So I had the pleasure of playing in my first Blogger tournament. Iggy had set up what was the best online tournament structure I have ever played in. Now I have not played that many so my sample size is not great, but 5,000 in chips and 30 minute rounds online is an eternity. Deep stacks, and plenty of time. Perfect. Those that were on the east coast were going to be in pain as this thing was going to last a loooooong time. I think it actually finished at around 4:00am Eastern time. OUCH. Not much work getting done today by the last finishers. Now as I have said I am not a huge fan of Online poker but this one was great.
I actually started at the table with Iggy and I had him to my direct left. The guy steps up and puts his own money up to make two seats available. That was just awesome. I have never met him in person, and someday I hope to, but that was a class move all the way around. So how do I repay him, I pick on him all night. Now I don't think he was getting many hands so maybe I just had the best hand most of the night against him, but I keep raising the blinds heads up, and leading into pots that we were in. Eventually he started to get a little short chipped, and maybe even a little bored, and he then started to move in on a pretty frequent basis. This worked the first two times, its always that last one that gets ya. I was then in the small blind when Iggy was in the big. We had a limp on the button, and I raised the pot out of the SB with pocket QQ's. He decided to move in again, and of course I called the third push in maybe one orbit. He had A,8 clubs and no help came, so I busted Iggy. Sorry dude I would have rather that be the last hand of the night.
After that however nothing happened for me. I went card dead. I was up to 2nd in chips and slowly bled to death. I could not even find a good spot to steal some chips. I still was not in bad shape. I had around 20,000 playing 200/400, and I limped in middle position with 77's. A late position player raised a small amount and I called as we had I think 4 or 5 in this pot now. Of course I flop a set on a board of 7,10,K. We get all our money in the pot and he has a set of 10's. Ouch there goes 1/2 my stack. I then bleed some more, and we are down to three tables. I am the short stack with around 10,000 playing 300/600 with a 50 ante. Finally I look down at pocket AA's in the BB. I am thinking someone raise, please. Everyone folds to the SB. He completes his bet, and I of course wanting to get a little more into the pot, but not wanting to chase him away make a min raise to 1,200. He calls. Flop K,3,6. He checks I bet, he raises, I move in, he calls, I loose. He had 3,6 off for a flopped two pair and I did not improve and go out 19th. That sucked. That is the risk you run not playing AA's aggressively. I knew the risk and I lost the pot. It happens.
I had a great time, Snake of wickedchops stopped by to say HI although he did not play, and I had fun chatting with a few of the bloggers. I don't play much with any of us, nor have I played in any other blogger tournaments. This was my first. I hope to run into a few at the WSOP this year and say hi in person. Great job Iggy, maybe one more before WSOP time??
On a side note it is Vegas time for poker players. This week starts the long summer run of tournaments in Vegas. Hope those of you who do this for a living run well for 6 months and make a ton of money. Aaron leaves today for Vegas. I hope I don't see him for 5 months and he comes back millions richer. Hope you are all winning. Talk to you soon....SJ
