Overdue 40k recap

I said I was gonna do a tournament recap in my last post, but I haven't yet. So here it is at long last.

I was short stacked for most of the tournament and on into the money. This weird hand gave me a big stack though and some room to manuever:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t800/t1600 Blinds + t150 - 9 players - View hand 14343
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



Hero (MP2): t17584 M = 4.69

gcampane (CO): t125762 M = 33.54

SpaceLordOO (BTN): t34756 M = 9.27

Kris Merlot (SB): t24903 M = 6.64

makojim (BB): t59604 M = 15.89

HotKarlMC (UTG): t63718 M = 16.99

905er (UTG+1): t12903 M = 3.44

Mercusen (UTG+2): t62727 M = 16.73

Aryamehr (MP1): t35312 M = 9.42



Pre Flop: (t3750) Hero is MP2 with A K

3 folds, Aryamehr raises to t4278, Hero raises to t17434 all in, gcampane raises to t125612 all in, 3 folds, Aryamehr calls t30884 all in



Flop: (t91508) 8 7 A (3 players - 3 are all in)



Turn: (t91508) 5 (3 players - 3 are all in)



River: (t91508) K (3 players - 3 are all in)



Final Pot: t91508

Hero shows A K (two pair, Aces and Kings)

gcampane shows Q Q (a pair of Queens)

Aryamehr shows Q Q (a pair of Queens)

Aryamehr wins t17728

gcampane wins t17728

Hero wins t56052




Its not often you flop one pair in a 3 way pot and have both opponents drawing stone dead.

And here I win another 3 way preflop all-in:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t2000/t4000 Blinds + t400 - 8 players - View hand 17735

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



squasher8 (CO): t99552 M = 10.82

tdrot (BTN): t25364 M = 2.76

waterlandse (SB): t153110 M = 16.64

Jamroom (BB): t35719 M = 3.88

tonywhitcomb (UTG): t92696 M = 10.08

Hero (UTG+1): t59748 M = 6.49

SoClever (MP1): t147026 M = 15.98

Napboy (MP2): t58840 M = 6.40



Pre Flop: (t9200) Hero is UTG+1 with A A

1 fold, Hero raises to t9999, SoClever calls t9999, 1 fold, squasher8 calls t9999, 2 folds, Jamroom raises to t35319 all in, Hero raises to t59348 all in, 1 fold, squasher8 calls t49349



Flop: (t169214) 4 8 7 (3 players - 2 are all in)



Turn: (t169214) 9 (3 players - 2 are all in)



River: (t169214) 3 (3 players - 2 are all in)



Final Pot: t169214

squasher8 shows A K (high card Ace)

Jamroom shows K J (high card King)

Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)

Hero wins t48058

Hero wins t121156




This hand is a great example of the hidden luck in tournaments. After the hand, SoClever said he folded 99 to my shove after flat-calling. Had he re-raised initially, which would have been my preferred play with his hand, I go out way short of the final table. But luckily he folded and I won a huge pot.

A couple orbits later I won another huge pot:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t2500/t5000 Blinds + t500 - 8 players - View hand 17736

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



makojim (MP2): t131964 M = 11.48

waterlandse (CO): t244080 M = 21.22

AGRESIVO1 (BTN): t106465 M = 9.26

WillyFanny (SB): t180298 M = 15.68

smoke2012 (BB): t185920 M = 16.17

Hero (UTG): t167878 M = 14.60

SoClever (UTG+1): t107888 M = 9.38

Napboy (MP1): t53780 M = 4.68



Pre Flop: (t11500) Hero is UTG with J J

Hero raises to t12500, 3 folds, waterlandse raises to t40000, 3 folds, Hero raises to t167378 all in, waterlandse calls t127378



Flop: (t346256) 4 7 6 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Turn: (t346256) K (2 players - 1 is all in)



River: (t346256) 2 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: t346256

waterlandse shows J A (high card Ace)

Hero shows J J (a pair of Jacks)

Hero wins t346256




With 33 BB effective stacks I wasn't thrilled about JJ after my UTG open got re-raised, but I'd seen this opponent make a couple of goofy plays so I felt like I had to go with it. He called me so fast I thought for sure I was behind, but he had a poorly played AJo and I luckily held. A few hands later I busted someone with AK over AQ and became the chip leader with 4 tables left.

I wasn't really able to build on my chip lead though, as people were playing back at me and I wasn't getting hands. But here I won a pretty big pot:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t4000/t8000 Blinds + t800 - 7 players - View hand 17740

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



makojim (SB): t240105 M = 13.64

cejka1 (BB): t249009 M = 14.15

danskemann (UTG): t777173 M = 44.16

WillyFanny (UTG+1): t172268 M = 9.79

Hero (MP): t309596 M = 17.59

aq12 (CO): t259370 M = 14.74

xoliveoilx (BTN): t146224 M = 8.31



Pre Flop: (t17600) Hero is MP with 8 9

2 folds, Hero raises to t20000, 3 folds, cejka1 calls t12000



Flop: (t49600) 3 9 4 (2 players)

cejka1 bets t32000, Hero calls t32000



Turn: (t113600) J (2 players)

cejka1 bets t48000, Hero calls t48000



River: (t209600) 5 (2 players)

cejka1 bets t56000, Hero calls t56000



Final Pot: t321600

cejka1 shows 7 Q (high card Queen)

Hero shows 8 9 (a pair of Nines)

Hero wins t321600




I open with a suited connector and get called by the big blind, who didnt seem like the strongest opponent. That read was confirmed by his weird bluff here. Once I call 48,000 on the turn it should be clear I'm not folding to a 56,000 bet on the river, especially on such a dry board.

But again I couldnt keep the momentum going and my stack dwindled as the final table approached. I wasn't getting hands and when I tried to steal I got played back at, so I just tried to be patient. I managed to make the final table, but as one of the short stacks with only 16 BBs or so.

Then as soon as the final table started I had this tough spot come up:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t8000/t16000 Blinds + t1600 - 9 players - View hand 17745

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



makojim (MP1): t298759 M = 7.78

rakeinfools (MP2): t230750 M = 6.01

UPS_NL_PLAYA (CO): t432140 M = 11.25

cubsrock1 (BTN): t524353 M = 13.66

df1986 (SB): t914959 M = 23.83

danskemann (BB): t1181706 M = 30.77

AllybabyMN (UTG): t851938 M = 22.19

Hero (UTG+1): t263196 M = 6.85

HotKarlMC (UTG+2): t999199 M = 26.02



Pre Flop: (t38400) Hero is UTG+1 with 8 8

1 fold, Hero raises to t36666, 4 folds, cubsrock1 raises to t101000, 3 folds



Final Pot: t111732

cubsrock1 wins t111732




This was a really tough spot. I hate to raise preflop and then fold on such a short stack as it costs me such a significant % of my stack. But I figured from early position on such a stack I would get credit for a big hand and that I wouldnt get re-raised light at all. So I raise/folded. I didnt like doing it at all, but I think its an ok play. I posted the hand on 2p2 and everyone said shove, which seemed like a big overbet to me. However I did some math and was surprised to learn that shoving is +chipEV. That doesnt necessarily make it the best play though, as with the flat payout structure at Stars final tables doubling up doesnt double my equity in the tournament, so the risk of busting 9th has to be considered. Overall a very tricky spot.

Soon after that the blinds went up and I was now really short, but I was lucky enough to pick up a hand here vs a loose and wild opponent:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t10000/t20000 Blinds + t2000 - 8 players - View hand 17753

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



rakeinfools (SB): t199150 M = 4.33

UPS_NL_PLAYA (BB): t294540 M = 6.40

cubsrock1 (UTG): t522319 M = 11.35

df1986 (UTG+1): t991359 M = 21.55

danskemann (MP1): t1491265 M = 32.42

AllybabyMN (MP2): t923838 M = 20.08

Hero (CO): t186930 M = 4.06

HotKarlMC (BTN): t1087599 M = 23.64



Pre Flop: (t46000) Hero is CO with A Q

3 folds, AllybabyMN raises to t55000, Hero raises to t184930 all in, 3 folds, AllybabyMN calls t129930



Flop: (t415860) J 2 3 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Turn: (t415860) J (2 players - 1 is all in)



River: (t415860) 6 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: t415860

AllybabyMN shows 9 8 (a pair of Jacks)

Hero shows A Q (a pair of Jacks - Ace kicker)

Hero wins t415860




That gave me some breathing room. Here I win another pot against that same player:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t12500/t25000 Blinds + t2500 - 6 players - View hand 17754

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



UPS_NL_PLAYA (CO): t213540 M = 4.07

df1986 (BTN): t1599773 M = 30.47

danskemann (SB): t1879035 M = 35.79

AllybabyMN (BB): t591191 M = 11.26

Hero (UTG): t343862 M = 6.55

HotKarlMC (MP): t1069599 M = 20.37



Pre Flop: (t52500) Hero is UTG with J J

Hero raises to t56999, 4 folds, AllybabyMN calls t31999



Flop: (t141498) 4 9 A (2 players)

AllybabyMN checks, Hero checks



Turn: (t141498) K (2 players)

AllybabyMN bets t87775, Hero raises to t284363 all in, AllybabyMN folds



Final Pot: t317048

Hero wins t317048




On the ace high flop I decided to check behind and hopefully induce a bluff from an aggressive opponent. The Kd turn was interesting, as it put another overcard out there but also gave me a flush draw. He bet out as expected and now I had a decision. Folding seemed out of the question since this guy never folded his blind and was very aggressive. I would usually call in spots like this since he's not calling with worse, but I decided to shove because I thought my hand would look really strong. I was trying to represent that I'd checked the flop with a monster to trap and then stopped slowplaying because of the third diamond. So I can get him to fold a king hopefully and I also avoid a tricky river spot, as if I'd called his turn bet I may face another barrel on the river.

I now had a great re-steal stack and started punishing the aggressive players to my right by shoving over their raises. By doing this I was able to stay ahead of the blinds and chip up from 500k to 670k during 4 handed play. I was very unlucky in that the other 3 players were all very strong and very experienced MTT players; between them they had nearly 10,000 MTTs played and nearly $400,000 in lifetime MTT winnings. That just shouldnt happen in a $25 MTT, you'd expect something like that from a $100 rebuy final table.

Anyways, I finally busted out after df1986 got tired of my constant resteals and made a hero call:

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t15000/t30000 Blinds + t3000 - 4 players - View hand 17758

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



df1986 (CO): t1803255 M = 31.64

danskemann (BTN): t1862392 M = 32.67

Hero (SB): t687901 M = 12.07

HotKarlMC (BB): t1343452 M = 23.57



Pre Flop: (t57000) Hero is SB with A J

df1986 raises to t69999, 1 fold, Hero raises to t684901 all in, 1 fold, df1986 calls t614902



Flop: (t1411802) 9 7 8 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Turn: (t1411802) 9 (2 players - 1 is all in)



River: (t1411802) 2 (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: t1411802

df1986 shows 8 A (two pair, Nines and Eights)

Hero shows A J (a pair of Nines)

df1986 wins t1411802




There is another dynamic that you can't tell from the hand history, which was that HotKarl in the big blind had disconnected and was sitting out. When the big blind is disconnected it leads to leveling wars between the other players, as everyone just assumes you dont have anything and are just raising because of the dead big blind. It's much like the situation I described in an earlier post about blind stealing, where trying to steal a tight player's blind isn't necessarily a good idea if the players behind you realize that's what youre trying to do and start re-raising you with garbage.

So the combination of the dead big blind and my constant resteals led df1986 to conclude I was full of it and didn't have it, as he beat me into the pot after I shoved with his A8o. Sadly I didn't hold and that was that.

I'm very happy with how I played though, and hopefully another final table is coming soon. Thanks to lucko, eusebio, lj, roflcopter and anyone else who was railing.

Thanks for reading,

George