Sunday Million 11-02-2008

I will never do that again!!!!  Ok, that doesn’t mean not play in the tourney but cut it so close “folding to the cash” that I almost get BLINDED OUT.  Argh!!  And I have no one to blame but myself.  Let’s see:  good news=lesson learned that will never be repeated.

Believe me, I am not ashamed to fold to the cash to make a profit, especially with my measly history but this time I started too soon and risked too much.  Ok, on to how it unfolded so NO ONE repeats this error!

25-50

JJ Button folded to me, I raise 4X; SB called and had just won a big hand when he called a raise from someone else with 25os…Flop 4×2c3c He bets 50 into me…I raise to 400 and he re-raised to 850…hmmmm started wondering here but decided to call since he just pulled off that other manuever.  Kc ck/ck 10h ck/ck….He wins with Ad5d.  Think I should fold to the reraise…I mean, I raised to find out where I was (at least not making the same mistake as last week!)  Found out, FOLD.

Ac5c Button folded to me raise 3X catch same caller.  Flop 2c6c4c..nice! ck/ck (fingers crossed he had something)  Turn 2h I bet 150, he calls.  River is 4h…now I bet 700 (pot sized) and he calls…forgot to record his hand but I should’ve realized either he would call a large bet or fold; probly no middle ground. (maybe that’s over analyzing…)   Back up to starting chips: 10K

1010 BB…EP raise to 300, I call and flop is 326…I lead out betting 400 and he folds.

New table; New blinds 100-200

 7c9c hijack raise 3X; call; rest fold.  flop 4d6c8c  I bet 800, he hesitated (falsely?) and re-raised 1400….I feel the sinch but I called.  6d I think both checked here (notes fuzzy) and river brings the glorius 10c…was afraid he would ck so I overbet praying for call…pushed all in and he called with 88 boat…wow….only 2 outs and I hit one…20,600

Very next hand: AdJc raised 3X, guy I just short stacked raised all in one more caller.  Side pot checked down; I got side pot with A high and guy pushed with 7h8h and caught 2 7’s to win main.

Button: AhKc  Raise to 300; call; flop AcKsJc He bets 800; I min raise and he folds 22,156

150-300

UTG AhKh raise 3X(900); RR to 1500…hmmm…I call.  8cQc8s He bets a measly 1,200 into this pot….seriously thought he also had AK but could’ve had QQ….I call and turn is Ks…now I bet 2,100 into him (learned from last week?)  BUT now he pushes ALL IN almost another 10K.  Was gonna put this one on the “What would you do?”  Seriously, if he has QQ would NOT do this! KK?  I don’t think so…would slow play…AA?  same…I was convinced he also had AK and had 16K still on the books before calling this…would still be above chip avg but would still have 6K if called and lost…Lots of dough in this pot.  What do you do?  LOL…I peeled some time off the clock and…..folded….sigh.

200-400

New table and no hands…lots of action and raising in front of me stole NOTHING

300-600

55BB  Cutoff limps; f; call; ck…4h6c8s ck; I bet 1,200 f;f yippee!! 16,306

Next hand SB 55 (LOL)  EP raise 1225 for me to call…RR before it gets to me…yeah, fold!  Next hand: Button KhKd Fold to me Raise 3X to 1,800 and all in behind me…call and he has AQos…No ace, yes!  25,417

Several A/rags but out of position, raised one in position and stole blinds. 25,717

400-800

Lots of blind stealing at this level.  BB Ad9s Button raise; f call6s4h8d; ck/ck 8h I bet 2,400, call. (oops!)  9h I bet 3200 feeling better when he called for “time” and let about 80 secs come off the clock…he called eventually with AsKh  32,917

400-800 with $50 ante

Antes definitely bring more action and should keep me moving not just SITTING around.  Your stack dwindles much more quickly.  MP JsJc Raise to me 1177 (they love these odd raises that look like more chips with the 77–does someone teach this that it looks more scary than 1200???)  I RR to 4400 (should done 4399…) and he folds.  Definitely have earned that fold.

2 hands later: EP JcJd raise 4X and all f again…37,244

500-1000 $75 ante  It’s 2175 an orbit!  With drop rate at about 50 people a minute I may be able to make it to the cash with what I’ve got, but it’s TOO SOON!  Here’s where the wheels came off and I began playing too conservatively…I did get one walk at this level and end at 34K

750-1500 $150

Last level not mentioned as I FOLDED every da** hand!  No stealing of any blinds or walks…duh…Down to 24K and see JJ staring at me….however…..EP pushes all in and the big stack at our table CALLS!  Now to me….wanted to call really but risk my tourney life and besides, the big stack did not raise to isolate which made me even more leery of him.  I fold and EP had Ad9D and big stack AK…I would’ve won the pot Sigh…but not too many regrets here…too risky with big stack I think…open for comments as ALWAYS…

1000-2000 $200 antes  16,644 1624 left and 1170 cash

Still a lot of people to oust before I can cash…Wasn’t sure I could make it but though I might.  Pushed with A8; all fold. 14,244

FOLDED the rest of tourney FOLD, FOLD, FOLD!!!  Seriously, almost BLINDED MYSELF out.  So, not a good feeling and this went on for almost an hour.  I vowed (and I mean it) to never do that again.  Maybe I could’ve but I came within 4 hands of being blinded out…finally cashed and went out 992/7836 (caught a few double ups before leaving for good)  for $313.44

I believe in positive return on my money and not sure I could EVER play so aggressively not to care but a middle ground I will search for and keep myself with a chance…when the bubble bursts, I don’t mind being short but I should have enough that a double up will mean something and get me in with a chance to go places.  My new mantra….”Never again”….LOL  Thx for listening and learning AS USUAL with me! 

Jen

Sunday Million 10-05-08

Ok….ventured out again this week with same deal with my dad…sadly he went out and left me in charge for both of us…have some questionable actions and here’s the summary:

Blinds 25-50

MP 99 raise to 200 after EP limped in…behind me quick call and EP calls.  K54 rainbow, EP bets into me…..the gall!  I fold  9650.

Cutoff KQos call…Button raise 300 on top I fold 9300.

BB J5  SB completes…789 rainbow he bets 50-call.  Turn is 10.  He bets 50 again and I min raise (maybe try more to look like bluff?)  he calls and river is 2.  He checks and I bet 300…he calls!  (He had 86 for the small str8)  9800.

Button K10 os 2 callers I called.  Flop: Kc5h9h…50 bet to me…I raise to 200 he calls other folds.  4h on turn ck/ck (wk i know….) River 4d…check….???  I thought I said I wouldn’t play WEAK last week???  I checked for the win of 650.  10,175

Blinds 50-100

9550 Button AKos 2 limpers and I raise to 400.  Both call!  Kh4d8s…ck, ck and I bet 800…fold  10,475.

Blinds 100-200

9175  Button A6os  One caller in front…I call…sigh…should RAISE here.  BB also calls.   Why can’t I do this at the time when I know it is the proper play?  Now I don’t know where I’m in on the hand and if I raised and BB re-raised it’s easy to let it go…anyway, 1054 rainbow flop BB cks and other player bets 200…I fold…8975.  (GAVE away my chips there no doubt)

Blinds 150-300

BB 910  Bluffed when a spade came on the turn bet the pot 1,500 vs a very aggressive player to my immediate left.  Had been laying down to him and felt I could buy this one…no luck, he re raised and I folded my non-flush…6575.

SB 77  Aggressive guy to my left in BB Raised to 900 and he re raised all in…I make a stand again against this guy as he had been bullying the WHOLE table all day…I call and he has a hand…AK…77 holds…yippee! 12,550.

Blinds 200-400

AJ in hijack Raise to 1,200 all fold  13,150.

SB Ah3h  Folded to me and I min raise the aggressive guy…he calls and flop is 248 rainbow.  I bet 1,200  and he calls.  Turn is a Q, I weakly ck and he bets 2,500…duh…I fold 11,350.

MP KsQs all fold to me and I limp to catch another aggressive guy at our table who had been SITTING OUT for the first 1-1/2 hours…Then he showed up moved all in, won and sat out again.  He was not “disconnected” and timed out.  He SAT OUT….Later he came back played a little and then moved all in about 6 times….you will hear more but it was CRAZY!  Everyone folds to BB who checks.  I flop a Q and bet after a ck and take down the pot 11,950.

Walk 12,150 (Rare!)

Blinds 300-600: 11,950

All in dude is going crazy during this level.  SB Qd6d  All fold to me.  Aggressive dude is still to my left in the BB.  I limp to him and he limps.  (rare…)  Flop is QhQc3h.  I ck, he cks.  Turn 9h.  I ck to agg guy and he bets 800, I reraise to 1600 and he calls.  (maybe should bet more just in case guy has hearts…will I EVER learn???)  River 2c.  I push all in and after a LONG PAUSE (long is good here) he CALLS with 9c2h!!!!! Now up to 19K and in good shape finally. 

MP 66 Raise, all fold 19,500.

Blinds 400-800 $50 ante  (18,300)

Walk now have 19,500

LP 77 Raise 3X no callers  10,500.

MP 1010 Raise 3X to 2,400  Agg dude to my left CALLS.  fold, fold ALL IN…(this is CRAZY guy who was going all in on every hand) up to me…I push ALL IN to get agg dude out and go heads up and he folds.  Guy has 99 and my 10’s hold.  33K  Now, really here I can play solid and don’t need to get fancy.  I have a good shot at playing solid with a chance at the money.  (about 1 hr from the cash)  Sigh….

Button KK  Fold, fold, limp, fold, fold I Raise and everyone folds  34,600.

Blinds 500-1000 $75 ante (33,559)

Button Jh10h Folded to me I raise 3X and agg guy pushed all in..I fold 28,759.

SB KhQc Folded to me, I limp to the agg guy planning to re raise him.  He raises to 4500.  Now, I need to think, it is a large raise and do I follow through with the re raise and commit or do I fold?  B/C CLEARLY CALLING IS NOT AN OPTION.  Seriously, I think sometimes I just lose my mind in the heat of the moment.  PICK ONE.  Yes, you all know what’s coming.  Some other girl in my body, with my hands clicked on the CALL button.  SIgh……………Flop is Ad8d9d.  I decide I am going to re raise Mr. aggressive and intentionally ck here.  Of course, that’s too late, I needed to do that PRE FLOP to see where he’s at since he could have ANY hand at any time.  He bets the same post flop of 4500 and I insta-re raise him to which he insta-pushes all in and I have to fold.  14,734.  I’m not thinking straight and super mad at myself.   Almost as if the aggressive guy has put me on tilt which I really don’t get upset at usually (although there were 2 crazy guys at my table)  I usually buckle down and wait for a hand to nail him on but for some foolish reason, didn’t do it this time. 

The very next hand Button: KhJc  Folded to me…I again limp to the agg guy to pushes all in AGAIN!  I decide to call (maybe out of frustration)  He has Ah9s and I needed a club on the river to 4 flush him but his hand holds.  OUT 2347/7245  after 2-1/2 hrs…Took 1080 to cash.

Have I learned from this?  Hopefully….If I keep typing the same mistakes over maybe, just maybe I can learn from them??  Here’s to hoping!!!  B/C I love this game.

Sunday Million 9-28-2008

Well…I promised to write and take notes for my blog this week.  Sorry girls but it’s gonna be short! 

Luckily, I won my way in via the 400 frequent player point satellite so I had no dollars directly invested.  I made the same side deal with my dad who had not played in this for ages.  We split profits (over buy in) 50-50 until player 2 gets their entry back…then we split the rest of the profits 80-20.

Dad went out early when he got it in with AQ AFTER the flop with Q high…other guy  was making a move with AJ and caught a KI0 to oust him! 

Had sailed along slowly with not much happening until Level 2…yup, level 2.  Blinds were 50-100 and I picked up QQ in EP.  I raised to 300 quietly hoping for action.  Sure enough I had a raiser who put 700 on top of my raise.  I decided to call and see a flop.  AA10 and he bets only 1K into me.  Not sure what he had but with 2 AA on flop odds against him having one.  Would he bet out if he did have one??  I decide to call (seriously not sure whether I should have….)  And as luck would have it….a Q turned!!  Life is GOOD!  Gonna double up and have a shot at this money as they are paying 1080 spots and I’m in for free.  He bets out 1700 and I raise him all in. (I have 200 left)  He calls with AK….Sadly, you all know the result by now.  He caught one of his 7 outs…10 on the river for a higher boat….brutal game, poker!

Zero for the Gianera’s today in the Million…what’s a girl to do?  Got right into the $50 game with a $80,000 guarantee…..had to actually PAY to get into that one! Better luck to the rest of you!

Pechanga Strategy

Ok…I already wrote my tournament summary on the LPS site but I thought I would open up a few strategy questions/comments to my cash in this tourney.  Now, I have always been a fairly conservative girl not without the ability to steal blinds in late position but at this tournament I was short stacked basically the ENTIRE TIME….really bizarre and I’m thinking maybe I should have pushed SOMETIME earlier instead of ending up with an “M” of less than 2 at the dinner break.

I started off with a bad hand early where I flopped top pair in the BB J4 and flop was J82 (?) all clubs.  I need to get OFF this hand and save my chips but of course, silly me bleeds off some chips and lets him catch up on the river after check calling (WEAK!!!)  and a K pops….actually writing this down cements it and LEARN FROM ME!!!  Geez!!  Just lay it down!  Who cares if you have top pair–even with top kicker (not a 4)  flushes abound and he could already have one.  Such a baby error and I bled many of my starting 4K off while the blinds were still 50-100.

So, then I went card dead and had an active table raising consistently in front of me…so fold I did….endlessly.  I picked up a couple blinds but really just kept losing my blinds without a fight.  How do you all feel about defending your blinds?  I know some targeted me based on my play and chip size (although you get too low and then can just push all in so they have to beware) but after reading Gus’ book and his belief in defending particularly early so they don’t think they can get away with it is something I should set out to do early.  Do you guys consciously think about this?  Or only defend when your hand demands it.  I also don’t use the bogus re-raise trick very often at all and think that should be in my arsenal.  Not sure how/when that is best applied but would like to figure that out.  Any comments there?  LOL….asking for help here.

So, at dinner I knew my measly 6500 when the blinds were going up to 800-1600 with 300 ante needed to get in the pot EARLY and ALL IN.  I kind of got into the midset at the break of building my chips vs the “hanging on” feeling…not sure if I need to pump myself up or what but the “survival” instinct can just kill you when you leave yourself not enough chips to do any damage even when doubling up.  I vow not to do that again?  Devil on my shoulder is saying “Jen…you just hung on like you’re good at and you made the money…deep”.   But, I had to get lucky TWICE to do it and the odds to do that again are WAY against you (that’s me, speaking to myself–I know, I’m weird) 

So, lesson and NOTE TO SELF: Never allow that again….push harder when you get shorter and PICK A POSITION–heads up if you can get it to take a shot…whaddya’ll think?  You ever go through this?  LOL…

Gonna play in another big tourney Friday ($530 buy in) where you get 10K in chips and start at 25-50 so there will be plenty of play.  Any sage advice for me other than what I just drilled into my head?  I heard it’s usually a small turn out for this tourney (about 4 tables) …it’s fairly new and one of the larger buy ins around San Diego.

A good feeling cashing deep….want it again!

PokerStars Sunday Million

Well, plenty to share today.  Played in several satellites and finally made it in.  Plenty of action at my table early.  Blinds still 25-50 and I pick up KJd.  I decide to limp in cutoff (hmmm) and there is a raise behind me 3X and I call.  Flop is K102 rainbow and I check call 600.  Turn is 3 I check call again (weak play, should’ve raised to see where I was at…)  Oh, hindsight…anyway, called the 1800 and the river is a glorius J.  I bet out 1250 and get called.  He had QQ but I ddn’t know that and never bothered to find out with any action.  Anyway, I digress…per ususal.

Kinda quiet for a while…lost a little with A9clubs, stole some blinds, never got any callers.  Blinds are now 400-800 and I pick up KQs and raise from late position with one caller.  Flop is QJ3 rainbow and he checks while I bet out 2400.  He pushed all in…..almost my whole stack…..and you?   (I should’ve put this one in the “How would you play it”)  I simply sucked it up and called the overbet hoping he was not good enough to pull that off with a good hand.  Luckily, he had 910 and the best hand held up.  There is something to be said for days when the best hand holds up.  Now I have doubled up and have 22K.

Blinds go up to 500-1000 with $75 ante.  2400 people left average stack was 27K and I have 19K (lost a few blinds…)  AQc and I raise in late position (no action in front of me)  3X and catch a caller.  Flop is KQx and he checks to me.  I bet and I can’t exactly remember this and my notes are fuzzy but I think a blank peeled off and I pushed….I remember thinking unless he had a king I had him and to push.  Same blinds I pick up JJ on the button and raise 4X and BB reraises all in to you…..put this one up for discussion.    I was a little below average and 900 cashed in the field.  My brother definitely debated me on this one!  I called and he rolled AKos.  Best hand held up….yippee!  Now, I’ve got some chips and feel like I can make the cash.

Blinds are now 600-1200 $100 ante.  I’ve got 44K and rank 564/1674.  No action on this level for me.  Such a conservative girl!  Blinds 750-1500 $150 ante.  I’m down to 40K and again steal a few blinds/lose a few to stay close to 40K.  Blinds 1000-2000 $200 ante…now I’m thinking I can fold to the cash but pick up QQ and raise with no callers.  All quiet and blinds increase to 1250-2500 $250 ante.  Avg stack is 60K and I have slipped to 35K.  1122 players left…with 900 to the cash.  (Not that I was watching this! LOL….yeah, right!) 

Survivor checks in on all of us and I think when she sees me missing from the regular PStars group she check to see if a miracle has occurred and sure enough, I’m playing and still in!  She greets me with nice encouragement and saw some of my quiet times.  Now that I’m this close, I’m FOLDING upon FOLDING and perhaps taking JUST a moment to think….lol….and she starts hassling me!  Okay, not really, but after I delay she simply types in LOL and I know IMMEDIATELY what she is thinking….scary!!  And I was laughing too.   Wanted to make the money…..BAD….not one of those push in to WIN….sorry, girls, not me!

Up they go again….1500-3000 $300 ante.  950 left…only real hand I considered was 66 but didn’t think too hard at all.  Had it in middle position and was not going to risk my tourney on it.  Now I was about 9 to the money and in the BB.  SB limped and I checked with Q8?  Whatever I had the 8 showed up–think it was 1087/and a str8 card came on the turn and we checked it.  River he made small value bet…It was a nice play, esp checking the turn.  Gave me hope my 8 was good and I really debated here.  Knew I was making the cash even if I called the small bet and so I did.  Indeed he did make the str8 and had checked it.  Now I’m extremely short stacked…but IN THE MONEY!!!!!!!  I pick up A9c and push all in and get two callers….99 and QQ….flopped an A and rivered one for good measure.  Whoo hoo!  Won a race  and now I have 35K with the avg 77K.

Next hand I pick up 77 and raise 3X and get a caller with the short stack. He only has 1500 and he has 99 and I lose.  Down to 33K.  Then, I have a short stack of 6K move all in at middle position and I pick up J7d on the button with the other short stack behind me with 6K left after his blind…the blinds were 2K/4K.  I figured he had to push and was pot committed so implied odds dictated my call on this one.  I got lucky and hit JJ on the flop for trips….Up to 43K and moving up the ladder for more $$$!   Sweet. 

I’m still short stacked at 33K average 102K so I have to make a move fast.  I pick up AQ and push and catch a caller with AKh….lucky girl!  AQ flops and I double up!  Seems like it’s my day…patient early, made sure I cashed and then started “playing” and catching with best hand holding when needed.  Well…..the very next hand the same person who just took the bad beat with AKh pushes all in and I pick up AQ again!  I call and he rolls A10s.  Short story:  He caught runner, runner to flush me out…sigh….but happy, I was and I didn’t whine, I PROMISE! 

Went out about 550th for $540.  A good day. 

Michigan Wedding

Been offline for 4 days while off at my SO’s nephew’s wedding in Kalamazoo, MI this weekend.  Had a great time as did my 5 year old son.  He cried this morning when it was time to leave and said he wanted to stay!  We flew off Thursday to Chicago and got in late.  A friend from the bridge world put us up at their house and we stayed up WAY too late talking to them!  The next morning my son was thrilled when he got to play baseball in their basement with a “T” in a batting cage.  Also, she sent him off with the “coolest” Pokemon” cards since her son is now 20….lol….

Off to Michigan for the wedding/rehearsal dinner.  We got there a few hours ahead of the dinner and saw all the family.  Everyone loves seeing TJ…he’s definitely the youngest family member! (Rick is the oldest and had TJ at age 50)  Anyhow, we had a nice dinner, fun seeing everyone and drinks around!  The next day we toured Kalamazoo which is beautiful and hit Western Michigan Stadium (bride and groom went to college there) and my son had a blast playing football on the field!  Off to the wedding which was beautiful…(TJ’s cousin who is 24 getting married…)  The reception was also fun and had a wide variety of music from Usher, oldies, classics and disco!  LOL….then up early this am to drive back to Chicago for our long flight back to San Diego! 

Happy to be home.  Missed everyone and my poker but had a great time.

Sunday Million on Mother’s Day

Ok….it’s Mother’s Day…and I want to play poker!  My son/SO took me out to a nice, casual breakfast and let me get ready to play in the Sunday Million.  I had won a satellite so I was in on the cheap.  (thank goodness…preview of what’s to come!) 

First problem…I had internet issues and had entered the game a couple hours early and then couldn’t get on at game time!  LOL…Finally unhooked/re-hooked everything and in the game I was at 1:47 only 17 mins late and still had $9,850 in chips..whew.  My first order of business was to go tell survivor gl and as I did so, she proceeded to flip over AA and take down a pot!  Weeeeeee!

I pick up Q7 in cutoff position and it’s folded to me…mini raise (200) and BB calls.  Flop is 992 with 2 hearts…I make a continuation bet and he calls.  Hmmmm….turn is 2 and I slow down and ck…he cks.  River is Q no heart.  I bet 600 hoping he has ace and he does and calls.  A7…up to 10,900 forget those blinded off chips…

Next big hand comes about 1 hour in when blinds are 150-300  I catch QQ in early position and raise 3X, LP re raises and I push all in….He calls and has AA!  Unlucky…maybe….I flop a Q and double up.  Unreal!  (except now I owe the poker gods 1…)  Now I have 19,140 and in comfortable position.  How can she blow this???  Keep reading…lol.  A8h in SB folded to me…I raise 3X and BB calls.  I hit none of the flop but make a bet which he calls…uneasy…I check turn and it gets checked down.  He had flopped a small pair which held up.  Down to 16,740.  ATdia in cutoff and raise….get one caller and flop A…he folds to my bet, now 18K.

AQc UTG…what do you guys think here?  Not my fav hand particularly UTG but I HATE calling…….so I raised again.  Not helping my tight rep!!  LOL…Catch one caller and flop is K42 rainbow and he folds to my continuation bet.  21,240.  AKdia in LP…I raise and catch one caller again.  Flop is K94with 2 hearts and he leads out a bet.  Turn is 2(?) heart for 3 hearts on board.  He bet into  me again and I called out of fear of the flush or possible set?  I need to re raise here (DUHJ to see where he’s at so I’m not wondering on the da** river which is the 7h…sigh….He bets about 1/2 the pot again and I call.  He has stayed in on Q7 with Qhearts and 4 flushed me.  I deserved that one, no doubt about it.  13,740.

Now I have picked up nothing for a  while and they have been raising in front of me.  Hard for me to pull the trigger on a bluff re raise but realize it might be my only hope soon!  Blinds are 400-800 with $50 ante.  33 EP  and raise 3X to pick up the blinds.  A4 in BB Button calls, SB calls, I ck.  A63 rainbow.  I bet at the pot and it’s mine.  13,140 still below avg.  Very next hand I pick up 66 in the SB and it is raised to 2K in front of me.  What to do?  Suggestions?  I thought I had been in several pots recently and they may not have anything but didn’t really want to get it in the middle with 66….so I folded.   A few hands later I have 88 in EP and raise 3X…SB pushes so I call 6366.  He has QQ and it holds.  Way down now, to less than 4K and next hand pick up KJdia and push all in.  LP calls me with K7 and my hand holds.  8,448 and my next BB I get a walk….go to break with measly 8798.

Blinds up 500-1000 with $75 ante…OUCH! 82 in SB raised in front of me…fold.  102 in BB an all in in front of me…I fold after someone else calls.  No regrets despite the two 10’s that flopped!  LOL. Down to 6773.  Next A8 hearts in MP….I push all in and get 2 callers…bummer.  Q97clubs flop (noooooo, wrong suit!)  And the side pot ends when the other pushes all in with AA…lol…not even close…out I went, tail between the legs.  Out 2279 and 1080 cashed.  Only good thing is I got in via satellite….sigh…..not giving up. (even if I should re think this….)

 

PStars “Double Nickel”

Well, I’ve played in this tournament many times…cashed a few but this was my first one since blogging!  It is a $10 rebuy at 7pm REAL TIME (PST) and for the first hour it is crazy!  They guarantee a $55,000 prize pool which is always exceeded (thanks to the crazies…) and hence, my father (yep good player…taught me….) and I call it the double nickel.  Sometimes I even have to log in and sign him up to be blinded off when he’s running late from work.

So—off I go with Survivor at another table down on my small screen to keep an eye on her while the fun begins.  There are 1705 entrants and it is Thursday May 8, 2008.  I lose a little early when I flop top pair but there is a flush draw that comes home and I do not call the river and I simply rebought to push my stack to about 3K.  Then, I had an open ended straight which I made a continuation bet and it did not come to fruition.   Bleeding a little here until I pick up A10sp on the button.  There was a mini raise with a caller so I pushed 50 more into the pile of chips.  Flop comes Ah10d7d and I’m first to act.  I bet small (200 I think) and both called.  (think I should have bet more here to protect against flush)  Turn is Kc and I bet out 650 with both calling….bad play!  Then the river is 6d…helllllooooo????  What do you do?  What’s your plan?  Well, all I knew was if they made it, it was certainly my fault–I priced them in the whole way (sorry dad)  but, it WAS a rebuy so I thought it was possible they may try to bluff the river.  I “wimpingly” (not a word) checked and it goes, All in, All in, to me?  LOL….what’s a girl to do.   I just slapped myself and called since it was rebuy.  Yippee!  My hand was good?  No way….6275 pot and I’m off and running.  Keep in mind these rebuy periods (this one for a whole hour) can be ghastly.

Next, I sail along and pick up KK…yum yum.  Someone raises 4X in EP…I’m in MP.  I find a way to call and flop is Ks9d5d (I do NOT hold Kd)  He checks, I bet 950 and he folds…boo hoo.  I lost some chips on K10s but the guy pushed all in with only 285 so I called.  I hit the 10 on the flop but he 4 flushed me…lol…can’t complain about that one.  OK…now I’ve got 55 and again they raise 4X in EP…I call hoping to hit set which I do!  Also had a picture card on flop (can’t remember exactly and notes are fuzzy) but they were grasping with top pair and the rebuy period was almost over.  I was 152/1258 and hit the break with 19K…a very nice start.  Survivor had also hit some hands and had a similar stack size. 

Things usually settle down after the add on and “real” poker begins in this lengthy tourney.  I pick up KK again on the button.  There is a mega stack with 68K to my right in the SB.  It is raised in LP and Mega stack pushes all in….well, duh, no decision there, also push and first raiser also calls all in.  Mega stack has QQ other guy AK….despite KK usually being a magnet for aces…the best hand held up and I now was “stying” with about 30K. 

I began to run card dead with raises in front of me and difficult choices unless I wanted to pull off a re raise bluff…(not really my style…)  I got down to 22K and a small stack in LP pushed all in–this person had not been the most solid player and I thought they were making a move although there were 2 BIG stacks behind him…..probly not a percentage play but something told me to call his a**!  What would you call in this situation?  How high would your ace have to be?  Small pair?  I was on the button with AQ and called…he held A7 and once again the best hand held up.

Ok…so it’s going so well, how could I possibly have donked off those chips you ask???  LOL…I KNOW you’re asking…I raised 4X with AK caught one caller and 3 small cards flopped.  He bet into me (he was first to act) and I folded….I had already bled some chips and I’m not a believer in Big Slick if I don’t flop any part of it.  Think it may be one of the most overplayed hands around…but who knows?  I fold and am now short stacked (due to other hands which never developed)  I picked up 2 clubs in the SB and call when I flop a flush draw….I push to grab pot after the flop but catch a caller with Arag and the nut flush draw…darn!  Should’ve been more patient in the end…I still had about 13K and could’ve lasted and waited for a premium hand or fold to me in position.  You would think I would have LEARNED this lesson once or twice over the years…oh well…maybe next time I’ll think, hmmm, if I report this to the bloggers, will they LAUGH at me?  And think twice!!!  Went out 360/1705 and it took 252 to cash…Survivor went on to cash 64th I believe and had fun railing her.  She was leading at one point which was cool.  I totally had chip envy and typed as an observor….”I wish I had the chip lead”…LOL…WTG Tina!

See you guys next time…will play more this weekend…I PROMISE!

Yes! My first blog…

Thank you punky for directing me to the “dashboard” so I could figure out how to start writing on this thing…can you say technologically challenged?  Plus, I will now be able to respond to all the blogs…have been reading them (LOVE reading them) and now have the ability to sign in…figure I owe you a few since I’ve been leeching off you guys for over a week now.

Well….as far as poker goes…good night last night.  Began my new mission in life…qualifying for the Sunday Million on PokerStars every week   I used to play in those big MTT’s but I think getting a shot at the Million and playing in that field is more my style and what I’m good at as well as getting continued practice for the game I love.  Already qualified once, unregistered and started using the credits to qualify again and/or play some other tourneys to continue to build my bankroll.  For some reason (anyone wanna speculate why?)  I seem to do FAR better live than online…maybe I’m not as patient?  Not as focused? 

So, I enter at $10 rebuy with one seat guaranteed and begin my conservative play for a rebuy….sometimes I HATE these things as people take ridiculous chances and double up with suckouts but….sometimes you can play conservative and just keep adding to your stack when they make anti-percentage plays.  That’s what happened last night.  Got a great start and kept it up to cruise to 1 of 3 spots for the Sunday Million…yippee!

Will probably get back on tonight and give it another go for $30….got some back up in my account now.  Here’s to looking forward to Sunday….

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