Some Main Event Hands
This blog got over 1100 hits yesterday after Pauly pimped me in his Borgata blog. Thanks, Dr. Pauly MD! Welcome, new folks. Here are some hands that stick out in my memory from the main event:
- Day 1. I raise UTG with AsTs, next seat calls, one of the blinds calls. Flop Qs8d3s. I don't remember the pot size/stack size details, but my stack was such that I had a good size to bet and then reraise all-in if I got raised. I bet, the preflop cold-caller raised, the blind folded, I jammed, he called with AQ, and a spade hit the turn.
- Day 1. Late in the day. I raise two off the button with QsJd, only Kenna James in the cutoff calls. Flop Kd4d2d, I check planning to check-raise all-in, Kenna checks. Turn an offsuit 6, I check planning to check-raise all-in, Kenna bets, I move in, Kenna calls with 5h3h, I hit the ace of diamonds on the river, Kenna gets very angry. I mean, I put a beat on him on the river, but what is he doing cold-calling a raise from a relatively short stack before the flop with 53s?
- Two or three hands after the above hand, I raise with AQo and again only Kenna calls. Flop a jack and two rags, I bet, Kenna calls. Turn a Q, I bet enough to put Kenna in, he folds TT face up. In hindsight I wish I had checked but I never like giving free cards on those two-broadway boards and I think the queen brought a flush draw as well. Setting him in here can't be that bad and I should protect the times I'm doing it with AK, KT, etc.
- Day 2. 1200-2400 blinds with a 300 or 400 ante. Jorge "TwinCaracas" Arias jams UTG for 42k and I have AdKd and 95k. I tank for a pretty long time (for me, for a preflop decision). We're pretty close to the money, maybe 90 people left or so (with 75 getting paid). If I fold, I have a very good chance of making the money but I have a little over half the average stack and I need to accumulate chips soon if I want a shot at winning the tournament. If I call and lose, I still have a good shot of making the money. If I call and win, I have about 150k and am around average. I have a much better chance to accumulate chips with 150k than with 95k. I thought it was unlikley (but possible) that Jorge would play AA or KK like this and those hands were even less likely because I had AK. I decided to call, Jorge had QQ, and his hand held up.
- 1500-3000 blinds, I start the hand with about 35k, I open UTG for 9500 with AdKd, Tommy Wang makes it 25k in MP, I jam, he calls with KK, and I hit an ace on the river. We were close to the bubble on this hand. I think there were 79 or 78 people left at the time. But AKs is not a hand I fold in this spot to Tommy.
- I busted jamming from the SB with K9 against a button raise. The BB, who had a mountain of chips, found 77, called, and won the race.
I had fun playing this event. I want to play more 10ks that give players more than 10k chips. Best of luck to Nordberg who's still in with 9 left.
- Day 1. I raise UTG with AsTs, next seat calls, one of the blinds calls. Flop Qs8d3s. I don't remember the pot size/stack size details, but my stack was such that I had a good size to bet and then reraise all-in if I got raised. I bet, the preflop cold-caller raised, the blind folded, I jammed, he called with AQ, and a spade hit the turn.
- Day 1. Late in the day. I raise two off the button with QsJd, only Kenna James in the cutoff calls. Flop Kd4d2d, I check planning to check-raise all-in, Kenna checks. Turn an offsuit 6, I check planning to check-raise all-in, Kenna bets, I move in, Kenna calls with 5h3h, I hit the ace of diamonds on the river, Kenna gets very angry. I mean, I put a beat on him on the river, but what is he doing cold-calling a raise from a relatively short stack before the flop with 53s?
- Two or three hands after the above hand, I raise with AQo and again only Kenna calls. Flop a jack and two rags, I bet, Kenna calls. Turn a Q, I bet enough to put Kenna in, he folds TT face up. In hindsight I wish I had checked but I never like giving free cards on those two-broadway boards and I think the queen brought a flush draw as well. Setting him in here can't be that bad and I should protect the times I'm doing it with AK, KT, etc.
- Day 2. 1200-2400 blinds with a 300 or 400 ante. Jorge "TwinCaracas" Arias jams UTG for 42k and I have AdKd and 95k. I tank for a pretty long time (for me, for a preflop decision). We're pretty close to the money, maybe 90 people left or so (with 75 getting paid). If I fold, I have a very good chance of making the money but I have a little over half the average stack and I need to accumulate chips soon if I want a shot at winning the tournament. If I call and lose, I still have a good shot of making the money. If I call and win, I have about 150k and am around average. I have a much better chance to accumulate chips with 150k than with 95k. I thought it was unlikley (but possible) that Jorge would play AA or KK like this and those hands were even less likely because I had AK. I decided to call, Jorge had QQ, and his hand held up.
- 1500-3000 blinds, I start the hand with about 35k, I open UTG for 9500 with AdKd, Tommy Wang makes it 25k in MP, I jam, he calls with KK, and I hit an ace on the river. We were close to the bubble on this hand. I think there were 79 or 78 people left at the time. But AKs is not a hand I fold in this spot to Tommy.
- I busted jamming from the SB with K9 against a button raise. The BB, who had a mountain of chips, found 77, called, and won the race.
I had fun playing this event. I want to play more 10ks that give players more than 10k chips. Best of luck to Nordberg who's still in with 9 left.
posted by Chris Fargis at 9:10 PM
5 Comments:
no love for me, I see how it is. its not my fault you arent cool enough to play 55 like a lunatic. see you at commerce, probably.
baby you had already busted when i wrote this post. you know i got nothin' but love for you. i couldn't have played that 55 the way you did because i lack the proper cajones. see ya out there.
What a sick beat Nordberg took. AA vs AK all in preflop on the TV bubble. He must be devastated.
I know you're playing much much higher stakes now... but while approaching the bubble did the money ever enter into any of your decisions?
Drizz, in my opinion the bubble shouldn't matter too much in your decision making. There are times when you are one or two people away from making the money that it might be worth it to play a hand so that you make sure you get paid. But for the most part, if you enter a tournament your focus should be on finishing in the top three from the moment they deal the first card.
The stakes I'm playing in cash games shouldn't really affect this either. If making bottom money in a tournament is THAT important to your bankroll, you should be playing smaller tournaments.
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