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.