So with the wife and kiddo visiting grandpa up north - I went on a poker bender, playing 6 tournaments in 5 days, plus I squeezed in a cash game at my house on a Friday night!
After the dust cleared I had finished up a whopping $125. I firmly believe if I had managed to win any of the three 80/20 hands that knocked me out I would have been up a LOT more.
First, let's get the cry baby crap out of the way. 1st tournament - lost with KK to AK AIPF. 2nd tournament - lost with QQ to 33 AIPF. 3rd tournament, ran my 88 into JJ. 4th tournament - lost with AQ to JJ on an AQx board when a J hit the turn.
Variance, thy name is me. Honestly, I've lamented my inability to fade 2 outers many times before, but I truly can't remember such a long line of coolers in a row. It was almost a relief in the third tournament to get my money in bad - and of course I couldn't win the 80/20 with me as the 20.
I fared much better in my home cash game that Friday night - despite being felted right off the bat in PLO when my flopped full house lost to a nasty turn card that gave my opponent a bigger boat. I managed to crawl back and finish up over $100 in profit.
Still, I was pretty much resigned to being down for the entire year when I dragged my tired ass out of bed and headed for Hollywood Park Casino. Commerce had had it's way with me, so I figured HPC could now take over with the bad beat raping. There was no way I was taking a shot at the WSOPC at the Bike. Run bad = play bad, at least for me.
The first tournament of the day went ok, I was pretty flat and uninspired to get creative so when the cards didn't come I eventually busted with a wimper. For some reason I felt okay enough to give the 5pm donkament a try, and this is where things got better. For once I caught some cards AND knew how to use my chips. I was particularly magnificent at the final table as the bubble approached.
I used my stack as a sledgehammer, boldly shoving with random cards after limpers came in. My read of that table was spot on - everyone was terrified of missing out on the min-cash. I simply didn't give a shit because I knew it wasn't enough to get me unstuck.
Eventually the blinds got huge, and I won a key pot with AQ when I sucked out on AK to make a broadway straight. (Finally, I was the suckee instead of the sucker.) I was the chip leader, and someone else asked for a chip chop count. The actual first place was $800+ but I was offered $640. I happily accepted, as with 14 big blinds I knew my skill edge was nowhere near big enough to make playing it out worth it.
One week later I won my own home tournament again, rather I chopped 1st and 2nd place monies and had the chip lead - I lost the heads up play for the trophy, which I played poorly - probably because I didn't care too much. Along with bounty money I collected $340. With that win I'm up $465 for the year. Nice.
Up next, Event #2 in the LAPC. I'll be joining Sven and Tony for a $250K guarantee event. It should be a blast, though I am unlikely to bink as the amount of players and the skill level make it a pretty daunting challenge. Still, I'm up for the experience and will do my best to have fun and make correct decisions.
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