After an anxiety filled morning, I finally got started off with my event. Seated with 5 other internet qualifiers (at least) and a no show. No show turned out to be Robert Williamson III. Great guy, chatted it up with all of us. In fact the whole table was pretty good. Had one loose calling station get knocked out by the first break or so. Never had any hands to take advantage of him though. 3rd hand in the tourney I held KK, only to be halted by a flopped A. Played pretty much even poker up until the 2nd break. Then it was all downhill.
My flops weren't hitting, and just lost confidence in my preflop raising. Started trying to see cheap flops too often instead of taking control. This was a big weakness in my game, making $ when I can't find online dummies to donate. I'm sure I'll get more experienced as I play more quality tournies, but right now my aggression level isn't where I want it to be. I don't think I bluff reraised at all tonight, and after I stopped being the aggressor, by big hand raises were getting folded.
One hand that hurt during this downward spiral was cutoff 3x raise to 600, button (me) call with 88, sb raising to 1500, BB fold, cutoff call, I call. Flop 2d4h6h. SB checks, cutoff pushes. That was going to be my move. Both have me covered. At that point I had 5k left. The only hands I could have hoped he had were 33, 55, or 77, or AKQh. I decided he had be beat so i folded, SB called with TT, and cutoff showed QQ. Not sure why TT was played that way, but oh well. Harmless turn, river was the dreaded 8. Man I didn't want to see that.
Final hand for me was me reraising a weak raise with AQ. Turns out the dude was begging for a call as he flipped over KK. At this point I was down to about 2.5k at 150/300 25 ante. I folded 44 to a preflop raise a hand or two earlier. Maybe that was the better hand to push.
Oh well, learned a lot, experienced a lot, and hopefully I'll be able to use it next year or another tourney soon. Have to look at my whole tournament game over again. I can't rely on poor players to chip me up early so I can play my game. All in all, Vegas and the WSOP was a blast, but going to head home soon. Have to check what flights there are.
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8 comments:
Nice playing Ash.
12 hours. Probably about 11 longer than I'd last.
Great show Actyper!!
Chalk it up to experience and you'll be better equiped for next year.
Just remember...you lasted longer than a lot of pro's.
Good Job!
Now next year you can go back and own them all.
You definitely outlasted over a thousand players for the day and 4000 overall.
good job and hopefully we'll all get to play in the main event with you.
Just don't beat yourself up over the downward spiral. I'm still kicking myself over my bad plays at the end.
Dan and I were laughing about that. A couple of hands before I went out, we saw Chip Reese bust out the next table over. I outlasted Chip Reese :)
My advice for you guys next year, don't get it in your head to "Just make it to day 2" You should be able to build a nicer stack the 1st day, though anything over 10k is still good enought for Day 2 play.
Funny how when it comes to big money it seems to make the online aggressive players play a bit tighter. The pros know this and take advantage it. Don't worry though - experience will teach you to play better no matter what stakes you are playing for.
Um, yeah, it's easy to analyze when you are not there, under the pressure, with your hands shaking...
But, regardless, I would disagree with your analysis. The pot was laying him 4:1 odds, and his chances of making a set on the flop is 8:1. But with two others already in the pot and announcing they have big hands, he is getting huge implied odds which more than justify the call. If he makes the call and hits his set on the flop, he'll likely triple up and be in good shape for the rest of the night.
Anyway, you did well, Ash. Way better than some big name pros like Hellmuth, Brunson, Lederer, Gordon, etc. And next year, you'll be in even better shape with all that experience behind you. Let's hope I'll be able to join you at the tables for 2007!
Hey Ash - bummer we didn't get together for a beer while there, would have been good to meet you.
I lasted just past the first break in event #37, but did bust Mark Gregorich before I did the walk of shame. 1500 starting chips just isn't much when the blinds are 25/50 in hour 2.
-Derrick
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