Took a stab at my first $15 'Fifty/50' game tonight. Very tight game all around from everyone. My chips took a hit early on when my 99 failed against KK. But, I stuck around and built it back up enough to take 3rd place and a $24 share. Nice start to this level!
Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$15 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $254.05
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Canada Cup: The Final Chapter
Here's the in-depth review of my last tournament in The Canada Cup.
$22 Turbo Tournament
Blinds go up every 5 minutes
Started with 1500 in chips
136 competitors
5 entries to the big tournament (2 hours away) and 6th place gets $70.
Played bad first two hands...probably shouldn't have been in the pots, but trying to make magic happen after my good fortune last night. Down to about 1300.
10 minutes in (blinds at 15/30) I get dealt AA...first to act, I just call hoping for a raise somewhere. Folds all the way around to the big blind who (thank God!) raises to 90. I take a long time, then re-raise all-in. He calls with QQ. No more queens and I'm up to 2600! Yay!
A few hands pass, but within 5 mins. I'm dealt AA again! This time I'm in the big blind. Player who is doing well with about 2000 in chips raises to 120. Folded around to me. I again take my time and then re-raise all-in. He calls with KK. No more kings and I'm up to 4600! Yay again!
Blinds 25/50. Dealt AK...its raised to 100. Everyone else folds...I call. K, blah, blah on the flop. He raises to 150. I call. nothing on the turn. He raises to 250. I re-raise all-in. He doesn't go for it, but I come away with a good pot.
Blinds 50/100. Dealt AQ of hearts. I call. Just me and one other guy. Two hearts on the flop + a king...check, check...turn is a heart! Check, check. River is a king. Check, I bet 200, he thinks for awhile, then calls. Another decent pot.
All this before the first break 20 minutes in to the tournament! Crazy. At the break I am at $5185 and in 2nd place out of 109. The leader has $5435.
Immediately after the break I laid down 10,10 to an all-in bet of 1900. Wrong? Guess, I'll never know, but wasn't interested in losing close to half my chips on a possible 50/50 proposition.
Table change. First hand dealt 7,7 in the big blind. Geez. Lots of pocket pairs in half an hour! (Brett you may be right about online play!) Folded to the small blind who goes all-in with 1700. This time I am suspicious and make the call. He has A9. No aces or nines come and I'm at 6886! Still in 2nd.
Blinds at 125/250. People are starting to go all-in more making it tough to see flops with decent, but not great hands. Down to 65 players 40 minutes in. I sit in 5th now. My table of 9 now has 3 other stacks of around 6000. Good potential to get more chips, but also to lose more!
Blinds up to 150/300 with a 25 ante. Every hand is worth at least 650 if you can get some steals.
Table change. Blinds at 200/400/50 ante. Every hand worth 1050. Not much happening for me anymore! I have 5736 and sit 14th out of 43. Patience!
Ugh. Bad hand. A3 spades. I raised to 800. Re-raised by small blind (and big stack at table) to 2000. I reluctantly call. Can't get run over all day! All red on the flop with a K and a J. He raises me all-in. Fold. Down to 2686. Currently in 29th out of 36. One double up gets me back in the race.
Blinds at 300/600/50ante. Dealt 46 off suit in the big blind. One caller...everyone else folds. Free flop! 10, 6, 6 on the flop! I check, he bets 1200. I just call leaving me with 800. 4 on the turn and I put the rest in to double up to 5572! Now 19th out of 31. Average stack is 7285. Leader is at 16930.
Table change. Blinds at 400/800/75.
Dealt KQ off suit in big blind 2nd hand in. Dealer at 1787 goes all in. I call and get that money! 7609 now. 12th out of 23.
Blinds at 500/1000/100. 14th out of 20.
Ugh. The blinds just went through me and with people all-in everywhere I had to give them up. 5434 now. 16th out of 18. Tick tock.
Blinds at 600/1200/125.
Blinds at 800/1600/150. My definitive all-in approaches as the blinds near me again. :-(
Here we go! J, 10 off suit in the big blind. One guy has raised to 3200. Another (the small blind) all in with 23,000! Now or never! I call. Other guy folds. I'm up against AA and out in 14th.
Well, it was an exciting ride! Too bad I couldn't have had those awesome early hands a little later on, but then maybe I wouldn't have been in the position I was to play them!
$22 Turbo Tournament
Blinds go up every 5 minutes
Started with 1500 in chips
136 competitors
5 entries to the big tournament (2 hours away) and 6th place gets $70.
Played bad first two hands...probably shouldn't have been in the pots, but trying to make magic happen after my good fortune last night. Down to about 1300.
10 minutes in (blinds at 15/30) I get dealt AA...first to act, I just call hoping for a raise somewhere. Folds all the way around to the big blind who (thank God!) raises to 90. I take a long time, then re-raise all-in. He calls with QQ. No more queens and I'm up to 2600! Yay!
A few hands pass, but within 5 mins. I'm dealt AA again! This time I'm in the big blind. Player who is doing well with about 2000 in chips raises to 120. Folded around to me. I again take my time and then re-raise all-in. He calls with KK. No more kings and I'm up to 4600! Yay again!
Blinds 25/50. Dealt AK...its raised to 100. Everyone else folds...I call. K, blah, blah on the flop. He raises to 150. I call. nothing on the turn. He raises to 250. I re-raise all-in. He doesn't go for it, but I come away with a good pot.
Blinds 50/100. Dealt AQ of hearts. I call. Just me and one other guy. Two hearts on the flop + a king...check, check...turn is a heart! Check, check. River is a king. Check, I bet 200, he thinks for awhile, then calls. Another decent pot.
All this before the first break 20 minutes in to the tournament! Crazy. At the break I am at $5185 and in 2nd place out of 109. The leader has $5435.
Immediately after the break I laid down 10,10 to an all-in bet of 1900. Wrong? Guess, I'll never know, but wasn't interested in losing close to half my chips on a possible 50/50 proposition.
Table change. First hand dealt 7,7 in the big blind. Geez. Lots of pocket pairs in half an hour! (Brett you may be right about online play!) Folded to the small blind who goes all-in with 1700. This time I am suspicious and make the call. He has A9. No aces or nines come and I'm at 6886! Still in 2nd.
Blinds at 125/250. People are starting to go all-in more making it tough to see flops with decent, but not great hands. Down to 65 players 40 minutes in. I sit in 5th now. My table of 9 now has 3 other stacks of around 6000. Good potential to get more chips, but also to lose more!
Blinds up to 150/300 with a 25 ante. Every hand is worth at least 650 if you can get some steals.
Table change. Blinds at 200/400/50 ante. Every hand worth 1050. Not much happening for me anymore! I have 5736 and sit 14th out of 43. Patience!
Ugh. Bad hand. A3 spades. I raised to 800. Re-raised by small blind (and big stack at table) to 2000. I reluctantly call. Can't get run over all day! All red on the flop with a K and a J. He raises me all-in. Fold. Down to 2686. Currently in 29th out of 36. One double up gets me back in the race.
Blinds at 300/600/50ante. Dealt 46 off suit in the big blind. One caller...everyone else folds. Free flop! 10, 6, 6 on the flop! I check, he bets 1200. I just call leaving me with 800. 4 on the turn and I put the rest in to double up to 5572! Now 19th out of 31. Average stack is 7285. Leader is at 16930.
Table change. Blinds at 400/800/75.
Dealt KQ off suit in big blind 2nd hand in. Dealer at 1787 goes all in. I call and get that money! 7609 now. 12th out of 23.
Blinds at 500/1000/100. 14th out of 20.
Ugh. The blinds just went through me and with people all-in everywhere I had to give them up. 5434 now. 16th out of 18. Tick tock.
Blinds at 600/1200/125.
Blinds at 800/1600/150. My definitive all-in approaches as the blinds near me again. :-(
Here we go! J, 10 off suit in the big blind. One guy has raised to 3200. Another (the small blind) all in with 23,000! Now or never! I call. Other guy folds. I'm up against AA and out in 14th.
Well, it was an exciting ride! Too bad I couldn't have had those awesome early hands a little later on, but then maybe I wouldn't have been in the position I was to play them!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The Canada Cup Part 5
Tried my hand at the $55 tournament and could not get anything going. Final two hands I had AQ in both...ran in to AQ in the first one and split the pot...next hand I ran into AA. Same opponent for both.
Then gave a $5.50 tournament a shot, but again, nothing was happening. Final hand I had KJ suited and top pair after the flop. Went all in and got called by someone who had bottom pair. Looked good until the river when the other person hit trips.
This does not bode well for tonight! :-)
May try the last chance $22 tournament tomorrow.
Then gave a $5.50 tournament a shot, but again, nothing was happening. Final hand I had KJ suited and top pair after the flop. Went all in and got called by someone who had bottom pair. Looked good until the river when the other person hit trips.
This does not bode well for tonight! :-)
May try the last chance $22 tournament tomorrow.
The Canada Cup Part 4
Tournament: $5.50 on October 16th
Players: 231
Prizes Available for: The top 12
Prize: Free Entry for the top 12 to a $55 Satellite
My Finish: 23rd
Almost forgot to post about this one. This was the free entry I had won in the last post. Played well and just ran into some bad luck on my final hand. I had AK all-in and KJ called me. A jack hit and that was that.
Saturday at 4pm will probably be my last shot at the $55 tournament if I dare. There is also a $22 'last chance' qualifier on Sunday before the big tournament that guarantees at least 5 qualifying spots. But, it is a turbo tournament...blinds go up every 5 minutes as opposed to every 10 minutes in the $55 tournament. I will see how the day goes, I guess, as to whether I play or not.
PCA (Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure) qualifying has also begun. Looks like the price might be a little more to get into some of these qualifying tournaments...I don't see the freerolls/freebuys that The Canada Cup was offering.
Players: 231
Prizes Available for: The top 12
Prize: Free Entry for the top 12 to a $55 Satellite
My Finish: 23rd
Almost forgot to post about this one. This was the free entry I had won in the last post. Played well and just ran into some bad luck on my final hand. I had AK all-in and KJ called me. A jack hit and that was that.
Saturday at 4pm will probably be my last shot at the $55 tournament if I dare. There is also a $22 'last chance' qualifier on Sunday before the big tournament that guarantees at least 5 qualifying spots. But, it is a turbo tournament...blinds go up every 5 minutes as opposed to every 10 minutes in the $55 tournament. I will see how the day goes, I guess, as to whether I play or not.
PCA (Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure) qualifying has also begun. Looks like the price might be a little more to get into some of these qualifying tournaments...I don't see the freerolls/freebuys that The Canada Cup was offering.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Canada Cup Part 3
Tournament: Freebuy on October 11th
Players: 1833
Prizes Available for: The top 14
Prize: Free Entry for the top 14 to a $5.50 Satellite
My Finish: Top 14!
First of all...full disclosure here...I played in several free satellite tournaments tonight. HOWEVER, all of the ones previous to the above were during 'kids time' and making dinner (the wife was working tonight), so I was basically playing crazily and calling or going all in with insane odds while building towers with blocks! It showed, since I bowed out early in all of those. When the kids went to bed I gave this tournament a real shot and the results showed. Yes, I also got lucky on a couple of occasions, but I like to think I actually played pretty well, too! :-)
I hung on for dear life at the end, though. I was way up in chips and pretty much decided to shut it down unless I got something extra special and it almost cost me. Finished 14th out of the 14 qualifiers.
Funny enough, I have actually been considering entering a couple of $5.50 tournaments to try to get back to the $55 stage before laying down another $55 outright. So, now I can try that at least once for free. But not until probably the weekend. Life is getting in the way of poker!!! :-)
Players: 1833
Prizes Available for: The top 14
Prize: Free Entry for the top 14 to a $5.50 Satellite
My Finish: Top 14!
First of all...full disclosure here...I played in several free satellite tournaments tonight. HOWEVER, all of the ones previous to the above were during 'kids time' and making dinner (the wife was working tonight), so I was basically playing crazily and calling or going all in with insane odds while building towers with blocks! It showed, since I bowed out early in all of those. When the kids went to bed I gave this tournament a real shot and the results showed. Yes, I also got lucky on a couple of occasions, but I like to think I actually played pretty well, too! :-)
I hung on for dear life at the end, though. I was way up in chips and pretty much decided to shut it down unless I got something extra special and it almost cost me. Finished 14th out of the 14 qualifiers.
Funny enough, I have actually been considering entering a couple of $5.50 tournaments to try to get back to the $55 stage before laying down another $55 outright. So, now I can try that at least once for free. But not until probably the weekend. Life is getting in the way of poker!!! :-)
Monday, October 10, 2011
The Canada Cup Part 2
Tournament: $55 Satellite on October 10th
Players: 32
Prizes Available for: The top 4
Prize: Top 3 get free entry to the final tournament (worth $530). 4th place gets $10 (not a misprint).
My Finish: 8th!
I was cruising along in 3rd to 4th spot with 8 players left. The guy with the 2nd most chips (about double mine) goes all in before the flop. I am in the small blind and call with my QQ. He has 99. He hits another 9 on the turn. Sometimes poker isn't fair. That one hand really was a killer. If I had won it, it would have taken some really bad luck to not finish in the top 3 and move on. Why go all in with 99 there when you have the 2nd most chips and 5 people left to act behind you? Seems like a normal raise to see where you're at would suffice or even a call to try and catch a 9 on the flop...then if someone raises you all in before the flop for half your chips you can really think about whether it is worth sacrificing your 2nd place position on a pair of nines. Maybe this thinking is why I finished in 8th??? :-)
Try it again? It seems like I am super close, but maybe I've just been lucky? Friday will be the next time I'm available to try if I do go for it.
Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $329.35
Players: 32
Prizes Available for: The top 4
Prize: Top 3 get free entry to the final tournament (worth $530). 4th place gets $10 (not a misprint).
My Finish: 8th!
I was cruising along in 3rd to 4th spot with 8 players left. The guy with the 2nd most chips (about double mine) goes all in before the flop. I am in the small blind and call with my QQ. He has 99. He hits another 9 on the turn. Sometimes poker isn't fair. That one hand really was a killer. If I had won it, it would have taken some really bad luck to not finish in the top 3 and move on. Why go all in with 99 there when you have the 2nd most chips and 5 people left to act behind you? Seems like a normal raise to see where you're at would suffice or even a call to try and catch a 9 on the flop...then if someone raises you all in before the flop for half your chips you can really think about whether it is worth sacrificing your 2nd place position on a pair of nines. Maybe this thinking is why I finished in 8th??? :-)
Try it again? It seems like I am super close, but maybe I've just been lucky? Friday will be the next time I'm available to try if I do go for it.
Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $329.35
Friday, October 7, 2011
The Canada Cup
I haven't been playing any $7 games for awhile. I've been busy with the "Pokerstars Canada Cup." The main tournament is a $530 entry fee and the last 9 players left (the final table) will stop play and finish the tournament in The Bahamas in January. Flight and hotel (the Atlantis Resort in Nassau) are paid for.
Of course, I don't think I would ever pay that much for a tournament entry fee (never say never, though). So, I've been playing in the free "step" qualifiers. This is how they go...
Step 1: Freebuy Super Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 2: $5.50 Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 3: $55 Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 4: $530 Final Tournament...top 9 go to the Bahamas to win a share of $250,000
Step 1: Freebuy on October 1st
Players: 1703
Prizes Available for: The top 17
Prize: Free Entry to a $5.50 Satellite
My Finish: Top 17!
Step 2: $5.50 Satellite on October 2nd
Players: 216
Prizes Available for: The top 19
Prize: Free Entry to a $55 Satellite
My Finish: Top 19!
Step 3: $55 Satellite on October 7th
Players: 28
Prizes Available for: The top 3
Prize: Top 2 get free entry to the final tournament. 3rd place gets $340.
My Finish: 3rd!
Dear Lord I was close! (not that i won't take the $340). But, MAN I was close! Down to the final 3 and I had a guy out chipped and he was all-in before the flop. He had an A3 suited and I called him with AQ...he flops a flush! Shortly after, I was all-in with QJ vs. pocket 10s and it didn't happen for me. Oh well. I did catch some breaks here and there on the way to 3rd, so can't complain about my luck too much. Seemed like a really really loose game for only 28 players and so much on the line, though! I just kind of sat back and played nothing for a long time unless it was a premium premium hand. Everybody else seemed content to pick each other off.
Now the debate...just pony up the $55 cash for another satellite and take a stab at making it to the final tournament again? I'm tempted to do it at least once since I can use the 3rd place windfall to finance it. The $55 tournaments are twice a day on the weekends and once a day during the week. The final tournament goes on October 23rd with the final 9 players finishing the game in the Bahamas on January 9th.
Stay tuned!
Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 1
Record: 3rd place=$340
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $384.35
Of course, I don't think I would ever pay that much for a tournament entry fee (never say never, though). So, I've been playing in the free "step" qualifiers. This is how they go...
Step 1: Freebuy Super Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 2: $5.50 Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 3: $55 Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 4: $530 Final Tournament...top 9 go to the Bahamas to win a share of $250,000
Step 1: Freebuy on October 1st
Players: 1703
Prizes Available for: The top 17
Prize: Free Entry to a $5.50 Satellite
My Finish: Top 17!
Step 2: $5.50 Satellite on October 2nd
Players: 216
Prizes Available for: The top 19
Prize: Free Entry to a $55 Satellite
My Finish: Top 19!
Step 3: $55 Satellite on October 7th
Players: 28
Prizes Available for: The top 3
Prize: Top 2 get free entry to the final tournament. 3rd place gets $340.
My Finish: 3rd!
Dear Lord I was close! (not that i won't take the $340). But, MAN I was close! Down to the final 3 and I had a guy out chipped and he was all-in before the flop. He had an A3 suited and I called him with AQ...he flops a flush! Shortly after, I was all-in with QJ vs. pocket 10s and it didn't happen for me. Oh well. I did catch some breaks here and there on the way to 3rd, so can't complain about my luck too much. Seemed like a really really loose game for only 28 players and so much on the line, though! I just kind of sat back and played nothing for a long time unless it was a premium premium hand. Everybody else seemed content to pick each other off.
Now the debate...just pony up the $55 cash for another satellite and take a stab at making it to the final tournament again? I'm tempted to do it at least once since I can use the 3rd place windfall to finance it. The $55 tournaments are twice a day on the weekends and once a day during the week. The final tournament goes on October 23rd with the final 9 players finishing the game in the Bahamas on January 9th.
Stay tuned!
Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 1
Record: 3rd place=$340
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $384.35
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A win, but little else...
Was about to take home a monster pot and eliminate 2 people at once to close out a $7 game tonight, but the river crushed that and although I did still finish in the money, I really only made about $1. Looks good to add a 'W' to the record, though.
Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $44.85
Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $44.85
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