1. 2008-05-05 04:59:03

   WSOP Qualifer/VPT

   Hood River Rotary Club Tournament

   The Structure

   As all of you are wondering, let me tell you about the structure which I liked. There was a total of 144 players with a couple of tables with 11 players!!! and of course with my luck my table had 11 people go figure. They provided dealers and with a 10% payout that isn't to bad to manage. Each player started with 5,000 in chips with the 1st blind level at 100/100 with 30 minute rounds then starting in round 3 they turn into 20 minute rounds.

   Couldn't Get Anything Going

   The title pretty much sums up everything, on the 3rd hand of play I picked up and make it 300 to go and got 2 callers. I whiffed the flop and folded. I proceeded to fold until the next revolution then I picked up and again I whiffed the flop, making everything becoming frustrating and now I am getting whittled down to 3,900. Another revolution later with the blinds at 100/200 I pick up I decided to make a play that I wanted to execute to steal a pot and get my stack back up. I made it 700 to go and got 3 callers which sucked. The flop came out I went all in for 3,200 and was called by the biggest stack at the table. He ended up having I felt like that play works about 8 out of 10 times, most likely you just take it down cause he most likely wouldn't call with a 10 in that spot. If I won that pot I would of have around 7,000 and could have had more time to accumlate chips. I look back on that play and I think it was stupid, the intention was good but just didn't work when you really needed it. Of course I am disappointed that I would of picked a better spot but I am not a player that would just sit there until I literally can barely pay the blinds just to wait for a big hand. I have good patience but I guess it didn't show at the biggest tournament that I have played in.

   VPT

   After that disgusting showing, I headed over to the VPT with 6 players this was one of the tournaments with one rebuy and 3 people used it. Early on I was picking up a couple of hands and was up early then just went card dead for almost a round and a half. After Addison knocked out 2 players in 1 hand just before the re buys he was massive chip leader and couldn't see how he at least wouldn't make it into top two. Kalib and Jonas were knocked out pretty quickly then it was Justin and I that were short stacks with Chris and Addison were licking there chops to knock us out. With being in the big blind Justin pushes all in for just under what I have I am holding and decided I wanted to double up or flame out. I would still get points in the process regardless of what happens, I called and flopped a Q to win the hand. after that, I was close to the other remaining players. I pick up in the small blind and pushed on Chris he picks up and calls which puts me in huge trouble. Then in a mircle turn of events, I turn a to double up to take the chip lead. From then on I proceeded to frustrate and dominate Addison while we were 4 handed. I eventually knocked him out with after re raising him pre flop he had I ended up turning a straight for the win.

   Heads Up

   It came down to Chris and I heads up I got off to a good start, I think I just lost focus and re raised all in with Q high when thinking he whiffed the flop. He flopped top pair with a bad kicker and ended up taking it down in the process. I did get 2nd for the 3rd time this season which will be good for the points race when it comes down to crunch time. Hope you enjoyed the post the more feed back the better. Play well and may all your pots be monster.

   Posted by Nick L at 2008-05-05 04:59:03

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Comments on “WSOP Qualifer/VPT”

1. • Posted by Jason M g 2008-05-07 02:58:01
   • 

   • Hey dude, just finally read this. Man, that sucks you busted out like that. It can be really frustrating when you don't win a pot in the early stages, especially in such a big tournament.

     I'm glad you don't like your play in retrospect... That means you just made a mistake and will learn from it. It just sucks it was such a costly lesson. I find that the more serious the tournament, the more I think I can get away with, because the level of play should be "better". Well, I've learned that doesn't mean I should make more moves. Quite the contrary, it means more patience, and more selective aggression.

     Congrats on the VPT second place. At least the 6s worked out for ya there ;)

     More later when I get home... Check out some of my strategy posts on the PokerSoup forums. I'd value your opinion on the pot-building one.