1. 2009-10-19 04:03:13

   Sunday 10/18 at Thunder Valley

   
   Well, I'm really back, it seems. I mean, my luck is back.

   Saturday, I played online only once, a $6.00 +$0.50 Knockout tourney, 90 players. I finished 6th, earning $27 plus $4 for busting 4 people. First online win in a long, long time. Got a couple of lucky coin-flips, but would call my final hand a bit unlucky: third in chip stack, I re-raise all-in with a 3-BB raise by a short stack, early position guy. The BB has me outchipped and calls, the early raiser goes into the tank, and finally goes all-in too (pot committed anyway.) BB shows and the short stack . Flop comes so my hopes went way high for a microsecond, to crash right away when I see the set of nines. Turn and River did me no good - nor to the short-stack guy - and I busted in 6th position.

   Sunday, I made it to Thunder Valley: the 3pm $30+$3 shoot-out tournament, 45 players. OK, I made it also into the money, and again, we unanymously and immediately agreed to chop ($225 apiece.) What I wanted to share was more along the lines well developped by Dan Harrington: how the structure and the payout must shape your strategy.

   We started with 5 tables of nine. My goal was to be one of the top-2, as then you move to the final table with the 2 top players of all the other tables, and start FRESH (full 3,000 stack, new reset blinds.) First, I waited for something to play with, but got the driest set of hands in a long time. Tried a couple of middle suited connectors that missed pityfully, and after 4 orbits of that, blinds went up again and I was down to around 2,000. When I saw in late position I decided to shove, but the young lady on the BB (who doubled up on the very first hand on a questionable play but very lucky flop) called and showed . Flop came so I made bottom pair but she paired her ace. I said "I can still hit a King or a Three" and she responded "Goodbye!" Nice. The turn came blank with but got my lucky river with a beautiful . I doubled up - and survived - and crippled a bit the young brat, whom I busted - with some pleasure I might add - a few hands later. Finally, I avoided the big stacks, attacked the short stacks, increased my lead and busted the last guy in 3rd position.

   On the final table, I smelled very weak players. I recognized a bunch of regulars, whom talked right away of chopping, whatever. So my strategy became to not get involved - unless a big hand comes. Well, I slowly went down to about 1,200 chips as 3 people got busted (always the same story: they got involved in hands that turned bad, either lost or folded to strong pressure, lost chips, and forced all-in with a miserable stack and increasing blinds, semi-ok hands, and lost.) I am BB, blinds at 400 already, and the guy on my left is down to 800, and he pushes all-in. The guy on the button says "Sorry, but I really have to call" (not very cool, by the way, to speak like that with other players still in the hand, but that was a common theme at that table: I wished we had a dealer to shut those guys up.) My hand is average at best ( and I fold without second thoughts. The busted the all-in (what did I say about shoving late in the game with small pairs?!) and I was ultra-short stack but 6th! As those guys came back saying "let's chop" I did not oppose it, you can guess!

   Nice weekend!
   Fred

   Posted by Frederic at 2009-10-19 04:03:13

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Comments on “Sunday 10/18 at Thunder Valley”

1. • Posted by Frederic g 2009-10-28 02:04:24
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   • Yes, indeed: it is still those funky touch-screen tables...

     Can't wait for real tables & dealers!

     Cheers!

2. • Posted by FREMONTkyle g 2009-10-22 22:39:37
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   • arent the tournies at valley on that lightnig machine?

3. • Posted by Frederic g 2009-10-19 17:54:46
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   • That Thunder Valley tourney is weird: a shootout, with incredible blind structure (starting 3,000 chips, 100 & 200 blinds, going up every 15 minutes!) and then the mega reset for the final table.

     Still an easy source of money as the majority of the players come from the local retirement community and don't have much game. They only play their cards.

     Those home games you guys have in the Bay are 100-fold tougher, and more fun! I wish I were closer!

     As for winning, I'm happy I've reached that point where I can set aside $1,500 for next June WSOP and keep playing with the rest of the bankroll! I look forward going to Vegas for the first time next year. I'll keep reading, learning, practicing till then!

     Cheers!

4. • Posted by Jason M g 2009-10-19 06:25:02
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   • I like the refreshing of the stacks when it's down to 2 tables. That's a really cool alteration and I might try it sometime at my game. It changes how you should play, and I bet most people don't adjust appropriately (and play more patiently to squeak in to the final tables).

     Nice knockout with the . It's always great to bust people who are being rude!

     Congrats on the cash. I hope you keep it up. It's always good to hear that people on the site are winning!