Thursday, Binion"s Poker Classic, $160 buy in, 30 mins levels, 247 runners & 12k starting stack
22,475 at 1st break (end of level 3)
Faster structure today so looking to get involved earlier. Call a raise in mid position with
and 3 see a flop 9T2 and all check. Turn
(2 diamonds now) and matey bets 400 and I call. River Q gives me the nuts and matey leads into me for 1,100, so I raise to 2,700 and he calls quickly and mucks without showing his hand. A good start. I raise UTG with KK and get 2 callers who have position on me. Flop Q27 rainbow and I bet 850 and get 1 caller. The turn is an ace and I check and he checks behind. This leads me to think that he does not have an ace and therefore must have a queen and wants to get to showdown on the cheap. River 9 and I bet 1,200 for value hoping to get called by a queen. He calls and mucks when I show my kings. Pleased with this read and value bet, it is a part of my game I have been working on, if I check he checks behind and I have missed out on 1,200. I raise in late position with QJ and there is a 3 bet from the button (who is a player called Bryant "BK" King, with a pretty impressive tournament record
http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=34022), I call and see a flop J24 (2 spades), I check and BK bets, I re raise to take it down and he shoves all in!!! Must be beat and hollywood a little before passing and claiming I had pocket queens, he shows JJ for flopped top set (actually had him on KK or AA, but JJ works also). That cost me a few chips but I get them back and more in this next hand. In a limped pot I call in the cutoff with
. Multi way flop A35 (2 diamonds), there is a bet which I call and solid lady in SB raises, original bettor folds and I call in position. She must have an ace minimum here although if I hit I am pretty sure I will get paid. Turn
and she bets 2k which I call. River
giving me the nuts and she pushes all in, I snap call with my top straight and win a 20k pot (she had A3 for flopped 2 pair). Playing fast and loose and have got that image. Been able to get some bluffs through but need to be careful now as the short stacks will be priced in.
13,000 at 2nd break (end of level 6)
Lost 6k bluffing into a guy who had AA and I was priced into calling drawing dead. Still trying to hit flops and make something happen but can"t get anything going, being card dead does not help either. 400/800 (100) when back so need to double up soon, 150 left, perfect 3 bet shove stack, so just need to find a spot now.
34,300 at dinner break (end of level 9)
No hands, pushed with AQ to no action. Down to 9k, push all in in early position with TT and solid lady is all in behind (and I think she probably has a bigger pair), then BB is also all in. 3 way TT vs AK (solid) vs 66 (BB). So not ideal to be up against 2 opponents but I got it in good. Tens hold (shocker!!!) and I triple up. I raise early with AK and get 2 callers on a board 567,9,2. It is checked all the way and AK is good. SS shoves the button, I insta call in the BB, JJ vs JT board comes QQTAA CHOP CHOP!!!! (so sick, counterfeited with pocket JACKS!!!). Playing good and feel in control, 76 players left, just below average chips, look for spots and do nothing silly (yet!), 1k/2k (200) when back.
OUT 46th 7 mins into level 12
Moved tables, SS UTG shoves 12k and I find 77 on the button. I call then tight lady moves all in behind (damm, know she has me), only 8k more so have to call. K5 vs 77 vs JJ, no suck out and down to 17k. No too disappointed with the play, good read on SS just unlucky lady found a big hand behind. All fold to SB who completes and I check 87 off in BB. Flop 862 and he checks, I check to disguise my strong hand and hope it sees it as weakness. Turn 9 and SB shoves and I beat him in the pot. He has 72 for a up and down straight draw and blank river doubles me up. Good play there if I bet the flop he folds, this way I maximized my strong hand on the flop. We are now into shove or fold territory and I push nothing in position to take blinds. I also miss 2 spots to pick up dead money and I am annoyed when it turns out no one was strong. GROW A PAIR & GET YOUR CHIPS IN MAN!!! Moved tables again and the new one is very active, difficult to get in first. Shove all in 31k with 89 off UTG (blinds 2k/4k (400)) and get called by AK behind. I am glad to be live but fail to hit and I am felted (and Vegas is over for another year). Enjoyed the faster structure today and felt I played well again with only a couple of mistakes.
As I wander down Fremont Street to catch the bus back to the strip the experience light show starts. I have included the video I took as it totally blew my mind. It was so loud and bright and I was glad I was in the right place at the right time to experience it.
Back to the hotel to pack for the flight tomorrow and reflect on another great Vegas trip.
