Sometimes poker really really sucks. Today was really one of those days.
It all starts out well. After a nice morning with jogging and breakfast I head over to the hotel where the tournament is held with my ticket. A lot of famous people have found their way here to play amongst others former tennis player Boris Becker and rap star Nelly. Nelly was actually the first to bust today. I only get one familiar player at my table, Jennifer Harmans husband, Marco Traniello to my right.
The first hand I play is actually QQ in the big blind. One player raise and 3 call the 300 raise (blinds 50-100) and I decide to just call. The flop is 972 with a flushdraw. SB checks, I check and the preflop raiser bets 1k. All others fold and I call. Turn is 3 and flush comes. Not the best card in the deck but most likely still ahead and I check call another 1k. River is a 2 that pairs the board. I check to call any bet, but he checks behind and I’m happy to take down a nice pot against his A7 and get a good start in the event. The next hand I play is also QQ and only win a small pot. At least I’m getting some playable cards.
A few hands later I pick up JJ and again slowplay to a raise. 3 players are in the pot and the flop is 763 with a flushdraw and the last player to call the raise preflop bet out. The preflop raiser call and I decide to squeeze/eliminate draws and RR reraise the 800 bet to 2550. First call and the other fold. Turn is a 7 and my opponent checks. I should probably have checked to keep pot down since I have position but I bet 3550 and get checkraised to 8550 and fold. Not completely happy with my play on the turn, but still got plenty of chips and time to turn this around.
Under level 2 I call a raise with A6s and the flop comes Q93 with 2 in my suit. The preflop raiser bets out and Marco reraise 1k to 3k. I think about it and then reraise to 7125 and they both instant fold and I’m back to startstack.
Now Andy Feldman joins us with a big stack after knocking out Nelly during the first half hour. The last hand before the break I have 77 and call a raise from Feldman. The flop is J72 with a flushdraw and Feldman bets the other guys folds and I decide to just call to make a check raise on the turn. Unfortunatley he checks behind when an 8 hits and the river is 5 spade and flush hits. I make a smallish valuebet of 1500. He makes a big reraise to 6500 and I tank. Is it air or a bluffish valuebet? I eventually decide to call and he flips AQs for nuts. Down to 23k, but still in no danger.
Lvl 3, 100/200 - a player makes it 650 and two players call. I look down and find AK in the small blind. I make a raise to 2325 to thin the field, but they all call. Hmm…? Flopp T85 all spades. I have A spade and think it’s a failry good flop even tho there is no A and no K. I make a feeler bet of 5525 and the player directly to my left make it 13k. Now the next player make it 55k and the last player folds. I have to put in my last 15 to win about 75k and I got the mathematical odds to do so against pretty much any hands I’m upp against. I put the first player on QQ/JJ with a spade and the 2nd player on either a flopped flush or most likely a set. I think for a long time if I want to risk my tournament here and eventually fold when somebody calls the clock on me. The other player who made it 13 instantfold as well.
A few hands later I get 88 and call a raise to 600 preflop. Flop is K82 with no draws and I call his 1k continuation bet. Turn is a Q and now he bets 2300. I have 12700 in my stack and I really want to get maximum pay here. Should I move in here or just call? I decide to call since I’m not really scared of any river. River is a J and he thinks and plays with a 5k chip. Then 10k, then 5k again and finally bets 10k. I ask the dealer to spread the pot and it’s only 7kish. Why so much? I was planning on showing over his bet, but with 10375 I don’t understand why he bet so much. I finally call and with my luck of course he had AT for a runner runner straight. With 375 left I put it in a few hands later with 67s and get called by A6. I pick up a gutshot on the flop as well, but can’t connect and bust a lot earlier than expected. I gave myself >90% to survive the day with my style of play and the deepstack play. Only 50% of the field busted on day 1a and I it really sucks to have to walk away from an event like this :( I’m actually really bitter, especially since I’ve been running really bad in tournaments lately. I really appreciate PokerTime giving me the chance and hopefully I’ll do better next time..
Photo: Anton; Pokermagazine.se
