Well, it's hard to explain how to feel right now. I went out there not knowing exactly what to expect considering I play less poker than almost everybody else in that room.
The scene was a spectacle to say the least. With thousands of people walking around between the Main Event, the super satellites, the cash games, poker pros, celebrities and the Poker Expo, it was sight to behold.
The first hour or so of playing, I think my inexperience showed. I was nervous and tentative and questioning whether I even belonged in the same room as some of these guys. These players were more aggressive than any others I'd ever played against. Found out after a couple of hours that one of the guys at my table was Dr. Amir Nasseri from High Stakes Poker. Good aggressive and fearless player.
I lost a couple of pots early after playing hands and trying to get a feel from the table. We were playing 7 handed until an 8th player showed up at the end of Level 1. My confidence grew after one big hand.
Blinds are 50-100 and a player in early position raised preflop. There were a couple of callers including myself with KQ offsuit. Flop came out Kx8s9s. Original raiser makes a continuation bet and I decide to call with everyone else folding. Turn brings a blank and the original raiser fires out an even bigger bet. I go into the tank for a bit because I know I can't pin my hopes on top pair and a queen kicker but something did not smell right to me so I make the call. The river brings another blank. No flushes or straights on the board and the he fires out a bet of 8000, which I remember correctly was about 3/4 of the pot. Again I go in the tank. The only hand that worried me was AK, but the way he was betting, especially after the river, screamed busted draw to me. If I called and lost, I was down to 1000 in chips less than 2 hours in the tourney, which would have been an embarrassment to say the least. In the end, I trusted my read and made the call. He angrily mucked his cards and I took down the pot, mucking mine as well. I caught him later on a break and he told me he was on a flush and straight draw. Hands down, the sickest call I've ever made.
By doing this, I think it gained me some respect at the table in that I wouldn't be bullied, plus gave me confidence that I could play with these guys. Helped that it made me table chip leader after the 1st level.
If I had to do it over again, I probably should have tightened up once I got some chips, especially after getting up close to 40K after level 2. Playing QJ got me into trouble more than it helped me, and it seemed like I had that hand a lot. Again, something to take with me for the future. Gaining confidence was good, but I should have stuck with my style of play instead of loosening up.
I did hear a couple of comments from other players that were positive, including one from a frustrated player asking me to "give him something" because he couldn't get a read on me after a raise. Of course, he was the one who eventually knocked me out with the 4 outer.
My biggest fear was that I wouldn't represent well, but I feel like I did. When it was over, I realized I could play with these guys, some of whom were the best in the world. I outlasted the likes of Dan Harrington, Josh Arieh, Freddy Deeb, Gavin Smith and last year's runner-up, Tuan Lam.
I will warn everyone that once you get a taste of the WSOP, you'll want to go back. I've already set my sights on playing in next year's as well, so all you Dead Money players better start practicing because I will be looking to repeat and getting another shot at the Main Event.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
The dream is over
Frustrating ending to say the least. You get all your chips in with the best hand and you get rivered with a 4 outer.
I'm down to 10K in chips. Blinds are 200-400 with a 50 ante. I have pocket 10s in middle position and raise to 1200. Small blind calls.
Flop is Q-10-9 rainbow. Blind checks and I fire out 1500. After a pause he pushes all-in, has me covered, and I instacall with my set. He turns over KQ. I'm sure you know where this is going.
Turn is a blank and the river brings one of his 4 outs in the form of a Jack, giving him a straight and ending my tournament.
Definitely a disappointment after starting off so well, but in the end, I had all my money in with the best hand. Can't ask for much more.
Ill add my final thoughts when I get in front of a computer.
I'm down to 10K in chips. Blinds are 200-400 with a 50 ante. I have pocket 10s in middle position and raise to 1200. Small blind calls.
Flop is Q-10-9 rainbow. Blind checks and I fire out 1500. After a pause he pushes all-in, has me covered, and I instacall with my set. He turns over KQ. I'm sure you know where this is going.
Turn is a blank and the river brings one of his 4 outs in the form of a Jack, giving him a straight and ending my tournament.
Definitely a disappointment after starting off so well, but in the end, I had all my money in with the best hand. Can't ask for much more.
Ill add my final thoughts when I get in front of a computer.
Level 4 update
Took a huge hit. Down to 12,300 and it's all because of one hand.
KdQd in middle position with 2 big stack limpers in front so I limp. Flop is Kc8d3d. 2 limpers check and I bet 2/3 pot. Guy after me calls everyone else folds. Turn brings Qs giving me top 2 and 2nd nut flush draw. Figuring he's chasing I bet the pot and he calls. River brings 6d and I check. He bets enough for me to call and he turns over Ad2d for the nut flush.
Antes are starting to take their toll
KdQd in middle position with 2 big stack limpers in front so I limp. Flop is Kc8d3d. 2 limpers check and I bet 2/3 pot. Guy after me calls everyone else folds. Turn brings Qs giving me top 2 and 2nd nut flush draw. Figuring he's chasing I bet the pot and he calls. River brings 6d and I check. He bets enough for me to call and he turns over Ad2d for the nut flush.
Antes are starting to take their toll
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Level 3 update
On a 90 minute dinner break and I've taken a hit. Down to 23,350.
My new table is more aggressive than the last one and I found out the hard way. 2 hands stood out this level.
First one and aggressive player to my right raised preflop and I called with QJ. Flop gave me top pair and I thought he was bluffing. Ended up with 2 pair but he outkicked me.
Second hand was a standard raise from a tight Asian player in middle position. I called with QJ suited. Flop comes J-6-6. He fire a weak bet. I raise and he comes over the top. I reluctantly folded showing my jack. I had him on a higher pocket pair.
Be back in a few hours
My new table is more aggressive than the last one and I found out the hard way. 2 hands stood out this level.
First one and aggressive player to my right raised preflop and I called with QJ. Flop gave me top pair and I thought he was bluffing. Ended up with 2 pair but he outkicked me.
Second hand was a standard raise from a tight Asian player in middle position. I called with QJ suited. Flop comes J-6-6. He fire a weak bet. I raise and he comes over the top. I reluctantly folded showing my jack. I had him on a higher pocket pair.
Be back in a few hours
Level 2 update
Up to 36,400. Was down under 20k at one point after being outkicked with 2 pair. Table broke and I took the 1st 2 hands I played.
Big one came when I flopped bottom 2 pair with an ace and a flush draw on the board. Smooth called until the river when I made a boat and raised. Other player reluctantly folded top 2.
Big one came when I flopped bottom 2 pair with an ace and a flush draw on the board. Smooth called until the river when I made a boat and raised. Other player reluctantly folded top 2.
Level 1 update
I'm sitting with 30,400 in chips thanks to the sickest call I've ever made. It would have left me with 1000 in chips but instead I'm close to table leader. Ill give details later.
I'm the youngesst at my table and we're playing 8 handed. We played 7 handed for an hour and a half. A couple of pretty aggressive players at my table.
Started off poorly and lost a quarter of my stack half hour in. Played too scared and timid but got my confidence back when I made that call.
More in a couple of hours...
I'm the youngesst at my table and we're playing 8 handed. We played 7 handed for an hour and a half. A couple of pretty aggressive players at my table.
Started off poorly and lost a quarter of my stack half hour in. Played too scared and timid but got my confidence back when I made that call.
More in a couple of hours...
Almost showtime
Still 5 minutes until the doors open and it's quite a spectacle between the crowds, the cameras and the poker expo.
My table was moved from the Brasilia room to the Red room which I believe is part of the Amazon room.
Ill check back in a couple of hours.
My table was moved from the Brasilia room to the Red room which I believe is part of the Amazon room.
Ill check back in a couple of hours.
I am in!!!
I am officially registered for the Main Event beginning at noon tomorrow (July 3rd).
I am in the Brasilia room, table 28 seat 8. Not the main room but once tables start to be broken, that's where I'll end up.
I am in the Brasilia room, table 28 seat 8. Not the main room but once tables start to be broken, that's where I'll end up.
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Final Tuneup: Some good luck and some REALLY bad luck.
I played my final tuneup before the Main Event yesterday at the Showboat. The $85+$15 2:00, same one I made the final table in last week. 55 players this time around.
Started off slow, bleeding off chips on a few questionable hands but made them back and stayed pretty much even for the first few levels. Was helped out with A10 off suit in the small blind. Everyone folded to the button who raised. Didn't think he was much of a player so I called as did the BB. I flopped the straight with K-Q-J and 2 diamonds. I decided to slow play and checked it as did the BB. The button bet out. After thinking about it I decided to raise and not risk him on a diamond draw. He folded after a couple of minutes.
Thought I made a couple of all-in plays when my back was against the wall and short stacked and took down pots. I think it served 2 purposes besides somewhat building my stack back up. The players couldn't tell whether I was bluffing with my all ins, plus they knew I wasn't afraid to push my stack at any time.
I was down to about 7K in chips and second to act when the player under the gun with a similar chip stack goes all in. I peek to see bullets and go all in as well. He was dismayed to see my aces against his jacks and my aces held up.
I did get called out one hand when I was in middle position with A7 suited and raised. The chip leader on the button reraised. I was pretty much pot committed at that point and put my remaining chips in, figuring I was beat and he called turning over pocket 9s. Lucky flop gave me an ace and doubled me up.
The turning point cam when blinds were 1000-2000 and I had about 26K in chips. I'm on a roll at this point and in the big blind. Action folds around to the button who raises to 7K. Small blind goes all in for about 20K. I look down to see pocket jacks. I thought the button was stealing and wanted to isolate the small blind. I had him on ace-big and with 17 players left, I thought it was a good time for a coin flip to increase my stack and make me the table leader so I push as well. The button thinks about it and folds. SB turns over AK. The button announced he folded the same hand giving the SB 2 less outs. I was elated when a 3rd jack came on the flop, but then quickly realized there was a queen on the board also giving him a straight draw. The turn was a blank leaving him with 4 outs, but poker being poker, he spiked a 10 on the river giving him the straight and decimating my stack.
I finished up in 17th place. Didn't play my best poker, but I was pretty pleased with my play. All things being equal, I am ready for Vegas.
I picked up my $10,000 cashier's check today, getting well wishes from the bank and making me promise I'll come back in for pictures when I win my bracelet. I told them I would.
Started off slow, bleeding off chips on a few questionable hands but made them back and stayed pretty much even for the first few levels. Was helped out with A10 off suit in the small blind. Everyone folded to the button who raised. Didn't think he was much of a player so I called as did the BB. I flopped the straight with K-Q-J and 2 diamonds. I decided to slow play and checked it as did the BB. The button bet out. After thinking about it I decided to raise and not risk him on a diamond draw. He folded after a couple of minutes.
Thought I made a couple of all-in plays when my back was against the wall and short stacked and took down pots. I think it served 2 purposes besides somewhat building my stack back up. The players couldn't tell whether I was bluffing with my all ins, plus they knew I wasn't afraid to push my stack at any time.
I was down to about 7K in chips and second to act when the player under the gun with a similar chip stack goes all in. I peek to see bullets and go all in as well. He was dismayed to see my aces against his jacks and my aces held up.
I did get called out one hand when I was in middle position with A7 suited and raised. The chip leader on the button reraised. I was pretty much pot committed at that point and put my remaining chips in, figuring I was beat and he called turning over pocket 9s. Lucky flop gave me an ace and doubled me up.
The turning point cam when blinds were 1000-2000 and I had about 26K in chips. I'm on a roll at this point and in the big blind. Action folds around to the button who raises to 7K. Small blind goes all in for about 20K. I look down to see pocket jacks. I thought the button was stealing and wanted to isolate the small blind. I had him on ace-big and with 17 players left, I thought it was a good time for a coin flip to increase my stack and make me the table leader so I push as well. The button thinks about it and folds. SB turns over AK. The button announced he folded the same hand giving the SB 2 less outs. I was elated when a 3rd jack came on the flop, but then quickly realized there was a queen on the board also giving him a straight draw. The turn was a blank leaving him with 4 outs, but poker being poker, he spiked a 10 on the river giving him the straight and decimating my stack.
I finished up in 17th place. Didn't play my best poker, but I was pretty pleased with my play. All things being equal, I am ready for Vegas.
I picked up my $10,000 cashier's check today, getting well wishes from the bank and making me promise I'll come back in for pictures when I win my bracelet. I told them I would.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Finally, a final table
After the debacle over a week ago, things are starting to come together. After being pleased with my play last Thursday night at the Summer Open Showdown, I decided to follow up with that momentum by stopping in Atlantic City on my way home from the beach on Sunday and play in the 2:00PM $85+$15 at the Showboat. There was total of 65 players.
It's interesting because I'm trying to figure what to blog about since in the past, I could always recall the bad beats or the hands that decimated my stack, but since I made the final table and we chopped the pot 10 ways, there aren't too many significant hands to recall.
For starters was the fact we chopped the pot 10 ways. It was actually the chip leader's idea since he was trying to catch a bus home back to Staten Island and his friends were sitting around waiting for him. With the chop, we each took home more than what 4th place would have taken home. I had 77K in chips, the average stack was about 65K, and I was starting in the big blind with blinds at 6000/12000, so I can't complain too much except that I would have liked to get some more hands in.
I started off well, getting great cards and picking up a lot of pots early. I had the chip lead at my table for about 3/4 the time I was there. There was one player who was kind of quiet, but once the blinds started to increase, he starting pushing the action by re-raising all in numerous times. He caught me a couple of times with decent hands after I raised, but not with hands that I would stake my tournament life on, so I ended up folding.
I had about 20K left in the BB and tried to steal the blinds with A2 offsuit by pushing all in. Unfortunately, the BB called with pocket queens. The flop was no immediate help, but did produce 2 spades and I had the ace. The turn brought another spade giving me 12 outs on the river. I yelled for a spade, but instead I got another ace which was good enough to double me up.
Another hand which ate at me was when I was dealt AJ in late position. 6 players at the table and the aforementioned "all in" player with a smooth call in early position. Blinds at 2000/4000 and I raise to 13K. He immediately goes all in and I go into the tank. AJ is not a terrible hand but the smooth call and re-raise had me concerned that he had a high pocket pair. If I call I'm at risk for all of my chips and that close to the final table I lay it down, announcing I had him with pocket queens. He told me later he had KQ.
There were a couple of bizarre events that happened at my table. One involved a player with a significant stack who had just gotten moved to my table, slice his leg on the dealers tip box. Because he was bleeding and touching chips, they made him leave with security to go to first aid before he can play again, and then replaced all his chips.
Another bizarre occurrence was when some cocky young kid got moved to the seat next to me. He was constantly talking and bitching and complaining about something. When we got down to 11 people, 1 away from the final table, he decided to take his sweet ass time and wouldn't even look at his cards until someone called clock. Now I understand what he was doing and I didn't necessarily have a problem with it, except that the kid was such an asshole. So he survived an all-in at one point and doubled up his stack and in the process dropped the F Bomb in front of the floor manager who then gave him a 10 minute penalty. The 5 remaining players at our table then decided to basically fold every hand for 10 minutes, so we'd each get our blinds back, in order to weaken his stack and attempt to blind him out. It was kind of comical listening to the kid bitch and complain from the rail for 10 minutes because he could see what we were doing. He had too many chips, but we did take 2 of his big and small blinds in the process. Unfortunately, he survived to the final table and almost incurred the wrath of everyone because when we were all discussing a chop during the break, he was the only one who wanted to play on and of course was being a dick about it. After 5 minutes he did agree to the chop. I think all 9 players wanted to take him out on the boardwalk and beat the crap out of him.
Anyway, less than 10 days until Vegas. I'll most likely play a couple of more times this weekend beforehand and I'll keep everyone updated right here, hopefully keeping some momentum.
It's interesting because I'm trying to figure what to blog about since in the past, I could always recall the bad beats or the hands that decimated my stack, but since I made the final table and we chopped the pot 10 ways, there aren't too many significant hands to recall.
For starters was the fact we chopped the pot 10 ways. It was actually the chip leader's idea since he was trying to catch a bus home back to Staten Island and his friends were sitting around waiting for him. With the chop, we each took home more than what 4th place would have taken home. I had 77K in chips, the average stack was about 65K, and I was starting in the big blind with blinds at 6000/12000, so I can't complain too much except that I would have liked to get some more hands in.
I started off well, getting great cards and picking up a lot of pots early. I had the chip lead at my table for about 3/4 the time I was there. There was one player who was kind of quiet, but once the blinds started to increase, he starting pushing the action by re-raising all in numerous times. He caught me a couple of times with decent hands after I raised, but not with hands that I would stake my tournament life on, so I ended up folding.
I had about 20K left in the BB and tried to steal the blinds with A2 offsuit by pushing all in. Unfortunately, the BB called with pocket queens. The flop was no immediate help, but did produce 2 spades and I had the ace. The turn brought another spade giving me 12 outs on the river. I yelled for a spade, but instead I got another ace which was good enough to double me up.
Another hand which ate at me was when I was dealt AJ in late position. 6 players at the table and the aforementioned "all in" player with a smooth call in early position. Blinds at 2000/4000 and I raise to 13K. He immediately goes all in and I go into the tank. AJ is not a terrible hand but the smooth call and re-raise had me concerned that he had a high pocket pair. If I call I'm at risk for all of my chips and that close to the final table I lay it down, announcing I had him with pocket queens. He told me later he had KQ.
There were a couple of bizarre events that happened at my table. One involved a player with a significant stack who had just gotten moved to my table, slice his leg on the dealers tip box. Because he was bleeding and touching chips, they made him leave with security to go to first aid before he can play again, and then replaced all his chips.
Another bizarre occurrence was when some cocky young kid got moved to the seat next to me. He was constantly talking and bitching and complaining about something. When we got down to 11 people, 1 away from the final table, he decided to take his sweet ass time and wouldn't even look at his cards until someone called clock. Now I understand what he was doing and I didn't necessarily have a problem with it, except that the kid was such an asshole. So he survived an all-in at one point and doubled up his stack and in the process dropped the F Bomb in front of the floor manager who then gave him a 10 minute penalty. The 5 remaining players at our table then decided to basically fold every hand for 10 minutes, so we'd each get our blinds back, in order to weaken his stack and attempt to blind him out. It was kind of comical listening to the kid bitch and complain from the rail for 10 minutes because he could see what we were doing. He had too many chips, but we did take 2 of his big and small blinds in the process. Unfortunately, he survived to the final table and almost incurred the wrath of everyone because when we were all discussing a chop during the break, he was the only one who wanted to play on and of course was being a dick about it. After 5 minutes he did agree to the chop. I think all 9 players wanted to take him out on the boardwalk and beat the crap out of him.
Anyway, less than 10 days until Vegas. I'll most likely play a couple of more times this weekend beforehand and I'll keep everyone updated right here, hopefully keeping some momentum.
Change in WSOP date for me
So after thinking about it some more, I've decided to play on the 1st day of the Main Event July 3rd, rather than July 4th. I feel like I'll be able to focus and concentrate more if I get right to it, rather than wait it out and sit around an extra day.
10 more days....
10 more days....
Friday, June 20, 2008
Summer Open Showdown
I participated in the Summer Open Showdown at the Showboat in Atlantic City last night. It was a private tournament with a $250+$30 buy-in. They were hoping for 75 people, but I think there was only 50+.
Got off to a great start in this tournament. I was more relaxed, patient and was able to play my game. I think the fact that I retired my IPod while playing was a big factor in my more patient play since I wasn't listening to the tunes that get my pumped up while at the gym.
I flopped a set in one of the first few hands with pocket 8s and got it all the way to the river before my opponent folded. I also picked up a higher two pair than my opponent in another hand when I rivered an ace. Things were going well and I was up to about 16K in chips after starting with 10K, and then I got moved to another table where my downfall started.
I could tell right off the bat there were some pretty aggressive players at this table so I needed to be smart and careful. First hand of my downfall was when I was dealt AQ suited. I raised and had one caller with a short stack. Flop comes out 6-6-2 and I liked my ace high in this situation. My opponent bet and I called. Turn brought another 2, and I still liked my 2 pair with an ace kicker. Opponent bets again, half his remaining stack which wasn't much, and I call. I figure the worst I'm going to do at this point is chop. Turn is a blank and my opponent goes all in and I call and he shows pocket 4s. Maybe I should have put him on a pocket pair, I found it hard to lay that hand down.
2 hands later I get mixed up with the same player. He raises preflop and I call with QJ off suit. Flop comes out K-Q-blank, 2 spades. He bets out and I call. Turn is a blank and we both check. River brings a 3rd spade and I bet out, representing a flush, plus I had the pair of queens. My opponent immediately re-raises the minimum, so I figure he hasme beat. Only way for me to win the hand is to reraise and hop he folds, which I knew he wasn't going to do, so I folded. He showed me pocket queens and his flopped set.
Now I'm down to 8K and I got very tight, especially with the players at the table. I was waiting for that hand to slow down the aggressiveness, but it never came. Antes and blinds started to eat away at me and with 2 limpers in front of me in the small blind, I call with Q9. I had a feeling for some reason. Flop brings Q-J-blank and I push for my last 4000+ with top pair. One player calls and the other folds, with the caller turning over pocket jacks for his flopped set and the end of my tournament.
Overall, my play was 1000% better than the prior Friday. Just couldn't catch cards or a break for an hour and half or so and that's all it takes with an aggresive blind structure. I finished in the middle of the pack for the tourney.
I'm hoping to play one or two more times before I leave for Vegas in less than 2 weeks.
Got off to a great start in this tournament. I was more relaxed, patient and was able to play my game. I think the fact that I retired my IPod while playing was a big factor in my more patient play since I wasn't listening to the tunes that get my pumped up while at the gym.
I flopped a set in one of the first few hands with pocket 8s and got it all the way to the river before my opponent folded. I also picked up a higher two pair than my opponent in another hand when I rivered an ace. Things were going well and I was up to about 16K in chips after starting with 10K, and then I got moved to another table where my downfall started.
I could tell right off the bat there were some pretty aggressive players at this table so I needed to be smart and careful. First hand of my downfall was when I was dealt AQ suited. I raised and had one caller with a short stack. Flop comes out 6-6-2 and I liked my ace high in this situation. My opponent bet and I called. Turn brought another 2, and I still liked my 2 pair with an ace kicker. Opponent bets again, half his remaining stack which wasn't much, and I call. I figure the worst I'm going to do at this point is chop. Turn is a blank and my opponent goes all in and I call and he shows pocket 4s. Maybe I should have put him on a pocket pair, I found it hard to lay that hand down.
2 hands later I get mixed up with the same player. He raises preflop and I call with QJ off suit. Flop comes out K-Q-blank, 2 spades. He bets out and I call. Turn is a blank and we both check. River brings a 3rd spade and I bet out, representing a flush, plus I had the pair of queens. My opponent immediately re-raises the minimum, so I figure he hasme beat. Only way for me to win the hand is to reraise and hop he folds, which I knew he wasn't going to do, so I folded. He showed me pocket queens and his flopped set.
Now I'm down to 8K and I got very tight, especially with the players at the table. I was waiting for that hand to slow down the aggressiveness, but it never came. Antes and blinds started to eat away at me and with 2 limpers in front of me in the small blind, I call with Q9. I had a feeling for some reason. Flop brings Q-J-blank and I push for my last 4000+ with top pair. One player calls and the other folds, with the caller turning over pocket jacks for his flopped set and the end of my tournament.
Overall, my play was 1000% better than the prior Friday. Just couldn't catch cards or a break for an hour and half or so and that's all it takes with an aggresive blind structure. I finished in the middle of the pack for the tourney.
I'm hoping to play one or two more times before I leave for Vegas in less than 2 weeks.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Shaking off the rust
The last few times I played, I played really well but just had terrible luck. It's poker and I understand but it's still a horrible and frustrating feeling and I didn't think I could feel any worse playing poker until this past Friday. Losing and playing terribly is definitely a worse feeling than playing well and losing sue to back luck.
Decided to try a new venue this past Friday and played at the Showboat. Was only planning on playing one tournament (they have 3 daily), but because my exit was so so premature in the 1st tourney, I ended up playing 2.
Both tourneys were $53+$12. The first one I lasted about 2 hours. The blind structure was fairly aggressive. Didn't play particularly well mainly due to me being very impatient. The only reason I stayed as long as I did was because I won a couple of hands by catching cards fishing for open ended straights. In the end, I finished in the middle of the pack and was not happy with my performance at all.
I took an hour walk on the boardwalk to clear my head and entered a 2nd $53+$12 NL tourney at the Showboat. Sitting down at my table I knew right away I should pretty much dominate the table. That confidence was probably my downfall as I lasted a half hour.
A few hands in under the gun I get dealt pocket jacks. Since it's early I make the standard three times the BB raise and every folds except for the BB. Flop comes out 8-9-10 rainbow. Great flop for me and I figure I'm in great shape. BB checks and I bet half the pot and he calls. I'm thinking he may have an underpair so I'm not terribly concerned. Turn pairs the board with an ace and it worries me a bit. BB checks again and I decide to bet to see where I stand figuring if he doesn't have an ace he'll fold. He makes the call and now my mind is all over the place because I'm not exactly sure what he has. Straught draw? Underpair? Slowplaying top pair or did he catch 2 pair with the ace? River pairs the board with another 9 and the BB comes firing out with a twice the pot bet. A very suspicious bet but I'm still really confused. In my head, the only question was whether or not he had an ace. Eventually I went with my gut and didn't think he had an ace or a 9 and that my 2 pair were good and made the call. Well, at least my gut was right because he didn't have an ace or 9, but he turned over QJ, showing me his flopped straight which was the nuts until the river. 15 minutes in and 60% of my stack is gone.
A few hands later everyone folds to me on the button. The BB is a ghost so it's only the small blind who is at least 80 something years old. I decide to call with 94 offsuit. Again, I was being impatient and wanted to play. I also figured how much trouble could I really get in. Oops.
Flop brings a 4 and 2 clubs, giving me bottom pair. SB checks and I bet half the pot to see where I'm at and he calls. Turn brings another club. He checks and I bet half the pot again and he calls. Thinking he has a higher pair than me at this point, i was going to cut my losses on the river until a 2nd 4 comes giving me a set. In my excitement I bet ahead of my turn and then pull it back. To my surprise he comes firing out. I'm thinking he thinks I'm bluffing so I come over the top of him figuring my set of 4s is golden. To my surprise he calls and shows me the flush. The one hand I did not peg him for but probably should have. Very stupid on my part.
My 3rd and final big hand came when I was dealt pocket 6s on the button. Fold around to the player before me who smooth calls as do I and the small blind. BB checks his option. 4 players to the flop of K-4-K, giving me 2 pair. Everyone checks around to me and I decide to check as well. Turn brings a queen and everyone checks around to me again. Figuring my 2 pair are good at this point and not wanting to be rivered, I go all in for my last 1900. Blinds fold and the player to my right instacalls and turns over Big Slick, mercifully ending my day.
I have never been so angry after playing poker before. Not because I lost but because I didn't think I played particularly well in doing it. If I play the way I did Friday in Vegas in 3 weeks, It's going to be a very short Main Event for me. But you learn from your mistakes and move on. The Main Event is a marathon, not a sprint. If I keep reminding myself that during all the tourneys I play before the Main Event in 3 weeks, I should be fine.
I plan on putting my "Less is More" philosophy to the test this Thursday night at the Showboat once again for the 2008 Summer Open Showdown. Should be around 75 people or so and I plan on contending.
Less than 3 weeks until Vegas...
Decided to try a new venue this past Friday and played at the Showboat. Was only planning on playing one tournament (they have 3 daily), but because my exit was so so premature in the 1st tourney, I ended up playing 2.
Both tourneys were $53+$12. The first one I lasted about 2 hours. The blind structure was fairly aggressive. Didn't play particularly well mainly due to me being very impatient. The only reason I stayed as long as I did was because I won a couple of hands by catching cards fishing for open ended straights. In the end, I finished in the middle of the pack and was not happy with my performance at all.
I took an hour walk on the boardwalk to clear my head and entered a 2nd $53+$12 NL tourney at the Showboat. Sitting down at my table I knew right away I should pretty much dominate the table. That confidence was probably my downfall as I lasted a half hour.
A few hands in under the gun I get dealt pocket jacks. Since it's early I make the standard three times the BB raise and every folds except for the BB. Flop comes out 8-9-10 rainbow. Great flop for me and I figure I'm in great shape. BB checks and I bet half the pot and he calls. I'm thinking he may have an underpair so I'm not terribly concerned. Turn pairs the board with an ace and it worries me a bit. BB checks again and I decide to bet to see where I stand figuring if he doesn't have an ace he'll fold. He makes the call and now my mind is all over the place because I'm not exactly sure what he has. Straught draw? Underpair? Slowplaying top pair or did he catch 2 pair with the ace? River pairs the board with another 9 and the BB comes firing out with a twice the pot bet. A very suspicious bet but I'm still really confused. In my head, the only question was whether or not he had an ace. Eventually I went with my gut and didn't think he had an ace or a 9 and that my 2 pair were good and made the call. Well, at least my gut was right because he didn't have an ace or 9, but he turned over QJ, showing me his flopped straight which was the nuts until the river. 15 minutes in and 60% of my stack is gone.
A few hands later everyone folds to me on the button. The BB is a ghost so it's only the small blind who is at least 80 something years old. I decide to call with 94 offsuit. Again, I was being impatient and wanted to play. I also figured how much trouble could I really get in. Oops.
Flop brings a 4 and 2 clubs, giving me bottom pair. SB checks and I bet half the pot to see where I'm at and he calls. Turn brings another club. He checks and I bet half the pot again and he calls. Thinking he has a higher pair than me at this point, i was going to cut my losses on the river until a 2nd 4 comes giving me a set. In my excitement I bet ahead of my turn and then pull it back. To my surprise he comes firing out. I'm thinking he thinks I'm bluffing so I come over the top of him figuring my set of 4s is golden. To my surprise he calls and shows me the flush. The one hand I did not peg him for but probably should have. Very stupid on my part.
My 3rd and final big hand came when I was dealt pocket 6s on the button. Fold around to the player before me who smooth calls as do I and the small blind. BB checks his option. 4 players to the flop of K-4-K, giving me 2 pair. Everyone checks around to me and I decide to check as well. Turn brings a queen and everyone checks around to me again. Figuring my 2 pair are good at this point and not wanting to be rivered, I go all in for my last 1900. Blinds fold and the player to my right instacalls and turns over Big Slick, mercifully ending my day.
I have never been so angry after playing poker before. Not because I lost but because I didn't think I played particularly well in doing it. If I play the way I did Friday in Vegas in 3 weeks, It's going to be a very short Main Event for me. But you learn from your mistakes and move on. The Main Event is a marathon, not a sprint. If I keep reminding myself that during all the tourneys I play before the Main Event in 3 weeks, I should be fine.
I plan on putting my "Less is More" philosophy to the test this Thursday night at the Showboat once again for the 2008 Summer Open Showdown. Should be around 75 people or so and I plan on contending.
Less than 3 weeks until Vegas...
Saturday, April 26, 2008
This was just not my lucky day
After not playing for a couple of months and the Main Event less than 3 months away< i decided that I need to start making more of an effort to get down to AC and play in some tournaments.
Played in the 11:15AM $100+$20 NL at the Tropicana this morning. Started off with 10K in chips and got there just after the tourney started since I was coming down from North Jersey on about 4 hours sleep. Long night for my brother's birthday.
Made a couple of loose calls early thinking my ace high was good on a couple of hands with crap boards, only to see my opponent with bottom pair. Next thing I know. I'm down to about 5300 chips a half hour into the tourney.
Didn't get too many cards the next couple of rounds but won 2 consecutive pots at one point to get my stack up to about 9K at the break after Round 3. One hand saw me with pocket Qs and a board with all undercards. I kept hammering the pot after the flop, and turn only to see my opponent (the tabel chip leader) call me down. When I went all in on the river, he reluctantly folded.
My run of bad luck started when I was under the gun with AQ suited and raised 3 1/2 times the BB. Folded around to the BB who reluctantly called. Flop comes out with queen high and the BB goes all in which was twice the pot. I pondered for about 2 seconds before calling and I caught him trying to steal with nothing, A3 offsuit. Feeling confident I'm about to eliminate someone and get up to about 15K in chips, the turn and river bring a 3 and another 3 giving him runner/runner 3s for trips. Considering the circumstances, I was pretty calm. I know it's poker and anything can happen. The debate was which was worse, my bad beat, or another player's luck a few hands earlier when he lost a monster pot when he showed only one card, mucking the other, and then realized he would have outkicked his opponent if he showed both. Oops.
Despite my terrible luck, I was still alive and tried my hardest to get it out of my head and not go on tilt.
I was hovering around 5K in chips when we started round 7. Blinds were up to 400/800 and I knew I needed to make a move and fast. I was in the BB. A really short stacked player in middle position went all in for his last 900 in chips. The player next to him raised to 3 times the BB and the player after him reraised all in, which had us all covered. I take a peek to see A10 offsuit. Great hand short stacked, but after thinking about it I decided to live another day. I figured with 2 all-ins and a 3rd preflop raise, I was dominated to stronger ace and folded. Still not sure if I made the right decision preflop considering I was short stacked. The player who raised ended up calling the all-in. The short stacked player turned over KJ offsuit, the original raiser called the all-in with A8 offsuit, which raised a few eyebrows, and the originall all-in player turned over pocket jacks. My read was wrong. I thought for sure somebody AJ, AQ or AK. My luck got worse when the flop brought two 10s and would have given me trips. Had I called with my A10, I would have had 20K in chips. Instead, I was stuck with around 3K and the small blind coming up and the table leader in the BB to my left.
To my surpise, everyone folded around to me in the small blind and I peek to see pocket queens. I decide to go all-in to steal the BB and antes. The BB decided to call with nothing and flips over J5 offsuit. I told him not to worry because with my luck that day, I'm sure he'd draw out on me. Any guesses what the flop brought??? You got it. Flop comes out with a jack AND a 5 giving him 2 pair and ending my day.
All in all, I didn't think I played badly considering I hadn't played in 2 months and was working on 4 hours sleep. I'm planning on playing much more as July 4th weekend approaches and fine tune my game.
I am officially booked for Vegas and am aiming to play on Friday, July 4th. Hopefully I'm getting all my bad luck out of the way now and the cards will turn my way once I get to Vegas.
Played in the 11:15AM $100+$20 NL at the Tropicana this morning. Started off with 10K in chips and got there just after the tourney started since I was coming down from North Jersey on about 4 hours sleep. Long night for my brother's birthday.
Made a couple of loose calls early thinking my ace high was good on a couple of hands with crap boards, only to see my opponent with bottom pair. Next thing I know. I'm down to about 5300 chips a half hour into the tourney.
Didn't get too many cards the next couple of rounds but won 2 consecutive pots at one point to get my stack up to about 9K at the break after Round 3. One hand saw me with pocket Qs and a board with all undercards. I kept hammering the pot after the flop, and turn only to see my opponent (the tabel chip leader) call me down. When I went all in on the river, he reluctantly folded.
My run of bad luck started when I was under the gun with AQ suited and raised 3 1/2 times the BB. Folded around to the BB who reluctantly called. Flop comes out with queen high and the BB goes all in which was twice the pot. I pondered for about 2 seconds before calling and I caught him trying to steal with nothing, A3 offsuit. Feeling confident I'm about to eliminate someone and get up to about 15K in chips, the turn and river bring a 3 and another 3 giving him runner/runner 3s for trips. Considering the circumstances, I was pretty calm. I know it's poker and anything can happen. The debate was which was worse, my bad beat, or another player's luck a few hands earlier when he lost a monster pot when he showed only one card, mucking the other, and then realized he would have outkicked his opponent if he showed both. Oops.
Despite my terrible luck, I was still alive and tried my hardest to get it out of my head and not go on tilt.
I was hovering around 5K in chips when we started round 7. Blinds were up to 400/800 and I knew I needed to make a move and fast. I was in the BB. A really short stacked player in middle position went all in for his last 900 in chips. The player next to him raised to 3 times the BB and the player after him reraised all in, which had us all covered. I take a peek to see A10 offsuit. Great hand short stacked, but after thinking about it I decided to live another day. I figured with 2 all-ins and a 3rd preflop raise, I was dominated to stronger ace and folded. Still not sure if I made the right decision preflop considering I was short stacked. The player who raised ended up calling the all-in. The short stacked player turned over KJ offsuit, the original raiser called the all-in with A8 offsuit, which raised a few eyebrows, and the originall all-in player turned over pocket jacks. My read was wrong. I thought for sure somebody AJ, AQ or AK. My luck got worse when the flop brought two 10s and would have given me trips. Had I called with my A10, I would have had 20K in chips. Instead, I was stuck with around 3K and the small blind coming up and the table leader in the BB to my left.
To my surpise, everyone folded around to me in the small blind and I peek to see pocket queens. I decide to go all-in to steal the BB and antes. The BB decided to call with nothing and flips over J5 offsuit. I told him not to worry because with my luck that day, I'm sure he'd draw out on me. Any guesses what the flop brought??? You got it. Flop comes out with a jack AND a 5 giving him 2 pair and ending my day.
All in all, I didn't think I played badly considering I hadn't played in 2 months and was working on 4 hours sleep. I'm planning on playing much more as July 4th weekend approaches and fine tune my game.
I am officially booked for Vegas and am aiming to play on Friday, July 4th. Hopefully I'm getting all my bad luck out of the way now and the cards will turn my way once I get to Vegas.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Fold or not to fold...
One of the things I'm picking up the more I play is that as important as the correct calls you make are, making the correct laydowns are just as important. Up until this past Saturday in Atlantic City, I had been on a good run at making the right reads and laying down when I'm supposed to, but a couple of hands changed all that.
Played in a $100+$20 buy-in at the Tropicana, the same as the prior weekend. This time however, it was Presidents weekend so Atlantic City was mobbed. 107 entrants this time around.
Started off similar as the last tournament. Not getting many hands, but luckily this time I wasn't bleeding off chips early. Didn't win a pot until the end of round 2. Like I said, didn't get great cards. Did flop trips and ended up with a boat one hand, but played it WAY too conservatively and probably should gotten more chips from the guy, but it was still early. Players were typical of most tournaments. Some good players, and some who weren't very good at all.
My tournament's roller coaster ride started when I was moved to table 2. I was getting pretty short stacked and the blinds and antes were starting to take its toll. I ended up moving all-in after looking at one card and seeing an ace. Had 2 callers. I finally looked at the second card and saw A4 offsuit. Not good with 2 callers. Board came out with all low cards and the other 2 players checked it around. Luckily I caught a miracle river 5 which gave me a straight, tripling me up against AK and pocket 10s.
I went on a mini run. Had pocket 9s and raised preflop with a caller. Flopped the set and bet about 2/3rds of the pot. To my surprise the other player comes over the top of me all-in and I instacall. He was bluffing with ace high and I added insult to injury making quads on the river.
With the blinds and antes continually adding up, made another good play on the button with 3 limpers coming over the top all-in with big slick suited. They all folded giving me a decent pot with antes. Then came the run of bad laydowns which could have put me near the chip lead with 40+ people left.
Can't remember the exact particulars, but I know I had A7 offsuit with 4 players in the pot. Flop comes with an ace, but with 3 other players in the hand, I hated my kicker. When the guy to my right went all-in, I went into the tank. I had him covered by a lot, but just after building up my stack again and with 2 players behind me, I laid it down. I felt better when both players called, but was irate when they checked it the rest of the way to the river only to show me that neither of them had aces and the guy to my right went all-in with A2, a pot I should have won and a player I should have knocked out. Can't remember what my pot odds were at the time and maybe I should have paid more attention.
The second bad laydown is the one that's still eating at me because my read was right, but I ignored the pot odds and I would have taken down a monster pot and eliminated 2 players in the process. I'm in the big blind with A10 offsuit. One limper and the small blind (same guy who I should have eliminated earlier) raises to 5000 (blinds are 600-1200). I just call as does the limper. Flop comes 9-10-K rainbow giving me middle pair. Small blind goes all-in for another 6000+. I figured one of them had a king but with middle pair, 6000 wasn't going to break me so I just called. Last to act goes over the top all-in for another almost 10K. Now I knew he was the one with at least a king. Although my odds were good because I figured I had 6 outs and could knock out 2 players for a monstrous pot, I laid it down. Guy to my right turns over a 10 with a weaker kicker than me, while the guy to my left shows K9 for 2 pair. Right read, although I really only had 5 outs. Sure enough, the turn brings another 10 which would have given me trip 10s with the higher kicker. I was irate once again. In hindsight I should have at least called the over the top all in because of the odds. I maybe should have gone all-in even before he did to isolate the shorter stack. Granted I would have been behind because he would have called with 2 pair, but you need a little bit of luck in this game.
From there my stack got chopped by 2 hands when I raised preflop with decent starting hands only for people to come over the top all-in. The tough one when I was in middle to late position with pocket 10s. I raised and the small blind went over the top all-in for a decent amount. I didn't want to race and I figured he had at least a higher pair of he didn't have AK or AQ so I folded. He told me later he had queens.
Another hand that hurt was when I had A8 and last to act with 2 short stacked players before me going all in. One guy had nothing and the other an ace with a weaker kicker so I had them both dominated. Could have knocked out both players but the guy with the weaker ace caught a straight on the river to stay alive and almost triple up. Sounds familiar.
Got nothing for a while. Blinds were 2000-4000 with 500 ante and I was under the gun with 12K in chips, so I pushed with A7. One caller with A10 and no help on the board so I was done in 26th place and out of the money.
Fared much better than last time, but this time it was the calls I didn't make which did me in.
Played in a $100+$20 buy-in at the Tropicana, the same as the prior weekend. This time however, it was Presidents weekend so Atlantic City was mobbed. 107 entrants this time around.
Started off similar as the last tournament. Not getting many hands, but luckily this time I wasn't bleeding off chips early. Didn't win a pot until the end of round 2. Like I said, didn't get great cards. Did flop trips and ended up with a boat one hand, but played it WAY too conservatively and probably should gotten more chips from the guy, but it was still early. Players were typical of most tournaments. Some good players, and some who weren't very good at all.
My tournament's roller coaster ride started when I was moved to table 2. I was getting pretty short stacked and the blinds and antes were starting to take its toll. I ended up moving all-in after looking at one card and seeing an ace. Had 2 callers. I finally looked at the second card and saw A4 offsuit. Not good with 2 callers. Board came out with all low cards and the other 2 players checked it around. Luckily I caught a miracle river 5 which gave me a straight, tripling me up against AK and pocket 10s.
I went on a mini run. Had pocket 9s and raised preflop with a caller. Flopped the set and bet about 2/3rds of the pot. To my surprise the other player comes over the top of me all-in and I instacall. He was bluffing with ace high and I added insult to injury making quads on the river.
With the blinds and antes continually adding up, made another good play on the button with 3 limpers coming over the top all-in with big slick suited. They all folded giving me a decent pot with antes. Then came the run of bad laydowns which could have put me near the chip lead with 40+ people left.
Can't remember the exact particulars, but I know I had A7 offsuit with 4 players in the pot. Flop comes with an ace, but with 3 other players in the hand, I hated my kicker. When the guy to my right went all-in, I went into the tank. I had him covered by a lot, but just after building up my stack again and with 2 players behind me, I laid it down. I felt better when both players called, but was irate when they checked it the rest of the way to the river only to show me that neither of them had aces and the guy to my right went all-in with A2, a pot I should have won and a player I should have knocked out. Can't remember what my pot odds were at the time and maybe I should have paid more attention.
The second bad laydown is the one that's still eating at me because my read was right, but I ignored the pot odds and I would have taken down a monster pot and eliminated 2 players in the process. I'm in the big blind with A10 offsuit. One limper and the small blind (same guy who I should have eliminated earlier) raises to 5000 (blinds are 600-1200). I just call as does the limper. Flop comes 9-10-K rainbow giving me middle pair. Small blind goes all-in for another 6000+. I figured one of them had a king but with middle pair, 6000 wasn't going to break me so I just called. Last to act goes over the top all-in for another almost 10K. Now I knew he was the one with at least a king. Although my odds were good because I figured I had 6 outs and could knock out 2 players for a monstrous pot, I laid it down. Guy to my right turns over a 10 with a weaker kicker than me, while the guy to my left shows K9 for 2 pair. Right read, although I really only had 5 outs. Sure enough, the turn brings another 10 which would have given me trip 10s with the higher kicker. I was irate once again. In hindsight I should have at least called the over the top all in because of the odds. I maybe should have gone all-in even before he did to isolate the shorter stack. Granted I would have been behind because he would have called with 2 pair, but you need a little bit of luck in this game.
From there my stack got chopped by 2 hands when I raised preflop with decent starting hands only for people to come over the top all-in. The tough one when I was in middle to late position with pocket 10s. I raised and the small blind went over the top all-in for a decent amount. I didn't want to race and I figured he had at least a higher pair of he didn't have AK or AQ so I folded. He told me later he had queens.
Another hand that hurt was when I had A8 and last to act with 2 short stacked players before me going all in. One guy had nothing and the other an ace with a weaker kicker so I had them both dominated. Could have knocked out both players but the guy with the weaker ace caught a straight on the river to stay alive and almost triple up. Sounds familiar.
Got nothing for a while. Blinds were 2000-4000 with 500 ante and I was under the gun with 12K in chips, so I pushed with A7. One caller with A10 and no help on the board so I was done in 26th place and out of the money.
Fared much better than last time, but this time it was the calls I didn't make which did me in.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Train wreck at the Trop
Played my first poker tournament since winning down in New Orleans. $100+$20 buy-in at the Tropicana in Atlantic City this morning. 62 players. Was not a good day for me.
I had a pocket pair 5 times, and didn't win one of those hands. In fact, I didn't win my first pot until the last hand of level 3. Frustrating to say the least.
Second hand of the tournament I ended up with pocket Ks. I raised with one caller. Flop came out with 2 Qs and blank and decided to slow play this early in the tournament. Turn came an ace and I knew I was in trouble. I checked and mu opponent came out with a weak bet. I thought that maybe I was OK and raised, but when he came over the top, I knew I was done.
Ended up with pocket Qs against the same guy. Flop came with a K and he ended up slow playing and added insult to injury with a third king on the river.
My other 3 pocket pairs were all 7s. It was fitting that pocket 7s is what knocked me out. I was short stacked in the BB. Had one caller in middle position. Small blind had chips and raised. Blinds were going up next hand and I knew I had to make a move so went all in. Both players called. Small blind had 9s and the middle position player had AJ offsuit. He was shorter stack than I was. An ace and a jack on the flop ended my tourney early.
I don't think I played terribly or great for that matter, but it just wasn't in the cards today. Couldn't catch a break on any flops but could have played better.
Like every other tournament I've played in however, I learned something that I will remember and use the next time I play to my benefit.
I had a pocket pair 5 times, and didn't win one of those hands. In fact, I didn't win my first pot until the last hand of level 3. Frustrating to say the least.
Second hand of the tournament I ended up with pocket Ks. I raised with one caller. Flop came out with 2 Qs and blank and decided to slow play this early in the tournament. Turn came an ace and I knew I was in trouble. I checked and mu opponent came out with a weak bet. I thought that maybe I was OK and raised, but when he came over the top, I knew I was done.
Ended up with pocket Qs against the same guy. Flop came with a K and he ended up slow playing and added insult to injury with a third king on the river.
My other 3 pocket pairs were all 7s. It was fitting that pocket 7s is what knocked me out. I was short stacked in the BB. Had one caller in middle position. Small blind had chips and raised. Blinds were going up next hand and I knew I had to make a move so went all in. Both players called. Small blind had 9s and the middle position player had AJ offsuit. He was shorter stack than I was. An ace and a jack on the flop ended my tourney early.
I don't think I played terribly or great for that matter, but it just wasn't in the cards today. Couldn't catch a break on any flops but could have played better.
Like every other tournament I've played in however, I learned something that I will remember and use the next time I play to my benefit.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
I'm on my way to Vegas!!!!
I started this blog to chronicle my journey of qualifying for my 1st World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. In less than 6 months, I will be chasing to the dream of becoming a millionaire and perhaps sitting at a table with the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, or (God help me) Phil Hellmuth.
The funny thing is, I enjoy poker, but I don't play all that often. I only started playing maybe 3 or 4 years ago. And until this run, I considered myself a slightly above average player. I'm sure some of you reading this are like, "How the hell did Cahill get to play at the World Series? I've played against him and he's not that good!!!" However, the more I've played, the more I understood the game and the better I've gotten. Even when I've gotten knocked out of tournaments, 95% of the time I was in with the best hand but have gotten sucked out on. At first, it used to drive me crazy, but I soon realized, that's poker. Unless you have the absolute nuts, mathematically, there is always a chance you can lose a hand. If anyone knows mathematics, it's me, so I don't get as crazy about it anymore.
I qualified this year through the annual Dead Money Tournament in New Orleans. Bill Phillips has been running this for 5 years now.
I won my trip to New Orleans by winning a table in Delaware hosted by Mike Durbin. 16 players and it cost me $100 to enter and I knew no one there. Not knowing anyone you're playing with is good and bad. Good, because they don't know you and how you play, but bad because the opposite is also true.
In Delaware I started off well and accumulated a nice chip stack. It took about half the players to be eliminated before some finally asked me who the hell I was. I don't like to talk when I'm playing poker. When I'm in a hand, talk to me all you want, but you're not going to get a response because I become catatonic. Anyway, I ended up heads up with a pretty decent player. I gave him a pretty good chip lead when I called his all in with 2 overcards to his pocket pair, but I got no help.
Next hand I tried to steal the blind in the small blind by raising with Q3 offsuit. My opponent called and the flop was no help to me and included an ace. I came firing out, representing an ace and my opponent called. I knew I was in trouble because I figured my opponent had an ace. Turn comes a queen and I immediately went all in. I really had no choice because I was short stacked and pot committed. My opponent went into the tank. Said he knew how I played and figured I had him outkicked and laid down top pair. When I turned over the Q3, he wasn't very happy. That was the first time that I showed my cards the whole tournament. On tilt the rest of the way, It wasn't long before I took down the table.
I was off to New Orleans for the 5th Annual Dead Money Poker Tournament, with the winner receiving an entry into the 2008 World Series of Poker. As excited as I was to go to New Orleans, a place I hadn't been since Mardi Gras 2000, my excitement quickly turned when I woke up Friday morning to catch my flight sick as a dog. Throw in that it was supposed to be the coldest in New Orleans in quite some time and I was miserable.
Regardless, it was New Orleans. Bourbon Street. Harrah's casino in walking distance. Cajun food, which I absolutely love. I sucked it up and ventured out Friday afternoon.
Bourbon wasn't very crowded. I'm sure the weather and the fact that some people actually work down there had something to do with it. I ended up at the Cajun Cabin for some seafood gumbo, jambalaya, fried alligator (that was a first), and a couple of Abita's (local beer) and bloodys. From there, it was off to Harrah's. For some reason I've been playing a lot of roulette. I know the odds are terrible, but I've been pretty lucky lately. 6, 18 and 21. 3 numbers next to each other on the wheel for a nickel a piece. Luck was on my side as I ended up tripling my buy-in so I ventured over to blackjack where I doubled my buy-in there. Of course, blackjack wasn't without a dull moment as I had a major lapse in judgement when I split 5s against a 6. The dealer said he'd never seen that before and I had other people at the table yelling at me. I won the hand but realized the error and apologized to the table. They still weren't very happy and believe it or not, neither was I. I'd rather play correctly and lose and then play poorly and win.
I was exhausted and still feeling terrible at this point, so I went back to the room and slept until morning even though it was only 8:00.
The next day was the Dead Money Tournament. I was up WAY too early and it was miserable out. Rainy, windy and temperatures in the 30s. What happened the sun, heat and humidity in Louisiana?
Tournament started at noon and there were 12 players. Not bad odds for a trip to Vegas and a $10,000 buy-in to the greatest poker tournament in the world. Two tables of 6, 10,000 chips to start, and I had last year's winner, Ross Wallin, to my right. I definitely made a mental note of that.
I started off well once again, picking up pots here and there. After about an hour, I had a pretty good read on most of the players at my table. There were a couple of key hands at the final table that helped me out, but there was one early which I think could have been the early turning point. I had KQ suited and raised a decent amount. One caller was the guy to my immediate left (I believe his name was Robert), who always played with an ace in his hand, so I knew what was up against. Flop comes A,K,Q rainbow. Two pair for me but I did not like this flop at all. I checked and he came out firing. I put him on AK or AQ. I laughed because I couldn't believe I was going to lay my hand down, but did and showed the table. Everyone was shocked, except for Ross because he agreed with me. Robert shows me AJ. Bad laydown on my part, but I asked the dealer to run the cards and sure enough, he would have rivered a 10 on me for the straight anyway. One thing I'm learning about no-limit hold em is that it's not the hands you play that are as important as the laydowns you make.
The second big hand at this table for me was me in the small blind with AK. Ross to my right on the button had been pretty aggressive with his raises in position. He'd gotten caught a few times and was someone short stacked and moved in. I immediately called and turns over KJ. The defending champ was dominated in danger of being the first one eliminated. But poker being poker, he flops a J and builds up his chip stack and knocks me down to about 5k in chips.
We merged at 10 and I was still alive. My chip stack was going up and down like a roller coaster. Definitely some pretty good players at the final table. Martin took over as the aggressive one and I took note. There were 3 key hands for me at the final table. First key hand was when I was short stacked against Ross, who was the chip leader at this point and was all-in with A8 I believe. Ross called with pocket 9s. Now here's where it got interesting. Ross was in the small blind and was shuffling the cards for the next hand, which is what the small blind usually does. In his haste, I assume he thought he was supposed to be dealing and dealt the rest of the hand with the wrong deck!!!! However, no one picked up on it until the hand was over and wouldn't you know it, I "flopped" an ace. Since it was his mistake and the hand was already done, I took down the pot.
Second key hand came when another aggressive player, Daniel from Virginia goes all-in in early position. I had a decent chip stack at this point and called with A10 suited. Daniel turns over A2. Dominated. But poker being poker, Daniel gets a 2 on the turn and stays alive taking a lot of my chips in the process.
Third and final key hand came when I was heads up with Ross. He had a substantial chip lead on me and was dealt 62 suited and I called in the small blind. Ross checks and the flop comes out something like queen, four, five. Don't remember if I went all in on the flop or turn but I was short stacked and had a gutshot and a pair after the turn, so why not? Ross had 45 for 2 pair. I yell out "Give me a 3" which would have given me the straight, although I didn't realize at the time that a queen, 6 or 2 would have given me a higher 2 pair as well since a 6 fell on the turn, so I did have outs. Sure enough, the 3 comes on the river giving me the straight and evening the chip stacks.
From there I played fairly aggressive, either raising or folding but mostly raising, and eventually wore down the defending champion.
That night we went out to celebrate and although I don't like to drink and play, I got talked into a 1-2NL game at Harrah's 5AM. Bad idea. I played terribly, loosely, talked too much, played too many hands and lost half my winnings from the day before. I hate cash games. I was almost embarrassed to admit that I won a satellite was going to play in the WSOP with the way I played. Might give bad players hope. But that's OK. I'll get it out of my system now. It's part of my strategy to make people wonder. Besides, I have a little less than 6 months to straighten it out and I promise there will be no cash games or beer while at the table between now and then.
To prepare, I'm sure I'll be making occasional trip to Atlantic City to play at the Borgata or the Taj. I think there's some WSOP circuit event coming up in March at Caesars also. I will be sure to keep everyone up to date on my progress and the events I play.
The funny thing is, I enjoy poker, but I don't play all that often. I only started playing maybe 3 or 4 years ago. And until this run, I considered myself a slightly above average player. I'm sure some of you reading this are like, "How the hell did Cahill get to play at the World Series? I've played against him and he's not that good!!!" However, the more I've played, the more I understood the game and the better I've gotten. Even when I've gotten knocked out of tournaments, 95% of the time I was in with the best hand but have gotten sucked out on. At first, it used to drive me crazy, but I soon realized, that's poker. Unless you have the absolute nuts, mathematically, there is always a chance you can lose a hand. If anyone knows mathematics, it's me, so I don't get as crazy about it anymore.
I qualified this year through the annual Dead Money Tournament in New Orleans. Bill Phillips has been running this for 5 years now.
I won my trip to New Orleans by winning a table in Delaware hosted by Mike Durbin. 16 players and it cost me $100 to enter and I knew no one there. Not knowing anyone you're playing with is good and bad. Good, because they don't know you and how you play, but bad because the opposite is also true.
In Delaware I started off well and accumulated a nice chip stack. It took about half the players to be eliminated before some finally asked me who the hell I was. I don't like to talk when I'm playing poker. When I'm in a hand, talk to me all you want, but you're not going to get a response because I become catatonic. Anyway, I ended up heads up with a pretty decent player. I gave him a pretty good chip lead when I called his all in with 2 overcards to his pocket pair, but I got no help.
Next hand I tried to steal the blind in the small blind by raising with Q3 offsuit. My opponent called and the flop was no help to me and included an ace. I came firing out, representing an ace and my opponent called. I knew I was in trouble because I figured my opponent had an ace. Turn comes a queen and I immediately went all in. I really had no choice because I was short stacked and pot committed. My opponent went into the tank. Said he knew how I played and figured I had him outkicked and laid down top pair. When I turned over the Q3, he wasn't very happy. That was the first time that I showed my cards the whole tournament. On tilt the rest of the way, It wasn't long before I took down the table.
I was off to New Orleans for the 5th Annual Dead Money Poker Tournament, with the winner receiving an entry into the 2008 World Series of Poker. As excited as I was to go to New Orleans, a place I hadn't been since Mardi Gras 2000, my excitement quickly turned when I woke up Friday morning to catch my flight sick as a dog. Throw in that it was supposed to be the coldest in New Orleans in quite some time and I was miserable.
Regardless, it was New Orleans. Bourbon Street. Harrah's casino in walking distance. Cajun food, which I absolutely love. I sucked it up and ventured out Friday afternoon.
Bourbon wasn't very crowded. I'm sure the weather and the fact that some people actually work down there had something to do with it. I ended up at the Cajun Cabin for some seafood gumbo, jambalaya, fried alligator (that was a first), and a couple of Abita's (local beer) and bloodys. From there, it was off to Harrah's. For some reason I've been playing a lot of roulette. I know the odds are terrible, but I've been pretty lucky lately. 6, 18 and 21. 3 numbers next to each other on the wheel for a nickel a piece. Luck was on my side as I ended up tripling my buy-in so I ventured over to blackjack where I doubled my buy-in there. Of course, blackjack wasn't without a dull moment as I had a major lapse in judgement when I split 5s against a 6. The dealer said he'd never seen that before and I had other people at the table yelling at me. I won the hand but realized the error and apologized to the table. They still weren't very happy and believe it or not, neither was I. I'd rather play correctly and lose and then play poorly and win.
I was exhausted and still feeling terrible at this point, so I went back to the room and slept until morning even though it was only 8:00.
The next day was the Dead Money Tournament. I was up WAY too early and it was miserable out. Rainy, windy and temperatures in the 30s. What happened the sun, heat and humidity in Louisiana?
Tournament started at noon and there were 12 players. Not bad odds for a trip to Vegas and a $10,000 buy-in to the greatest poker tournament in the world. Two tables of 6, 10,000 chips to start, and I had last year's winner, Ross Wallin, to my right. I definitely made a mental note of that.
I started off well once again, picking up pots here and there. After about an hour, I had a pretty good read on most of the players at my table. There were a couple of key hands at the final table that helped me out, but there was one early which I think could have been the early turning point. I had KQ suited and raised a decent amount. One caller was the guy to my immediate left (I believe his name was Robert), who always played with an ace in his hand, so I knew what was up against. Flop comes A,K,Q rainbow. Two pair for me but I did not like this flop at all. I checked and he came out firing. I put him on AK or AQ. I laughed because I couldn't believe I was going to lay my hand down, but did and showed the table. Everyone was shocked, except for Ross because he agreed with me. Robert shows me AJ. Bad laydown on my part, but I asked the dealer to run the cards and sure enough, he would have rivered a 10 on me for the straight anyway. One thing I'm learning about no-limit hold em is that it's not the hands you play that are as important as the laydowns you make.
The second big hand at this table for me was me in the small blind with AK. Ross to my right on the button had been pretty aggressive with his raises in position. He'd gotten caught a few times and was someone short stacked and moved in. I immediately called and turns over KJ. The defending champ was dominated in danger of being the first one eliminated. But poker being poker, he flops a J and builds up his chip stack and knocks me down to about 5k in chips.
We merged at 10 and I was still alive. My chip stack was going up and down like a roller coaster. Definitely some pretty good players at the final table. Martin took over as the aggressive one and I took note. There were 3 key hands for me at the final table. First key hand was when I was short stacked against Ross, who was the chip leader at this point and was all-in with A8 I believe. Ross called with pocket 9s. Now here's where it got interesting. Ross was in the small blind and was shuffling the cards for the next hand, which is what the small blind usually does. In his haste, I assume he thought he was supposed to be dealing and dealt the rest of the hand with the wrong deck!!!! However, no one picked up on it until the hand was over and wouldn't you know it, I "flopped" an ace. Since it was his mistake and the hand was already done, I took down the pot.
Second key hand came when another aggressive player, Daniel from Virginia goes all-in in early position. I had a decent chip stack at this point and called with A10 suited. Daniel turns over A2. Dominated. But poker being poker, Daniel gets a 2 on the turn and stays alive taking a lot of my chips in the process.
Third and final key hand came when I was heads up with Ross. He had a substantial chip lead on me and was dealt 62 suited and I called in the small blind. Ross checks and the flop comes out something like queen, four, five. Don't remember if I went all in on the flop or turn but I was short stacked and had a gutshot and a pair after the turn, so why not? Ross had 45 for 2 pair. I yell out "Give me a 3" which would have given me the straight, although I didn't realize at the time that a queen, 6 or 2 would have given me a higher 2 pair as well since a 6 fell on the turn, so I did have outs. Sure enough, the 3 comes on the river giving me the straight and evening the chip stacks.
From there I played fairly aggressive, either raising or folding but mostly raising, and eventually wore down the defending champion.
That night we went out to celebrate and although I don't like to drink and play, I got talked into a 1-2NL game at Harrah's 5AM. Bad idea. I played terribly, loosely, talked too much, played too many hands and lost half my winnings from the day before. I hate cash games. I was almost embarrassed to admit that I won a satellite was going to play in the WSOP with the way I played. Might give bad players hope. But that's OK. I'll get it out of my system now. It's part of my strategy to make people wonder. Besides, I have a little less than 6 months to straighten it out and I promise there will be no cash games or beer while at the table between now and then.
To prepare, I'm sure I'll be making occasional trip to Atlantic City to play at the Borgata or the Taj. I think there's some WSOP circuit event coming up in March at Caesars also. I will be sure to keep everyone up to date on my progress and the events I play.
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