a 300/1 shot
Before I went over to Copenhagen, I discovered that I’d been given odds of 300/1 to win the tournament. This seemed fairly generous odds as far I was concerned, but for some reason I was given better odds than lots of my fellow qualifiers. I was also given the odds of 40/1 to reach the final table. All I knew is that I was going to give it my best shot, and I was going to enjoy it.
The Saturday before I went out I heard the good news that I would be playing on Day 1a, the first of the two first days. I was pleased about this, as it meant I wouldn’t have to sit around on the Wednesday anxiously waiting to get going. My reasoning was that if I managed to get through the first day, I'd be able to relax and watch Day 1b without having to worry about playing in my first major event. On the more pessimistic side, I’d decided that if the worst happened, and I crashed out on Day 1, at least I'll be able to chill out and enjoy the rest of the week in Copenhagen.
day 1a
The structure of the event was a bit different to what I’ve played before. Of course the APAT events have a slow structure, but the hour long levels of the EPT events meant that I would be going out playing fairly tight to start with. I was hoping the cards would be kind to me early, so that I could get hold of some chips without having to do anything risky.
To get through Day 1, I’d have to survive nine hours of play. Starting stacks will be 10,000 chips. I took my seat on Table 13 (fortunately I’m not superstitious), alongside a bunch of Scandinavians. Then again, what else should I have expected at the Scandinavian Open…
Play was scheduled to start at 2pm, and this was preceded by a mad scramble of players trying to see the table they had been drawn. It was slightly reassuring to see that even the old pros were anxious to see where they’d been drawn and who else was on their table.
Here was the lineup on Table 13:
1. Clint Brotherton
2. Frode Fagerli
3. Martin Cedercrantz
4. Daniel Phillips
5. John Persson
6. Christian Togsverd
7. Christian Grundtvig
8. Emile Petit
9. Tuncay Ozel
10. Uffe Holm
I recognised Emile Petit and Christian Grundtvig (right) from TV, and lots of the other players on the table seemed to know others there. I didn’t feel phased at all though Nothing to lose really, I was on a freeroll courtesy of the APAT and PokerStars – and I was going to enjoy myself.
Soon after 2pm, it got underway, and like I said I was hoping for a decent hand early on to settle me in and relax me a bit. Didn't have to wait long, as the second hand I was dealt was Kd-Ks. I raised, and got one caller in the Big Blind.
The flop was an interesting one: 7d-3d-Td
I thought I was almost certainly ahead, and checked the flop. He bet and I raised him hoping that things weren’t going to go very wrong, very quickly. Fortunately, he folded quickly.
That made me feel relaxed, and I settled back during the early stages and tried to work out how everyone else at the table had come to play.
I didn't have to wait long. The Scandinavians are mad! Hardly any pots weren't raised pre-flop, often by a player in early position. Raises and re-raises were the order of the day - and often with not a great deal in terms of starting hands. This wasn't going to be a game for the weak-hearted. Talk about Daniel in the lions’ den!
I sat back for the next 30 minutes or so and seemed to be a spectator rather than a competitor. Not that I was unwilling to get involved, I just couldn’t find a spot to play.
Very early on there was a massive clash between a young American player and Frode Fagerli, a well-known Norwegian who seemed to know everyone. After chatting to him for a few hours, it was easy to see why he was so popular - a very likeable bloke. Anyway back to the hand, that obviously involved pre-flop bets and raises (like every other hand), and both seemed to be pleased with the Td-9c-3h flop. So much so, that they both checked.
The turn was 4c, and this brought about a bet and a call. The river was the Ts. This is when the fireworks started. The American bet, Frode raised, who was then re-raised by the American, only to be re-raised all in by the Norwegian, who was quickly called. I’m glad I folded my pair of twos.
Both seemed to take an age to turn their cards over. Eventually, the cards were revealed and the American was devastated to see that the full house his 9d-9s gave him, was well behind Frode's Th-Ts - giving him quad tens. The American probably thought the river card was a safe one for him, making it more unlikely the Frode held a ten in his hand. Even more unlikely that he had two! The result was that Frode had doubled up, and the American was down to about 1,000 chips and a face that showed how unhappy he was.
hard work
The play on the table continued to be aggressive and unrelenting. I raised with As-Kd on the button, only to get two callers. The flop was Qc-9c-Kh, and both players checked to me so I put out a bet of about 3/4 of the pot. This would help me find out where I was, and I expected the others to fold. I soon found out, as my bet was raised, and then re-raised! I decided that my top-pair, top-kicker was probably no good, and that discretion was the better part of valour - and I folded.
The other two both seemed to like the board, and the betting continued on the Jh turn, and the 2c river, and a large bet by Emile Petit on the river saw him take down the not insignificant pot without a showdown. I think I got out cheaply on that one.
I made some steals when I was in a good position (with any cards, as they didn't really matter), but most of the time I was folding behind raises and re-raises. When I got half a hand, such as As-Ts on the button, I raised to take the pot uncontested, but was faced with a massive re-raise - which forced me to fold my hand, and wish that I'd called rather than bet pre-flop.
chipped Away
The day went on, and my stack was slowly being eroded away. Down to about 6,500 chips I was in the Big Blind, and expecting the inevitable raise, and was happily suprised to see it folded round to me. This had to be one of less than half a dozen hands that weren't raised pre-flop. My delight turned to amazement as I glanced at my cards... As-Ad!
I managed to salvage some chips back as the blinds increased, but I was still conscious of the fact that I needed to start accumulating some chips to give me any chance of surviving and making a mark before blinds became substantial and the antes kicked in.
After some bad clashes for me, I was down to around 3,000 chips, and was all too aware that I needed to double-up at least once if I was to reach the end of Day 1.
time to push
With a few hours remaining until the end of Day 1a, I was looking for an opportunity to steal the blinds, or ideally double-up if my all-in raise was called.
The first push was with Tc-Ts that went unopposed. Unfortunately, I had to wait a while for the opportunity to push all-in again as there was always too much action ahead of me to get my chips in first. Eventually, I was in the cut-off seat with the massive hand of 7s-4h. An ultra-aggressive Scandie put out his usual raise from under the gun, and it looked like a good time to stick the chips in. Fortunately, he decided to fold rather than look me up with my monster hand.
The very next hand, I had Kd-Kc, and still short-stacked I pushed all-in again, hoping for a call – but it didn’t come. Maybe I could have played it differently, but I was hoping that anyone with half a hand would call knowing that I could be pushing with a wide range of hands.
final hour of day 1a
With an hour to go on Day 1, I was back down to about 3,000 chips and it was time to push all-in to have any hope of surviving with the blinds at 300-600 (with antes of 75).
Frode Fagerli (right) is on the button with a stack only slightly larger than mine, and I'm in the small blind. Frode said (before he looked at his cards), "If I have Nine high, I'm all in…" then looks and passes.
I pretty much pushing with anything, and I look at my cards and decide that Kd-2s will do. Not a monster of course, but more than enough for me to take what's in the pot. John Persson, in the big blind called with Jc-Td. Well, at least I'm ahead I remember thinking.
The first card on the flop wasn't pleasant: Js. "That's not good," I commented.
Before I went over to Copenhagen, I discovered that I’d been given odds of 300/1 to win the tournament. This seemed fairly generous odds as far I was concerned, but for some reason I was given better odds than lots of my fellow qualifiers. I was also given the odds of 40/1 to reach the final table. All I knew is that I was going to give it my best shot, and I was going to enjoy it.The Saturday before I went out I heard the good news that I would be playing on Day 1a, the first of the two first days. I was pleased about this, as it meant I wouldn’t have to sit around on the Wednesday anxiously waiting to get going. My reasoning was that if I managed to get through the first day, I'd be able to relax and watch Day 1b without having to worry about playing in my first major event. On the more pessimistic side, I’d decided that if the worst happened, and I crashed out on Day 1, at least I'll be able to chill out and enjoy the rest of the week in Copenhagen.
day 1a
The structure of the event was a bit different to what I’ve played before. Of course the APAT events have a slow structure, but the hour long levels of the EPT events meant that I would be going out playing fairly tight to start with. I was hoping the cards would be kind to me early, so that I could get hold of some chips without having to do anything risky.
To get through Day 1, I’d have to survive nine hours of play. Starting stacks will be 10,000 chips. I took my seat on Table 13 (fortunately I’m not superstitious), alongside a bunch of Scandinavians. Then again, what else should I have expected at the Scandinavian Open…
Play was scheduled to start at 2pm, and this was preceded by a mad scramble of players trying to see the table they had been drawn. It was slightly reassuring to see that even the old pros were anxious to see where they’d been drawn and who else was on their table.
Here was the lineup on Table 13:
1. Clint Brotherton
2. Frode Fagerli
3. Martin Cedercrantz
4. Daniel Phillips
5. John Persson
6. Christian Togsverd
7. Christian Grundtvig
8. Emile Petit
9. Tuncay Ozel
10. Uffe Holm
I recognised Emile Petit and Christian Grundtvig (right) from TV, and lots of the other players on the table seemed to know others there. I didn’t feel phased at all though Nothing to lose really, I was on a freeroll courtesy of the APAT and PokerStars – and I was going to enjoy myself.Soon after 2pm, it got underway, and like I said I was hoping for a decent hand early on to settle me in and relax me a bit. Didn't have to wait long, as the second hand I was dealt was Kd-Ks. I raised, and got one caller in the Big Blind.
The flop was an interesting one: 7d-3d-Td
I thought I was almost certainly ahead, and checked the flop. He bet and I raised him hoping that things weren’t going to go very wrong, very quickly. Fortunately, he folded quickly.
That made me feel relaxed, and I settled back during the early stages and tried to work out how everyone else at the table had come to play.
I didn't have to wait long. The Scandinavians are mad! Hardly any pots weren't raised pre-flop, often by a player in early position. Raises and re-raises were the order of the day - and often with not a great deal in terms of starting hands. This wasn't going to be a game for the weak-hearted. Talk about Daniel in the lions’ den!
I sat back for the next 30 minutes or so and seemed to be a spectator rather than a competitor. Not that I was unwilling to get involved, I just couldn’t find a spot to play.
Very early on there was a massive clash between a young American player and Frode Fagerli, a well-known Norwegian who seemed to know everyone. After chatting to him for a few hours, it was easy to see why he was so popular - a very likeable bloke. Anyway back to the hand, that obviously involved pre-flop bets and raises (like every other hand), and both seemed to be pleased with the Td-9c-3h flop. So much so, that they both checked.
The turn was 4c, and this brought about a bet and a call. The river was the Ts. This is when the fireworks started. The American bet, Frode raised, who was then re-raised by the American, only to be re-raised all in by the Norwegian, who was quickly called. I’m glad I folded my pair of twos.
Both seemed to take an age to turn their cards over. Eventually, the cards were revealed and the American was devastated to see that the full house his 9d-9s gave him, was well behind Frode's Th-Ts - giving him quad tens. The American probably thought the river card was a safe one for him, making it more unlikely the Frode held a ten in his hand. Even more unlikely that he had two! The result was that Frode had doubled up, and the American was down to about 1,000 chips and a face that showed how unhappy he was.
hard work
The play on the table continued to be aggressive and unrelenting. I raised with As-Kd on the button, only to get two callers. The flop was Qc-9c-Kh, and both players checked to me so I put out a bet of about 3/4 of the pot. This would help me find out where I was, and I expected the others to fold. I soon found out, as my bet was raised, and then re-raised! I decided that my top-pair, top-kicker was probably no good, and that discretion was the better part of valour - and I folded. The other two both seemed to like the board, and the betting continued on the Jh turn, and the 2c river, and a large bet by Emile Petit on the river saw him take down the not insignificant pot without a showdown. I think I got out cheaply on that one.
I made some steals when I was in a good position (with any cards, as they didn't really matter), but most of the time I was folding behind raises and re-raises. When I got half a hand, such as As-Ts on the button, I raised to take the pot uncontested, but was faced with a massive re-raise - which forced me to fold my hand, and wish that I'd called rather than bet pre-flop.
chipped Away
The day went on, and my stack was slowly being eroded away. Down to about 6,500 chips I was in the Big Blind, and expecting the inevitable raise, and was happily suprised to see it folded round to me. This had to be one of less than half a dozen hands that weren't raised pre-flop. My delight turned to amazement as I glanced at my cards... As-Ad!
I managed to salvage some chips back as the blinds increased, but I was still conscious of the fact that I needed to start accumulating some chips to give me any chance of surviving and making a mark before blinds became substantial and the antes kicked in.
After some bad clashes for me, I was down to around 3,000 chips, and was all too aware that I needed to double-up at least once if I was to reach the end of Day 1.
time to push
With a few hours remaining until the end of Day 1a, I was looking for an opportunity to steal the blinds, or ideally double-up if my all-in raise was called.
The first push was with Tc-Ts that went unopposed. Unfortunately, I had to wait a while for the opportunity to push all-in again as there was always too much action ahead of me to get my chips in first. Eventually, I was in the cut-off seat with the massive hand of 7s-4h. An ultra-aggressive Scandie put out his usual raise from under the gun, and it looked like a good time to stick the chips in. Fortunately, he decided to fold rather than look me up with my monster hand.
The very next hand, I had Kd-Kc, and still short-stacked I pushed all-in again, hoping for a call – but it didn’t come. Maybe I could have played it differently, but I was hoping that anyone with half a hand would call knowing that I could be pushing with a wide range of hands.
final hour of day 1a
With an hour to go on Day 1, I was back down to about 3,000 chips and it was time to push all-in to have any hope of surviving with the blinds at 300-600 (with antes of 75).
Frode Fagerli (right) is on the button with a stack only slightly larger than mine, and I'm in the small blind. Frode said (before he looked at his cards), "If I have Nine high, I'm all in…" then looks and passes. I pretty much pushing with anything, and I look at my cards and decide that Kd-2s will do. Not a monster of course, but more than enough for me to take what's in the pot. John Persson, in the big blind called with Jc-Td. Well, at least I'm ahead I remember thinking.
The first card on the flop wasn't pleasant: Js. "That's not good," I commented.
Next card was the 9d, but the last card on the flop was a very nice Ks. "Oh, that's good," I added.
Turn: 7c
River: As
…and I've doubled up with about 45 minutes of play left in the day.
Sitting there with about 7,000 chips, and I'm looking for another opportunity to double through again.
Uffe Holm, an aggressive Scandie with a big stack made the obligatory raise, and Frode (who's down to 6,000-odd at this stage) decides to push all-in. I look down at Ad-Qd, and decide that Frode could have a wide range of hands - many of which I beat or am at least a coin-flip against. My only concern is the big stack who's still in the hand. I decide he could have ATC, so I push my remaining 7,000 into the middle.
I'm delighted to see the Uffe fold and show his 4h-3h, and Frode asked if I had a pocket pair. When I said no, his face fell, and he turned over Ah-8h, so I had him dominated. Nothing came down to change anything, and my A-high with the queen kicker saw me jump up to about 16,000 and knock Frode out of the tournament. It was a shame it was him to go, as he’d been one of the most talkative and friendly at the table and had made me feel relaxed, and we'd both been battling away with short stacks for the last few hours. Still, rather him than me…Soon after that hand the clock was stopped and the Tournament Director announced that there would be 7 more hands played that day. Sitting on the button a quick count round the table meant that I wouldn't have to post the blinds again, and I could sit back and fold anything other than an absolute monster. Fortunately, the best I got was As-Jd under the gun, on the last hand of the day. I quickly folded, and saw two of the large stacks get very excited on a 7-high flop, and I was glad I wasn't involved.
I was relieved to get through to Day 2, although not as relieved as my wife, Michelle, who had been supporting me from the rail all day and seemed to be having a much more stressful time that I’d had.
day 1b
As another 200 players sat down to play their first day, I could relax, enjoy watching the action from the rail and look forward to Day 2. I also got to see a bit of Copenhagen with Michelle – and a thoroughly pleasant place it is, if not more than a little expensive! One thing I did notice is that almost everyone smokes – everywhere in the hotel, and from behind the rope in the room where the poker was being played. This is certainly one area where I think we’re better off in the UK.
day 2
At 2pm on the Friday and there about 160 players left, and I've got 15,700 chips with the blinds starting at 400-800 (with antes of 100). So although I’m not desperate, I’m not going to be hanging around waiting for a monster hand and have my stack chipped away.
Seating was redrawn for Day 2, and I was surprised to see that I was back on Table 13. Although I was in seat 3 this time (not 4), it was actually the same chair. Well they do say that variety is the spice of life…
This was the lineup for the table:
1. Pernille Ravn
2. Simon Mycock
3. Daniel Phillips
4. Steven Heard
5. Atle Walgren
6. Peter Jepsen
7. Anders Berg
8. Donny Morris
So like I said, I wasn’t desperate, but I was looking for opportunities to get busy. I didn’t have to wait long. First hand, I had Ac-Ks and my raise took a call and the blinds down uncontested. Nice start.
Next hand, the UTG player shoves his remaining 9,000 into the middle. All fold round to me on the button, and I look at my cards - Kd-Kh. I re-raise all-in, and everyone else folds. The other player shows Ad-Ks , and the Ah on the flop meant that I was back down to about 10,000.
So, two hands in and I've had the hole cards I wanted, but not the results to go with them.
After that, I end up folding a fair few hands, and then take the blinds down with a pair of queens. Then a big hand takes place.
Atle Walgren is first to act, and makes it 2,500 to go (blinds 400/800). Everyone folds round to me, and it's an easy push all-in with Jc-Jh from the small blind. The big blind Steven Heard (a fellow Englishman) comes over the top, all in for 20k, which is too much for Atle.
Steven announces "Lucky sevens", but soon changes that to "Unlucky Sevens…" when I flip over my cards. The Qs-3s-2h-Qd-Td board means that I more than double up, and I'm back up to 18,000.
A few more all-in pushes, with Kh-Jh unopposed, and a re-raise all-in with 3h-3d against Pernille's 4,000 raise - and I was happy for her to fold after she stared me down for a few minutes.
So I was up to about 19,000 - and the blinds were still going up. So although I'd increased my stack, I was still hoping for a double up to put me in a more comfortable position. The opportunity came sooner rather than later.
Simon Mycock (right), who was the chip-leader at the table was constantly raising all-in to steal the blinds. As he was sitting directly to my right, he was stealing my big blind a few times. One hand, and all folded to Simon who, not surprisingly, moved all-in. I called instantly with my Ac-Kc and was fairly happy to see Simon turn over 5h-7c. However, the flop of 9c-3h-6d gave the hand a sense of inevitability The turn was Td, and so any 4, 8 or 7 meant the and was his. The 7h on the river gave him a pair, and my adventure in Copenhagen was over in 90th place.
Poker can be a cruel game at times, but I'm fairly happy with my play overall. It's a shame I never got the opportunity to play with a larger stack and see what I could do.
Interestingly, Simon went on to win a monster pot soon after I was knocked out, and saw him become the overall chip leader with 180,000 chips. In the end, he finished in a very respectable 16th place.
So, it's back to reality and the smaller tourneys for me. But hopefully one day I can qualify for another major tournament…I’ve got the taste for them now!