$1/$2 NLHE ~ Eldorado ~ 04.11.13
Full table on a Thursday evening. The play has been mostly limpy with the occasional preflop raise to $8 or $10. I'm UTG+1, and look down at A8d. I bought in for $100, and I'm up to around $160. I've been trying to play position, so I should fold this. But I don't listen to myself, and limp in.
Nobody raised, and six players see a Flop of Qh Jd Td. Pretty sexy Flop for me, as I have an Omaha-esqe draw with the Nut Flush and Double Gutshot. I like to bet my big draws, so I bet $10. If the Turn hits my Flush, then I can check, and hope someone hit a smaller Flush. If I hit my Straight or miss everything, then I can keep betting.
Three players called, and the Turn is [Qh Jd Td] Kc. A beautiful card, as I now have the Nut Straight, and the Nut Flush Draw. I bet $20, and I really hope somebody raises. Fortunately, a 70's gentleman cooperates, and raises to $70. The other two players fold, and I quickly shove my last $130. He calls, and asks if I have an Ace.
I say, "I've got a freeroll, baby," as I show my cards.
Showing posts with label Eldorado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eldorado. Show all posts
Friday, May 17, 2013
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Rants & Raves: Why I Will Never Play At Eldorado Again
I've never played much at Eldorado for a couple of reasons. Going downtown is a bit of a pain for me, as well as their parking garage being so far away from the poker room. I've also had trouble getting a seat, and it was not uncommon for me to simply leave and go to other room.
I have blogged about some previous issues with the Eldorado. In How Much Tolerance Do You Give A Drunk?, the Dealers allowed some drunk kids to do whatever they wanted because one of the kids was a regular in the room. In Honoring Washington, Lincoln, and Jackson, they gave an open seat at their only $1/$2 table to one of their Dealers rather than a paying customer like me.
But the Final Straw for me was last week (Wednesday, Sept 7). I had a rare day at work when I got off at 5pm. I decided to head over to the Eldorado and play in their 6pm $55 tourney because I haven't play in that tourney for a long time.
The tourney had 15 players. It was the 4th level, 200/400, and our table had seven players. I was the BB in this hand. UTG folded. For whatever reason, UTG+1 paused, and went into thought. During the delay, the SB said Call, and tossed out a 500 chip, in addition to the 200 that was already in the pot. The Dealer told everyone to hold on, and the action was still on the UTG+1 player, who eventually raised to 1600. It folded around to the SB, and the Floor was called over by the Dealer. The situation about the SB acting out of turn was explained to the Floor, and the Floor gave his ruling.
In most poker rooms, there would be one of two rulings. Either the SB can pull his 200 call back because "action out of turn is not binding", or he has to leave the full 400 in the pot because "any money put into the pot must stay in the pot".
I said "most poker rooms" because the Floor of the Eldorado came up with a 3rd option. He said that the SB must call the full 1600 because the SB said "Call". At the start of the tourney, one of the rules that the Floor mentioned was, "Any action, physical or verbal, is binding whether it is in order or out of turn."
To me, this was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. This goes against any logical set of poker rules, including the TDA and Robert's Rules of Poker. It's also a terrible rule because it punishes new/bad players, as they are the ones most likely to act out of turn. It also seems like a great way to angleshoot because you can act out of turn. Any rule that creates more angleshots than the rule eliminates is a terrible rule.
I wasn't the only one who was dumbfounded by this as the entire table reacted quite loudly to this ruling. We all said that it was bullshit, and asked various questions. Most of the Floor's answers were, "He shouldn't have acted out of turn." "He did say Call." "I said the rules at the start of the tournament."
This conversation between us and the Floor lasted for quite a few hands, and I ended up asking, "So if another player had moved All-In after the UTG+1 raised, then the SB would have had to call the All-In?"
"Yes, he said Call. Verbal is binding."
Now, this silliness is enough for me to never play a tournament there again, but unfortunately, it wasn't the end of sideshow by the Floor.
At the Final Table with about five players left, I was sitting in the 6 Seat. There was a Kid in the 8 Seat who pushed All-In. The noteworthy part of this hand was the Floor, who was sitting right behind the Kid. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Floor react surprisingly when the Kid pushed All-In. The Kid was called by another player, turned over K8s, and was eliminated.
This reaction by the Floor surprised me for two reasons. First, I'm not the most observant poker player, and I really don't see things like tells. So for me to have noticed the Floor's reaction, it means that the reaction was rather dramatic.
Second, what the fuck is the Floor doing looking at players' cards, let alone reacting to them? As it turns out, this wasn't the only time he did it. For the rest of the Final Table, he kept hovering around the table, peeking at players' cards, and making comments like "Give me some chips, and I'll show you guys how to play a Big Stack."
I kept my mouth shut during this pathetic display of professionalism, which wasn't easy for me. Fortunately, I was sitting against a wall, and he wasn't able to hover around me. If had tried to look at my cards, I would have gone postal on him, saying something like, "If you try that again, I will call the Nevada Gaming Commission on you." (I would do it, too).
As it turned out, I ended up finishing 2nd place for $202. (I had the chip lead heads-up, but lost a flip, A9 v QJ.) For the first time ever in Reno, I grabbed the $202 chips, and walked out of the poker room without leaving a tip.
The complete lack of professionalism of this place doesn't deserve a tip, and they will never get my business again until I hear about some major changes in how this room is run.
The manager of the poker room is Margie Heintz. I'm not sure I've ever seen her at the Eldorado, and I doubt I could pick her out of a crowd. She has been in the poker industry for a long time, and is very well respected. She was even inducted into The Women in Poker Hall of Fame earlier this month.
Unfortunately, I have to say something rather mean about her now.
Either she is unaware that her poker room is being run with a complete lack of professionalism, and therefore has no business running a poker room. Or she believes this is the proper way to run a poker room, and therefore has no business running a poker room in 2011.
I have blogged about some previous issues with the Eldorado. In How Much Tolerance Do You Give A Drunk?, the Dealers allowed some drunk kids to do whatever they wanted because one of the kids was a regular in the room. In Honoring Washington, Lincoln, and Jackson, they gave an open seat at their only $1/$2 table to one of their Dealers rather than a paying customer like me.
But the Final Straw for me was last week (Wednesday, Sept 7). I had a rare day at work when I got off at 5pm. I decided to head over to the Eldorado and play in their 6pm $55 tourney because I haven't play in that tourney for a long time.
The tourney had 15 players. It was the 4th level, 200/400, and our table had seven players. I was the BB in this hand. UTG folded. For whatever reason, UTG+1 paused, and went into thought. During the delay, the SB said Call, and tossed out a 500 chip, in addition to the 200 that was already in the pot. The Dealer told everyone to hold on, and the action was still on the UTG+1 player, who eventually raised to 1600. It folded around to the SB, and the Floor was called over by the Dealer. The situation about the SB acting out of turn was explained to the Floor, and the Floor gave his ruling.
In most poker rooms, there would be one of two rulings. Either the SB can pull his 200 call back because "action out of turn is not binding", or he has to leave the full 400 in the pot because "any money put into the pot must stay in the pot".
I said "most poker rooms" because the Floor of the Eldorado came up with a 3rd option. He said that the SB must call the full 1600 because the SB said "Call". At the start of the tourney, one of the rules that the Floor mentioned was, "Any action, physical or verbal, is binding whether it is in order or out of turn."
To me, this was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. This goes against any logical set of poker rules, including the TDA and Robert's Rules of Poker. It's also a terrible rule because it punishes new/bad players, as they are the ones most likely to act out of turn. It also seems like a great way to angleshoot because you can act out of turn. Any rule that creates more angleshots than the rule eliminates is a terrible rule.
I wasn't the only one who was dumbfounded by this as the entire table reacted quite loudly to this ruling. We all said that it was bullshit, and asked various questions. Most of the Floor's answers were, "He shouldn't have acted out of turn." "He did say Call." "I said the rules at the start of the tournament."
This conversation between us and the Floor lasted for quite a few hands, and I ended up asking, "So if another player had moved All-In after the UTG+1 raised, then the SB would have had to call the All-In?"
"Yes, he said Call. Verbal is binding."
Now, this silliness is enough for me to never play a tournament there again, but unfortunately, it wasn't the end of sideshow by the Floor.
At the Final Table with about five players left, I was sitting in the 6 Seat. There was a Kid in the 8 Seat who pushed All-In. The noteworthy part of this hand was the Floor, who was sitting right behind the Kid. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Floor react surprisingly when the Kid pushed All-In. The Kid was called by another player, turned over K8s, and was eliminated.
This reaction by the Floor surprised me for two reasons. First, I'm not the most observant poker player, and I really don't see things like tells. So for me to have noticed the Floor's reaction, it means that the reaction was rather dramatic.
Second, what the fuck is the Floor doing looking at players' cards, let alone reacting to them? As it turns out, this wasn't the only time he did it. For the rest of the Final Table, he kept hovering around the table, peeking at players' cards, and making comments like "Give me some chips, and I'll show you guys how to play a Big Stack."
I kept my mouth shut during this pathetic display of professionalism, which wasn't easy for me. Fortunately, I was sitting against a wall, and he wasn't able to hover around me. If had tried to look at my cards, I would have gone postal on him, saying something like, "If you try that again, I will call the Nevada Gaming Commission on you." (I would do it, too).
As it turned out, I ended up finishing 2nd place for $202. (I had the chip lead heads-up, but lost a flip, A9 v QJ.) For the first time ever in Reno, I grabbed the $202 chips, and walked out of the poker room without leaving a tip.
The complete lack of professionalism of this place doesn't deserve a tip, and they will never get my business again until I hear about some major changes in how this room is run.
The manager of the poker room is Margie Heintz. I'm not sure I've ever seen her at the Eldorado, and I doubt I could pick her out of a crowd. She has been in the poker industry for a long time, and is very well respected. She was even inducted into The Women in Poker Hall of Fame earlier this month.
Unfortunately, I have to say something rather mean about her now.
Either she is unaware that her poker room is being run with a complete lack of professionalism, and therefore has no business running a poker room. Or she believes this is the proper way to run a poker room, and therefore has no business running a poker room in 2011.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Bringing My C+ Game To The Table
1:40 - Sunday afternoon, I walk into the Eldorado Poker Room. They have a $1/$2 table and a $1-$5 Stud table running. I put my name on the $1/$2 List, and I'm the 5th name. Maybe they will be opening a new table soon.
2:00 - They are opening up a $3/$6 game. I would sit in the game while waiting, but I'm now first on the $1/$2 List.
2:30 - After starting to get impatient, two different players leave the $1/$2 table. I get my $300 in chips, and sit down on the left of the biggest stack at the table (about $400). I'm the youngest player at the table, which isn't unusual for a Sunday afternoon.
3:00 $250 - I definitely sat next to the right guy, as he seems to be the Action Guy of the table. First orbit, he's UTG+1 and raised to $18. I'm next with QJd and call. Four players saw a Flop of Ah Jh 6c. Action Guy (AG) bet $20. That seems small to me, so I called, and am the only one. Turn [Ah Jh 6c] 4d. He bet $30, and I called. River [Ah Jh 6c 4d] 8c. He bet $40. Hard to see someone not having an Ace after betting all three streets, so I fold. He doesn't show, but says he had AK. Maybe he's just a small bettor.
An orbit later, he limps in the same position. I have Jh Jd, and raise to $8. Only SB and AG called. Flop 6c 5d 4c. Yuck! SB checked. AG bet $12. I think about just calling for Pot Control, but I see the SB already has $12 in hand. So I raised to $30 in order to isolate. It worked as the SB folded, and AG called. Turn [6c 5d 4c] 9h. AG checked, and I decided to bet $30 again. He thought for a moment, and called. River [6c 5d 4c 9h] Jc. Interesting card. He checked. I think for a moment, and bet $30 again. Before I put chips in pot, he mucks and says he has T7o for an Open-Ender.
3:30 $206 - Bad news as AG left the table, and started his three hour drive home. I didn't get to play anymore hands with him. I did play a few small pots, but most of them didn't go well. The best was chopping a pot with a one-card Straight.
4:00 $286 - I am playing terrible poker right now. I checked my option in the BB with AQh. Six players saw a Flop of Ad 6s 4s. I lead out for $11. Only Mid called, and he's a Dealer in the room who's here in case they need an extra Dealer. Turn [Ad 6s 4s] 9s. I checked, he bet $20, and I decided to call. River [Ad 6s 4s 9s] 5d. I checked. He counted out some chips, put some back, counted out some more, and bet $56. After watching his little chip show, I think for a bit. I'm pretty sure he has As, but does he have another one to go with it? I called, and of course he has A3s. I reload for $200, and hopefully I can take my head out of my ass.
4:30 $230 - Things are going rather crappy. I don't know if it's from playing bad, or just running bad by constantly missing the Flop. I'm also in a grumpy mood right now, which isn't helping. For example, I raised to $7 on Button with J9o. The BB & CO called. Flop was Q22. They checked. I bet $15. SB folded, but the Cutoff checked-raised to $35. He an Old Guy who is wearing headphones, so I quickly fold.
5:00 $270 - I finally won a decent pot. I bluffed $50 on the River when the other guy showed weakness. My cards have been lousy, and I've been airballing all Flops. I haven't seen a Pocket Pair since the JJ in the first half hour.
5:30 $526 - I finally got a pocket pair. UTG+1 raised to $6. A couple of callers. I'm the Cutoff with Jh Jd (again), and 3-Bet to $15. A couple of callers. The Hyjack, who bought in for the minimum, went All-In for $24. It's $9 more to me, which is what I raised it. That allowed me to raise it up to $70, and try to isolate with all that dead money. Only the Button called the extra $55, and has around $80 left. Before the Flop was dealt, I grabbed a Red stack to put the Button All-In, and he called. I show my JJ. The Board ran out 882 2 J. Button had AK, and I don't know what the Hyjack had.
This hand flipped the Boom Switch for me, as I won a few more smaller pot. My mood has gotten a little better, but I now have a small headache.
6:00 $497 - Well so much for the Boom Switch. I played a few hands. Some were good, and some were annoying, but none were newsworthy. There is an Older Gentleman who recently bought in for $100. He is horrible, and has already rebought twice. He plays every hand, bets or raises at odd times, and doesn't understand relative hand values. He lost his first buy-in by shoving on a J-high Flop with JTo, and ran into AA. Fortunately, I have position on him, as he is on my Right+1.
6:30 $397 - A few limpers. I raised $10 with KQc from the Hyjack. Most of the table called, as six players see a Flop of Jd Td 4c. It checked to me, and I bet $40 with an Open-Ender, two Overs, and a Backdoor Club draw. Two players called, but the Old Goofball check-raised to $140. I insta-called. He probably had a Two Pair or Better hand, but it's hard to say with him. With all the money in the pot, I'm hoping my snap-call will scare them off. I was wrong, as a Lady who just sat down went All-In for less. I assume she has a Flush Draw. Turn [Jd Td 4c] 3s. Goofball went All-In for his last $20, and I called. Rvr 3c, and he won a big pot with JTs. Oh, well. At least he has a pile of money to lose now.
I did get some money back later by hitting a BBS by flopping Top Two Pair (T8o).
7:00 $545 - A few limpers as I had Kh Kc in the BB, and raised $10 on top. Fortunately, only the Button and SB called. Flop Qs Tc 9s. SB checked, and I bet $25. The Button folded, and SB called. Turn [Qs Tc 9s] Ks. Interesting card as many draws just hit, including my Set Draw. SB bet $20. I called knowing I was behind. River [Qs Tc 9s Ks] Kd. So much for being behind. SB bet $40. I grabbed a Red stack and raise to $100. The SB can't fold fast enough. I showed my cards to collect the pot along with a $50 Quads bonus.
I had a some other good hands, including a well executed Float on the Button with 85o. Bad news as the Goofball left the table with profit from our big pot. Good news as an Action Junkie Crazy Asian kid (or Crasian) just sat down. He already straddled, raised to $35, and showed J7o without looking at his cards. He will definitely juice up this table. However, my headache isn't getting any better, and I'm getting hungry. I decide to cash out with a small $45 profit.
2:00 - They are opening up a $3/$6 game. I would sit in the game while waiting, but I'm now first on the $1/$2 List.
2:30 - After starting to get impatient, two different players leave the $1/$2 table. I get my $300 in chips, and sit down on the left of the biggest stack at the table (about $400). I'm the youngest player at the table, which isn't unusual for a Sunday afternoon.
3:00 $250 - I definitely sat next to the right guy, as he seems to be the Action Guy of the table. First orbit, he's UTG+1 and raised to $18. I'm next with QJd and call. Four players saw a Flop of Ah Jh 6c. Action Guy (AG) bet $20. That seems small to me, so I called, and am the only one. Turn [Ah Jh 6c] 4d. He bet $30, and I called. River [Ah Jh 6c 4d] 8c. He bet $40. Hard to see someone not having an Ace after betting all three streets, so I fold. He doesn't show, but says he had AK. Maybe he's just a small bettor.
An orbit later, he limps in the same position. I have Jh Jd, and raise to $8. Only SB and AG called. Flop 6c 5d 4c. Yuck! SB checked. AG bet $12. I think about just calling for Pot Control, but I see the SB already has $12 in hand. So I raised to $30 in order to isolate. It worked as the SB folded, and AG called. Turn [6c 5d 4c] 9h. AG checked, and I decided to bet $30 again. He thought for a moment, and called. River [6c 5d 4c 9h] Jc. Interesting card. He checked. I think for a moment, and bet $30 again. Before I put chips in pot, he mucks and says he has T7o for an Open-Ender.
3:30 $206 - Bad news as AG left the table, and started his three hour drive home. I didn't get to play anymore hands with him. I did play a few small pots, but most of them didn't go well. The best was chopping a pot with a one-card Straight.
4:00 $286 - I am playing terrible poker right now. I checked my option in the BB with AQh. Six players saw a Flop of Ad 6s 4s. I lead out for $11. Only Mid called, and he's a Dealer in the room who's here in case they need an extra Dealer. Turn [Ad 6s 4s] 9s. I checked, he bet $20, and I decided to call. River [Ad 6s 4s 9s] 5d. I checked. He counted out some chips, put some back, counted out some more, and bet $56. After watching his little chip show, I think for a bit. I'm pretty sure he has As, but does he have another one to go with it? I called, and of course he has A3s. I reload for $200, and hopefully I can take my head out of my ass.
4:30 $230 - Things are going rather crappy. I don't know if it's from playing bad, or just running bad by constantly missing the Flop. I'm also in a grumpy mood right now, which isn't helping. For example, I raised to $7 on Button with J9o. The BB & CO called. Flop was Q22. They checked. I bet $15. SB folded, but the Cutoff checked-raised to $35. He an Old Guy who is wearing headphones, so I quickly fold.
5:00 $270 - I finally won a decent pot. I bluffed $50 on the River when the other guy showed weakness. My cards have been lousy, and I've been airballing all Flops. I haven't seen a Pocket Pair since the JJ in the first half hour.
5:30 $526 - I finally got a pocket pair. UTG+1 raised to $6. A couple of callers. I'm the Cutoff with Jh Jd (again), and 3-Bet to $15. A couple of callers. The Hyjack, who bought in for the minimum, went All-In for $24. It's $9 more to me, which is what I raised it. That allowed me to raise it up to $70, and try to isolate with all that dead money. Only the Button called the extra $55, and has around $80 left. Before the Flop was dealt, I grabbed a Red stack to put the Button All-In, and he called. I show my JJ. The Board ran out 882 2 J. Button had AK, and I don't know what the Hyjack had.
This hand flipped the Boom Switch for me, as I won a few more smaller pot. My mood has gotten a little better, but I now have a small headache.
6:00 $497 - Well so much for the Boom Switch. I played a few hands. Some were good, and some were annoying, but none were newsworthy. There is an Older Gentleman who recently bought in for $100. He is horrible, and has already rebought twice. He plays every hand, bets or raises at odd times, and doesn't understand relative hand values. He lost his first buy-in by shoving on a J-high Flop with JTo, and ran into AA. Fortunately, I have position on him, as he is on my Right+1.
6:30 $397 - A few limpers. I raised $10 with KQc from the Hyjack. Most of the table called, as six players see a Flop of Jd Td 4c. It checked to me, and I bet $40 with an Open-Ender, two Overs, and a Backdoor Club draw. Two players called, but the Old Goofball check-raised to $140. I insta-called. He probably had a Two Pair or Better hand, but it's hard to say with him. With all the money in the pot, I'm hoping my snap-call will scare them off. I was wrong, as a Lady who just sat down went All-In for less. I assume she has a Flush Draw. Turn [Jd Td 4c] 3s. Goofball went All-In for his last $20, and I called. Rvr 3c, and he won a big pot with JTs. Oh, well. At least he has a pile of money to lose now.
I did get some money back later by hitting a BBS by flopping Top Two Pair (T8o).
7:00 $545 - A few limpers as I had Kh Kc in the BB, and raised $10 on top. Fortunately, only the Button and SB called. Flop Qs Tc 9s. SB checked, and I bet $25. The Button folded, and SB called. Turn [Qs Tc 9s] Ks. Interesting card as many draws just hit, including my Set Draw. SB bet $20. I called knowing I was behind. River [Qs Tc 9s Ks] Kd. So much for being behind. SB bet $40. I grabbed a Red stack and raise to $100. The SB can't fold fast enough. I showed my cards to collect the pot along with a $50 Quads bonus.
I had a some other good hands, including a well executed Float on the Button with 85o. Bad news as the Goofball left the table with profit from our big pot. Good news as an Action Junkie Crazy Asian kid (or Crasian) just sat down. He already straddled, raised to $35, and showed J7o without looking at his cards. He will definitely juice up this table. However, my headache isn't getting any better, and I'm getting hungry. I decide to cash out with a small $45 profit.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Hand Of The Day #72
$3/$6 Limit Hold'em - Eldorado - 04.21.11
It's a limp pot, including me with 8c 7h on the Button. Seven players saw a Flop of Td 9c 6d. The SB bet ($3). Two players called. The Hyjack raised ($6). He's a 30's guy who the biggest LAG at the table. I see no reason to slow-play, so I put the 3rd Bet ($9) with the Nut Straight. The SB 4-Bet ($12). UTG and Hyjack called. I cap it with the 5th Bet ($15). Everyone called.
Turn [Td 9c 6d] Ah: The SB bet ($6). UTG called, but Hyjack folded. I'm starting to think the SB might have the same hand as me, but I still raised ($12). The SB and UTG called.
River [Td 9c 6d Ah] Kc: The SB checked, but UTG bet ($6). This got my attention, as I sat up in my chair and started thinking. He's a 70's gentleman, and so far he seemed to be playing like a 70's gentleman. He was just calling the whole time, so why is he betting now? Well, the current Nuts is QJ, which was an Open-Ended and Two Overs on the Flop. I doubt I would have called all five bets on the Flop, but many $3/$6 players would. KK is another possibility. Its not uncommon for a player to limp preflop with an Overpair (dumb, but not uncommon). AK is also possible. Again, I wouldn't call 5 bets on the Flop, but this is a $3/$6 game.
Since I'm ahead of most of these hands, I finally decide to raise ($12). The SB quickly folded, but the UTG raised ($18). Even though I'm now getting around 20-1 on a call, I quickly fold my Straight face up. I just can't imagine a 70's gentleman 3-Betting on the River with anything but the Nuts. Surprisingly, he shows Ks Kc for a Set.
Just kidding. He showed Qc Jd for Broadway.
Limit poker is fun.
It's a limp pot, including me with 8c 7h on the Button. Seven players saw a Flop of Td 9c 6d. The SB bet ($3). Two players called. The Hyjack raised ($6). He's a 30's guy who the biggest LAG at the table. I see no reason to slow-play, so I put the 3rd Bet ($9) with the Nut Straight. The SB 4-Bet ($12). UTG and Hyjack called. I cap it with the 5th Bet ($15). Everyone called.
Turn [Td 9c 6d] Ah: The SB bet ($6). UTG called, but Hyjack folded. I'm starting to think the SB might have the same hand as me, but I still raised ($12). The SB and UTG called.
River [Td 9c 6d Ah] Kc: The SB checked, but UTG bet ($6). This got my attention, as I sat up in my chair and started thinking. He's a 70's gentleman, and so far he seemed to be playing like a 70's gentleman. He was just calling the whole time, so why is he betting now? Well, the current Nuts is QJ, which was an Open-Ended and Two Overs on the Flop. I doubt I would have called all five bets on the Flop, but many $3/$6 players would. KK is another possibility. Its not uncommon for a player to limp preflop with an Overpair (dumb, but not uncommon). AK is also possible. Again, I wouldn't call 5 bets on the Flop, but this is a $3/$6 game.
Since I'm ahead of most of these hands, I finally decide to raise ($12). The SB quickly folded, but the UTG raised ($18). Even though I'm now getting around 20-1 on a call, I quickly fold my Straight face up. I just can't imagine a 70's gentleman 3-Betting on the River with anything but the Nuts. Surprisingly, he shows Ks Kc for a Set.
Just kidding. He showed Qc Jd for Broadway.
Limit poker is fun.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
KK vs AA
As I've said before, I don't like the term "Running Bad" and I don't like to tell Bad Beat Stories. We all go through good times as well as bad streaks, and I give Bad Beats as well as get Bad Beats. It's part of the game that you need to get use to, and I think I have. As long as I'm not screwing up when the Luck is bad, then I know that I just need to be patient and grind it out.
Having said all that, it's been a bad two weeks. I have had one winning day during that time. It has been a strange journey of bizarre situations, ridiculous suck-outs, and sick coolers. I've even had my KK run into AA not once, not twice, but three times in 14 days. Normally, the ultimate cooler only happens to me like once in every nine to twelve months. So for this to happen three times in two weeks tells you exactly how things are going for me.
Here are the hands:
Sat 04/09 ~ Circus Circus ~ $2-$6 Spread Limit
I don't remember the specific amounts and details, but a Lady raised in Early Position. I 3-Bet with my KK in Late Position, and she just called. She bet the Flop, I raised, and she just called. On the Turn and River, she just checked and called my bet. I wasn't surprised that she had AA, but I was very grateful that she played them so passively.
Thur 04/21 ~ Eldorado ~ $65 Tournament Level 3 (100/200)
UTG raised to 600. He's a regular tourney grinder in Reno, and is on the nitty side. It folded to me in Mid position. I decide to just call with KK. I don't want to scare him off. If there were other callers or this was later in the tourney, then I would have 3-Bet. The only other caller was the SB.
Three players see a Flop of A T 8. They both check to me. Even though I hate the Ace, I fire out 1100. You would be surprised how many times that a bet will win me the pot in this situation. But the SB called, which I didn't like. The UTG also called, which set off a little warning light in my brain. I'm done with this hand, unless I improve.
Turn: [A T 8] K - They both checked to me. Well, my hand certainly improved, so I bet 1600. The SB called, but the UTG check-raised to 4000. That little warning light in my head just turned into a giant flashing neon sign. Unfortunately for me, I ignored that neon sign, and quickly shipped my chips into the middle. The SB folded A8 for Two Pair. The UTG called with his AA, and said this was a sick cooler. Naturally I bricked the River, and was left with 4700 or about half a starting stack.
It was a mistake for me to act quickly, but I'm not sure that I would have folded if I had thought it out. He couldn't have QJ for Broadway because he wouldn't have raised UTG nor he wouldn't have called the Flop with a Gutshot. AK is possible, but he probably would have bet the Flop rather than checking and over-calling. The most likely hand for him would be a Set, either AA or TT. Since I do beat one of those Sets, and I would still have over 20 BB left if I lose, I probably would have shipped it All-In.
The rest of the tournament went just as well as this hand, and I finished 11th out of 18.
Sat 04/23 ~ Peppermill ~ $6/$12 Limit
I'm UTG+1 and raise ($12) with KK. Two players called. The BB 3-Bet ($18). He's an older regular who's on the nitty side. I put out the 4th Bet ($24) to try to isolate with the BB. UTG+1 is the only one who sticks around. The BB then capped the betting ($30). At this point, I'm fairly positive that he has AA. If this was a NL game, I would fold. But in Limit Hold'em, you just don't fold KK preflop. I call, and so does UTG+1. The Flop was Q-high. The BB bet all three streets. I just called, and so did UTG+1 with AQ. Naturally, the BB had the AA, and I showed the KK.
It's frustrating, but I think I played it properly. In Limit Hold'em, you try to limit the amount you lose, and maximize the amount you win. By not raising on the Flop, Turn, or River, I did some damage control when I thought I was behind. After all, he could have also had KK.
Having said all that, it's been a bad two weeks. I have had one winning day during that time. It has been a strange journey of bizarre situations, ridiculous suck-outs, and sick coolers. I've even had my KK run into AA not once, not twice, but three times in 14 days. Normally, the ultimate cooler only happens to me like once in every nine to twelve months. So for this to happen three times in two weeks tells you exactly how things are going for me.
Here are the hands:
Sat 04/09 ~ Circus Circus ~ $2-$6 Spread Limit
I don't remember the specific amounts and details, but a Lady raised in Early Position. I 3-Bet with my KK in Late Position, and she just called. She bet the Flop, I raised, and she just called. On the Turn and River, she just checked and called my bet. I wasn't surprised that she had AA, but I was very grateful that she played them so passively.
Thur 04/21 ~ Eldorado ~ $65 Tournament Level 3 (100/200)
UTG raised to 600. He's a regular tourney grinder in Reno, and is on the nitty side. It folded to me in Mid position. I decide to just call with KK. I don't want to scare him off. If there were other callers or this was later in the tourney, then I would have 3-Bet. The only other caller was the SB.
Three players see a Flop of A T 8. They both check to me. Even though I hate the Ace, I fire out 1100. You would be surprised how many times that a bet will win me the pot in this situation. But the SB called, which I didn't like. The UTG also called, which set off a little warning light in my brain. I'm done with this hand, unless I improve.
Turn: [A T 8] K - They both checked to me. Well, my hand certainly improved, so I bet 1600. The SB called, but the UTG check-raised to 4000. That little warning light in my head just turned into a giant flashing neon sign. Unfortunately for me, I ignored that neon sign, and quickly shipped my chips into the middle. The SB folded A8 for Two Pair. The UTG called with his AA, and said this was a sick cooler. Naturally I bricked the River, and was left with 4700 or about half a starting stack.
It was a mistake for me to act quickly, but I'm not sure that I would have folded if I had thought it out. He couldn't have QJ for Broadway because he wouldn't have raised UTG nor he wouldn't have called the Flop with a Gutshot. AK is possible, but he probably would have bet the Flop rather than checking and over-calling. The most likely hand for him would be a Set, either AA or TT. Since I do beat one of those Sets, and I would still have over 20 BB left if I lose, I probably would have shipped it All-In.
The rest of the tournament went just as well as this hand, and I finished 11th out of 18.
Sat 04/23 ~ Peppermill ~ $6/$12 Limit
I'm UTG+1 and raise ($12) with KK. Two players called. The BB 3-Bet ($18). He's an older regular who's on the nitty side. I put out the 4th Bet ($24) to try to isolate with the BB. UTG+1 is the only one who sticks around. The BB then capped the betting ($30). At this point, I'm fairly positive that he has AA. If this was a NL game, I would fold. But in Limit Hold'em, you just don't fold KK preflop. I call, and so does UTG+1. The Flop was Q-high. The BB bet all three streets. I just called, and so did UTG+1 with AQ. Naturally, the BB had the AA, and I showed the KK.
It's frustrating, but I think I played it properly. In Limit Hold'em, you try to limit the amount you lose, and maximize the amount you win. By not raising on the Flop, Turn, or River, I did some damage control when I thought I was behind. After all, he could have also had KK.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Hand Of The Day #71
$3/$6 Limit Hold'em - Eldorado - 04.21.11
I raise UTG+1 ($5) with Kh Kc. Six players see a Flop of Qh 6s 4h. I bet ($3), and four players call.
Turn [Qh 6s 4h] 5c. It checks to me. I hate that card. There's now a 3-Card Straight out there, and that could give someone Two Pair. But I don't want to risk
a Free Card on that Board, so I bet ($6). All the players call, except the BB who check-raises ($12). My first instinct was that this screams of a Straight. But this guy is the biggest LAG at the table. It's possible that he has Two Pair. I make the call, and so does everyone else.
River [Qh 6s 4h 5c] 5d. BB bet ($6). I now have Two Pair, so I make the crying call. It folds to the Button, who raises ($12). The BB thinks for a moment, and calls. I now know my hand is shit, so I quickly fold. Button show 5h 5s for the Backdoor Quads. In disgust, the BB shows 3c 2d for the bottom end of the Straight.
Maybe I'm just being results oriented, but I played this hand horribly bad on the Turn & River. I already said that I hated the 5 on the Turn because there was still five players with live hands. I think the best thing for me to do since I was out of position (UTG+1) was to go into Check/Call mode. I could have seen what everyone else did, and then make my decisions with more information.
I lost 2-3 Big Bets because of how I played this hand, and that's a big mistake in Limit Poker. Granted, in $3/$6 Limit, 2-3 Big Bets isn't much money. But when I'm playing in the $15/$30 or $20/$40 game at the Peppemill, that's around $100.
I raise UTG+1 ($5) with Kh Kc. Six players see a Flop of Qh 6s 4h. I bet ($3), and four players call.
Turn [Qh 6s 4h] 5c. It checks to me. I hate that card. There's now a 3-Card Straight out there, and that could give someone Two Pair. But I don't want to risk
a Free Card on that Board, so I bet ($6). All the players call, except the BB who check-raises ($12). My first instinct was that this screams of a Straight. But this guy is the biggest LAG at the table. It's possible that he has Two Pair. I make the call, and so does everyone else.
River [Qh 6s 4h 5c] 5d. BB bet ($6). I now have Two Pair, so I make the crying call. It folds to the Button, who raises ($12). The BB thinks for a moment, and calls. I now know my hand is shit, so I quickly fold. Button show 5h 5s for the Backdoor Quads. In disgust, the BB shows 3c 2d for the bottom end of the Straight.
Maybe I'm just being results oriented, but I played this hand horribly bad on the Turn & River. I already said that I hated the 5 on the Turn because there was still five players with live hands. I think the best thing for me to do since I was out of position (UTG+1) was to go into Check/Call mode. I could have seen what everyone else did, and then make my decisions with more information.
I lost 2-3 Big Bets because of how I played this hand, and that's a big mistake in Limit Poker. Granted, in $3/$6 Limit, 2-3 Big Bets isn't much money. But when I'm playing in the $15/$30 or $20/$40 game at the Peppemill, that's around $100.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hand Of The Day #70 (LIVE)
I'm currently sitting at the Eldorado in a $1/$2 NL game. In a previous hand, a 50's Asian gentleman just limped UTG. The next player, a Kid, raised to $5. Bunch of callers, including me in the BB. However, the Asian gentleman folded for the extra $3.
The rest of the hand doesn't matter.
After the hand, I asked the 50's gentleman why he folded. He said that he didn't want to call a raise with that hand (which he limped from UTG).
That is the definition of a Super Nit.
The rest of the hand doesn't matter.
After the hand, I asked the 50's gentleman why he folded. He said that he didn't want to call a raise with that hand (which he limped from UTG).
That is the definition of a Super Nit.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Honoring Washington, Lincoln, and Jackson
(Before you start reading this, let the dog outside, take a quick visit to the bathroom, and grab a snack along with a cool, refreshing beverage. This is loooong post.)
3:10 - I walk into the Eldorado Poker Room on Monday afternoon. (It's President's Day, and I have the day off.) There is one table of $1/$2 and a list with five names on it. I become player #6, and the Floorman says they will be calling a new table soon.
3:50 - I'm tired of waiting, and I've wasted $100 in a Video Poker machine. I go up to the desk to tell him that I'm leaving, but he says that he's calling the List right now to start the 2nd table. I decide to stick around, but I know the game won't start. I've been here for 40 minutes, and there are plenty of names that were here long before I got here. The List is stale, and many of those players have left the casino. It happens regularly at the Eldorado.
Naturally, I was right. Only four players showed up, and one of them was a Dealer in this room. While we're waiting to see if a fifth player might show up, a seat opens up at the first table. The Dealer takes the open seat, and our 2nd table is officially dead. This seemed very odd to me, so I asked the Floorman the obvious question, "Why does a Dealer get an open seat over a Customer?"
"Because he was the first name on the List," said the Floorman.
"So?", I said. "He's an employee who's in uniform. It looks really bad that you would rather give an open seat to an employee rather than a paying customer."
The Floorman didn't say anything, and walked away.
Typical.
4:00 - I walked out of the room, and headed to some other Downtown rooms to see if I could find a game that actually wanted a customer. I went to Silver Legacy, but they had no games. Next was Sands Regency, but they only had one table with all White chips on it. I then headed to Harrah's, figuring they would have a $1/$2 table running. I was right.
4:25 $220 - I'm the 8th player at the table, and I have the table covered with my buy-in. I think the next biggest stack is around $150 with half of the table under $100. I expect there to be a lot of limping, checking, and min-raises in my future.
5:00 $125 - Well, I was right about this table. Everyone is super passive, and not betting their hands. I really haven't had much to play with. My first pot was me betting $7 from the Button with Bottom Pair (3) on the Flop. Only the SB called. I bet $15 on the Turn, and $20 on the River. He called both times with 2nd Pair on the Flop (5). (Right Click - Notes - "Calling Station") Other hands involved me stabbing at pots against various players who kept hitting Two Pair or Better, including the Calling Station.
We are now five handed, and I don't see this game lasting much longer.
5:30 $122 - I finally won a decent pot. I had 96o in the SB of a limp pot. I flopped Top Pair (6), bet $5, and got two callers. The Turn gave me Two Pair. I bet $10, and they both called. The River was a 6. I bet $15, and they both reluctantly called.
We lost more players, and are down to three. The Floor grabs some Shill money, and sits in the game to try to keep it alive. He only posted the single $1 Blind, and never played a hand. Once, he accidentally flipped his hand over, A9d. He would have flopped a Pair + Nut Flush Draw. (At Harrah's, when the table gets shorthanded, they only post a $1 Big Blind. It's still $2 to enter the pot.)
The three of us are playing small pots, but the Calling Station is the only one who seems to be catching cards. I finally started to not believe him, and called a $20 River Bet from him when I just had Top Pair (K - K9o). He had hit the Nut Straight on the Turn.
Shortly after that hand, the third player at the table goes busto to the Calling Station, and our game breaks. I've been wanting to play more at Harrah's so I can build up some Points for my Las Vegas trip in June. So I decide to grab a quick bite to eat, and play in the 6pm tournament.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 6000 - Tonight's tournament is a $65 Bounty tournament ($10 Bounty) with 15 minute levels. We are starting with 10 players, but 11 stacks crammed at the table. I hate when a Poker Room does this, and it's common in Reno. The Rooms would rather squeeze 11 or more players at one table, instead of starting with two short handed tables. They keep the other Dealer at an empty Cash table that has no prayer of starting up until some of the tourney players bust out.
And speaking of "hating", I really don't like small bounty tournaments. Bounty tourneys are great with a larger field because players can win money without cashing. They are really popular in the Home Games that I used to run, where we had 35 or more players. But in these small, one-table tourneys, most of the Bounties go to the players who end up cashing. I would have to knock out seven players to get my buy-in back. If I knock out seven players, I will win the tourney. So why bother doing it?
End of Level 1 (25/50) 5850 - We now have 11 players. There are a few No0bs here, and the play has been, well... interesting. There were three separate preflop raises to 1000, and one to 500. All of them were called.
Since this is a one-table tournament, I'm going with the standard Sit-N-Go strategy of "Tight Early, Aggro Later". This means I haven't played a hand yet.
Level 2 (50/100) 5850 - The play at this table is still on the "Huh?" side. The preflop raises have calmed down to the 500 range. There was two All-Ins preflop; one for 2300 and another for 4400. Neither was called.
It's been easy for me to stay patient with the steady flow of Baby Face cards that I've been getting dealt. The only hand that I played was me getting a Walk in the BB, which is why I didn't lose any chips this level.
Level 3 (100/200) 5500 - We still have 11 players, which is odd for a Bounty tournament. My cards have improved to Baby Aces, which is still not playable at an 11-handed table. The only playable hand I saw was 88, but I was UTG, so it was an easy fold.
Level 4 (200/400) 16400 - First hand of the Level, I raise to 1000 in the Hyjack with AKo. Only the SB called. The Flop was AJ5. He checked, and I decided to try to trap him by checking. Turn [AJ5] A. He checked. I bet 1500, and he called. River [AJ5 A] 7. I go All-In for 3000. He quickly called with QJd. Sometimes, poker is easy.
Later, I limp UTG+1 with AKo, hoping that a shortstack will raise. Two other players limp in. The BB goes All-In for 800, a min-raise. I back-raise All-In, and the limpers fold. BB has 43c, and missed everything for Bounty #1.
Last hand of the level, an active No0b limps in Mid. I'm the SB with AKo (yes, three times in 15 minutes). I decide to limp, and three players see a Flop of Qd Jd Jc. The BB and I check. No0b bet 400, and I'm the only caller. The Turn was [Qd Jd Jc] 5s. I check, and he did as well. The River was [Qd Jd Jc 5c] Ts. Bingo! I bet 1500 with my Broadway. No0b raised to 3000. Now I know he has a J, but I don't know if he has a Full House. I just call, and he proudly shows J6h for Trips. Sometimes, poker is easy.
BREAK - We are down to 7 handed. I'm one of two Chip Leaders. The other one is on my Left+1.
Level 5 (400/800) 19200 - The only hand I played was me squeezing with AJo from the SB. I thought one of the Shortstacks would call, but they didn't.
I'm now the comfortable Chip Leader. The other Big Stack made some rather loose calls, and wasted half of his stack.
Level 6 (500/1000) 20000 - We are down to 6 handed. The only hand I played was raising to 2500 with Ks Qh, and both Blinds called. Flop was Ad 9d 4d. They both checked, so I bet enough to put either of them All-In. Fortunately, they quickly folded. I decided to show the bluff.
Level 7 (1000/2000) 33000 - It folded to the Button, who min-raised to 4k and he has 4k behind. The SB went All-In for 6k. I'm the BB, and look at 85o. Doing the Math, I need to call 6k to win 16k plus two Bounties. I decide to gamble by going All-In and the Button calls with 22. The SB has A4o. There's an 8 on the Flop, and I collect Bounty #2 and Bounty #3. The next hand. the J6 No0b went All-In for 6k. I'm in the SB, look down at KK, and say "Hello!" to Bounty #4. We're down to 3-handed.
Level 8 (2000/4000) 18000 - 3-handed play goes on for a while with no big hands. I'm trying to stay patient, but I'm slowly bleeding chips with the Blinds this high. Through these small pots, I loose the chip lead to a young lady who's a No0b. She finally gets into a Coin Flip with the other player who's the former Big Stack. She has 99, and he has AQ. An Ace hit the Flop, but a 9 on the River pops the Bubble, and she gets her first Bounty.
Before the Dealer pushed the Pot to her, she asked, "Do you want to split the money?" I'm trying to cut down on the number of chops that I do in these tournaments. But she has a chip lead of more than 2-1. If the Blinds were lower, I would rather play it out since she's a No0b. I've got under 5 Big Blinds, so one little mistake would mean I get 2nd. A even-money chop is just too good of equity to say 'No'. We chop the $440 prize pool, and we each get our own Bounty, #5 for me.
I know that I just said that I don't like small Bounty tournament, but I think this proves my point. The two of us got 7 out of 11 Bounties. If we add the Bounties back into the prizepool, it would be $550, or $275 each. With my five $10 Bounties, I left the table with $270.
8:20 $220 - If you play in the Cash game for one hour after the tournament, Harrah's will give you $10 and a coupon for 1000 chips in a future tournament. So I sit down as Player #6, and once again, I have to table covered. The next largest stack is around $130. The J6 No0b is on the other end of the table, and has around $60. I'm only planning on being here until 10pm, so hopefully this quickie session will go better than the afternoon quickie session.
9:00 $316 - We're down to five players, as the No0b busted. He was still very active, but I didn't get any of his money.
The pots have been small as expected, but things are going much better for me. Two noteworthy hands. First was a $70 stack raised to $12 from the Hyjack. The SB called. I'm the BB with 55. I make the reluctant call, even though neither player has many chips for me to win if I hit my Set. Flop was Q-high with a Flush Draw. The SB and I check. The Hyjack bet $10, and the SB folds. As I've mentioned various times before, that bet means Weak. I decide to check-raise to $25. He thinks for almost a minute before folding.
Second hand was me having 76o in the SB on a Board of 998 T. I lead out on Turn for $5. Two players called, and the Button raised to $10. Having the bad end of the Straight, and being out of position, I just call. The other two players also call. River [998 T] K. We check, and the Button bets $15. I call, and so does another player. Button shows A9 for Trips, and the other player shows KJ. Ship it!
9:30 $201 - Things went sour for me. I ended up paying off two shortstacks who had AA and KK in different hands. We are now a full 10-handed table. I'm getting tired, so hopefully my last two orbits will be profitable.
10:10 $276 - My cards were relative quiet, but the action was good at the table. I got all my money in one hand. There were a few limpers, and I raise to $7 from the Hyjack with KJo. The Button called. The SB raised to $11, but the Dealer said he had to make it $12. Most of the limpers call. I 4-Bet to $60, to either win the pot, or get heads-up. Everyone folded, except the SB who called and a Shortstack who called for his last $35. The Flop is J-high, and the SB checked. I ship it All-In for $143, and the SB folds rather quickly. I show my hand, much to the surprise of the table. The Shortstack has 77, but misses his 2-outer.
I also played another hand that I could have won with a $40 Hero Call on the River against a traveling player who just arrived in town for the various tournament series that are starting this week. But I wimped out because my Hero Call Winning Percentage (or HCW% for you internet geeks) sucks lately. I know that I don't have win even half of my Hero Calls for it to be profitable, but I'm way below that over the last few months.
3:10 - I walk into the Eldorado Poker Room on Monday afternoon. (It's President's Day, and I have the day off.) There is one table of $1/$2 and a list with five names on it. I become player #6, and the Floorman says they will be calling a new table soon.
3:50 - I'm tired of waiting, and I've wasted $100 in a Video Poker machine. I go up to the desk to tell him that I'm leaving, but he says that he's calling the List right now to start the 2nd table. I decide to stick around, but I know the game won't start. I've been here for 40 minutes, and there are plenty of names that were here long before I got here. The List is stale, and many of those players have left the casino. It happens regularly at the Eldorado.
Naturally, I was right. Only four players showed up, and one of them was a Dealer in this room. While we're waiting to see if a fifth player might show up, a seat opens up at the first table. The Dealer takes the open seat, and our 2nd table is officially dead. This seemed very odd to me, so I asked the Floorman the obvious question, "Why does a Dealer get an open seat over a Customer?"
"Because he was the first name on the List," said the Floorman.
"So?", I said. "He's an employee who's in uniform. It looks really bad that you would rather give an open seat to an employee rather than a paying customer."
The Floorman didn't say anything, and walked away.
Typical.
4:00 - I walked out of the room, and headed to some other Downtown rooms to see if I could find a game that actually wanted a customer. I went to Silver Legacy, but they had no games. Next was Sands Regency, but they only had one table with all White chips on it. I then headed to Harrah's, figuring they would have a $1/$2 table running. I was right.
4:25 $220 - I'm the 8th player at the table, and I have the table covered with my buy-in. I think the next biggest stack is around $150 with half of the table under $100. I expect there to be a lot of limping, checking, and min-raises in my future.
5:00 $125 - Well, I was right about this table. Everyone is super passive, and not betting their hands. I really haven't had much to play with. My first pot was me betting $7 from the Button with Bottom Pair (3) on the Flop. Only the SB called. I bet $15 on the Turn, and $20 on the River. He called both times with 2nd Pair on the Flop (5). (Right Click - Notes - "Calling Station") Other hands involved me stabbing at pots against various players who kept hitting Two Pair or Better, including the Calling Station.
We are now five handed, and I don't see this game lasting much longer.
5:30 $122 - I finally won a decent pot. I had 96o in the SB of a limp pot. I flopped Top Pair (6), bet $5, and got two callers. The Turn gave me Two Pair. I bet $10, and they both called. The River was a 6. I bet $15, and they both reluctantly called.
We lost more players, and are down to three. The Floor grabs some Shill money, and sits in the game to try to keep it alive. He only posted the single $1 Blind, and never played a hand. Once, he accidentally flipped his hand over, A9d. He would have flopped a Pair + Nut Flush Draw. (At Harrah's, when the table gets shorthanded, they only post a $1 Big Blind. It's still $2 to enter the pot.)
The three of us are playing small pots, but the Calling Station is the only one who seems to be catching cards. I finally started to not believe him, and called a $20 River Bet from him when I just had Top Pair (K - K9o). He had hit the Nut Straight on the Turn.
Shortly after that hand, the third player at the table goes busto to the Calling Station, and our game breaks. I've been wanting to play more at Harrah's so I can build up some Points for my Las Vegas trip in June. So I decide to grab a quick bite to eat, and play in the 6pm tournament.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 6000 - Tonight's tournament is a $65 Bounty tournament ($10 Bounty) with 15 minute levels. We are starting with 10 players, but 11 stacks crammed at the table. I hate when a Poker Room does this, and it's common in Reno. The Rooms would rather squeeze 11 or more players at one table, instead of starting with two short handed tables. They keep the other Dealer at an empty Cash table that has no prayer of starting up until some of the tourney players bust out.
And speaking of "hating", I really don't like small bounty tournaments. Bounty tourneys are great with a larger field because players can win money without cashing. They are really popular in the Home Games that I used to run, where we had 35 or more players. But in these small, one-table tourneys, most of the Bounties go to the players who end up cashing. I would have to knock out seven players to get my buy-in back. If I knock out seven players, I will win the tourney. So why bother doing it?
End of Level 1 (25/50) 5850 - We now have 11 players. There are a few No0bs here, and the play has been, well... interesting. There were three separate preflop raises to 1000, and one to 500. All of them were called.
Since this is a one-table tournament, I'm going with the standard Sit-N-Go strategy of "Tight Early, Aggro Later". This means I haven't played a hand yet.
Level 2 (50/100) 5850 - The play at this table is still on the "Huh?" side. The preflop raises have calmed down to the 500 range. There was two All-Ins preflop; one for 2300 and another for 4400. Neither was called.
It's been easy for me to stay patient with the steady flow of Baby Face cards that I've been getting dealt. The only hand that I played was me getting a Walk in the BB, which is why I didn't lose any chips this level.
Level 3 (100/200) 5500 - We still have 11 players, which is odd for a Bounty tournament. My cards have improved to Baby Aces, which is still not playable at an 11-handed table. The only playable hand I saw was 88, but I was UTG, so it was an easy fold.
Level 4 (200/400) 16400 - First hand of the Level, I raise to 1000 in the Hyjack with AKo. Only the SB called. The Flop was AJ5. He checked, and I decided to try to trap him by checking. Turn [AJ5] A. He checked. I bet 1500, and he called. River [AJ5 A] 7. I go All-In for 3000. He quickly called with QJd. Sometimes, poker is easy.
Later, I limp UTG+1 with AKo, hoping that a shortstack will raise. Two other players limp in. The BB goes All-In for 800, a min-raise. I back-raise All-In, and the limpers fold. BB has 43c, and missed everything for Bounty #1.
Last hand of the level, an active No0b limps in Mid. I'm the SB with AKo (yes, three times in 15 minutes). I decide to limp, and three players see a Flop of Qd Jd Jc. The BB and I check. No0b bet 400, and I'm the only caller. The Turn was [Qd Jd Jc] 5s. I check, and he did as well. The River was [Qd Jd Jc 5c] Ts. Bingo! I bet 1500 with my Broadway. No0b raised to 3000. Now I know he has a J, but I don't know if he has a Full House. I just call, and he proudly shows J6h for Trips. Sometimes, poker is easy.
BREAK - We are down to 7 handed. I'm one of two Chip Leaders. The other one is on my Left+1.
Level 5 (400/800) 19200 - The only hand I played was me squeezing with AJo from the SB. I thought one of the Shortstacks would call, but they didn't.
I'm now the comfortable Chip Leader. The other Big Stack made some rather loose calls, and wasted half of his stack.
Level 6 (500/1000) 20000 - We are down to 6 handed. The only hand I played was raising to 2500 with Ks Qh, and both Blinds called. Flop was Ad 9d 4d. They both checked, so I bet enough to put either of them All-In. Fortunately, they quickly folded. I decided to show the bluff.
Level 7 (1000/2000) 33000 - It folded to the Button, who min-raised to 4k and he has 4k behind. The SB went All-In for 6k. I'm the BB, and look at 85o. Doing the Math, I need to call 6k to win 16k plus two Bounties. I decide to gamble by going All-In and the Button calls with 22. The SB has A4o. There's an 8 on the Flop, and I collect Bounty #2 and Bounty #3. The next hand. the J6 No0b went All-In for 6k. I'm in the SB, look down at KK, and say "Hello!" to Bounty #4. We're down to 3-handed.
Level 8 (2000/4000) 18000 - 3-handed play goes on for a while with no big hands. I'm trying to stay patient, but I'm slowly bleeding chips with the Blinds this high. Through these small pots, I loose the chip lead to a young lady who's a No0b. She finally gets into a Coin Flip with the other player who's the former Big Stack. She has 99, and he has AQ. An Ace hit the Flop, but a 9 on the River pops the Bubble, and she gets her first Bounty.
Before the Dealer pushed the Pot to her, she asked, "Do you want to split the money?" I'm trying to cut down on the number of chops that I do in these tournaments. But she has a chip lead of more than 2-1. If the Blinds were lower, I would rather play it out since she's a No0b. I've got under 5 Big Blinds, so one little mistake would mean I get 2nd. A even-money chop is just too good of equity to say 'No'. We chop the $440 prize pool, and we each get our own Bounty, #5 for me.
I know that I just said that I don't like small Bounty tournament, but I think this proves my point. The two of us got 7 out of 11 Bounties. If we add the Bounties back into the prizepool, it would be $550, or $275 each. With my five $10 Bounties, I left the table with $270.
8:20 $220 - If you play in the Cash game for one hour after the tournament, Harrah's will give you $10 and a coupon for 1000 chips in a future tournament. So I sit down as Player #6, and once again, I have to table covered. The next largest stack is around $130. The J6 No0b is on the other end of the table, and has around $60. I'm only planning on being here until 10pm, so hopefully this quickie session will go better than the afternoon quickie session.
9:00 $316 - We're down to five players, as the No0b busted. He was still very active, but I didn't get any of his money.
The pots have been small as expected, but things are going much better for me. Two noteworthy hands. First was a $70 stack raised to $12 from the Hyjack. The SB called. I'm the BB with 55. I make the reluctant call, even though neither player has many chips for me to win if I hit my Set. Flop was Q-high with a Flush Draw. The SB and I check. The Hyjack bet $10, and the SB folds. As I've mentioned various times before, that bet means Weak. I decide to check-raise to $25. He thinks for almost a minute before folding.
Second hand was me having 76o in the SB on a Board of 998 T. I lead out on Turn for $5. Two players called, and the Button raised to $10. Having the bad end of the Straight, and being out of position, I just call. The other two players also call. River [998 T] K. We check, and the Button bets $15. I call, and so does another player. Button shows A9 for Trips, and the other player shows KJ. Ship it!
9:30 $201 - Things went sour for me. I ended up paying off two shortstacks who had AA and KK in different hands. We are now a full 10-handed table. I'm getting tired, so hopefully my last two orbits will be profitable.
10:10 $276 - My cards were relative quiet, but the action was good at the table. I got all my money in one hand. There were a few limpers, and I raise to $7 from the Hyjack with KJo. The Button called. The SB raised to $11, but the Dealer said he had to make it $12. Most of the limpers call. I 4-Bet to $60, to either win the pot, or get heads-up. Everyone folded, except the SB who called and a Shortstack who called for his last $35. The Flop is J-high, and the SB checked. I ship it All-In for $143, and the SB folds rather quickly. I show my hand, much to the surprise of the table. The Shortstack has 77, but misses his 2-outer.
I also played another hand that I could have won with a $40 Hero Call on the River against a traveling player who just arrived in town for the various tournament series that are starting this week. But I wimped out because my Hero Call Winning Percentage (or HCW% for you internet geeks) sucks lately. I know that I don't have win even half of my Hero Calls for it to be profitable, but I'm way below that over the last few months.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
I Suck At Limit Hold'em
1:15 $100 - I walked into the Eldorado Poker Room on Sunday afternoon, and got seated at a $3/$6 table. The game has a Full Kill, but the Blinds are just $1/$2. So if someone raises preflop, then is goes to $5, and not $6. I've been finding this structure is somewhat common around town.
The table is a mix of old players, and those that are not quite as old.
1:30 $113 - I limped with A5o in the Cutoff. I flopped a Wheel Draw, and all players checked. I hit it on the Turn, so I bet the Turn and River. I got one caller on both streets.
The table is playing normal. No crazy Action Guys so far. Some are play most of the hands, and some are mostly folding.
2:00 $87 - In a Kill Pot, the lady who had the Kill Button ($6) is UTG, and made a comment about her Dead Man's Hand when she peeks at it. There were a bunch of limpers. I'm the SB, and have Kh Kd. So I raised ($12), and everyone called. Six players saw a Flop of A Q J. Even though I hated that Flop, I bet ($6), and three players called. The Turn was [A Q J] 6. I basically gave up and checked. UTG (The Kill Lady) bet ($12). One called, and one folded. I thought about it for a bit, and called with my Broadway Draw. River [A Q J 6] 2. I checked, and UTG bet ($12). The other player folded, and so did I. UTG showed A6o (Yeah, that's not the Dead Man's Hand.)
Later, I limped and called a raise with J9o in the Hyjack. The Board ran out KJ6 6 4, and my hand was good with four players still in at the River.
2:30 $120 - I limped in Mid with A8d. Seven players saw a Flop of 8s 3h 3d. It checked to me, and I bet ($3). Three players called. The Turn was [8s 3h 3d] Kd. I picked up a Flush Draw, so I'm happy to bet ($6). Only the SB called, but he had $4 left behind. River [8s 3h 3d Kd] Ac. He checked. I bet ($6), and he called with his last $4. I showed my Two Pair, and he flashed the Kh before he mucked.
Later, I raise from the Cutoff with AJs. Only the SB and Mid called. Flop was Ts 9s 4h. They checked, and I bet my Flush Draw. Only the Mid called. Turn [Ts 9s 4h] 8s. He checked. I bet my Nut Flush, and he called. River [Ts 9s 4h 8s] 3h. Once again, Check Bet and Call. I showed my Nut Flush, and he didn't show.
3:00 $82 - Only one limper when it got to me in the Hyjack, so I decided to raise ($6) with 77. Only the Button and the limper called. Flop was K Q 8. The limper bet ($3), but only had $5 behind. I assume that I'm behind, so I fold. The Button called. The limper goes All-In for $5 on the Turn, and the Button folded.
I limped UTG with A6s. Six players saw a Flop of Ac 3c 3d. I lead out with my Top Pair, and three players call. The Turn was [Ac 3c 3d] 9h. I bet again. Mid player thought for a moment, and called. The other player folded. [Ac 3c 3d 9h] 7h. I bet again. Mid player thought for a bit, and raised. I make the crying call, and he showed K3o. I played this hand horribly from start to finish.
3:30 $60 - No noteworthy hands. I played a few hands by either limping or calling a raise, and then airballing the Flop. Overall, I've been been trying to play solid cards, while being a little looser in position (Button, Cutoff, and Hyjack). The table is still playing loose passive. There might be two preflop raises each orbit.
4:00 $29 - I limped in the Hyjack with J7h. Five players saw the Flop of Th 5c 3s. All players checked. The Turn was [Th 5c 3s] Jc. Mid player bet, and he's an old Nit. I call with my Top Pair. The Cutoff raised, and he's another old Nit. All others fold back to the Mid player. He paused for a moment, and called. This is a bit of a predicament for me because these are two of the tightest players at the table. I finally decided to fold. Even if I hit my Two Pair, it might not be any good. The River was [Th 5c 3s Jc] 7c. They both check. Mid had J9, but the Cutoff wins with KJ. In hindsight, I still have no clue if the proper play was to fold or call.
Later in a Kill pot, I limped on the Button with 65h. Four players see a Flop of Qh 7h 3c. It checked to me, and I bet with my Flush Draw + Gutshot. Only the BB called, who had the Kill. The Turn was [Qh 7h 3c] 9s. She checked. I decide to also check. This lady is playing 80% of hands, and seeing 50% of the Rivers. There's no point in betting my Draw, because she will not fold. The River was another brick for me. We both check, and she wins another pot with T7d.
4:20 $3 - I'm down to $18 when I limp in the Cutoff with As Tc. Six players Ah Kd 7d. UTG bets. The Hyjack calls (one of the old Nits from earlier). I decide to raise and scare off the Blinds from calling with whatever. It worked as only UTG and Mid called. Turn [Ah Kd 7d] 4d. All three of us checked. River [Ah Kd 7d 4d] Qh. UTG checked. Hyjack bet. I hate this because I don't see how I can have the best hand. But this pot got big because of my raise on the Flop, so I make the crying call. UTG folded, and Mid shows A9d for Da Nuts.
I feel a case of Tilt coming on, so I cashout my last three White chips, and head home.
The table is a mix of old players, and those that are not quite as old.
1:30 $113 - I limped with A5o in the Cutoff. I flopped a Wheel Draw, and all players checked. I hit it on the Turn, so I bet the Turn and River. I got one caller on both streets.
The table is playing normal. No crazy Action Guys so far. Some are play most of the hands, and some are mostly folding.
2:00 $87 - In a Kill Pot, the lady who had the Kill Button ($6) is UTG, and made a comment about her Dead Man's Hand when she peeks at it. There were a bunch of limpers. I'm the SB, and have Kh Kd. So I raised ($12), and everyone called. Six players saw a Flop of A Q J. Even though I hated that Flop, I bet ($6), and three players called. The Turn was [A Q J] 6. I basically gave up and checked. UTG (The Kill Lady) bet ($12). One called, and one folded. I thought about it for a bit, and called with my Broadway Draw. River [A Q J 6] 2. I checked, and UTG bet ($12). The other player folded, and so did I. UTG showed A6o (Yeah, that's not the Dead Man's Hand.)
Later, I limped and called a raise with J9o in the Hyjack. The Board ran out KJ6 6 4, and my hand was good with four players still in at the River.
2:30 $120 - I limped in Mid with A8d. Seven players saw a Flop of 8s 3h 3d. It checked to me, and I bet ($3). Three players called. The Turn was [8s 3h 3d] Kd. I picked up a Flush Draw, so I'm happy to bet ($6). Only the SB called, but he had $4 left behind. River [8s 3h 3d Kd] Ac. He checked. I bet ($6), and he called with his last $4. I showed my Two Pair, and he flashed the Kh before he mucked.
Later, I raise from the Cutoff with AJs. Only the SB and Mid called. Flop was Ts 9s 4h. They checked, and I bet my Flush Draw. Only the Mid called. Turn [Ts 9s 4h] 8s. He checked. I bet my Nut Flush, and he called. River [Ts 9s 4h 8s] 3h. Once again, Check Bet and Call. I showed my Nut Flush, and he didn't show.
3:00 $82 - Only one limper when it got to me in the Hyjack, so I decided to raise ($6) with 77. Only the Button and the limper called. Flop was K Q 8. The limper bet ($3), but only had $5 behind. I assume that I'm behind, so I fold. The Button called. The limper goes All-In for $5 on the Turn, and the Button folded.
I limped UTG with A6s. Six players saw a Flop of Ac 3c 3d. I lead out with my Top Pair, and three players call. The Turn was [Ac 3c 3d] 9h. I bet again. Mid player thought for a moment, and called. The other player folded. [Ac 3c 3d 9h] 7h. I bet again. Mid player thought for a bit, and raised. I make the crying call, and he showed K3o. I played this hand horribly from start to finish.
3:30 $60 - No noteworthy hands. I played a few hands by either limping or calling a raise, and then airballing the Flop. Overall, I've been been trying to play solid cards, while being a little looser in position (Button, Cutoff, and Hyjack). The table is still playing loose passive. There might be two preflop raises each orbit.
4:00 $29 - I limped in the Hyjack with J7h. Five players saw the Flop of Th 5c 3s. All players checked. The Turn was [Th 5c 3s] Jc. Mid player bet, and he's an old Nit. I call with my Top Pair. The Cutoff raised, and he's another old Nit. All others fold back to the Mid player. He paused for a moment, and called. This is a bit of a predicament for me because these are two of the tightest players at the table. I finally decided to fold. Even if I hit my Two Pair, it might not be any good. The River was [Th 5c 3s Jc] 7c. They both check. Mid had J9, but the Cutoff wins with KJ. In hindsight, I still have no clue if the proper play was to fold or call.
Later in a Kill pot, I limped on the Button with 65h. Four players see a Flop of Qh 7h 3c. It checked to me, and I bet with my Flush Draw + Gutshot. Only the BB called, who had the Kill. The Turn was [Qh 7h 3c] 9s. She checked. I decide to also check. This lady is playing 80% of hands, and seeing 50% of the Rivers. There's no point in betting my Draw, because she will not fold. The River was another brick for me. We both check, and she wins another pot with T7d.
4:20 $3 - I'm down to $18 when I limp in the Cutoff with As Tc. Six players Ah Kd 7d. UTG bets. The Hyjack calls (one of the old Nits from earlier). I decide to raise and scare off the Blinds from calling with whatever. It worked as only UTG and Mid called. Turn [Ah Kd 7d] 4d. All three of us checked. River [Ah Kd 7d 4d] Qh. UTG checked. Hyjack bet. I hate this because I don't see how I can have the best hand. But this pot got big because of my raise on the Flop, so I make the crying call. UTG folded, and Mid shows A9d for Da Nuts.
I feel a case of Tilt coming on, so I cashout my last three White chips, and head home.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Rants & Raves: How Much Tolerance Do You Give A Drunk?
I was at an interesting table earlier this week at the Eldorado. At first, it was a rather typical weeknight $1/$2 game. (You know... boring.) Then three college kids sat down at the table, and two of them were rather drunk. The Dealers knew one of the drunks by name, Casey.
The two drunks and their buddy bought in for around $100 each. The two drunks played like you would expect them to do. They played almost every hand. They called with nothing, and raised for no reason. As a player at the table, I think it was wonderful, because I can get paid when I have a big hand.
However, there were other things happening that were not so wonderful. They were openly talking about hands and their cards during a hand. They would tell each other, "Call him. He ain't got nothing." After every hand between them, the winner would toss a chip or two back the loser, and said, "Good Battle." One time, the non-drunk buddy got short on chips, and Casey tossed him five Red chips right across the table.
I was not thrilled with all the extra-curricular activities, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to "tap the fishtank". There was one player who was vocal about the circus, but he was just saying generic things to nobody in particular. Things like, "I can't believe what I'm seeing" and "I can't believe they have cameras in here."
There was one other person who didn't say anything, and that was the Dealer. Actually, of the three Dealers who sat down during while the drunks were here, and only one of the them said anything to Casey about what was happening.
Unfortunately, this was not uncommon. I've played in a lot of smaller poker rooms that cater to Locals, and the Dealers don't enforce the rules with the Locals for one simple reason. Dealers get paid with tips, and they don't want to upset the people who tip them, who are the Regulars that the Dealers are on a first name basis with. But "tourists" like me, the Dealers don't care about.
The worst Poker Room for this double standard was at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, NY. They were one of the first casinos in the area, and they had a decent amount of business from Cleveland, which was about a 2.5 hour drive. A few years ago, a large group of from the CPMG went up there on Good Friday. One of us, El Diabl0, was in a hand with two Locals. On the River, one of the Locals bet, and El Diabl0 called. The other Local was thinking, and the first Local said, "I got this one, Fred. Just lay it down." So he folded, and the first Local won the pot. El Diabl0 asked the Dealer, "You guys allow this in your Poker Room?" The Dealer didn't respond, but did collect the tip.
At a different table, I was sitting with two of our players, Canuck and Twitch. They got into a pot, and were the only two in the pot. So naturally, there was some table talk between them. After Twitch won the hand, the Dealer warned him that he was not allowed to lie about his hand. So I asked the Dealer, "What if he told the truth?" The Dealer said, "Well, we don't encourage that here."
A Dealer's job is to control the Deck, control the Pot, and control the Table. That doesn't mean they have to be a Bitch, and yell at everyone. Usually just a couple of words can solve a lot of problems, and it certainly would have helped with the drunks earlier this week.
The two drunks and their buddy bought in for around $100 each. The two drunks played like you would expect them to do. They played almost every hand. They called with nothing, and raised for no reason. As a player at the table, I think it was wonderful, because I can get paid when I have a big hand.
However, there were other things happening that were not so wonderful. They were openly talking about hands and their cards during a hand. They would tell each other, "Call him. He ain't got nothing." After every hand between them, the winner would toss a chip or two back the loser, and said, "Good Battle." One time, the non-drunk buddy got short on chips, and Casey tossed him five Red chips right across the table.
I was not thrilled with all the extra-curricular activities, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to "tap the fishtank". There was one player who was vocal about the circus, but he was just saying generic things to nobody in particular. Things like, "I can't believe what I'm seeing" and "I can't believe they have cameras in here."
There was one other person who didn't say anything, and that was the Dealer. Actually, of the three Dealers who sat down during while the drunks were here, and only one of the them said anything to Casey about what was happening.
Unfortunately, this was not uncommon. I've played in a lot of smaller poker rooms that cater to Locals, and the Dealers don't enforce the rules with the Locals for one simple reason. Dealers get paid with tips, and they don't want to upset the people who tip them, who are the Regulars that the Dealers are on a first name basis with. But "tourists" like me, the Dealers don't care about.
The worst Poker Room for this double standard was at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, NY. They were one of the first casinos in the area, and they had a decent amount of business from Cleveland, which was about a 2.5 hour drive. A few years ago, a large group of from the CPMG went up there on Good Friday. One of us, El Diabl0, was in a hand with two Locals. On the River, one of the Locals bet, and El Diabl0 called. The other Local was thinking, and the first Local said, "I got this one, Fred. Just lay it down." So he folded, and the first Local won the pot. El Diabl0 asked the Dealer, "You guys allow this in your Poker Room?" The Dealer didn't respond, but did collect the tip.
At a different table, I was sitting with two of our players, Canuck and Twitch. They got into a pot, and were the only two in the pot. So naturally, there was some table talk between them. After Twitch won the hand, the Dealer warned him that he was not allowed to lie about his hand. So I asked the Dealer, "What if he told the truth?" The Dealer said, "Well, we don't encourage that here."
A Dealer's job is to control the Deck, control the Pot, and control the Table. That doesn't mean they have to be a Bitch, and yell at everyone. Usually just a couple of words can solve a lot of problems, and it certainly would have helped with the drunks earlier this week.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Overlay
After checking in to my room at Harrah's Reno, I walked across the street and down a bit to the Eldorado Casino. They were having a Tournament Series this weekend, and the last event was at 5pm, $200 ($175 + $25) NLHE with $2000 added for 1st place. The $200 got you T4000 chips, and there was a $5 Dealer Add-On with T1000 chips. The levels were 30 minutes long. The structure was actually kinda good with extra levels added in the middle of the tourney.
Being in Reno on a Sunday night, I really wasn't sure what to expect for a turnout. But I certainly didn't expect what happened. They originally had 4 tables (9 handed) set up for "Shuffle Up & Deal", but they only had three tables with maybe 20 players to start. The Late buy-in period was one hour (2 levels). They ended up with 23 players. With $2000 added to the prize pool for first place, that's an overlay of $87 per player. That is huge for a $200 tournament. To put it a different way, the regular prize pool was about $4000, and then they're adding $2000 to that.
With the small field and huge overlay, I decided to have the same strategy that I have for the small Greektown 11am tourneys. Basically, fold to the Final Table. Don't splash around too much and keep my VPIP low because I don't have many chips. Stay away from calling raises, and try not to get involved in marginal spots. If I start to get low, try to maintain in the 10-20 BB range. Once I get to the Final Table, I feel I have a big advantage because I've been involved in so many Final Tables at my Home Game tournaments.
However, everything went wrong for me. Whenever I zigged, I should have zagged. Early on, I folded the Q-high Diamond Flush on the Turn on the Button. The SB bet the Flop, and then bet the Turn. A Mid player called the Flop, and shipped the Turn. He's a 50's guy who's already folded AA face up in an earlier hand. It was a really close decision. Eventually, I thought survival was more important with this tournament, so I folded. The SB had the Ad with Top Pair. Mid guy had 87d for a smaller Flush. This would have been a good Hand Of The Day, but I wasn't in the mood to write down the details.
There were many other spots that just didn't work out like they should have. But the worst of all was when we were down to two tables with around 16 players left in the 150/300 Level. I raised UTG to 825 with AQd. A 20's lady in Mid position called. SB goes All-In for 1125 total. I can't raise to isolate, so I call the extra 300 and so does the Lady. Flop was 9c 6h 3d. We both check. Turn [9c 6h 3d] 9d. I check. She starts mumbling about me having overcards, and her having a pocket pair. She grabs some chips, and bets 600 in to a pot of about 3600. So I need to call win 600 to win 4200, or 7-1 Pot Odds. But I've only got 6 outs, and there's a good chance that the SB has one of my outs. Since things haven't been going well up to this point, I'm getting short on chips, and tossing another 600 just hoping to hit isn't a good idea, even with Pot Odds. So I fold. The SB shows KJh and she shows Qs Jd. The River was a brick, and the SB stays alive with K-high.
I was furious. Not because she lied about having a Pocket Pair, or because those 3600 should have been mine. The reason I was pissed was because that may have been the stupidest bet I've ever seen in a tournament. With Q-high, she has no Showdown value. She can't win the Main Pot with Q-high, and there was no Side Pot to bet into. What did she think the SB had, JTs? That was the only hand she could beat. Even if she had 22, it wouldn't have been a terrible bet, because she could beat Overcards. But with that retarded 600 bluff, all she did was let the SB hang around.
Shortly after this hand, we get to the first Break. I've got 2500, or half of my starting stack left. With the next level being 200/400, it's time to start shoving. On the Break, I talk to the KJ guy about that hand, and I tell him that he'll probably be the one to knock me out, since he's now on a Freeroll.
On the second hand back from Break, I look down at K9h, and I ship it All-In for 2500. It folds around to the BB, who is the Freeroll guy. He thinks about it for a bit, and reluctantly calls with 88. I'm sure that I don't need to tell you that I completely missed the Board, and I finish in 12th place.
I don't know what happened after I left, but I would bet my bankroll that the Freeroll guy went on to a sweet cash.
Being in Reno on a Sunday night, I really wasn't sure what to expect for a turnout. But I certainly didn't expect what happened. They originally had 4 tables (9 handed) set up for "Shuffle Up & Deal", but they only had three tables with maybe 20 players to start. The Late buy-in period was one hour (2 levels). They ended up with 23 players. With $2000 added to the prize pool for first place, that's an overlay of $87 per player. That is huge for a $200 tournament. To put it a different way, the regular prize pool was about $4000, and then they're adding $2000 to that.
With the small field and huge overlay, I decided to have the same strategy that I have for the small Greektown 11am tourneys. Basically, fold to the Final Table. Don't splash around too much and keep my VPIP low because I don't have many chips. Stay away from calling raises, and try not to get involved in marginal spots. If I start to get low, try to maintain in the 10-20 BB range. Once I get to the Final Table, I feel I have a big advantage because I've been involved in so many Final Tables at my Home Game tournaments.
However, everything went wrong for me. Whenever I zigged, I should have zagged. Early on, I folded the Q-high Diamond Flush on the Turn on the Button. The SB bet the Flop, and then bet the Turn. A Mid player called the Flop, and shipped the Turn. He's a 50's guy who's already folded AA face up in an earlier hand. It was a really close decision. Eventually, I thought survival was more important with this tournament, so I folded. The SB had the Ad with Top Pair. Mid guy had 87d for a smaller Flush. This would have been a good Hand Of The Day, but I wasn't in the mood to write down the details.
There were many other spots that just didn't work out like they should have. But the worst of all was when we were down to two tables with around 16 players left in the 150/300 Level. I raised UTG to 825 with AQd. A 20's lady in Mid position called. SB goes All-In for 1125 total. I can't raise to isolate, so I call the extra 300 and so does the Lady. Flop was 9c 6h 3d. We both check. Turn [9c 6h 3d] 9d. I check. She starts mumbling about me having overcards, and her having a pocket pair. She grabs some chips, and bets 600 in to a pot of about 3600. So I need to call win 600 to win 4200, or 7-1 Pot Odds. But I've only got 6 outs, and there's a good chance that the SB has one of my outs. Since things haven't been going well up to this point, I'm getting short on chips, and tossing another 600 just hoping to hit isn't a good idea, even with Pot Odds. So I fold. The SB shows KJh and she shows Qs Jd. The River was a brick, and the SB stays alive with K-high.
I was furious. Not because she lied about having a Pocket Pair, or because those 3600 should have been mine. The reason I was pissed was because that may have been the stupidest bet I've ever seen in a tournament. With Q-high, she has no Showdown value. She can't win the Main Pot with Q-high, and there was no Side Pot to bet into. What did she think the SB had, JTs? That was the only hand she could beat. Even if she had 22, it wouldn't have been a terrible bet, because she could beat Overcards. But with that retarded 600 bluff, all she did was let the SB hang around.
Shortly after this hand, we get to the first Break. I've got 2500, or half of my starting stack left. With the next level being 200/400, it's time to start shoving. On the Break, I talk to the KJ guy about that hand, and I tell him that he'll probably be the one to knock me out, since he's now on a Freeroll.
On the second hand back from Break, I look down at K9h, and I ship it All-In for 2500. It folds around to the BB, who is the Freeroll guy. He thinks about it for a bit, and reluctantly calls with 88. I'm sure that I don't need to tell you that I completely missed the Board, and I finish in 12th place.
I don't know what happened after I left, but I would bet my bankroll that the Freeroll guy went on to a sweet cash.
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