“Here’s one for the blog”

On Friday night, August 3rd, Julie hosted a $60 Ironman tournament (no scheduled breaks). There were 16 runners and my opening 8-handed table featured (sitting clockwise to my left) Brian Oliver, Prowest, Cheryl, Pyxis, Dave Arendt, Serge and Shekar. I started with 13000 chips.

25/50 - The very first hand of the tournament, there are several limpers. I’m on the button and raise to 300 with QdTd. 4 callers see a flop of 8d 4d 2c. The action checks to me and I toss out a c-bet of 600 with my flush draw and 2 overs to the board. Cheryl and Serge are the only callers. Turn [8d 4d 2c] Kx. Everyone checks. River [8d 4d 2c Kx] Kd. I bet 1500 with my flush and Cheryl calls/mucks when I turn over my hand. I end the level with 16025.

50/100 - After raising the previous 2 hands and winning both uncontested, I raise to 400 UTG with pocket Queens. Serge is the only caller and we see a flop of Ah Kh Qh. I lead out for 800 and Serge raises to 2600. I glance over at his remaining chip stack and he has 10-ish behind. I think he would have smooth called my original bet of 800 if he had a flush, so I move all in over the top with my set of Queens. He folds and says nice bluff. I end the level with 19975.

75/150 - Didn’t play a hand. I end the level with 19750.

100/200 - I saw a few flops this level with 8s7s and As9s, but there was too much action on one hand and I missed the flop of the other. I end the level with 18550.

150/300 - Pyxis raises to 600 on the last hand of 100/200 and I’m only caller in the big blind with Jh9h. The flop brings 2 hearts and I check-call a 600 c-bet. The turn is a blank and I check-call another bet of 1000. I make my flush on the river and reach down for some chips, but Pyxis turns over her hand (pocket Kings) in the process. She explains that she thought I checked, which was definitely not my intention. Now that I can see her cards and know I have her beat, I still have the opportunity to act on the hand. I could be a dick and bet something minimal that I know she would call, or I could go all in and force a likely fold. Pyxis is a very nice person and is someone who attends my games, which is something I do not want to jeopardize, so I check and show her my flush to drag another decent pot.

A bit later in the level, I look down at JJ on the button and raise to 1100. Prowest calls in the big blind and says “here’s one for the blog.” Shekar comes along as well. The flop is 678, two spades. Prowest checks and I bet 1600. Prowest raises to 4000, Shekar folds, and I ask Dave “why so much?” I immediately realize it’s not that much more to call, but compared to Prowest’s remaining stack size, he’s basically committing himself all in. I think about it a bit more and fold my pocket Jacks face up. He shows 6h7h for bottom 2-pair and I’m down to 18175 after the hand.

Fortunately, I would chip back up with AA in a hand against Dave Arendt. Meanwhile, Prowest lost most of his stack against Serge and I busted him with Qc7c vs AQ. I end the level with 23975.

200/400 - I keep up the momentum early in the level, winning three small pots. I won a hand with pocket threes (uncontested), 86o vs Pyxis and AQo against Brian Oliver. I end the level with 26400.

300/600 - I’m on the button with QdJh and raise to 1700. Shekar calls and we see a Queen high flop with 2 hearts. Shekar leads for 1700 and I smooth call. Turn [Qh Xh Xx] Ah, giving me a flush draw. Shekar bets 4400 and shows KdTd for a bluff when I fold. I end the level with 22500.y

400/800 - I’m in the big blind with Qc7c and call Serge’s 2000 raise. The flop is Jack-high with two clubs, and I make a pair of sevens on the river, but lose 5600 on the hand after Serge shows me a pair of Jacks.

A bit later in the level, we combine to final table of 8. Seated to my left (clockwise) are Serge, Shekar, Conundrum, Dave Arendt, Brian Oliver, John Pshock and K-Tina. I have 16500 and need to accumulate some chips. Right before the end of the level, there are a few limpers ahead of me and I follow suit on the button with 8s7s. Four of ujs see a flop of J 9 5. It checks around to Brian, who bets 2400. I decide to move all in for 10200 with my double belly buster straight draw. He thinks for a while and folds. Serge says he laid down a big hand. I end the level with 22300.

500/1000 - I have 65o in big blind. K-Tina limps from the small blind and we see a flop of 7h 8h 9x. She leads for 1000 and I decide to play it carefully and smooth call. Turn [7h 8h 9x] K. She continues for 2000 more and I call. River is [7h 8h 9x Kx] Jh, putting 3 hearts on the board. This card SUCKS as it brings flush and a higher straight possibilities. K-Tina goes all in and I immediately fold. 

A bit later, K-Tina raises to 3000. I go all in for 16800 with AdQd. Con goes all in over top of me and has both of us covered. K-Tina folds AK and Con shows the same exact hand, but I hit my flush on the turn to double up. I end the level with 36100.

600/1200 - The last hand of level, I have pocket threes and raise the button to 3000. Con goes all in for 13700 and elect not to flip. I end the level with 28200.

800/1600 - Another quiet level. I end with 21000.

1000/2000 - I raise to 5000 with pocket Queens and John calls in big blind. Flop A T 5, two hearts. We both check. Turn [A T 5] 7. John bets 5k and I call. John moves all in when the river brings a third heart and I fold.

We’re on bubble when Serge busts Con. The very first hand of bubble play, I push all in for 15000 from the small blind with pocket twos. Serge calls from the big blind with KQ and I turn a set to double up. I end the level with 28000.

1200/2400 - I limp from the SB with J9 and Serge checks his option. Flop 7 6 3. We both check. Turn [7 6 3] 9. I check-call a bet of 6k. River blank. We both check and my J9 has his 92 out-kicked. I end the level with 26800 and we’re now in he money after K-Tina bubbles.

1500/3000 - From the SB, I limp in with 7h5h and Serge and I see flop of A 7 X. We both check. Turn [A 7 X] 5. Thinking Serge will fire on the turn, I slow play my 2 pair and check. He bets 7500 and I go all in for 12k more and he folds. I end the level with 35600 and we’re 3-handed after John hits the rail in 4th place.

2000/4000 -  Last hand before 3000/6000, I go all in for 13800 with AK. Dave A calls in BB with 76o and hits a pair of 7s. I finish in 3rd place for $160, while Dave Arendt and Serge chop for $350 apiece.