Today's gameplan is a pretty simple one. Be aggressive, run up a big stack nice and early, ride it all the way to level 14, and then turn up on day 2 to win the trophy.
It's a pretty simple strategy, I'm not sure why I never adopted it earlier in poker. Twenty years earlier maybe. It seems pretty obvious to me now.
I'm here bright and breezy for my first table. Seeing a fair few flops but to be fair I am getting OK cards as well. AK with the K spades on a king high two spade flop looks good and a bit better when a third spade falls. Unfortunately the opponent now bets 5k! I'm all for building a stack, but am not really a fan of calling. I'd rather make the action and he's no mug, and is also clearly not folding here. Blinds are 50/100 so I'll just bide my time for a bit.
Currently 152 starters, I'd expect that to go to 250-300 today.
18k has dropped to 14k. Frustrating isn't the right word, but in the absence of another it'll do for now. There are no weak spots on the table, only one guy who calls too much. That kind of table isn't conducive to what I wanted to do which was bloat the pots early and steal a lot, so for now it's nuts and bolts or I'll just bleed chips.
Nuts and bolts seems to be working. I flop a set and just play it ABC into 2 people...up to a much healthier 22k.
It's a pretty simple strategy, I'm not sure why I never adopted it earlier in poker. Twenty years earlier maybe. It seems pretty obvious to me now.
I'm here bright and breezy for my first table. Seeing a fair few flops but to be fair I am getting OK cards as well. AK with the K spades on a king high two spade flop looks good and a bit better when a third spade falls. Unfortunately the opponent now bets 5k! I'm all for building a stack, but am not really a fan of calling. I'd rather make the action and he's no mug, and is also clearly not folding here. Blinds are 50/100 so I'll just bide my time for a bit.
Currently 152 starters, I'd expect that to go to 250-300 today.
18k has dropped to 14k. Frustrating isn't the right word, but in the absence of another it'll do for now. There are no weak spots on the table, only one guy who calls too much. That kind of table isn't conducive to what I wanted to do which was bloat the pots early and steal a lot, so for now it's nuts and bolts or I'll just bleed chips.
Nuts and bolts seems to be working. I flop a set and just play it ABC into 2 people...up to a much healthier 22k.
20k at the break. It's freezing in here as always so am going outside for some rays.
Back from break and I find what I think is the right kind of hand to be moving and shaking with. Js8s, on a 9 10 4 board with two spades. In we go with hopefully a barrowload of outs versus a 7k short stack.
He flips 10 9 with no spades. not ideal but I'll take it. I miss everything. That''s not supposed to happen. Back to 12,500. Sigh.
David Levi comes to the table, and decimates an Asian guys stack in two hands when he makes two boats, being behind both times when the money went in. He;s on 50k. Easy life! I'm still on 11 or so.
Nice set up hand on the table, for those who like this kind of thing.
AA vs AK all in preflop. Flop QKK..turn Ace... river brick. The guy with Kings full almost started cheering, until he realised he had actually lost. Lovely.
200/400/50 and 260 players have now entered. This is a tough table to get chips on, I'm going to start punting shortly, the blinds and antes make the pots worth winning when someone comes in for a small raise.
I just rivered a flush and clawed a little back. up again to 16k.
Those who know me on Facebook will recall I love to cook/eat, and post lots of food pictures. Yes, I'm one of those guys. Screw it. It makes me happy. Coming to Las Vegas is always a culinary joy as there are a tone of great places to eat. I rarely eat at the table in tournaments just because food and poker chips don't (or shouldn't) mix. The guy next to me just ordered a SMALL salad which could feed three people. Here it is. God bless America.
Back from break and I find what I think is the right kind of hand to be moving and shaking with. Js8s, on a 9 10 4 board with two spades. In we go with hopefully a barrowload of outs versus a 7k short stack.
He flips 10 9 with no spades. not ideal but I'll take it. I miss everything. That''s not supposed to happen. Back to 12,500. Sigh.
David Levi comes to the table, and decimates an Asian guys stack in two hands when he makes two boats, being behind both times when the money went in. He;s on 50k. Easy life! I'm still on 11 or so.
Nice set up hand on the table, for those who like this kind of thing.
AA vs AK all in preflop. Flop QKK..turn Ace... river brick. The guy with Kings full almost started cheering, until he realised he had actually lost. Lovely.
200/400/50 and 260 players have now entered. This is a tough table to get chips on, I'm going to start punting shortly, the blinds and antes make the pots worth winning when someone comes in for a small raise.
I just rivered a flush and clawed a little back. up again to 16k.
Those who know me on Facebook will recall I love to cook/eat, and post lots of food pictures. Yes, I'm one of those guys. Screw it. It makes me happy. Coming to Las Vegas is always a culinary joy as there are a tone of great places to eat. I rarely eat at the table in tournaments just because food and poker chips don't (or shouldn't) mix. The guy next to me just ordered a SMALL salad which could feed three people. Here it is. God bless America.
A familiar face hoves into view in the form of "Chompy" Graham Wheldon from the UK. Always a pleasant addition. He has around 50k, and immediately adds about 20k more to it when he smashes KK to pieces with a rivered set of 10's. He seems to have come to play the big stack, so I've politely informed him he'll be doubling me up at least twice.
Colour up break, and I'm still around 15k. Not a great spot as I am not so short I just want to stack off, but around 35k would be far better. Just keep going and see what opportunities present themselves.
Chompy is running like God, hitting everything and outflopping people for fun. He can play as well of course, but a bit of run good never hurts too. He must be on 160k and climbing.
Colour up break, and I'm still around 15k. Not a great spot as I am not so short I just want to stack off, but around 35k would be far better. Just keep going and see what opportunities present themselves.
Chompy is running like God, hitting everything and outflopping people for fun. He can play as well of course, but a bit of run good never hurts too. He must be on 160k and climbing.
Nearing the end of the re-enrty period, and my stack isn't going to do it. On paper I've 'saved" money by not using bullets, but I need to start swinging with this one, or restart with a full clip. Being stuck after the period ends with a micro stack would be a disaster, so I'll be shoving light if nothing materialises and hoping for some love.
Level 9...last level for re-entry. Starting stack is 18k, I have 14k. You see the problem here? Not worth just donking it off to return on similar chips, but the average is around 37k, so I need to be closer to that. Buckle up...
Level 9...last level for re-entry. Starting stack is 18k, I have 14k. You see the problem here? Not worth just donking it off to return on similar chips, but the average is around 37k, so I need to be closer to that. Buckle up...
Phase one accomplished, although it was by no means easy getting there.
I shove with 33 after Chompy raises and a laggy guy calls my 12k all-in. He has...J9 suited. Good grief.
I manage to fade everything, flush draw, straight draw, overs etc, and I'm on 28k. Not perfect, but better, and if the big pot does arise, then I'll have a stack worth having.
Just hitting the dinner break, and the planets have aligned finally. One well timed bluff, along with one flopped baby flush and our hero is off for a snack with 42k. Pretty much bang on average. Happy times, see you in 30.
I shove with 33 after Chompy raises and a laggy guy calls my 12k all-in. He has...J9 suited. Good grief.
I manage to fade everything, flush draw, straight draw, overs etc, and I'm on 28k. Not perfect, but better, and if the big pot does arise, then I'll have a stack worth having.
Just hitting the dinner break, and the planets have aligned finally. One well timed bluff, along with one flopped baby flush and our hero is off for a snack with 42k. Pretty much bang on average. Happy times, see you in 30.
Level 10 kicks off, and we play (hopefully) to the end of level 14 then stop for the day. People are spazzing off chips quite merrily, and from the final 309 (I didn't make a bag guesstimate) starters, we currently have 123 left. Blinds are 600/1200/200, so some reasonable wiggle room with my stack finally. We shall see.
Ugh. Just lost with 777 versus a turned straight, and also 99 to 1010. Down to 25k.
I find what feels like the right spot for a double up. AA on a 446 flop. The guy with 45 didn't see it that way and I'm knocked out in 93rd place on level 11. Sigh.
Not fun to swing through the day then lose with aces, but it is what it is. Get over it and move on. Which is maybe a good mantra for life in general. Tomorrow is in theory a day off before the $1100 bounty on Friday, but I may play something depending on the calendar and what time I surface. More to come.
Ugh. Just lost with 777 versus a turned straight, and also 99 to 1010. Down to 25k.
I find what feels like the right spot for a double up. AA on a 446 flop. The guy with 45 didn't see it that way and I'm knocked out in 93rd place on level 11. Sigh.
Not fun to swing through the day then lose with aces, but it is what it is. Get over it and move on. Which is maybe a good mantra for life in general. Tomorrow is in theory a day off before the $1100 bounty on Friday, but I may play something depending on the calendar and what time I surface. More to come.