Only 14 players this week; not as "fun" to play - but easier. Oh so easier.
Happily enough, of the two tables, I started out at the fishier of the two; with my more feared opponents - Sven and ytrabbit nowhere to be seen. Still I managed to clumsily try to steal in the early rounds, and failed. Frustrated at the min-raising and passive play around me, I started limping with marginal hands for what probably weren't the right prices. But I did get to see flops and I knew it might just pay off.
I waited patiently for the right moment, making good use of my time observing the hands I wasn't in. I particularly noticed that Crippe was aggressive with min bets, and also calling people down with middle pair and the like. A tempting combination. The timing for a lame ass limp by me couldn't have been better when I picked up 8 7 os in the small blind.
1} Manzoni $990 8s 7d
2) Viking Joe $880 ?? ??
4) crippe $2,545 9h 7h
5) ISAIAS41 $2,835 ?? ??
8) Mad_Maxx $390 ?? ??
10) scamp2 * $2,860 ?? ??
Manzoni posts small blind $15
Viking Joe posts big blind $30
crippe calls $30
ISAIAS41 calls $30
Mad_Maxx folds
scamp2 calls $30
Manzoni calls $15
Viking Joe checks
FLOP: 3h 7c 8d
Manzoni bets $150 A HALF POT BET, which I've been trying to make as a standard lead out or continuation bet. I like using the 1/2 or full pot buttons, it let's me bet at the same speed every time, and the same amount every time - camouflaging my holdings and making it tougher for opponents to read. Plus, I'm a bit lazy and dragging the slider or typing in an amount requires more effort and thought.
Viking Joe calls $150
crippe raises $450 NOW IF HE'S FLOPPED A SET, which is very possible with his weak call pre-flop, I'M GOING BROKE on this hand. But something doesn't smell right, if he has trips he's going to call or raise small. Still, I have under 800 left, with 180 already committed, nearly a quarter of my original stack. Time to lose all my chips.
ISAIAS41 folds
scamp2 folds
Manzoni raises $360 (all-in)
Viking Joe folds
crippe calls $360
Manzoni shows 8s 7d
crippe shows 9h 7h THAT IS RETARDED. One of the lamest over bet bluffs I can remember. True, it scared me - but I'm not going anywhere with such a ragged board and two pair.
TURN: 3h 7c 8d Qd
RIVER: 3h 7c 8d Qd 3d
Manzoni wins $2,220 with Two Pair, Eights and Sevens
The funny part is, he defended his bad call to my all-in bet in the chat box. Yes, he did have the right odds to call, but he had made a HUGE mistake by raising in the first place on my flop bet with middle pair and no draw. I reminded him politely that he could have avoided having to call my all-in if he had simply folded. His response - something to the effect of "I gotta keep you honest." Simply awesome.
With a big healthy stack, I was now the chip leader and would remain so for the bulk of the evening. Then I got frisky and thought J Q soooted looked awesome from the cut off.
1} Manzoni $3,225.00 Jc Qc
3) cali Al * $1,185.00 ?? ??
4) SvenGolly $2,912.50 ?? ??
5) ISAIAS41 $1,905.00 ?? ??
6) Miles 2 Go $1,590.00 ?? ??
7) The Rubin $3,857.50 ?? ??
8) Mad_Maxx $305.00 ?? ??
9) ytrabbit $2,940.00 ?? ??
10) scamp2 $3,080.00 ?? ??
SvenGolly posts small blind $75
ISAIAS41 posts big blind $150
Miles 2 Go folds
The Rubin folds
Mad_Maxx folds
ytrabbit folds
scamp2 calls $150
Manzoni raises $525 (MISTAKE ALERT!!!, RAISE IS TOO BIG WITH THE BLINDS THIS HIGH, a 250 raise would let me get away from this hand super easy on the flop if it missed me. I hit the "pot" raise, and forgot there was another caller, result = much too big a raise. Now I am committed, over a third of my stack is in the pot. Those buttons are convenient, but sometimes I need to take the time to bet the correct amount. )
cali Al folds
SvenGolly folds
ISAIAS41 folds
scamp2 calls $525
FLOP: Qd 7d Ac
scamp2 bets $800
Manzoni raises $1,750 (all-in) (I actually put a lot of thought into this move; I thought it very likely that Scamp had an ace, but perhaps it was a baby. From what I had seen this night, I was almost sure it was - OR it could be a high but not great pair 10 10, or JJ. Not a suited connector, not two face cards. I'm glad I put him on the correct range - because he....
scamp2 folds
Manzoni wins $3,175 uncontested BIG POT. Now I had an even bigger chip lead with almost 5K. Better lucky than good sometimes. I turned a big mistake to my advantage with a decent (maybe just lucky) read. I was also helped out by the fact that though Scamp was also practically committed to the pot by his call pre flop, and then CERTAINLY WAS committed with his 800 raise on the flop - HE STILL FOLDED AWAY HALF HIS STACK!!! Awesome.
I then proceeded to tighten up quite a bit, especially in early and middle posititon - I didn't mess around with suited gap connecters or unsuited face cards, or even small pairs - I just folded them. I hung tight, and my stack was stable, but the two players I feared most managed to surpass me in chips.
Then I managed to kneecap Sven with a nice slow play. The transcription doesn't do justice to my delayed betting. I tried to ooze weakness through the keyboard, and he fell for it.
1} Manzoni $4,552.50 9h Td
4) SvenGolly $5,565.00 6d Kd
6) Miles 2 Go $3,690.00 ?? ??
9) ytrabbit * $7,192.50 ?? ??
Manzoni posts small blind $200
SvenGolly posts big blind $400
Miles 2 Go folds
ytrabbit folds
Manzoni calls $200
SvenGolly bets $400
Manzoni calls $400 (This was a mistake by Sven, a x2 bb raise or greater and I'm gone. The min-rase SUCKS!)
FLOP: Th Tc Jc
Manzoni checks
SvenGolly bets $1,600
Manzoni calls $1,600 (After a long, but not too long delay. The clubs are a small concern, but he's not semi bluffing away a quarter of his stack - he's either hit the jack or is on a pure continuation bluff.)
TURN: Th Tc Jc Qc
Manzoni checks (Yes, I know the board is now officially terrifying, but I've decided he's not on a draw; I'm committed if he fires.)
SvenGolly bets $3,165 (all-in)
Manzoni calls $2,152.50 (all-in)
Manzoni shows 9h Td
SvenGolly shows 6d Kd (Yikes, I let him back into potentially 8 outs, thankfully I have one of them so he only has seven)
RIVER: Th Tc Jc Qc Kh
Manzoni wins $9,105 with a King High Straight (Trips would have been enough - I"m glad he didn't realize at any point that he was being slow played; I also take his "move" as a compliment. He respects my play enough to know I'll fold with a mere two pair or a low end straight draw. Now my stack is ginormous. Yay.
Sven managed to claw his way back up a bit. I again, stayed out of most hands. Then came the toughest decision I faced all night.
1} Manzoni $9,555.00 Ad Kd
4) SvenGolly $4,875.00 Jh As
6) Miles 2 Go * $2,127.50 ?? ??
9) ytrabbit $4,442.50 ?? ??
Manzoni antes $25
SvenGolly antes $25
Miles 2 Go antes $25
ytrabbit antes $25
ytrabbit posts small blind $300
Manzoni posts big blind $600
SvenGolly raises $4,250 (all-in)
Miles 2 Go folds
ytrabbit folds
Manzoni calls $4,250 Simple math: there's only two starting hands that I'm a huge underdog to, AA and KK. Everything else I'm at the very worst, a coin flip. Antes have kicked in, and with the blinds they represent a quarter of Svens stack. He has a GREAT incentive to take them with position and decent cards. There's a good chance I could have him dominated. There's also a big chance for a coin flip - if I win it, I could put this thing away. You have to win races to win super fast sit-n-gos. That's just a fact.
Manzoni shows Ad Kd
SvenGolly shows Jh As
FLOP: Qs 2h Kc
TURN: Qs 2h Kc Qd
RIVER: Qs 2h Kc Qd Qh
Manzoni wins $10,100 with a Full House, Queens over Kings
Tasty.
Miles (who was on a drip all night) went out shortly thereafter, and me with a mondo chip stack found my lone opponent in good shape to seriously hurt me if I didn't stay frosty.
I often talk about cards not mattering so much as position and selective aggression. That said, in a heads up situation in our league, the blinds are at best PROHIBITIVE. Translation = without at least some face cards and aces, you stand about a snow balls chance in hell of winning.
Here are the starting cards I received for the first 6 hands of heads up play.
4d 8h
3h 8s
10s 6d
6s 3h
8h 2c
2c 6s
Not a lot of hands, but in this super fast structure the blinds and antes represented a tenth of my stack, and after the next hand, I would be seriously damaged.
1} ytrabbit * $9,445 9h Jd
3) Manzoni $11,555 8h Js (NOTE: MY FIRST FACE CARD SINCE HEADS UP BEGAN)
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
ytrabbit posts small blind $300
Manzoni posts big blind $600
ytrabbit raises $625
Manzoni calls $625
FLOP: Jc 9c 2c
Manzoni bets $2,500
ytrabbit raises $5,695 (all-in)
Manzoni calls $5,695 (NOT the best call of my life, but with top pair, I have to follow through with a healthy bet - so healthy that it basically commits me. Though I suppose I COULD have checked and then folded away 1000 chips with top pair, it's just not how I roll!
ytrabbit shows 9h Jd
Manzoni shows 8h Js OUTKICKED!
TURN: Jc 9c 2c 4h
RIVER: Jc 9c 2c 4h 6c
ytrabbit wins $18,890 with Two Pair, Jacks and Nines
LIFE SUPPORT! YUCK!
1} ytrabbit $18,890 Ad 8c
3) Manzoni * $2,110 7h 4s A SINGLE BETTING ROUND IS ALMOST HALF OF MY STACK. THIS SUCKS!
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
Manzoni posts small blind $300
ytrabbit posts big blind $600
Manzoni folds
ytrabbit wins $650 uncontested
NOW I'm screwed. I'm basically all in on the blind on the next one - any decent card I MUST push.
1} ytrabbit * $19,215 Qd Js
3) Manzoni $1,785 3h 6s OKAY, these cards suck. But I still don't have a choice with over a third of my stack already going in. Dang. I had such a great chip lead. This sucks.
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
ytrabbit posts small blind $300
Manzoni posts big blind $600
ytrabbit raises $18,590 (all-in) I JUST CAN'T DO IT!!!! AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!! One more hand.
Manzoni folds
ytrabbit wins $1,250 uncontested
I'VE BLOWN IT. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL IN TWO HANDS AGO. NOW HALF OF MY STACK IS GONE. This hand, no matter the cards, I'm all in.
1} ytrabbit $19,840 Ts 3c
3) Manzoni * $1,160 Jh Ah (SECOND FACE CARD, FIRST ACE IN HEADS UP! HEY NOT TOO BAD!)
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
Manzoni posts small blind $300
ytrabbit posts big blind $600
Manzoni raises $535 (all-in)
ytrabbit calls $535
ytrabbit shows Ts 3c
Manzoni shows Jh Ah
FLOP: 8h 6d 4d
TURN: 8h 6d 4d Jc
RIVER: 8h 6d 4d Jc 9c
Manzoni wins $2,320 with a Pair of Jacks BEST HAND HOLDS UP! I'm still on life support though. Back where I was two hands ago when I got crippled in the first place. I can't be patient this time.
1} ytrabbit * $18,680 Kh 8s
3) Manzoni $2,320 4c 5d It's a connecter, but I wish it was sooooted. NOT WAITING FOOLISHLY THIS TIME.
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
ytrabbit posts small blind $300
Manzoni posts big blind $600
ytrabbit raises $18,055 (all-in)
Manzoni calls $1,695 (all-in) NO CHOICE. I'M SCREWED.
ytrabbit shows Kh 8s
Manzoni shows 4c 5d
FLOP: 6s 5h 4h
TURN: 6s 5h 4h 2d
RIVER: 6s 5h 4h 2d Qs
Manzoni wins $4,640 with Two Pair, Fives and Fours Hey, I'm alive! What happened? I got lucky, though 45os is barely a worse hand than k8os.
1} ytrabbit $16,360 Jc 4h
3) Manzoni * $4,640 7c 3s
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
Manzoni posts small blind $300
ytrabbit posts big blind $600 BACK TO MY USUAL RUN I SEE, well now I have the ability to at least fold trash. For one or two hands anyway.
Manzoni folds
ytrabbit wins $650 uncontested
1} ytrabbit * $16,685 9d 9c
3) Manzoni $4,315 Ts Ac (LOOKS LIKE AA TO ME!)
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
ytrabbit posts small blind $300
Manzoni posts big blind $600
ytrabbit calls $300
Manzoni bets $3,690 (all-in) LET'S DANCE!
ytrabbit calls $3,690 YAY! A CALL!
ytrabbit shows 9d 9c RACE!
Manzoni shows Ts Ac
FLOP: Kd Ks 2d
TURN: Kd Ks 2d As (GIDDY!)
RIVER: Kd Ks 2d As 8c
Manzoni wins $8,630 with Two Pair, Aces and Kings BACK IN IT BABY! You have to win races to win these things. Now I have momentum too, he must be reeling.
1} ytrabbit $12,370 Jc 7c
3) Manzoni * $8,630 Ah As (OKAY, NOW I'M CATCHING CARDS)
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
Manzoni posts small blind $300
ytrabbit posts big blind $600
Manzoni raises $8,005 (all-in)
ytrabbit folds
Manzoni wins $1,250 uncontested FIGURES. Still happy to steal 950 in chips.
1} ytrabbit * $11,745 Ks 9h
3) Manzoni $9,255 3s 4s
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
ytrabbit posts small blind $300
Manzoni posts big blind $600
ytrabbit raises $625
Manzoni calls $625
FLOP: 3d 4d 6d
Manzoni bets $8,005 (all-in) I SHOULD HAVE SLOW PLAYED, though he probably wouldn't have stuck around unless he hit a king (just 3 outs).
ytrabbit folds
Manzoni wins $2,500 uncontested
SOMEHOW, I have the chip lead again. By the way, ytrabbit's mucked cards are courtesy of HIS hand history, he was kind enough to forward it to the group. Mainly because he's steamed over our heads up battle and wanted a little input on how he could have played better. I returned the courtesy and posted my mucks to the group as well. As far as I can tell, we both played pretty well. My biggest mistake was folding two hands after I got crippled (nearly half my stack) but somehow I managed to go on a good run and pull it out. As you can see....
1} ytrabbit $10,495 7h Ah
3) Manzoni * $10,505 3d As (OKAY, THIS IS THE FIRST REAL SUCKOUT)
ytrabbit antes $25
Manzoni antes $25
Manzoni posts small blind $300
ytrabbit posts big blind $600
Manzoni raises $9,880 (all-in)
ytrabbit calls $9,870 (all-in)
ytrabbit shows 7h Ah
Manzoni shows 3d As
FLOP: 8s 3c 9h
TURN: 8s 3c 9h Kc
RIVER: 8s 3c 9h Kc Ks
Manzoni wins $20,990 with Two Pair, Kings and Threes
THAT LAST HAND was BRUTAL - but I know it was not just the deck that was soley responsible for his fate. I can look at this tournament at a whole, and see that I had runs of bad cards that pale in comparison to his at points - and I can also see BIG MISTAKES that I made. The same holds true for ytrabbit - his game was at least as good as mine, better in parts, but nowhere near perfect. I think what makes poker so great is that delicious combination of skill and luck. Clearly on this night I had both, and so did he.
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