Tuesday, November 13, 2007

IP Poker Classic finish

I apologize for the late post as my tournament ended Saturday night, but we had a death in my wife's family and things have been hectic. As most of you probably know I busted out of the main event in the mid to late 30's. There were 4-5 tables left, but we were 7 handed at the time. I was a little flustered when I got bounced, and I didn't stop to count on my way out.

I have had some mixed emotions about the hand I busted out on. Let me try to set the stage first. We were at 50/200/400, and I was on a small rush after being card dead for hours and hours. I had A-J when I took down the antes and blinds to bring my stack up to $4400.00. A couple of hands later I get Pocket Queens and double up. That puts me right at $8800.00. The tournament chip leader was in the 3 seat with well over 40-50 large, and I was only one person from being the short stack at the table. The guy to my left had less than me, and everyone else was in the 18-26 thousand range.

I look down at Big Slick off on the button. everyone folds around to the 2 seat who raises it to $3800.00...around to me. I go in the tank for a second and then I say, "I have to play my rush here...I'm all in". Everyone folds around to the 2 seat. He now goes in the tank for a few minutes.

My thought process was around "Fold Equity"...I felt that I had fold equity in that situation. I was hoping he calls with A-J or A-Q...I am loving it. I figured we were in a race if he had a pocket pair, but if his PP was Jacks or less...I still had my fold equity. He had to wonder if I had a bigger pair. The more I thought about it...he did not want to see me with A-K unless he has Kings or Aces. If I double up here I am right in line with most of the players at the table with around $20,000.00 in chips. I liked my play...

...Well...He calls and tables Pocket Queens. Oh well...its the same race even if he has pocket 2's. I know he did not want to see me with Big Slick, I could see it in his mannerisms. He wanted me to have a lower pp like 10's or Jacks. The board bricks out for me...and thats a wrap.

Having talked the hand over with DirteAA, I think I should have maybe layed that one down.
I was sitting well with the chips I had, and there was more poker to be played. Did I have fold equity? The guys has queens and more chips than me. I should have put him on "The top 3" hands with the huge bet he made. I didn't have to race for my tournament life, and the 2 seat would not have been crippled if he lost...I would...and was. Oh well...

There were lots of positives that came out of this experience. I went this weekend with a goal to satellite into the main event and then win. I didn't win, but I did put myself in a position to win as I won the satellite. There were 4 of us who won. I won the seat with two older gentlemen and a young Internet pro from Ole Miss that is ranked #1 in the state of Mississippi on poketfives.com.Martin Zetner...His screen name is mmzetner.

It is kind of amazing, but I want to give a congratulations to Tim "TK" Miles from Tallahassee, Fl. TK snapped off the main event. He was at my table for the first 3 hours and we talked about the site fro awhile. Great player...great guy (Don't tell him I said that though...he prides himself on being a hardass HaHaHaHaha) ...No seriously...Congrats brother!!!! YOU ARE THE MAN!!!

"Who has a safety deposit box full of... money and six passports and a gun? Who has a bank account number in their hip? I come in here, and the first thing I'm doing is I'm catching the sightlines and looking for an exit. I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab of the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that? How can I know that and not know who I am?" Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in "The Bourne Identity"

4 comments:

Reid said...

I absolutely think you made the correct move by pushing AK. With an M hovering around 9, a timely double-up puts you in contention for the final table. That's what you're aiming for. With close to 20k, you gain plenty of latitude to play (rather than just being forced to fold or shove). The fold equity you gain by pushing is an added bonus. With an over-raise in front of you, you can be pretty certain you're not against AA or KK because those hands want action, especially in the later stages of a tourney. The raise--to me--looks like a scared bet, so your all-in move has an even better chance of taking it down pre-flop. And with the decision back on your opponent, he has to now decide if he is dominated in the face of your strong move, or if he wants to race. Both scenarios seem unfavorable for him. Just my two cents.

Either way it's shove or fold. I believe you made the right decision. When it's late in a tourney, I err on the side of aggression because it gives me multiple ways to win the pot.

Check this out: http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/14805

Bad Beet said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bad Beet said...

Tell DirteAA this is big tourney poker not 5- 10 cent no limit cash game. You been card dead that long and your going to lay down AK ,dont think so.

GeneD said...

Sorry Man...DirteAA is one of the most talented and successful players I know. I respect his opinion, and he was just giving me feedback. a coin flip...is a coin flip...is a coin flip. I just thank god that I have talented people like him, Virge and Lusky to bounce things off of...not leaving anyone out as there are 20-30 people I talk to daily that I value thier opinions also...
GeneD