Trying something different today. My buddy Julian cashed in one of the Planet Hollywood "PHamous poker tour" events here a few days back, so I figured that if he can make money in these things, basically anyone can :o) Just kidding, well done Jools!
Today is an 11am start and a $565 buy in. There's an allowable re-entry which of course id rather not take, however depending on the table I'll open up more than I have in the WSOP events to try to get a working stack.
300 players so far as we reach level 2 and I'm still around the 15k start stack. My buddy Joey V is seated to my right so at least I have some company.
Interesting table dynamic, in that I like the table and the standard of play a lot, however I am struggling to win a pot, either thanks to missing everything, or by people overplaying the shit out of a mediocre hand forcing a fold. Not complaining, it is what it is, just need to adapt as quickly as I can., 15k now looks like 9k at level 4.
Sometimes it just feels like it's not your day....
Squeeze out KK under the gun and raise to 550 (blinds 100/200/25), humourless old guy cuts out 1700 and raises me, I don't really want to see an ace flop so ask him the question there and then and move in. He calls.
An ace doesn't flop, but luckily for him he has two of them in his hand so he's feeling good about life. No help and out I go KK vs AA.
You can re-enter this event if you like, but there's also another flight at 4pm, which I'll consider playing. The event is a good one and if the standard on most of my table is a benchmark for the whole thing, then it's certainly worth firing at again. Watch this space.
We arrived at 4pm for another crack to be greeted with a huge line for buy-ins. Luckily it cleared pretty fast and we're off and running. The clock shows 840 players so plenty of people like the look of these events.
We're on the 100/200/25 level and the standard on this table is way better than this morning. Lots of 3 & 4 betting, and I know at least 3 of the players to be good solid tournament pros. Marvellous. I've rocked up a bit more now and just chugging along on start stack right now as we approach the first break.
Come back from the break and my 10 10 just lost to J8 in a 7k pot. Trying to play nuts and bolts right now but conversely the rest of the table is calling bigpreflop raises with any old suited dogshit. A tad irritating as it's tough to get momentum going here.
Jesus Christ it took what felt like forever but I've finally won a pot worth winning and am up to about 20k again. It was pretty hard work as I had to three-barrel, but luckily I caught a runner runner and got paid when I jammed the river. Still not a great table, but at least I have chips again.
We're at 300/600/75. Standard is still pretty high save the one woman at the table (sorry to sound sexist but work it out for yourself from what I'm about to say). There's about 6k in the pot between her and another player following a bit of preflop action. Flop comes 226 and her opponent jams for 9k after he checks to him. She thinks and then calls, showing AQ. The other player turns green as he shows JJ, almost like he knows what's about to happen....
Blank on turn, river...queen.
He doesn't explode, doesn't sarcastically say "nice hand"...he just grabbed his bag and left silently, whilst the rest of the table looked at their phones or the floor.
Of course, people can do whatever they like, and no one was going to pillory her for calling, but it smelt the table out.
Blinds biting right now, my 20k looks more like 12k, every pot getting opened as we now go on break and wool come back at 400/800/100 on level 9.
Jesus this has been a grind. Just played exceptionally well to find two red aces and get my last 9500 in vs AsQh.
Flop Qs4s10s! Holy shit. Not ideal for me.
Turn is the Ac lol. Even with that I'm still not safe!
River 7h. Phew. Back to 21k.
PHuck. Just had a truly vomit-worthy exit in a pot that would have made me chip leader and seen me into day 2.
One limper, a player raises to 2k at 400/800/100. I look down at AsKs and make is 18700, leaving myself about 5k, basically saying that I'm committed. He thinks for 3 minutes and calls off around 2/3 of his chips.
Flop J62, we get the rest in, he shows AJ offsuit.
Well played etc. Get me out of here. That's how much fun tournament poker can be after 6 hours of correct decisions folks...