Ironically, after surviving two days at three tough tables playing in some cases less-than-stellar poker, I busted at a great table after a few hours where I think I was playing quite well.
The day got off to a nice start. Blinds were 600/1200/200 On the third hand, I overcalled a raise with 22 on my BB, flopped K52, and led out for 4400. The pre-flop raiser called, and the other guy folded. Turn was a 6, I bet 7000, he called. River 9, I bet 15K, he tanked, called, and mucked when I showed my set. That got me up to 125K right away.
About 20 minutes later, I raised to 3000 with 54s in middle position. The same guy (the Czech) called in the SB. Flop JT3 with two of my suit. I bet 4400, he raised to 15K with about 40K behind, and I shoved. After some thought, he called with AJ. The turn was a 7 to give me a gutshot, but the river blanked and I was down to 60K.
The guy turned out to be pretty tight, and knowing what I know now I may not have shoved on him, but with the information I had at the time I think it’s a good play. I doubt he shows up with JJ+, so his calling range is probably AJ, JT, 66, and maybe TT if he doesn’t 3-bet it pre. If he’s also calling KJ and QJ it’s probably a bad shove, but if he’s raise-folding stuff like that, which a lot of the randoms in this tournament are, I like the shove. I think he can also have stuff like AT, maybe bluffs, maybe even draws that fold (yes I realize I’m crushed by better flush draws but I don’t think it’s inconceivable he raise-folds them).
I get blinded down a bit, pick up 5’s on the Button, and open to 3K. SB makes it 11K with 13K behind. He’d announced from the beginning that he wanted to double up or go home, and I believed him. Absent a good read/tell, this is a very clear get-it-in spot, so I reshoved. He had A9s and won the flip. Pretty standard on both our parts, just unlucky for me.
I went into the break with 26K but still feeling alright. The table was definitely not going to break, and I felt I could play a short stack quite profitably there. I waited a bit, then picked up AK in the BB against an UTG raise and a call. I shoved, they both folded.
The guy on my right was a real aggro Vietnamese guy who was friends with, and quite possibly backed by, Menh the Master. I’d been looking for opportunities to resteal on him but it was never quite right. Finally I got QJs on my button. He opened to 4800 (blinds were 800/1600/200), and I shoved for about 34K. The big blind gave me a scare by asking for a count, but he eventually folded. The raiser folded AT face-up and walked away from the table, seemingly a little frustrated.
Next orbit, action folds to him in the SB. This is the third time that had happened. Once he limped, I checked and folded to a bet on an Ace-high flop. Second time he raised I folded. This time he limped, and I checked 64o. Flop came 578 with a flush draw. He checked, I bet 2200, he started talking. “You hit that? You hit a piece of that?” Then rather abruptly he threw 6200 chips in the pot.
I was pretty sure he was hollywooding with a strong hand, but you know, the second nuts beats a lot of strong hands. Besides, there are a ton of turn cards that can kill my action. So after some silent contemplation, I made it 12,200 with about 25K behind. He asked for a count and then shoved, and I snap-called. I flipped over my straight, and he turned over 96 for the higher straight. The turn was a 6, which didn’t change anything, and the river was a blank to eliminate me.
Bummer, but I don’t think anything other than getting it in on the flop is an option. The only questionable thing from the day is the 54s shove, which granted was a bit pot to lose, but like I said, I don’t mind it based on the information I had at the time.
Thanks again to everyone who’s been following along, helping out, wishing me well, etc. As I said yesterday, it certainly is a lot more fun with a cheering section. I’m not sure what my plans are for the next few days, but they probably won’t involve much poker. I’ll be back on the saddle again soon, though.
Peace,
Andrew
Andrew,
That is indeed a bummer…nuts vs. second nuts in a b v b battle against a guy whom you’ve obviously already tilted is a tough way to go out. There’s definitely no other way to play that hand, except maybe raising pre-flop, which is what I would do in a cash game…don’t know if that’s a good play in a tourney though. Nice run, you’ll be back in the money next year.
You seemed pleased with your play for most of the tourney. Sometimes the cards do not cooperate. Hang in there. The new site looks great. Good luck at the cash tables.