ThinkerJE makes a return trip to Vegas

[ThinkerJE]

Ok just got back to the hotel room via 2 hours at the video poker machine (managed to break even and get 5 beers in that time, so a good result).  Today was all about the Binion"s Poker Classic and event 3, $160 NLHE.

Nothing much has changed about downtown LV and fremont in particular.  I still feel it is the poor relation of the glitz of the strip and it still has a dirty, seedy feel about
it.  That said, Binion"s still get the hairs on my back to stand on end, so much history, so much relevance to the poker world, I really love playing poker in this place.  Another difference I noticed from last year is that they have added a Poker Classic wall of fame with the photos of all the winners from last year in pride of place, a very nice touch from Binion"s.  It is clear that they are trying to establish their classic series in its own right, and once again the dealers and organisation was top class.  Now to the tournament.

287 runners for this event with 30 minute blinds and a decent structure.

16,600 @ first break (end of level 3 with 5k starting stack).
I have bruises on my boat when the deck hit me.  The 2 main hands were as follows.  I am in the SB with QT and there are 3 limpers, so I make up (blinds 25-50) and the BB checks his option.  Flop is T T 2 rainbow and I check hoping for action behind.  All check and the turn is a 7 (2 spades on board now).  I have to bet now to try and get some return on my trips, I bet 200 and the button raises to 500.  I know I am ahead and call hoping to get him to bet again on the river.  Blank on the river and I check to the button who bets 500.  I raise to 1,500 and he reluctantly calls before mucking his cards.  A good read and a noce pot early on.  Then comes the hand where I got most of my chips.  The blinds are 50-100 and I am UTG with 66, I limp in and 3 other players limp in behind me.  The SB makes up and the BB checks.  Flop if 6 Q K (with the six & queen of hearts).  Now I know I am ahead as anyone with QQ or KK would have raised pre flop, but I don"t like the flush draw so I bet out 300 and get a flat call from mid position.  Then the button raises to 800, so I want to make them pay to hit their draws so I re raise to 3,000 and the flat caller moves all in.  The button gets out of the way and I call the extra 2,000.  He has Kh4h for top pair with 2nd nut flush draw and I need to avoid a heart.  The set holds and I am up to 15,000 half way through level 2.  An AK later and I am up over 16k at the break.  Happy days, no need to do anything stupid now.

21,450 @ 2nd break.  Just staying out of trouble really, with only 2 hands worth a mention.  I raise with 77 in mid position and get a caller from the seat next to me.  Flop is Q 5 2 rainbow and I bet out and get called.  Turn 4, I bet again and get called.  River is a 6, I fire a third shot and he folds claiming he had AK.  Not sure about this, he may have had 99 or TT but I took fown a decent pot all the same.  The other hand occured after the introduction of the antes (blinds 100-200 with 25 ante).  UTG raises to 600 and all fold round to me in the BB with KJ.  It is an easy call as it costs only 400 more into a pot of 1,150, I need to be wary of AK, JJ which have me dominated but still an easy call.  Flop is A T Q with 2 hearts.  I check the nuts and he bets 900, I call.  Turn is , putting 2 diamonds on board, I check again intending to drop the bomb when he bets.  He bets 2,000 and I raise to 5,500, he goes into the tank for 2 or 3 minutes before folding.  I may have lost my customer there but there was already plenty in the pot, with 2 flush draws and a chop if he had a jack.  Not sure what hand he had, but he was pretty solid and therefore I assume he had AQ or AK and made a top fold.  Apart from that not much happened.

26,900 @ 3rd break (only 49 left now, with 30 paid, I am just above average chips).
Again no dramas or incidents, just picking up blinds in position, in fact I had no showdowns during the entire 3 levels.  Blinds 800-1600 with 200 ante when we go back, so I am in good shape but one hand could change all that.

Cannot find a situation to get chips in and so within a few orbits I am becoming short stacked.  I raise in cutoff with 55 and have to fold on the flop when a solid player bets out.  I did make one successful move when in the SB, all fold to monster chip stack on button who limps.  I have Qh2h and decide to make up, BB checks, flop if A 6 5 rainbow, I check expecting button to bet and then fold.  However BB & button both check and I sense weakness.  I plan to move in now and the turn being the (giving me a flush draw) means it is a no brainer.  I push, 2 insta folds and a good read.  I finally go out in 32nd (just short of the money) when the following hand happened.  All fold to me on button with A T off,  my stack is 19k with blinds 1k - 2k with 200 ante.  I raise to 6,000 and BB moves all in and has me just covered.  I hit the tank and think it through, I only have 13k left and he may think I am on a button steal, I may even be ahead although he has played pretty solid throughout.  After a dwell I call and he has 55.  We are off to the races, although I fall at the first when the flop brings a 5 sending me to the rail.  In hindsight I made a small mistake in that I should move all in pre flop, as that will give me more fold equity.  He may call anyway, but that puts the decision on him for most of his chips.  If I do bet 6k then it should be an insta call as I should not put a chip in the pot unless I am prepared to stick the lot in. 

Not a bad first effort in LV 2008.  I felt good about my game and the decisions i made.  Missing the money does not matter to me as I was looking to win the whole thing anyway (and the fact I have a blatent disregard for money anyway, you can"t take it with you).  I hope I can continue this form into the next 2 weeks.

Jon & Martyn did not get the cards or flops that I did and manged to grind their way to level 6 or 7 before having to push their short stacks and running into better hands.  I am sure things will improve during the rest of the trip.

I was pretty drained after the event (5 & half hours of concentration) and so we headed back the Circus for a few beers and a de brief.  Jon & Martyn hit the sack early (not together) but I was still hyped so played some video poker for a couple of hours.  5 beers later I cashed out for the same amount I had put in the machine and called it a night.

Other things to happen today;  I managed to give myself a new name when asked what my first and last name were when registering at Binion"s.  For some reason I answered "Yes, Please", I assumed the TD would ask if I wanted to register for the tournament, appartantly he didn"t, made me look like a t1t and gave Jon & Martyn a laugh.

Also the prize for who is the first to get asked if they are Austrailian goes to Jon Garrett, thanks to an American lady on the rail, it was only a matter of time.

And finally, I was not able to get my pu$$ycat fix this evening, this will definitely be put right tomorrow, a full, in depth report will follow (with pictures if I can get away with it).

So thats about it.  Plan for tomorrow is breakfast at 10am, follow by the 12noon deep stack tournament at Ceasar"s Palace (same structure as the APAT events).  Report to follow.  Then onto the Rio for the WSOP on Sunday.

NO BAD BEATS - Play to win, not to cash...

[ThinkerJE]

Got up late and didn"t get to breakfast until 10.20am.  Then we got the bus to Ceaser"s to register for the 12noon tournament.  $330 NHLE with 10k starting chips and a good structure with 40 mins blind levels.  There were 89 runners in total and Martyn & Jon managed to be seated on the same table, with Jon in position to nick Martyn"s big blind.

9,600 at first break.  There is lots of play earlier on in this event with 25-50 starting blinds and the deep stacks, it allows you to play some poker.  I was looking to take flops in position with a range of hands in order to hit and monster and get paid early.  Unfortunately this did not happen and the only hand worth a mention was when I raised to 150 in mid position with As .  SB & BB both call and the flop is .  The BB leads out for 250, I put him on a king or queen and decide to call hoping to hit an ace, ten or take it away from him on the turn.  SB folds and the turn is , BB bets 500, I think I am ahead now but want to control the size of the pot and just call.  River is , and BB bets 500 again.  I think about it and decide that my ace is good and I call, he show Td and my read was good.  The other big hand on our table happened in level 2.  I raise in 2nd position with and get called by the next 2 players.  Then the next guy moves all in, the guy after him moves all in and then the guy after him (big chip daddy) moves all in!!!  Blinds get out of the way and my jacks don"t look so good now.  I fold as do the next 2 players (99 & AK) and its 3 way all in action.  As vs vs , the kings hold and 2 players are eliminated.  I could have lost a lot of chips in that pot as the board was 9 high at the river.

13,400 at the 2nd break (end of level 4).  Staying out of trouble at a very loose table.  100-200, 2 limps and I raise to 1,200 with As and get 4 callers!!!  I bet 3,500 on a flop of Ts and get no action and take a nice pot.  Then the short stack moves all in on the cutoff and I find As on the button and move all in to isolate, he has and the best hand holds and I gather some more chips.  I made one laydown during this level, when UTG min raises and I find Th Ts on the button.  Something smells funny and so I just call, the blinds get out the way.  Flop is , UTG bets 1,000 and I call.  Turn is and UTG bets big (7k or so), I trust my read and put him on jacks or better and fold.  He may have had an ace but I think he had me beat and I am pleased with the laydown.

15,100 at 3rd break (end of level 6).  Again just keeping out of trouble and only 2 hands worth noting.  Blinds 300-600,  I am in SB and there are 5 limpers in front of me.  I am a short stack at the table and I have decided after the 4th limper to move in with any two in order to pick up the dead money.  I look down at , don"t bottle it now, I move all in and they all quickly fold.  My table image gave me alot of fold equity and I manged to increase my stack by 40%, again a good read on the situation and I was pleased I didn"t bottle it when I saw the cards.  The other time I actually had a hand, on the button.  There are 2 limpers and a raise from the cutoff in front (he has been active and raising with alot of junk), I move all in and take a nice pot when he folds claiming he had sevens.  I don"t believe him as he would have called with that, he may have had ace rag, but I won the pot all the same.  Need to double up soon as 600-1,200 when we go back with 100 ante.  Time to get funky.

So I strut my funky stuff, moving all in when I saw an opportunity to win the pot.  Then I find my hand in 2nd position and raise to 4,500.  Guy two to my left moves all in for 7,900 and I call.  He has and an ace in the door sees me down to 8,000 in chips.  Next hand UTG I see an ace and move all in and take the pot without a showdown.  Now I really start to get funky.  All fold to me in SB, insta all in BB folds deuce three.  SB limps to my BB, i check the wilson ( ) and when he checks to me on a flop I push and he folds again.  Then the exit hand.  At the end of level 7 I exit in 30th when I find Ts Tc in mid position.  Player in front raises, I push and get insta called (damm he must have an overpair right?).  No its Ts Tc vs , flop is , not sure what the turn was, but it wasn"t a ten and therefore I am out.

Really pleased with my play yesterday, I made good reads on opponents (a part of my game that is getting better all the time) and got my money in good twice only to lose a 70/30 & a 80/20.  If I can keep this up I am sure I will go deep in a tournament soon, maybe at the Rio later today.

Martyn was about 35th and Jon was about 25th.  He went out holding pocket tens aswell, not a good hand for us as we both went out with it in Scotland.  Both played well and were happy with their play.

We hit the bar and took in the sights of Ceaser"s.  It was Saturday night and the pu$$ycat casino was in full swing.  Simply fantastic, I love this place.  I could not get any decent pictures but will continue to try and pledge to have something for the lads (or ladies) before the end of the trip.

Bus back to the Circus followed by Video Poker for an hour (not very good this time) and more beer then I hit the sack around 11pm in order to rest up before the WSOP event on Sunday.

Today is Sunday and we meet for breakfast at 9am before heading to the Rio for the 12noon start in $1,500 NLHE event (day 2).  Really looking forward to this as I am really pleased with my game at the moment and feel that if I can win some races then I could go deep.  No big mistakes yet and no thinker blow out so that is a good thing.

Will update later tonight when we get back from the Rio.

Till the next time...

NO BAD BEATS - he had to flop quads, at least give me a sweat!!!

[APAT]

Brilliant James...really loving the blog.  Good luck later today bud, there"ll be a big old beer in it for you if you cash!

[Mikeyboy9361]

Great reports, good luck today. Sooooo jealous!!

[Mr Tubbs]

Great read again take it down today gl

[lukybugur]

GL @ The Rio. I look forward to reading the report.

[jacklevel06]

Great report james hope i can rember half as much when my turn comes to go to vegas.

[lukybugur]

I was thinkin that too. Maybe he has a Gus Hansen dictaphone tucked away somewhere.

[duke3016]

Brilliant James...really loving the blog.  Good luck later today bud, there"ll be a big old beer in it for you if you cash!

Does that men if he cashes he"s paying   cos if you"re buying I"m gonna be there with News International

Great read -- loving it

[ThinkerJE]

Ok its Monday morning now and this is what went down at the Rio.

First off the place is mad.  People everyone.  Jeffrey Pollack is there doing a corporate speech before cards in the air (not a patch on Tikay, so pc) and he says that this is the biggest tournament outside of the main event and the 4th biggest ever.  3,929 runners turned up over the 2 days and with only 3,000 in starting chips things were bound to get off to a fast start.  Poker stars were everywhere, either playing in this event or playing or railing the $10k PLHE final table which was all star.  In no particular order, sighted at the Rio were;  Greenstein, Williamson III, Parkinson, Lieu (looking gorgeous), Morrsion (sat on Martyn"s table), Black, Scotty Win, Hellmuth, Traniello, Harmon (sat down at my table then realise it was the wrong one, phew), Luske, Laak, Antonius, Bloch, Libert, Sexton, Tilly, Goodwin, Zolotow & Thater (who was sitting next to me and busted out within 30 mins).  Right star spotting out of the way, Jerry Yang gets the tournament started with the iconic phrase "dealers, shuffle up and deal".

3,425 at first break (end of level 2).

Bit of a crazy start, 3rd hand in mid position I raise to 150 (blinds 25-50) with 99 and get called by the player immediately to my left.  Flop is 743 rainbow and I bet 250 and get called.  Turn is another 7 and I bet 500 and get called again.  Now I assume he has a seven and I am beat and so I prepare to check the river and probably fold if he bets.  However a 9 on the river allows me a value bet of 800 and gets called.  He mutters something before mucking his cards.  So I am up to 4,500 early doors.  A good start.  Then there are 3 limpers into my SB and I make up with 78off, the BB checks (the guy I rivered the 9 against).  Flop is 874 rainbow and I check hoping someone will bet.  They all check and the turn is the 10, I bet out 200 and the BB moves all in.  All fold to me and it is only 900 more to call.  I think that I may be beat, although he may have a ten and think that I am trying to pick up the pot.  I call and he shows 56 for the flopped straight, nice hand, back down to 3,200.  The only other hands worth a mention were when I limp in middle position with 22, 3 callers.  The blinds check a K77 flop to me and I sense weakness and bet 250, all fold and I win the pot, a good read and a nice bet.  The other was QQ on button, I raise to 400 and BB calls.  Jack high flop and bet of 600 takes it down.

4,775 at 2nd break (end of level 4).

Another crazy session.  A short stack moves all in on the cutoff for 1,100 (blinds 100-200).  The SB flat calls.  I wake up with KK in the BB and push all my chips into the midde.  The SB starts to think (great no AA) and finally folds, and its AQ vs KK, the kings hold and I win a 3,500 pot.  Now a mistake (yes I am human and do make them).  I raise in mid position with 55 and get called by the loose chip daddy on the BB.  He checks a 864 rainbow flop to me and I fire 650, he calls.  He checks the turn 2 and I check behind (I want to keep the pot small).  River is another 8 and he bets 1,200.  Now I go into the tank and replay the hand.  His range is huge pre flop, but his call on the flop does not mean he has hit.  He may be floating the flop in order to bluff a later street.  He could have a 6 or 8 or simply king high and has to bet to win it.  My read is that he is making a play at me and I make the hero call.  He turns over 87 and wins a nice pot.  I am pleased I had the guts to back my read and make the call, however my read was way off on this occasion, back down to 3,500 now.  Another big hand occurs 2 hands later.  There is 1 limper and I make up the SB with JT, BB checks.  Bingo flop of 789 (what is it with me and flopped straights) and I check.  BB bets 300 and limper calls.  I raise to 1,300 and BB folds, limper moves all in, insta call, he had slow played QQ and my flopped straight takes down a nice pot.  The only other hand was a raise with AQ to no action and to take the blinds and antes.  A mad 2 levels, and the mistake I made with 55 was compounded when I flopped the straight.  If I fold the 55 on the river I have 1,200 more chips to take off the guy with QQ.  Blinds & antes are starting to bit now so will need an early double up to take the pressure off.  Jon & Martyn are both already out, Martyn was card dead and made a great pre flop laydown with JJ when guy had AA but could not get going.  Jon got up to 6,000 at one stage but got done twice when he was dominating AQ and busted just before the break.  That meant I won the last longer bet we had and another $10 was heading into the thinker bankroll.  This will be doubled if I make tomorrow.

However $10 does not become $20 as I bust out 15 mins into level 6.  I have had no cards for the last hour and have been moving in when I felt I could take the pot.  My exit hand is hardly worth talking about.  I have jut been moved to a new table and have only 3,075 left (blinds 200-400 ante 50).  There is 1,100 in the pot and I am looking for any playable hand to move in with from any position.  I push with JT in 3rd position and get called by an uber stack behind.  He has KK and I am gone.  Disappointing end to the event.  I feel I had plenty of opportunities to get chips but 1 major mistake and a few other mis steps meant I never got above 6,000.  The starting chips in these $1,500 events mean that you need to get chips early in oredr to be able to play.  There is lots of action in level 1 as players take chances to double up.  Some big stacks develop early which puts even more pressure on the short stacks.  Not sure how good a value you get for your $1,500 in these WSOP events and I am tempted to play more of the megastacks events at Ceasar"s, for a third of the buy in you get 12,500 starting stack and 50 mins levels.  This allows more play early on and suits my game much more.

Its about 6.15pm when I am busted and the 3 of us get the shuttle back to Ceasar"s and sign up for the 7pm $150 NLHE.  In hindsight I should not have played in this and just gone to the bar to watch the pu$$ycats.  I only last 35 mins (5,000 starting chips at level 1 25-50) which is so bad it is unbelieveable.  This is how I donled my chips off.  I raise in mid position with QT of diamonds (1st mistake, I do not normally play this hand early, never mind rasie with it).  The button and BB both call.  Flop is Ts Tc and BB bets into me.  I raise another 1,000 on top and he calls.  The turn is and BB bets 2,000 into me.  I have 3,200 left and go into the tank.  Why would he bet the flush?  If he was betting the draw and hit it, surely he would check to me again?  So he must be trying to push me off the hand, I move all in and are crushed when he flips .  That was a really bad call.  I should lay that down and I still have plenty of chips with the structure and 40 mins levels.  Another bad read, but what I should ask myself is what am I actually beating.  He may have AT, KT, 88 or the flush.  Bad play and I am annoyed with myself.  Martyn lasts longer than me (not difficult in this tournament), but goes out when his push with a spade draw fails to hit the flush.  Jon was still in and going well when we left around midnight, with 38 players left he had well over average chips.  $6,000 for 1st and cashes to 9th, so hopefully he took it down (that cannot be a bok as it should have finished by now).

Myself & Martyn had to console ourselves in the bar, talking over the hands of the day and generally bitching about how poor the WSOP compared to other deeper stack events in LV.  All the players know this in advance and still 4,000 odd stump up $1,500 to play, everyone wants one of those bracelets and that is the only place to get them.  The first megastack event at Ceasar"s attracted 384 runners yesterday, which was a great turnout and I feel that we will be playing alot more of these events over the next 2 weeks.

Other random thoughts and things that went down in LV.  I found a great chinese place that does the best special fried rice ever.  Miller light is still very alcoholic (I thought the light bit refered to less alcohol but it actually about calories or something).  Video Poker is not loving me on this trip (probably paying back the grand I won last year).  Table minimums for the pu$$ycat casino are $25 a hand (you definitely pay for the pleasure).  Money attracts beautiful ladies (that can be the only reason why old, fat guys have the most gorgeous creatures on their arm).

STOP PRESS - Jon has just phoned to say he chopped the $150 NLHE at Ceasar"s at 3.30am for around $2,600 ish.  Top result and the first proper cash of the tour.

Plan today is breakfast at 10am then the 12noon megastack at Ceasar"s.  Jon may not play as he is knackered, but myself & Martyn will be trying to go deep.

Thats about it till the next time;

NO BAD BEATS - Trust your read on a player, but DO NOT make stupid calls!!!

[ThinkerJE]

The infamous pu$$ycat casino I keep harping on about...

[lukybugur]

Another great read and it"s just got better now that we"re gonna start gettin photos!

[APAT]

Top read again James and proof if ever it was needed of how difficult it is to succeed in such enormous fields.  Top result by Jon so that should give the group confidence to push on.  We"re rootin" for you all.

[George2Loose]

Great read! Keep it up.

Agree- not much value in the 1500 buy in"s considering the value u get for the GUKPT and GBCPT events for the same sort of cost. However playing in the WSOP must be a buzz!

[ThinkerJE]

Its now 22:45 local time and we have just got back to base after another day in LV.  Jon took a day off poker today to buy a new hat and recover from his exploits of last night.  Myself and Martyn both anted up for the megastack event at Ceasar"s starting at 12noon.  Its $235 NLHE with 7,500 starting chips, a good structure and 50 minute levels.  548 runners turn up and we are off right on time.

7,900 at 1st break (end of level 2).  The 25-50 starting blinds and deep stacks allows me to play alot of hands on what turned out to be a very passive table.  In fact I end up doing something I never do and that is being the table enforcer.  My normal style is to sit tight and see what happens.  However I quickly realise that this passive table could be an opportunity to get chips early at little risk.  This involves playing alot of hands, calling raises in postion with questionable holdings and then betting when I sense weakness.  Hopefully my loose image will also enable me to get paid when I pick up a monster.  How come then you may be asking, did he only have 400 more than he started with at the first break?  Well there were 3 hands in particular, 2 laydowns I had to make and one bad call (the only mistake I think I made all day).  I raise in id position with 99 and get one caller on the button$.  Flop is J92 rainbow and I bet out around the size of the pot.  This is called and the turn brings a Q.  I don"t like this card (he may have KT) and even less when matey bets into me.  The size of the bet is only about a third of the pot and I decide to call and see the river.  The river is the 8 and he bets again, now I have to release as he must have a ten (probably something like AT or T9 or he might have got me on the turn with KT), I make the laydown and a good decision.  More difficult if the river is a blank, my read is that he had me on the turn but it would be tough to fold a set as he would need to have that exact hand, so the 8 saved me from a tough decision.  The other laydown was when I raised in early position with A2 of clubs (how aggressive is that!!!).  One caller from the SB who checks a A79 (2 hearts) flop to me and I bet around pot size and get called.   on the turn is checked to me and I check behind as I want to keep it cheap now, he may have hit his flush or have something like AT and have me out kicked.  The river is As and he bets out.  My A2 is not beating much now as he either has a flush or a better ace, either way I am beat so I lay down 3 of a kind again.  The bad call involved me limping on the button with , and 4 players see a cheap flop of AT9 (all spades).  All check to me and I fire out a bet that is called in one spot.  Turn is J and it is checked to me.  My spidey sense is working overtime and I feel this may have helped my opponent so I check behind.  The river T counterfits my 9 and he bets 600 into me.  I am struggling to put him on a hand as I have little information about his play.  My initial read on the turn is that I may be beat, or he may just have the king of spades and has missed his draw.  I call and he did have the but he also had the for the turned straight.  A bad call as again I am not beating much with my hand but it only cost me 600 so it did not do too much damage to my stack.  One positive hand involved me calling an UTG raise on the SB with 77.  The flop is Q64 and I check and it is checked behind, now I have found that the Americans like to check the flop when they have rasied pre flop, even if they hit their card, so he may have a queen.  Turn is the 7 (bingo), I check again and UTG checks again, I wanted him to bet the turn but he didn"t go for it.  The river is a 6 filling my boat and I overbet the pot, betting 1,000 into a 650 pot.  It works a treat as he calls and mucks (I think he had TT or JJ and did not put me on the queen).  I am really enjoying the play in this tournament and the fact that you can make creative plays without damaging your entire stack.

13,800 at 2nd break (end of level 4).  Not played many hands over the last 100 minutes.  Had to change gears and tighten up when some uber stacks with an attitude showed up at my table.  The only re raise I put in was with QQ after 3 limpers (wanted it to look like a steal) but got no action.  Then I changed tables and the major hand (and decision) occurred.  I raise in cutoff to 1,300 (blinds 200-400) and button moves all in for 6,000.  If I call and lose I am left with only 1,100 or I can fold and have 5,800.  I don"t have too much information about my opponent and have a big dwell.  I finally conclude that it is likely he has a pair and I am willing to take the race to double up and get into contention.  I call and its 66 vs AK,  king on the flop sends matey to the rail and me p to 13,800.

17,100 at 3rd break (end of level 6 and dinner break).  Everyone still left in gets a $10 voucher which I put to good use at the chinese place in Ceasar"s (fantastic special fried rice).  This is unfortunate for Martyn who got busted about 5 mins before the end of the level, most of his stack when his kings got busted by a rivered flush.  I have been trying to pick up pots without risking too many chips.  I raise in early position with QQ and get 2 callers.  A king high flop is not to my liking, but checking it down to the river is and I win a nice pot.  Another hand invloves me calling a small raise in position with 88.  Flop of KQ9 is checked to me and I check behind.  Turn is a 8 and raiser bets out and I smooth call.  I know I am ahead as he is a solid player who would not have raised with JT, I have him on AK or AQ (as I said earlier the septics like to check the flop, even if they hit, I think it is because they play more limit hold em and the tactic is to check the flop in order to make the big limit bet on the turn).  The river is the Q and he checks to me, he must have AK now, I bet 3,500 and he folds AK, a good fold by him, he put me on a queen though, so a blank and I get paid more.  I have to release 88 when a bigger stack moves all in after my initial raise, not the time to gamble in that spot.  No other major hands, just using position, ie cutoff raise with A9, SB calls.  Flop 553, SB checks, I bet and take down another nice pot.  Blinds are 600-1,200 with 100 ante when we go back so only about 6M so need to double up early and then I will be in good shape.  I am playing well and feeling good at the table, making good decisions.

I bust out in 190th place just 15 mins into level 7.  I raise 3,500 with Tc and have to release when someone goes OTT.  Then the blinds go through me and within 7 hands I am down to 10,900.  There is 2,800 in the pot before the cards are dealt so I need to get busy.  All fold to me on cutoff with and I move all in.  SB calls with AK and no 6 or flush sends me to the rail.  Disappointing end to a great tournament, with a great structure, lots of play and a $30k first prize.  This in my oppinion is much better value than the WSOP events at the Rio.  Interesting to talk this hand over with the boys, Martyn would do the same thing I did, whereas Jon would have folded and waited (he would rather do it with suited connectors or similar as a rag ace is too easily dominated by any hands that will call you).  I take his point but I feel fine about the decision, my stack dictates the move in that spot and I would move in with any 2 there, it just happened to be ace rag.  It is 8k to call so the only hands to look me up will be AK, and pairs TT & above (in my opinion) and it just happened that the SB had one of them.  I need to get my chips dancing in order to buy me time to find a double up hand.

Top tournament, really enjoyed it.  I felt I played much better today and made the correct decision most of the time.  The plan is to play the megastack tomorrow, this time you get 12,500 starting chips with the same structure, so will be room for even more play early doors, cannot wait.

I joined Martyn & Jon in the sportsbook as they were watching the ice hockey playoffs.  I do not get ice hockey at all.  Firstly you cannot see the puck thing, so it just looks like a bunch of blokes with beards playing tick on ice (apparantly players don"t shave during the playoffs for fear of the ice bok).  Also there were no fights (I thought this was compulsory at ice hockey games) and no players smashing through the glass and into the crowd (like they always show on those sports bloppers shows).  Also it is American and therefore cannot be a draw, so they have sudden death overtime, first team to score.  This went on for ages and I think they more or less played another entire game during overtime.  It went on so long that I feel asleep in the sportsbook and was awoken and promptly told off by an uniformed enforcer guy.  Apparantly as well as not using your mobile phone in an American sportsbook, you cannot fall asleep also.  Another point to note is that the NBA finals start on Thursday and you cannot have a bet on this in Ceasar"s (or any casino owned by Harrah"s) as someone in the company is also part owner of the Boston Celtics.  I guess what I am trying to say is that (Baseball aside, I quite like that) all American sports are stupid!!!

Thats about it for today, quite tired after concentrating in the megastack so just about to hit the sack.  Plan for tomorrow is breakfast at 10am then the mega stack at 12noon.  I have also decided to abandon the 2nd WSOP $1,500 event that I am bankrolled for and use the cash to buy into more megastack events at Ceasar"s or deepstacks at the Venetian.  I think these are much better value and suit my game alot more.  A life changing win or bracelet won"t happen but I will definitely get more bang for my buck.

Till the next time;

NO BAD BEATS - Megastacks are the future, I"ve tasted it!!!

PS - thanks for all your replies and words of support.