Works going good but am always wondering when the next decent case will walk in the door.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Variance, on my side for once!
Since my last post I only played 2 $10 MTTs and a bit of cash with nothing to report. I've taken my foot of the gas mid-week due to work pressures. Friday night I intended to get back but the wife and I decided on a night out. So we went to The Queens in Dalkey for some pre-dinner drinks. Beautiful evening sweetened with 2 pints of very nice Smithwicks, followed by a good meal in one of our favourite restaurants (Regazzi's) and finally a skin full of drink in Finnegans. Well too oiled even to log-in to the lap-top when I got home. Jaysus, getting up in the morning with the kids was a killer.
Saturday afternoon we had to go to a two year olds birthday (family and all that). Took it easy with the booze and got home at 9.45pm. Decided to give the PS $55 ($25k g'teed) a spin although wasn't really in the mood initially as I was tired. Still, picked up a six-pack of Smithy so got stuck in.
This tourney has a 3k starting stack and 15 minute blinds. 986 runners. It usually has a mix of good and very good players. There's few fish because it has no satellites but I like the forgiving structure.
Level I (10/20) I pick up 88 in MP. UTG limps and I make it 75 for cards.Guy next to act calls as does UTG, blinds folded. Flop comes 433 (2 clubs), UTG checks, I bet 220, 1 fold and UTG calls. Turn K. UTG checks, I bet 350, he calls. River 5, this time UTG bets 320 and I think its a blocker but just call and MHIG. He was drawing to the nut flush. So we've increased our stack to 4k already.
Level II (15/30) and I'm dealt AA UTG + 1. 1 fold and I make it 90 for cards, guy beside me makes it 270 and it's folded back to me. He's been aggro and I don't want to 4 bet in case I loose him so I flat call planning to bet small any any flop and see how much i can get. flop comes 869 rainbow and I bet 230, he obliges by making it 690 which I flat again and check the 9 turn. He makes it 870 and we nearly have his stack so I go AWWWWIIIINNNNNNN Baby and he calls showing TT, river K and we are smoking now with nearly 7k.
Later same level I pick up American Airlines again! This time I 3 bet an early raiser to 285 and he calls. I check an A high flop praying but he checks back. I'm getting nothing else so fire out 330 on a blank turn and he folds. No good.
Things are quiet till level IV (50/100) when I pick up TT and 3 bet the same guy as I did before, this time he fights back and shoves. He started the hand with 2k so I think he's wide enough here and make the call. His JJ holds up and suddenly Im struggling with a little less then average.
I'm playing survival poker when we get to Level VI (100/200) and I'm dealt AA for the 3rd time in LP. I 3 bet an early raiser but he lets go and I get a disappointing 800.
At the end of this level I pick up KK in MP and open for 550. A guy with 500 less then me shoves and I snap call. He shows T9 sooted, I flop a K and get my stack up to 8100 (40 bbs). Happy days.
Next hand of note is AQ off at Level VII (125/250 RA 25) Im UTG. I hate this hand and sometimes raise, sometimes fold and sometimes call from UTG, this time I flat called. One guy raises to 888 and Im the only caller. Flop comes 874 and he shoves for 2k after my check. I have a bad feeling and wimp out.
I'm bleeding chips when I pick up 97 clubs in my BB (Level VIII (150/300 RA25)). Same raiser as last hand makes it a strange 666, its folded to me and I call to see a 9 high flop. I check intending to shove over his c-bet but he checks back. Turn comes a Q and there are 3 diamonds out there now. I check again and he checks back. Another 9 falls on the river, I bet 600 part value part blocker, he calls and mucks. Staying alive...
I loose a bit, win a bit and pick up AKo at Level IX (200/400 RA 50) which wins 1k and then KQ off wins me 2k, so I have 7k at this stage.
I've blinded down to 3.7k at Level XI (400/800 RA 75). I think I must have decided to limp into the money unless I got a big hand. I'm also a great believer in "a chip and a chair". I pick up the ducks and shove on the button, both blinds call and both miss so Im up to 11.5k and suddenly back in the game. Here are the stacks before the hand ...
Seat 1: 3Osomething (3703 in chips)
Seat 2: Denon1983 (43935 in chips)
Seat 3: radfrobot (17825 in chips)
Seat 4: MagicalJoker (23752 in chips)
Seat 5: Anjodo (7625 in chips)
Seat 6: shanetrain22 (6960 in chips)
Seat 7: johngolf2000 (23715 in chips)
Seat 8: myheim (36126 in chips)
Seat 9: YaOrNo (31660 in chips)
Struggling or what?
I build to 18.5k and pick up QQ in the sb at Level XII (500/1000 RA 100). I posted this hand in the BBV thread. Its folded to the button (playing 15k) who flat calls. I make it 4000, bb gets out of the way and the button shoves. I put him on a med pp and call. I nearly smashed my computer when he turns over AA until I saw a Q on the flop. No matter how hard I looked I didnt see the expected A on the Turn or the River and suddenly I'm really motoring now with 30+bbs and getting deep.
The very next hand I pick up JJ OTB and call a shorties 8k shove. Her AQ out flops me and I'm back to average. The elation of the previous hand is very quickly over.
I've 27k at Level XIII (600/1200 RA 125) and am dealt Q9 in the sb. Its folded to me, I complete and BB (playing 16k) checks his option. Flop is 9 high, and I bet pot, he raises to 6400, I shove he folds. This is an important hand because I have really set up my image nicely now.
The tourney is real deep now. The players left are all good but the money sucks till deep into the FT. Its hard to win pots. I've kept my stack at Level XV (1000/2000 RA 200) playing 30k and pick up AKo UTG. Funny, I like this hand UTG and hate AQ in the same spot! I make it 4750 to go (being the amount of the table avg raise) and UTG + 1 makes it 8k. I hate my life, he has 70k. I dont want to lose a tourney on a drawing hand so I decide shoving is no good. I figure I can call (which i hate oop) and get away if I miss, but if I hit I might double through. Folding is sooooo weak and will destroy my image. So I flat call and the flop comes 478, I chicken check, he fires 8k and I let go. Im down to 10bbs but figure I can double up once or twice and still be in the game. The blinds cost me 4.5k after I take peeks at flops and now in danger territory.
After some short-stack ninja poker I get it back up to 30k by Level XVI (1500/3000 RA 300) and pick up AQo in the sb. A guy playing 29k shoves. Like me his range is wide here so I figure I'm ahead a lot and only racing sometimes. I shove .... BB folds, he has .... K7 sooted. Yippee, I hold and now we've 20+bbs which is average. Here are the chip counts...
Seat 1: 3Osomething (66993 in chips)
Seat 2: KhunObi2007 (82453 in chips)
Seat 3: radfrobot (103519 in chips)
Seat 4: MagicalJoker (23721 in chips)
Seat 5: OmahaGrl (62523 in chips)
Seat 6: PAPYPOKER (33787 in chips)
Seat 7: Horst Heftig (47596 in chips)
Seat 8: myheim (47237 in chips)
Level XVII (2000/4000 RA 400) I'm playing 70k with AJo OTB. Short stack that i lost to before shoves for 16k and I snap call. My hand holds v AT and now we are in business again. With the blinds and antes that takes the stack to 95k.
The game is tightening now as we are down to 3 tables. I see from reviewing PT that I pick up 26k with trash in my blinds with Q6 and Q8 (Level XVIII (2500/5000 RA 500)), all pots are good.
I get QT sooted in spades (one of my fav hands) playing 93k at this level in my BB. Its folded to SB (120k) who completes. I should raise here but decided to take a free(ish) flop which is a monster possibility action-jackson AJQ where A and J are spades. Middle pair, nut straight draw, nut flush draw and the ultimate "absolutes" draw. I think I felt a twinge in my trousers! I can't put the SB on any of this so am thrilled to call his 5k bet. The turn is an innoculous 6d and, still in love with the possibilities, call his 12.5k. The river brick is the 7h and for some unknown reason I call his 22k value bet on the river to see his A7. My stack has just been halved in the cruelest way, show me the door you Ba$tard Poker God$. Typical I thought, bring me to the edge of ecstacy and kick me in the nads. I tilt away another few precious chips over the next few hands desperately trying to get back into the game.
We are 3 tabling now. Here's how it looks at Level XIX (3000/6000 RA 600) ...
Seat 1: FlapJack1210 (172467 in chips)
Seat 3: ganjeannot (100777 in chips)
Seat 4: nicole1818 (170004 in chips)
Seat 5: MaAKAKrc (110936 in chips)
Seat 7: LuckyRS7 (224082 in chips)
Seat 8: Luong007 (165111 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (30862 in chips)
Boy do I feel out of place with 5 BBs.
I shove AQ and pick up 12k. I shove AQ very next hand and pick up 12k. A8 in my SB, shove, pick up 10k. Somehow I'm still alive with 42k at the Level XX (3500/7000 RA 700) when I treble up with QQ (also posted in BBV). Its now 3am and I've 140k! I posted the TT hand aswell, up to 170k at Level XXI (4000/8000 RA 800). Then i find myself with AK v AQ for the CL but the board reads KQTJrag for a chop.
Two hands (also posted) eliminated the guy I chopped the last with, first my AK out flops his 66 for 300k then I finish him off with AT v his shoved K3. That brought us to the FT bubble at 4.00am. I can't remember it bursting cause I was jumping up and down a lot! When the FT formed it looked a bit like this when I played my first major pot ...
Level XXIII (6000/12000 RA 1200) Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Mountino (438658 in chips)
Seat 2: myheim (179880 in chips)
Seat 3: GREMLIN4003 (304371 in chips)
Seat 4: nicole1818 (174677 in chips)
Seat 5: kewlan (289632 in chips)
Seat 6: th1275 (281098 in chips)
Seat 7: LuckyRS7 (476226 in chips)
Seat 8: DubMe2 (405424 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (408034 in chips)
I pick up QQ utg and make it 36k for cards, Kewlan calls. Flop comes 292, I check, he bets 36k, I shove, he folds. CL again.
Level XXIV (8000/16000 RA 1600) I loose a hundred thousand (count em) chips when I raise AJo UTG (lol and I fold AQ!) to 34k, th1275 calls and we see a flop of 752. I check call his 32k, check call his 32k on a T turn, we both check a 6 river and his A7 outs me!
Myself and th1275 then check down 3d 3c 5s 2d 8d after Mountino put all his chips in (having lost a race and was down to 42k) . My 99 was good and I got my 100k back.
A key hand then happens at Level XXVI (15000/30000 RA 3000). I get KK 6 handed. Everyone left is and has been busy. CL has 700k, smallest has 200k, I've 500k, rest 400k+. I make it 66k to go, gremlin playing 450k shoves and I snap. My KK takes down a 900k pot v his 99. 5 left.
A deal is already being discussed at (20000/40000 RA 4000) when I pick up a7. Ive 930k, next has 650k, next 580k then 460k and 320k. I will admit I've been a bully and open to 89k. Kewlan with 580k calls and we see T67. I lead for 140k and he tanks and shoves after using his time-bank. My turn to tank, I think and think and smell a stink. Call with middle pair. He shows KT DAMMIT. Turn ... A... river brick. OMG! I might win some decent money. It finally sinks in. 4 handed and Ive 1.6m. Next has 650k.
Now i decided to turn the heat up. Bad move! I lose 500k in 3 hands. Lol, easy come easy go.
Saturday afternoon we had to go to a two year olds birthday (family and all that). Took it easy with the booze and got home at 9.45pm. Decided to give the PS $55 ($25k g'teed) a spin although wasn't really in the mood initially as I was tired. Still, picked up a six-pack of Smithy so got stuck in.
This tourney has a 3k starting stack and 15 minute blinds. 986 runners. It usually has a mix of good and very good players. There's few fish because it has no satellites but I like the forgiving structure.
Level I (10/20) I pick up 88 in MP. UTG limps and I make it 75 for cards.Guy next to act calls as does UTG, blinds folded. Flop comes 433 (2 clubs), UTG checks, I bet 220, 1 fold and UTG calls. Turn K. UTG checks, I bet 350, he calls. River 5, this time UTG bets 320 and I think its a blocker but just call and MHIG. He was drawing to the nut flush. So we've increased our stack to 4k already.
Level II (15/30) and I'm dealt AA UTG + 1. 1 fold and I make it 90 for cards, guy beside me makes it 270 and it's folded back to me. He's been aggro and I don't want to 4 bet in case I loose him so I flat call planning to bet small any any flop and see how much i can get. flop comes 869 rainbow and I bet 230, he obliges by making it 690 which I flat again and check the 9 turn. He makes it 870 and we nearly have his stack so I go AWWWWIIIINNNNNNN Baby and he calls showing TT, river K and we are smoking now with nearly 7k.
Later same level I pick up American Airlines again! This time I 3 bet an early raiser to 285 and he calls. I check an A high flop praying but he checks back. I'm getting nothing else so fire out 330 on a blank turn and he folds. No good.
Things are quiet till level IV (50/100) when I pick up TT and 3 bet the same guy as I did before, this time he fights back and shoves. He started the hand with 2k so I think he's wide enough here and make the call. His JJ holds up and suddenly Im struggling with a little less then average.
I'm playing survival poker when we get to Level VI (100/200) and I'm dealt AA for the 3rd time in LP. I 3 bet an early raiser but he lets go and I get a disappointing 800.
At the end of this level I pick up KK in MP and open for 550. A guy with 500 less then me shoves and I snap call. He shows T9 sooted, I flop a K and get my stack up to 8100 (40 bbs). Happy days.
Next hand of note is AQ off at Level VII (125/250 RA 25) Im UTG. I hate this hand and sometimes raise, sometimes fold and sometimes call from UTG, this time I flat called. One guy raises to 888 and Im the only caller. Flop comes 874 and he shoves for 2k after my check. I have a bad feeling and wimp out.
I'm bleeding chips when I pick up 97 clubs in my BB (Level VIII (150/300 RA25)). Same raiser as last hand makes it a strange 666, its folded to me and I call to see a 9 high flop. I check intending to shove over his c-bet but he checks back. Turn comes a Q and there are 3 diamonds out there now. I check again and he checks back. Another 9 falls on the river, I bet 600 part value part blocker, he calls and mucks. Staying alive...
I loose a bit, win a bit and pick up AKo at Level IX (200/400 RA 50) which wins 1k and then KQ off wins me 2k, so I have 7k at this stage.
I've blinded down to 3.7k at Level XI (400/800 RA 75). I think I must have decided to limp into the money unless I got a big hand. I'm also a great believer in "a chip and a chair". I pick up the ducks and shove on the button, both blinds call and both miss so Im up to 11.5k and suddenly back in the game. Here are the stacks before the hand ...
Seat 1: 3Osomething (3703 in chips)
Seat 2: Denon1983 (43935 in chips)
Seat 3: radfrobot (17825 in chips)
Seat 4: MagicalJoker (23752 in chips)
Seat 5: Anjodo (7625 in chips)
Seat 6: shanetrain22 (6960 in chips)
Seat 7: johngolf2000 (23715 in chips)
Seat 8: myheim (36126 in chips)
Seat 9: YaOrNo (31660 in chips)
Struggling or what?
I build to 18.5k and pick up QQ in the sb at Level XII (500/1000 RA 100). I posted this hand in the BBV thread. Its folded to the button (playing 15k) who flat calls. I make it 4000, bb gets out of the way and the button shoves. I put him on a med pp and call. I nearly smashed my computer when he turns over AA until I saw a Q on the flop. No matter how hard I looked I didnt see the expected A on the Turn or the River and suddenly I'm really motoring now with 30+bbs and getting deep.
The very next hand I pick up JJ OTB and call a shorties 8k shove. Her AQ out flops me and I'm back to average. The elation of the previous hand is very quickly over.
I've 27k at Level XIII (600/1200 RA 125) and am dealt Q9 in the sb. Its folded to me, I complete and BB (playing 16k) checks his option. Flop is 9 high, and I bet pot, he raises to 6400, I shove he folds. This is an important hand because I have really set up my image nicely now.
The tourney is real deep now. The players left are all good but the money sucks till deep into the FT. Its hard to win pots. I've kept my stack at Level XV (1000/2000 RA 200) playing 30k and pick up AKo UTG. Funny, I like this hand UTG and hate AQ in the same spot! I make it 4750 to go (being the amount of the table avg raise) and UTG + 1 makes it 8k. I hate my life, he has 70k. I dont want to lose a tourney on a drawing hand so I decide shoving is no good. I figure I can call (which i hate oop) and get away if I miss, but if I hit I might double through. Folding is sooooo weak and will destroy my image. So I flat call and the flop comes 478, I chicken check, he fires 8k and I let go. Im down to 10bbs but figure I can double up once or twice and still be in the game. The blinds cost me 4.5k after I take peeks at flops and now in danger territory.
After some short-stack ninja poker I get it back up to 30k by Level XVI (1500/3000 RA 300) and pick up AQo in the sb. A guy playing 29k shoves. Like me his range is wide here so I figure I'm ahead a lot and only racing sometimes. I shove .... BB folds, he has .... K7 sooted. Yippee, I hold and now we've 20+bbs which is average. Here are the chip counts...
Seat 1: 3Osomething (66993 in chips)
Seat 2: KhunObi2007 (82453 in chips)
Seat 3: radfrobot (103519 in chips)
Seat 4: MagicalJoker (23721 in chips)
Seat 5: OmahaGrl (62523 in chips)
Seat 6: PAPYPOKER (33787 in chips)
Seat 7: Horst Heftig (47596 in chips)
Seat 8: myheim (47237 in chips)
Level XVII (2000/4000 RA 400) I'm playing 70k with AJo OTB. Short stack that i lost to before shoves for 16k and I snap call. My hand holds v AT and now we are in business again. With the blinds and antes that takes the stack to 95k.
The game is tightening now as we are down to 3 tables. I see from reviewing PT that I pick up 26k with trash in my blinds with Q6 and Q8 (Level XVIII (2500/5000 RA 500)), all pots are good.
I get QT sooted in spades (one of my fav hands) playing 93k at this level in my BB. Its folded to SB (120k) who completes. I should raise here but decided to take a free(ish) flop which is a monster possibility action-jackson AJQ where A and J are spades. Middle pair, nut straight draw, nut flush draw and the ultimate "absolutes" draw. I think I felt a twinge in my trousers! I can't put the SB on any of this so am thrilled to call his 5k bet. The turn is an innoculous 6d and, still in love with the possibilities, call his 12.5k. The river brick is the 7h and for some unknown reason I call his 22k value bet on the river to see his A7. My stack has just been halved in the cruelest way, show me the door you Ba$tard Poker God$. Typical I thought, bring me to the edge of ecstacy and kick me in the nads. I tilt away another few precious chips over the next few hands desperately trying to get back into the game.
We are 3 tabling now. Here's how it looks at Level XIX (3000/6000 RA 600) ...
Seat 1: FlapJack1210 (172467 in chips)
Seat 3: ganjeannot (100777 in chips)
Seat 4: nicole1818 (170004 in chips)
Seat 5: MaAKAKrc (110936 in chips)
Seat 7: LuckyRS7 (224082 in chips)
Seat 8: Luong007 (165111 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (30862 in chips)
Boy do I feel out of place with 5 BBs.
I shove AQ and pick up 12k. I shove AQ very next hand and pick up 12k. A8 in my SB, shove, pick up 10k. Somehow I'm still alive with 42k at the Level XX (3500/7000 RA 700) when I treble up with QQ (also posted in BBV). Its now 3am and I've 140k! I posted the TT hand aswell, up to 170k at Level XXI (4000/8000 RA 800). Then i find myself with AK v AQ for the CL but the board reads KQTJrag for a chop.
Two hands (also posted) eliminated the guy I chopped the last with, first my AK out flops his 66 for 300k then I finish him off with AT v his shoved K3. That brought us to the FT bubble at 4.00am. I can't remember it bursting cause I was jumping up and down a lot! When the FT formed it looked a bit like this when I played my first major pot ...
Level XXIII (6000/12000 RA 1200) Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Mountino (438658 in chips)
Seat 2: myheim (179880 in chips)
Seat 3: GREMLIN4003 (304371 in chips)
Seat 4: nicole1818 (174677 in chips)
Seat 5: kewlan (289632 in chips)
Seat 6: th1275 (281098 in chips)
Seat 7: LuckyRS7 (476226 in chips)
Seat 8: DubMe2 (405424 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (408034 in chips)
I pick up QQ utg and make it 36k for cards, Kewlan calls. Flop comes 292, I check, he bets 36k, I shove, he folds. CL again.
Level XXIV (8000/16000 RA 1600) I loose a hundred thousand (count em) chips when I raise AJo UTG (lol and I fold AQ!) to 34k, th1275 calls and we see a flop of 752. I check call his 32k, check call his 32k on a T turn, we both check a 6 river and his A7 outs me!
Myself and th1275 then check down 3d 3c 5s 2d 8d after Mountino put all his chips in (having lost a race and was down to 42k) . My 99 was good and I got my 100k back.
A key hand then happens at Level XXVI (15000/30000 RA 3000). I get KK 6 handed. Everyone left is and has been busy. CL has 700k, smallest has 200k, I've 500k, rest 400k+. I make it 66k to go, gremlin playing 450k shoves and I snap. My KK takes down a 900k pot v his 99. 5 left.
A deal is already being discussed at (20000/40000 RA 4000) when I pick up a7. Ive 930k, next has 650k, next 580k then 460k and 320k. I will admit I've been a bully and open to 89k. Kewlan with 580k calls and we see T67. I lead for 140k and he tanks and shoves after using his time-bank. My turn to tank, I think and think and smell a stink. Call with middle pair. He shows KT DAMMIT. Turn ... A... river brick. OMG! I might win some decent money. It finally sinks in. 4 handed and Ive 1.6m. Next has 650k.
Now i decided to turn the heat up. Bad move! I lose 500k in 3 hands. Lol, easy come easy go.
So we do a deal. Its a good deal for me. I lock up 2nd place money ($6.6k - first was just short of $9k) and we play on for another $1k. I proceed to throw away my chips doubling up a shortie when my Q7 sooted was no match for his AQ. Then my exit hand ...
Level XXVIII (25000/50000 RA 5000) Seat #8 is the button
Seat 2: myheim (1658840 in chips)
Seat 7: LuckyRS7 (102496 in chips)
Seat 8: DubMe2 (670644 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (526020 in chips)
myheim: posts the ante 5000
LuckyRS7: posts the ante 5000
DubMe2: posts the ante 5000
3Osomething: posts the ante 5000
3Osomething: posts small blind 25000
myheim: posts big blind 50000
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to 3Osomething [As Ac]
LuckyRS7: raises 47496 to 97496 and is all-in
DubMe2: folds
3Osomething: raises 47496 to 144992
myheim: calls 94992
*** FLOP *** [4d 2d Kc]
3Osomething: bets 376028 and is all-in
myheim: calls 376028
*** TURN *** [4d 2d Kc] [Kd]
LuckyRS7 said, "gg ty &gl"
*** RIVER *** [4d 2d Kc Kd] [7s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***3Osomething: shows [As Ac] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
myheim: shows [Ks Qc] (three of a kind, Kings)
myheim collected 847048 from side pot
LuckyRS7: shows [9s 6s] (a pair of Kings)
DubMe2 said, "gg"
myheim collected 312488 from main pot
So, the ole bullets busted me. The irony is sweet though as it happened quite shortly after the deal.
It was 6.00am. 8 hours of the best poker (in terms of results). I actually played quite well by my standards, picking spots well to survive etc. But there is no doubt about it folks, those two treble-ups along the way (22 and QQ) and busting the AA with QQ just shows how lucky you have to be in a tourney to make it. Variance, on my side for once!
Level XXVIII (25000/50000 RA 5000) Seat #8 is the button
Seat 2: myheim (1658840 in chips)
Seat 7: LuckyRS7 (102496 in chips)
Seat 8: DubMe2 (670644 in chips)
Seat 9: 3Osomething (526020 in chips)
myheim: posts the ante 5000
LuckyRS7: posts the ante 5000
DubMe2: posts the ante 5000
3Osomething: posts the ante 5000
3Osomething: posts small blind 25000
myheim: posts big blind 50000
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to 3Osomething [As Ac]
LuckyRS7: raises 47496 to 97496 and is all-in
DubMe2: folds
3Osomething: raises 47496 to 144992
myheim: calls 94992
*** FLOP *** [4d 2d Kc]
3Osomething: bets 376028 and is all-in
myheim: calls 376028
*** TURN *** [4d 2d Kc] [Kd]
LuckyRS7 said, "gg ty &gl"
*** RIVER *** [4d 2d Kc Kd] [7s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***3Osomething: shows [As Ac] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
myheim: shows [Ks Qc] (three of a kind, Kings)
myheim collected 847048 from side pot
LuckyRS7: shows [9s 6s] (a pair of Kings)
DubMe2 said, "gg"
myheim collected 312488 from main pot
So, the ole bullets busted me. The irony is sweet though as it happened quite shortly after the deal.
It was 6.00am. 8 hours of the best poker (in terms of results). I actually played quite well by my standards, picking spots well to survive etc. But there is no doubt about it folks, those two treble-ups along the way (22 and QQ) and busting the AA with QQ just shows how lucky you have to be in a tourney to make it. Variance, on my side for once!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Leaking Bad
Saturday's $55 didn't go too well and I was 2400 odd in the Sunday Mill. Not good on the bigger BI events. Have decided to stop playing mid week for the moment. Low ebb atm.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Lazin' on a Saturday Afternoon
Played a bit of cash on iPoker. Lost 3 BI's on Omaha where I like to try and spin from short (buy in $20 and sit at a .25/.5). Bad start down $60.
Played some .25/.5 HENL and made $80. Also got $10 RB.
Played 1 PS $11.00 27 player SNG. Pays 5.
There's 1 massive CL. I was 9th at FT, stole blinds twice and was 2nd. Shortly after got AQ AIPF against the CL's AT. Here's the hand...
PokerStars Game #18936805109: Tournament #96609709, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2008/07/19 - 12:36:45 (ET)Table '96609709 3' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: PvHilten (3113 in chips)
Seat 2: 3Osomething (2715 in chips)
Seat 3: nemesis1814 (845 in chips)
Seat 4: Gerrard48LFC (2365 in chips)
Seat 5: RIICKERD (19200 in chips)
Seat 6: ladykilla85 (3677 in chips)
Seat 7: TerrY1954 (3305 in chips)
Seat 8: herta39 (5280 in chips)
PvHilten: posts the ante 25
3Osomething: posts the ante 25
nemesis1814: posts the ante 25
Gerrard48LFC: posts the ante 25
RIICKERD: posts the ante 25
ladykilla85: posts the ante 25
TerrY1954: posts the ante 25
herta39: posts the ante 25
nemesis1814: posts small blind 200
Gerrard48LFC: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to 3Osomething [As Qc]
RIICKERD: raises 400 to 800
ladykilla85: folds
TerrY1954: folds
herta39: folds
PvHilten: folds
3Osomething: raises 1890 to 2690 and is all-in
nemesis1814: folds
Gerrard48LFC: folds
RIICKERD: calls 1890
*** FLOP *** [9h Th Tc]*** TURN *** [9h Th Tc] [8d]
ladykilla85 said, "lol"
*** RIVER *** [9h Th Tc 8d] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RIICKERD: shows [Td Ah] (a full house, Tens full of Nines)
3Osomething: shows [As Qc] (two pair, Tens and Nines)
RIICKERD collected 6180 from pot
ladykilla85 said, "yea he's hot btw"
ladykilla85 said, "lol
I'm searching for some hands where I get that lucky.
Played some .25/.5 HENL and made $80. Also got $10 RB.
Played 1 PS $11.00 27 player SNG. Pays 5.
There's 1 massive CL. I was 9th at FT, stole blinds twice and was 2nd. Shortly after got AQ AIPF against the CL's AT. Here's the hand...
PokerStars Game #18936805109: Tournament #96609709, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2008/07/19 - 12:36:45 (ET)Table '96609709 3' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: PvHilten (3113 in chips)
Seat 2: 3Osomething (2715 in chips)
Seat 3: nemesis1814 (845 in chips)
Seat 4: Gerrard48LFC (2365 in chips)
Seat 5: RIICKERD (19200 in chips)
Seat 6: ladykilla85 (3677 in chips)
Seat 7: TerrY1954 (3305 in chips)
Seat 8: herta39 (5280 in chips)
PvHilten: posts the ante 25
3Osomething: posts the ante 25
nemesis1814: posts the ante 25
Gerrard48LFC: posts the ante 25
RIICKERD: posts the ante 25
ladykilla85: posts the ante 25
TerrY1954: posts the ante 25
herta39: posts the ante 25
nemesis1814: posts small blind 200
Gerrard48LFC: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to 3Osomething [As Qc]
RIICKERD: raises 400 to 800
ladykilla85: folds
TerrY1954: folds
herta39: folds
PvHilten: folds
3Osomething: raises 1890 to 2690 and is all-in
nemesis1814: folds
Gerrard48LFC: folds
RIICKERD: calls 1890
*** FLOP *** [9h Th Tc]*** TURN *** [9h Th Tc] [8d]
ladykilla85 said, "lol"
*** RIVER *** [9h Th Tc 8d] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RIICKERD: shows [Td Ah] (a full house, Tens full of Nines)
3Osomething: shows [As Qc] (two pair, Tens and Nines)
RIICKERD collected 6180 from pot
ladykilla85 said, "yea he's hot btw"
ladykilla85 said, "lol
I'm searching for some hands where I get that lucky.
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