September 17, 2004
Good run recently, not enough time to write about it.
Sorry I haven't written here in a bit- I'm taking 18 credits, working at the DTH, and trying not to kill myself. Oh, and I've been playing my fair share of poker. A few weeks ago, I was in a bit of a down spell, and I snapped out of it recently. I decided I was getting too aggressive early on in tournaments, so I've been laying low until it gets shorthanded, which is when I make my move. I've been hosting my own poker tournament every Tuesday night here in Stacy, and the response has been amazing. Each of the three tournaments I've held has had about 30 people in it, with a 5 dollar buy-in, as well as an extra dollar which is going to go towards a semester-ending Tournament of Champions. The top 8 players, based on points, will qualify for the tournament, which will have a nice purse and trophies. I finished third in the tournament last week, out of 27 people, and this week I came in at third again, out of 29 people. In the last one, I was down to almost nothing on the first table and I fought all the way back to take third and $25.
Roy had his tournament tonight, and I haven't been faring too well over there, either. Mostly it's because I'm getting called by idiots (John Moon called my all-in with with ace 2, and announced before he did, "I'm going to rely on luck to win this hand." To me, if that's your philosophy, stay home and watch a movie. Of course, he caught an ace, and my pocket 8's were blown to hell.
This week I came in very confident. I had the two straight third place finishes under my belt, and I was making awesome reads on people. We had 12 players, at two tables of six, and my table consisted of Alex, John Moon, Ryan, Jonathan, and Pete. Jon and Pete are tough, but the other three are all pretty bad, so I felt good with that arrangement, plus I was sitting after Jon, which is always nice because he's a raise-aholic.
I laid low early on, as per my plan, and didn't take my first pot until about 10 hands in, and that was just the blinds. My first big hand came when I picked up pocket 3's, and Pete came in raising $2 (The blinds were .50-1). I called, and the flop came out King Ten 5, all hearts. I didn't have any hearts. Pete checked to me, which was pretty weak considering that he had raised preflop, and I checked it, too. I was pretty sure he hadn't hit the flop, but I didn't want to invest too much with two offsuit 3's here. The turn paired up the 5, and I saw that as a good card for me. When Pete checked, I bet $3, and he called. Now I was certain he was on the flush draw, with either an ace or a queen, and the river was a black 6. I bet out $3 again after Pete checked, and he folded and told me he had the ace. I think I played that hand pretty well, getting as much as I could out of it. Most of it was due to my read of Pete, as I was pretty sure he hadn't hit anything.
As the blinds went up to 1-2, I started to push a little more. I had the second biggest chip stack at the table, behind Jonathan, so I started raising more than I had been. One hand came up where I had the ace 9 of diamonds, and I raised two bucks coming in. Jon called me on the big blind (big surprise), and when the flop came 4 3 9, I was pretty sure my hand was set. After Jon checked, I bet $3, and he thought a bit and called it. The turn was a 5, and after he checked, I bet $3 again. He raised me $5, and I called it, figuring he was trying to steal with all the low cards out there. The river put a third club on the board, and Jon checked, so I checked it down. He flipped over 6 7, which means he chased an inside straight for $3 and caught it on the turn. Man, he has got to be the loosest, most chasingest(?) player I've ever met. I gave him one of those, "You know you're a fag" looks, and he gave his trademark "I can't believe I caught my longshot again" sheepish grins.
I didn't get in a funk over it, though, as I was still fine in chips. A little bit later, Ryan, one of the lowest 1% of poker players on the planet, gave all his chips to Jon in the following situation: Ryan raised it $5 over the blind, a ridiculously big raise, which he is wont to do, and Jon called. The flop was 3 7 9, and Ryan bet $5. Jon raised him $5, and Ryan called. At this point, I already knew what they both had. Jon had flopped a set, and Ryan had overcards that he was willing to chase for a third of his stack. The turn was a king, and Ryan went all-in, which was called by Jon. Ryan flipped over king jack, and Jon had a set of threes. So sad. Let me make this plea to everyone out there- Don't call a bet when you have nothing! Overcards are no good! You only have 6 outs and you still may have the worst hand!
OK, now that I got that off my chest, I can go on with the tournament. I steadily built my stack, and I took a nice pot off John Moon, that calling bastard, when I decided to raise with 10 7 off on the button. Alex folded, and John Moon called- naturally. The flop was 2 3 9, and I bet out $4. John called, with his overcards, of course. The turn was a 5, so I knew he still had nothing. I bet out $7 this time, and he folded. Hooray for folding!
Pete went out a short time later when he called an all-in with queen 9. We'll give Pete a one-time reprieve for making this insanely psychotic call, but don't let it happen again, Pete!
I took a nice pot off Jon, although I maybe could have gotten all his chips, when I had pocket 3's again. He came in raising another $3, so it seemed like a sign. I called, and the flop was king ten 3. Bingo. He bet out some absurd amount, like $25 bucks, and I raised all-in, figuring I'd get a call. Jonathan hemmed and hawed, said "I think you're bluffing," then folded. That gave me great satisfaction to know that it is possible for him to fold, but I should have won more with my set.
I picked up pocket 5's a little later against John Moon, who had come in raising $4. I decided I had him, so I put him all in for another 12 or so. He called with ace queen, and when he hit an ace on the flop, the devil hand had struck me again. The turn, though, was a 5, and I finally won a coin flip. That put Jonathan and I at the final table with Roy and Godwin. From what I could see, Roy had been having his way with the other table, which was no surprise, as he's won his tournament twice in a row.
At the final table, I picked up some good hands, and I came in raising most of the time. Usually, my raises were respected, and when they weren't a bet on the flop was usually good enough to take the pot. Godwin was the short stack, and I took him out when my 10 8 on the big blind held up against his straight draw (I had flopped 8's and a straight draw myself.)
Down to three-handed, Roy came in raising $10, and Jon reraised $30. At this point, I had the chip lead, but everyone was pretty comfortable. Roy pulled a Mike Matusow and said, "I play to win," and pushed all in for another $35 or so. Jon called, because he likes coin flips, and showed ace queen, versus pocket 8's for Roy. Everyone knew the 8's didn't have a chance against Jonathan's monumental fishing power, and sure enough, an ace came on the flop to end Roy's night and give Jon the chip lead. Actually, Roy went out fourth, and then Godwin took third.
Down to heads up with my nemesis, I took a sizeable pot and got the chip lead, then folded to a river raise and gave the lead back to him. He came in raising on my big blind when I had jack 6, and I called, as it wasn't a big raise. The flop was 7 8 9, with two diamonds, so I was open-ended. I checked, and he bet $10. Cheap enough, so I called. The turn was a 4, and I checked again. Jon bet out $20 this time, and I was sure he didn't have a damn thing, and was just trying to take the pot. I reraised all-in for another $65 or so. Jon agonized over it, but then called and said, "I have nothing." OK then, good call with nothing. He had king 5 of diamonds, and called my all-in with a flush draw and an inside straight draw- with only one card left to come! Unbelievable. I made the right read, and Jon just can't fold a hand where he has a chance to improve on the river, even for all that money! He said he didn't think I had anything as a cover, but even so, king high is not going to be ahead very often on the turn. Anyway, the river was a deuce of spades, and Jon had won the yellow chip. So sad. If I had taken that pot with his fold, I would have had the chip lead, but alas, I lost to king high. I think I'm going to hire Phil Hellmuth to come in and bitch at people for me when they make retarded plays, that way I save my voice.
I still took home $20 for my night, which I'll take any day. That ran my list of money finishes to three straight, and I'm feeling good about my game.
Quote of the day: "Chris Ferguson has just increased his stack from $3,000 to $25,000 with Jack high."- Norman Chad
Terrence's bankroll: $140+$40=$180
Roy had his tournament tonight, and I haven't been faring too well over there, either. Mostly it's because I'm getting called by idiots (John Moon called my all-in with with ace 2, and announced before he did, "I'm going to rely on luck to win this hand." To me, if that's your philosophy, stay home and watch a movie. Of course, he caught an ace, and my pocket 8's were blown to hell.
This week I came in very confident. I had the two straight third place finishes under my belt, and I was making awesome reads on people. We had 12 players, at two tables of six, and my table consisted of Alex, John Moon, Ryan, Jonathan, and Pete. Jon and Pete are tough, but the other three are all pretty bad, so I felt good with that arrangement, plus I was sitting after Jon, which is always nice because he's a raise-aholic.
I laid low early on, as per my plan, and didn't take my first pot until about 10 hands in, and that was just the blinds. My first big hand came when I picked up pocket 3's, and Pete came in raising $2 (The blinds were .50-1). I called, and the flop came out King Ten 5, all hearts. I didn't have any hearts. Pete checked to me, which was pretty weak considering that he had raised preflop, and I checked it, too. I was pretty sure he hadn't hit the flop, but I didn't want to invest too much with two offsuit 3's here. The turn paired up the 5, and I saw that as a good card for me. When Pete checked, I bet $3, and he called. Now I was certain he was on the flush draw, with either an ace or a queen, and the river was a black 6. I bet out $3 again after Pete checked, and he folded and told me he had the ace. I think I played that hand pretty well, getting as much as I could out of it. Most of it was due to my read of Pete, as I was pretty sure he hadn't hit anything.
As the blinds went up to 1-2, I started to push a little more. I had the second biggest chip stack at the table, behind Jonathan, so I started raising more than I had been. One hand came up where I had the ace 9 of diamonds, and I raised two bucks coming in. Jon called me on the big blind (big surprise), and when the flop came 4 3 9, I was pretty sure my hand was set. After Jon checked, I bet $3, and he thought a bit and called it. The turn was a 5, and after he checked, I bet $3 again. He raised me $5, and I called it, figuring he was trying to steal with all the low cards out there. The river put a third club on the board, and Jon checked, so I checked it down. He flipped over 6 7, which means he chased an inside straight for $3 and caught it on the turn. Man, he has got to be the loosest, most chasingest(?) player I've ever met. I gave him one of those, "You know you're a fag" looks, and he gave his trademark "I can't believe I caught my longshot again" sheepish grins.
I didn't get in a funk over it, though, as I was still fine in chips. A little bit later, Ryan, one of the lowest 1% of poker players on the planet, gave all his chips to Jon in the following situation: Ryan raised it $5 over the blind, a ridiculously big raise, which he is wont to do, and Jon called. The flop was 3 7 9, and Ryan bet $5. Jon raised him $5, and Ryan called. At this point, I already knew what they both had. Jon had flopped a set, and Ryan had overcards that he was willing to chase for a third of his stack. The turn was a king, and Ryan went all-in, which was called by Jon. Ryan flipped over king jack, and Jon had a set of threes. So sad. Let me make this plea to everyone out there- Don't call a bet when you have nothing! Overcards are no good! You only have 6 outs and you still may have the worst hand!
OK, now that I got that off my chest, I can go on with the tournament. I steadily built my stack, and I took a nice pot off John Moon, that calling bastard, when I decided to raise with 10 7 off on the button. Alex folded, and John Moon called- naturally. The flop was 2 3 9, and I bet out $4. John called, with his overcards, of course. The turn was a 5, so I knew he still had nothing. I bet out $7 this time, and he folded. Hooray for folding!
Pete went out a short time later when he called an all-in with queen 9. We'll give Pete a one-time reprieve for making this insanely psychotic call, but don't let it happen again, Pete!
I took a nice pot off Jon, although I maybe could have gotten all his chips, when I had pocket 3's again. He came in raising another $3, so it seemed like a sign. I called, and the flop was king ten 3. Bingo. He bet out some absurd amount, like $25 bucks, and I raised all-in, figuring I'd get a call. Jonathan hemmed and hawed, said "I think you're bluffing," then folded. That gave me great satisfaction to know that it is possible for him to fold, but I should have won more with my set.
I picked up pocket 5's a little later against John Moon, who had come in raising $4. I decided I had him, so I put him all in for another 12 or so. He called with ace queen, and when he hit an ace on the flop, the devil hand had struck me again. The turn, though, was a 5, and I finally won a coin flip. That put Jonathan and I at the final table with Roy and Godwin. From what I could see, Roy had been having his way with the other table, which was no surprise, as he's won his tournament twice in a row.
At the final table, I picked up some good hands, and I came in raising most of the time. Usually, my raises were respected, and when they weren't a bet on the flop was usually good enough to take the pot. Godwin was the short stack, and I took him out when my 10 8 on the big blind held up against his straight draw (I had flopped 8's and a straight draw myself.)
Down to three-handed, Roy came in raising $10, and Jon reraised $30. At this point, I had the chip lead, but everyone was pretty comfortable. Roy pulled a Mike Matusow and said, "I play to win," and pushed all in for another $35 or so. Jon called, because he likes coin flips, and showed ace queen, versus pocket 8's for Roy. Everyone knew the 8's didn't have a chance against Jonathan's monumental fishing power, and sure enough, an ace came on the flop to end Roy's night and give Jon the chip lead. Actually, Roy went out fourth, and then Godwin took third.
Down to heads up with my nemesis, I took a sizeable pot and got the chip lead, then folded to a river raise and gave the lead back to him. He came in raising on my big blind when I had jack 6, and I called, as it wasn't a big raise. The flop was 7 8 9, with two diamonds, so I was open-ended. I checked, and he bet $10. Cheap enough, so I called. The turn was a 4, and I checked again. Jon bet out $20 this time, and I was sure he didn't have a damn thing, and was just trying to take the pot. I reraised all-in for another $65 or so. Jon agonized over it, but then called and said, "I have nothing." OK then, good call with nothing. He had king 5 of diamonds, and called my all-in with a flush draw and an inside straight draw- with only one card left to come! Unbelievable. I made the right read, and Jon just can't fold a hand where he has a chance to improve on the river, even for all that money! He said he didn't think I had anything as a cover, but even so, king high is not going to be ahead very often on the turn. Anyway, the river was a deuce of spades, and Jon had won the yellow chip. So sad. If I had taken that pot with his fold, I would have had the chip lead, but alas, I lost to king high. I think I'm going to hire Phil Hellmuth to come in and bitch at people for me when they make retarded plays, that way I save my voice.
I still took home $20 for my night, which I'll take any day. That ran my list of money finishes to three straight, and I'm feeling good about my game.
Quote of the day: "Chris Ferguson has just increased his stack from $3,000 to $25,000 with Jack high."- Norman Chad
Terrence's bankroll: $140+$40=$180
Posted by Terrence on September 17, 2004 at 02:27 AM | 3 comments
hachiman
goDWin
goDWin