Day 1
Had a bit of a late night, so didn’t quite make the 2pm start but managed to bimble at about 3:59 to the casino (Grosvenior, Portsmouth Gunwarf) and late reg for the tourney (4pm late reg finished!). They have a new card room there, it’s pretty nice and I sat down to a table (seat 9 bitter) with no familiar faces which I definitely prefer as you can make and play whatever image you like
So anyway after a few rounds and not much drama I get KT in the big blind. The button has been raising basically every round (and me/bb have been folding) so I’d been looking for a good spot to play back at him and decided to 3 bet. The bb was 200 and he opened to 700 (this seemed to be the standard), I three bet to 2100 (I felt this sizing would make my hand look stronger as it was my first 3 bet) and he peeled - we were both very deep (20k was the starting stack, I think he had about 40k and me 22k)
The flop brings: A52 with FD and I lead out for half the pot (just over 2k) and he thinks a little then flats.
The turn brings: 2 and a second flush draw…I decide not to barrel as my stack is now about 18k and there is 8k in the pot, so if I bet I have to ship the river which when I think about the sizing and his range, I don’t like at all. I check and he bets 6k.
So I think check raising here is better than any other option with the situation, it definitely reps that I have AK (so he could fold out hands like at-aq, I’m hoping he is respecting my 3 bet preflop and not put me on too many suited connectors/air) and if he did float the flop he will probably bet behind the turn (i.e. keeping his range wide).
The other benefit I thought also to check raising (rather than check shipping) was that my stack size was pretty perfect to not give him the implied odds if I did check min raise him and he had a draw so I might even get some river ships through if he flats then misses river lol (because if he did have a draw like KQ suited and he believed that I had an ace, then it would actually make quite a lot of sense for him to flat turn and fold if he misses river).
I also knew he was a competent player, from seeing some of the hands he had played/button min raises, so felt that he would realise I hadn’t played any hands at all and with the: 3x preflop three bet and a complete disregard for my stack size / bet sizing, it would be enough for him to put me on AK.
If he shipped over my turn bet then I was going to fold (would have had around 8k left at 200 bb)
Fortunately he folded though and I picked up a nice pot, feeling happy with my play.
A few rounds later I still haven’t played many hands and completed sb (200) after a few limpers with KT, the bb checks. The flop is 345 and although it is quite a dangerous flop, I could definitely rep it and barrel a lot of completed draws, so lead out for half the pot – the table was playing really tight / honest as well. The EP limper called (just a traditional 40/4 type fish) and everyone folded.
The turn came a 6 bringing a flush draw and I barrelled again half the pot figuring he will have a hard time continuing with his epic range like any suited ace (q6/j2/59 anything suited I think he was limping lol). He called again but didn’t seem very thoughtful about it or really very happy about it and an off suit ace came on the river.
The pot had got pretty big now and I know I have to barrel the river to tell my story/not much chance of winning this pot with king high), so I lead again for half the pot and he instant folded. I have no idea of his holding, VPIP 40% does have some benefits lol.
Couple of rounds later and it is folded to me on the sb. I can’t remember the exact details of the hand but they are not really important, basically I flat pre – he checked, then I bet the flop with air and he folded.
However the interesting part of the hand is that when I bet the flop he looked at his hand, then leaned back to look at me and I instantly hid behind the dealer (I was in seat 9, him 1) haha! Completely subconsciously! I’m sure if Darren Brown had been at the table he would have read I was weak there lol, live tell fail. Anyway he didn’t notice but I’ve been thinking about live tells lately and read a whole internet site about body language not long ago (I think there is a lot of live tells people use that I’m not aware of, can’t find a strategy video on live reads eh!) so I might write an article on it in the future with my thoughts about live reads and tells.
The blinds have increased and there are anti’s now, I’ve had a few hands for opening/ 3 betting with and a decent level of success so have accumulated a few more chips and have a little bit of a looser image + a pretty standard online 23/19/7 style.
Came back from a break and first had I get: premium aces. The bb is 400 so I open to 1100 as the table is quite loose and I’m early position and I get one caller from late position, the guy is new to the table but seems like a local gambler type – so figure him for any fishy range really.
The flop comes AT7 with 2 clubs and I lead for 2k. He re-raises to 5k and I can feel blood draining from my head and nurturing the growth of a semi under the table. He’s got just under 40k and me about 35k and I’m pretty sure he’s keen to get it in on the flop…I was thinking about calling then check shipping the turn but I would hate to give 2 free cards (potentially lose the pot or lose my action) or not get a full stack of value, and flatting then leading turn I think gives a tough time / he could find a fold. So I raised it back to 12k and he insta shipped and showed up with AQ – my AA held and I picked up a wedge of chips, time to start swinging them about.
Soon after I get dealt KQ 4 in the big blind and it folds to the button who min raises - he has raised basically every button and the small blind flats. I decide to 3 bet for value and to take the initiative in the pot, but I think the button had realised by now that I'm playing spots and 4 bets me. The big blind was 600 and he raised to 1200, SB flat, then me 3k, then him 8k and me flat...so about 18k in the pot.
Pretty interesting spot, he started the hand with about 50k and I had him covered but not by a lot, but I was confident he was 4 betting light...I didn't fancy 5 betting but I wouldn't fault anyone for doing it, or just folding lol;/ So I flat which is pretty horrible if your playing a “technical” game but seemed like a good idea at the time, and then tank check-shipped over his 10k c bet on an ATX flop. He tanked as well (it's all about tanking) and I sat playing on my phone until he folded, as I could feel my heart beating like crazy and wanted to look relaxed. At one point put my elbow on the table and leaned my forehead into my hand...but my palm was so sweaty it basically just slipped through lol.
Anyway he tanked and folded, which was definitely a good result.
Next round I raise two hands in a row from UTG+1 then UTG with 67 suited and TJ suited, and got 3 bet both times by the same guy lol. I didn’t have much info on him and didn’t fancy playing out of position vs an unknown without the goods, although he only done a min bet both times lol but decided I'd already pushed my luck so just folded both times. Got a nice stack now no need to do anything silly, the same guy went on to win the tournament.
A few hands later, the player I had check raised with KT earlier limped in 2nd position and it folded round to me with KQ in the cut off. I wasn’t too suspicious of his limp because I had seen him limp some hands EP before and at showdown presented 88/AJ, middle strength kind of range, played safely, so felt that I wanted to play vs him heads up and take the lead in the pot, so raised 3x. It folded back round to him and he called, we were both deep, I can’t remember the exact numbers but I had about 90k and him 40k, the blinds 300/600 with antis.
The flop came 349 with 2 diamonds (I had king of diamonds) and he checked; pretty standard c bet really, so I did 2.5k and he called.
The turn came an A of suit and he checked again not looking too excited about the ace. The pot was about 10k and I put in another 5k as the ace was a nice barrel card with the draw, he thought about it then called. I really felt at that the time that he knew I was just barrelling lol so when the king hit the river and he checked; I tanked then value bet 10k and he tanked/called/mucked – showboat.
Didn’t get to see what he had but I’m pretty sure he had a hand like 88/TT with one of suit. Online I might have played the hand a bit differently because generally I think barrelling the ace in this spot would be really risky as there is a lot of aces in his range (although it was of suit) – fish seem to love limp calling hands like a2 a3 a4 a5 and rarely fold to a cbet on a board like 349 with gutshots/bottoms pairs etc 58J flop is much nicer.…however now I think about it, this particular guy I’m sure was not limping those kind of hands pre-flop in EP (might not notice this online though).
Quite enjoying my table at the moment and running alright, got a real nice stack and done some big plays that worked out good.
The tourny was only about 40 runners and we were on the last 2 tables now.
There was only 2 more hands I played before the end of day 1, the first I three bet 22 from mid position vs an UTG raise (the raiser was the guy on my button who I'd seemed to giving a real tough time throughout the day lol) and a very short stack shipped behind me for less than 1 big blind. Unfortunately it folded back round to me and I had to call the 22, which I was bitter about as it was the first time I had to show my cards without the goods. The other player's JJ held and I paid the man. New plan for a bit now, nit up a little and conserve my stack / get paid with premiums.
After that for the next hour or so my VPIP dropped to basically zero, there was a few spots I could have taken but fancied staying out of trouble for a bit and I didn't really have any hands so just sat back for a while.
The second hand was against a new player at the table, he also had a big stack but had been raising and 3 betting and check raising, etc. playing a very aggressive game. I had already seen him show down some fishy hand like 8T suited after raising EP and seeing as I hadn't play a hand since he joined the table, I three bet with 46 from the button vs his UTG raise and he flat.
The flop came QT6xx and after 3 barrels he tank folded the river. Basically I felt that he was quite happy when flatting my 3 bet pre-flop, but then pretty unhappy calling my C bet, so I had to barrel the turn – once he called that and checked the river, I really felt that my 46 would not be good at showdown lol and also I'm repping a big hand / he hasn't seen me play a hand yet / I was confident his flat to my three bet pre was with a pretty big range / so went for the 3rd barrel and hoped to push of hands like TJ or AT, we were on the FT bubble aswell.
So ended day one about 150k and sitting 2/11
Day 2
If you read my Sheffield GPS live game report I said at the end how important it is to play focussed and play your best every hand at the tables. I had a really bad night after I left day 1 of the tournament, there was a party at my house til about 6 in the am and I just wanted to go to bed, people kept bothering me though and all my friends were annoyed cos I didn't go to the party to play poker....but I do like poker me.
Turned up just on time for day 2, but was really tired and didn't have time to have breakfast, was in a real bad mood from some of the events from the night before that I'm not going to go into – however am sure this affected my game! :(
So sat down and thought 'forget bout all that, lets play some poker 100%'. Ordered some food and not too long in we were on FT, back to full ring.
I picked up KK on the button and the cut off limps with an around a 40k stack. The big blind is 2k so I pop it up to 6k...I hadn't played a hand or seen any hands with this guy and he flatted as expected, the blinds folded.
The flop is j66 with a flush draw and he checks, I did a ½ pot C bet and he flats. There is a lot of bantering and chat at the table and after a brick (4) on the turn he checks and looks at me all honest and smiley. For some reason I thought it would be good to check behind here to act like I am playing honest aswell and checking behind ace high, then extract more value on the river. The river brings a 6 but of suit and he insta ships all in for about 30k when the pot is just under 20k. I tanked for a bit then made my 2nd mistake of the day already (first one being not bet the turn) and called....he showed q9 suited for a flush and I'm really bitter with the way I played the hand. As soon as he had flat pre-flop I should have realised he was a traditional and basically just shipped the turn or definitely folded the river. Urgh anyway I'm bitter, but no point worrying about it, re-evaluate my stack, still over 100k at 2k bb nuttin to worry bout.
I lost a bit of my stack in another hand shortly after with QQ on an Ace high flop, I c bet then folded but obviously a bit of action preflop aswell. A 3rd player was in the hand and lost about 80% of his stack with AT into AA (they both mates of mine and AA flat me pre, ha cheeekkyy could have got my stack!)
Down to about 80k now and the blinds still 2.4k, 8 handed – only 5 paid.
The next hand I played was JQ suited. UTG+1 min raise and the Q9 suited guy on my right flat, I was thinking about 3 betting but decided to flat as I knew the open was capable of doing nuttys and didn't fancy having him to a 4 bet nutty on me.
The flop came 752 rainbow and the UTG +1 raiser checked. The traditional then bet out for 6k into an about 20k pot and I knew the UTG + 1 raiser would C bet basically any value hand vs the traditional and multiway – so popped it up to 20k to push the traditional out of the pot...I also had a back door flush and 2 overs if he flats.
The UTG+1 raiser tanks and then re-pops me to 46k and the traditional folds. I knew instantly that this was a perfect spot to shove, just because when he checked the flop I was confident he had given up....then obviously changed his mind once he saw a nice spot brewing (he definitely capable of reading spots and making big bluffs). There's no value hands he plays that way imo.
Unfortunately after tanking a while and thinking about the previous few hands (basically I thought to myself, “is this a good spot? Or am I just spewing, I came to FT with epic stack and am I spewing it all way with queen high and making bad calls?) so I just folded and he showed K9 for an airball. So bitter, I'm sure if I was playing better I would have shipped there.
Sigh anyway re-evaulate and re-focus. I got about 55k now and the big blind is 3k...so looking for some good spots to re-ship rather than open.
A few hands later the traditional limps on my right for 3k and I have QT suited. I should have folded here really thinking about stack sizes but figured he was going to call/fold to c bet so often that I probably just about have enough chips (combined with the pace of the game / not much 3 or 4 betting – well at least not from the 2 players behind me lol)
The big blind peels and the traditional calls. The flop comes QJ2 with a flush draw, the bb checks and the traditional open ships....I sigh fold, he could turn up with a flush draw but I don't think he would because he was really playing a safe “I'll call until I hit then go all in when I do” style . I'd only put 2 bigs in the pot and my side of the table wasn't really tough at all, I was happy I'd be able to get ships and reships though enough to not go in a spot where I'm crushed or marginally +ev. He didn't show but I'm not sure if that was a good fold or not...it definitely felt like a good fold at the time from watching how the guy had been playing.
Down to about 50k now and we're 6 handed. Short stack. The other players all have at least 100k and only 5 are paid. When we started the final table one of the live regulars suggested everyone got £100 back for making FT and we took it out the prize pool....which is just ridiculous lmao, is he mental?? Anyway at that point I had a massive stack and was crushing. Now I was shorty and my balls were shrivelling. I had 12 bigs with not long until the blinds were increased, so I suggest we pay the bubble (5th was £550) for 250, £50 of all the other prize money and everyone agreed, touch. It was pretty funny in my eyes because the guy who suggested we all get £100 for making FT was sitting chippy by a wedge on the bubble so it was nice of him to make that deal :D
A few ships/no calls and folding some BB's I'm now on about 55k with the BB 4k. The K94 bet flop guy raises EP (he has a monster stack now) and I reship KJ from the button, he calls QQ and knocks me out bitter. Don't think it was a bad ship though, just for value and the blinds were going up to 60k in about 2 minutes which would mean I'd lose all my fold equity.
So got my £250 back for a really measly profit and urghh, so frustrating that I again played day 1 to a level I'm really happy with, probably my best ever poker on day 1 at this comp! And just blew up on day 2. Must work on this area, aspire to play every hand the best I can and in the future make sure I am properly prepared if I return to day 2, take it as a learning experience.
Wpld also to my mate Ally Baba (mmmmmcookies/treefidy online) who got 2nd for a nice £2k bink :)
