eMarkM
04-24-2004, 03:38 PM
Well, it was quite a night for me last night on Stars. Maybe being King of the Zoo inspired me or something. To start things off, I took 2nd in the 259 person 10PM $50 NLHE for a nice $2266 score. My first top 3 finish in a couple months. At the same time I was running real well and in the money in the 20K gaurantee $11 rebuy, but when I got my chips in against a smaller stack with my AK vs his KT and a T came on the river I was crippled and went out shortly after 76th out of 828 and the minimum $54 win.
Stars has been running tons of satellites to the WSOP and I have to say I haven't been taking much advantage of them. I've only played three of these WSOP qualifiers where they send one or two players to the Big Show. A couple on Paradise and this one last night. I did take 2nd in one of those $3 rebuys that give you $650 towards the super. I'm still sitting on those $W bucks as it's tough for me to play on Sunday evenings, family time and all.
So I'm deep into both the afformentioned tourneys and I see the $30 rebuy coming up in a few minutes. Never played it before, figured to give it a shot. I don't play these tourneys that are so top heavy too often, just so much luck needed to get to the real prize. That $3 rebuy I won kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. You work your ass off for 4-1/2 hours and can still bust on the final table with nothing to show for it. This $30 rebuy had 356 players competing with only 6 total paying out and, of course, the real payout is reserved for the final two. You aint there for the $650 consolation prize. Go all that way to make a final table just to get your heart broken.
In the beginning I was barely paying attention to this tourney as I was deep in the other two. So play for me was very straightforward as my attention wasn't really focused on it. But during the fast, loose rebuy period I picked up AK and got all in preflop vs JJ and a flopped K doubled me up. Later I got my own JJ, had a couple callers and when the board came with no overcards I pushed in and took it down to go to T5300. I was in the top 20 and never had to rebuy.
I take the add-on and I'm cruising along post-rebuy period with about T10000, still in top 30 when I pick up 55 in LP with 200/400 blinds. I open raise 1200 and the button with T18K calls as does short stacked SB. Flop comes down a smile inducing 5c 2d 8d. SB checks, I check, button bets 1400. SB folds and I check raise all-in. He calls and turns over Cowboys. His slowplay cost him there, a big preflop re-raise and I likely lay it down. Now I'm in top 10 in chips with 20K.
I've worked my way to T35K, mostly picking on small stacks and avoiding those who can cripple me. I've never had my stack significantly dented until I try a steal from MP with Ad8d. I'm called by the player on my left, who has shown in past hands to be pretty loose and nearly unbluffable. Blinds 600/1200 and with this T37000 stack the only stack who has me covered. He calls my raise to 3600. Flop comes 2d Ac Qh and I'm in a quandry. I hate my kicker, but I bet out 4800 and he calls quickly. Yuck. I check the turn of 5c and he bets 4800. I go into the tank and finally called. River is 4s and it's check, check. He takes it down with A9o. Ick. Back to 22K.
Now my big suckout. I really played this one badly and got saved. My T25K stack is now not too impressive at this stage, basically average. 20K UTG calls and I only call with 44. Mr Unbluffable at 52K also calls and the SB. Flop comes 3s 3d 2h. UTG comes out betting 2400 and I raise to 6K putting him on some weak overcards and trying to move the others off their hands and hopefully get him to fold, too. But he calls. Turn is 9c. He checks and I move in. He calls in a flash! Crap! He trapped me, he has A3 for trips. I'm done for.
River 4c.
And with that suckout I'm back to top 5 with T50K. I tread water for a long time at T50K, a lost pot here some blind steals there and I'm still on the same T52K with two tables and about 11-12 players left when I pick up AQc in MP. Blinds are 4000/8000 and when a 69K moves in from UTG on this 6 handed table, I make the call to be rewarded when he shows down A7s. He flops a gutshot straight draw, but it doesn't come in, and I'm in very good shape going into the final table with T117K.
By hand 272 we are at the final table. Zooer Legend27, aka LaJune on Stars, is also there. Leader has 272K, LaJune has 170K, I have 131K and short stack has 75K. Blinds are 4000/8000.
Two hands later, the dream situation. Shortie with 69K goes all-in ahead of me and I'm sitting on Aces. She's got nines and is out. Down to 8 players and I'm in 2nd with 219K. 2nd shortest stack goes down shortly after when his AQ is dominated by AK. So now Down to 7 and one from the "money". Of course, no one wants to win just a measly $650 at this point. Not after all this. You can smell the action in the world's largest tournament from here. Really we're still 5 until the real prize.
A big confrontation occurs. Blinds still 4K/8K and Niin with 163K raises to 24K. gsmart from the BB goes all-in with his 140K. A race between TT and KQ. Niin's TT holds up and we're down to six.
Now LaJune's exit. He's shortest with 119K and moves in with AK. gooseflush calls with AQ and LaJune looks in great shape until the flop comes down QQ9. Such a cruel game this can be sometimes. He does get his consolation $650, but that's gotta sting. You can play perfect poker all night and then one 3 outer nails your coffin shut.
We're down to five, but that doesn't last long. Very next hand Team Angle, now the shortest goes in with blinds now 6K/12K with his 168K stack. Niin, chip leader with 413K, calls. Angle has Presto and niin's Hooks dominate him and we are down to four.
The chip counts, Niin 602K and heavy fav to be one of the two to go. gooseflush is 2nd with 331K, I'm third with 234K and gcDanno is last with 127K. I'm going to need to make a move if I'm going to get in. Several hands of raise and steal, raise and steal and finally Danno moves in his short stack and is called by gooseflush. Danno has Q5 and flush as AJ, A on the turn seals Danno's fate and now the REAL game begins.
Man! This is really it. World Series of Poker is within my grasp! Three men, two going to the dance. Counts are Niin 652K, goose 397K and I'm short with 243K. I have my work cut out for me. I don't expect goose and niin to get into major confrontations with each other as long as I'm low man.
The next 30 minutes are the most intense, pressure packed moments of my poker playing career. A chance to turn $60 into a dream come true.
More on that in the next post...
Stars has been running tons of satellites to the WSOP and I have to say I haven't been taking much advantage of them. I've only played three of these WSOP qualifiers where they send one or two players to the Big Show. A couple on Paradise and this one last night. I did take 2nd in one of those $3 rebuys that give you $650 towards the super. I'm still sitting on those $W bucks as it's tough for me to play on Sunday evenings, family time and all.
So I'm deep into both the afformentioned tourneys and I see the $30 rebuy coming up in a few minutes. Never played it before, figured to give it a shot. I don't play these tourneys that are so top heavy too often, just so much luck needed to get to the real prize. That $3 rebuy I won kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. You work your ass off for 4-1/2 hours and can still bust on the final table with nothing to show for it. This $30 rebuy had 356 players competing with only 6 total paying out and, of course, the real payout is reserved for the final two. You aint there for the $650 consolation prize. Go all that way to make a final table just to get your heart broken.
In the beginning I was barely paying attention to this tourney as I was deep in the other two. So play for me was very straightforward as my attention wasn't really focused on it. But during the fast, loose rebuy period I picked up AK and got all in preflop vs JJ and a flopped K doubled me up. Later I got my own JJ, had a couple callers and when the board came with no overcards I pushed in and took it down to go to T5300. I was in the top 20 and never had to rebuy.
I take the add-on and I'm cruising along post-rebuy period with about T10000, still in top 30 when I pick up 55 in LP with 200/400 blinds. I open raise 1200 and the button with T18K calls as does short stacked SB. Flop comes down a smile inducing 5c 2d 8d. SB checks, I check, button bets 1400. SB folds and I check raise all-in. He calls and turns over Cowboys. His slowplay cost him there, a big preflop re-raise and I likely lay it down. Now I'm in top 10 in chips with 20K.
I've worked my way to T35K, mostly picking on small stacks and avoiding those who can cripple me. I've never had my stack significantly dented until I try a steal from MP with Ad8d. I'm called by the player on my left, who has shown in past hands to be pretty loose and nearly unbluffable. Blinds 600/1200 and with this T37000 stack the only stack who has me covered. He calls my raise to 3600. Flop comes 2d Ac Qh and I'm in a quandry. I hate my kicker, but I bet out 4800 and he calls quickly. Yuck. I check the turn of 5c and he bets 4800. I go into the tank and finally called. River is 4s and it's check, check. He takes it down with A9o. Ick. Back to 22K.
Now my big suckout. I really played this one badly and got saved. My T25K stack is now not too impressive at this stage, basically average. 20K UTG calls and I only call with 44. Mr Unbluffable at 52K also calls and the SB. Flop comes 3s 3d 2h. UTG comes out betting 2400 and I raise to 6K putting him on some weak overcards and trying to move the others off their hands and hopefully get him to fold, too. But he calls. Turn is 9c. He checks and I move in. He calls in a flash! Crap! He trapped me, he has A3 for trips. I'm done for.
River 4c.
And with that suckout I'm back to top 5 with T50K. I tread water for a long time at T50K, a lost pot here some blind steals there and I'm still on the same T52K with two tables and about 11-12 players left when I pick up AQc in MP. Blinds are 4000/8000 and when a 69K moves in from UTG on this 6 handed table, I make the call to be rewarded when he shows down A7s. He flops a gutshot straight draw, but it doesn't come in, and I'm in very good shape going into the final table with T117K.
By hand 272 we are at the final table. Zooer Legend27, aka LaJune on Stars, is also there. Leader has 272K, LaJune has 170K, I have 131K and short stack has 75K. Blinds are 4000/8000.
Two hands later, the dream situation. Shortie with 69K goes all-in ahead of me and I'm sitting on Aces. She's got nines and is out. Down to 8 players and I'm in 2nd with 219K. 2nd shortest stack goes down shortly after when his AQ is dominated by AK. So now Down to 7 and one from the "money". Of course, no one wants to win just a measly $650 at this point. Not after all this. You can smell the action in the world's largest tournament from here. Really we're still 5 until the real prize.
A big confrontation occurs. Blinds still 4K/8K and Niin with 163K raises to 24K. gsmart from the BB goes all-in with his 140K. A race between TT and KQ. Niin's TT holds up and we're down to six.
Now LaJune's exit. He's shortest with 119K and moves in with AK. gooseflush calls with AQ and LaJune looks in great shape until the flop comes down QQ9. Such a cruel game this can be sometimes. He does get his consolation $650, but that's gotta sting. You can play perfect poker all night and then one 3 outer nails your coffin shut.
We're down to five, but that doesn't last long. Very next hand Team Angle, now the shortest goes in with blinds now 6K/12K with his 168K stack. Niin, chip leader with 413K, calls. Angle has Presto and niin's Hooks dominate him and we are down to four.
The chip counts, Niin 602K and heavy fav to be one of the two to go. gooseflush is 2nd with 331K, I'm third with 234K and gcDanno is last with 127K. I'm going to need to make a move if I'm going to get in. Several hands of raise and steal, raise and steal and finally Danno moves in his short stack and is called by gooseflush. Danno has Q5 and flush as AJ, A on the turn seals Danno's fate and now the REAL game begins.
Man! This is really it. World Series of Poker is within my grasp! Three men, two going to the dance. Counts are Niin 652K, goose 397K and I'm short with 243K. I have my work cut out for me. I don't expect goose and niin to get into major confrontations with each other as long as I'm low man.
The next 30 minutes are the most intense, pressure packed moments of my poker playing career. A chance to turn $60 into a dream come true.
More on that in the next post...