WPT - Event 2 - 6 Max thoughts, the day after ...

Heads up, went to a duel between Diana and Greg.

I played with Diana a lot, and when I was knocked out, she had about 650k, compared to Gregs 400k .. but, would think the heads-up must have been fun.

Diana finally won, when her pocket 10's, beat Gregs pocket 5's .. congrats to both.


The event taught me a lot .. especially abut final stages .. and if u could have your time over, etc, I would have done quite a few things differently.

Really pleased, that I hung in for the money .. played much tighter, from out of position, and was only really willing to throw chips in, with strong suited connectors (above 7), and solid pairs.

I didn't make many chips, once again, from Aces or Kings .. and probably even lost chips, with Kings.

When u have your monsters, u need opponents to also have v strong hands .. Diana picked up 400k in 2 pots, with Aces v Queens in 2 pots, and that can be the difference.

I peaked at about 345k chips, but, moving to the 'Table of Death' , really ended my chance to win the thing .. especially once I 3 bet, Leo Margets, with pocket 4's, and she shoved on me. I lost 60k, in that encounter, and tossed away another 100k, with a 10 high flush, when she re-shipped on me - maybe I should have called .. but, probably, think not.

U can always look back, and think things could have gone differently .. but, 6th was v fair ..

The play from the overseas professionals, is at a different level, to most of the locals .. but, the deep chip stacks, maybe makes them play differently, which they have more experience of ..

I wish the local tournys, were not as 'fast', at the end stages.

WPT - Event 2 - $1000 6-Max NLHE - Day 2

Day 2, reconvened at the Emperors casino, Johannesburg, at 1.30pm.

24 players left, and I am lying in 12th place, with an above average stack.

After making a Day 2, at Emerald casino, 6 mths ago .. 20th overnite, of 55 or so, with 30 making the money, and lasting 20 mins, when my pocket 10's crashed and burned against Aces, was determined, to A) last longer than 20 mins, and B) Make the money.

We all got new table draws, and I had a fair one, with 2 short stacks, I think I can bully.

Early on, I completed in the big blind, with 10♦, 9♠, and saw a flop with one other person.

A♠,10♠, 6♣. As the pot was unraised, figured my 10 was good .. and bet, which was called.

Turn was 9♥, giving me 2 pair, which definately seemed good, but, my opponent called.

River was 10♣ .. giving me a boat, and was able to get another street of value. Big pot, which moved my stack over 190k.

A few hands later, I get almost the same hand -  9♣, 10♣, and get to see a cheap flop.

This time, its J♣, 7♣, 2♠ .. it gets checked, and the turn is the 7♠ .. I check raise, and the other player calls .. which isnt so good .. but, hit the 8♦ on the river, for a well hidden straight, and get another 40k.

Players at the table are getting a big short-stacked, and a 85k stack, shoves his 7♦,7♠, and I call with A♠,J♠.

The flop comes :

8♠,9♠, 9♦, meaning I have the flush draw, and overcards .. turn is 8♣, which counterfeits his 7's and the K♦ on the river, is no help to him, so I win with Ace high.

My stack is now 220 k .. 19 left, and am feeling invincible.

Soon lose 15k in chips, and cut-back on opening range .. which might have cost me, as sucessive pots would have been won, with 4/5 offsuit, and A 3 spades, which I chose not to play.

Lost a 75k pot . somehow .. dont remember .. it got too hard to record it all ..so, am on 122k, with 18 left, when I pick up pocket Kings, for the 3rd time, in the tourny.

Won a small pot, with them, and move back above 150k, with 18 left (in the money, and we have re-drawn for seats).

I stilll havent played with Leo Margets (Poker Stars pro - or Greg Ronaldson), which was a good thing, as they both outclass me ..

On my new table, there is a Canadian .. and I manage to put him on tilt, when he starts attacking my blinds. I re-raise .. he re-raises, so I shove .. with

J♣, 3♥ .. not the best, but, he folds to the pressure, and I show the bluff.

2 hands later, I pick up 10♠,10♦, and a 10♥ on the river, causes him to give me 45k, and some deep breaths. (thou I think 10,s were in front, without the last card).

This run of cards continues .. I get 6♣,7♣ .. hit a flush on the flop, and push my stack over 325k.

As we lost players, our table broke .. 12 left, and I get the worlds worst new table :

Leo Margets/Greg Ronaldson/Jennifer leigh/another female pro .. and me.

I need a lotta help .. and literally gave away 150k in chips, before I adjusted.

Made some all-ins moves, and didnt totally panic, and soon, Greg dents Jennifer, and as short stack, she goes out shortly after. The other lady pro, got severely dented, in another 300k pot with Greg, and .. she was soon, also out .. making a final 7 .. and the final table !!

Some good prize money, and I am 2nd short stack.

The blond lady, (Dianna), is the lady I gave 35k chips to, on Day 1, with pocket Qs, beaten by her pocket Aces, and .. almost 3rd hand of the final table, she gets Aces again, and her all-in of 300k, is called .. by pocket Queens !!

She holds up, and the guy is left, with 15k, which althou he doubles, isnt enough, as the blinds are so aggresive, and he soon gets eliminated.

6 left, and I decide to try and wait for one more elimation, before getting hyper-aggresive.

As it happens, I picked up A♠,Q♦, UTG, so, just trying to not get eaten away myself (BB is 10k, I have 165k), I shove .. and get called by Gregs A♣,K♦ .. and go out.

No complaints .. was more than fair ..and picked up $6000.


Over the 2 days, I saw pocket Aces twice, pocket Kings 4 times, Queens once, and Jacks .. maybe twice.

I feel I had some run, but, also, but some pressure on, at both good and bad times .. in hindsight, the J/3 bluff was excessive .. to have gone out, in 18th or so, would have been devastating.

The pros, are v controlled, and once they have a stack, can make calculated moves, without endangering their tournament life. Its good to watch and learn.

I was a bit tired after day 1, but, day 2 was better .. but, cant justify entering the main event.

I may play, one more event, on Saturday.


///


As I write this .. 3 left .. no surprises .. Dianna/Leo/Greg .. all would be worthy champions.

Many thanks to all the WPT staff .. who made the event run so smoothly .. it was a lot of fun, and great experience.

WPT - Event 1 - $200 NL Holdem, with re-buys and add-on

3rd fucking time I am trying to write this .. and am not happy.

Ipad has eaten 2 attempts, if this one dies .. then .. fuck it.

Day 1 started at 7pm, which is pretty odd, for a 7 hrs ship fest, as starting stacks of 20k, for $200, when u can re-buy and get 10k chips, for $50, for all of Day 1, or double re-buy for $100/20k, and get a top-up at the end of the night, for $50, another 20k chips.

The 1st 4 hrs, was senseless, and was so bored, often raised with 9♠, 4♦, and showed multiple bluffs.

Table didn't really care .. only the guy to my left, could actually play .. rest were defensive / limping nits, who wont gamble, and wouldn't put chips in play.

For all that, finished the nite on 87k chips, .. and got to bed at 3am .. had to be on the golf course .. at 7am .. so got 3 hrs sleep .. played v decently .. shot 46 on the back 9, and got 3 more hrs sleep, before Day 2 started, at 3pm.

320 entries, 220k highest stack. Now a freeze out.

Early on, was able to add 65k to my stack, with A♦, A♣, on a board of 2♠,2♦,Q♥, when one guy was all in pre-flop, and another gave me 3 streets of value, with presumably A Q.

So, got to 135 k .. and that was pretty much that.

Then got into 3 'races'

1st race .. K♥, 9♥, for a 90k pot, aganst Q♦,J♣, - pre-flop .. and board comes : Q♥, 10♥, 7♣.

I was/am such a big fav, its unfunny, but his pair held up.

2nd race .. A♦, K♠, against A♥, 10♦, pre-flop for 75k chips .. he made trip 10s.

3rd race .. Q♠, J♠, against 4♣, 4♦ on a board of J♦, Q♦, 8♣, and he makes a fucking flush.

Unbelievably sick, played v well, but didn't get any bounces.


Preparing for the $1k 6 max tomorrow ..

The pain of a poker player

Ok, so, it's a heading full of fore boding .. But, there are some highlights.

This week, the satellites for the WPT poker events are running, for the main events next week.

I am thinking about entering the main event .. But, it's $3500 to enter, and, really, it's too much. Satellites, are $100 to enter, and I tried my hand for the 1st time on Monday nite .. But, generally played poorly, and finally went out, beaten by flush over flush, which came on the river.

My Tuesday started, with a game of golf at Observatory .. A really tough course, which u have to play well, to have even a decent score. I was playing ok .. But, no consistency, when, I came to the 4 th hole. It's a par 3, uphill into the wind, (and creek, just before the green) and, as the course was being prepared for a Tourny later that day, the tee was right at the back .. Making it 178 yards.

I topped, my drive !! .. And hit it 16 yards, just past the ladies tee. Not good, but, took my 5 iron, and absolutely nailed a career best .. 4 foot past the hole !! .. Missed the putt .. Then, 2 holes later, is a v demanding, genuine par 5, which requires a straight drive, or you put your ball in the road, a solid second, and - 3rd 130 over water into the green.

I hit 2 good opening shots, and nailed an 8 iron, which looked phenomenal in the air, to 6 feet, for the 3rd .. Again missed the putt .. But, really enjoyed those 2 shots.

Still took 51 for the 9 holes .. But, some progress.

Back to the poker ..

Tuesday, I tried again, and there were 81 entrants .. So, there were 2 places in the main event up for grabs, plus a smaller cash prize for 3rd.

Nothing really fancy happened early on, but managed to get a workable stack, with some solid cards. After an hour, re-buys stopped, and some loose plays from the fish .. And some really poor play in places, got me to the final table .. 10 players, with 20 Big Blinds .. 40k chips .. Chip leader has 140k .. But, almost 1st hand, I get

A ♠ K ♠, and all in with a short stack, and a medium stack, I get a flush on the turn, and have a v nice stack.

An ex-jockey, I know, is on my left, and gets crippled, when his A Q, gets run down, by A J , when the other guy, hits a J on the river, for a really cruel blow.

He is left with 1k chip, but, amazingly, doubles up, 5 times In a row .. It shows it can be done.

There are 2 really loose players at the table, 2 absolute nits .. So, I try and pick my spots, when, a loose foreigner .. Raises again from early position.

He has 90 k stack, and I look at A♣ J ♣ , from the big blind. The blinds were 5000/10000, and his raise of 24k, is what he has raised previously, with middle pairs.

He has folded middle pairs .. In the past .. To shoves .. So, I have a dilemma.

Do I shove, and try and chip up .. Or call, see a flop etc .. Or just fold, and wait to pick on another smaller stack ?

I am going for the seat .. And think, a double up, would make me 90% for a seat, so .. Decide to shove.

He calls, with K J offsuit .. Which is just horrible .. I am 75 % fav, but, he hits a straight on the flop, and am crippled - both chip wise, and mentally.

I went out, shortly after .. And it's crushing .. To be so close .. And get beat, when such a good fav .. But, that's poker ..

Will try again, on Thursday .. but, feel this was my shot. Won't pay the $3500 to enter, but, will play the $200 smaller event. The $6500 event satellites, have had no interest, so, expect the High Roller event will have a v small field. U can see how top pros, can pick up bracelets, when, there are only 100 or so players .. If u enter enough, eventually, by sheer chance, u almost have to win.

When u  play a lot of tourneys, u see, a lot of the time, u are folding, just crap .. And waiting for good pairs/sited connectors, in late position, with which u either try and see a cheapest flop, or try and jam.

U don't especially need fancy bluffs .. They tend to matter more, on the final table - it's just about, what cards u get, in what position, and if anyone has a hand against u.

Pokers Ups and Downs

Presently writing this, whilst plating the early stages of  $55 of an online, Multi-Table-Tournament (MTT), with currently 3500 entries. Sitting in 325th place .. but, theres a long way to go.

Early stages can be v slow .. u only should be playing premium hands, medium suited connectors in late position .. so have some time to write.

In the lead-up to the WSOP satellite next week, have been playing a fair amount, and have, by and large, been crushed, by some v odd calls.

An example :

$40 re-buy tourney, 3 hrs in :

Have 45000 chips .. about 37 Big Blinds.

Its 600/1200 blinds, with 200 antes .. so, 4400 in the pot, and find A♦, J♠ in the big blind.

I re-raise, 5000, and, just the small blind calls .. a good player, who ..has a 21k stack. Now, calling .. is a bit odd .. I would have expected a shove .. so, am on my guard.

Flop comes : A♥, Q♣, 3♦

I think I'm ahead, but, he can have AQ, but, more likely, put him on pocket 10's, J's etc.

I check .. as, am not sure what I would do, if he raises, and turn is 5♦.

Basically, its a blank, and, wanting a small pot, I check, and he also checks.

River is another blank .. 6♠ .. making the board, A♥, Q♣, 3♦, 5♦, 6♠   he checks, I bet 6k, into the 14400 pot, and he shoves all-in.

I was really surprised by this, and .. figuring to beat a pocket pair .. call .. and he flips :

2♦, 4♥   for a straight.

Now, of all the cards, he could turn, that's just about the most unreal .. thou, I suppose, if u go back thru the hand .. pre-flop .. 2, 4 is 33% against A,J .. ok, hes dead against a pocket pair .. but, maybe he had odds to call, and the check on the flop, allowed him to get there.

I am not sure, I played it that badly .. ok, a c-bet, of 6k or so, would have killed it .. but, am not sure I would have called a shove, at that stage .. anyway .. a severe dent to my stack - and has me talking to myself, for quite a while.

A bit later on, I have 35k in chips, when, in late position, I pick up Q♠, 9♠, and raise.

Blinds are 800/1600 with 200 antes, so, raise 4k. Its called, by 2 players, and comes :

9♦, J♠, 4♠

Now, I have flush re-draw, and a pair of 9's. Just about the world. I c-bet, a bloated pot, 7k, and both guys ship, .. so its a monster pot.

One flips A♦, K♦, another shows A♠, 4♣ ?? .. anyway, I am ahead, but, turn comes A♦, and didn't find a spade on the river.

These are the pots, I play aggressively, to accumulate chips, but, am not winning right now.

The absolute doozy, of the weekend, was this gem :

$300 to enter, and I have an absolute loony to my left .. which is fine, who plays any 2.

There are only 34 players, starting stack, 10k chips, in the early stages .. I am trying to only play quality stuff, as there are a few decent faces at the table, when I pick up, 10♦, 8♦, in the big blind. 

I raise, small .. blinds are just 50/100, .. we have 100 BB, to 350.

The loony calls, and the flop, is 9♦, 7♦, 4♣.

So, have the world again .. straight flush draws. I bet 600, into a pot of 1050, and just the loony calls.

The turn, is 5♠, and I bet 1400, into 2250, and he ships !!  I have to call, and he turns : 7♠, 2♣

So, he has a pair of 7's .. I mean, come on !! 

I have the following cards to hit, to beat him : Any 10, any 8, any J, any 6, and any club. Thats .. count them, 3 x 10's, 3 x 8's, 3 x J's, 3 x 6's, and 6 clubs .. 18 cards  .. let alone, how the fuck he knows, I cant beat, a pair of fucking 7's ..

Anyway, I miss, and its not right.

Week-end Poker

Am playing more and more, in the lead-up to the WPT - World Poker Tour events, coming here from Nov 4-11.

As have only played at the Emperors Casino, a long time ago, decided to play the Saturday comp, which, is a 2 hr re-buy, shuv fest, followed by some serious poker.

The 1st 2 hrs, u should read a a book, as the blinds are low, and u can top-up, with 12k chips, for the same money as the initial buy-in, for which u get 6k chips.

Anyway .. after 3 hrs, there are 40 left, with a $10k prize pool.

The format has antes, which I like, as it encourages aggressive play, and was doing ok, - chip leader on my table, when I picked up

J♥ Q♥ in the big blind. I had 55k chips, blinds 200/400, 200 ante.

I raised 2 limpers, to 2200, and got one caller.

The flop came : 5♥, 5♦, J♠ and I checked.

He checked, and the turn came Q♠.

I put the a bet - about 3600 to see whats happening, and he flats. Now, he either has A,J, which I crush, maybe A,Q, or a random 5.

The River, was a 2♠, total blank, so, figure I'm prob ahead, and want to get paid off, by 2nd best hands, bet 6500. He calls, and shows A♠, 5♣ .. so, lose about 15k chips, and went steadily downhill from there.

The place was unbelievably noisy .. the Poker 'Room', is bang in the middle, of a v large casino, with an Elvis tribute band, singing literally 20 yards away :

Headphones, are a must, for next time.


Anyway, finally went out, in 30th place or so .. and would play again . its pretty much the same mix of regs, but, a few new faces, and .. with the structure, I like my chances.


On Sunday, I played in the $150, normal comp .. 40 players, and its amazing how hands repeat.

With an average stack .. I pick up : 5♠, 5♦, and raise, from mid-position, called, by a tight/weak, lady, in the Big Blind. We both had similar stacks.

The flop is : 5♣, 5♥, 4♣ .. and its hard not to shout out .. YAHTZEE !!

Its only the 2nd time, I have flopped quads, in about  6 mths, and manage to get all the money-in, by check calling her small bets, and letting her make a flush, which I .. naturally crush.

A while later, I had pocket Q♣,Q♠, downed, in a 3 way all-in pre-flop, by Pocket 8♦,8♠, and Pocket 10♦,10♣ .. but, still managed to survive.

I get to the final table .. with about 6 regs, and 3 unknowns. I play a very loose aggressive game, at this stage, and show bluffs, and everyone knows, I can have, almost anything.

Down to 5 players .. 5th gets $300, but 1st gets $3000, I am in 2nd place, when get pocket Aces under the gun !!

Blinds at the time, were 3000/6000 .. I have a 75k stack, and raise to 18k.

This is the normal raise, and its one, I put-in with, suited connectors/total air, or strong starting hands.

Its folded to the Big Button, the chip leader, who has 95k chips, and he calls.

The flop comes, 5♣, J♠, Q♦, and I bet 30k .. too much really .. looking back, I would have preferred 20k, and the chip leader, calls, all-in.

The 30k I have in, commits me, and I call, and he flops over, pocket 5♦, 5♥ .. and I find no miracles, to down his set.

I feel, a little unlucky, but, could have go away, if my bet on the flop, was less .. so, its a mistake.

Anyway, am playing well ..

WSOP - 2013

Have been wasting huge swathes of time, watching both the live feeds, and on-demand output, from the 60 odd bracelet events, in this years competitions.

ESPN hold the rights, and the coverage is v good, with only some moans, arising from occasional sound/picture loss, and a few events, missing key parts.

The coverage is mainly final table,and shows hand-by-hand,for between 5-8 hrs,depending how the events take.

The final table money ladders, are often v considerable, ranging from say $50k, in 9th place, to $300k in 4th, and $750k to the winner, so, bad beats etc, are v costly.

As the pay jumps are so big, ICM, (independent chip model), has great usage, as players have to be v aware, of playing marginal hands, or even strong hands, where variance can be either extremely costly or rewarding.

It's notable, a lot of the tables are mainly male, normally, young males, who have all paid between $1k and $111k, to pay each event. The $111k event, - the "One Drop", supports a water charity, and 11k per entry, is donated.

Field size has been v good, and this years $10k main event, had 6500 entries .. That's a big prize pool, with the top 10% getting paid.

On-line poker has just about begun in New Jersey, and Las Vegas is not far behind. The sites are rushing to finish the products, and its a question, of whether u want to be first to market, or have the best product. I hope the products are good - for now, only state-wide is legal, so, someone in Texas can't play with someone in Vegas, but, hopefully, things will change a the federal level, fairly soon.

Posted with Blogsy

Barny Boatman - WSOP bracelet

So, at 58, Barny finally wins a much coveted WSOP bracelet, in the $1500 No-limit Hold-em event, winning some $500k in the process.

I couldn't be happier for him .. hes a trier, who has consistently railed Brits, and often been the first to congratulate others.

There was a boisterous rail, uniquely British, with the humorous chanting, and the 3 hour-heads up phase, will make great viewing.

I am watching a lot of the stuff, via the Espn.com/poker on demand application, which, allows access for £3 a week. Have watched many hours of the stuff, and the commentary has fantastic insight.

If you listen to Barnys interviews afterwards, you see, just how classy he is .. congratulating his opponent, etc .. a top guy.

Poker losing Market Share/Popularity

An excellent piece, by The Age :

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/las-vegas-casinos-fold-on-poker-rooms-as-popularity-wanes-20130301-2faib.html

Basically, 8 poker rooms hav closed in Vegas, in the last 2 yrs.

Its not the 'Must Have' for a casino, that it once was.

WSOP Event 4 - $580

Ok, so it's now Saturday, and have spent most of the week, re-thinking the hand I busted out of Event 1.

I suppose, most players agonise over The Hand - that busts you, but, this has been worse, as really, I should have cashed .. Lying in 20th place, of 43, with top 30 paid.

I made a lot of mistakes .. I should have really targeted the small stacks .. Especially to my left, but, couldn't wait to get tangled with the bigger ones.

Anyway ...

30 mins till the next event .. I didn't play in the main event - $3300 is too much for my bankroll/game .. Thou, a lot of people I play with at Montecasnio are playing .. And I particularly wish Warren Zackey (who had a deep run, in the WSOP man event), well.

Will try and update the blog as the day goes, but, may be busy etc.

.............

Totally card dead ,. And its fucking enough !!

2 hrs, one pair 7,s, one AK.

Down to 5500 at the break.

 

Cards required ...

 

Guy on my immediate right, has 375 left .. Blinds 100/200, and he has shoved, pre-flop, blind.

I have 4700 left .. And pick up A Q off-suit - mid-position.

Plenty good enough to raise-all in .. But, not thinking, I just throw in a 1k chip, And it's just a call .. Not even a raise ... Fuck !!

3 players priced in to call ..

Flop A 4 3 rainbow ..

I now shove .. And get called by A 4 .... Obviously played the hand like a right twat, and the remaining cards didn't help. Out early .. But, not focused, and got what I deserve.

Long drive home ....

 

 

Will have some thinking to do .. But other players also had their share of beats .. One guy, in 3 different tourneys, hits a set on the flop, shoves, and is called every time, by a flush draw. In all three, the villain makes the flush, and he's walking/talking to himself.

Poker can be a sick game.

Posted with Blogsy

WSOP Africa - Satelite to the main event

Drove back to the casino, and I suppose its normal, for most poker players, to be "talking to yourself", thinking about the hand that knocked me out of the 1st event.

There have been some comments, but, I am starting to think, the best line, may have been, just to fold.

I was in the small blind, and will be out of position, for the remainder of the hand. OK, so, the re-raise will probably mean, there isn't too much more input to the hand .. Either he folds or shoves ..but, it was possible, the limper, might have slow-played pocket J/Q.

Anyway, trying to put it out of my mind.

Played in the Mega Satelite, but, it had a v fast structure, and only 4000 starting chips. I didn't play that we'll, and in all honesty, was lucky to get the stack to 11k, before going completely card dead. I had Raymond Rahme on my immediate right, and my nemesis, Alon Argaman next to him. Alon got Pocket QQ, KK, AK, in 4 hands .. 2 against me, and I think he slow played them a bit, as I survived. (Alon cashed in the 1st Event).

I finally went out, with the blinds at 300/600, 75 Ante .. After maybe 2 hrs.

Went to watch the final table of the event I was knocked out of, sorta rooting for Jared Solomon, as I think he is a solid pro/good guy .. Thou would also love to see Michael Holden win it .. As he plays so patiently, and David Dadic, who's commentaries on the All Africa Poker I used to love ( thou he knocked me out of an event .. Maybe 4 yrs ago .. KK v QQ ) .. I don't suppose he remembers.

It's being streamed, and the quality is fair, but can't really hear much .. But my Internet is shit.

Its pissing down in Johannesburg, but, theres no cricket here ... so no one really cares.

.............................

Just seen Jarred Soloman (solotilt on twitter, take down the 1st event.

Really pleased for him .. watched some of his poker in Melbourne, and was lucky enough to win 30k, chips off him yesterday .. which he remembered, and said I gave him a few problems. Just shows hes a nice guy .. everyone knows, I havent gotta clue ...

Posted with Blogsy

WSOP Africa - Event 1

Ok, so after all the moaning, I entered a $300 buy-in, 2 day event.

It's the first WSOP event I have played in Africa, and it's a real joy to have the tournament directors from the USA, take control, and teach the locals - they can only learn, which is fair enough.

I played in Flight A, starting 11am local, and have just finished, an hour ago.

120 odd players played in Flight A, and thru 15 levels, we played down to 16 players. Average stack is 71k.

I got a bit lucky, early on ..

Starting stacks were 10k (I think - brain a bit frazzled), but levels/structure is great.

Nothing much happened early on .. Ripped up 4k, on some bluff, then got it back ..

I had a stack of about 8k, and was playing fairly tight, when this hand comes along :

Blinds of 75, 150, under the gun, makes it 300, called by 4 players, including me.

I have 8 ♦, 7 ♦, In late position .. Total stack, maybe 7k .. I flat call.

Flop comes : A♦, J ♦ , 4 ♣

The initial raiser, bets 750. This is called by the next guy, and I make it 2500.

A solid cash game player, who has seen me win hands, with 8 ♣, 2 ♣ and other junk, ships for 6500. Initial raiser, caller, fold.

I have a deep think, and call.

He turns over K ♦ , Q ♦ and I am in pretty bad shape.

Turn : 7 ♣ .. A few gasps

River : 7 ♠

Nice to get lucky, and have built the stack, to 60k .. One of the 16, from Flight A.

It's a thrill to be playing .. Grinder and Scotty are being very nice to everyone, and it's fun.

Will see how many get thru, from Flight B, hopefully, 25 or so. 1st place is $20k, down to $465 for 30th.

..................

Got not much sleep .. Mind buzzing etc, and was gonna drive home (1hr), but it wet, and roads are badly lit, so found a hotel ..

43 players in total, will play Day 2, and I am in 20th place, a mile away from the chip leader on 191k, but, with 30 BB or so ..

 Something to work with.

It's the morning after, when u reflect what your stack might have been, if you had done, this or that, but, I have v few regrets. Poker variance can be rough .. Especially when u are a loose player, who looks to be aggressive.

Definately, fun thou.
............
Day 2 .. got 60k, blinds now 1000, 2000 with 300 ante.

I steal 2nd hand of day, and get stack to 66k.

Seat 3, missed 1st 2 hands, but arrives, with 100k chips.

He raises next 3 hands in a row, and wins all hands, without showdown.

Next hand, in the small blind, I get 10 ♠, 10 ♦

Same guy, raises his normal figure .. 5500, a solid player, in mid-position, who only plays good hands, flat calls. Now 16k in pot. I bet 20500. Hoping for a squeeze, but really thinking the initial raiser can't have good cards again .. (I played 7 hours yesterday, and never saw a pair above 10's).

Anyway, initial raiser ships, and I am now in a really tough spot. I have only seen him play 4 hands. Maybe he's bluffing, but, I sorta put him on A K, A Q, type hands .. but can also have mid-pairs, or air.

I call .. He flips over A ♦, A ♥

No miracles on the flop, turn, river, and I am gone.

Deep sigh ..

Maybe I should fold .. V hard hand .. Comments welcome.

Posted with Blogsy