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.
Monday, June 30, 2008
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...
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