My most recent trip to Vegas found me playing at the Venetian for most of the trip. While waiting for a $2/5 table, I sat at the $1/2 table. We were 10 handed and I was dealt 33 in late middle position. BB raises to $15 and 5 players call. Yes, 5. The pot is $75. The flop is 345 rainbow. SB checks, BB bets $65. I consider raising and opt to smooth call. SB pushes all in for $115 more. BB deliberates and pushes all in for $220 over his bet. I had both of them covered and call. The pot is $850.
These are the hands:
SB- A2 (straight)
BB- KK (over pair)
Me- 33 (set)
Turn is a 9. So, I request a 9- but get a 4 instead on the river to give me a full house and a big pot at this level.
I pass on my seat change.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Caesar's Palace Deep Stack Tournament (July 2008)
During my trip to Vegas to play in the WSOP, I entered a Deep Stack Event @ Caesar's. I made it fairly deep and was beginning to feel a little pressure from the blinds. My stack was below average at 18K. I was in the Big Blind and the newest player at this table. I had witnessed a couple of hands before this hand came up.
The cutoff player was a Euro Pro that had recently belittled another player whom he had just beat. He was the kind of guy that everyone wants to bust- probably part of his game. I suspect he greatly admires Phil Helmuth. Anyway, this Euro dude limps in for $400, the Small Blind completes and I check with A4 Diamonds. 3 to the flop of A29 (two diamonds). I lead out for $800 after the SB checks and Deiter calls. SB folds. Turn is a blank- I check, Euro bets 5k. I call the 5k leaving 10K behind. As the river card is in the process of being turned over I push. By the way, the river is K Diamonds- sweet! Euro bitch begins his analysis: "You bet that as if you hit thte flush. If you hit it you would not bet there. You push and strong means weak/weak means strong; so I call. I have the second nuts- shows Q6 Diamonds.
I show the nuts. He says "How much?" Thus begins his post hand tirade. In true Helmuth manner, Euro Joe shakes his head lifts his hands up and shrugs. He is incredulous and asks, "Why would you bet there? If you made the flush, why bet?"
I replied, "I thought you would pay me- simple as that".
I busted out a couple of hours later. No cash.
The cutoff player was a Euro Pro that had recently belittled another player whom he had just beat. He was the kind of guy that everyone wants to bust- probably part of his game. I suspect he greatly admires Phil Helmuth. Anyway, this Euro dude limps in for $400, the Small Blind completes and I check with A4 Diamonds. 3 to the flop of A29 (two diamonds). I lead out for $800 after the SB checks and Deiter calls. SB folds. Turn is a blank- I check, Euro bets 5k. I call the 5k leaving 10K behind. As the river card is in the process of being turned over I push. By the way, the river is K Diamonds- sweet! Euro bitch begins his analysis: "You bet that as if you hit thte flush. If you hit it you would not bet there. You push and strong means weak/weak means strong; so I call. I have the second nuts- shows Q6 Diamonds.
I show the nuts. He says "How much?" Thus begins his post hand tirade. In true Helmuth manner, Euro Joe shakes his head lifts his hands up and shrugs. He is incredulous and asks, "Why would you bet there? If you made the flush, why bet?"
I replied, "I thought you would pay me- simple as that".
I busted out a couple of hours later. No cash.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sonterra Meeting $2/$5- To Fold or Not?
I played poker after our visit to the stores and did well. Bought in for $200 and cashed out for $800. This happened at Sonterra.
Me: 9 10 off in position running well called raise to $15. Flop is 78x. I call a $25 bet. Turn- K, he leads out for $75. I put him on nothing more than a pair or over cards. I calculate my odds to the open ended draw and estimate I am 5:1 dog. Money is 160:75 or approx. 2:1. So I fold. Mark was sweating me and said I was wrong for folding because I would have stacked the aggressor ($400 or so- possible but likely he would put in 60%-75% of his stack or $300). BTW the dealer turned over the river and it was a 6. Aggressor said, upon seeing the 6 that we would have chopped it. I asked him how he knew that. He said he would have made the straight to the 9. I would have made it to the 10. I was second guessing my decision but it was based on preservation rather than accumulation.
Thoughts?
Another hand I was dealt 55 in late position and I called a raise to $15-$20. We took the flop 3 handed and it was 56J rainbow. Original raiser (Charlie) bets $30 into the $70ish pot and gets called so, I plan to isolate against possible straight draw and make it $80 so it's not a prohibitive bet. Original bettor (Charlie) throws up all over the pot and goes all in confidently. Sandwich guy shows others not in hand what he has and lays down (turns out to be AA). I go into the tank and immediately put Charlie on 66. I show my hand to people on my side of table- Randy admonishes me for not calling instantly as I am making Charlie feel like he is good. I told him I'm not convinced I should call and turn my hand over for a reaction. Nothing. After more deliberation, I fold and Charlie shows his 66 for a higher set. No reason to put your money in bad if you're sure or somewhat certain.
Antother hand I am dealt A7o and make a pre-flop raise to $15 and get 4 callers. Flop: TTT! Checked around. Turn card is 7. Checked to me and I bet $40. Fold around to Randy who check raises to $100. I call. River is an 8 and Randy leads out for $150 and I call with the 7 and he mucks. I believe this is an easy call on my part as the unlikelihood of him having a 10 there combined with me matching one of only two cards on the board and his ability to play with chips is enough to give me the green light there. I stacked about $460 on that hand alone.
Me: 9 10 off in position running well called raise to $15. Flop is 78x. I call a $25 bet. Turn- K, he leads out for $75. I put him on nothing more than a pair or over cards. I calculate my odds to the open ended draw and estimate I am 5:1 dog. Money is 160:75 or approx. 2:1. So I fold. Mark was sweating me and said I was wrong for folding because I would have stacked the aggressor ($400 or so- possible but likely he would put in 60%-75% of his stack or $300). BTW the dealer turned over the river and it was a 6. Aggressor said, upon seeing the 6 that we would have chopped it. I asked him how he knew that. He said he would have made the straight to the 9. I would have made it to the 10. I was second guessing my decision but it was based on preservation rather than accumulation.
Thoughts?
Another hand I was dealt 55 in late position and I called a raise to $15-$20. We took the flop 3 handed and it was 56J rainbow. Original raiser (Charlie) bets $30 into the $70ish pot and gets called so, I plan to isolate against possible straight draw and make it $80 so it's not a prohibitive bet. Original bettor (Charlie) throws up all over the pot and goes all in confidently. Sandwich guy shows others not in hand what he has and lays down (turns out to be AA). I go into the tank and immediately put Charlie on 66. I show my hand to people on my side of table- Randy admonishes me for not calling instantly as I am making Charlie feel like he is good. I told him I'm not convinced I should call and turn my hand over for a reaction. Nothing. After more deliberation, I fold and Charlie shows his 66 for a higher set. No reason to put your money in bad if you're sure or somewhat certain.
Antother hand I am dealt A7o and make a pre-flop raise to $15 and get 4 callers. Flop: TTT! Checked around. Turn card is 7. Checked to me and I bet $40. Fold around to Randy who check raises to $100. I call. River is an 8 and Randy leads out for $150 and I call with the 7 and he mucks. I believe this is an easy call on my part as the unlikelihood of him having a 10 there combined with me matching one of only two cards on the board and his ability to play with chips is enough to give me the green light there. I stacked about $460 on that hand alone.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
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