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.
