Okay Wednesday morning (I think) now about 5.45am and I have just got back from Ceasar"s Palace.
Couldn"t get closs enough (without getting arrested) to the pu$$ycats to get a decent photo, but rest assured I can confirm that they were both gorgeous. I made sure I stood there for a good half hour to report this. Like I said I tell it like it is and will stop at nothing to report the facts.
Onto the 11pm tournament, in which I tried to be more aggressive and collect chips early to put myself in a better position for later in the tournament.
1,975 at first break (starting chips 2,500). Played a lot more hands than normal, basically any wo when in position. Had to release a few post flop when heavy betting took place. Also picked up AA (no action) & JJ (again no action), made up with J2 in SB, flop J J K, managed to get a bet out of matey but he folded to my value bet on the end. Yet again I need to double up to get back in it.
15,000 at second break. 25 left, top 9 pay. Major hand was in SB (2 limpers) and I make up with 7 2 off (I know...), flop comes 7 2 10 with 2 spades. There is a bet and a re rasie in front, I move all in and get called by K 10 (wow!!!!). It holds and I am chipped up. Also limped on button with 88, 1 earlier caller, SB moves all in, all fold, I call, 88 vs 55, flop 4 5 6 (damm), turn 8 (sick but good) river blank and more chips to me.
Soon after break, chip daddy moves all in UTG, I am next to act and wake up with KK. I move all in, next matey thinks for ages before folding (he had QQ), SB folds with a smile (he had 1010), BB quickly gets out of way. KK vs 66, kings holds and I am big chip leader with over 30,000 with 17 left. Get moved to new table, button limps, I have 33 in SB and make up, BB moves all in. Button folds, I put him on 2 overs and getting 5 to 2 I call (doesn"t damage me too much if I lose). 33 vs AK, flop 4 5 6 turn 7 river K, straight wins and I am up to over 35k now, with 12 left.
BIG ERROR. All fold to SB, where I have 5 8 of clubs, I raise to take it down now. BB calls, and I immediately takes this as weakness and decide that on a non scary board I will get aggressive and move all in. Flop come 10 10 2, I move in and get insta called (oops I say to the table), BB had A 10 (wow, and didn"t re raise???). Anyway I managed to donk off over 20k in chips and I am now under pressure with only 8k left. Managed to nick blinds and antes a couple of times to stay afloat, finally find AQ UTG and move in, called by BB with A4, no help, double up, just what was needed.
17,000 at next break with only 10 left. Bubble time, hand for hand now, we have all pitched in $15 so that 10th gets his money back. Bubble bursts and we are at the FINAL TABLE!!!
About 5th in chips going in, I am in good shape, however blinds and antes dictate play and very much all in or fold time. Don"t get involved too much, happy to let others bust. Down to 7 when I find A5 diamonds on button, I raise, SB moves all in for less than my raise. A5 vs AQ, 5 on the flop send matey out in 7th.
No hands and action before me means I have to sit tight and the blinds are eating into my stack. Down to 13,000 (blinds 1,000-2,0000 with 500 ante), I move all in with 8 10 of clubs on the button, SB calls with AJ. No suckout and its goodnight from me. I finished 5th for $592, no a bad return and my first final table in Vegas.
Felt I played well tonight and pleased with the new aggressive approach, will have to keep working on that. The tournament took 5 hours and 50 minutes before I was knocked out but I am not tired at all. Got the bus back to the hotel, and it is light. Got an offer from yet another lady of the night (do I attract them or something???) which I quickly declined before getting back to post this update.
Not sure if I will make the Wynn today now, as it starts in 5 and a half hours time, and I have still not been to sleep yet.
Pleased with the final table and how I kept my composure after I made the big error and donked off 75% of my stack. I dug in and played well here and managed to get myself back into the tournament. The most satisfying part of the evening (if you don"t count the pus$$ycats..).
The final table is played on a special TV table at Ceasar"s. It has a big plasma acreen above it, looking down on the table, just like ESPN. I didn"t see the point as no one was watching anyway, so the cameras were just not needed. It is Ceasar"s policy that all final tables are on TV. I asked if I could have a DVD but they could not do it.
NO BAD BEATS - FINAL TABLE IN VEGAS
