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…..
