I arrived quite late on Friday having changed at LA - the queue for taxis was absurdly long but they manage to get 12 taxis lined up simultaneously - if we had been at Victoria there would have been rioting.
I am slumming it at the Olde English themed Excalibur which last time I was here had a micro stakes poker room and was family friendly. The poker room is now dealer free - electronic tables only and there is a bar area called Dirty Dicks with some quality dancing girls. Classy.
Went over to the Bellagio where to find my fellow "big game" players who were playing in the 42 runner $1000 2pm tournament. Mark was on the final table and Wilson had only just been eliminated. Mark ended up winning it - an excellent effort.
On Marks' advice I went over to the Rio to buy in to Day 1A of the WSOP $1000 tournament on Saturday. After queuing for about half an hour I got in to Day 1B - the first day was sold out.
Saturday 30th May
Did not get a great amount of sleep but after the standard breakfast buffet at the Venetian Wilson and I headed for the $340 Venetian deepstack at noon and Mark headed for the Rio.
I did not even make it through Level 1. Blinds were 50/100 and we started with 12k chips. They were still taking late entrants but at least 500 runners. I should perhaps have known things weren't going to go my way when I raised my AA UTG and got no callers.
My downfall was 46 in the BB. 1 limper from mid position and a call from the button and SB. Flop comes 578 with 2 diamonds. So I have a well disguised straight. The SB checks and so do I - hoping for action and the limper bets 300 in to the 400 pot. The button and SB fold and I make it 1000 in total. He then raises it 2000 more and I am now putting him on a set or Ax diamonds. I reraise another 5k leaving me about 6k to push in on the turn if the flush card does not come. He then moves all-in and I take another look. The only hand I am behind is 69 - surely he could not have limped with that? Well unfortunately when I call that is exactly what he had. To really rub it in, they were diamonds and he hits the unnecessary flush on the turn. I don't think I could have avoided this.
After this swift exit I headed to Caeasar's for the $380 deepstack. I managed to only lose 3000 of my starting chips when raising with JJ and then betting in to a T97 board. I was reraised and laid it down - he showed TT.
So by the time it was Level 2 : 100/200 I had 11,000 and the were 220 runners left. At the break at the end of L2 I was down to 8000 - had to fold to a reraise after raising with 88. Tried to nick a limped pot with K9s hitting K75 board but after a reraise I had to assume my kicker was no good.
Get no hands and down to 5k on Level 4 200/400 - but then doubled up with QQ in the BB vs a dumb raise from the button with A6.
Level 5 400/800 - still about 10k 148 out of 239 left. Had a difficult decision with T9 clubs. Played it from the button and could have got my last 5000 into a 3 way pot laying me about 3 to 1. I would have been against 77 and AQ. Would have won when a 9 flopped.
Scraped back up to 10k by pushing from late position with 55 after 2 limps - no callers.
Level 6 600/1200. I get a nice double up when calling 2 limps with 98 on the button. The flop is 976. It is checked to me so I bet about half the pot. The SB reraises and once everyone else folds I know I am in good shape. We get it all in and he has 86 - sweet. I am now back with an average stack of 20k.
Got moved to a new table and 2 hands in I pick up A6s in the SB. When all fold I make it 5000 to go. He calls and when the flop is KT8 all diamonds I check fold.
2 hands later I pick up AA. There is a raise UTG but I decide to just call - hoping the man to my left will be tempted to bully me again. He just calls. Flop is A75 with 2 clubs. UTG checks as do I - expecting Mr aggressive to bet. Sure enough he does and UTG moves all-in. I am happy to follow and it is looking good when I have set over set against UTG and Mr Agressor only had a flush draw. Unfortunately he hits.
Next up I go to the Rio to check out the mega satellites. Not tempted by the $1k tournament - only 14 registered an hour before so play the $340 tourny instead. 220 runners. By the start of Level 2 (50/100) my stack is down to 4500 from a start of 5000. Move up to 7500 when my set of 6's gets paid. Get AA in late position. UTG raises to 300 so I make it 1000 to go. He calls. Flop is T96 with 2 diamonds and he leads out for 1500. I am pretty much committed if I raise so I go all-in - unfortunately rather than him having a big draw or a worse overpair he has a set of T's so I am toast.
Finally I play a $275 sit and go. There is nearly a fight in the queue to get seats which add a certain frisson to things. Typically swift structure. 1500 chips each, 20 min blinds.
No hands at L1 of 25/25. During level 2 (25/50) I flop a straight draw having called 2 limps with T9 on the button. I try to nick it when they check a flop of QJ3 but have to fold to a reraise. By the time we get to L3 50/100 I move all-in rom the button with AQ after a standard raise and call. Unfortunately the raiser had KK.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Sunday, 3 May 2009
DTD Trip - Nottingham - May 3rd - Cooler or Bad Play?
After failing to make it to day 2 in the main event I played the £150 sunday afternoon event.
5000 stack - 30 min levels - 80 runners.
I was out of the tournament in about 10 minutes. I wonder if you dear reader could have avoided my fate?
1 Pre flop call?
We are on level 1 : 25/50 and I pick up A4 both hearts in the big blind. UTG raises to 300 the button calls as does the Small Blind. Would you call here?
I call because:
A - it is early on and I'm looking to hit a monster or chuck my hand away. If I get a flush draw then I could play it strong .
B - there is no further action to come so I can't get raised. I would not play this hand to a raise if I was earlier than the cut off position.
C - 4 way action. I would not call heads up.
2 Post flop check?
The flop comes 445 rainbow. The small blinds checks. What should I do?
I think it is clear to check also since the UTG raiser and / or the button must have something to bet with. I am inclined to think I am a mile ahead so I want to get some more in the pot before making a big bet on the turn.
I check, UTG bets 400 and the button folds but the SB calls.
3 Flop raise
So do you call or raise?
I just called - I still think I am in front and I don't want to lose the UTG player. I will make my move on the turn - bet size will depend on the nature of the turn card.
4 Turn check?
Turn is 6c making 2 clubs on the board.
I now don't want to see the river with straights and flushes around. SB checks to me and I look for the check raise. Would you bet out?
5 Fold?
The UTG bets 500 and then the SB makes it 1500.
The pot is now 3900 and it will cost me 1500 to call. I see no reason to do anything except go all-in.
UTG folds and unfortunately the SB instacalls showing 55 for the flopped full house. Oops - I need the case 4.
So I'm not sure if I could have done anything about this.....
5000 stack - 30 min levels - 80 runners.
I was out of the tournament in about 10 minutes. I wonder if you dear reader could have avoided my fate?
1 Pre flop call?
We are on level 1 : 25/50 and I pick up A4 both hearts in the big blind. UTG raises to 300 the button calls as does the Small Blind. Would you call here?
I call because:
A - it is early on and I'm looking to hit a monster or chuck my hand away. If I get a flush draw then I could play it strong .
B - there is no further action to come so I can't get raised. I would not play this hand to a raise if I was earlier than the cut off position.
C - 4 way action. I would not call heads up.
2 Post flop check?
The flop comes 445 rainbow. The small blinds checks. What should I do?
I think it is clear to check also since the UTG raiser and / or the button must have something to bet with. I am inclined to think I am a mile ahead so I want to get some more in the pot before making a big bet on the turn.
I check, UTG bets 400 and the button folds but the SB calls.
3 Flop raise
So do you call or raise?
I just called - I still think I am in front and I don't want to lose the UTG player. I will make my move on the turn - bet size will depend on the nature of the turn card.
4 Turn check?
Turn is 6c making 2 clubs on the board.
I now don't want to see the river with straights and flushes around. SB checks to me and I look for the check raise. Would you bet out?
5 Fold?
The UTG bets 500 and then the SB makes it 1500.
The pot is now 3900 and it will cost me 1500 to call. I see no reason to do anything except go all-in.
UTG folds and unfortunately the SB instacalls showing 55 for the flopped full house. Oops - I need the case 4.
So I'm not sure if I could have done anything about this.....
DTD Trip - Nottingham - May 1st
I decided to take a trip to Nottingham to play in the Dusk Til Dawn poker club monthly deepstack event.
The club itself is located in an industrial estate out of town - but once you are inside it is pretty impressive.
They have around 60 tables so can easily accommodate the 311 runners in the main event.
There seemed to be a lot of cash game action - no cap on the buy-in which would please Mr Bramley.
At 2.00 am there were around 20 tables in action.
On Friday night there was a £75 freezeout with 89 runners. 30 minute levels and a starting stack of 5000.
I got virtually no playable hands in the first 4 levels but won a couple of pots with big blind specials. I completely tilted the guy to my left when he limped under the gun with AK. There were 2 callers and me to a flop of A23. I, of course, had 23 so check called to the river when I min raised - and he finally twigged he was behind - much grumbling commenced from then.
After the break blinds were at level 5 : 150/300. I had 3500 so was looking for an all-in opportunity. I finally picked up AK in the BB and pushed after a standard button raise. Unfortunately he called with QQ which stood up and I was out in around 30th place.
On Saturday we had the main event. Starting stack 10,000 : 45 minute levels - buy-in £300. 311 runners - first paying about £29,000 - 27 paid
Level 1 25/50
I got lots of playable hands - had KJ spades in the BB and made a flush on the turn which got me a few chips. However we were definitely playing small ball poker so no-one was going crazy and there was quite a lot of limping. So when I managed to limp with 34 in the small blind and made a full house on the river which also made my opponent a flush I did not get much for it.
I then got 44,55 and 99 and saw some flops but did not hit. Ran my AQ into QQ but after betting out on a raggedy flop and getting raised I let it go. Played AT suited against JQ. Flop was 56T I bet out - he called. Turn J scared me a bit so I slowed up. River was a Q so I check called.
Level 2 50/100 start with 9500
Raised from mid position with 44 and hit my set on a board on T43 with 2 spades. Decided to bet out rather than slow play and risk the flush and all folded.
Got JJ in mid position so opened for 300. Reraised by the button to 1200 so it was a pretty easy fold.
Played a bizarre hand - called 2 limps with 67 on the button. Flop came A67 and when the first limper led out I thought - bingo - he's got an ace so I just called. He checked the turn of 5 and when he led out on a river Q I was convinced I was ahead so I raised. He called and showed 67 as well for a split pot.
Managed not to get busted with QQ - I raised and got one caller. Flop was 9TJ with 2 hearts so I bet out. He raised and I called. Turn was a J so I check folded. He showed me KQ.
All this action meant I ended level 2 with 7500 chips.
Level 3 75/150 290 players left out of 311.
Won a bit with JJ. Raised and got one caller. Flop was 478 2 diamonds. I bet he called - turn an 8 so I slowed down. River K so I whimped out and checked. He had a busted straight and flush draw. This got me back to 8000.
Final hand before the break I did not raise with 88 in the BB after 4 limps. Flop was 678 so I checked looking for a check raise. Unfortunately all checked and the turn was 9 and when I bet out I got raised by a player who had been playing a lot of pots with some pretty dodgy starting hands. I decided he could easily have made his straight and it was pretty much all-in or fold. I decided to fold.
So at the first break I had 8000 chips. 266 runners left - rather more eliminated than I would have expected.
Level 4 100/200
I think I played AJ in the small blind badly. Just called after 2 limps and then bet out on a QJ3 flop. Called by the button and turn was another Q. I checked as did he. River K so I checked again. He showed K7. I should perhaps have fired a second barrel on the turn.
Raised with KK and then bet into an AQx board and my opponent folded. 231 runners left.
Level 5 100/200 ante 25
No hands at this level - down to 6500 towards the end of the level when I limped with TJ on the button. Flop was 24J. Small blind led out for 400 into about a 1000 pot - I thought I might be winning so I raised to 1500 - however when he moved all in I had to give it up. He should 24. Good decision - but down to 4500.
Level 6 150/300 ante 25
Raised with AJ on the button. One caller. Shoved on a J high flop with 2 diamonds and he folded.
Made a cheeky raise under the gun with 66. Only the BB called. He checked a K54 flop so I bet out and he folded. Got up to 6000 by the end of the level. 184 players left.
Level 7 200/400 ante 50
No hands but scraped along with a couple of late position open shoves with Q9 and Q7 which weren't called
Level 8 300/600 ante 50
Picked up AQ in the BB. Similar stack to mine pushed on the button and I called. He had A6 so I doubled up to 9500. Wow - nearly back where I started.
Level 9 400/800 ante 100
We had a break before level 9 - the last of the night. I've got 8500 so still in all-in or fold territory. 122 runners left.
I finally get called with one of my dodgy all-ins. I have J7 of clubs and he calls with KQ also clubs - oops there goes my club draw. Dealer pops up J76 - I think result! However he then produces A and then T to do me with a straight.
The club itself is located in an industrial estate out of town - but once you are inside it is pretty impressive.
They have around 60 tables so can easily accommodate the 311 runners in the main event.
There seemed to be a lot of cash game action - no cap on the buy-in which would please Mr Bramley.
At 2.00 am there were around 20 tables in action.
On Friday night there was a £75 freezeout with 89 runners. 30 minute levels and a starting stack of 5000.
I got virtually no playable hands in the first 4 levels but won a couple of pots with big blind specials. I completely tilted the guy to my left when he limped under the gun with AK. There were 2 callers and me to a flop of A23. I, of course, had 23 so check called to the river when I min raised - and he finally twigged he was behind - much grumbling commenced from then.
After the break blinds were at level 5 : 150/300. I had 3500 so was looking for an all-in opportunity. I finally picked up AK in the BB and pushed after a standard button raise. Unfortunately he called with QQ which stood up and I was out in around 30th place.
On Saturday we had the main event. Starting stack 10,000 : 45 minute levels - buy-in £300. 311 runners - first paying about £29,000 - 27 paid
Level 1 25/50
I got lots of playable hands - had KJ spades in the BB and made a flush on the turn which got me a few chips. However we were definitely playing small ball poker so no-one was going crazy and there was quite a lot of limping. So when I managed to limp with 34 in the small blind and made a full house on the river which also made my opponent a flush I did not get much for it.
I then got 44,55 and 99 and saw some flops but did not hit. Ran my AQ into QQ but after betting out on a raggedy flop and getting raised I let it go. Played AT suited against JQ. Flop was 56T I bet out - he called. Turn J scared me a bit so I slowed up. River was a Q so I check called.
Level 2 50/100 start with 9500
Raised from mid position with 44 and hit my set on a board on T43 with 2 spades. Decided to bet out rather than slow play and risk the flush and all folded.
Got JJ in mid position so opened for 300. Reraised by the button to 1200 so it was a pretty easy fold.
Played a bizarre hand - called 2 limps with 67 on the button. Flop came A67 and when the first limper led out I thought - bingo - he's got an ace so I just called. He checked the turn of 5 and when he led out on a river Q I was convinced I was ahead so I raised. He called and showed 67 as well for a split pot.
Managed not to get busted with QQ - I raised and got one caller. Flop was 9TJ with 2 hearts so I bet out. He raised and I called. Turn was a J so I check folded. He showed me KQ.
All this action meant I ended level 2 with 7500 chips.
Level 3 75/150 290 players left out of 311.
Won a bit with JJ. Raised and got one caller. Flop was 478 2 diamonds. I bet he called - turn an 8 so I slowed down. River K so I whimped out and checked. He had a busted straight and flush draw. This got me back to 8000.
Final hand before the break I did not raise with 88 in the BB after 4 limps. Flop was 678 so I checked looking for a check raise. Unfortunately all checked and the turn was 9 and when I bet out I got raised by a player who had been playing a lot of pots with some pretty dodgy starting hands. I decided he could easily have made his straight and it was pretty much all-in or fold. I decided to fold.
So at the first break I had 8000 chips. 266 runners left - rather more eliminated than I would have expected.
Level 4 100/200
I think I played AJ in the small blind badly. Just called after 2 limps and then bet out on a QJ3 flop. Called by the button and turn was another Q. I checked as did he. River K so I checked again. He showed K7. I should perhaps have fired a second barrel on the turn.
Raised with KK and then bet into an AQx board and my opponent folded. 231 runners left.
Level 5 100/200 ante 25
No hands at this level - down to 6500 towards the end of the level when I limped with TJ on the button. Flop was 24J. Small blind led out for 400 into about a 1000 pot - I thought I might be winning so I raised to 1500 - however when he moved all in I had to give it up. He should 24. Good decision - but down to 4500.
Level 6 150/300 ante 25
Raised with AJ on the button. One caller. Shoved on a J high flop with 2 diamonds and he folded.
Made a cheeky raise under the gun with 66. Only the BB called. He checked a K54 flop so I bet out and he folded. Got up to 6000 by the end of the level. 184 players left.
Level 7 200/400 ante 50
No hands but scraped along with a couple of late position open shoves with Q9 and Q7 which weren't called
Level 8 300/600 ante 50
Picked up AQ in the BB. Similar stack to mine pushed on the button and I called. He had A6 so I doubled up to 9500. Wow - nearly back where I started.
Level 9 400/800 ante 100
We had a break before level 9 - the last of the night. I've got 8500 so still in all-in or fold territory. 122 runners left.
I finally get called with one of my dodgy all-ins. I have J7 of clubs and he calls with KQ also clubs - oops there goes my club draw. Dealer pops up J76 - I think result! However he then produces A and then T to do me with a straight.
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