Poker: Home Tourney–January 2011

The first game of a new season and slightly different structure so looking forward to an interesting game., especially as there’s a £10 bounty on me as well !

I was expecting 11 players after Sean/Karen dropped out at the last minute, but Lee and Mick ! turned up unexpectedly so had a good crowd to kick the season off

On my table I made a good start by doubling up against Lee with K-K    Sadly, I managed to give a load of chips away to Derek who was “playing so loose my pants are falling down” in his own words… but later managed to get some chips back off him and was about average chips at the first break.  

Everyone else seemed to be in a re-buy frenzy and lots of chips were flying around on both tables.  Seemed everyone was pleased to be back at the table after the long layoff

The first player out was Darren, who got all-in with J-J against Jock and Lee who both had A-T.  Of course I said “you don’t want to see an Ace then” to Darren and promptly dealt one out on the flop !   Sorry about that

He was soon followed by Andy who called all-in on flop with Str8 against Steve W’s two pair, but the river gave Steve the Full House and Andy was soon off back to his fishing

Lee teed up my demise when he defended his blind against my pre-flop raise.  The K-7-2 flop was good for my K-J so bet half pot when Lee checked, but he then called.   The 2 on the turn looked safe enough so put Lee all-in for a pot sized bet and he called, tabling his 9-2o !   The river bricked so  I was down to about 2000 chips with the blinds at 400/200.   A couple of hands later I looked at T-9s in the small blind and as it folded to me, decided to shove against Mick in the Big Blind.   He called with K-5o but hit K on the flop, so he got my chips and took the bounty

This took us to the final table and with some short stackers it was Jock who got taken out first by Lee.    Soon after, Derek managed to bust three players in one hand giving him the chip lead, then a few hands later busted two more so now has a huge chip lead and the last three have made it to the money already!

There was no time to rest though, with Steve raising, Lee shoved all-in and Derek called.   Steve sensibly ducked out and Derek took another player out (good job we don’t give points for knock-outs anymore!)

The heads up match between Derek and Steve was tense and tight.   An early hand had them both all-in but they both had the same hand

The chips moved around a bit, the chip lead swinging from one to the other, until on the 2nd hand of the last three they were both all-in and Derek deservedly took the win

It was really interesting game and enjoyed it immensely (despite my early exit) so can’t wait until next game….. there are three players with bounties next month so look forward to knocking them all out

Poker: £10 satellite to £100 Casino game

The time seemed right to setup a 10 seater No Limit Hold’em game as a Satellite to the £100 buy in at the Casino.  It’s a cheap night as the total cost is £10.50 and gives a bit of excitement as well as a share in the runner we send to the big game next month

The 10 players were all keen and showed up on time    Thanks again to Jon for acting as host and the facilities were great.

We start with 15’000 chips and try to recreate the same blind structure as the Casino’s rules, so start out at 50/100 with the first two levels being 30 mins and 20 min levels thereafter

We kicked off at 19:52 (as it took me longer than expected to sort out the chips!)   It didn’t take too long before there was a big pot and it was me v’s Sean but luckily the pot went to me.  It’s always nice to get the first win under the belt.

The next big pot was also Sean, but this time against Karen when Sean’s AQ probably looked good on a AA9 flop, but Karen has AK !

Things took a turn for the worse for me when I 4 bet Alex’s 3 bet and we got all-in with Alex’s T-T holding up against my A-K and I’m short stacked, however not long after fortune favoured the brave when I got all-in again with 8-8 against Derek’s A-Q on the turn and was back up to 17’000 chips.

Bill had been quiet but his nut flush on the turn overtook Karen’s K-K and 2nd nut flush and doubled up

After all that action the first break was a welcome relief and with all 10 players still in the running, the chip counts stood at:

Bill 20’550
Alex 19’600
Mike 18’200
Jock 17’900
Steve 16’300
Andy 14’350
Jon 13’350
Karen 11’950
Derek 11’300
Sean 6’500

Soon after the restart Derek’s Q-Q gets all-in against Andy 9-9  The flop was safe, but a 9 cruelly cut Derek’s dreams into shred’s and makes him the first faller.   The 5% stake and ability to get home in time to watch the News at Ten is scant consolation….

Bill starts his golden run, when his K-Q outflops Sean’s A-K on K-Q-x flop and Sean goes crashing out.   Two hands later Bill limp/call’s my raise and the A-K-x flop looks to good to bet for me heads up against Bill, as I’ve got A-K so check behind.   An 8 on the turn is enough for Bill to shove all-in and I call.  His A-8 is way behind but a miracle 8 on the river sends me to the rail as well!   Karen says she folded an 8 as well, which didn’t really soften the blow  

The action quietens down a little after that and the remaining 7 players all make it to the 2nd break.

Bill 48’400
Andy 28’200
Jock 24’100
Alex 18’300
Steve 11’400
Jon  10’400
Karen 9’200

After the second break the blinds are starting to hurt the short stacks, so it’s no surprise to see Alex making a move from the Big Blind but Andy calls from the Small Blind and takes him out.. neither player really having much of a hand !

Karen has to make a move and Jock decides to keep her honest and doubles her up

With the blinds increasing again, Jon is short so shoves.  Jock calls only to see Andy re-shove.  Jock calls and shows 6-6 against Jon’s A-8s but Andy has J-J   The J on the flop wasn’t really needed and Andy takes out two players in one and has the chip lead!

Bill’s beer goggles are not helping his game and he makes a crazy call to Steve’s all-in and doubled him up.  Steve gets a bit aggressive for a few hands and takes down the blinds about 4 times in 6 or 7 hands, and is suddenly in contention.   He tops out his run of good form by taking out Karen, leaving just three players to contend for the top prizes.

The third break sees the chips stacks as:

Steve 66’000
Andy 59’900
Bill 24’100

There’s still plenty of play left but inevitably it’s Bill out next by Steve.   It’s a cagey head up match, but in the end it only lasts about 20 mins when, after taking a series of small pots, Andy and Steve get it all-in but Andy takes the deserved victory at just after midnight

Phew, what a game.  There were highs and lows for everyone, drama and action along with fun and frolics.  

It seemed that everyone enjoyed the game and everyone has at least a 5% stake in the £100 tourney so we all come away with something invested from the night

The Casino game is Friday 4th February and despite not winning the seat, am planning to play anyways…. so lookout for the live tweets on the night

Can’t wait… and maybe we’ll do something similar again as well

Poker: End of year review and plans for 2011

I have posted my end of 2010 thoughts and plans for 2011 on Black Belt Poker blog, see http://www.blackbeltpoker.com/blogs/read/226381/sceaga/Farewell-and-hello/