Success in a Live Tournament
As Ben posted earlier we played in a live $50 NL charity event while we were home for Thanksgiving Break. I didn’t have much access to a computer to post any while I was home, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Ben ended up finishing 3rd while I placed in 6th, just inside the money bubble, but here were a few key hands during the tournament for me:
During the first hour I quickly realized that the low blinds were making no one want to fold and I deicided to approach the game with a value bet style. I would only bet for value, not get fancy or try to run a play on anyone. The first big hand I had was J♥10&spades, limped from mid position with 4 other limpers. The flop came out 10♥10♦J♣ and I bet out a small amount. The players had been chasing every sort of out and I didn’t want to miss a bet by having it check around. A short stack went all in on top for 500 chips (we started with T$2000) and that made everyone else fold. I called and he showed 10♣7♣ and he rebought.
Shortly after that hand I got J♦J♥ under the gun and raised it up 4x the big blind and I got 4 callers! The flop came out 2♥2&spades5♥ and I went all in from first position. The guy to my left called and the button thought for a long time and laid down 10♥10♦. The caller showed presto 5&spades5♣ and I didn’t hit a Jack to improve, but a 10 did fall, and that guy wasn’t too happy about his fold. After this hand I was down to about T$1200 in chips and I rebought to get back to T$2700.
I was picking up pots left and right with top pairs and a bunch of chasers when I started to stall. Right before the first break blinds were 200-400 and I had T$4500 and hurting. I looked down at 5&spades6&spades and decided to limp in. Five players to the flop and it came down 8♣7♥K&spades. I checked and it checked to the button who bet out 400 chips. I was getting some sick pot odds and called. The turn was a beauty: 4&spades. Now I had the nut straight and a spade draw. I bet out 800 chips and the person to my left (new guy) immediately raised to 1000, then I told him he couldn’t do that, and he made it 1200, and I said no … and he finally doubled it to 1600, haha, all I know is he wanted to raise! The button said somethign like “Well I have to call,” and I reraised all in for another T$1300. Both players called and I stood up. The river brought a harmless 3♥ and I showed my straight. The man to my left was upset as he showed 8&spades2♣!!! The button showed Q&spades7&spades, so thank god I didn’t hit a spade, phew! Needless to say I was at a healthy stack of $12,500 at the break and things went well from there.
At the final table I made it to 6th place with T$40,000 chips. The blinds were a sick 5,000-10,000 and it was all in or fold. A late position raiser went all in for 35,000 and I looked down at A♣Q♣ and called. I was 80% sure I had him creamed but he flipped over 5&spades5♥, presto! I couldn’t hit a pair and I was knocked out in 6th place after losing my last 5,000 chips. It was a good time though and fun to prove that I could run over a lot of these older guys who thought they knew what was best for me (not putting up $50, haha). I only profited $15 on the night because the payouts were pretty messy, but I went back the next night to play in the ring games … more on that night later.
Till then, Peace!
Steve
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