Fitz Oscar's Sunday Tournament - €30 26/03/2006

A very short one - I played in Oscar's €30 FO in the Fitz on Sunday, a great little tournament with a nice gentle structure and always improving players. It is self-deal, which is ok, as I usually volunteer to deal for the table to speed things up. I had bought The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion the day before, and was looking forward to playing this in the evening, so being knocked out early wouldn't have been too bad!

The tournament started at 4:30 sharp with 42 runners. The tournament is alternatively a short-handed or full table affair, and this week was 6/7 handed per table. With a starting stack of 4k, it wasn't necessary to get stuck in immediately, as there was a lot of time to go before the blinds would start to bite. Nevertheless, as has been typical for my last couple of times playing this, I started off well and got up to 5.5k before the end of the first level. Went completely card dead after this and go to the break with 3.5k. Ducked and dived for a while, and with 12 to go had only 5k, but played a nice short stack game and got up to 16.8k with 7 to go, 6 going to the final table to get paid.

There were three on my table, four on the other table, with the tournament chip leader with 80k+ to my left. Unfortunately, we had a volunteer dealer while the other table passed the cards around self dealing, so we were playing twice as many hands as they were! Two on the other table were even shorter stacked than I, but they were happy to try to limp into the money. With my recent successes, I only had my eye on 1st or 2nd. I got 66 UTG, blinds were 500/1k. I decided to push, to take down the blinds - I had been given a lot of respect by the other two, after a bit of nifty play over the past level or two. I also slightly outchipped the BB, and wanted to cement my position as 2nd biggest stack on the table, putting him under pressure to make a move. The SB with the massive stack acknowledged my all-in, thought about it for a while, and called. Oops. The BB, facing two all-ins and outchipped by both, thought about it for a minute, and decided he couldn't lay his hand down. Double oops, I was sure I was miles behind now!

However, if I were knocked out by the SB but still had a better hand than the BB, I would be out but in the money! I flipped my 66, the SB flipped 99 and the BB flipped AKo. Everyone (barring me) had made the right move I think. No king no ace and I make money! K on the flop, no 9 no 6, I'm out on the bubble for the first time in about two months. No biggie, it was fun while it lasted :)

SE Double Chance - €75 22/03/2006

Another week, another visit to the Sporting Emporium for their €75 Double Chance. A similar sized field to last week's, there were 30 players listed on the clock screen, though I think a few more played and were unaccounted for. Anyhow, four tables started off, 2k to begin with, with an additional 2k available anytime after the 1st hand and before the break.

Most players on my table were experienced, and there was a lot of action during the first few levels. One chap got a fantastic run of cards and had more than doubled up by the end of the first level, and proceeded to bully the table for a while. The only hand of note I had during the first two levels went as follows: Blinds were 50/100, I was in MP, UTG made it 325, I called with AJd, both blinds called. Flop was J rag rag, both rags were diamonds. It was checked around to me, I decided to check instead of bet, thinking I was ahead and wanting to build a pot. The turn was a non-diamond rag, checked around again and I bet it this time, 500. The blinds folded and UTG called. River was a non-diamond 8, UTG bets 500, which surprised me. I decided to flat call, turned over my TPTK, he turned over 88 for a house. My own fault for not betting the flop, though knowing the player it probably would have cost me more! I was down to 750, and decided to forego the topup and try to double up instead - the table was quite loose and I knew 750 would be called.

I doubled through during level three (75/150) when my Ax when up against another Ax, my kicker was higher. Table four was broken up and I was moved to table three, got my chips just before the break and had about 3500 for the FO period. Didn't play a hand after the break on table three, and was moved to table one mid-way through level four (100/200). With the big jump up in blinds at level five (200/400), it was time to make a move. I doubled through when my A7s outdrew AK, a K on the flop but I runner runnered a flush. I then took more of the same players chips when my 10 10 beat his unimproved AQo. I was up to a health stack with 2 tables remaining.

A few levels later, I donked off more than 70% of my stack in a battle of the blinds, when my top pair was beaten by his trips. By the time the final table was formed, I only had about 7.5k, with blinds 300/600 and soon going to 400/800. Only 6 were being paid, with 6th and 5th getting less than double the buy-in back, so again, it was time to make some moves. Most players were experienced and playing quite cagey poker to begin with, so I pushed with Ax and Kx in position a few times to steal the blinds. It took an hour before the first player was eliminated, with most of the players having average stacks, no massive chip leader. I doubled up with QQ vs AK and was in great shape. We slowly worked our way down to 5 players, I was playing tight agressive, pushing people off pots when I thought I could or when I was ahead - with the blinds at 500/1000, the pots were worth taking.

The next key hand occured when I was UTG. I was chip leader by this stage and really starting to exert pressure on the rest. I found AA for the only time that night, and raised to 5000. All folded to the BB, who was a very good and agressive young player, an expert at using position and pushing when he sensed weakness. However, he picked the wrong time to push with A7o, and I now had a dominant stack four-handed. I now raised big when I had strong and semi-strong hole cards, and as the rest were worried about going out in 4th (payouts was 960, 540, 345 and 240), they allowed me to bully unmercilessly. It was great :) I knocked 4th out, and we did a mini-deal to make the payouts (900, 540 and 405). 3rd was gone a few minutes later (an older guy who plays in the SE a lot, agressive but easy to figure out I think) when he played back at me at the wrong time. Heads-up I had a 3:1 chip lead, he suggested a 50:50 deal which I obviously refused. First hand of heads-up he folded to my BB, second hand he completed from the SB, I raised to 10k, he pushed his 25k or so, I called in an instant with KQo, his K4s was dominated and I won the tournament for the 2nd week running :)

Vegasnights End of Month - €50 + €50 18/03/2006

Another month gone and time once again to make the journey out to the Angler's Rest in Chapelizod for Vegasnights' excellent end of month tournament. This tournament attracts an interesting range of players, from your typical pub players to much more experienced and wily veterans. I picked up Olly (Olly1k) in town and we met Marq outside the place, Aidan (rounders123), Gholimoli and later Dave 'Big Dragon' inside. 60 or so started, each with a stack of 4k. Players could either rebuy (5k) or top-up (6k) for €50.

I started on a very difficult table, with rounders123, Eddie the Eagle (Vegasnights regular and the person that knocked me out on the final table on City West in January), Robbie (another Vegasnights regular, who came 2nd in the team event) and later Big Dragon. I looked around in envy at some of the other tables, with mainly inexperienced players.

Despite this, I had a great start. During the first level (25/50) I limped in with 78 clubs, and saw a flop of 69Q rainbow, one club. Eddie through out a 100 bet, which I called. Turn was a rag, non club. Eddie bet 100 again, I called. River was a beautiful 10. Eddie bet out 500, I raised to 1500, he pushed and I of course called. He had been slowplaying bottom set on the flop and was rightfully disgusted at himself for allowing me to stay in the hand with his small bets. During the next level Eddie doubled through Robbie and had a nice big stack, but later rounders123 knocked him out while winning a nice big pot.

Most pots were raised pre-flop, there was a lot of action on our table. I took down a number of pots during the next two levels, and fought my way up to almost 10k by the end of level 3. I then lost / threw away a few thousand chips because of missed flops, bad position, ill-advised limping and failed bluffs. Towards the end of level 4 (100/200), the following occured (and I am sure I'll be pulled up on any of it I get wrong!): Big Dragon limped UTG, folded around to me on the button, I had AKo and raised to 900. The blinds folded and Big Dragon called. Flop wasn't any help for me, but had two clubs, and I was holding the Ace. Threw out a continuation bet, which was flat called. Turn was another club, and I fired off another bet (which probably was a mistake), again, Big Dragon flat called it. River was the gorgeous Q clubs, giving me the nut flush - I duly bet 2000 or so, which he again flat called. His expression when I revealed the Ace told me I had rivered him out of a monster, which he later confirmed. Ah well, he'll certainly get me again in the future I expect!

I now had over 10k, in time for the break and my topup, bringing my total to just over 16k. About 35 players remained, including all of the boardsters. Not many hands of note after the break, though about an hour in I double through on my SB, as the button (who had just been moved to the table with 30k in chips) raised 4xBB, I looked down on KK and pushed, he called with JJ, didn't improve and I was up to 27k. I sat on this, totally card dead, until the next break, when we had 17 left. Top 9 were being paid, I was feeling fairly confident and had a lot of play left in me.

Rounders123 was knocked out shortly after the last break, and only Marq and myself were left of the boardsters, he only had 4.5k at the break I think. We were down to two tables, and I was moved to Gholimoli's right on table 1. Frank, older gent from the Fitz, was on the table with a big stack, and he was my undoing. During my 2nd orbit on the table, with a stack of 22.5k and blinds of 700/1500 I think, there was an early position limper, Frank in MP raised to 15k (huge overraise I thought, but he had done it twice during the 10 minutes I had been at the table, he was bullying with his big stack). I looked down at QQ on the BB and pushed all-in. Limper folded, Frank only had to put in another 7.5k so it was a no-brainer for him. As expected, I was ahead, he had AJd, lovely raggy flop but an ace on the turn and no lady on the river sent me out in 12nd, 3 off the money. Disappointing but there ya go! Would have made a right go at the final table with the 45k if the queens held up.

Gutshot challenge tournament & SE €75 Double Chance

Two more tournaments to report:

Fitzwilliam Card Club vs. Gutshot Card Club €50 Freezeout - 11/2/2006

This is an annual event, a challenge match between the Fitz and London's Gutshot club, which had lost to the previous year. I was too late to sign up for the Fitz's team, but played as a neutral. The game was extremely good value, as you got a 4k stack, the blind structure was relatively gentle and the Fitz added €2,000 to the prize pool and didn't even charge a rake! Over 120 players turned up on a Saturday afternoon to play, despite the fact that Ireland was taking on Scotland later that afternoon in the Six Nations.

I'll keep the poker report short and sweet - I double up playing ABC poker before the break, but when I was moved to a Gutshot-heavy table after the break I went card dead and found it hard to bluff against the very experienced and aggressive players. I doubled up when I found KK later in the day, but went out in 19th, 10 short of the money, when I was moved tables and forced all-in on my BB holding less than two times the big blind. An EP raiser had 55, I had Q8o (not too bad!) but didn't improve and out I went. The Gutshot went on to crush the Fitz in the team event, though a Fitz player took 1st prize in the end. Very fun tournament, lots of familiar faces there.

Sporting Emporium €75 Double Chance - 15/3/2006

This was going to be my only tournament in Dublin this week, as I was heading to Galway on Thursday evening for the long (St. Patrick's Day) weekend. There were about 31 or so runners, beginning on 4 tables. I had played most of the participants before, it is funny, the €50 game the night after gets more than twice the runners (sometimes triple the runners) of the €75 game and contains many more beginners - I guess the €25 difference in buy-in is a big deal to many.

Anyhow, started off well and began accumulating chips from the very beginning. I decided earlier in the day that I would put a lot more effort into reading and categorising players in the future, as I think my ABCs are down and I'm ready to move up in standard. I quickly had the more passive players noted and pressurised them when I could. Luckily, the passive or inexperienced players were all to my left, so I stole a lot of pots during the opening levels. I also used position very well to take down many pots without needing to go to showdown. During the first 3 blind levels I was dealt QQ three times, and only won once with them, each time getting one or more callers to my pre-flop raises and twice having to lay them down post-flop when my opponents bet A or K high flops in position. Still, by the time of the break I had almost doubled up to 7.5k.

Blinds were 100/200 after the break, and as there was not a 150/300 level, it was time to hoover up some more chips. Unfortunately, instead I decided to make the silliest move of the night. I tried to limp with AcJd, only to run into a raise to 800 by the BB, a good player. He had almost got into trouble earlier when he didn't believe my BB raise with QQ, but had the discipline to lay down whatever Ax hand he had. I wish I had had his discipline at this point last night! For some strange reason I decided to call; flop was KJ8 with two clubs. He check the flop, I made a 1k bet, which he quicked called. I should have known I was in trouble at this point...but decided to fire off another bet after seeing a rag on the turn! He insta-called again, and checked again. Now I should have known I was in trouble, and just checked it when I saw another rag. But NOOOOO, I decided he had shown weakness and threw in a final 2k bet - he pushed his 2.4k and I threw in the 400 with a sigh. He had KQo and I was down to less than 3k. If I thought my AJ was in front pre-flop (which it was), I should have raised. Better yet, I really should have folded, as I didn't have a good read on him.

With the 100/200 blinds I was in trouble. I was moved tables (2 left) and was the 2nd shortest stack of 8 players. I started playing agressively and doubled up within an orbit. Then I found QQ again UTG, made a nice raise, one caller (a good, tight rock of a player), flop was K high and I laid it down when I checked and he bet. If I had more chips I might have bet out to see where I stood. I was then moved, down to 3.4k with the blinds soon increasing to 200/400. I pushed in LP with AJ, took the blinds, then pushed the very next hand with A7 spades, rather rashly. A medium stack called and the table chip leader went all-in, which was duly called. Oops. The big stack had AA, the medium stack had a small pocket pair and I was calling for some spades! Two spades on the flop and another on the river ensured I stayed in the game and had a workable stack. What a feeling, to crack aces! The reverse has happened to me so many times this year, particularly in the SE, I didn't feel bad at all. A few hands later, I find JJ in the BB and call a shortish stack's all in, he had AQo and had no help, so I was up to a very healthy position. Nick from VegasNights was at my table and also had come back from nothing to build a big stack. Mark (Pokertroll) McMahon was also on the table and was card dead, but had a decent stack.

During the 300/600 level we finally made it down to 9 players and the final table formed just after midnight. 6 would be paid, but I had a healthy stack (one of the two chip leaders) and was looking for a top two finish to make some 'real' money. Blinds were soon up to 400/800 and a player was gone. Nick was playing well and build up a nice stack to be chip leader, with myself and another player close behind. I took the blinds a few times from the button, showing strong hands when I wasn't bluffing. Mark was sitting to my right, and later in the 400/800 level he limped in and we saw a raggy flop (two low cards and a 9 I think) with two diamonds. I was holding Q4d and knew if I hit and he caught anything, I would take a nice pot from him - he was still card dead and I knew he felt the pressure to make a move. We checked the flop and the turn was a lovely low diamond, giving me my Q high flush. There was a straight possibility on the board, and he bet 2k, with another 8k behind, which I flat called. The river was another low card, more straight possibilities, and Mark checked. I raised to 6k, he asked 'do you have a flush?', I shrugged, he sighed and pushed, turning over a straight. Down to seven players.

Nick threw away his big stack pushing with ATo on a A high flop (with a short stack all in and a medium stack involved), the medium stack called with AJ and Nick was down to the felt. It took a while to get down to six, as the short stacks hung on to avoid the bubble. This was great for me, as I took the opportunity to bully my way to chip leader. Nick seemed certain to be punished for his mistake and go out on the bubble, but he hung on as another short stack was eliminated by one of the bigger stacks. I then knocked out the rock who had made me lay down one of my QQ hands earlier in the night, while Nick was then knocked out in 5th by the other big stack. With 4 left, two of us had big stacks (circa 45k each) and two had smaller stacks (25k and 15k), though capable of doing damage. I knocked out the medium stack and had a nice chip lead with three to go. The short stack played well, pushing from the SB on my BB when I had nothing, and made his way up to over 20k. However, he was knocked out when he pushed with A7, I called with A5 hearts, and I rivered a straight. I was never going to fold my A5 at that point, even if I doubled him up I would still be chip leader.

1st paid €960 and 2nd paid €640, it was getting late and I suggested we think about a deal. He immediately divided the remaining prize pool by half, which I shot down. He then decided he'd rather play on than accept €750 or so, fair enough. He was a good player and I would have been happy to take €850 and run, but I think he fancied his chances against me - his instincts were right. I had about a 20k or 25k chip lead over him going into the HU. I folded the first HU hand on the flop to his raise. I found A7o on the BB for the second HU hand, he raised to 9k, I called, the flop came A high with two rags, I checked, he bet 10k, I instantly moved all-in and he instantly called! He had A9o and a split pot didn't look likely due to the rags on the flop and turn. However, I jammed a 7 on the river to take the lot. Thems the breaks, I felt bad momentarily, but I have been on the receiving end so often that it felt like a little bit of SE justice for me!

Finally a clear win in 2006, after 7 other in the money finishes out of a total of 20 live tournaments played. I am up over €2500 on the year so far and feel I am running extremely well, the final table in Citywest in January was a real confidence booster. My reading of players and bluffing ability / use of position has come on leaps and bounds over the last four months and hopefully will continue to pay dividends in the future.

More mid-week Double Chances - SE & Fitz

Two tournaments to cover, both fairly short:

Sporting Emporium €50 Double Chance - 2/3/2006

I was heading to London early the next day, but decided to head in for a night of poker in the SE. The €50 Double Chance is becoming a very popular (relatively speaking, of course) tournament, and there were 9 tables on the go when it kicked off, 20 minutes late at 9:20pm. In fact, they didn't have enough chairs to go around and a few players who arrived late had to stick around hoping for others' early exits!

I was on a table of beginners, some really terrible players. Of the 10 at the table, I only rated 2 of them. This is always the best situation to be in at the start of a tournament, lots of dead chips to suck up...or so I thought.

I motored through the first two levels without incident, building my stack up a bit. Many beginners love to call and chase when the bets are small in relation to their stack (they don't ever think about bets in relation to the size of the pot, or other such outlandish notions!), so to bluff them off a pot you often just need to throw in a nice raise. The table was extremely loose, and many huge pots were built up by Ax beginners butting heads, or Ax beginners outdrawing premium pairs. The other two experienced players' stacks were decimated by the end of level two due to repeated outdraws.

At the start of level three (75-150), I was dealt AA in late position, and with two early limpers, raised to 4xBB. The extremely loose and clueless BB called, the other two folded (which surprised me, I was certain one or both would call at the time). The flop came down AK6 rainbow, very nice. The BB instantly pushed for his remaining 700, I called, he flipped QTo and his face sank when he saw what I had. The turn was a rag, but the river was the J he needed to survive. My aces just cannot hold up in the SE for some reason.

I was still in decent shape and happy to keep going - still many poor players on the table willing to give their chips away. A few hands later I was dealt KJ in the BB. A few limpers, I raised to 450, all folded but the SB. Flop was KQJ rainbow. SB made a minimum raise, which from such a poor player screamed of weakness. I re-raised to 1/2 pot, he dwelt for a few minutes and then went all in for 2k more. I was still certain he was weak and called. He flipped A7o. One of the other experienced players who had been raped earlier smiled, but uttered 'Wait for the ten', as that is how the table was running. Turn rag, river ten.

For the first time in a long while I didn't take it gracefully and stomped off without shaking the villain's outstretched hand. I subsequently felt very stupid for getting upset, 'tis just a game and I know that I should be thrilled to get so much into the pot when I was so far ahead. I will continue to play on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the SE and take the inexperienced players' chips.

Fitzwilliam Card Club €50 Double Chance - 7/3/2006

Surprised myself going to this one, as I had planned to stay in, watch the Chelsea game and maybe play a STT or two on Pokerstars. However, went in for a lash at what had once been my favourite Dublin tournament. There were about 48 runners on 5 tables, mainly Fitz regulars but a lot of newer faces. That said, I haven't played very much in the Fitz over the last two months, so who knows who is or isn't a regular anymore.

I was on a table which was 50/50 well-recognised players and unknowns. Regulars included Macker and later Vivian. The table was so much tougher than a comparable table in the SE that it isn't funny - the dead money really is in the SE, despite the poorer blind structures mid-week. Anyhow, didn't get off to a great start. During level two (blinds 50/100), I was dealt TT in the BB, three limpers, raised to 275, only one called ( a total unknown to me, no reads on him). Flop was QQ5 two clubs, I checked (1st mistake, should have bet out). He bet 500, which I called (2nd mistake, should have pushed for my remaining 1200, still had my rebuy at this stage). The turn was a A (heart I think) and he pushed on my check. Played that so badly, I am sure, in the cold light of the day, that he had Ax and a bet or re-raise on the flop would have won it.

Doubled up a short time later when five limpers (including myself on the SB) saw a flop of 336 with two clubs. I had 73o and checked the flop, UTG bet 200, called by the button, and I pushed for 1050. UTG folded and the button quickly called. I thought 'oh well, out-kickered, time to use my double chance', but he actually had J5 clubs and didn't hit on the turn or river. Up to above average. Made another mistake shortly before the break when I limped with KJd, the flop was 55T with two diamonds, one of the blinds bet 500 (into a pot of 600 or so) and I called. No diamond on the turn and I folded to her all-in.

Wasn't having any luck after the break, and we were down to two tables quite quickly. At one stage a player was down to 75, and the blinds were 150/300. He pushed, I was on the button and I called along with two others. I had 98o, the flop was KJ6 rainbow. Checked around, turn was an A. Checked around again, I knew (playing vs. Macker and another regular) that I would take the side pot if I bet, so I threw out 700 into a side pot of 675. They duly folded, and the short stack took down the main pot of 300 with Q-high. The other two sighed loudly, grimaced and complained to me about checking it down, but I can't say I agree with them. I increased my stack by over 20% by taking the side pot, and the short stack still only had a blind to play with.

Anyhow, blinds increased rapidly and I was soon gone. I stole the blinds about four times by pushing with my remaining 2400, everyone was playing tight. UTG I found TT with the blinds at 400/800, pushed my 2400, folded around the rockiest rock in rocktown, who had only played two or three hands that night (no joke). He called, the rest folded with pleasure, knowing I was a good country mile behind. The very, VERY best I could hope for is AK, though it was unlikely. He actually had KK, the board didn't help and I was home for midnight.