New players on the table and I think I have the chip leader on my immediate left on around 300k.
Which is fun. I think the cool kids call that "being polarized". I call it bloody inconvenient.
I just flopped bottom pair (54s) and a gutshot on a 478 board. I went away to the chunky flop bet. I think some of the experts would get busy there, but long term plays like that aren't for me with this stack at this stage. On around 50k.
35 players left, 24 pay.
I have the 12pm $300 rebuy event today pencilled in on my trip schedule, and if the worst happens here of course I'll be playing it. For now I'll focus on trying to win this damn thing.
Chip leader on my left just got aces and added another 120k or so to his stack. What a tough life he's having. Level just went up to 1200/2400/400.
Nice kid, Lawrence from my table yesterday is here, but short. He jams his last 40k with 77, and the chip leader busts him with JJ, flopping a jack for good measure. Sometimes it's your day and all you need to do is turn up and get paid. Sorry to see Lawrence go, more people like that are needed at live poker tables. 31 left and it's getting expensive. Time to start rowing for home.
Just had a dance with the Devil in a blind vs blind scenario. Small blind raised me and I flatted with A9. Flop A23. Lovely. He bets 5k and I call. Turn King, he bets again and I stuff it in, he looks pained and finally calls me with....A2. Shit.
"Don't worry", I tell the table. "I always chop these."
3 hits on the river and we chop aces and threes with a King. Huzzah. 29 players left.
I'm on 40k or so and the bubble approacheth. I'm not someone who tries to cling on into the money and then have no chips once I get there, but I'm not on a suicide mission either. Basically with this stack if the hand comes up I go with it, if it doesn't, I don't. Pretty simple stuff.
A four way pot on a 924 flop and a beard decides to bet out. I've limped 1010 and I stick it right up him...he quickly folds. Shortly after i get it in with AK versus AK and we chop. I'm back to 55k again.
A short stack on my table has survived three all ins. He was on a measly 13k, and on the final shove he cracked KK to now be sitting on about 70k. Stupid game.
I'm seeing some pretty questionable moves around me, but quite a few guys have a shedload of chips so they can afford to splash about. For me at the moment it's nuts and bolts and get paid if the opportunity arises, there'll be time for swinging and chimpology soon enough.
We've been on 26 players for an age and it's painful for me to endure. Steve Burr one of my buddies who deals just sat down. He's a great guy but if you have to believe in such things as players having an "unlucky" dealer, then this guy is mine. I'd rather just sit out now if possible until he leaves :o)
Back from break and it's 2k/4k/500 and the cost is starting to bite. I've been card dead and it's getting opened early a lot. I'm not liking this at all.
Something's gotta give, so let's go.
It's costing me 11k a round to play, and I have like...30. I find AsJs and decide this is the time to get going. A guy who barely has me covered, calls me and flips AQ off. I tell him. "I apologise in advance for what`s about to happen."
I flop the nut flush, and turn a Jack for good measure. Woohoo. Nice to be me. I`m back to 65k. We lose a player on a different table, and... as MC hammer once said...
A few rapid bustouts on the other table and a small money jump. We're down to 20 with a redraw at 18 players. For now I'm chugging on a healthier but still sub-par 60k.
A weird Twilight Zone moment just came up. We have gone to 2500/5k/500. I just found QQ and made it 9500. The chip leader makes it 25k. I fold. The table can't believe it, and a few people reading won't understand it either. I could just leave that bit out of print and move on, but I'm right. It's as simple as that.
My questionable fold has made me shorter, and shortly after I limp versus an Asian aggressive kid who makes it 11k. I jam 31k with 99 and he ponders and gives me the treatment.
"Ok, now I want you to call" I say. He asks wy, and I tell him it's because he has one overcard.
He looks puzzled and calls (he has a lot of chips) flipping over A6 offsuit. I get the full double up. Shortly after I find JJ and win another small one.
18 players left and I'm on my tournament peak of 115k. Feeling sharp.
17 players left and although there are some big and dangerous stacks, but we're finally at the stage where I can use a bit of feel and flair. I raise with 52 and take one down, and another on the button to keep my stack healthy on about 90k.
Thanks to all the lovely people for messages, comments, whatsapps etc. I don't get bogged down in it much, what with updates, and trying to win the tournament and all, but it's still nice to get nice messages. Who doesn't love that stuff?
Still 17 handed. Some weak players on the table. A 50k pot got checked all the way after the flop and 10 high just beat 7 high.
I found the right spot and stupidly shoved my last 32k in with 33. The guy with 10 5 offsuit wasn't folding, and he flopped a ten and rivered a five to reward his hand selection choices.
No complaints. 12th place out of 235 players for $2,876. It wasn't easy going today but I feel pretty tuned in and good about my game. Onto the next one, which is most likely the $250 day 1A tomorrow. Thanks for the words and support x