1. 2008-09-28 23:08:04

   Playin' with the Big Boys

   This Friday, I was invited to a $100 buy-in game by a friend and luckily my calendar wasn't booked. I had 3 other appointments earlier that day and only slept 6 hours the night before, but I was looking forward to playing again. It seemed like a long time since I had last played :)

   We ended up with 16 players (top 3 payout), and the game was magnificently run. Bagged chips were handed out, professional tables/chips/cards were used, the blinds were (mostly) great, and everybody was very friendly.

   I say the blinds were most great, because we started with 100 big blinds and the 20-minute rounds had a slow progression of big blinds (100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 800), but when we chipped up the 100s, we went from 500/1000 to 1000/2000 to 2000/4000, but then slowed down again at 3000/6000. Unfortunately, there was only 160k in play, so the bust-outs started happening during the huge (100% increase) blind levels.

   Anyway, the setup was good. These guys knew what they were doing. They kept the players moving, the tables were always balanced, and two players even offered to deal while the players only had to shuffle on their button. This is as close to a casino as it gets without paying dealers. And did I mention they didn't take a rake or a fee or anything? 100% prizes paid back. If you are going to run a tournament, you can learn from these guys.

   2nd Hand

   We started mostly on time, and I waste no time losing over half my stack. I raised in late position with . The player on my left flat-called and the blind flat-called. The flop was or so. The blind made a very small bet, so I called and the guy on my left folded. The turn gave me two pair, and he checked, so I bet. The river was a blank, and my opponent bet, so I called, hoping he had or something. Nope, it was ! He went on to get kings twice and queens once or twice to make 2nd place. Wow.

   Thank You, Dan H

   I lost a little bit more but then made a bunch back with and didn't look back. I made it to the final table and that's when the blinds kicked in. I had to start pushing to get blinds, Harrington style, and it seemed to work. Everybody was getting a little desperate for chips and played it pretty well. I didn't get called much, and when I did, I had good cards. I definitely had some better-than-average hands during this run, which helped.

   Hooks

   Patti (who had bubbled in 4th the last two times in a row) was given a special deal that if she bubbled again, we'd actually give her $100 back. It was her birthday, so everybody agreed. With just five left, she was getting teased that it would be sick if she went out. I told her she should just fold into the top 4, but she just had to go all in with , and I just had to call with my ! Dave said he folded to my reraise, so it was looking bleak for Patti.

   Board = !

   Case ten. Wow. Thankfully, I had her covered from my blind hijacking, so I still had 14k left.

   Forced

   I went all in for 14k with the blinds at 3k/6k and of course received a pretty thin call. My (how lucky am I to get that on the hand I have to go all in?!) dodged the live cards and I doubled up.

   In the meantime, Patti went out in 5th. LOL.

   Top 3

   The second hand of top 3 I get on the small blind. I have about 4 big blinds, so I'm ready to fold if the massive chip leader on the button raises or go all in if the button folds. The button calls. Ding ding ding! He actually wants to see a flop - must have the goods.

   I decide to call. I think I was hoping to get to the flop 3 way to increase the odds of taking the short stack (big blind) out. He had about 2/3 of my chips. In retrospect, I don't know if this play makes sense, regardless of whether or not I think the button has a good hand. What do you think?

   Anyway, the flop is . I'm thinking that's pretty good, and if the button really has I'm just going to live with it. I also decide the odds of the flush draw being there are pretty slim, so I'll let these guys do the betting for me. I check, the big blind checks, and the button bets 25k (putting either of us blinds all in). I call and the big blind happily folds.

   The button remarks he should have just bet half as he flips over his . I said that probably would have been good, but he'd still have to call my all in.

   Do I need to tell you one of two aces left in the deck popped out on the river? Nah, didn't think so. 3rd place doubles their money. I'll take it.

   Cash Game

   We played a quick cash game until only 3 of us were left. I managed to flop trip aces, turn trip aces, and get pocket kings twice in about an hour. That softened the sting of the 3rd place a bit.

   If the organizers and host are reading this, thanks for the well-run game. Hopefully I'll be able to make it back soon.

   Posted by Jason M at 2008-09-28 23:08:04

   View all posts

Comments on “Playin' with the Big Boys”

1. • Posted by Bulldog88 g 2008-10-02 03:14:57
   • 

   • Third place is not bad at all. Sounds like a nice group to play with. If they will let you take a guest next time, give me a call.