Mark's Poker Blog

The final table

The final table at the big tournament was very intense. We started with 10 of course. I was among the chip leaders. Three of us had about 100K, just slightly over average. There were 5 or so average stacks and a couple of short stacks with around 20K. The blinds were 3,000/6,000, so you had to steal some blinds to not lose ground.

We played for 1.5 hours. It took forever to lose a player. Everyone was playing very tight. There were very few calls and flops. Someone would raise, usually 3x the BB and not get called. Everytime a short stack had to make a stand, their hands held up. It was really tense. I stole a few blinds, but could never increase my chip count. Two guys were clearly gaining the lead, both building up around 125 to 150K in chips. I drew a tough spot, because a loose player was on my left. I played several blind versus blind hands with him. I beat him out of one hand, with two kings on the board and a Q. I had a Q. This guy is pretty unbluffable. Anyway, we playe several hands and eventually, he was the short stack. I got into yet another hand with him with 75. I flopped top pair, with a gut shot. I put him all in, which was a little crazy, and he called with 83 - he had a double gut shot. He ended up hitting a straight (I thought I won for second) and he knocked me down to 40K in chips. I was the short stack at this point. The good news was that we had just played the blinds and I had a lot of hands to before the blinds game around. The blinds were 10/20K, so I had to make a move soon. In early position, I was dealt AQ. I decided it was time, so I went all in. Everyone folded around to the BB. He was already in 20K, so he only had to call 20K to win 70K (my allin, the small blind, and his big blind). I think he was going to fold, but this one jackass told him he HAD to call. He did, but my hand held up, giving me 90K in chips. Whew. I was average now in chips.

Well we played a few more hands, but one of the short stacks had to made a stand on their blind. They lost and we were down to 9. We then decided to chop, giving 11K to the two clear chip leaders and the other 7 chopping 66K.

Some key hands from the tournament

There were some key hands in the tournament. I will cover a few of the more interesting ones. First of all, since there were so many prizes (8) that were the same size ($11,000), there wasn't a great incentive to take too many risks. Play solid and win a few hands and you would be in good shape.

I elected not to rebuy immediately, so I started with $5000 in chips. The table was loose, but not super aggressive. I lingered around $5000 and then played a big pot in the third round. I recall the blinds being $150/$300. I was in middle position and made a large raise with AQ. I got a couple of callers. One had AK. The flop included a Q, with two rag spades. I went all in and the guy with AK called ??? Runner runner spades, so I was busted. I rebought. Not much happenend during the next round. There were four rounds allowing rebuys. I elected to add on and rebuy. I had around 17,500 in chips then. After the rebuy period, there were about 95,000 in chips in play, with 60 players, so I was about average.

With the blinds at 200/400 (I think), I made a small raise with A7 of diamonds. One of the blinds called me. The flop comes 986 of diamonds, giving me the nut flush, with an open ended straight flush draw. My opponent decided to go all in. He was short stacked. I won of course and added $5000 or so chips to my stack.

I later flopped the nut straight draw against the player to my right. He made a decent raise and I put him all in. He had 10 to 15K in chips. He instantly called with top pair, good kicker (KQ). I got the flush on the river, moving my chips up to around 35K.

I then played a big pot. The blinds were pretty high. One guy in early position went all in for about 15K. It was a strange play. He had KT. Another guy, pretty loose, called with AQ. It is folded around, to me in the blind with KK. I push all in. The one guy knows he is dead. The other guy thinks forever and finally folds his AQ. The pot is around 50K. Flop includes a KT to tease the other guy, but I of course win with top set. This pushes me up to around 70K.

When we were down to two tables, I got heads up in a hand with 77. I flop a set, but there are two suited cards up there. My opponent makes a sizable raise. I reraise a little, but he goes all in. I call and he shows the nut flush draw. He misses and I now have close to 100K in chips.

I got to the final table with close to the chip lead. I had about 100K, as did two other guys. There were a couple of short stacks. I will discuss the final table in a separate post.

Played in a Big Tournament

I played in a huge local tournament yesterday. The tournament had 60 players, with 4 alternates. It was a $500 buy in, with unlimited rebuys for the first 2 hours. Rebuys were also $500 - you could rebuy if you had 5000 or less in chips (what you started with). There was also a $500 addon, but you got $7500 in chips. During the rebuy period, 4 people busted and elected not to rebuy, so all four alternates got in.

The action during the rebuy period was fast and furious. I was busted when my AQ lost to AK, but that is another story for another post. There were a ton of rebuys - one guy rebought 8 times.

I decided to rebuy and addon at the break, so I was in $2000. After the rebuy period, I hit some big hands. Hit a flush and avoided a couple of big draws. I was among the chip leaders getting to the final table. I will provide a separate post with some of my hands. I will also describe the final table in another post.

After the rebuy period, there was $88K in the prize pool. This was a WSOP seat tournament, so 8 11K seats were up for grabs. I was amazed that the total was an exact multiple of 11K. That is 22/1 against. Anyway, it was a monster tournament with 8 people walking away with big prizes.

PS, the tournament provided security, food, and was very well run. I will definitely play again given the opportunity.

No poker for over a week

Well, I have been really busy and haven't played any live poker for over a week. I have played some online, but no live. Things online have been up and down, but that is a different story.

Tony Parker Tournaments

While I haven't played personnally, I do know a couple of people who have played in Tony Parkers  holdem tournaments. I understand he has had 2. Each is a $300 buy in with rebuys. I don't know how many people have played. I understand he pays for everything. I also understand that they only announce the location a day or so before they start. I almost played in the last one, but I had something going on that night. I heard that it will be a while before there is another one. If I hear more or do attend, and if appropriate, I will pass on some info.

More volatile poker

We had a 10/20 no limit holdem game at my place. It was a good game, at least for me, since I won about 2K. I also played some 10/20 no limit holdem on Monday. I won 1K there. Unfortunately, I played some 2/5 the next two nights and managed to lose 1K in each game. No huge pots, just lots of second best hands and loose calls. I always play 2/5 badly after playing a lot of 10/20.

Bad Start in June

I played in a new game (to me). It is a 5/10 pot limit. Supposedly it is normally super loose. The game was pretty tight. Things were pretty calm, for me, but got into a big pot and lost my stack. Bet max preflop with 99. Got two callers. Flopped a set (again) with two hearts.  I bet the max and get two callers. Turn is a heart. One player checks, I check, and then this other guy bets $1000. Other guy folds. One of my 9s is a diamond. I figure he has the flush, but decide to see a card and see if the board pairs or if my diamond would be good with another diamond. Turns out he has a really small flush, but it holds up. Turns out I had odds to call, but that is small consolation.