51 players returning
45 get paid
Average stack is 146K, blinds 500/1500/3000. I have 193K.
$30K up top, which of course is what we're shooting for. Updates from 11a.m.
Off we go, and we quickly go from 51 players to 46...and the bubble. I see a huge pot on my first table with quad 3's versus a boat for a huge pot, then I get moved. On my new table, it's folded round to small blind vs big blind (me) and I then get raised to 8K by a shortish stack. I look down at A6 heads up and have him well covered so I apply pressure and ship it. He snap calls for his remaining 68K like folding is never an option and tables... A8 offsuit. He flops an 8. That's a pretty ugly way to start the day. I'm never calling with that hand in that spot for my tournament, but we all play different I guess.
I drop to 115K, and am really not in the mood to mess around. There's a raise and a call next hand on my small blind, so I make it 100K, and they both grumble and fold. Back to 135K, and still on the bubble.
I guess my attitude has just been rewarded, we're in the money as someone busts. On to stage two of the tournament now then.
Now 43 players left, and after the pot I lost I'm back in the pack and grinding on 130K at 500/2K/4K as we hit level 16. The lemmings are out again this morning, so I'll be selective and let everyone else make the mistakes for now.
34 Players left and I'm ducking and diving. Poker players in general watch too many televised events, and then try their best to emulate their TV icons by saying silly things like "how much is it?" when it's REALLY OBVIOUS how much it is. One guy just cut out 70K and got asked the question by a player sitting one foot away. So, let me get this clear... you'd fold for 71K, but you'll call for 68K? Sigh. Maybe I'm just getting old and crotchety. It does seem kind of dumb though...right up there with the retarded "lets put one hand on the opposite shoulder when playing because we saw Jeff Madson do it once in the WSOP" move. Stop it! It's idiotic!
I just got moved again back to my original table. lots of big stacks and I'm still toughing it out with 110K at 500/2.5K/5K. Now down to 31 players so time to get busy is going to be very soon with this stack. A few guys here have 600K plus. The pay jumps between say 27th and 10th are, in the grand scheme of things not particularly great. If I say I'm really only shooting for top tow it maybe sounds arrogant, but it's actually the truth.
That I'm shooting for $18K or $30K that is.. not that I'm being arrogant :)
I play a pot cute vs a big stack and he's not sure what to do so checks and gives me a free river. I take a small victory and climb back to 130K again.
We just hit 27 players, and a redraw. I'm talking my way into the odd pot and the odd walk, having seen nothing so far today besides the monster A6. I'm on 140K.
First break. 120K. 26 players left.
And...bust. I must stop playing these hands so badly.
I find QQ with a 100K stack. There's a raise to 14K, Dan Heimiller makes it 45K, and I ship the 100. The original raiser folds his bag of spanners, and Dan looks pained. He knows he's losing, but has (just) enough equity to make the call and hope for a race. He calls and tables 88. Well played Kevin.
Blank, blank, blank, blank....Eight. That's me done in 24th for $1123.
Nothing to do but shrug it off and continue. I know I'm playing just fine, so just keep on doing it. I collect my winnings, and buy straight in for today's $400 one day DSE event.