Thursday, January 22, 2009

I almost forgot how easy satellites can be...

Played in a 2-table, 20-man satellite to the Sunday $200K (210 FPP - 6 advance). Except for the blinds, played maybe 4 hands the entire time, and got my seat, which I promptly cashed out for 11 T$. Might play in some $1.10 and $2.20 satellites for the heck of it, and see if I can run my balance up some.

In this particular satellite, I really only need to worry about doubling up once, and avoid being the shortstack, in order to move on. Got the double-up I needed at the 75/150 level when EP open-jammed 2600 with A-K into my 1600 chipstack while I'm holding K-K. Case King on the flop cinched it, and shortly thereafter (once we got to 100/200 25 ante stage) a couple of morons busted out....one of them was 3rd in chips at the time, and decided with 8 to go that running 7-7 into A-A was a good idea.

Oh well, felt good to play for 30 minutes or so last night, and even better to win.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Good run, but a case of "what could have been"

Played very well last night in the Dino's tourney - this time there were 36 players (most I've seen at this bar) playing last night. Got up 2400 chips after some patience and executing a couple of well-played bluffs, then lost about 1/3 of my stack to a shortie who pushed (at 100/200) with 4-10 - my A-Q outflopped him when my queen hit to go ahead of his 10, but then a 4 on the turn gave him the lead and ultimately the hand. Pushed for last 1250 or so against Jay with A-Q (again), this time my A-Q won a race against his 10s.

Pushed a couple more times to take down blinds, then won a hand against Jay out of BB when 5-2 paired. Took down the blinds (300/600 or 400/800 at this point) a couple more times, then we merged to final table.

Final table saw blinds go to 500/1000. Big Bald Brad busted out first, then Tim went out - Andy was out a couple of hands later, but this was the hand I lost 2/3 of my chips when A-10 doubles up Pontytailed Mike's A-J after ace hits the board. 2 hands later, I push UTG with A-9 for last 2250 - 3 callers, plus blinds folded...9 hit the flop...somehow my hand held up, and I went up to about 8,000 in chips.

After losing a couple of pots, tripled up (and knocked Jovan out, in the process) when Q-Q survived K-8 and A-7. Sitting now at about 18000 chips, I start using my chip stack to take down blinds. Works for a couple of hands, then my 8-8 runs into Ponytailed Mike's 9-9 - runner-runner hearts give me a flush, and a sick knockout.

2 non-regulars go out 5th and 4th, and we're down to Mike (tight player), Bernie, and myself. Get involved in a couple of big pots with Bernie where we just trade chips to each other, then this hand happens:

UTG: Raise to 4K with A-7 soooooooted - Bernie in BB calls. (8500 in pot)
Flop: 7-5-3 rainbow. Bernie bets 4K, I think about it for a few secs, come over the top of him for last 14K or so, Bernie insta-calls with 5-6. 4 on turn gives him straight, no 6 on river for chop, and good game me. Trying to figure out if that was a good call or not (I don't think so - but I'll let the math experts figure this out), but I'm thinking "no". Damn that Dickle, anyways!

Bernie won a few hands later after rivering a Jack to win (J-2 - power hand wins!), congrats!