If I am ever going to win a bigger than one day tournament, I will look back at the past two days and recall just what it took for Gavin Smith to win Fallsview's $2,500 event this morning.
Day two play began at noon on January 11. By late afternoon, the field was down to two tables, and by mid evening, the final table was set.
However, in a battle of epic proportions, the table remained active for around ten hours of play, and the event did not actually end till 7.30 AM this morning, January 12, when Gavin Smith finally bested Narinder Khasria.
Narinder, Gavin, and (Mak) Siamak Soleimanian, duelled three handed for over five hours - quite extraordinary, and then heads up play between Gavin and Narinder lasted around two and half hours.
The chip stacks ebbed and flowed and as a spectator it was utterly compelling. In the interests of integrity of reporting I must confess I vacated the playing area at 6 AM - much as I wanted to see it till the end, I could not keep my eyes open any longer.
There were many moments of high drama - especially when it got three handed, after Mark Zajdner's pocket kings were outflopped by Gavin Smith's pocket 4's.
If not for two tough beats, Mak might well be the champion and the toast of the Fallsview Poker room. He had qualified near the bottom of the list for day 2 (proving my position was not as ridiculous as it seemed) and worked his way all the way to the final table, where a key showdown hand with his quad sixes propelled him to the chip lead.
Gavin Smith was down to a relatively short stack when he shoved all in from the button with KJ offsuited, and Mak called with AQ suited. The river spiked a king though, and Gavin survived and revived his chances.
On Mak's exit hand, his stack was now covered by Gavin's when they got it all in again. This time Gavin had A10 and Mak had AK and a ten hit the board and Mak hit the rail.
Narinder had his own dramatics on a couple of occasions. He doubled up on Gavin early in heads up when HIS 4's flopped a set and beat Gavin's pocket 9's.
Later, he was all in again with 107 suited against AJ suited. The board had KJ8A9 and the river completed a gut shot straight for Narinder, besting Gavin's top two pair, and extending the play once again during heads up.
The most spectactular exit was probably perpetrated on Aadam Daya (5th) by Narinder. Short stacked Aadam shoved from the button with KQ offsuit. Narinder looked down at his cards in the big blind and found two aces ! Saying, "well I guess I have to call", he flipped open his aces to a forlorn looking Aadam.
The railbirds all stand and crane their necks in unison whenever there is a final table all-in confrontation, and what a treat they got here.
The flop came J104 rainbow, breathing life into Aadam's dominated KQ as now he had an open ended straight draw.
Sure enough, the next card was an ace on the turn, converting the losing hand into a Broadway straight, while improving Narinder's hand to three aces.
The river card was an unbelievable fourth ace, and the crowd roared and groaned as Aadam went from hero to zero in a few short seconds, and Narinder was joyously smiling from ear to ear, as his quad aces took down the pot and eliminated Aadam.
The top five places were as follows :
1st Gavin Smith $188,743
2nd Narinder Khasria $94,371
3rd Siamak Soleimanian $47,186
4th Mark Zajdner $37,749
5th Aadam Daya $25,795
It is clear luck plays a major part in the outcome of a poker tournament - everyone in the late stages of a tournament has won hands they were "supposed to lose" - ie they were in tough against an opponent's hand with better odds to win, but the lesser hand prevailed.
In this case, each player of the final four had more than one such hand - so one could argue the luck evened out.
Sometimes the luck factor is not so relevant on a hand - the pot may be small, or neither player maybe be facing elimination if the result goes against him.
However, it certainly seemed like the high luck factor hands had lots of drama and import when they came up at this final table.
For sure, the most experienced poker player won in the end - but he would be the first to admit, any of the final three could have won this thing, and had their chances.
They all played well, and they deserve their big payday.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The gods have spoken
The gods have spoken. No more poker tournaments at Fallsview this week for me. I decided to parlay my table winnings back into the dreaded satellites for the $5,000 Main Event.
I made it to Stage 3 whereby the top two places (from ten) win an entry. We got down to four good players – Matt, in seat 8, Vince in seat 2, me in seat 4, and Steve in seat 6.
This one went quite a bit longer than my earlier experiences, we got through blinds as high as $300/$600/$100 with only $20,000 chips in play.
I was able to double up off Vince at a key point when he shoved me all in with an aggressive suited 107 in the small blind, after the other two had folded. I was looking at A5 suited.
I figured Vince thought I was pretty tight, having laid down an AK pre flop earlier when the action got too hot. (That was a good laydown insomuch as I was up against 99 and KK, but bad insomuch as the flop contained an Ace and I could have taken out two players at that time – including Matt – who ended up being one of the two winners)
I was pretty sure he would steal from me with a wide range of hands. Feeling fatalistic, I called, and was gratified to see I had a reasonable shot against 107. We were both suited in diamonds.
The flop included a 98, so now Vince was looking to hit an open ended straight, but nothing came, and I survived.
I needed that double up and I began to play some real poker with more chips at my disposal, and accumulated some more. I may even have been chip leader when I picked up JJ on the dealer button with the blinds $200/$400/$75.
I raised to $1,400 and Matt shoved all in from the big blind. He had about $2,000 chips fewer than I did. Seemed like an automatic call from me, so I did. He turned over A2 offsuit, so my pair looked good.
Until the flop was Ace 2 Ace !! That’s right, Matt flopped a full house from nowhere. And to make the story even more spectacular, an Ace came on the river, and his quad Aces beat my full house of Aces and Jacks.
What a spectacular hand – but not for me. Had I won the hand, for sure I win my entry into tomorrow's main event.
I hung in for several more orbits, but had to make a move soon with the blinds so big. I went out fourth when Steve’s pocket 4’s bested my Q8 offsuit when I was in the big blind.
That left three roughly even stacks till Steve and Vince mixed things up with an open-ended straight draw for Vince against bottom pair for Steve. When the board ran dry, Vince joined me on the rail. He’s going back in for one more crack at it, but not me - there will be plenty of tourneys in my future.
I have been railbirding a bit at the $2,500 tournament - which is down to only two tables now. Continuing where he left off last night, Gavin Smith (now from Las Vegas but originally a Guelph lad) is steam rolling over his table and has a huge stack.
I made it to Stage 3 whereby the top two places (from ten) win an entry. We got down to four good players – Matt, in seat 8, Vince in seat 2, me in seat 4, and Steve in seat 6.
This one went quite a bit longer than my earlier experiences, we got through blinds as high as $300/$600/$100 with only $20,000 chips in play.
I was able to double up off Vince at a key point when he shoved me all in with an aggressive suited 107 in the small blind, after the other two had folded. I was looking at A5 suited.
I figured Vince thought I was pretty tight, having laid down an AK pre flop earlier when the action got too hot. (That was a good laydown insomuch as I was up against 99 and KK, but bad insomuch as the flop contained an Ace and I could have taken out two players at that time – including Matt – who ended up being one of the two winners)
I was pretty sure he would steal from me with a wide range of hands. Feeling fatalistic, I called, and was gratified to see I had a reasonable shot against 107. We were both suited in diamonds.
The flop included a 98, so now Vince was looking to hit an open ended straight, but nothing came, and I survived.
I needed that double up and I began to play some real poker with more chips at my disposal, and accumulated some more. I may even have been chip leader when I picked up JJ on the dealer button with the blinds $200/$400/$75.
I raised to $1,400 and Matt shoved all in from the big blind. He had about $2,000 chips fewer than I did. Seemed like an automatic call from me, so I did. He turned over A2 offsuit, so my pair looked good.
Until the flop was Ace 2 Ace !! That’s right, Matt flopped a full house from nowhere. And to make the story even more spectacular, an Ace came on the river, and his quad Aces beat my full house of Aces and Jacks.
What a spectacular hand – but not for me. Had I won the hand, for sure I win my entry into tomorrow's main event.
I hung in for several more orbits, but had to make a move soon with the blinds so big. I went out fourth when Steve’s pocket 4’s bested my Q8 offsuit when I was in the big blind.
That left three roughly even stacks till Steve and Vince mixed things up with an open-ended straight draw for Vince against bottom pair for Steve. When the board ran dry, Vince joined me on the rail. He’s going back in for one more crack at it, but not me - there will be plenty of tourneys in my future.
I have been railbirding a bit at the $2,500 tournament - which is down to only two tables now. Continuing where he left off last night, Gavin Smith (now from Las Vegas but originally a Guelph lad) is steam rolling over his table and has a huge stack.
No Miracle at the Falls
Day two of a tournament is so cool. Everyone who comes back to play is a survivor and a "winner", and the cameraderie is palpable.
As I suspected, I was the absolute lowest qualifier, and would have to shove all in with almost any cards in the beginning.
The stars were giving off lots of good signs though. First good omen was when I was given the dealer's button to start the day. This meant I would not have to post blinds for a whole orbit. Still, with antes at $300 and blinds a $800/$1,600 I could not be choosy with my hand selection.
Second good omen was the very first hand I picked up premium cards with AK offsuit. All folded to me, and I shoved all in of course. Both the small and the big blinds called me. They then checked down the flop, turn, and river. The board was an unfortunate 88JJ4 - the two pairs negating the advantage my king kicker had for my Ace.
This meant instead of quadrupling my stack on the very first hand, I "only" doubled up. Still, a very good start - bit sort of like doubling down and getting a 21 at Blackjack and finding out declarer matches your result.
The very next hand I picked up a pair of 5's one off the dealer button. Again, a very good scenario for me. I plan to shove and now my modest stack is big enough that I may not be an automatic call by the blinds.
However, the guy on my right raised. Hoping he had two picture cards, or connectors (but no pair unless it was lower) I raised all in.
Yes, every one else folded and he showed KQ offsuit - which was about as good as I could expect from my point of view.
The whole table was rooting for me as the flop yielded 993 and I was ahead with two pairs, on my way to a semi-playable stack.
But the next card was a dagger in my heart - a king; and for good measure, the death blow on the river (overkill - I was already beaten) was a queen. Off to the rail I went in 57th spot and to a round of applause from the fun bunch of players remaining in the room.
I decided to parlay my winnings at last night's funky Ultimate Poker table game into the Satellites for a last kick at qualifying for the $5,000 entry. That would be a story too !
Anyway, so far so good, and the Stage 3 satellite is starting shortly. The top two players will win their entry. Yes it's a turkey shoot but hell I really want to play in the main event - but I cannot justify yet buying an entry outright.
As I suspected, I was the absolute lowest qualifier, and would have to shove all in with almost any cards in the beginning.
The stars were giving off lots of good signs though. First good omen was when I was given the dealer's button to start the day. This meant I would not have to post blinds for a whole orbit. Still, with antes at $300 and blinds a $800/$1,600 I could not be choosy with my hand selection.
Second good omen was the very first hand I picked up premium cards with AK offsuit. All folded to me, and I shoved all in of course. Both the small and the big blinds called me. They then checked down the flop, turn, and river. The board was an unfortunate 88JJ4 - the two pairs negating the advantage my king kicker had for my Ace.
This meant instead of quadrupling my stack on the very first hand, I "only" doubled up. Still, a very good start - bit sort of like doubling down and getting a 21 at Blackjack and finding out declarer matches your result.
The very next hand I picked up a pair of 5's one off the dealer button. Again, a very good scenario for me. I plan to shove and now my modest stack is big enough that I may not be an automatic call by the blinds.
However, the guy on my right raised. Hoping he had two picture cards, or connectors (but no pair unless it was lower) I raised all in.
Yes, every one else folded and he showed KQ offsuit - which was about as good as I could expect from my point of view.
The whole table was rooting for me as the flop yielded 993 and I was ahead with two pairs, on my way to a semi-playable stack.
But the next card was a dagger in my heart - a king; and for good measure, the death blow on the river (overkill - I was already beaten) was a queen. Off to the rail I went in 57th spot and to a round of applause from the fun bunch of players remaining in the room.
I decided to parlay my winnings at last night's funky Ultimate Poker table game into the Satellites for a last kick at qualifying for the $5,000 entry. That would be a story too !
Anyway, so far so good, and the Stage 3 satellite is starting shortly. The top two players will win their entry. Yes it's a turkey shoot but hell I really want to play in the main event - but I cannot justify yet buying an entry outright.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Hanging in by my finger nails at Fallsview
Well, we just finished up more than eleven hours of play in the $2,500 entry event. The field has been whittled down to 58 players from an original 276. I did not stick around to find out my exact placement, but I would hazard I am between 55th and 58th -lol.
Just had absolutely no cards to work with the past few hours. Other than that I really enjoyed my table. Canadian superstar Gavin Smith was putting on a clinic in seat 5 (I was in seat 9) and amassing a large bouquet of chips.
More importantly, he was witty, sharp, down to earth, and a helluva player to boot. There was a fair amount of idolisation going on at the table, but he handled it real well.
For the first five hours or so I was at a very tough table. On my right was Vinnie Lozon, fresh off a 4th place finish in the $1,000 event (cashing $16,238) and on my left was Jason X, who recently cashed $32,000 in a World Poker Tour event.
As I left the playing area I noted that 6 of our original ten were still in the event, and it would have been 7, but Josh was busted with about five minutes to go.
Considering the field is down to around 20% of its original number, for 60% of our table to survive beats the odds.
Vinnie was still in form and amassed over $60,000 chips pretty quickly. Being surrounded by good players in dominating form made my survival a bit sweeter I suppose - but I feel that if I had had any cards at all the past few hours, or maybe an easier draw (if there was one) I may have gone even deeper.
My goal was to cash, since even 27th pays $9,574.
I have some hands, but I don't feel like hashing them right now. I have only a couple of regrets. Once I could have taken down a lot of dead money by executing a squeeze play in the small blind with A9 suited. Had I bet all in at my turn pre flop, I would likely have induced everyone to fold. There were five others in this pot, which is pretty unusual. Most pots end up heads up - or at most three players.
Another time, I gave a second life to Farhad Husaini (who happened to come second in the $1,000 event, winning $40,595)
Just before the dinner break he re-raised my $2,200 to $6,700 (all in for Farhad). I was feeling good, as I had been on a mild heater, winning three pots in a row, including two showdowns.
I justifed calling his all in bet to myself, and saw I was drawing to only two outs, as he had JJ and I had 88.
No miracles here for me,and I donated an extra $4,500 to Farhad. He is a very good player, so maybe he did not need "my help", but I see he is still in the event.
I don't think I had a call - if he had a pair, it was for sure higher than mine - I gambled he was going all in with "paint" - two picture cards - and if we had a "race" that my pair would stand up. No need for me to gamble at that time though.
But I will shove all in without a second's thought if I get 88 early tomorrow.
Anyway, we resume at noon on Monday. For those of you who don't really understand poker, but who are rooting for me - I truly thank you for your interest and support, but I warn you I will likely be eliminated within 20 minutes tomorrow - barring miracles - which of course, I will visualize all night and play for with vim and vigour when the time comes.
Just had absolutely no cards to work with the past few hours. Other than that I really enjoyed my table. Canadian superstar Gavin Smith was putting on a clinic in seat 5 (I was in seat 9) and amassing a large bouquet of chips.
More importantly, he was witty, sharp, down to earth, and a helluva player to boot. There was a fair amount of idolisation going on at the table, but he handled it real well.
For the first five hours or so I was at a very tough table. On my right was Vinnie Lozon, fresh off a 4th place finish in the $1,000 event (cashing $16,238) and on my left was Jason X, who recently cashed $32,000 in a World Poker Tour event.
As I left the playing area I noted that 6 of our original ten were still in the event, and it would have been 7, but Josh was busted with about five minutes to go.
Considering the field is down to around 20% of its original number, for 60% of our table to survive beats the odds.
Vinnie was still in form and amassed over $60,000 chips pretty quickly. Being surrounded by good players in dominating form made my survival a bit sweeter I suppose - but I feel that if I had had any cards at all the past few hours, or maybe an easier draw (if there was one) I may have gone even deeper.
My goal was to cash, since even 27th pays $9,574.
I have some hands, but I don't feel like hashing them right now. I have only a couple of regrets. Once I could have taken down a lot of dead money by executing a squeeze play in the small blind with A9 suited. Had I bet all in at my turn pre flop, I would likely have induced everyone to fold. There were five others in this pot, which is pretty unusual. Most pots end up heads up - or at most three players.
Another time, I gave a second life to Farhad Husaini (who happened to come second in the $1,000 event, winning $40,595)
Just before the dinner break he re-raised my $2,200 to $6,700 (all in for Farhad). I was feeling good, as I had been on a mild heater, winning three pots in a row, including two showdowns.
I justifed calling his all in bet to myself, and saw I was drawing to only two outs, as he had JJ and I had 88.
No miracles here for me,and I donated an extra $4,500 to Farhad. He is a very good player, so maybe he did not need "my help", but I see he is still in the event.
I don't think I had a call - if he had a pair, it was for sure higher than mine - I gambled he was going all in with "paint" - two picture cards - and if we had a "race" that my pair would stand up. No need for me to gamble at that time though.
But I will shove all in without a second's thought if I get 88 early tomorrow.
Anyway, we resume at noon on Monday. For those of you who don't really understand poker, but who are rooting for me - I truly thank you for your interest and support, but I warn you I will likely be eliminated within 20 minutes tomorrow - barring miracles - which of course, I will visualize all night and play for with vim and vigour when the time comes.
Bad beat at blackjack
Last night I was trying to kill time constructively - I didn't want to do anything "heavy", but I didn't want to idle in my room either. There's only so many Dexter episodes I can watch at one time.
So I played a shoe of blackjack here and there; some 5 cent Spin Spoker on the slots; kibitzed with some of the players in the poker room who I have met over the past few days, and tried to stay out of trouble.
Blackjack was mixed. I would win a few hundred, stop, play later, lose a few hundred, and never broke out much in either direction. Towards the end of the evening, though, the losing sessions outnumbered the winning ones.
Towards the end of the evening, playing heads up against the dealer, I felt it necessary to spread to three hands, as this was about the only tool in my arsenal I had left at this tough table.
My seat one was dealt two Aces; seat two was dealt 99 for 18; and seat 3 was dealt K10 for a solid 20.
$100 on each hand, I was not charmed to see the dealer show an Ace. My first decision was whether or not to take an insurance bet against the dealer having a blackjack.
I decided no insurance. Declarer checked for a picture card, and 'no one home', we were good.
Next decision was whether or not I should split the Aces. Almost every one I have ever played with would think I am nuts for even thinking I had a decision here - they view the split as automatic, but I don't.
Having said that, I decided to split - hoping at least one of the two hands would be a winner.
This brought my action on this single deal up to $400. Joy of joys, the first Ace begat a Jack, and the second Ace begat a queen for two solid twenty ones.
So to summarise, I have four $100 hands face up on the table against the dealer showing an Ace but no blackjack.
I have K10 99 AQ AJ
The dealer turned over a four to go with his Ace. In a second, joy turned to incredulity when the next card out was a six, giving him an in-your-face twenty one of his own.
Lose $200. Next victim please !
Before he could scoop the cards away for the next deal, I said "Wait! Let me take a picture with my camera phone!"
Of course, the supe wouldn't let me, and anyway, I had no intentions of doing so - I just needed to vent in some way - this seemed healthier than slamming the table or throwing my drink at the poor dealer.
I played a few more hands, but I was too foggy - I really did not know how to beat this table - I had given it my best, and my best wasn't enough. I declared temporary defeat, and went to bed. (Better to lose a skirmish, but win the war later)
So I played a shoe of blackjack here and there; some 5 cent Spin Spoker on the slots; kibitzed with some of the players in the poker room who I have met over the past few days, and tried to stay out of trouble.
Blackjack was mixed. I would win a few hundred, stop, play later, lose a few hundred, and never broke out much in either direction. Towards the end of the evening, though, the losing sessions outnumbered the winning ones.
Towards the end of the evening, playing heads up against the dealer, I felt it necessary to spread to three hands, as this was about the only tool in my arsenal I had left at this tough table.
My seat one was dealt two Aces; seat two was dealt 99 for 18; and seat 3 was dealt K10 for a solid 20.
$100 on each hand, I was not charmed to see the dealer show an Ace. My first decision was whether or not to take an insurance bet against the dealer having a blackjack.
I decided no insurance. Declarer checked for a picture card, and 'no one home', we were good.
Next decision was whether or not I should split the Aces. Almost every one I have ever played with would think I am nuts for even thinking I had a decision here - they view the split as automatic, but I don't.
Having said that, I decided to split - hoping at least one of the two hands would be a winner.
This brought my action on this single deal up to $400. Joy of joys, the first Ace begat a Jack, and the second Ace begat a queen for two solid twenty ones.
So to summarise, I have four $100 hands face up on the table against the dealer showing an Ace but no blackjack.
I have K10 99 AQ AJ
The dealer turned over a four to go with his Ace. In a second, joy turned to incredulity when the next card out was a six, giving him an in-your-face twenty one of his own.
Lose $200. Next victim please !
Before he could scoop the cards away for the next deal, I said "Wait! Let me take a picture with my camera phone!"
Of course, the supe wouldn't let me, and anyway, I had no intentions of doing so - I just needed to vent in some way - this seemed healthier than slamming the table or throwing my drink at the poor dealer.
I played a few more hands, but I was too foggy - I really did not know how to beat this table - I had given it my best, and my best wasn't enough. I declared temporary defeat, and went to bed. (Better to lose a skirmish, but win the war later)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Fallsview follies
Fallsview’s Poker Room is firing on all cylinders now, that’s for sure. After a rocky start to the weekend yesterday, the Poker Room staff righted all its wrongs, and the room is crackling with every table filled to the brim, and the familiar clicking sound of hundreds of chips working through the knuckles of wannabe poker gods.
Downstairs in the Grand Ballroom, the $1,000 tournament is down to around 15 players or so, after starting with 300. From initial stack sizes of only $5,000, the remaining players are coping with antes of $500, and blinds of $3,000 and $6,000.
If I could change one thing, I would schedule the satellites to be played right inside the tournament area – among several benefits this would free up a couple of much needed poker tables and dealers for the main poker room.
This morning I staked a placed at a $5/$5 table, and as the casino filled up I realized to leave the table was to spell the end of my day’s poker – since the waiting lists for a seat are so long. So I played many hands against many different players over the course of seven hours or so.
Four of us were constants, with the remaining seats filled up by weekend warriors who brought their few hundred and a hope to the table, and left either after booking a small win, or more likely with their tail between their legs.
Not that I played so great – but I do have staying power!
In the early moments of our game, I played way too loose and paid off a couple of big pots to guys who never met a large bet they couldn’t call.
After that I played better it seemed, though always room for improvement. I think my post flop play could have been better and more sophisticated – but I wanted to keep my game more in a tourney mode – where you don’t always have that luxury, as there survival, chip retention, and of course chip accumulation are the names of the game.
A popular young guy in a Montreal Canadians Hockey Shirt was doing well in seat 4. He picked up pocket cowboys (KK) sitting in the hijack seat. (To the right of the dealer button)
Sitting in third position, a dapper dude with a red beard opened for $25. Loose Lee in Seat 1 called, and Montreal re-raised to $80. Dapper dude (duh that’s me of course) called as did Loose Lee.
The flop was 6H 4S 5H.
Dapper dude checked, Loose Lee checked and Montreal bet out $210. The dude folded with some reluctance, and Loose Lee went into the tank.
Some banter ensued, whereby Montreal determined that Lee was sitting on a pair. It was clearly not Aces, so Montreal knew he had Lee dominated. In an effort to extract some value from his cowboys, he offered to Lee “ If you call I will check it down”.
Lee agreed readily, and they both flipped over their cards. Indeed, Montreal’s KK dominated Lee’s QQ.
The turn was the 2 of clubs, but the river was the Queen of hearts !
Loose Lee scooped the $470 pot, and Montreal was in a mild state of shock.
Immediately the other players began to razz Montreal about what he had done. Had he kept quiet, he would either have taken the pot down then and there, or he could have shoved his whole stack in after the turn, and there is a pretty good chance Lee would have folded.
To his credit, Montreal did not tilt after that – took his beating, and played on with a smile and a winning attitude. (Later, we introduced ourselves to each other. 'Montreal' is Shane Ross, from Sherbrooke)
Queens caused a lot of excitement at my table today. Glen to my immediate right was a solid player who built up his initial $500 to well over $1,000 with smart play. While I was on a lunch break, he lost $800 of it to Loose Lee when Glen also had kings over Lee’s queens.
The board showed a king on the turn and all the money went in the middle, but Lee ended up with a Broadway Straight, and Glen ended up with major stack damage. (It doesn’t sound like much of a game - $5/$5, but the pots here can get quite substantial when the stars align well.)
Across from me in Seat 6 was Farmer Joe, a jovial chap who entered 60% of all the pots it seemed. And he liked to see each hand to the end.
I was in mid position (seat 10) with AK offsuit, and I raised to $30. There were two callers, including the Farmer, in the Big Blind.
The flop was 8 5 8 rainbow.
No one even sniffed at it, and the betting was checked all around.
The next card was another 5, no flush draws evident.
I took a stab at the pot with a $65 bet.
Seat one folded, and the Farmer looked down at his KQ unsuited, and was still as in love with these cards as the moment he first picked them up.
He called, of course (or there would be no story, not because it was a logical act)
The river was a queen.
At least he had the sense/decency to check the river, as did I.
My hand was two pairs (showing on the board) with an Ace kicker.
I ws pretty sure this would be a split pot – Farmer Joe must have an Ace too.
But no, to the amusement and astonishment of all at the table, he turned over his beloved KQ, and scooped the $230 pot.
His only chance with his call was a rivered queen – three outs basically. So we all realized if he will call my $65 bet, he will call almost anything.
I am on a break. I put my name on a new list; checked out the tournament (visualizing and thinking positively for my turn tomorrow); had an early dinner and nap, and now I head down to continue the battle. It's all good !
Downstairs in the Grand Ballroom, the $1,000 tournament is down to around 15 players or so, after starting with 300. From initial stack sizes of only $5,000, the remaining players are coping with antes of $500, and blinds of $3,000 and $6,000.
If I could change one thing, I would schedule the satellites to be played right inside the tournament area – among several benefits this would free up a couple of much needed poker tables and dealers for the main poker room.
This morning I staked a placed at a $5/$5 table, and as the casino filled up I realized to leave the table was to spell the end of my day’s poker – since the waiting lists for a seat are so long. So I played many hands against many different players over the course of seven hours or so.
Four of us were constants, with the remaining seats filled up by weekend warriors who brought their few hundred and a hope to the table, and left either after booking a small win, or more likely with their tail between their legs.
Not that I played so great – but I do have staying power!
In the early moments of our game, I played way too loose and paid off a couple of big pots to guys who never met a large bet they couldn’t call.
After that I played better it seemed, though always room for improvement. I think my post flop play could have been better and more sophisticated – but I wanted to keep my game more in a tourney mode – where you don’t always have that luxury, as there survival, chip retention, and of course chip accumulation are the names of the game.
A popular young guy in a Montreal Canadians Hockey Shirt was doing well in seat 4. He picked up pocket cowboys (KK) sitting in the hijack seat. (To the right of the dealer button)
Sitting in third position, a dapper dude with a red beard opened for $25. Loose Lee in Seat 1 called, and Montreal re-raised to $80. Dapper dude (duh that’s me of course) called as did Loose Lee.
The flop was 6H 4S 5H.
Dapper dude checked, Loose Lee checked and Montreal bet out $210. The dude folded with some reluctance, and Loose Lee went into the tank.
Some banter ensued, whereby Montreal determined that Lee was sitting on a pair. It was clearly not Aces, so Montreal knew he had Lee dominated. In an effort to extract some value from his cowboys, he offered to Lee “ If you call I will check it down”.
Lee agreed readily, and they both flipped over their cards. Indeed, Montreal’s KK dominated Lee’s QQ.
The turn was the 2 of clubs, but the river was the Queen of hearts !
Loose Lee scooped the $470 pot, and Montreal was in a mild state of shock.
Immediately the other players began to razz Montreal about what he had done. Had he kept quiet, he would either have taken the pot down then and there, or he could have shoved his whole stack in after the turn, and there is a pretty good chance Lee would have folded.
To his credit, Montreal did not tilt after that – took his beating, and played on with a smile and a winning attitude. (Later, we introduced ourselves to each other. 'Montreal' is Shane Ross, from Sherbrooke)
Queens caused a lot of excitement at my table today. Glen to my immediate right was a solid player who built up his initial $500 to well over $1,000 with smart play. While I was on a lunch break, he lost $800 of it to Loose Lee when Glen also had kings over Lee’s queens.
The board showed a king on the turn and all the money went in the middle, but Lee ended up with a Broadway Straight, and Glen ended up with major stack damage. (It doesn’t sound like much of a game - $5/$5, but the pots here can get quite substantial when the stars align well.)
Across from me in Seat 6 was Farmer Joe, a jovial chap who entered 60% of all the pots it seemed. And he liked to see each hand to the end.
I was in mid position (seat 10) with AK offsuit, and I raised to $30. There were two callers, including the Farmer, in the Big Blind.
The flop was 8 5 8 rainbow.
No one even sniffed at it, and the betting was checked all around.
The next card was another 5, no flush draws evident.
I took a stab at the pot with a $65 bet.
Seat one folded, and the Farmer looked down at his KQ unsuited, and was still as in love with these cards as the moment he first picked them up.
He called, of course (or there would be no story, not because it was a logical act)
The river was a queen.
At least he had the sense/decency to check the river, as did I.
My hand was two pairs (showing on the board) with an Ace kicker.
I ws pretty sure this would be a split pot – Farmer Joe must have an Ace too.
But no, to the amusement and astonishment of all at the table, he turned over his beloved KQ, and scooped the $230 pot.
His only chance with his call was a rivered queen – three outs basically. So we all realized if he will call my $65 bet, he will call almost anything.
I am on a break. I put my name on a new list; checked out the tournament (visualizing and thinking positively for my turn tomorrow); had an early dinner and nap, and now I head down to continue the battle. It's all good !
Friday, January 8, 2010
No more satellites for me
Today I woke up with a positive attitude about NOT having an entry to the $1,000 event. Maybe this meant the field for the satellites would be weaker than usual, as the better players will be in the tournament.
I was up before 8 AM but not much was stirring in the poker room. Only three open tables, but already a wait list. By noon, the wait list was several hours long, but still only five tables in play.
Finally, around 2.30 pm, they set up a table for the Step 3 Satellite. First place winning a $5,000 entry, and second and third winning a $2,500 entry.
Although we began with $2,000 in chips (an improvement over the $1,500 we got in the earlier stages) it is still a bit of a turkey shoot. Randomness and luck play too large a role for these kind of prizes I think. With $10,000 in prizes on the line and only 1 table in play, why does the structure have to be such that it will be over in 1.5 to 2 hours?
Within an hour the blinds were $100/$200 and I picked up 99 in mid position. My stack was less than when I began ($1,525) and somewhat below average size of $2,500, as two players had already been eliminated.
To play any pot necessitated a raise – to around $600. So the moment you decide to open with a hand, you are now almost committed to the pot and hence are putting your event on the line.
Not really enjoyable poker but it is the nature of the beast, and it is the same for all of us.
So I raised to $600 and the big blind called. He had been deep stack till the previous hand, where he had lost around $2,000 by calling an all-in river bet from a shorter stack on a gross misread.
The flop was K74 rainbow. The BB checked to me. I had about $1,000 left. With all these considerations, what should I do? Should I try to check the hand down to the river? Should I bet? Mark you, any bet by me pot commits me, if I am not already pot committed.
Anyhow, I bet $400, and the BB raised for the rest of his chips to $850 total. I called, and turned slightly green when he turned over a starting pair of sevens, giving him a flopped set, and me looking for two outs (specifically either 9) to win the hand.
My fairy godmother went MIA and I lost the pot, and a few hands later went out with another player to the same guy who splayed a full house of Aces and Kings on the table, handily beating my two pairs of Aces and Kings with a Queen kicker.
Considering the entry to this satellite was “worth” a cool $1,050, I really did not feel I got my money’s worth from the experience. Most likely, had I been able to buy into the $1,000 entry event, I would have lasted much longer than an hour, for no other reason than a slower blind structure, and a much larger starting stack size.
Meanwhile, the $1,000 event is under way - with a maxed out field of 300 players, and first place a cool $81,188.
Based on our observations yesterday and today, Dan and I have already decided not to try to win any more Satellites. Instead we will focus on cash games and if I get hot enough, I can subsidize the cost of my entry fee into one of the two remaining events.
I was up before 8 AM but not much was stirring in the poker room. Only three open tables, but already a wait list. By noon, the wait list was several hours long, but still only five tables in play.
Finally, around 2.30 pm, they set up a table for the Step 3 Satellite. First place winning a $5,000 entry, and second and third winning a $2,500 entry.
Although we began with $2,000 in chips (an improvement over the $1,500 we got in the earlier stages) it is still a bit of a turkey shoot. Randomness and luck play too large a role for these kind of prizes I think. With $10,000 in prizes on the line and only 1 table in play, why does the structure have to be such that it will be over in 1.5 to 2 hours?
Within an hour the blinds were $100/$200 and I picked up 99 in mid position. My stack was less than when I began ($1,525) and somewhat below average size of $2,500, as two players had already been eliminated.
To play any pot necessitated a raise – to around $600. So the moment you decide to open with a hand, you are now almost committed to the pot and hence are putting your event on the line.
Not really enjoyable poker but it is the nature of the beast, and it is the same for all of us.
So I raised to $600 and the big blind called. He had been deep stack till the previous hand, where he had lost around $2,000 by calling an all-in river bet from a shorter stack on a gross misread.
The flop was K74 rainbow. The BB checked to me. I had about $1,000 left. With all these considerations, what should I do? Should I try to check the hand down to the river? Should I bet? Mark you, any bet by me pot commits me, if I am not already pot committed.
Anyhow, I bet $400, and the BB raised for the rest of his chips to $850 total. I called, and turned slightly green when he turned over a starting pair of sevens, giving him a flopped set, and me looking for two outs (specifically either 9) to win the hand.
My fairy godmother went MIA and I lost the pot, and a few hands later went out with another player to the same guy who splayed a full house of Aces and Kings on the table, handily beating my two pairs of Aces and Kings with a Queen kicker.
Considering the entry to this satellite was “worth” a cool $1,050, I really did not feel I got my money’s worth from the experience. Most likely, had I been able to buy into the $1,000 entry event, I would have lasted much longer than an hour, for no other reason than a slower blind structure, and a much larger starting stack size.
Meanwhile, the $1,000 event is under way - with a maxed out field of 300 players, and first place a cool $81,188.
Based on our observations yesterday and today, Dan and I have already decided not to try to win any more Satellites. Instead we will focus on cash games and if I get hot enough, I can subsidize the cost of my entry fee into one of the two remaining events.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Fallsview warm-up
Today, January 7, is the day before the big poker tournament starts here at Fallsview, Niagara Falls, Canada.
There will be three events, maximum field of 300 players in each, with entry fees of $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000.
Daniel Korbel and I arrived hoping to qualify (or worse case, buy an entry) for the first event - the $1,000 buy-in, only to find this event has been sold out for a couple of weeks. Jeesh, I was here a few weeks ago - I coulda shoulda bought several entries.
Now entrepreneurial types are going around selling entries at around $1,400 and rumour is the price will go as high as $1,600 by game time. (noon January 08)
I have been vascillating about whether or not to pay the premium - Dan thinks I would be crazy. I agree, but I kinda want to anyway.
Especially as it was a good day at the tables.
Started off real bad. I entered a $5/$5 cash game and bought in for $400 and lost ALL OF IT on the very first hand I played. I had KK on the button and raised pre flop to $25, and was called by the big blind.
The flop was 853 rainbow, and some money hit the pot with no raises. Turn was an Ace, and after a bet and a raise, all the money eventually went in the middle (I was sure from the betting action the guy did not have an Ace). I was right, but I was drawing dead. He had called the raise with 4-2 suited, and was now holding a straight. Hard to read !
So sheepishly I set off to buy some chips to continue playing. The cashier's cage was really busy so I sat down at a blackjack table and exchanged $1,100 for chips. They were just starting a new shoe so I figured, my poker table is holding my spot, I'll just play a few hands.
Within half a shoe I got back comfortably more than my $400, and was feeling much better about things. I went back to the poker table, where the locals were salivating at my return. The guy who took me for $400 (Stewart his name is - we befriended later) moved into the spot on my left as soon as he could - which I took as a strong desire to part me from my money personally. (In hold 'em poker, it often happens that you will win or lose most of your money to the person on your right)
I was somewhat random for a while till my game settled down - in fact I was down a couple of hundred more before I went on a bit of a heater, and won $1,000 for that session, which is pretty good with a $400 buy in. I am not sure I got everyone's respect - they're a tough crowd here, but I did get some of their money - which in poker, is mostly what matters. So net plus $600 at cash poker.
Then Dan and I finally got called to a side table to play a Satellite Sit 'n Go, to try and qualify for the highest level Satellites tomorrow. Basically, we began with ten players, each paying a $350 fee. The top three players win an entry to yet another Satellite - the winners of which win entries into the very expensive events.
I qualified comfortably (was blessed with some good cards and made some good decisions). Dan and I were seated apart - he at Seat One to the left of the dealer and me at Seat 9 - around the other side. He was almost card dead and did well to hang in till 6th. The blinds move up so quickly in these satellites that luck is a big factor.
Unfortunately it was my hand that busted him - the last thing either of us wanted - but it was a multi way pot with Dan and another guy all in. Dan was very much alive in the hand as he began with 87 suited and the flop was 65X. I had begun with QQ and the other guy with 99.
I dodged nines and fours as the board played out and my hand held up, and Dan was gone and I was solid for the rest of the event.
So tomorrow I will use the ticket I won to try and parlay it into an entry to the bigger events.
Stewart, my new buddy, left our table to play a Stage 3 satellite. He came third, and won a free entry to the $2,500 event which starts Sunday I think.
If we don't get into the $1,000 event (which seems likely) we will probably try to do this again. Two entries are better than one!
There will be three events, maximum field of 300 players in each, with entry fees of $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000.
Daniel Korbel and I arrived hoping to qualify (or worse case, buy an entry) for the first event - the $1,000 buy-in, only to find this event has been sold out for a couple of weeks. Jeesh, I was here a few weeks ago - I coulda shoulda bought several entries.
Now entrepreneurial types are going around selling entries at around $1,400 and rumour is the price will go as high as $1,600 by game time. (noon January 08)
I have been vascillating about whether or not to pay the premium - Dan thinks I would be crazy. I agree, but I kinda want to anyway.
Especially as it was a good day at the tables.
Started off real bad. I entered a $5/$5 cash game and bought in for $400 and lost ALL OF IT on the very first hand I played. I had KK on the button and raised pre flop to $25, and was called by the big blind.
The flop was 853 rainbow, and some money hit the pot with no raises. Turn was an Ace, and after a bet and a raise, all the money eventually went in the middle (I was sure from the betting action the guy did not have an Ace). I was right, but I was drawing dead. He had called the raise with 4-2 suited, and was now holding a straight. Hard to read !
So sheepishly I set off to buy some chips to continue playing. The cashier's cage was really busy so I sat down at a blackjack table and exchanged $1,100 for chips. They were just starting a new shoe so I figured, my poker table is holding my spot, I'll just play a few hands.
Within half a shoe I got back comfortably more than my $400, and was feeling much better about things. I went back to the poker table, where the locals were salivating at my return. The guy who took me for $400 (Stewart his name is - we befriended later) moved into the spot on my left as soon as he could - which I took as a strong desire to part me from my money personally. (In hold 'em poker, it often happens that you will win or lose most of your money to the person on your right)
I was somewhat random for a while till my game settled down - in fact I was down a couple of hundred more before I went on a bit of a heater, and won $1,000 for that session, which is pretty good with a $400 buy in. I am not sure I got everyone's respect - they're a tough crowd here, but I did get some of their money - which in poker, is mostly what matters. So net plus $600 at cash poker.
Then Dan and I finally got called to a side table to play a Satellite Sit 'n Go, to try and qualify for the highest level Satellites tomorrow. Basically, we began with ten players, each paying a $350 fee. The top three players win an entry to yet another Satellite - the winners of which win entries into the very expensive events.
I qualified comfortably (was blessed with some good cards and made some good decisions). Dan and I were seated apart - he at Seat One to the left of the dealer and me at Seat 9 - around the other side. He was almost card dead and did well to hang in till 6th. The blinds move up so quickly in these satellites that luck is a big factor.
Unfortunately it was my hand that busted him - the last thing either of us wanted - but it was a multi way pot with Dan and another guy all in. Dan was very much alive in the hand as he began with 87 suited and the flop was 65X. I had begun with QQ and the other guy with 99.
I dodged nines and fours as the board played out and my hand held up, and Dan was gone and I was solid for the rest of the event.
So tomorrow I will use the ticket I won to try and parlay it into an entry to the bigger events.
Stewart, my new buddy, left our table to play a Stage 3 satellite. He came third, and won a free entry to the $2,500 event which starts Sunday I think.
If we don't get into the $1,000 event (which seems likely) we will probably try to do this again. Two entries are better than one!
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