I got cracked during Level 3 today in 37th place. It is obviously super disappointing to go this deep in the main event only to come up short, but I have to admit, I had a lot of fun while the run lasted.
Z and I have to catch an 11:30 flight back to ctown, so I have to keep this super short, but I just wanted to quickly thank everyone who was rooting for me and sweating my chip stack online.
Quick update of today's action: I was on the feature table for the first two levels, because Phil Hellmuth was at my table. Overall, I played pretty well at the feature table (despite being super uncomfortable at first), but I did get lucky with 77 (rivering a 1-outer, but then getting max value) against 99, after I called a cb on a 6-high flop. I also bluffed off almost a million chips with AdQd on a 10 high board, but I really thought the guy had a small pair, and I am happy living and dying with my reads. I also cracked a guy (for about 1.5 million chips) when I trapped him with AA and he flopped an open-ended straight draw. We got it all-in on the flop and the bullets held up. The last big hand I played at the feature table was probably the highlight of the day, despite it being a very straight-forward hand. Phil open raised all-in for 400k under the gun and I called him with JJ. He flipped up AQ and we were off to the races. He picked up a flush draw and a gut shot straight draw on the turn, giving him 17 outs total on the river, but the river was a black rag and the jacks held up. I didn't get a classic Hellmuth speech or anything, and he was actually pretty classy about it, but it was definitely a lot of fun to play with the guy (and to knock him out).
On my bust hand, I reraised a hijack raise to 140k (from a strong/agressive player) to 440k with AdJc from the small blind. I was hoping to take it down preflop obviously, but the raiser called and I thought that he most likely had a fairly big ace or a mid pair, but not a truly premium hand. The flop came down Jh,10h,9h and I was honestly not sure how to proceed in the hand. I had about 2.2 million more chips, and with 900k in the pot, it was a very tough spot. If I led for 700k I would be giving him the fold equity to jam with the Ace or King of hearts with a pair or straight draw. I felt like check folding was way too weak, because I did not give him a big pair. I decided the best option was to jam all-in to protect my hand. Unfortunately, I got insta-called by AhQh and was drawing close to dead. I turned two pair with a 9, and actually had a few outs on the river, but the river was a 2 and I was out. Certainly not my best played hand of the tournament, but you have to stay aggressive in tournaments, and I am not that unhappy about the way I played the hand. Getting 37th was definitely annoying, as the pay scale increased by 40k at 36th place, but with 9 million on the line, it only makes sense to play to win.
Probably going to take it easy on the poker front for the rest of the summer and just relax and enjoy before school starts. Thanks to everyone who has been keeping tabs on me and reading the blog.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Down to 79
I survived the day and we are now down to 79 players. I had an up and down day, getting my stack up to a peak of 2.7 million early, but I unfortunately ended the night on a big down swing finishing with 1.593 million. The average stack is right around 1.75 million, so my stack is still totally healthy, and it's like starting a whole new tournament today with essentially an average stack.
I built my stack early cracking a short stack with AA, making a 3rd raise preflop with KK, and then picking off smaller pots with well-timed aggression. I also flopped a full house against Victor Ramdin, holding 44 on a 994 board. I led for 100k on the flop and he quickly called. I checked the 10d turn and when Victor checked behind I was pretty sure he had either 77 or 88 and I knew that I was getting looked up on the river. The river was a 2 and I decided to overbet for value, making it 375k to go, and Victor insta-called (claiming he had QQ). Thirty minutes or so later, I took an identical line against him with 33 on a J104 (two hearts), 6c, Kh board and he mucked on the river (I was pretty sure he was trying to call me down light based on his call on the flop, and the river was a great card to bluff as hearts, AQ, and even AK got there, and he knew that I would play a flopped set the same way).
And then things starting moving in the wrong direction. I lost all the chips I had gained on the day (and a bit more) in three contested pots. The first, I reraised a fairly loose player with AdQd from the button. He made it 65k to go and I repopped to 205k. He called and the flop came down KJ4 rainbow. He checked and I thought about checking behind and giving up, but I couldn't tell how strong he was, so I decided to fire a cb instead, and led for 300k. He called and now I had completely given up on the hand unless I spiked a 10. The turn and river were blanks and the action went check check and he showed AJ (such a terrible call preflop out of position). Pretty unlucky flop for me as he can literally only win the hand by flopping a J, but the hand ended up costing me about half a million.
The second hand I badly misplayed. I raised from the cutoff with KsQs and a loose/aggressive Russian player called from the big blind. The flop came down 9d,4s,2c and he checked to me. I typically cb here, but because I raised from the cutoff I looked weak and didn't want to get check raised off the best hand, and I knew that he was very capable of check raising me here with air. I checked behind and the turn looked like a good card for me, the 10s, giving me a gut shot and a back door flush draw. My opponent led for 100k and I decided just to call, figuring a J,Q,K or spade were all good enough for me on the river. The river was a blank and he checked to me. I almost checked behind (knowing that was the right play), but the 350k pot was too enticing so I tried a value bet bluff and led out 150k on the river. My opponent called with Q10, which was a frustrating hand to see, because I could have taken the pot down with a cb on the flop, and because he spiked his three outer on the turn. Still, I played this hand very poorly.
The last pot I lost a lot of chips, but it could have been much worse. I had KK heads up in a raised pot and I led the flop for 100k on a board of 8d,7c,4h. I was hoping to get raised so that I could stick it in on the flop, but instead my opponent smooth called. The turn was the 6c, which looked harmless enough, and I led again for 250k. This time, my opponent shoved all-in for 1.1 million total. I tanked for a couple of minutes, but staring at the kid, I knew for sure he was not making a move. The cameras were there and this was not the type of player who is capable of making a bet like this with 8c9c or something. I mucked and lost another 400k or so on the hand. My brothers Zachy and Danny (who surprised me by showing up yesterday), told me that they overheard the kid talking to his boys on the rail that he misplayed the hand and should have smooth called the turn and then he would have won the rest of my stack. Z thought he said he had 55, which makes sense. If he does smooth call the turn, I probably have to check call up to 500k on the river, so I'm glad he played the hand the way he did. Still, pretty annoying that he hit his gut shot on the turn.
Action starts up today at noon, which is in two hours. I got a good 6/7 hours of sleep last night, and I'm feeling good heading into today.
I built my stack early cracking a short stack with AA, making a 3rd raise preflop with KK, and then picking off smaller pots with well-timed aggression. I also flopped a full house against Victor Ramdin, holding 44 on a 994 board. I led for 100k on the flop and he quickly called. I checked the 10d turn and when Victor checked behind I was pretty sure he had either 77 or 88 and I knew that I was getting looked up on the river. The river was a 2 and I decided to overbet for value, making it 375k to go, and Victor insta-called (claiming he had QQ). Thirty minutes or so later, I took an identical line against him with 33 on a J104 (two hearts), 6c, Kh board and he mucked on the river (I was pretty sure he was trying to call me down light based on his call on the flop, and the river was a great card to bluff as hearts, AQ, and even AK got there, and he knew that I would play a flopped set the same way).
And then things starting moving in the wrong direction. I lost all the chips I had gained on the day (and a bit more) in three contested pots. The first, I reraised a fairly loose player with AdQd from the button. He made it 65k to go and I repopped to 205k. He called and the flop came down KJ4 rainbow. He checked and I thought about checking behind and giving up, but I couldn't tell how strong he was, so I decided to fire a cb instead, and led for 300k. He called and now I had completely given up on the hand unless I spiked a 10. The turn and river were blanks and the action went check check and he showed AJ (such a terrible call preflop out of position). Pretty unlucky flop for me as he can literally only win the hand by flopping a J, but the hand ended up costing me about half a million.
The second hand I badly misplayed. I raised from the cutoff with KsQs and a loose/aggressive Russian player called from the big blind. The flop came down 9d,4s,2c and he checked to me. I typically cb here, but because I raised from the cutoff I looked weak and didn't want to get check raised off the best hand, and I knew that he was very capable of check raising me here with air. I checked behind and the turn looked like a good card for me, the 10s, giving me a gut shot and a back door flush draw. My opponent led for 100k and I decided just to call, figuring a J,Q,K or spade were all good enough for me on the river. The river was a blank and he checked to me. I almost checked behind (knowing that was the right play), but the 350k pot was too enticing so I tried a value bet bluff and led out 150k on the river. My opponent called with Q10, which was a frustrating hand to see, because I could have taken the pot down with a cb on the flop, and because he spiked his three outer on the turn. Still, I played this hand very poorly.
The last pot I lost a lot of chips, but it could have been much worse. I had KK heads up in a raised pot and I led the flop for 100k on a board of 8d,7c,4h. I was hoping to get raised so that I could stick it in on the flop, but instead my opponent smooth called. The turn was the 6c, which looked harmless enough, and I led again for 250k. This time, my opponent shoved all-in for 1.1 million total. I tanked for a couple of minutes, but staring at the kid, I knew for sure he was not making a move. The cameras were there and this was not the type of player who is capable of making a bet like this with 8c9c or something. I mucked and lost another 400k or so on the hand. My brothers Zachy and Danny (who surprised me by showing up yesterday), told me that they overheard the kid talking to his boys on the rail that he misplayed the hand and should have smooth called the turn and then he would have won the rest of my stack. Z thought he said he had 55, which makes sense. If he does smooth call the turn, I probably have to check call up to 500k on the river, so I'm glad he played the hand the way he did. Still, pretty annoying that he hit his gut shot on the turn.
Action starts up today at noon, which is in two hours. I got a good 6/7 hours of sleep last night, and I'm feeling good heading into today.
Friday, July 11, 2008
On to Day 5
I survived a shortened Day 4 (I guess we are well ahead of schedule), and we are now down to 189 players. I ended the day with 1.7 million in chips, a little more than twice the average stack of ~750k. It is still very early as it will take a good 15 million chips to be average at the final table. My sole focus is on playing each hand as well as I can.
Some highlights from today:
The Good:
1. I flopped top and bottom pair in a three way limped pot with A6. I think I extracted maximum value against a tough Swedish pro by smooth calling the flop (heart draw on board), betting the turn, and overbetting thin on the river. I did my best to feign weakness like I missed my flush and he looked me up for 110k on the river.
2. Making a big call on the flop and river with A2 on a board of 8,9,2,9,Q (no flush). I almost raised the river in case my deuces were no good, but after studying the kid for a long time, I was sure he had absolutely nothing.
3. Aces versus kings. Timing is everything in poker. A tight/aggressive player open raised to 36,000 at 4k/8k under the gun and I knew he had a big hand. I looked down at bullets and decided to repop since we were both deep and I sensed his strength. I overraised a bit, making it 160k to go, trying to sell AK as best I could. He pretty much insta-shoved after that and I quickly rechecked my hand and then called. The aces held up (despite a queen in the window which I thought was a king) and I was up to over 1.5 million.
4. I called a late position raise from the big blind with 44. The flop came down 3,4,5 and I led for 30k, hoping to get his whole stack of 300k or so if he had an overpair. He raised to 100k and I shipped it all-in. He called with 99 (which is a pretty terrible call) probably because just a few hands earlier I got looked up bluffing with a gut shot on the turn against AA.
The Bad:
1. Terrible bluff with K10 referenced above. Bluffing a short stack is a bad idea to begin with and more than that, I knew he had a big hand. Overall, I have done a great job at trusting my instincts this week and going with my read, but this was one spot where I just didn't take my time, and made the wrong play.
2. I opened up my game a bit more than I should have in the last level of the day, forcing things a bit, but nothing egregious.
3. I folded AQ to an early position raise and a call even though I thought I was good (I was right). It was just easier to play it safe (which isn't a terrible way to play), but again, I am best when I am trusting my reads.
The action starts back up tomorrow at noon. I really need to get a good nights sleep tonight as my body is kind of in shambles right now. I seem to be getting like 5 hours a night (I can't sleep past 9 for some reason), and I have been living on water and coke at the tables.
Some highlights from today:
The Good:
1. I flopped top and bottom pair in a three way limped pot with A6. I think I extracted maximum value against a tough Swedish pro by smooth calling the flop (heart draw on board), betting the turn, and overbetting thin on the river. I did my best to feign weakness like I missed my flush and he looked me up for 110k on the river.
2. Making a big call on the flop and river with A2 on a board of 8,9,2,9,Q (no flush). I almost raised the river in case my deuces were no good, but after studying the kid for a long time, I was sure he had absolutely nothing.
3. Aces versus kings. Timing is everything in poker. A tight/aggressive player open raised to 36,000 at 4k/8k under the gun and I knew he had a big hand. I looked down at bullets and decided to repop since we were both deep and I sensed his strength. I overraised a bit, making it 160k to go, trying to sell AK as best I could. He pretty much insta-shoved after that and I quickly rechecked my hand and then called. The aces held up (despite a queen in the window which I thought was a king) and I was up to over 1.5 million.
4. I called a late position raise from the big blind with 44. The flop came down 3,4,5 and I led for 30k, hoping to get his whole stack of 300k or so if he had an overpair. He raised to 100k and I shipped it all-in. He called with 99 (which is a pretty terrible call) probably because just a few hands earlier I got looked up bluffing with a gut shot on the turn against AA.
The Bad:
1. Terrible bluff with K10 referenced above. Bluffing a short stack is a bad idea to begin with and more than that, I knew he had a big hand. Overall, I have done a great job at trusting my instincts this week and going with my read, but this was one spot where I just didn't take my time, and made the wrong play.
2. I opened up my game a bit more than I should have in the last level of the day, forcing things a bit, but nothing egregious.
3. I folded AQ to an early position raise and a call even though I thought I was good (I was right). It was just easier to play it safe (which isn't a terrible way to play), but again, I am best when I am trusting my reads.
The action starts back up tomorrow at noon. I really need to get a good nights sleep tonight as my body is kind of in shambles right now. I seem to be getting like 5 hours a night (I can't sleep past 9 for some reason), and I have been living on water and coke at the tables.
Survive and Advance
I survived Day 3 and we are now officially in the money. 666 players cashed from the 6,800+ starting field and we are now down to 479 players. I have 465,000 in chips heading into tomorrow, which is a bit above the average stack of ~300k.
I can't see straight right now and play starts tomorrow in 9 hours, but a few quick highlights from today:
High points:
1. Playing KK very well to extract maximum value from what I thought was QQ (actually JJ). I checked the flop and got paid nicely on the turn and river.
2. Big call with KdQd when a short stack reraised me all-in from the small blind. He had a large enough stack that I was not pot committed, but I was pretty sure he was on a move. I called and he showed 95. Nice when the best hands hold too.
3. 5 betting preflop with 9d10d and taking it down. The hijack, a super aggressive player, open raised to 6,000 and I made it 21,000 to go from the small blind. He then reraised 20,000 on top and I was absolutely sure that he was weak despite the 3rd raise. I then put in the 5th bet, raising another 100,000 or so and committing myself to the hand. He insta-mucked and I showed the 10 high, which paid huge dividends for me 6 hours later. He was literally talking to himself for a good half an hour afterwards, and it definitely showed the rest of the table that I was not someone to be bluffed.
4. Three levels later, the same player raised from the cutoff to 10,000. The small-blind called. I made it 45,000 to go from the big blind with JJ, intentionally overraising a bit to give the impression I was on a steal. The cutoff then insta-shoved for another 175,000. I took my time as I only had JJ, but the more I talked to and studied my opponent, I was sure I had the best hand. I called (I only had another 30,000 or so) and he flipped over 55. He had 6 outs heading to the river, but again, the best hand held up.
Low points:
1. Limping with KQ from the cutoff and then making a terrible cb on the turn after getting called on the flop.
2. Pretty pathetic bluff with ace high on the river against a calling station who looked me up with third pair.
3. Playing poorly for most of level 3. I just opened up my game too much as the bubble approached and it totally destroyed my image. I kept getting reraised and had to fold time after time. I bled from 250k down to 200 just by forcing the action and not letting things come to me.
Action starts up tomorrow at 1pm. This thing is a marathon, but just focusing on playing one hand at a time.
I can't see straight right now and play starts tomorrow in 9 hours, but a few quick highlights from today:
High points:
1. Playing KK very well to extract maximum value from what I thought was QQ (actually JJ). I checked the flop and got paid nicely on the turn and river.
2. Big call with KdQd when a short stack reraised me all-in from the small blind. He had a large enough stack that I was not pot committed, but I was pretty sure he was on a move. I called and he showed 95. Nice when the best hands hold too.
3. 5 betting preflop with 9d10d and taking it down. The hijack, a super aggressive player, open raised to 6,000 and I made it 21,000 to go from the small blind. He then reraised 20,000 on top and I was absolutely sure that he was weak despite the 3rd raise. I then put in the 5th bet, raising another 100,000 or so and committing myself to the hand. He insta-mucked and I showed the 10 high, which paid huge dividends for me 6 hours later. He was literally talking to himself for a good half an hour afterwards, and it definitely showed the rest of the table that I was not someone to be bluffed.
4. Three levels later, the same player raised from the cutoff to 10,000. The small-blind called. I made it 45,000 to go from the big blind with JJ, intentionally overraising a bit to give the impression I was on a steal. The cutoff then insta-shoved for another 175,000. I took my time as I only had JJ, but the more I talked to and studied my opponent, I was sure I had the best hand. I called (I only had another 30,000 or so) and he flipped over 55. He had 6 outs heading to the river, but again, the best hand held up.
Low points:
1. Limping with KQ from the cutoff and then making a terrible cb on the turn after getting called on the flop.
2. Pretty pathetic bluff with ace high on the river against a calling station who looked me up with third pair.
3. Playing poorly for most of level 3. I just opened up my game too much as the bubble approached and it totally destroyed my image. I kept getting reraised and had to fold time after time. I bled from 250k down to 200 just by forcing the action and not letting things come to me.
Action starts up tomorrow at 1pm. This thing is a marathon, but just focusing on playing one hand at a time.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Quick Main Event Update
Apologies for the lack of updates, but my laptop has not been working, and I am now back in Las Vegas (after a long July 4th weekend in Chicago) without a computer.
Anyways, just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive in the Main Event. After Day 1, I had 54,050 in chips (20,000 starting stack) and now after Day 2, I have 133,300. Day 2b is going on right now, so it is a little unclear where this puts me in regards to the average stack going into Day 3 tomorrow. My best guess is that the starting field of 6,800+ will be down to about ~1,000-1,500 tomorrow, giving me a slightly above average stack.
I have been happy with my play overall, grinding, picking my spots, and adjusting my play to my opponents and my image. The Main Event really is a marathon. We have already put in two 12 hour days, and heading into tomorrow there will still be another 1,500 people to outlast.
Overall, I am running pretty well. My biggest hand yesterday was queens, which I picked up twice, only to run them into the kings and aces of the same player, (I lost the minimum against kings, but more than I should have against aces when I called a cb on a jack high flop even though I knew I was beat) which was pretty unlucky. I have also lost two big flips so far, one on Day 1 and one yesterday, but I won a big pot sucking out with 99 against KK, and my AQ held up all-in preflop against K10.
I have the day off today and then the grind gets going again tomorrow afternoon. Only 1,500 more people to outlast before I ship $9.1 million.
Anyways, just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive in the Main Event. After Day 1, I had 54,050 in chips (20,000 starting stack) and now after Day 2, I have 133,300. Day 2b is going on right now, so it is a little unclear where this puts me in regards to the average stack going into Day 3 tomorrow. My best guess is that the starting field of 6,800+ will be down to about ~1,000-1,500 tomorrow, giving me a slightly above average stack.
I have been happy with my play overall, grinding, picking my spots, and adjusting my play to my opponents and my image. The Main Event really is a marathon. We have already put in two 12 hour days, and heading into tomorrow there will still be another 1,500 people to outlast.
Overall, I am running pretty well. My biggest hand yesterday was queens, which I picked up twice, only to run them into the kings and aces of the same player, (I lost the minimum against kings, but more than I should have against aces when I called a cb on a jack high flop even though I knew I was beat) which was pretty unlucky. I have also lost two big flips so far, one on Day 1 and one yesterday, but I won a big pot sucking out with 99 against KK, and my AQ held up all-in preflop against K10.
I have the day off today and then the grind gets going again tomorrow afternoon. Only 1,500 more people to outlast before I ship $9.1 million.
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