A Study in Patience

Since the Browns are on a Bye week, Julie had a Sunday tournament this week. It's $40, 10k stack, with a long structure.

I've seen some poker blogs that give a Twitter-like recap of a cash game or tournament. I can't really do that at Dave's, since I'm busy running it. Casinos in this part of the country don't like electronics at the table (After all, we might be cheating). So Julie's is the best place to try this, since I can just sit there, and play poker.

Most of the "Tweets" will be at the end of each level with a chip count and highlights.

- Our table started with 9 players. I had an ok table draw. The table was a mix of regulars and a few players I haven't seen before.

- Level 1 (25/50) 9300 - Raised once with AQ. Also limped with AQ and a couple of other hands. Missed everything.

- Level 2 (50/100) 19175 - Doubled up and eliminated a player with QQ.

- Level 3 (75/150) 19325 - Played some pots, and won a few. Raised UTG with AQd and folded to a 3-bet from SB.

- Level 4 (100/200) 16650 - Called some raises preflop, and then folded when missed. Doing too much of that. If I'm gonna play patient and not make moves, then I can't keep calling raises with marginal hands and just folding if I don't hit hard enough. That's a good way to blow a big stack.

- Level 5 (125/250) 16650 - Played just one hand, and stole the blinds.
Break Time: We ended up with 19 runners, and 16 are still in the tournament.

- Level 6 (150/300) 17600 - Won a decent pot with a set in BB. Got moved to the other table just before the Level ended. This is a decent seat. The tighter player are to my left, and some loose cash game players are to my right. I played one pot, called with 88, and missed my set.

- Level 7 (200/400) 17200 - Played one hand and won the blinds.

- Level 8 (250/500) 15700 - Very card dead. It's hard to make moves at this table. The Cash players have chips, and want to see Flops. I need some cards, but they really suck last few levels.

- Level 9 (300/600) 18100 - Won a nice pot with a Big Blind Special (2 pair on Turn).

Then we arrived at Final Table. I had 20100 chips, which was an average stack.
However, I got a horrible seat draw. I have 3 loose Cash game players to my left, and they all have chips. Julie, the host, is seated between them, and has chips. We frequently talk strategy, and she knows that I like to "step on the gas" at the Final Table. So all four players to my left have a wider range to call or raise my steal attempt.

I played one hand before end of level. A steal attempt that didn't go well.

- Level 10 (400/800) 13900 - Raised and C-Bet with AJ, but lost pot. The run of 9 3 and J 2 continues.
Break Time: 8 players left. My stack is around 6th.

- Level 11 (500/1000) 13900 - Cards have gotten a little better, but not the results. For example: two limpers. I've got KQ in Hijack. I raise to 4000. BB quickly raises to 12000, and I have to fold.

- Level 12 (600/1200) 10500 - A player just got knocked out. Chips are really moving around the table thanks to the Cash players. Various players are doubling and tripling up. But the 7 3 and 9 2 just isn't helping me.

- Level 13 (700/1500) 0 - Early in level, I shoved UTG+1 with A7. This was the first hand lately that is even close to push-worthy, although I would rather do it closer to the Button. The next player (T Gross) woke up with QQ. I miss my 3-outer, and I finish in 7th.

Overall, a very frustrating day.

Looking back, what did I do wrong? I was calling too many raises after I doubled up. But since that was early in the tournament, it really didn't have any affect on the outcome.

So if I didn't screw this up, then what could I have done to win it, or at least cash? Honestly, I feel the only thing I could have done was to just start shoving All-In, and hope to get lucky. And with the number of All-In pots towards the end, that was certainly an option.

But I just don't play that way. When I'm playing my best, I am patient and picking my battles. There are certainly times that I'm too patient and too passive. But my style works good for me, and my results show that. This year, I'm up in Group tournaments (45 tournaments. $470 profit, 28% ROI, 5 wins), including a 2nd place on Wednesday.