4.23.2005
So, the other day, I won a satellite to get to a big tournament today.
And today, I played the tournament.
And, I finished third out of 261.
I was in the top 20 for most of the tournament. The big play that originally got me there was the strongest read I've ever had.
I picked up 88 with 8K left...sitting around 15th to 20th in chips. A person with 3200 goes all-in, so it's 2K for me to call. I figure I'm going to call it until I see someone just call them.
Think about this. I'm acting behind them. And they call.
So, I begin to consider the hands they'd have. AA? KK? QQ? No, they'd shut me out. You don't want to play a pot multi-way (even when someone's all-in) against someone who can outflop you. So I think about other hands. AK? No, they'd probably push that, too.
AQ and AJ are more likely, but I doubt they'd call with AJ. So I put her on AQ, and I decide that, if the flop shows one of those two, I will fold. If the flop shows anything else, I'm pushing or calling if they push.
The flop came 9-4-5. They pushed all-in, I called instantly (I had them covered by about 700).
They showed AQ. I called to build the sidepot, and because I decided that, if I put in 50% of my chips, I'm seeing the river of this one. This was my stand, and I made it. I was on my way to winning the side pot.
The main pot, though, was another story. That guy had A9.
I turned an eight, and knocked them both out, getting to third in chips.
I never left the top ten after that. I rose to the chip lead with 30 left, but doubled up two small stacks and fell to third (one on a hand where I thought he'd push with any ace...I had 33, he had JJ, and another where I made the right play with A7 on a 7-high board to the turn...they called all-in with J10d for a flush draw and rivered a 10). But late, I went card dead, got tight, and was tenth with 10 left. I got into a pot with the 9th stack, and ended up crippling him with KQ vs A6 with a K on the flop. I got to the final table eighth in chips.
And then, I made the move that defined my tournament.
I picked up A10 with 30K left, 1500/3K blinds, and raised to 9K. I know I'm committed when I put the 9K in, and decide to push no matter what flop comes. I get called, and the flop comes 6-K-2, all hearts. The person in front of me bets 15K, something they said afterwards was a mistake (said their mouse slid too much). I went all-in anyway, and they folded (they should've called, they'd have 3K left, but it's a no-brainer when you commit 24K to a pot. I went to fourth in chips, and was fourth with six left when I began another run. I rose to third on an AK vs A9 hand, and then this one:
99 in the BB, I decide to see the flop cheap when it's limped to me. Flop comes 7-5-4. The chip leader was the other player in this pot. He bets the pot, I immediately go all-in for my 80K, and he calls with 76. He doesn't improve, and I go to 200K in chips, and a HUGE chip lead.
I gave it away, fortunately. With three left, I picked up Qd 10s, a good hand three-handed. The guy who doubled me up, AxeAces, raised the min preflop, and I called.
The flop came 5A2, all diamonds. I'm looking good. He bets, and I don't have a very good read, but he's loose-aggressive, so he could have any diamond, or any ace. I call, and the turn brings me gin in the Jd. I have the flush, and only one hand beats me (Kd).
He bets.
I stare blankly at it, and call it. It starts to dawn on me that I *could* be beat, but all I think is that I'm going to get all his chips, be a 10-to-1 chip leader heads up, and win $125. He goes all-in on the river, and I insta-call.
He shows KQ. King of diamonds.
I was crushed.
And I went card dead.
He put me out of my misery with KQ vs A6, and a turned ace left me dead on the river. I won $50, so I'm happy with that. But I could've WON that. And I screwed up.
Either way, my good fortune on JetSet continues.
And today, I played the tournament.
And, I finished third out of 261.
I was in the top 20 for most of the tournament. The big play that originally got me there was the strongest read I've ever had.
I picked up 88 with 8K left...sitting around 15th to 20th in chips. A person with 3200 goes all-in, so it's 2K for me to call. I figure I'm going to call it until I see someone just call them.
Think about this. I'm acting behind them. And they call.
So, I begin to consider the hands they'd have. AA? KK? QQ? No, they'd shut me out. You don't want to play a pot multi-way (even when someone's all-in) against someone who can outflop you. So I think about other hands. AK? No, they'd probably push that, too.
AQ and AJ are more likely, but I doubt they'd call with AJ. So I put her on AQ, and I decide that, if the flop shows one of those two, I will fold. If the flop shows anything else, I'm pushing or calling if they push.
The flop came 9-4-5. They pushed all-in, I called instantly (I had them covered by about 700).
They showed AQ. I called to build the sidepot, and because I decided that, if I put in 50% of my chips, I'm seeing the river of this one. This was my stand, and I made it. I was on my way to winning the side pot.
The main pot, though, was another story. That guy had A9.
I turned an eight, and knocked them both out, getting to third in chips.
I never left the top ten after that. I rose to the chip lead with 30 left, but doubled up two small stacks and fell to third (one on a hand where I thought he'd push with any ace...I had 33, he had JJ, and another where I made the right play with A7 on a 7-high board to the turn...they called all-in with J10d for a flush draw and rivered a 10). But late, I went card dead, got tight, and was tenth with 10 left. I got into a pot with the 9th stack, and ended up crippling him with KQ vs A6 with a K on the flop. I got to the final table eighth in chips.
And then, I made the move that defined my tournament.
I picked up A10 with 30K left, 1500/3K blinds, and raised to 9K. I know I'm committed when I put the 9K in, and decide to push no matter what flop comes. I get called, and the flop comes 6-K-2, all hearts. The person in front of me bets 15K, something they said afterwards was a mistake (said their mouse slid too much). I went all-in anyway, and they folded (they should've called, they'd have 3K left, but it's a no-brainer when you commit 24K to a pot. I went to fourth in chips, and was fourth with six left when I began another run. I rose to third on an AK vs A9 hand, and then this one:
99 in the BB, I decide to see the flop cheap when it's limped to me. Flop comes 7-5-4. The chip leader was the other player in this pot. He bets the pot, I immediately go all-in for my 80K, and he calls with 76. He doesn't improve, and I go to 200K in chips, and a HUGE chip lead.
I gave it away, fortunately. With three left, I picked up Qd 10s, a good hand three-handed. The guy who doubled me up, AxeAces, raised the min preflop, and I called.
The flop came 5A2, all diamonds. I'm looking good. He bets, and I don't have a very good read, but he's loose-aggressive, so he could have any diamond, or any ace. I call, and the turn brings me gin in the Jd. I have the flush, and only one hand beats me (Kd).
He bets.
I stare blankly at it, and call it. It starts to dawn on me that I *could* be beat, but all I think is that I'm going to get all his chips, be a 10-to-1 chip leader heads up, and win $125. He goes all-in on the river, and I insta-call.
He shows KQ. King of diamonds.
I was crushed.
And I went card dead.
He put me out of my misery with KQ vs A6, and a turned ace left me dead on the river. I won $50, so I'm happy with that. But I could've WON that. And I screwed up.
Either way, my good fortune on JetSet continues.
4.22.2005
Yesterday, I won a satellite. 94 started, and top nine went to a tournament on Saturday.
I was fourth when we made the money. The tournament ended when the places got paid, so I technically won it. ;)
I played pretty solid, and it was only in doubt because of my insecurities. So now, during the NFL draft, I'll take my chance to win $150 or so.
Last night, I played in three tournaments. In one of them, I made a play with QJd that failed against KK. So be it.
But in the other two...wow.
First one, I have JJ on a 10-6-5 rainbow flop. I had raised preflop, so I like the pot, and I don't like that if an overcard comes, I have to squirm. So I go all-in for my remaining 1500.
I get called.
By K4c.
A "rainbow" flop means that three cards of different suits come out. That also means there's no flush draw. So this person would need a king or two running clubs (the 10c was out there) to beat me.
And so, they hit their clubs.
I just sat there. What could I say? I took it kindly, as the person said they got lucky. It's the second-worst beat I had suffered this week...until this one in the third tourney.
I pick up KK on a short-stack (have 960 left in chips) early in the second hour. One guy goes all-in ahead of me, and this is a no-brainer play for me. I have to go all-in, and really just hope they have queens or Ax. Turns out the other guy had KK, so we're headed for a split pot.
Until he hits a flush. Again with running clubs.
WTF.
Oh well. No poker today until I get to the tournament tonight. I'll write the USBL dynasty instead.
I was fourth when we made the money. The tournament ended when the places got paid, so I technically won it. ;)
I played pretty solid, and it was only in doubt because of my insecurities. So now, during the NFL draft, I'll take my chance to win $150 or so.
Last night, I played in three tournaments. In one of them, I made a play with QJd that failed against KK. So be it.
But in the other two...wow.
First one, I have JJ on a 10-6-5 rainbow flop. I had raised preflop, so I like the pot, and I don't like that if an overcard comes, I have to squirm. So I go all-in for my remaining 1500.
I get called.
By K4c.
A "rainbow" flop means that three cards of different suits come out. That also means there's no flush draw. So this person would need a king or two running clubs (the 10c was out there) to beat me.
And so, they hit their clubs.
I just sat there. What could I say? I took it kindly, as the person said they got lucky. It's the second-worst beat I had suffered this week...until this one in the third tourney.
I pick up KK on a short-stack (have 960 left in chips) early in the second hour. One guy goes all-in ahead of me, and this is a no-brainer play for me. I have to go all-in, and really just hope they have queens or Ax. Turns out the other guy had KK, so we're headed for a split pot.
Until he hits a flush. Again with running clubs.
WTF.
Oh well. No poker today until I get to the tournament tonight. I'll write the USBL dynasty instead.
4.21.2005
So yesterday, I played in several tournaments. And in every one, I suffered ridiculous, 90%+ favorite bad beats. I played in one more tournament last night, and wound up finishing 12th out of 400. I was 2nd for about 45 minutes after being the shorstack with A8 vs AK...flopped my 8 and then started climbing to the top.
And then, with 17 left...I went totally card dead. I also got sucked out of a big pot, and ran into a bit of bad luck (called a small 6K all-in with 99, he showed 10s)...I'm 8th with 12 left, and take a chance at a steal with K10. I chose the spot because the play was tight and the blinds were smaller stacks and one who was like 500 more in chips than me.
And the BB called me with A7. He was really gambling, but he made a good call.
Until the flop brought a king.
All of a sudden, I'm thinking about winning it.
Then...the ace came on the turn.
Sigh.
Finished 12th. But, I've still got it.
And then, with 17 left...I went totally card dead. I also got sucked out of a big pot, and ran into a bit of bad luck (called a small 6K all-in with 99, he showed 10s)...I'm 8th with 12 left, and take a chance at a steal with K10. I chose the spot because the play was tight and the blinds were smaller stacks and one who was like 500 more in chips than me.
And the BB called me with A7. He was really gambling, but he made a good call.
Until the flop brought a king.
All of a sudden, I'm thinking about winning it.
Then...the ace came on the turn.
Sigh.
Finished 12th. But, I've still got it.
4.20.2005
I just suffered a monumental beat.
There's about 100 left in this limit tourney, and I'm about 40th. Blinds are 600-1200, I have about 15K in chips.
I pick up AKo on the button, and I raise it to 2400. I get four callers, and I like my hand a lot more when the flop comes K27. I bet out 1200, and I get three callers.
The river comes a 3, I bet 2400, get one caller.
The turn comes a 4, and the other person in the hand bets. I raise, and they call.
And show 34o.
I know that bad beats are part of poker. But this one shocked me. I lost a 35K pot, and instead of heading to the top 15, I'm out four hands later.
Sigh.
There's about 100 left in this limit tourney, and I'm about 40th. Blinds are 600-1200, I have about 15K in chips.
I pick up AKo on the button, and I raise it to 2400. I get four callers, and I like my hand a lot more when the flop comes K27. I bet out 1200, and I get three callers.
The river comes a 3, I bet 2400, get one caller.
The turn comes a 4, and the other person in the hand bets. I raise, and they call.
And show 34o.
I know that bad beats are part of poker. But this one shocked me. I lost a 35K pot, and instead of heading to the top 15, I'm out four hands later.
Sigh.
4.19.2005
So I had my bee string crap this morning...so I decided to enter a tournament at 6am, since I couldn't fall asleep, no matter how hard I tried.
I entered a pot limit hold'em tourney. 355 players, I finished 2nd. That's my best finish in an online tournament. I'll take it!
I'm exhausted now, but I'm trying to hang on until 11:15am, so I can get some lunch. If I fall asleep though...oh well.
I entered a pot limit hold'em tourney. 355 players, I finished 2nd. That's my best finish in an online tournament. I'll take it!
I'm exhausted now, but I'm trying to hang on until 11:15am, so I can get some lunch. If I fall asleep though...oh well.
Holy CRAP I'm ticked...
So I'll paint the picture.
4:30am. I wake up suddenly. I grab my right knee, which is suddenly very painful.
I go to the bathroom, and check it out. There's a bump that's growing. I go back in the bedroom, wake Em up, and tell her I have to turn on the light because something bit me.
I pull over my blanket.
There's a wasp walking around.
WTF.
In other news, I finished 14th out of 207 in a poker tournament tonight. I was 2nd in chips for awhile, but went card dead and lost a couple tough ones, including one that would've made me the chip leader...guy had 22 vs my 66, and hit his set on the river to take my hand out.
So I'll paint the picture.
4:30am. I wake up suddenly. I grab my right knee, which is suddenly very painful.
I go to the bathroom, and check it out. There's a bump that's growing. I go back in the bedroom, wake Em up, and tell her I have to turn on the light because something bit me.
I pull over my blanket.
There's a wasp walking around.
WTF.
In other news, I finished 14th out of 207 in a poker tournament tonight. I was 2nd in chips for awhile, but went card dead and lost a couple tough ones, including one that would've made me the chip leader...guy had 22 vs my 66, and hit his set on the river to take my hand out.
Holy CRAP I'm ticked...
So I'll paint the picture.
4:30am. I wake up suddenly. I grab my right knee, which is suddenly very painful.
I go to the bathroom, and check it out. There's a bump that's growing. I go back in the bedroom, wake Em up, and tell her I have to turn on the light because something bit me.
I pull over my blanket.
There's a wasp walking around.
WTF.
In other news, I finished 14th out of 207 in a poker tournament tonight. I was 2nd in chips for awhile, but went card dead and lost a couple tough ones, including one that would've made me the chip leader...guy had 22 vs my 66, and hit his set on the river to take my hand out.
So I'll paint the picture.
4:30am. I wake up suddenly. I grab my right knee, which is suddenly very painful.
I go to the bathroom, and check it out. There's a bump that's growing. I go back in the bedroom, wake Em up, and tell her I have to turn on the light because something bit me.
I pull over my blanket.
There's a wasp walking around.
WTF.
In other news, I finished 14th out of 207 in a poker tournament tonight. I was 2nd in chips for awhile, but went card dead and lost a couple tough ones, including one that would've made me the chip leader...guy had 22 vs my 66, and hit his set on the river to take my hand out.
4.18.2005
My good run in tournaments continue...
I finished fifth out of 400 in a JetSet tourney. So, three top-10 finishes in four days, and two final tables. I'll take it.
I finished fifth out of 400 in a JetSet tourney. So, three top-10 finishes in four days, and two final tables. I'll take it.
4.17.2005
Just a bad beat story...
I'm playing in a local tournament. 14 playing, $20 a pop. $160 goes to the winner.
I've been sitting back the first couple of rounds, just surveying the table. Guy to my right is aggressive as hell, raising pots with just about anything. The rest of my table...doesn't quite know what they're doing. They know their hands, but they're not playing anyone else's.
Anyway, I finally pick up a hand I feel like playing. I get KQs one off the button. I decide to limp, and either trap if I hit my hand, or lay it down if I don't; these guys limp too much, and half of them call you if you raise...it's early in the tourney, and with the blinds somewhat small (50-100, start with 2000), I don't want to risk TOO much.
The bet is mini-raised by the guy on the right. I figure I'll call, as I still have a solid hand pre-flop. Four or five call as well, putting the pot at around 1200.
Flop: Kc Kd 3 d
I have trips and am a bit afraid of the flush draw. The hand is checked to me, and I bet out 500, which leaves me with 1150. The guy on my left calls immediately, and I put him on either a flush draw or the other king, and it folds to the guy on my right, who pushes all-in.
I don't even hesitate. I know I have the best hand; no way he has AK or K3. He has the other king, but not the boat I call.
The guy on my left calls, and I read him right when he turns over 54d. The guy on my right turns over K4.
I like my chances. He's a 8% chance to win the hand, at best. Maybe even 5% or 2%.
Doesn't matter. My face freezes when the 4 comes down on the turn, making him his boat.
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how good you're playing, or how bad the competition is.
The cards will just wipe you out.
That's okay. I've been playing very solid lately, and have a big tournament tomorrow. My tournament results on Stars lately:
Thursday: 6th out of 3,012
Friday: 30th out of 1,107
Saturday: 10th out of 2,430
I'm playing the best poker of my life, and I'm ready to take this down tomorrow.
I'm playing in a local tournament. 14 playing, $20 a pop. $160 goes to the winner.
I've been sitting back the first couple of rounds, just surveying the table. Guy to my right is aggressive as hell, raising pots with just about anything. The rest of my table...doesn't quite know what they're doing. They know their hands, but they're not playing anyone else's.
Anyway, I finally pick up a hand I feel like playing. I get KQs one off the button. I decide to limp, and either trap if I hit my hand, or lay it down if I don't; these guys limp too much, and half of them call you if you raise...it's early in the tourney, and with the blinds somewhat small (50-100, start with 2000), I don't want to risk TOO much.
The bet is mini-raised by the guy on the right. I figure I'll call, as I still have a solid hand pre-flop. Four or five call as well, putting the pot at around 1200.
Flop: Kc Kd 3 d
I have trips and am a bit afraid of the flush draw. The hand is checked to me, and I bet out 500, which leaves me with 1150. The guy on my left calls immediately, and I put him on either a flush draw or the other king, and it folds to the guy on my right, who pushes all-in.
I don't even hesitate. I know I have the best hand; no way he has AK or K3. He has the other king, but not the boat I call.
The guy on my left calls, and I read him right when he turns over 54d. The guy on my right turns over K4.
I like my chances. He's a 8% chance to win the hand, at best. Maybe even 5% or 2%.
Doesn't matter. My face freezes when the 4 comes down on the turn, making him his boat.
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how good you're playing, or how bad the competition is.
The cards will just wipe you out.
That's okay. I've been playing very solid lately, and have a big tournament tomorrow. My tournament results on Stars lately:
Thursday: 6th out of 3,012
Friday: 30th out of 1,107
Saturday: 10th out of 2,430
I'm playing the best poker of my life, and I'm ready to take this down tomorrow.
