So we have made day 2 with 25 bigs, looking at the web site it's not actually in bad shape, yes theirs some big stacks but I'm in the mix. I decided to forget about the Hi/Lo and concentrate on the main.
I get to the casino to be told that the seat draw had been done and I was sat next to the chip leader who was Paul Haycock (on my right) and JP Round to his right. I sore this as a positive, I need chips and there's plenty on my table. Before the game started I ran in to the young guy from day one, he was very hyper and looking forward to the day ahead. He had manage to chip up to 140k and was in the top 5. But then is excitement turned in to despair has he was told that he had been withdrawn from the game, the reason being that he had played in the Main 1B and with this not being a re-entry, he was disqualified. He was not a regular APAT'er in fact I think it was his first and said he did not know about not being a re-entry but how did the poker desk allow this to happen?
The main starts and I settle down to play passive /aggressive, fold until i get aces then get a double up from Paul well that was the plan, only before I even get the seat warm the table broke. The new table was full of unknowns (apart from Linda) but continued with my plan. For the next 2/3 levels it was fold fold fold since I was card dead. By now the bubble was in site but I would not get there with me chips now being about 12 bigs. Then came what I was waiting for AA and I get the double. I could have now just shut down and make the cash but instead I go on the attack picking up some small pots uncontested. We are down to about 35 with 27 getting paid, I have about 100k and the blinds are 3k/6k. The play starts to slow down as people start to see the money, so I start to be more loose unfortunately every time I play a hand some one has a better hand. This is an example, on the button with AQ so raise it, SB shoves, I had already decided that I was calling but the BB (who was table leader) also pushed, after some time I folded to see SB had JJ and BB had KK. If I had called the JJ I would have been out.
The bubble seem to take ages with all ins but no calls including myself, eventually the bubble burst and we are in the money but not in good shape down to 12 bigs again. New table and the first hand I get KK in first position, made 2.5 raise but no takers. The blinds are now 5k/10k I have 120k, on the button I look down to see A rag, with the SB having about 100k and the BB being table leader. My thought process to this had is that the SB has just gone thought the blinds and therefore does not need to play the had unless having a big hand. The BB has loads of chips but will not be willing to put them at risk unless he as a big hand. I could have done this play with any 2 cards but having the ace helped so I push. SB thinks then calls BB folds. I was expecting to see a pocket pair or AK, AQ. He had A 10 which surprised me. Yes has it happened he was in good shape but for me it was a poor call. After this hand I had 2 bigs, a few hands later I was out (cannot remember the exit hand).
The positives of this game is this was my 3rd cash in 4 main events finishing 3rd, 10th and now 20th. Which I think shows that I have the game for the longer format but I'm always grinding short stakes, something I'm going to have to work on.
Even though I have been playing for over 10 years now I still class myself as a novice since I only play 3/4 or 5 live games a year, but looking back at the game a think I played at my top, tried to mix things up but when it was not working reverted to my normal play and grinded my way back into the game. Looking at the A rag hand I think I played it correctly, the A 10 was a loose call (in my opinion) and would make the same play again.
So that's another APAT season over with, o no it's not we have the online, now that's another story.................