Well! Tonight was the final night for this cycle of league play for the Big Slick Poker league. About 20 people signed up. Before we began, the tournament director announced that the top 6 in overall points after tonight would be going to the final tournament in Calgary. Good news for me, since the 7th overall person could not mathematically catch up to me! Also, good news since I was the 2nd one to bust out tonight! :-) Now, would I have busted out that early knowing that I needed points to move on? Hard to say. Here was the hand that wiped me out of everything but one big blind. Let me know if you think I was right, it was a toss up, or I made a bad play...
3rd hand of the night. Everyone starts with 5000 in chips, so we're all fairly close. 7 people at my table. Blinds are 25/50. Get dealt AA! Wooo! I am first to act. I just call hoping someone else will raise and I can re-raise. No dice. 1 other call and the big blind checks. 3 to the flop. Flop is As, Qd, 9h. Yes! Big blind is first to act...check...I check...3rd person bets 600! Big bet for what's in the pot. Big blind folds. I raise it to 1600 total. Get called. All is well, so far. Turn card is 10s. There are now straight possibilities and a potential flush if a spade comes on the river. I lead out, betting 1000. Get called. River is the 8c. So, I check. Other player goes all-in for his last 2200ish. I think for a long time. I finally decide that he either has a Jack and has me beat or a busted flush draw. Knowing that my position was secure for the big tournament I finally called and he turned over AJ off suit. Thought he maybe had pocket Jacks. But, obviously leaned toward the flush draw...maybe a KsQs. But, still, he made a fairly risky play for someone who had the nuts, if he was trying to build his stack. 1000 value bet might have been in order. Especially since it was so early in the tournament and people don't usually like to put it all in right away. But, looking back, I probably should have folded. You live and learn! I remember reading that to be a good poker player you have to be able to lay down a big hand...how true!
Next up is probably some online pokerstars play. Calgary tournament is the weekend of the 13th.
Tough to fold trips! Just thinking about it shows good thinking.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be interesting to know what the other guy thought you had. Did he have a good read on you or not.
If you hadn't locked up a spot, would you have folded?
Good luck at the tourney on the 13th.
He was surprised I had AA. I believe he said he thought I had AK.
ReplyDeleteWould I have folded without the spot locked up? That's the million dollar question! I'd like to think I would have, but its all hindsight. I think it really would have depended on exactly what position I was in points wise. I think I would have had to been very borderline to not make the next tournament, unless I made the final table or something like that, in order to fold.