I'll be back later with some interesting hands. I'll tweet chip updates. Gonna treat this little home game like a real tourney. Read here, because I'll just update this post.
Ok, the first interesting hand happened early. I got AKhh utg. I will sometimes fold this because of my position. But, I had not been very active. In a way, I'm opening my hand here, but this hand is powerful enough that I'm ok with that. 100/200, I open to 550. Two callers in late middle. Flop T83 two hearts. I bet 825. First caller raises to 2k. Fold. I think about reraising here, but he's never doing this light and is a player who can get stubborn, so I think he's calling a decent amount AND may pay me off when I hit. Turn Jc. I think, then check. He checks. Now I know he only has a pair of tens. River 4d. I think a bluff has about a 70/30 chance, and I'm not willing to risk it. I would clearly be representing an overpair betting for thin value, but I don't think he thinks like that. I check, he shows a ten and takes the pot.
btw, I don't show.
Later, I open in MP with K9cc. Two callers in CO and on button. 200/400, I made it 1050. Flop 622. I think it's so unlikely I have the best hand AND they're calling with all pairs, so I check, planning to fold. They both check. Turn 9. Now, I think there's a pretty good chance I'm ahead. I probably should have bet, but I checked. CO checks, button bets 800. This is not a player who's betting because he's been checked to twice. He thinks he has the best hand. But, I think there's enough of a chance that he's wrong that I call. CO surprisingly calls too. River I bink a 9. I'm clearly value betting here. I bet 4k. Fold, then button tanks. He calls, and had flopped a boat with 66. I think if I had read him better, I would have gone for the all-in. And, I think he would have talked himself into a call. But, maybe not. As it was, this hand put me over 20k for the first time. My opponent couldn't believe how unlucky he was to have had me catch running 99.
400/800, I make it 2100 in LP with 22. Folds to the BB, who thinks, makes it obvious he has a BB hand, then defends. This is a new player. My read on him at this point was that he was a decent player that probably had a good amount of experience but was definitely a feel player. Flop T84. He checks. I bet 3100. He calls fairly quickly. Bad T or good 8. Turn 6. He checks, I check. River 3. He checks, I jam, he insta calls with T3 for a rivered two pair. I "think" he folds all tens. I'm surprised I didn't pick up anything when the 3 hit. But, whatever.
I'm left with 10k. Not good. 12 players left. I get down to 8600. I get Todd to give me 11-1 on $20 to win since I'm short. I immediately shove pre a couple of times (we're at 5/1k now), then shove early with AK. The only shorter stack calls from the SB, AK holds, and I'm back at a decent stack. btw, SB didn't show his hand here. While I vigorously defend the right to not show in a cash game, the rule is you show when there is to be no more action in tourneys. To not do so is rude.
I hover there for awhile, we get to the final table 1o handed. I get seated to Rob and Zach's left, which is nice and frees me up a bit. I was also lucky to not be on the first table with them. We're all three relatively short, not desperate, and chill. Pretty soon, obviously, people start dropping. I feel like this is my best time. I do well here. I'm patient, avoid confrontations, and get lucky enough to have my shoves go through. I do well with my buttons and sb when it's folded to me. I chip up. Rob goes out on a well played pre and flop bluff that the other guy played pretty badly. Todd goes out when he shoves utg and I wake up with A8 on the button (he claims not to have looked, but had AT). I hit tooper. At five, we cut a deal for first to give 50 to 5th, so nobody goes home emptyhanded. I suggested it all come from first, and everyone is cool with it. I'd love to say I did this because I had an extra 220 coming to me for first, but I didn't realize that until later.
The guy I doubled with 22 v. T3, his buddy, Zach, and I play for a good amount of time 4 handed. I don't like this lineup, but again my position is good. I get doubled up on a JJJ69 board with T9 when we check it to the river and I jam/he calls with 77. We grind the second new guy down, Zach goes out, and it's HU between me and Mr. T3. I get a lucky chop with A4 v. AQ, then get a double with A6 when he calls AIPF with JTo. I'm in control. Unfortunately, I make another bad read when he just calls on the button with A9, I jam with KJ, miss, and then he finishes me off when I jam the next hand with Q8 into his AA.
I feel like I played well, again, but missing out on that extra juice hurt. Thanks to Daniel for being such an awesome host again and to Todd for organizing, giving me action, and dealing at the end.
See y'all February 25.
