ThePokerResource.net: A Rounder’s blog

I’m excited to play and I know I need to get off to a good start because I’m a bit below average. So I start the day in seat 5, Joe Tehan is to my immediate left with 63k. The stacks on my table are very reasonable with the low stack at about 17k. Joe has the big stack and I’m right in the middle with 27k. The blinds start off at 200-400 with a 25 ante. I fold for the first round and then I raise after just looking at a 10d in late position. The button calls and everyone else folds. The flop comes off K105 with 2 spades and I make a continuation bet of 1500 which he calls. The turn comes a Qs to put a flush out there and I look down and see another 10………wow. So I check my set and he bets pretty big 4k. Now, I’m pretty sure I have the best hand here but he could have AJ with no spade so I just call. The river comes a 9h…what a horrible card. I check, he checks behind and my set is good. SWEET!!!! Up to 33k and feeling good.

Shortly after, I raise with K7s in late position and seat 2 calls behind me. From what I’ve seen before I label him a cannon (I’ll to refer to him as Mr. C). The flop comes 10106 and I make a continuation bet of 2k, which he calls. As he calls he grabs a big stack of chips. From my experience, it’s a weak tell so I think he’s floating me with no hand here. The turn comes an 8 and now I have a gut shot draw. I decide to put him to the test and bet 5500. After 30 seconds he folds. Whew. Up to 40k and I’m feeling real good. I literally fold for an hour and end the level with 32k.

Level 7, 300-600 with 75 ante

I raise to 1700 with JJ UTG and 3 people call, including Mr. C (he definitely lives up to the billing putting max pressure and now has a 65k stack). The flop comes off 1096 with 2 diamonds and I check trying to play a small pot. The 3^rd player bets 5k, Mr. C calls and now it’s up to me. I deliberate for about 1 minute. I think folding, calling, and raising are all viable options because that flop is so bad for my hand. I just felt I had the best hand. But if I raise here I’m committing to this hand, so I elect to call. The turn comes an 8h putting a 4 to a straight on the board. I check, the 3^rd player checks and then Mr. C bets 14k. Now I go into the tank. I have 26k and I literally take about 5 minutes to decide what to do. I just felt that given his image and his range I really felt I had the best hand. At this point I gave him either 2 pair, a flush draw, or a straight. Anyways, I call the 14k leaving myself 12k left and the other player folds. The river is a 3h, I check and Mr. C puts me all-in after about 20 seconds. I call for my whole tournament and he says my favorite words in this spot “nice call.” He tables K2d for a busted flush draw and I scoop an 80k pot with the whole table looking at me in pure shock. I mean, I could’ve made the dumbest call there or the greatest, but I’m just glad I made it.

I raise to 1800 with 99 in late position and Joe T makes it 5k to go. Given our stack sizes it’s a clear call so I do. I know he’s not messing around with me and he hasn’t re-raised all day so I know he either has a big over pair or AK. The flop comes 823 rainbow and I check and Joe bets 7.5k. I take about 1 minute and call. I thought about raising it small but I decide to call. If Joe bets big on the turn I’m giving it up. The turn comes a 10 and I check and he checks. River is a 9…….BAM!!! I lead for 15k and he folds QQ. I mean that’s such a sick lay down. This guy plays so damn good.

I raise to 1800 in the cutoff with 99 again and Joe T re-raises to 5k. Déjà vu (LOL). I call and the flop comes A109 and I check and call 8k. The turn comes a 10 to give me a full house and this time I lead for 10k. I think Joe probably has AK here and I know he’s going to check the turn for pot control but I want to extract the max. He calls. Now I know for sure I have him exactly where I want him. The river is a 4 and I lead for 18k. He takes about a minute and calls me. Just like that the big dog is up to 130k going into the break. THAT’S WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!

Level 8, 400-800 with 100 ante

This level I don’t play any pots and build my stack up to 145k pretty easily. The average at this point is only about 55k so I’m very healthy, probably top 10 in the tournament. I finally lose a big pot here. Everyone folds to the small blind who opens pushing for 12k and I look down from the BB to see AcQc. I think for about 30 seconds and call. He tables KQ and I’m pretty excited to get up to 160k or so. The flop is 10 xx with 2 clubs. The turn is a blank and the river is a Kh. So sick. He just hit a 2 outer to double up to 30k and I drop down to 125k.

Level 9, 500-1000 with 100 ante

Mr. C busts out during this level and we get Haralabos. He puts on major pressure raising and re-raising a lot of pots. I defend my BB to him with the 67 of clubs. The flop comes 598 with 2 diamonds and I check and he bets 5500. I make it 20500 and he quickly folds. I’m ok with that because that flop has a lot of draws. Nothing really materializes in this level and I go card dead, but maintain 130k.

Level 10, 600-1200 with 200 ante

Honestly, I don’t really remember playing a big pot or any pot for that matter in this level. I raise like twice every 3 orbits and limp maybe once every other orbit. I maintain my stack and finish around 130k.

Oh yeah, I remember one hand. I limp in the SB with QQ and Tad Jurgens in the BB makes it 3k more. I fully expected this and I just smooth call. The flop comes off J74 all spades, and I have the Qs. I check and call a 6k bet. I feel he is strong here and I don’t want to play a huge pot. The turn comes a 5s, I check and he checks. The river is a blank and I check trying to induce a bluff and he checks. He says “Ace Jack no spade.” I show him my queens and he is shocked (and so is the whole table). Sometimes, I play hands like this mostly to control the pot and for deception so I get free flops out of the SB.

Level 11, 800-1600 with 200 ante

Finally, the last level of the night. I didn’t play any big pots here either but I want to talk about such a sick hand between Haralabos and another player. This Asian kid opens on the button for 4500. He has about 90k and Harb has about the same. Harb has been hammering this guy, re-raising him and out playing him post flop. You can actually see it in his eyes that he wants to win a pot from Harb. Anyways, the flop comes 457 with 2 hearts. Harb checks, the Asian kid bets 6k and Harb raises to 20k. The kid calls, the turn is a Js and Harb bets 37k. This kid takes about 30 seconds then moves in for 78k and Harb insta calls. Harb shows 77 and the kid shows A8 off-suit. ARE YOU F’N KIDDING ME?! This kid played solid for 9 hours and he just blows up in a spot where there is no fold equity (and Harb has to have a hand here 100% of the time). The river is a Kh and Harb just won a 200k pot. This is so sick. I never get gifts like this. With 30 minutes left in the night I get moved to the sickest table ever. Antonio Esfandiari in seat 1, Anna Wobrewski in seat 2, Phil Ivey in seat 4, David Singer in seat 6, and David Benyamine in seat 9. Thank God there is only 30 minutes left in this level. Anyways, I fold for my first round and finally play a hand when I re-raise Anna W with 46 off on the button. She folds and I pick up this pot. 3 minutes later the day if over.

I ended up finishing with 158,800, which probably puts 23rd. Average is around 100k. I really felt I played great today. I stuck my head out with my Jacks but I really felt good about my play. I never had any big hands, I picked up QQ once and KK once. I’m just excited to be still in with a healthy stack. I hope I get a good table tomorrow. I really feel that I’m zoned in right now and playing great.

KK