£25 Win The Button - 36/42
Well that couldn"t have gone any worse.
7.5k starting stack plus 10% early bird bonus. Win a couple of pots in the first 10 mins. 9c7c on 963hh flop 5 way. Stab, get two callers, running hearts turn and river but chop. Raise and double barrel KJ from MP on Axxx board to get to 9k. Didn"t win a pot after that.
Let me introduce you to Big Nose Pokerstars Al. He"s already busted his first entry within 10 mins, and gets moved to my table (two to my right) with his re-entry, replacing a nit. He"s dreadful, as evidenced by the following:
1) 25/50. UTG+1 opens to 200. 2 callers and Al makes it 800 from the SB with AJdd. 2 callers to see a flop of 663hdd. Al donks 1500, HJ calls, CO raises to 4500. Al flats pretty quickly and HJ dwell folds. Turn 9h. Al checks, then surprisingly tanks for nearly a minute when CO moves in for his last 1500. He eventually calls and obv binks the diamond against 65. Sigh, when he has chips he plays pretty much ATC.
2) 75/150. Al opens to 400 on the button. SB calls and I come along from the BB with 74. Flop K74, checked round. I donk 1/2 pot on turn J, called by Al. River J goes chk-chk after I get counterfeited. No idea whether he thinks he"s good or not.
3) 100/200. He flats a c-bet in position with QT on A9x vs a guy with about 15BBs. Naturally hits running KJ.
4) 100/200. One limper, MP shoves for 1200, HJ shoves for 2900. After posting 5 blinds in a row (the guy on my right has been moved and the two on my right are winning all the pots - all the guys on my left are tight-passive and pretty card dead) I"m pretty happy as it looks like I might not have to pay my blind. Until Alan colds on the button with A5o v KJ and AT. I"ve folded a 5, but doesn"t stop him getting there on AQ245.
He"s one of those people you look at and wonder if it"s possible to run better. I have to sit there incredulous, being disciplined, having to make small moves and play like a hero just to win the little pots when I brick for the umpteenth time - only to survive long enough to get it in good and get spiked, probably on the bubble. Yes, I"m ******* bitter.
Anyway, totally card dead, no spots either - not even Ax/Kx or some broadways/SCs to 3b light with and have some backup. At 150/300 we"re 7 handed, HJ opens to 800, Alan flats on the button. I move in for 5700 with AK. Orig raiser dwell flats with 88. 8 in the window on an 89679 board.
Didn"t take the re-entry given it was only a 25BB stack at that point - and should probably take the hint the poker gods are giving me (though I think they must be telling me I shouldn"t play - ever).
Surely the only way is up - and at least this is the little one on the schedule! Small victories and all that :)
