Tourney: June 19th 2011 WSOP Event #34: $1000

I went into today knowing that this would probably be my last chance at a WSOP tournament this summer unless I did something good and this time, I played like I actully meant it. As bad as I played yesterday, I think I played every bit as good today which is exciting for me. Todays tournament had 3100+ players paying out 324 spots. We started with just 3000 chips today (even less than yesterday) so I was really going to have to kick it into high gear in the early stages. My opening table was unnecessarily difficult for a $1000 WSOP event.

Level 1: 25-25. A player in MP opened to 75 and I called from the SB with QJcc. The flop came TT3 and I check/folded. I made it 75 from the cutoff with ATo and got called by the SB. We checked down J83J9 and I was good vs his A7. I made it 75 in the hijack with 98o and the button was the only caller. The flop came T76 rainbow, I bet 125, and he folded. . .oooof. I then played an interesting pot that is up for debate as to how poorly I did or didnt play it. I made it 75 with AQdd from UTG and got 4 callers. The flop came 762 2 diamonds, I check, a caller UTG +1 bet 225, a player in LP made it 700, and I just folded my nut flush draw. The hand went out to turn the Jd and I would have had the nuts. Ugh. I dont know. . .I guess if it was an online tournament it would be a standard bet/get it in vs anyone but because it was the WSOP I nitted it up and just threw it away. I probably should be sticking it in but I cant really hate myself too much for folding. I could have done a small lead then I would have been able to flat a reraise and get it in on the turn. As it is I put in a very small amount of chips in a spot where I could (and probably should have) won a very large amount. A player in MP made it 75 adn I called the cutoff with 77. The flop came J42, he bet 125, and I folded. I call alot of times here but he looked strong so I just folded. I was at 2775 and we went to the next level.

Level 2: 25-50. I found JJ UTG and made it 125 and a player in MP and the BB called. The flop came 752, I bet 200, and the MP player was the only caller. The turn came a 2, I checked to him, he bet 300, I put him all in for his last 1100 (total), and he folded. I then was able to take the rest of his short stack. He had about 550 total and he limped UTG, another player limped in MP, and I found KK in the cutoff and made it 175. He went all in for his last 550 and I called. He showed 99 and the board ran out AAQT7 giving me the winner. I made it 125 from the cutoff with ATo, the button called, the SB called, and the BB went all in for 1700 resulting in me folding. I made it 125 from UTG with 74hh and a player in MP called. The flop came AQ3, I checked, he bet 300, and I folded. A player in MP minraised to 100 and I flatted from the button with J8cc. The blinds also called and we saw a flop of T95 2 clubs giving me a huge combo draw. They checked to me, I bet 250, and they all folded. I then was able to pick up my 3rd big hand of the level. I found AA in the cutoff and made it 125, the button called, the SB called, and the BB 3-bet to 525. I opted to flat allowing the button to call as well (the SB folded). The flop caem T74 2 spades, the 3-bettor checked, I bet 1225, and they both folded. The 3-bettor had AK. . .so I guess I missed value by just flatting. I dont hate the play just didnt really pan out this time. Maybe I should just stick it in because I know he is super strong 3-betting into a raise and 2 callers here. I think I might play too scared that my opponents are going to fold at some points and cause myself to miss value. Anyways, after picking up these big pairs, i was up to 5250 and we went to the next level.

Level 3: 50-100. I limped UTG +1 with 22, one other player limped, the SB went all in for 1450, and I folded. I made it 225 from UTG with QJo, the SB called, the BB went all in for 1550, I folded, and the SB called. The SB showed down AA (for the trap) and the flop came Q high so Im lucky that the BB woke up with AK or else I probably would have lost a good portion of my stack. Speaking of losing good portions of my stack, a couple of hands later I lost a large pot on a failed bluff attempt. A player in EP made it 225 and I found 66 on the button and called. The flop came Q93 and we both checked. The turn came a 7, he bet 400, and I called. The river came a T, he checked, I put him all in for his last 2000, and he called showing 99. Hmmmm. . .first of all, I want to say that I dont dislike this play at all. In fact, I think its a pretty good play. You may be asking yourself why I would bluff in a spot where I had showdown value. To make a long answer short, the table dynamics were so as he was really tight and I was always showing down monsters. He had played as straightforward as you can get up to this point. When he checks the river I can assume that he rarely if ever has a huge hand on that board, especially when checking the flop. I didnt really have his hand absolutely ranged when I made this play but I knew that he was folding almost anything he had. He even gave it a little thought with the 999 (but not a real thought I guess). Like I said, I didnt know what he had but he is folding any Q, any T, any 9, as well as JJ 88 hands. He is never calling unless he somehow slow played a giant hand (which he did) and I wasnt lead to believe he would slowplay a giant hand becuase of how straightforward he was. Regardless of what his exact range is, I can make this play and get him to fold an extremely large percent of the time however it was unlucky that this time he actually had it. I was down to 2300 or so and went into ubertight mode (and stayed there for the entire rest of the day). A player in EP made it 225 and I found KQo in MP and went all in for 2200 after which everyone folded. I made it 225 with Q9o from MP and everyone folded. I made it 225 with 98cc from MP and the button was the only caller. The flop came QJ3 and we both checked. The turn came the Ac giving me a flush draw, I lead for 300, and he folded. I made it 225 from UTG +1 with 99 and everyone folded. I was at 2800 and we went to the next level.

Level 4: 75-150. I folded for the 1st 30 minutes of this level after which I was moved to a new table. First hand at the new table, there was 1 limp to my BB and I checked the T3o. The flop came QT5 2 clubs, the SB checked, I bet 200, and the limper was the only caller. The turn was a 7 (missing all possible draws), I bet 325, and he called. The river was a 5 (another blank), I checked, and he checked behind showing a no good 99. A player UTG made it 350 and got 2 callers to me in the SB and I decided to call with KJss. The flop came AKT and I check/folded to a bet from the initial raiser. I made it 350 from MP with 77 and everyone folded. I made it 350 from UTG +2 with QJhh and everyone folded. I was at 3200 and we went to the next level.

Level 5: 100-200. There were 2 weak limpers to me on the button and I made it 2500 (effective all in) with A2o and everyone folded. A LAG on the button made it 700 and I found AKo in the SB and went all in resulting in him folding. I decided to make a loose open with K7o from UTG +1, the button called, the SB 3-bet to 1700, and I had to fold. I then was able to get a nice gift double. I found AA UTG and opened to 450. It folded to the BB (gulp) who decided to just call. The flop came 322, he checked, and I thought this was a lovely board to check behind so I did. The turn came another 3, he checked, I bet 625 (looking as weak as I could), and he put me all in for my last 2500 behind. I quickly called and he showed QJo and was drawing dead and up to 7.5k or so. A player in EP made it 400 and I found A6hh in the BB and decided to call. The flop came J83, I checked, he bet 600, and I decided to give up and fold. I was at 7100 and we went to the next level.

Level 6: 100-200 25. Unfortunately, a couple of hands didnt go my way and I lost my double-up with AA back. An aggressive player in EP opened to 475 and I found QTdd in the cutoff and just flatted. Alot of times I like to 3-bet here but I really didnt want him spaz 4-betting so I figured I could see a flop and then potentially make a play. The BB called also and the flop came 552. They both checked to me, I bet out 700, the BB folded, and the aggro reraised to 1750. Weird spot. . .I obviously have nothing but hes probably full of shit a good portion of the time also. I decided against the unnecessary bluff and folded my Q high. I made it 450 from the hijack with AJo and the BB was the only caller. The flop came A92, he checked, I bet 700, and he folded. I then played another interesting pot that caused me to lose some chips. A really really weak-tight older man limped in EP and it folded to me in the SB. I knew that his chips were pretty much dead money on almost any flop with which he didnt hit out of the park and a raise from the SB to iso would look super strong (especially with how tightly I had been playing) so I tried to do this with 82o by raising to an above standard 650. Unluckily for me, the BB decided to come along and the limper called as well. The flop came 766 which looked like a good enough flop to continute repping strength. I lead for 800, the BB raised to 2100, the limp folded, and I folded. The BB later told me he had a huge hand and should have 3-bet preflop but he was scared of the strength of my hand. I am pretty sure think play would have worked if it werent for him. I was back down to 4000 or so after this. There were 3 limpers to my cutoff and I found 44 and limped as well. The flop came A53, it checked to the last limper before me and he bet 550. I had played with the player enough to know that an A is never in his limping range here (and he was competent enough to know that one was rarely in mine as well and every other limper would have lead out if they had an A) and that he has tried to bluff multiway pots before so I figured I could try a float here. I called and everyone else behind folded. The turn came a 5, he checked, and I almost bet but something about that card just didnt sit right with me so I just checked behind hoping for a 4 or 2. The river came a T, he checked, and I had more than enough showdown value to check behind but I had to muck when he showed a sick 33 for threes full of 5s. Wow I dont know how I didnt try to bet the turn when I had the play setup to do so but nice save by me. The LAG in the cutoff opened to 650 and I found A7o in the SB and jammed my last 2800 or so and everyone folded. I was then moved to a new table. One of the first hands at the table, I found QQ and opened to 450 (4500 behind) and the blinds both called. The flop came A93, they checked, and I checked behind. The turn came a K, the SB lead out for 600, and I had to choke back down the vomit in my mouth before folding here. I was down to 3900 and we went on dinner break.

Level 7: 150-300 25. I came back with only 13 bigs so I had to get something going fast. I was moved to another new table and ready to go. I folded for an orbit or 2 then I found 55 UTG +2 and opened to 2500 (effective all in) and everyone folded. I then was able to get very lucky in a pot to double up. There were 2 weak limpers in EP and I was looking to shove an extremely wide range from the cutoff and found a massive AJo. I jammed and the button flatted (oops) and everyone else folded. He showed AKo and the board ran out a lucky J7297 giving me the much needed double up. I guess I was lucky to hit the jack but was actually pretty unlucky that he picked up such a monster hand here. I then won another substantial pot. An active aggro in MP opened to 800, a spewy tighter player flatted right behind, and I found AA in the hijack and 3-bet ot 2125. They both called and the flop came 975. They checked to me, I went all in for my last 6500, and they folded. I could have tried to maybe squeeze more value but it was just nice to take the pot right then and there. I was up to 13k or so. Around this time, known live and online pro James "Croll" Carroll came in and sat down right on my left with a mountian of chips and I knew he would be a pain in my ass (in terms of poker. . .I actually had conversation with him and he is a super duper nice kid). Soon after this, I played a couple of big pots that made my stack rollercoaster a little. First of these hands, I found KJo UTG and decided to open to 650 after I had folded an orbit or 2. A tight old man called from the button and the BB called as well. The flop came K43 with 2 diamonds and we checked to the button who fired 1225. The BB folded and I was legitimately concerned about him having KQ/AK here but im not going to open KJ, flop top pair, and fold so I called. The turn came an offsuit 6, I checked, and he moved all in for 4600. After much thought, I really thought that I had the best hand here a majority of the time. All in seems kind of a spazy way to play KQ/AK especially after I took so long to call the flop (but you never know with old men) plus old men love to spew out with mid-pairs like this alot of the time here as well. I called and he showed me A4dd for a pair/flush draw combo. The river came the 2d completing his flush and sending me back down to 6k in chips. Luckily, 2 hands later I was able to get my stack back up. The cutoff who was a spewy but tight player opened to 900 and I found AKo in the SB and went all in for 6k. He called pretty quickly and showed AQo and I was able to fade a split on 97735 and I doubled back up to 13k. Rollercoaster. I was at 13275 and we went to the next level.

Level 8: 200-400 50. The spewy tight player opened to 1100 in MP and I found 88 in the hijack and called. We checked to the turn on K64T where I bet 1525 and he folded. I then was able to find a good spot wo win a nice pot. The kid on my right had just sat down and looked extremely tilted having only 6000 in black chips with him (usually when someone has a bunch of just low denomination chips they have just lost a big pot and paid out their high ones leaving them with the low scraps). He had moved all in his 1st hand and everyone folded. A couple of hands later, he shoved about 7000 from MP and I found AQo right behind him and came over the top all in. Everyone else folded and he showed A8ss. The board ran out a super sick 8x3x2sJsQh having him flop his kicker and turn a flush draw but having me river my 2 outer to take his stack. I was up to 20k or so after this. Even so, I was trying to be super selective because I had croll on my right waiting to 3-bet (and in addition to him, the kid in the 1 was an online beast as well so I had to worry about him too. . .never got his name though). First time I tried to open since the KJ hand, I made it 950 from UTG +1 with 98dd and Croll obviously snap 3-bets me from UTG +2 to 2350. We were deep enough, my hand can flop pretty well, and I really didnt want to make it that easy for him to 3-bet/fold me every time so I called. The flop of Q74 came nowhere near me and I check folded to his 2600 bet after a long time in the tank, of course. He told me that he had a really big hand and he said he was being honest so I believe him. It folded to me in the SB and I made it 950 with 98o Croll called in the BB. The flop came AA7, I checked, he bet 725, and I folded and he showed a 7. I really want to make a play here but I can choose better spots (just in terms of players on the table) to do so. I know raising from SB to BB when a highly above average player is in the BB is -EV but why I did it is because he knows I know this so when I do it, I have to look super strong. I just hated to try to make a play on that flop so it isnt as bad as it sounds I think. The old man from the KJ vs A4 hand opened to 1200 from EP and I found 77 on the button and called. The BB (who was the internet giant in seat 1) 3-bet to 3075, the old man called, and I only had to put 1800 more in to try to flop a set when theres 7500 in the pot already so I called as well. The flop came KQ9 and I ended up folding when the BB lead for 2050. I was down to 14025 and we went to the next level.

Level 9: 300-600 75. I really struggled to find any spots to put chips in the pot at all during this level. I tried to make a button raise once (again, the thought process that they know that I know that they want to 3-bet button raises so when I actually do raise the button it looks strong) when it folded to me with A3dd. I made it 1325, and Croll insta 3-bet me again to 3100. I folded and he showed AQo. I folded for more or less the rest of the level. I found 66 in MP and made it 5k of my last 9500 or so and everyone folded (effective all in) but that was it. You could argue that I played maybe too tight but I honestly could not find a spot to do anything and Im pretty proud of myself and I didnt force anything and could wait for a better spot. I was down to just 9500 and we went to the next level.

Level 10: 400-800 100. I made it 5k UTG with T9dd and everyone folded. It folded to the SB who was another short stack and he went all in for his last 7500 or so. I found KTo in the BB and called and he showed 86o and the board ran out AQ9K9. It was a nice hold and I was able to get almost a full double to 17.5k. I again had some trouble finding a spot throughout the rest of hte level and was down to about 16k or so when we drew that we were going to have 6 hands remaining for the rest of the day. I folded the 1st 4 and on the 5th, I was in the BB. A player who had been extremely active with his stack over the last 40 minutes (way up and way down) pushed all in from MP for about 14k. It folded to me in the BB and I found 88. I know that he is pushing really wide here and that, because of how he is playing, his push hands are not his premium hands. I am pretty sure he will never turn a pair higher than 88 over (MAYBE 99 once in a while) because he has been so active he will be making small raises for value. Therefore, I am at worst a flip if I call here. I decided to call and he showed me KTo. The board ran out KT4Q3 (I actually turned a spade flush draw but bricked it on the river) and I lost the crucial flip. I was down to just 1300 in chips after this and we were going to play one more hand for the day in which I would undoubtably be moving all in. However, after this hand had finished, the floor called all tables to a halt to do a player count. After 10 minutes or so of sorting things, they determined that we were in the money and that the day was over with the end of the money bubble! Haha! On one hand I am ecstatic that I got my first WSOP cash but on the other it really does suck to go into a day 2 with 1.3 bbs. I guess I cant complain too much as I would rather still be in it with a shot than be out.

Like I said, I am very happy that I now have a WSOP cash on my resume but its too bad it likely wont be for very much. I am also very happy with the way I played overall today. I think I played one of my best games to get where I am, and I am an 88 beating KT away from taking a nice stack into tomorrow. Who knows, maybe the legends of "chip and a chair" are true and I will be able to run my stack back up. You never know in this crazy game. . .