blonde poker forum

I am selling my package for the WSOP at 1.05, which is mainly mixed game tournaments.

I am selling up to 50% (although I very much doubt executing the maximum will be necessary).

The total value of the schedule is $75,500, of which $66,500 is mixed games, and $9,000 is no limit holdem.

In 2010, for the five months before the WSOP, I spent basically the whole time learning all the mixed games, and getting coaching from a specialist in each game. I have added this coaching before the WSOP every year, and this year will be staying in a house with all my mixed games coaches (Matt Ashton, Eric Rodawig, etc), which should be a nice help.

The tournaments are such great value, as you get all the no-limit holdem players bracelet chasing, and there are very few players who can genuinely play all the 10 different mixed games well.

My results include a 7th in the razz, and a 10th, 16th and 16th at the WSOP, and a 3rd in the European 8-game championships. My overall mixed games at the WSOP have been at a loss, but hopefully the  10th, 16th and 16th finishes will show that I have been close to a big score.

Here is my Hendon Mob, http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=54053

The total value of the schedule is $75,500, so prices at 1.05 are as follows:

1% = $792.75
2%= $1585.50
5%= $3963.75
10%= $7927.50

The full schedule is below. There might be a couple of refunds, but I would estimate there would be at most two, and they would be in the $1,500 events, as they have organised the mixed game schedule a lot better this year. The gap in the middle is because I am going to the World Cup for a week. I don't think this will have any negative effect, if anything it will be beneficial to have a break.

 

May 29th, 10k deuce to seven triple draw lowball, 4pm              $10,000

May 30th, Razz, 4pm                                                               $1,500

June 1st, 10k limit Omaha hi-lo split, 4pm                                  $10,000

June 2nd, Six handed no limit holdem, 12pm                               $1,500

June 3rd, No limit draw lowball   4pm                                        $10,000

June 4th Limit Omaha hi-lo split   4pm                                       $1,500

June 5th, Six handed no-limit holdem 12pm                               $3,000

June 5th, Triple draw lowball 4pm                                             $1,500

June 6th Razz 4pm                                                                  $10,000

June 7th No limit holdem shootout 4pm                                      $3,000

June 8th HORSE $10k 4pm                                                       $10,000

June 19th Dealer’s choice 4pm                                                 $1,500

June 23rd Ante-only no limit holdem 12pm                                 $1,500

June 24th Pot limit Omaha hi-lo 12pm                                        $1,500

June 25th 8-game mix 4pm                                                        $1,500

June 27th Pot limit Omaha hi-lo 4pm                                          $3,000

June 30th Omaha hi-lo split 4pm                                                 $3,000

July 2nd 10 game-mix 4pm                                                        $1,500

Payment by bank, Stars, Netteller or Skrill is fine.

Many thanks,

Stuart

Hi Stu, 3% please

Hi Nick, hope you're good. 3% Booked, thanks so much, PM coming

1 pls Stu. (Happy to split this with someone)

1% booked Cos, Pm coming

Happy to sell in 1/2 %s, 0.5% is $396.38

Can't afford to buy myself, but hope you and the investors get the absolute world mate!

This.

Looks an outstanding package. Very best of luck.

Put me down for a half % for now pls mate

Actually, make it 1%. How do you want the wonga?

1% please mate. $$$ in Vegas OK?

half a % please

1% booked, PM coming

1% booked, $$$ in Vegas is great.

Remind me who gasman is, I really should know! My memory says it's one of Chaz, Sunny or Karl? I think my final answer is Sunny. I could be completely wrong though.

0.5% booked, PM coming

Sunny! 8) Cool will be floating around the Rio from next week, see you there

Awesome, good luck mate, see you there

Hi guys, just for the sake of clarity, on the request of a buyer, here is a list of all the %s sold, including via Facebook:

Redbull 3%
James Atkin 1%
Sicilian 0.5%
Ryan Spittles 1%
Cambridge Alex 1%
Rupert Elder 5%
Sunny 1%
Chas 1%
Lousie Duffy 5%
Gary Bush 3%
Tom Rutter 2%
Madison B 0.5%



Will keep on updating

1 please. Stars ok?

1% booked, Stars is perfect, sturutter23 is the username

SOLD OUT

hey stu i havent shipped yet but my name should be on that list or is that those who are already paiid up?

oh my god,can't believe I left the Greekstein off the list. No reason at all, no rush on payment.

No, that list is a compelte one- to be updated again soon

Money recieved from an unkown name on Stars, does anyone claim it?

Demonic 16 is rfrhfervgrvg if that's what your looking for!

yeh meant to post now actually. Demonic16 is me.

Perfect, recieved, thanks so much mate

tyty

Very much this. Hopefully we can chop the $1500 Razz though :D

VBOL Stu, do wins.

You going to any World Cup games ? More jealous of that then WSOPaments, enjoy.

Cheers mate. Agree to a chop on the likely scenario that we end up heads up

Cheers Mondatoo. It's still up in the air. Tried so hard for Engalnd, but impossible, so instead we're putting ourselves in Salvador, which has the two sickest group games, Spain vs Holland and Germany vs Portugal, and hoping to scalp there!

Great cheers matey, see you there?

Nah decided to go with Budapest and Amsterdam over Vegas this summer. Slim chance I'll go over for a couple of weeks around EDC but it'd only be for lols anyway, I'm very much over live MTTs.

glgl

First event starts today, the 2-7 triple draw $10,000, at 4pm. Updates to follow on here for this event, and then for every event in the package

Good luck mate!

 ;goodluck; Stu!

Sorry for delay, just sent to your Stars account.

Recieved, thanks so much Nick

Very best of luck with this.

Haven't got a piece unfortunately but I'll be following avidly and routing for you and your backers.

Me too.

Thanks so much Karabiner and Evil Pie.

Day one of $10,000 deuce to seven triple draw:

Through to day two with 47,600, quite a pleasing day. Can't write much, as I'm heading back to the Rio now with Matt now. 10 levels is long, and I found it tough for the last 1 or 2 being not quite on US sleeping cycle yet, but was happy to hang on and run good, and go from 22,000 to 47,600 in the last level.

$1,500 razz at 4pm today, but obviously the best news would be that I don't manage to play!

Good luck in the 2 7 TD Stu

Best of luck today Stu!

Gl today and for the whole series. Get the lot mate

GL, wish I could have afforded a bit again this year.

Consummate pro

Bad day unfortunately.

Out the triple draw in the 4th level of the day.

Started with 47,600, reached a height of 72k, but lost a massive 80k 3 way pot vs Galfond and Abrahams, where I was drawing one to 7432 to their 2 two draws, and missed three times
Entered the razz half way through the second level, and reached a height of 19k from 4,500, but exited 20 minutes before the end of the day (level ten), Got anted to death in level 8 and 9, and then lost every pot in level 10,

Tomorrow is a rare day off, next event is the 10k omaha hi-lo, on Sunday at 4pm.

Stu I will send after the boxing. Sorry for the delay for some reason I thought there was still a while til start. Glgl

No, no problem at all, cheers mate

$10,000 omaha hi-lo:

Out in level 9 of day 1 unfortunately, which feels a real shame. I Actually raced off to a great start, had 65k after 90 minutes, but the seemed to lose almost every pot after that. I don't think there was a single thing I could do

In the biggest pot, I had Adtdtc2d on Td4d3hQd for nut flush, nut low draw on turn. The river was td4d3hQd4c for second nut house

I bet, he raised and I called, and he has QQ65 for the nut house.

Onto the next one, which is the $1,500 NLHE six-max tomorrow

Monday 2nd June, $1,500 six max no limit holdem:


Out at the end of the second level of the day, ouch.

The short story is: Blinds 25/50, I have 4,300, not too much has happened to my stack previously, and I am at the wrong end of a  Aspades Ks vs  Ac Ahrt cooler, on my big blind vs the button.

It might well be as simple as that, but felt a tougher decision. Obviously there is some factor that I want to avoid high variance spots if I decide that the last move is only slightly above EV, especially at a table that felt relatively good. However, this is slightly less true in a tournament where having to gamble at some early point is likely.

The button was an older, recreational player. I didn't have a great feeling on what his 4bet range is here. If it is TT+ and AK, then 3b/5betting all in is obviously bad.

However, he had played loose, and not completely passive, and whilst we hadn't seen a 4bet shown down as light, it felt that he was going to have some bluffs in this spot. It also felt possible that he would get stubborn with AQ here, and call the 5bet off.

The first decision was whether, if I wasn't 3b/5betting, it was better to just flat the big, or to flat the 4bet OOP. That was close, as either a tighter or looser than expected 4bet range could cause me to misplay either way. So, I felt the decision fell slightly in favour of 3betting, primarily to play a bigger pot against his wide 3bet peeling range, but also to give me the possiblity of a read on his 4bet, and a small chance to change my final decision if that were strong.

He had raised to 125, I 3bet to 300, he 4 bet to 825. I ultimately put no weight on the physical read. On one hand, he stared me down in a way that was contrary to him disguising strength, and to counter that, his 4bet was relatively small for that type of player. So, with surely some number of bluffs and the chance to get it in vs AQ sometimes, I went with it reluctantly, and got snapped by aces.

Next is the $10,000 deuce to seven lowball no limit, at 4pm tomorrow.

Tuesday 3rd June, $10,000 deuce to seven lowball

Out near the end of level five. Really gutted. I think there is nothing to do, just no luck today.

These are the big two hands:

I raise the button at 100/200 (50) to 600 drawing two to 652xx, Billy Baxter defends the big, and draws two. I make 86543, which is massive after drawing two. He leads for 1,200, I raise to 4,000, he 3bets to 12,000.

He actually made his 3bet uickly enough that it felt like it had to be for value, but a tell was not going to make any difference. I imagine his value 3bet range includes most 87s, and so I beat more than half of it. In 2 vs 2 spots, all ranges are so much wider, that I feel pretty sure he will raise every 87. There is actually a case for me to 4bet for value, but I think I am just short to do that. But unfortuantely, it is a no brainer call. He delcared "86," meaning my hand couldn't scoop, and showed 86542, pipping me by one. It is such an unlikely cooler 2 vs 2 that it is worse than top set vs middle set in holdem. Tough one to start with in such an exciting tourney.

Blinds 200/400(100): I am down to 15,300 in level five. The table has Chino Rheem, playing way too loose, and Eli Elezra, who has just busted in tenth in the omaha hi-lo, and is not happy about it. Even without these factors, the final hand probably plays itself. Chino raises to 1,200, Eli calls the CO, Frank Kasella 3bets the button to 3,600. Frank has 3bet the  button twice against Chino, and once in this specific spot. I have 9432, and it is a great spot to move in. Against a better 1 card draw, I would be 45%/55%, and against his pat range, I am about 36%. There has to be great fold equity to pick up the 6,900 in the pot. He thought for ever, and called with a pat t9863. Thus, I'm drawing one, and am 43% vs his hand with 18 cards to catch. I flipped an ace to lose the 32k near race.

This one is a big shame, as the no limit deuce is a great shot at a final table with the short field, as well as having alot of value in the field.

Next is the $1,500 omaha hi-lo at midday tomorrow.

Not invested but wishing u all the best Stu, enjoy the reports and hope u start running a lil better

+1

Could even be tighter than that...!

Cheers guys. Yeah, that's possibly right Jamie. He had been splashy and aggy for that type of player, but will never know what his 4bet range is

$1,500 omaha hi-lo, day 1:

From starting stack of 4,500, through to day two with 24,300. Pleased.

A fairly simple day really, ran pretty good obviously.

This was the most interesting spot:

400/800, last level of day: I raise  Ad Qd 5c 3s UTG, Timothy Finne 3bets a short stack two to my right. My hand is beaten by his range, I just call. Flop is  Kc Jh 9s. I decide to check raise, he slowly calls. Turn is  Kc Jh 9s 4c, he has just 2,500, he thinks for ever. He eventually folds. It's a nice spot obviously as I have the leverage of the extra 900. The interesting thing is though, I was trying to work out whilst he was thinking whether I bluff the river for the last 900. I think it would probably be right to do so. I think he is good enough firstly to not just sigh call, and also to realise that it will look to me that he has to call the rest off. I feel he tanked to long to ever be slow playing (would be bordering on really bad etiquette?), and is so likely to have a one pair hand.

Restart at 1pm. Tomorrow is our most complicated day on the stake, as on the schedule is both the $3k six max at noon and the $1,500 triple draw at 4pm. I will register both late if I can. Obviously there will be refund if I miss either (or hopefully both!)

$1,500 omaha hi-lo, day 2

Busted 39th in a field of 1084, for $6,041. Nice to get first cash, but a gutting time to bust.

Went back with $24,300 today, and things went well before the last 117 in the money, which I reached with 42k (bang on average)

Things were then slow for 3 levels, and I had 52,000 at dinner break.

Then made the updates twice for the first time! http://uk.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2014-wsop/event-14/

 One is the standard exit hand, the lower one is an interesting river decision where I tanked for ever. I felt 47 was almost never good for low on the action, so had to work out just how slim the slim chance that AK for high was good, and eventually called, and got half.


The most interesting hand of the came as I peaked at 93,500, and this hand began the downfall. I have  Ad  7d 6s 3d and raise the cut-off to 8,000, and elder gentleman who has played loose, defends the big. The flop is a great  Kc  7c  7h. He leads, I decide to call, so that I can raise a turn lead. The turn is  Kc 7c 7h  Qd. He checks, I bet 8,000; he check-raises to 16,000. This is not good news.

Ultimately, I actually tanked for so long that the clock was called (very unusual in limit games!). However, I knew this was the big decision, and the type of player he was nutted his hand quite a bit more. So, I was calling 2 big bets to win 9.25 big bets, so would need a 21.6% chance of winning to be right. It felt that a full house was likely, and obviously any hopes rested on him deciding to check raise all his sevens, or even more randomly and unlikely, check raise something like KQ.

Against that side of the arguemnt, is the type of player that he is, and the fact that a line of leading the flop but then check raising seems to indicate that the turn has changed his hand, i.e. that he does  have a boat. With the clock counting down, I ultimately decided that the read would have to be really strong to fold given those pot odds, and that there was enough randomness that he might well be check-raising any 7. I called turn and river, and he had AQ73 to scoop. Would be interested to know people's thoughts.

After that, things were standard and the luck turned against us with nothing to do.

So, today was the busy, complicated day, and I just missed the 4pm triple draw registration, meaning we have two refunds, for the $3k six max at noon today , and $1,500 triple draw.

So the value of the package is $6,041 plus $4,500 of refunds at 1.05, which is $4,725

So, current value of package is $10,766.

I might well add one or two small events towards the end of the series in place of the refunded events, but obviously will assume the default that stakers want a refund, and so will then invite people to opt in for extra events if they want.

Registered for the 10k razz tomorrow at 4pm, looking forward to it.

Unlucky in the 08, and bol in the Razz tomorrow mate.

Razz $10,000, day 1

Through to day two with 44,700 from 30,000 starting stack. Actually going straight to bed as it's a quick turnover before day two!

Bad day, feeling gutted about this one, but can't think of too much I could have done differently today. Bust the razz in the third level of the day, took a while to have a breather, and then entered the $3,000 shootout, which I have just bust in level 6.

$10,000 razz, day two:

Returned with 44,700, seemed to have a good table draw, with Brain Hastings the most competent player, and Brandon Cantu in particular playing way too spewy. However, yesterday's solid day was quickly replaced with just a downwards spiral that I felt I couldn't do anything about.  The first big pot was against a young internet player who seemed to be playing really well. I compelted with (45)3 with two small cards behind me, and he 2-bet a 6 bring in. I decided to 3-bet, and he took the lead on 4th with (xx)67 vs (45)33. He bet, I called. On 5th he retained the lead with (xx)678 vs (45)336, but obviosuly it is right for me to call. We both caught pictures on 6th, and on 7th I caught (45)336Q(7) for a nut-low seven. He bet his (xx)678J(x) board.

His bet is bad news, but I think he is well capable of betting any 8 for value, given that I may well call down with a queen. If this is the case, it is a no-brainer call, given the generous odds that are always there on the river in limit games. I called, he showed (24)678(5) to pip me by one.

 I then had to fold a couple of times on 4th, and was left with 17,000 chips going into the 2,500/5,000 (500/700) level.

 Brian Hastings opened (xx)7 with just me as a significant card behind him. I had (25)7 and 3bet, he called. He took the lead with (xx)76 vs my (25)7q. With 12,000 left and a pot of 37,700, I need about 30% equity to call down at this point, and definitely just about have that equity, if it were an all-in decision. I called, planning to think about folding 5th in the worst possible scenarios. I caught up on 5th with (25)7Q3 vs his (xx)76q, and bet out. He raised, and we got all-in for 17,000 total. So, it was my (25)7Q4 vs his (4A)76Q, for near enough a 50/50 to get up to 37,700. However, I bricked with (25)Q74JJ, and he had caught a 9 on 6th to be more than good enough.

$3,000 no limit shootout, day 1

I registered after taking a quick breather after the razz, rather than going straight across to play. The table drawer quickly seemed really lucky. Phil Galfond was the only (very big) exeception to an otherwise great table. Pretty soon in the 50/100 level, I played a big squeezed pot, where a young guy opened to 300 at 50/100, called in two spots, and I squeezed with  Aspades Ks to 1,200. I didnt particularly want to play big pots with just a 9k starting stack, but at the same time there is no avoiding it with AK with chips splashing around so freely from most of the players. The young guy passed, and the two European players who had previously called, called the squeeze to 1,200. So, already we're playing a 4,050 pot. The flop came  Kh 9c 8h, which was nice. I bet 1,600 from a remaining 8k stack. The first player quickly folded, and the second player very quickly called. It made a draw feel very likely, if that simple read were correct.

Therefore, the turn of  Kh 9c 8h 7h was a nightmare. We were 6,400 effective deep in a 7,250 pot. It's tough to check, and not know whether he'll over value king queen, so I felt my choice was between shipping all-in, and betting small. I made a small bet of 1,700, which is obviosuly very exploitable against some players, but it felt very unlikely that this guy was going to exploit it- or at least do so purposely. Almost instantly, he near min-raised to 3,800. I felt his action was as strong as he could make, given the speed and fishy small size of his raise, which at the same time effectively implied all-in. So, it felt a pretty standard fold against what was probably a straight or flush, and seemed almost definitely to be beating AK, and straight away I was down to 4,800.

Not too much happened in the levels where I still had play in my stack at the kind of table where I would need to make a hand to gain chips, and so I went into the 150/300(25) fifth level playing a short stack game. I reshoved a couple of times, and got up to 5,500. On my 300 big blind, I had  8h 8d, and Paul Newie shoved the cutoff for his 2,525. Although it's little more than an 8 big blind shove, he had played so tight that it didn't feel an easy decision. Does anyone have a feeling for just how tight even his shipping range is going to be there? I just about called with eights, and he showed  Jd Jh, which held.

So, this had me down to 3,000 at 150/300(25). I picked up   Ahrt Jc on the cutoff, which is obviosuly a standard ship.  I actually made it 1,600 from my 3,000 stack in an effort to get the Russian guy in the big blind to call light. He did actually just cal the 1,600, leaving 1,400 behind, which seemed to indicate the plan had worked! The flop was  Jh 8h 5h, which looked good. What then happened was really frustrating. He checked, I moved in 1,400, he thought for a while, asked for a count, the dealer cut out all the 25 chips to give him the count of calling 1,400 into a 6,400 pot. So, it was quite a surprise that, after some more thought, he then showed  Qh Qd. Such a ridiculous slow roll that I felt I had to say something.

So, it was a disapponting tournament, but felt like fairly standard decisions all the way.

I have registered for the $10k HORSE at 4pm tomorrow, looking forward to it.

Horse $10,000, day 1:

OUT in the penultimate level of the day. Really disappointed to run badly in another 10k, and be left with the feeling that I wouldn't have done too much different at all. I got crushed in limit holdem particularly, which is frustrating as the only game where no one really has an edge, in an otherwise good mix of games. Here were the main pots, in chronological order:

Limit holdem, level 2: 250/500: Calvin Anderson has been playing every game very agressively, and raises the hi-jack to 500. I have  Ahrt Ac on the button, and 3-bet to 1,500. Roland Disrhaevelli cold 4bets the small blind to 2,000. I must have him coolered with probably JJ+/AK (or he has the unlikely two other aces). Calvin Anderson calls, I cap, making it 2,500.

Flop  Jh  4c 3h. This is pretty good, only the jack seeming like potential bad news. Calvin Anderson leads, I 2bet, Disrhaevelli cold calls, Anderson calls. If Disrhavellli makes a turn play, JJJ is reasonably likely.

Turn  Jh 4c 3h 5d, I think (incorrectly) that has to be a good card. Disrhaevelli checks, Anderson bets, I think about raising for value given Disrhaevelli still most likely has QQ or KK, and it is tough for Anderson to beat aces, but decide just to call, to keep both hands in given that any hand behind me likely has only two outs.

River  Jh 4c 3h 5d 4h. The ace of hearts in my hand is now absolutely massive in limit holdem, in making it very unlikely they have a flush. Disrhaevelli checks, Anderson bets, and I have a decision whether to raise or just call. However, his double lead on turn and river is now of some strength, and Disrhaevelli may be able to get away from QQ or KK if I make to two cold to him. I call, and he calls.

Disrhaevelli has kings, Anderson has  5d 5s, for a gin card on the turn. A frustrating 17,500 pot.

Stud, level 2: 400/800(100). I have (4c4d)4h, on a JJxQ (4) xK3 3rd street board. The Jd under the gun raises, suggesting real strength. Schmelev raises the  Qh, and so I have a real decision on how to play a massive hand. I feel it will be suspicious if I flat call on such a strong 3rd street board, so I decide to re-raise here, to make sure I get my value. My boards run a really dry ( 4c 4d) 4h 5s Th 9s (  Ad). Each street is checked to me. The  Jd folds 4th street, so I am heads up against Schmelev for the rest of the hand. His board runs out (xx) Qh  6h 7x  Kh (x). He calls 4th and 5th, and re-raises 6th.

This is not good news, given the strength I have portrayed from my 3rd street cold 3bet, and subsequent betting. Hearts are live, to make his hand far more likely a flush rather than trip queens, which is good for me. Given the odds in a massive spot, I defintiely have to call 6th given odds to fill up, and whilst my spot on 7th street then feels terrible, my pot odds are 13:1, and I have to call. He shows  ( Ahrt 2h) Qh 6h 7x  Kh (x) for a 6th street flush.

Limit holdem, level 3: 300/600. Folded to Ben Yu in the small blind, he raises to 1,200. I look down at  Kc Kh with great timing, and obviously 3-bet to 1,800. He calls, and the flop is  5c 4h 3d, which feels pretty good if I can still avoid an ace or deuce. Yu checks, I bet, and he check raises. I would much rather play a pot where he is calling down, but I am in good enough shape to call down against his range that check-raises and bets turn and river. He does exactly that as the board runs out  5c 4h 3d 9s 8c. The river does not feel great, but he must have some 65,66,77, A5 in his range that make sense on flop and turn, and with which he probably should value bet the river against my AK and AQ highs. I call down, and he has  Ad 2h, for another frustrating cooler.

Omaha hi-lo, blinds 400/800 I am down to 4,600, and omaha hi-lo is a good game to find a hand to go with given these blinds, because equities run so close. So, if there is any chance of picking up the 1,200 blinds, I am fine to find any hand in late poistion to potentially go with. I actually pick up a strong   Aspades Qs 6c 4d on the hi-jack, which is an easy decision to raise on Doyle's big blind. He calls, the flop is  Ac Qc 2d. I could really do with the low blanking, but this flop is more than good enough to go with. I bet, Doyle calls. The turn is  Ac Qc 2d th. This feels like good news. However, it is not good news when Doyle leads for 1,600. I have just 600 behind, so have to go with it. I move in, and he has  Tc Td 8c 8h for a flush draw on the flop, turning into a turned set. We blank our draw to an ace, queen or king on the river, and bust.

The next tournament is now the $1,500 fifteen game dealers choice on Thursday 19th June.

AQ64 has low/Q/A, so where did the king come from? Stop getting slowrolled and  start doing some binks!

Just to confirm, back in the States, and ready and looking forward to the $1,500 dealers choice at 4pm tomorrow.

$1,500 Dealers' choice, day 1

Never quite sure what to do on these mixed game day 1's in terms of updates, as the time frame between day one's end and the start of day two is narrow enough that sleeping is probably more important than updating fully! (especially given our house is a reasonable dsitance away)

So will try to fill in the details tomorrow, but basically...

Good day, started with 4,500, ended with 22,775. Avergae is 20,760 with 91 left, 420 entered, 42 in the money.

It was pleasing, as I got up to 8k early, and then hung around for most of the day between 6500-7500, but had a spurt with nice timing in the last two levels.

2pm restart tomorrow.

My picked games: no limit holdem (maybe 10 times), 2-7 Nl single draw (8), stud hi-lo (3), PLO8 (3)
most picked overall: Badeucey (by a reasonably long way), badacy, PLO8, Nl single draw

gl stu

BOL!

GL! Give me a FT to rail!!

$1,500 Dealer's choice, day 2

Went back with 22,775, just above average with 92 left.

Busted in 46th, 42 paid. Feel crushed. Such a great (and fun) tournament, felt so encouraging, would have been great to go deep.

These were the most interesting or significant pots (level 11 was the first level of today)

1) Level 11, five card draw high pot-limit,  200/400


Cutoff has been playing incredibly aggressively, so when I am dealt AAxxx in the small blind, I decide to 3bet to 3,400 over his 1,100 open. He tank calls and draws 1. Obviously this is a mix of 2 pairs/flush draws/broadway straight draws/rare trips, but something about his tank made me want to weight it far more towards a two pair hand.

I missed and had aces. Thought hard about turning it into a bluff.

On the good hand, if he has unimproved two pair, he is very likely to assume a) I must have AA or KK to 3-bet and draw 3, and 2) that I would just standard check-decide with one big pair, and therefore must have improved to two pair or better. On the bad hand, it's not realistic for me to value bet two pair as I am betting into a range which is some part made flushes and straights, and thus would probably check. It depends which factor is stronger; With a decent chance that he would just check back missed flushes and straights, I decided to check. However, this is now the number one pot of the day I might change. Still not sure.

2) Level 12, no limit holdem, 250/500 (75)

I am big blind with 22k, button and Brandon Cantu (in the small blind) have me covered. Button opens to 1,600, Cantu makes it 4,800. I have  Tc 5s. I thought for a long time about cold  4-betting. I expected Cantu to attempt to run over the table in no limit, and at the same time he had made some very disciplined, tight folds in the stud games, and so the dual combination seemed in favour. It would be reasonably tough for him go with anything that wasn't TT+ or AK. However, what is against it is that I would cold four to something like 8,800, and it may seem strange that I haven't gone all-in. He would take is as polarising me to AA/KK or a bluff, and on this factor might decide to go lighter with a hand. I decided against it, but this is definitely the only other thing I might change today.

The main lost of chips was then two standard badeucey pots, and so I was down to 12k

3) Level 14, PLO8, 300-600 (WHINGE ALERT)

I am dealt  Ahrt Kc 5d, and my final card possibly flashes. Much discussion, and it is decided it did. It is the  Kh. Marco Johnson raises to 1,600, I call with  Ahrt Kc 5d Qc from the big blind. Flop is   Kc 9s 3d (sigh). I check-call flop. Turn is check-check. River is  Kc 9s 3d  2d 7h, so I have second nut low and TPTK. I bet pot, to try to get him off a better high, and he tank calls with the kind of hand I wanted to fold out-  Ac 2h 9d Qs for two pair. A good call. Obviously misdeals/flashes etc are just part of the luck of the game, but it felt frustrating that it was such a close decision on whether it was a misdeal or not.

4) Level 15, 2-7 single draw, 300-600 (150)

I am down to 8,000 on the big blind. Small blind has 5k, I have  2c 2d 3c 4d 7c, for the absolute nut one card draw. Button makes the close (I think too aggressive) decision to set both of us in the blinds in. I call, and am happy to see he is drawing two, because even my 7432 vs 9843 etc is not far ahead. I draw Q7432, which is above par news. He has 763, and flicks over a T and then a 2, for T7632. A frustrating way to go, in 76%/24% shape, for the chance to come back into it with 17k.

Monday 24th June, $1,500 ante only, day 1

Out in level five of the day. Exciting structure, but unfortunately I think there was nothing more to it than the standard fail to run good to get chips together from the 4,500 starting stack, and then fail to run good in the ultimate cooler/race situation that comes  for those who haven't gained chips.

On exit hand, I am down to 3,600, and on the lo-jack. (The small blind acts first, the button last). Antes are 50, bring in 50. I raise to 200 with  Jd Jh, call by Ronnie Bardeau to my left, and the button makes it 1,000. He has been hit in the face by the deck, has played agressively, and has about 26k, for a massive table lead. Unfortunately it is a no-brainer; he has squeezed three times before, and previously has shown up with  Aspades 9c, called the rest off, and won. So, I have to go with jacks, and he snaps with  Qh Qd. We blank of a board of  Aspades Ac 3s Ad 5s.

Next tournament is the $1,500 pot limit omaha hi-lo tomorrow, which could be a great one.

out the $1,500 PLO8 in level eight, full report coming later. Next tournament is $1500 eight game mix tomorrow

good luck stu, hope it turns round for u, reports are great reading from an educational point of view, hope the content becomes better too!!

Yeh I agree, really interesting to read, just looking forward to "prolly played this hand badly, but I won so who cares, $473,492 dollars lets have your bank details"

:) gogogo

Thanks so much Jeff, hope things are going well for you?

<3

There is still time for you to do what everyone is demanding, and come here!

$1500 Eight game mix, Wednesday 25th June, day 1

Out in level nine, I think it was just another day of no luck. These were the most significant pots:

Level 3, stud high, 150-300 (25/50)

I am high with a T on a board of 334458x. A 4 raises, I have (QT)T, and decide to just call to disguise my hand. He bets 4th, I call, on fifth I catch (QT)T99 and bet out. He has (xx)4cJc2h, and quickly calls. On 6th, he makes (xx)4cJc2hJh, the worst possible 6th street card for me. I call 6th, fail to improve, and decide to fold 7th when he ebts. He might just have a pair of jacks if his hand is missed clubs, but it felt reasonably unlikley that he would turn one pair of jacks into a bluff. I think he would assume I would call down with two pair, and so I felt comfortable in folding it. His raise from EP with a low card indicates he is more likely to have a pocket pair, and so it was too much of a parlay for him to have started with clubs, missed his flush on 7th, missed two pair on 7th, AND decided to turn his hand into a bluff.

Triple draw, level 4, 200-400

I have 432xx on the button and raise, Bill Chen calls the big blind. We both draw two. I improve to 6432 and bet. He check-calls and draws one (slightly surprising, I would expect him to bet any improvement.) I miss the second draw, and it goes check-check. We both draw one on the river, and I make 86432. He checks, I bet, and he check raises. This is of course bad news. However, with such a good eight, I think I just have to call. He is more likely to have a bad draw given his failure to bet after the first draw, and whilst of course he might have filled a gutshot like 7543(2) or 2345 (7), it may well be that his draw was 8432, etc. I call, and he has 76432. He may even have caught the two, I'm not sure.

Unfortunately the small starting stack meant that there wasn't too much to it, and anyone would be in danger if they didn't accelerate from the starting stack. I lost a standard triple draw hand at 400-800, and so was down to 1950...


No limit holdem, level 9, 100-200(25)

On a new table,  Ivey raises from UTG, Greg Raymer calls mid position. I have  Ad Jh. It's not ideal against the UTG open, and Raymer's flat should be reasonably strong with three short stacks behind him. However, Ivey had been playing agressively and was bound to be playing alot of hands, and something about the speed Raymer called with made me feel more comfortable that he wasn't strong. I moved in for 1950, Ivey folded, and Raymer tanked. He called with  8d 7d (which I think is the right call, just don't like his initial flat.) The flop is  6d 5d 3h, which is a disaster, and he gets there on a river of  6d 5d 3h Qc 7c. Gutting, as it would have been sweet just to get back to starting stack towards the end of the day.

Friday 28th June, Pot limit omaha hi-lo, $3000, day 1

Started with 9k, good day, finished with 53,700. http://uk.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2014-wsop/event-54/

To be honest, I just play this game really tight pre flop, I think it's a mistake for anyone to do otherwise.

Level 3, 100-200

Raise from UTG, 2 calls, I have  Aspades Ac Kh 2d in the big blind, and raise pot to 2650. The first flatter calls. There is now 6500 in the pot and I have 6700. Flop is  Qs 7c 3d, which is very nice. I think about trap checking with just a PSB left, but I decide to bet pot (effectively all-in). He quickly folds. It's definitely pretty easy to get stacks in very quickly in this game, going to be a ton of gambling necessary tomorrow.

Level 4, 150-300

I raise to 750 with  Ahrt Jc Tc 3d, David Williams calls, George Danzer calls. I have 13,200, which is the effective stack. Flop is  2d 5c 9c, so I flop a medium flush draw, gutshot and the nut low draw. I bet 1800; David Williams snap pots. I don't love it, and it's not ideal to call off and gamble, but I have to go with it. Big pot. He has  Ac Td 9d 4h, for top pair and the second nut low draw. My equity is 55.12% according to propokertools.com.

The turn is  2d 5c 9d  Aspades, but we get there both ways on the river, which is  2d 5c 9d Aspades 4c.

Level 6, 250-500

I have  Jd 9s 4c 3c in the big blind, and the small blind, who is aggressive and has tons of chips, limps. I raise the pot to 1,500, just on the basis of having any low draw. Flop is  5s 3s 3h, so I flop trips. He checks, I decide to check, as it's not clean to get check-raised, and I think I am only ever getting two streets of value. Turn is  5s 3s 3h  8h, so it's a shame the low comes in. He bets 1,100 into 3k, and I decide to raise here to 4,100. It may get him off a poor low, it gives me a free card and option on the river, and really disguises my hand, as it looks like I have A2 for the nut low. River is  5s 3s 3h 8h Jh, so I have threes full of jacks. He checks, I bet 9k, and he calls before I have put the chips in. He has  9s 5d 4c  3c, so we get a very nice scoop. I maybe should have bet the full pot, it might have been a mistake. Obviously the bet is designed as a merge, as he might well fold a low, and it's very nice run good to scoop it all.

Going to go to bed now, 2pm restart, fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Great reports, really interesting. VBOL tomo mate

Yes, ditto...love reading your updates mate and hope you can get out tommorrow

As above, and good luck today scooter guy ;)

$3k pot limit omaha hi-lo, day 2

I went back with 53,700, with average at about 27,000 with 150 left, 54 in the money.

Level 11 (level 3 of the day), 800/1600

Got off to a slow start for 2 hours, and then at 600/1200 raised to 3,200 on the hijack with  Ahrt Jc 2h 2c, and the big blind re-potted for 15,600 total. I called, and he had  Ac Kd Th 2s. Propokertools.com has this as basically 50%/50% ( I have 50.48%). The flop is  Ad 5h 3c, so his kicker is playing and I am drawing thin, and the board runs out  Ad 5h 3c Qh Js, to give him the nut straight. Down to approximately 37k

Level 12, 800/1600


Against the same player in the same spot to 4,200, I raise with   Ahrt Kd 8h 2c, and he calls the big blind. He has 32k, and I have him covered. Flop is  Ad Th 8c, and he checks. I bet 6k, obviously hoping to take it there with what is probably the better high, and hoping not to get check-raised, to which I would have to fold. He slowly calls, and the turn is  Ad  Th 8c   3s, to now give me a draw to a live deuce, along with two pair. There is 21.6k in the pot, and he has 26k, so there is little more than a pot sized bet. My hand is good enough both ways to attempt to get a fold, and so I bet the pot. He thinks for ever, and moves all-in, and has  Ac Kc 3s 4h, so I am actually in great shape, with a better two pair, and better low draw. I can only get scooped by a rivered 3. The river is  Ad Th 8c 3s  Aspades, and so I scoop a big one with a full house, nobody having a low. Up to about 70k just before the money.

Level 14, 1200/2400

The money bubble goes on for a long time either side of a dinner break. I have 86k, about 1.2 times average, on an increasingly tough table. The table chip leader, a young guy, raises from mid position to 5k, and I have  Ad  Ahrt   Qc 4s. This turns out to be the pot of the tournament for me, and is definitely a tough decision on every street.

 I could raise the pot here, but I would have to go with it, and could play an awkward flop for stacks out of position if he flats the 3-bet. I think it is right not to 3bet here, and possibly get it in before the flop, or on the flop. The bubble is obviosuly some factor, with a min cash of $5k, but the bigger factor is that my hand is not quality enough with A4 and no suits. However, at the same time it's frustrating that he will see a flop with what is going to be a reasonably wide range.

The flop is  Ks Th 2c, so I have aces, a gutshot and backdoor second nut low. I check, and he bets 6k into 11,200. This is the only street which is easy, stacks are too deep to check-raise and try to get it in. I call.

The turn is  Ks Th 2c 7h, to give me the second nut low draw. He says pot, which is 23,200. This is getting big, there is now some real chance I could be the bubble. With 46,400 in the pot, I could definitely check-raise all in for 51,800 more, with aces and the second nut low draw, but it is tough to see getting action from a range against which I am in good shape. His bet of pot, knowing that it gives me a possible spot to move all-in, I took to indicate he was more likely to have enough strength to get stacks in.

However, at the same time, it was feeling like a spot to put ultimate pressure and leverage on a mid stack on the pure bubble. I weighed my decision in favour of thinking that he would not want to bet pot and have to fold, and so decided just to call. This would of course lead to awkward decision on the river were it not a low card, ace or jack, but I felt there was a good chance of  him checking back with SDV on the river.

The river is  Ks Th 2c 7h 2d, which on the face of it is not a bad river card. I check, and he says "pot" within a few seconds. I have less than a PSB, so this is an all-in decision for 51,800 into a pot of 69,600.

Obviously it's nasty that I could out of nowhere be the bubble, but I try not to let this influence my decision too much. The first thing to work out is how much of a value range aces beats. He said pot quickly enough, that I thought it took away the most obvious part of his value range that I could beat, which would be KT and K7. The other big thing in favour of a fold is that he is just going to have showdown value alot of the time, and be able to check back with his KQQJ, A734, etc etc. So, it feels like the main contenders for hands I can beat are the big draws which turned into airballs like AQJ3, A346 with hearts, etc. However, with these hands, I wasn't convinced that he would pot the turn so easily, and leave himself having to call the rest off.

It was painful, but I decided in favour of a fold. I would still make the same decision, but overall obviously it is an awkward and nasty hand. Just maybe the closest decision is that I should check-raise all in on the turn when I had the added equity of a low draw.

Level 15, 1,500/3000

Now in the money, I was down to 54k. A short stack with 16k raised to 9k, and I had  Ac Kc 7d 2h in the big blind. I put him all in, and he had  Ahrt 3h 4d 5c. The flop came  Ad 2d 5h to give him the wheel, and we blanked off, and so moved down to 38k.

Level 16, 2000/4000


Into the final 37, I had 32k, and picked up  Ac Ad 2c 7h. I raised to 11k, and the big blind defended. It left almost exactly a pot sized bet. The flop was  Qs 8s 6c, which was nice enough. He moved all in for pot, I snapped, and he had   8s 7c 5c 4c, for a dubious call pre, but strong enough flop to get it in.

The turn was  Qs 8s 6c 3d, a lovely card, which gave me a great chance to scoop. However, with just 3 outs to get scooped on the river, he hit one of them, as the  Qs 8s 6c 3d 2d ended the dream, giving him a straight and a better low.

A tough last two hands to take; even splitting the final hand would have left me in some kind of contention. The AAQ4 hand is the one I'll think about for a while, would be interested to know people's thoughts.

So, I finished 37th for $6,109, bringing the total value of the package to $16,875.

I like the fold  but I'm a touch concerned that he might be inexperienced at omaha if he is saying pot. Maybe just an online player though so not a great read at the wsop. I think the fold is fine really, its kinda close without the bubble but he shouldn't have that many takeoffs and your hand is kinda similar to K2 ott so he should be pretty nutted otr as its a card so good for your range. So many hands you peel pre have A2 in them that he shouldn't be going too light here imo.

Pretty grim from the bb in the final hand, I mean 11k is pretty big when you have napkins.

Yeah cheers mate, I really felt the speed made a difference too, as he would have to think more with hands like KT or K7- the two hands I should worry about him accidentally bluffing me with. He can of course have the other two aces, but unlikely.


You're right about the saying pot. Also felt that the young kid with all the chips should try to be a hero on the bubble, although against that was that he hadn't done anything special at all for the previous 35 minutes of bubble.

Which do you think is closer- check raise turn all-in, or call river?

You 3 bet the AAQ4?  I know we don't have suits, but feels like that given it is the bubble, he could go nuts with worse?  Will probably just have to go with it on that flop.  Think it is easier to play in a 3 bet pot.  Think river is probably a fold too, given what has happened.  A2 a big part of his range?

I don't know where we are at the table in the 8754 hand.  Can't be so bad if BB vs SB?

I raise from lo-jack in the AA72 vs 8754 exit hand, so it feels too loose given a hand that is so tough to flop well in both directions.

I feel like the big problem with 3betting the AAQ4 is the SPR that it will create. I would be re-raising pot to approximately 17k, so we would playing an SPR of about two, which I think gives him an opportunity to peel to get it in with a range that does well against aces. For example, I just have to bet and call it off on a flop like the KT2 that came, and it's tough to see that being in good shape vs his range that gets it in. I feel the other problem is that when I 3bet as a largish stack on the bubble, it will look to opponent that this is likely aces, and so he might well be able to proceed with a dead read on my hand. However, you might well be right; if there is any chance that he tries to hero 4bet me off the hand pre with AKK5 etc, there is a stronger case to 3bet, hoping he will 4bet AI wide rather than peel wide in position.

The aaq4 hand is really really close IMO. I don't think you're making much of a mistake or a much better play going either way with it pre.

He's pretty much always peeling if you raise but I expect him to not put more pressure on pre. Just doubt anyone was really light 3 betting on the bubble.

Whilst the aces are poor enough that we won't love getting it in on too many flops we also hate really having to call  2/3 streets on a lot of boards too.

If you 3bet, is bet folding some flops really horrible?

I prefer to play that hand with a bigger stack in pre.  Though it is likely a top 5% hand, it feels like it is always going to be messy and you aren't ever going to have the nuts.  So it looks more difficult to play deep stacked on the bubble.  I'd prefer to get the pot bigger and know that I am not going to be making a massive mistake post on a flop like this.  My PLO8 game had gone a bit nuts though due to a diet of NLO8 Hypers.   I don't think I'd pause to 3 bet and get it in on that flop in the $50 game (RIP), so don't think I should pause here.  I would be interested in Adam's view because I suspect his PLO8/NLO8 and slow pace/fast pace ratios are much healthier than mine.  

You play at a higher level than me, so feel free to disregard, but I would have been tempted to just fold the Turn. Our AA may not be good, there are a lot of bad River cards for us, where we will have to fold and, unless we catch one of our seven nut cards, we could hit and still lose, either side. If we hit, we could be putting in our 75k just to get our own chips back plus half of the 23k (assuming we don't get quartered), while hoping that he hasn't hit harder.

I think I 3b pre when we can get an spr of 2. I imagine we still put a chunky dent into his stack if we win so he shouldn't be going too nuts and we are kind of set mining/hoping for nut low with how meh postflop should be against a good player in this spot. I can see myself calling vs someone I thought wouldn't barrel down though. I don't think people bluff enough in o8 as the pfr so I do understand flatting and it is a pretty weird spot with the bubble and stack size dynamics. You have 50% equity vs top 10% ~82% of the time so getting as much in as possible is usually correct.

I think the 8754 is very borderline and I doubt it'll be getting put in correctly post by virtually anyone. Really scrappy, we flop 50% equity on 30% of flops. KQ23 flops that 35% of the time. I think calling here knowing your going to make a somewhat punty call later on isn't very good vs an 8bb stack unless you have a mountain. Good for your image.

I think the fact we have the  Ahrt is somewhat relevant as it defo takes a few hands he'll pot/sigh call the turn and be obligated to bluff the river with out of his range.

$3k limit omaha hi-lo, day 1

Disappointing day, down to 3,900 from 9k starting stack, restart at 2pm tomorrow.

Started on a table with Flushy and Simon Trumper, and things were going well, until a final level crash. There was not too much to talk of before that, I had AA23 double suited and AA26, and got full action for a 3bet, bet on every street, and scoop, and so took 15,200 into the last level. Then in the last level these three pots turned the day in the wrong direction.

Level 10, 400-800-1600

I am the cutoff with  Ahrt Kh 3h 2d, and raise, both blinds defend. The flop is a massive  Jh 5c 4h, to give me everything; nut flush draw, 13 card wrap, and uncounterfeitable low draw. The small blinds checks, the big blind bets, and I re-raise. Both call. The turn misses us, bringing  Jh 5c 4h Ts. Both check, I still bet for value, with still 28 cards that can guarnatee me at least half. The small blind calls, the big blind three bets, and we both call.

Massive card, but it is a brick, the board coming  Jc 5h 4h Th Tc. The small blind checks, the big blind bets, I fold, the small blind calls, and the big blind shows A655 to scoop

Level 10, 400-800-1600

Mid position raises to 1,600, I have  Ac Td Th 2d and 3-bet the button. The flop is a nice  8h 7c   5d. He bets, I 2-bet with the nut low and over pair. He calls. The turn is   8h 7c 5d Ks. He checks, I bet, and he check-raises, which is bad news. I have to call down, but have reasonable fear of getting quartered given that turn check-raise. The river is  8h 7c 5d Ks 7h. He bets, I call, and he has AK52, to confirm the possiblity of three-quartering me. A shame, I had him in reasonably bad shape on the flop.

Level 10, 400-800-1600

I have  Ac Ahrt  Ks 4d and raise the cut-off. The big blind calls. The flop is  Jc  2d  5c, a nice flop for me. The big blind checks, I bet, he calls. The turn is  Jc 2d 5c Ts. He checks, I bet, he check-raises. Again, this is not great news, but I call. The river is nasty, it is  Jc 2d 5c Ts  4h, counterfeiting our low possiblity. He bets; normally my hand could be good for high, but his turn check-raise almost must be strong in the high direction, and be at least two pair. If it is any kind of play at all, it is likely to contain A3 for the nut low draw, which has now turned into a straight for high. So, this is an unfortunate fold.

Blinds start 500-1000-2000 tomorrow, still would be really nice to double up early and get back into it.

***** I'm going to add (if avaliable) the $1500 at noon tomorrow, Tuesday 1st July, and the $1,111 Little One for One Drop on Tuesday 3rd July. I am going to include one re-entry into this, for a possible total of $2,222, but sell at 1.0. So, including the charity element, this is effectively like buying at 1.11. For the $1,500 at noon tomorrow, I am going to buy in if avaliable before the start of level 5 (440pm)

Could you please indicate, either on here, or by sending me a message, whether you would like to extend the piece for these events. There are 6 options (although I imagine most people will choose either 1) or 4))

1) neither of the two, thankyou
2) Just the $1,500 tomorrow
3) The $1,500 tomorrow, and the one drop, first entry
4) The $1,500 tomorrow, and the one drop, both entries
5) Just the one drop, first entry
6) Just the one drop, both entries

This is also coming in a personal message to stakers ******

Just for clarity, I will update the Main Event on this thread. I have offered action to side event package stakers first, at 1.25, and sold out. Just wanted to let people know, as I will use this thread for updates.

$3k omaha hi-lo, Day 2

Went back with 3,900 chips from 9k starting stack, with blinds at 500-1000. It was always going to be a case of one hand until I scooped or got scooped, but against the odds, I picked up two super premiums in the first orbit. First with  Ahrt Aspades 4d 2d, I raise from cut-off (to 2k), and young German guys defends. It comes  Ac Qd  8s. I bet, he calls. Turn is  Ac Qd 8s 8c, I bet 1k, he raises the remaining 400. He has  Qs 7s  3d 2c, for a better low draw, and gets there for the split pot on the river of  Ac Qd 8s 8c 7h.

3 hands later on my big blind, I have  Aspades Ahrt 3h 2s (ridiculous to pick up such a premium again, but of course all equities run close).

There is a raise from mid position, call from button and small blind, so actually could get a good spot for my money if I can three quarter or scoop. I make it 3 bets, to 3,000, and all call.

Flop is a nasty  Th  8d 7c. I bet, 2 callers. Turn is  Th  8d 7c Qd, which is nasty again. I bet my remaining 400, there is a call and a raise. It's now going to be very tough for high, so it feels like I am drawing to low. The river is  Th 8d 7c Qd 7s, giving me some vague hope to scoop if a two pair has been counterfeited, but the turn raiser has AJ93 for a straight.

Gone inside half an hour, and so entered the $1,500 no limit holdem.

$1,500 no limit holdem, day 1

I entered near the start of level 3, which is 50-100. Unfortunately, it was a case of two hands.

Level 4, 75-150

I am up to 4,900 and raise the button to 300 with  Kd Qs. A tight Australian guy defends the big blind. The flop comes  Qc 8c 7s, and he checks. I could check for pot control here, but it feels like it's going to be possible to put some decent reads on his actions. I bet 400 into 675, and reasonably quickly he raises to 1,100.

His sizing, timing and demenaour felt strong, and so it felt a classic case to call and decide on a turn card. He may well shut down with his draw, I may get a free card if he has say 87 and the turn is scary, and I know my equity vs his range is horrible if the turn card fills draw. So, calling to see the turn felt right, given my hand is too strong to fold, especially with the hope of him shutting down, but his range is too strong for me to happily get it all in here.

The turn is  Qc 8c 7h Jc, which is the worst card in the deck. He quickly bets 3k. Tough to know what he had to make such a quick all-in bet, but it was a fold for sure on the deck's worst card. Down to 3,500.

Level 4, 75-150

I have 3,400 and raise the cut-off to 300 with  Ks Ts. The table had been fairly loose passive, and that continued in this hand, as the button, small blind and big blind all called.

Pot is 1,200, and the flop comes   Tc 8d  2c, which is very nice for me. I bet 750, which I felt gave someone the perfect room to make a bad shove. Button and small blind fold, and big blind instantly puts his whole stack in, having me covered.

He had played simply and overplayed some hands, and it just felt so much like a flush draw from his action. I was really hoping not to see  Ac 8c,  9c 8c etc, but all in all, it was an easy call. He had  4c 5c, and the pot would have been a nice 7,400, but we could not fade as the board ran out  Tc 8d 2c Jh Jc.

There's been nothing too spectacular in terms of luck on any one day, but just a complete lack of luck when short stacked and all-in, think I'm 0/9 over the Summer.

Next tournament is Wednesday 2nd July, the $1,500 ten game mix (3 stud games, limit holdem, no limit holdem, PLO, O8, triple draw, badugi, deuce to seven no limit), which should be a great one.

gl stu!

Cheers mate, have a great time in Wales, make sure everyone is well behaved please, because I can't be there to ensure their good behaviour myself

Great read, good luck with rest of events.

$1,500 ten game mix, day 1

Great fun day, the ten games are NHLE, limit holdem, PLO, O8, triple draw, no limit deuce, badugi, razz, stud, and stud hi-lo. I got lucky with table draw for the first four hours, with one guy even having printed out rules for 8 of the 10 games, and genuinely needing them! That was mirrored by bad luck with table draw for the final 5/6 hours, as I finished with John Hennigan, Alan Cunningham, and 3 no limit kids that played the other games wellish.

These were the most interesting pots..

Level 3, deuce to seven no limit, 25-50 (ante 15)


This one was a complete mess. I have 4,300. There is a guy who seems very raw in most of the games, although I did not quite realise how raw, otherwise it would have changed my play of the hand. He has 1,325 and seems to go to fold, then makes a call. Of course, no limit deuce is a game where you have to come in with a raise, and cannot flat. So, he is forced to raise to 100. A french guy calls the 100 on the button, and it feels that he is weak. I have Q9876, and it feels that I just have to squeeze. I do so to 500. It feels that if the raw guy calls a one card draw, I am not in awful shape, and I may be able to put a good read on his bet- for example he is going to bluff way too much, and value bet too narrowly. To my surprise, he looks frustrated with the chain of events, and moves all-in. I have to call, he is going to be drawing one way more often than be pat, especially with the original intended limp. I call fairly quickly, and stand pat. He goes to draw one, but stands pat behind.

He has Q6432.  He says "I wanted to draw, but I know I shouldn't." So my mistake was to not realise the level of naivety in the hand. Q6432 should just never be good after a pat in front of you, and is a standard draw one.

So, I feel stupid after a complete mess of a hand, and probably still should, but given the information I had at the time, I guess I would take the same line again.

Level 6, stud hi-lo, 150-300(25)

I have (A2)A, a monster, and a weak player with a 9 limps in front of me. A 3 calls, another ace calls, and the 9 calls. I improve to (A2)A2, and their boards are 36,AK and Q9. I am in great shape, and whilst it is dangerous to take on three boards, equity wise I definitely want them to call. I bet, and all call. It feels that the only danger hand is the 36, who is probably 4 to a low.

On 5th I catch (A2)A24, 36 becomes 368, AK becomes AK7, and 9Q becomes 9QQ (great news, given likely queens up). I bet, all call.

The hands now seem to be almost definitely;
368- 4-low and pair of 8 s or 6 s , a made low would surely have re-raised.
AK7- 4 low and a brick.
9QQ- queens up.

 So, funnily enough, whilst you should often be vulnerable in a 4-way stud-eight pot, I am in fairly good shape, and vulnerable mainly only to the low draw. On sixth, I brick with (A2)A24, 368 becomes 3686 (but there was a dead 6 on 3rd), AK7 bricks to AK7J and 9QQ bricks to Q997. I bet, and 3686 now re-raises. Both call. This is a massive pot.

It feels the hands are;

3686- depsite the dead 6, just has to be trip 6 s. He would surely have re-raised a low on 5th, and would surely not re-raise 2 pair on 6th. He must have 666.

 AK7J- must be a low draw to a 7.
Q997- still queens and nines.

So, the 2-bet from the 3686 was truly terrible news. I have to call, with 3 live cards to fill up and odds to do so, and maybe some vague chance of 3686 checking 7th, especially if I am wrong.

I brick the river, and check. 3686 bets, both call. I am getting 17 to 1, but decide to fold given the read on trip sixes, and am happy to see it is right, he has the case 6. The other hands are a rivered pair of aces, and indeed queens up.


Re-start 2pm tomorrow.

$1500 ten game mix, day 2

I went back today with 13,125. The day was partly a rollercoaster of all-ins and calling all-ins which led to various scoops, losses, halves and quarters, so will omit most of those, and detail the most interesting pots instead.

I got off to a reasonably slow start, but won a couple of big badugi hands to get up to 28k about 5 before the bubble. Then this pot happened.

Deuce to seven no limit, 300-600 (50)

Under the gun raises to 1,600 and I have pat 98754 to his left, and 3-bet to 5,000 from 28k. It came round to Bryn Kenney. He was a constant thorn all day; every table move seemed to land him two to my left. His play in no limit holdem and PLO was predictable; very aggressive and very strong. His play in most other games was a bit of a mystery all day. Very aggressive in all, but difficult to work out what level of knowledge he had. He thought for a while, and cut out a 4-bet to 16,500 on the cut-off.

Against an unknown player, this would be an ultra tough decision. Any pat nine is very strong, but a cold four bet from the CO against an UTG+1 vs UTG 3-better is also very strong, and should always be pat. If it is pat, is really should never be a jack, and possibly a strong ten at worst.  I had basically the worst nine, but definitely had to weigh my decision positively towards it bring Bryn Kennney. The question was how much. Ultimately, I decided that if his knowledge of the game was not great, he would not realise how much a range that is say pat 108 or better is weighted so heavily towards mainly tens. I decided to go with it, and moved all-in. I stood pat, and he grimaced, which obviously was great news. He thought for ever, broke something, and was drawing to 8732. He paired his 8, and it was a perfectly timed double up to 60k. A tough decision, and I was glad to have got it right.

Deuce to seven no limit, 800-1600 (200)

I am, 92k deep, and have pat J8643 on the button, and raise to 4,000. Bryn Kenney is on the big blind. He cuts out a 3-bet to 11,000. He is defintiely going to be plaiyng aggressively, and I actually consider a 4-bet to try to take advantage of an over-aggressive 1 draw and possible snow range. However, he was definitely sick enough to move all-in, and give me a horrible decision, which would ultimately have to be a fold. Flat-calling and patting is always awkward, as it advertises weakness, but here it was the only option.

I called the 11k, he quickly patted, and I patted. With hands worse than J8543 heavily weighted in a 3-bet pat range, it felt like there was a good chance of check-check. However, he thought for a while, and made a near-pot sized bet of 22,500.

I felt I almost definitely couldn't beat a value bet. There were two things I could beat. A snow (which would have intended to bet against my one card draws and hope they missed), or a worse pat hand turned into a bluff. However, because so much of a pat range is stuffed between J8 and J10 and it can be really difficult to work out the value of the pips, I thought it unlikely that he would turn a hand like JT952 into a bluff, because he might not realise just how far behind J8643 this was in the jack high stuffed ranking of hands. With little prospect he would pat a queen, I ruled out the possibility that he would turn a hand into a bluff, and so my hopes seemed to rely on him snowing.

It was definitely significant that I was missing a 2 or a 7, and so he might have the 222 or 777 that might inspire to snow. Further, he is definitely the kind of player that wants to own people. Deuce to seven is the kind of that might seem to present a sicko with limited knowledge this possiblity, with them not being aware just how unbalanced they might be for this kind of move. Very possibly I should have made the read that there were now two players at the table he was never going to bluff, and that if he was more than vaguely looking for an opportunity to own me, then this might come up in deuce to seven more often than a genuine pat hand does.

However, he hadn't shown any tendency to snow at all yet, and just maybe I went with my read too much that he would be a little too confused and check down all poor pat hands, rather than turn them into a bluff. I folded, and he happily showed 555 (sick that his trips were actually insignifcant, I had the other five!)

It is the pot I will regret most, It's so tough in these games to predict exactly where people's knowledge base and tactics will be, especially for the player type that is a NLHE sicko who has some, but an undetermined, level of knowledge in the rare mixed games. However, I got the read wrong, and it was the opportunity to go up to 150k.

I actually got up to a height of 130k soon after, but things went wrong in level 19 and 20. I lost two big badugi pots, with a bet on every street, then had a very strange triple draw hand. We were 1 vs 1 in the blinds on the second draw, I improved to 97432, bet and patted the last draw. My opponent drew one, and checked behind when I checked. In what was bound to be a crucial pot, this was great news, and I turned the 97432 over 100% confident it was good (It's completely standard for my opponent to bet anything better on this action). However, he slowly turned over the 86543, for a big pot. Then, my downfall came in the night's last round, the omaha hi-lo round.

First,  I 3-bet  Ac 4d 2h 2c on the cut-off vs hijack to 18k, the button cold called, original raiser called, and the flop was a lovely  8c 7c 5h, given me nut low, counterfeit protection, and nut flush draw. The original raiser led, I 2-bet, the button cold-called, and original raiser 3-bet. It seemed the hands were A2 for the button, and some kind of set or straight for the original raiser. So, it seemed likely I would be getting either 1/4 of a 3-way pot, or 3/4 if I could hit a club. The turn missed, coming  8c 7c 5h Kd, the original raiser bet, and we both called. The river missed too, coming  8c 7c 5h Kd 6s, the first player bet, I called all-in, and the button 3-bet. The button had A296, and the first player Aj64, so my missing of the nut flush did lead to me getting quartered. Down to 40k.

I raise with  Ahrt Jh Js 2h, Andrey Zaichenko defends the big blind, and the flop comes  Qs 6h 6c. I bet 6k, and he 2-bets to 12k, which is horrible news. I call, and pick up low hope on the turn of  Qs 6h 6c 4c. He bets 16k, I call. The river missed me, coming  Qs 6h 6c 4c Th, he bets, and I have to make a sigh fold. He shows Q6. Down to 5k.

Down to 5k, I am all-in on the blind. I have prospects of making day 3 (if that counts for anything!) if I can survive a couple of hands, and pick up a nice  Ac  5d 4h 3s. I would have prefered a muti-way pot, but instead the button raises, and I am all-in. He has the bad news of  Ad Qc 8d 2s, and the board runs out  Th Js Td Kc 4c, to give him broadway, and knock me out.

I cashed for $10,152. Previosuly $16,875, this brings the value of the package to $27,027. I obviously missed the Little One for One Drop today, so this concludes the package, at $27,027.

I will be sending a rundown of numbers of what is owed to all stakers, taking into account Main Event pieces. Do let me know if you would like dollars in Vegas, I can easily arrange.

Not an investor but I loved reading the updates - NLHE is my least favourite game and having an insight into your thought process across a variety of mixed games has been fascinating. Best of luck in the main event.

yeah this is the best staking thread I've ever seen on here.

Fantastic to have detailed updates to read every single day - pretty impressed that you've found time for it out there.

thanks stu

I've found myself regularly checking this thread, even though I neither know you nor have a piece of you. Great job on the updates, although it would be nice to log on to "Won every pot, off to find sex, drugs and ridic loud music".

Echo the non investor but have read every post. Really good thread.

I didn't have a piece either but loved the updates and funked as if I had some.

+1 to all the points made!

Good luck today really enjoying the updates hope you and your backers get the lot!

Thanks so much guys,it means alot, gutted there couldn't be better news.

Will be updating the Main Event on here if that's OK. Although not officially sold in the thread, it's been sold to the side event package stakers.

For balance, I'm fed up of reading 500 words of "Lebanese high low triple stud with eights wild and one for his nob"

:)

It's a tremendous read for us recs. Really is. Enjoying it immensely. Just do some more wins, if you would be so delicious.

One for his nob is cribbage, right? Vaguely remember my grandad explaining the rules to the game, and that being the only bit that stuck!

It is.

There's an episode of Black Books where they play something like Lebanese High Low Triple Stud. Bernard gets himself into a poker den, cheats and somehow ends up with Mr Bun the Baker in his hand.

$10,000 Main Event, Day 1C, Monday 7th July

I always love the first day of the Main Event, and today was no exception, but ultimately was a frustrating day. It was a very friendly table, and that was echoed poker-wise, as everyone was very passive and threat-free all day.

I definitely would prefer to err on the side of caution and pot control in the Main Event, as it's just so possible to get great table draws for the first 2/3 days. However, this was a table that seemed to demand getting out of line. I decided after about half an hour of the day that I would try to get gently out of line, without ever getting really out of line, and would wait til the end of the first 2-hour level to do so.

Unfortunately, I just didn't get any hands all day, 88 was the best starting hand, and didn't hit anything at all (apart from hand number 1!). I was 6/7 on squeezes, 3/4 on 3bet pots with nothing (QJ, 65, QT,JT), and it was a table where continuation bets, etc made a lot of money.

It's a shame that there wasn't really much to write about. These were the three most interesting pots of the day.

1) Level 3, 150-300

This I think was a bad mistake. I think image counts for so much on a poor table in the Main Event, and image at this kind of table is not formed in a balanced way. I always think if you show one silly hand, the type of player that forms this day one table will remember it in a completely unbalanced way. Play 93, and for a while, you will be remembered as 93 guy. I raised the cut-off with ultra passive blinds to 650 with  9c 3h (the mistake), and the small-blind defended. The flop was   Aspades 5d 4s, and I made the standard c-bet of 700. The turn was  Aspades 5d 4s 6h, giving me a straight draw, and I decided to check behind. The river was  Aspades 5d 4s 6h 7s, giving me the straight. He had made a crucial comment after the flop bet, saying "I guess your ace is bigger than mine." I actually decided to read this really heavily that he was strong, and so that there was a good chance he had a set. Hence, my turn check, and on the river, I actually decided to bet the pot, for 3k. He quickly called, and my hand was good.

Given the result, I guess it worked out well, but for about 45 minutes after this people were still talking about the 93 (I'm now presuming he had a set of fives), and I retreated a bit. Given how possible it was to pick up chips steadily and silently, I think it was a mistake to play a super weak hand, with the risk of having to show it.

2)Level 5, 200-400(50)


Hands 2) and 3) were the last two hands of the night. This was almost completely coincidence given the run-out, but I had definitely decided that I could afford to destroy my image when they announced the last five hands of the night, and get really out of line. I had raised  9s 8s to 900, and the big blind 3-bet to 2,200. His range was going to be genuine, and so I decided to peel, and the flop was  Jc 9d 4h. He bet 2,400, and I called. The turn was  Ad Jc 9d 4h, and we both checked, The river was  Ad Jc 9d 4h Qh, and he bet 3,800 from a 13,200 stack.

It's a fairly standard turn a hand into a  bluff spot, given that there are no flush draws, and no missed straight draws. I actually thought there was little chance he would 3bet AQ, AJ and KT, and so being able to take these three hands from this range made it feel a really easy bluff.

 I moved all-in. It definitely felt a positive thing that it was the penultimate hand of the day, but I would hope that this run-out and action was a bluff at any point during the day. He thought for ever, and folded. I'm not quite sure what he had, just maybe AQ is now the favorite, but I guess even that is a near bluff-catcher.

Level 5, 200-400(50)

I was back up to 31k, and on the last hand of the night raised to 900 with  Kh Td on the hi-jack. The big blind, who was the only relatively tricky player, defended, and the flop came  Jh Th 2s. He checked, and I decided to check behind for pot-control. The turn bought a brick, coming  Jh Th 2s 3c, and he pretty quicky bet 1,500. I called.

The river was  Jh Th 2s 3c Ahrt. He thought, seemed to dislike it, and checked. It felt straight away like a very strong spot to turn my hand into a bluff. The strongest thing was that I felt very sure that he would not check a flush, and the  Kh was a blocker on the one flush that he might just check. He would have far more jacks than aces, and so few combos to make two pairs, that it felt like his checking range was stuffed with jacks.  The pot was 5,450, and I decided to bet 5,800. He thought for a while, and called with  Kc Qc for a straight.

At first, as we were bagging up, I felt stupid, especially given this was the difference between 22kish and near starting stack, but on reflection, I think I had to turn my hand into a bluff given the action. Just maybe I hit the very top of his checking range.

So, going back with 21,850, which felt a disappointment at the end of the day, but given the next 250/500 blind level and the field, still feels very hopeful.

keep at it matey, i'm not a backer, but i do love a decent report on things


Mick

Cheers Mick.

Day two today, going in now, excited. Table 180, seat 2, Pavillion.

All the best today, like others have said it's been very interesting to read all your insights to the various games - cheers

Good luck for day 2 Stu, if only so the trip reports continue :) Defo a future as an updater if it all goes wrong. Think you're right with last hand of day one, about the only hand that checks that will call the river overbet, maybe a set but not many of those in his range given the way it was played. GL today

$10,000 Main Event, day 2, Wednesday 9th July

Writing in haste, as I want to get sleep right now with these early starts and narrow gaps!

I went back today with 21,850, had a blast again, and the simple news is good, that I bagged up 199,500 for day three.

21,850 had quickly become 39k by the middle of the first level, as I knocked out a 9k short stack with  Ahrt Qh vs Ad Js all-in on  Aspades Qh 6c, and won a few other small pots. This felt like a massive difference, and I felt confident for the rest of the day.

More coming..

Really enjoy your write ups Stu - well done on a great day and fingers crossed for a deep run from here!

Excellent work, scooter guy, and best of luck for day 3 :)

god i would fucking love it if ronnie ruttering won the main event might be the greatest day of my life

Awesome work stu.  You and onny heads up please for the biggest Tower enterprise meeting of all time in vegas!  Assume onny hasn't blown 300 bigs on day 2.  Haven't heard from him on his chip stack overnight

Here is the full report! The delay was that I actually made the decision to leave the house and check into the Rio, so that I am guaranteed a good night's sleep, and am at base.

$10,000 Main Event, day 2, Wednesday 9th July

Writing in haste, as I want to get sleep right now with these early starts and narrow gaps!

I went back today with 21,850, had a blast again, and the simple news is good; that I bagged up 199,500 for day three.

21,850 had quickly become 39k by 30 minutes into the first level, as I knocked out a 9k short stack with  Ahrt Qh vs Ad Js all-in on  Aspades Qh 6c, and won a few other small pots. This felt like a massive difference, and I felt confident for the rest of the day.

It was a day of five table breaks, but most of them short spells, as I spent eight and a half hours at the main table of the day. It was actually a bad table draw, and an even worse seat draw. The three seats to the left had two internet kids, who played really well, and to my direct left Daniel Alaei, against whom I never quite worked out how to play  all day. So, needless to say I ran well, and quickly won two other all-ins to knock out 18k stacks, TT>55 and AA>KK.

This was the most interesting pot of the day (wish I could write about more pots)

Level 2, 400-800(100)

I am fairly new at the table, and have 118k. Under the gun opens from a 21k stack, to 1,600, I have  Qs Qh two to his left, and 3-bet to 4,200. Alaei is on my left (so, only UTG+3) and thinks for ever. He has me covered. He eventually cold calls. Original raiser folds.

Immediately there must almost be a dead read on his range that it is TT,JJ, QQ or AK. He surely would 4-bet better, and must be this strong to enter a pot heavily contested in early position, where it still very possible that the 22BB stack will shove.

Given it feels almost 100% that his range is TT,JJ,QQ or AK, things get a little interesting when the flop comes:

 Qc Jh Th

I bet 6,400 into 12.4k, he re-raises to 14,800. I call.

Is is very rare you can decide to put a dead read on a hand, but at this point it feels without exaggeration 95% plus that he has AK. His cold-call range pre-flop must be very definable given the positions and short stack, and I see almost no possibility that he would re-raise TT or JJ on this flop. Anyway, I decide to proceed in the hand as if he has turned AK face up, which is a very unusual thing for me to do.

Turn is beautiful, it is  Qc Jh Th Td. I continue to play the hand simply as if he has AK. If he has TT, I go bust anyway, if he has JJ, he probably goes bust anyway. So, the big question is how I should value bet OOP, from a 99k stack, into a 41.6k pot.

I think a plan to check-raise all-in is clearly wrong. There is a great chance he will check behind, and strong one also that he will be able to find a fold to my shove if he does bet. Another big reason I decide to lead twice is that it feels very likely I can get a really big bet called on the turn. My dead read on his hand is far stronger than anything he will be able to put on mine, as his cold-call of 3bet range is so much more defined than my 3-bet range. And so, if I bet big, the situation is definitely too confusing for him to be able to fold the turn.

So, I decide to bet 34k into 41.6k. He thinks for two minutes and calls. This leave 65k into a 119.6k pot.

The river is  Qc Jh Th Td Aspades.

I am normally a fan of just making big bets with the nuts, but this feels like a reasonably rare situation where my only chance is to extract a crying call. It is now incredibly difficult for him to think I am bluffing the river, and so I decide not to shove. The ace is good, as he may be convinced enough of his chance to chop if I make a clumsy small bet.

I bet 32k into 119.6k. If I had the hand again, I would bet 26k, I think that amount is almost unpassable. He thought this time for ever, and eventually folded. Just maybe I missed value on the river, but I offered him a spot to call 32k to win circa 60k for his half of the pot if he was chopping, and it seemed right at the time. I am definitely happy with the big turn bet, which left the possibility of betting small on the river to get a good chunk of stacks in.

Given the length off his dwell, I think the certainty level for AK has gone up past 99% (so strange for that to be the case against an otherwise very tricky player, but pre-flop must define it all)

Still waiting on table draw for tomorrow, very excited for day 3.

Niceeee, VBOL Stu.

Amazing write ups, best of luck

Go gooo mate

Go go Ronnie...love to see you have a really deep run mate. Glgl

 :)up

GL Stu. FWIW you are missing from this list for chip counts: http://www.wsop.com/pdfs/reports/13665%5CEV65-Day-3-Counts-by-Chips-Combined-Flights.pdf

That's a fantastic hand analysis, really interesting to read. Good luck Stu, hoping you've saved your run good for when it matters most!

As an none investor, thank you for this thread and your thoughts. You qualify for this years TIKAY bestowed one times award, where the water dodger did not take that opportunity last year and if I could offer that spice up... I would really like to see you win the world! Good luck sir!

seat draw for day 4

good luck

729
DID NOT REPORT 4
US
153,000
Amazon / 444 / 1
730
Wladimir Stepanian
NR
227,500
Amazon / 444 / 2
731
Stuart Rutter
BIRMINGHAM, , GB
100,000
Amazon / 444 / 3
732
James Bergen
COLUMBIA, MD, US
357,500
Amazon / 444 / 4
733
Daniel Alaei
LOS ANGELES, CA, US
216,000
Amazon / 444 / 5
734
Gianfranco Visalli
Ramsgate, , GA
199,500
Amazon / 444 / 6
735
Gregory Ronaldson
JOHANNESBURG, ZA
183,500
Amazon / 444 / 7
736
Gaetano Preite
IT
341,000
Amazon / 444 / 8
737
Matthew Shihadeh
SAN DIEGO, CA, US
155,000
Amazon / 444 / 9

Good luck later Stuart. 

$10,000 Main Event, day 3, Thursday 10th July

I went back with 199,500 today to day 3, and sat at what looked like an unfortunately tough table. Things got off to almost the worst possible start, and within two and a half hours, I was down to 38k.

This was the frustrating pot:

Level 1, 400-800(100)

An Italian pro raises big to 2,800 from the button, and I have  Jh Js on the button. I three bet to 7,500 on the button, and he fairly quickly calls.

The flop is a nice   9s 4h 3c, and he checks. We are both 160k deep, and so are never realistically reaching the bottom of the stacks. So, I decide to bet big given that decisions with be fairly equivalent for him with his check-deciding range. So, I bet 12,000 into 17,000, and he slowly calls. Beginning at this point, he seemed to really not like the spot, and this feeling increased throughout the hand. Infact, on the river, he was furiously shaking his head.

This of course made me more confident about my hand being good, but also made me wonder whether checking the turn behind would be right. It may well be likely that I would be getting only two streets of value against a man who didn't like his spot. If I were to decide to bet two streets given the read, it would be a close and interesting decision whether the second bet should be on the turn or river.

However, I decided that a man who seemed to not like the spot was far from meaning that he was going to be able to fold, and so decided to bet three streets if the board ran out favorably.

The turn was   9s 4s 3c 3d, which was near-perfect. He checked; at this point there now seemed to be a slight shaking of the head, and I bet 23,500 into 41k. He thought for about a minute, and called.

The river was   9s 4s 3c 3d  2h, which was now a perfect bricking off of the board. He checked, in the kind of forcible way that suggested he didn't want me to bet. At this point, given the strength of his dislike, I decide that it must be right to now make a very callable-sized river bet. There is 88k in the pot, and I bet 33k. He continues to hate it, which is great news now, thinks for two minutes and calls.

I turn my hand over, actually not feeling completely sure given the bizareness of events, but logically there must still be a great chance that jacks are good.

However, he slows flips over  Qh Qs. I wonder whether my read has been completely wrong, and he actually has been acting in order to trap, but he breaths such a massive and long sigh of relief, that it is confirmed that it was all genuine.

It was so frustrating for the hand to be early enough that I couldn't realise that his valuing of hands was so different to a normal perspective of hand value. Had I had any hint, I would definitely have played the hand differently, and probably pot-controlled the turn, which would make for a considerably smaller pot. I guess these things happen in the circumstances where you are playing at a new table, or on a new day, without any time to develop reads.

Right, bed calls, I wish I could write more. I got up to 38k, and got it in in a standard big blind vs button spot with  Ts Th vs  Ac Qh, and was happy to see the board run out  2h 3d 4h 5h 5d. The rest of the day was a heavy grind on a reasonably tough table, and so I am reasonably happy to be going back to day 4 with 100k, even though it is only 40% of average.

Day 4 table draw: I don't particuraly recognise anyone, but back on the table with Daniel Alaei, this time two to my left.

Thanks for this Tighty. Does anyone recognise anyone apart from Alaei?

Oioiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Gowan Stu

The action folded to Stuart Rutter on the button and he raised to 10,500. Daniel Alaei called from the big blind and checked the {J-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{2-Spades} flop with Rutter continuing for 12,000. Alaei then pushed in a stack of chips before Rutter moved all in for 73,000 with Alaei instantly making the call.

Although Rutter was the first hand to be paused, his would be the last to be played out.

Rutter: {A-Hearts}{J-Hearts}
Alaei: {J-Spades}{9-Clubs}

With Rutter at risk, the turn of the {4-Diamonds} and river of the {7-Diamonds} ensured him the double to 174,000 as Alaei slipped to 145,000 in chips.

From Pokernews, bubble burst as well, glglgl Stu and Team.

Sooo... Selling any action for the main? ;) Glgl!

Can't believe BB didn't rip pre. Being the pure bubble and it takes many hands to get through he should rip any two especially since you're raise folding AJ. Hilar check jam from him too, isn't this guy meant to be decent too?

Why is it hilarious? Seems pretty standard to me otb

On the bubble I mean.

Rutter has less than 20bb and the BB covers him on the bubble. If this is a $20 freezeout online I'm ripping me pre so if it's a $10k I'm snapperee doo ripping J9 pre. Once I've peeled though no way I'm check ripping that board, seems ridiculous as Rutter is just folding 2nd best hands.

WP on the cash Stu, I assume by the chip counts you busted but it's always a nice min cash at least :)

He doesn't c/jam flop. He check/raises and calls it off.

Stu up to 860k btw :)

http://www.wsop.com/tournaments/chipcounts.asp?grid=1052&tid=13665&dayof=3732

From these chip counts he is still in with 850k with 300 punters left.  glglglgl Stu.  Still dreaming of a Tower Enterprise November meeting in vegas with you and Onny in the final 9!

37 Stuart Rutter BIRMINGHAM, , GB 692,000 Amazon / 369 / 1
38 Idan Raviv IL 715,000 Amazon / 369 / 2
39 Geoffrey Rasmussen ST PETERSBURG, FL, US 489,000 Amazon / 369 / 3
40 Darlene Lee DELTA, BC, CA 640,000 Amazon / 369 / 4
41 Joseph Lacarrubba MANHASSET, NY, US 247,000 Amazon / 369 / 542 John Gorsuch Belle Glade, FL, US 1,057,000 Amazon / 369 / 6
43 Huy Nguyen OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US 157,000 Amazon / 369 / 7
44 Juan Rodriguez CARMEL, IN, US 798,000 Amazon / 369 / 8
45 Pierre Canali AIX-EN-PROVENCE, , FR 587,000 Amazon / 369 / 9

good luck Stuart

http://www.wsop.com/pdfs/reports/13665%5CEV65-Day-5-Counts-by-Chips.pdf

one of ten Brits left

35 John Kabbaj BUSHEY, , GB 1,200,000
49 Craig McCorkell WEST SUSSEX, GB 1,012,000
85 Lee Taylor GB 828,000
120 Stuart Rutter BIRMINGHAM, , GB 692,000
124 Christopher Sly RETFORD, GB 671,000
127 Iaren Lightbourne GB 656,000
144 Steven Warburton GB 602,000
176 Jerome Bradpiece HARROW, , GB 485,000
214 Louis Salter London, , GB 339,000
249 Jonathan McCann CUMBRIA, GB 240,000

Great comeback, looking forward to the next write up! :p

Main event, day 4, Friday 11th July

Wow, I really wish these days were an hour longer, I always want to write more hands. However, the long days and very short turnover (I am a man who needs my eight hours sleep!) have really made me appreciate the marathon nature of the Main Event. I'm sure I have played 4 consecutive 10 hour days earlier this Summer and felt fine (in 3/4 different events), but this feels so different, and there have already been signs of the long stretch taking its toll on some people.

The other thing that I only realised properly for the first time today is the wonderful, tense, pantomime nature of the Main Event. There really is a buzz that increases every day as you enter the Rio cardroom, and it did so exponentially today with the arrival of the TV cameras. Indeed, I fully experienced the most pantomine (but great) moment of all, as I was all-in at risk on the bubble. There is no poker tournament anything like this.

Here áre as many hands as I can fit in:

The pre bubble-short stack grind

I went back with exactly 100k. It started frustratingly. Down to 80k,  I raised  7c  7d, and an Italian player who was already revealing himself to be very loose, peeled the button. He won the pot with came  Kd Qd  Kc 6d 3s with  Qc 3c. Down to 58k.

The next hand, I raise to 8,200 with  Ahrt Jh, and the Italian peels the cutoff. The button, who seemed a good internet player, squeezed to 24k. I thought hard about going with it, given how great the squeeze spot now seemed, but decided against it. It was my only pull-out of the day.

About an hour in, at 72k, I'm shortest at the table, bubble talk has begun in earnest, and I'm sure they are feeling that it is me that is under threat. Daniel Alaei raises my blind to 8,200 from UTG+2, I have  Tc 6c, and think it's a great spot to 3-bet bluff, and do so to 23k. He folds.

Last hand of the level, 10 from the money, he raises to 8,200 again on my big blind. At a fairly novice table, it has the kind of feel that most people are half-leaving ready for break already, and so Alaei's spot on my big blind feels super strong. I have 62k, and have  Ks 9s, and decide it has to be a push. I move in, he folds.

Shortly after the break, we are quickly three from the money, and the pandemonium of hand-for-hand begins.

Now two from the money, it is folded to me, and I have  Ahrt Jh and 72k on the button. I raise to 12k, Alaei defends.

It comes  Jc 7h 2d. He checks, I bet 12k to induce some kind of check-raise bubble bluff, but instead he picks up a fistful of orange 5k chips and puts me in. (The update is wrong about this hand by the way, he basically check-raised all in).

I snapped, and he was kind enough to show his hand straight away. I would be in good shape against   Js 9c.

Five players in total are all-in. I have no experience of this situation before, and wrongly imagine that the remaining two cards will deal my fate soon point very soon. I am wrong. Players are standing on their chairs, cameras are rushing about, and a tense air fills the room. From having felt fine and fairly accepting of leaving with a smile should a 9 arrive, I soon find myself jumping on the spot with nerves. It soon emerges that of the five all-ins, mine cruelly will be dealt last.

It's not so much the $18k for me and my backers that I am sweating. It's not even the 170k pot in the tournament. It's the possibility of being that guy; the unlucky bubble boy, having to  fight my way through the crowds with a broken heart. It's the being congratulated by Jack Effel on our three way chop of the min cash, and the continuing fan-fare of having of playing higher or lower on a card to try to win a seat for next year. Would I be able to go through all this, and still have a smile on my face?

After twenty minutes, it's my turn, and the cameras swirl round my table, as well as the hundreds of media and spectators. They aren't there to see the shortie survive his three outer, and make it to the cash. They are there to capture the three-outer beat, and see the poor shortie have his dreams crushed. Having started feeling fine, I am now strangely feeling as nervous as I ever have in my life.

I don't remember the run out of the board. I remember there was no nine. It feels like it's all over, and I can go and lie down in a dark room for the rest of the day. I realise there is a very important poker tournament about to re-start. I sit, down three bottles of water, and get ready to play.

I might be just a bit too tired to describe the interesting spots, but overall I feel things went well.

Whilst not so interesting, the important spots were two hands late on. I raised with QQ from the cut-off at 4k/8k, the button pushes 95k, I call and he has  Kc Jh. We survive, and are up to 520k.

Still at 4k/8k, it folds rounds to my small blind, against a British guy in the big. He has 140k. I raise to 21k with  Ac Js, he ships, I snap, and he has  Kh Jh.

We have a sweat on  Qs 9s 2c, but survive. Up to 660k.

I reached a height of 855k, and played an interesting pot on the third last hand of the night.

I raised  Ahrt 5h from the cut-off to 21k, Steve Warburton (playing 480k) 3-bet the small blind to 52k, and I decided I had a great spot to 4-bet bluff to 102k. I actually had a pretty clean image at the new table, I always feel the end of the night plays some factor, and most of all, he had a stack too big and awkward to easily 5-bet shove.

He thought for literally ten minutes. He looked agonised. I guess that didn't matter, he knew I was either snap-calling, or snap-folding. The clock was called by a player not in the pot. He soon shoved. I folded. A shame to have him make the right big decision, but the 4-bet felt right.

So, back to day 5 with 692k. The seat draw is out there somewhere in the ether, but I'm going to bed. Will try to update it in the morning.

369   1   Stuart Rutter      692,000
369   2   Idan Raviv              715,000
369   3   Geoffrey Rasmussen   489,000
369   4   Darlene Lee              640,000
369   5   Joseph Lacarrubba   247,000
369   6   John Gorsuch      1,057,000
369   7   Huy Nguyen      157,000
369   8   Juan Rodriguez      798,000
369   9   Pierre Canali      587,000

 ;goodluck; ;goodluck; ;goodluck;

Very best of luck Stuart, been really interesting seeing the daily reports you have wrote, run good x

Great read Stuart, good luck with he rest of the tournament, must feel amazing to be in with a shout.

100 left.  Hero still in with 1.3m at last count. 

Vamos

Not one mention from pokernews. Nobs

Rarely read any of these, but Stu's is always so well written. Quite a ride.

Good luck sir.

Agree, love his "Daily Reports".

1.075 million end of play.

Going to try to write more, but this may just be the first time sleep might beat me! So, if no one comes, I'm sleeping before day 6!

Best of luck mate, get the gold!

(http://www.jetastudio.com/images/pitino-here-we-go.gif)

VBOL, sir.

quoting this in the hope that the 2014 ME winner actually replied to me, in person, on an online poker forum (would def be one of the better entries in the claim to fame thread)

Go get them Stu, but if you do win, please dont stop playing the mixed games, your reports are incredible to read and i personally would hate to lose them as you had just won a little NLHE mtt that no one really cares about

Mick

Best of British sir, you deserve it for your trip reports alone

Enjoyed your updates even though I don't have a piece keep it going

Gowannnnnn Stu. Exciting times.

Absolutely this. The description of waiting for your all in hand to be played out was exceptional.

All the best for Day 6

gwan stu!

Great run Stu, hope you keep it going.

Keeping running well mr rutter

VBOL Stu!

Yes mate. Go go go go gooooo

Exciting Stuff

Good Luck Sir

Very best of British Stu!

Stuart's Day 6 table

1 Andoni Larrable (ESP) 5.47m

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=210171

2 Stuart Rutter (GBR) 1.07m
3 vacant

4 Henrick Kecklen  (DEN) 1.67m

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=175399

5 William Pappaconstantinou (USA) 3.37m

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=176500

6 Pfizer Jordan (USA) 0.965m

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=216949

7 Alexios Zervos (GRE) 1.38m

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=147440

8 Scott Palmer (USA) 6.595m

http://igaming.org/poker/interview/scott-urnotindanger2-palmer-a-hibernating-superstar/


9 Chanracy Khun (CAN) 1.445m

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?n=220689

2 of the top 5 stacks to his right

good luck later. great run.

I don't have any involvement in this stake nor do I even know stu etc, but I'm railing as if I did. Like others have said the reports and the way stu runs his packages are unreal, best of luck tonight. Great run so far

SALT!

Stu comon mate you can do it!!!

I can't help wondering if that couple who's wedding Stu memorably illuminated in LV a few years ago are following his exploits, I really hope that they are.

stu out in 59th for $124k.  Amazing effort Stu vwp.

Great run. Congrats.

Unlucky Stu, great run and great thread.

Here's to hoping you go even better next year, you deserve it.

Managed to grab this snap before I left for home!

(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b633/callumm18/7CC741B8-85EB-4F17-95B0-1C6D950B71EB_zpsjr2ff84o.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/callumm18/media/7CC741B8-85EB-4F17-95B0-1C6D950B71EB_zpsjr2ff84o.jpg.html)

Top effort stu, congrats to you and your backers the updates have been awesome. Hope you treat yourself this evening to a beer or three.

59th place. More coming.

World Series Main Event Day 6

As you can imagine, there are a range of emotions still leaving their mark on me a few hours after an unimproved  Qs 9s vs  Ahrt Kc left me departing in 59th place; Disappointment, happiness, and just a sheer tiredness that hid for six days, only to suddenly hit without mercy when the adrenalin stopped.

However, what I did not imagine is that the strongest emotion by far is just what a whole lot of fun it was. As the days went on, it felt more like a group of people sharing a journey, than it did a competitive contest. It was actually the sense of fun that I had to block out most when at the table. At the point in day five where just a 30,000 big blind represented a player in the tournament and their crushed dream, you realised just how important each single decision was. This was no time to let the fun take over too much.

The other thing to block out was of course the enormity of what days of good luck had allowed, and just what was at stake. Strangely, this did not become harder with time. It peaked during the twenty minute wait to be all-in on the bubble, and thereafter, kindly subsided. By about dinner break on day five, a surrealness takes over. There is no no need any more to remind yourself  that you are just playing poker, and can only do your best. For reasons I don't quite know, that feeling naturally kicks in. My heart rate could not have risen any more anyway since that bubble moment, but it surprised me how easily it slowed.

Only the tournament breaks are cruel; twenty minutes, and with a dwindling number of friends still around, nothing to do but think. Thinking on day six of the main event is not to be advised. You take in what is happening, and the fact that the poker decisions you are about to make will be the most important ones you ever have done. I generally took my seat about 8 minutes before I needed to; back to the fun, less of the thinking.

The mercy of today was that there just weren't many decisions to make. Nothing to dwell on for months to come, nothing to have to forgive myself for. Day six was the day when poker reality struck, and a more familiar tournament experience reappeared. Completely card dead (I was of course due that kind of day), and even a lack of spots to try to forge chips without cards. The bad news started with the table draw. Everyone was young, confident, and bred from the internet.  

After that, it was unfortunately a case of death by ante. The young Spaniard Andoni Larrabe was playing too many hands and threw in a slight hesitation before raising, and so I three-bet him cutoff vs hijack with  6c 2s. That was my only real success of 3 hours of play. I myself was 3-bet twice, and decided to give up. I don't think I missed any opportunities to turn things round; I hope not.

Down to 600,000 after the first hour, the true move-in or fold began. At that point, I picked up two cards almost every time that would have made for a great start in the deuce to seven event, but made things tough now. It felt painful to blind down, but at the same time, a lack of hands wasn't enough of an excuse to open up ranges in some kind of desperation. Soon, hope arose. I found ace-king, and a caller. Sadly, he also had ace-king. Then, the dearth continued, and by the break I was down to 270,000.

We came back to 30,000-60,000(10,000), and I entered the red zone when in the big blind. Down to 240,000, I would have the odds to call off with alot of hands, and felt I did do with  Qs 9s when the hi-jack opened. He had  Ad Kd; I had hope, but that hope was decimated as the flop fell  4d 5c Kh. A five on the turn meant that I was shaking hands before the river card was dealt. For five minutes, I felt devastated. I maybe wasn't too far away from a little tear. I can't imagine how the guy who finishes in tenth will feel.

However, things changed after five minutes. The fun was over, but the happy memories kicked in. They will last for a long time.

Great write up Stu.

Now im hoping I'll be in a financial situation where I can contribute to next years mixed games package.


incredible run mate.

Enjoy yourself a small drink

Congrats Stu, & wonderfully written Reports.

Great write up sir and well done.

Just Awesome

Congrats...see they've updated your HMob already :)

Congrats and well done, your reports are written like we are living the dream with you. Hope you cherish the wonderful experience.

Thanks for spending time to do the write ups Stu - great run and well done.

Awesome run Stu WP !

gg and solid return on package would buy again. enjoyed write ups

last writeup was really well written, ul you useless sack of SALT.

Loved this, congrats

Well played and UL Stu.

Thanks Stu and well done. Did you get the "Congratulations!" from one of the staff when you busted? Got that when busting 20th in a $1k out of a gazillion runners.

"Follow me and I will take you to the desk to collect your ticket for your winnings, and congratulations on your cash"

"Fuck off"

Congrats Stuart, great work mate.

Very impressive from start to finish - particularly enjoyed the last rite up. vwp and all the best for the future

"At the point in day five where just a 30,000 big blind represented a player in the tournament and their crushed dream..."

Write ups just got better and better.

Congratumiserations

great write ups well done on going so deep unlucky on going dry at the wrong time

The boring bit. Payment information.

We cashed for $124,447. So, 1% = $1,244.47.

They are sending a wire transfer tomorrow. I've just been down to sort it now at the cage. They say it will take about ten days. I myself feel that is probably wrong, and it will be quicker, but I guess ten days is our guideline. Will send as soon as I get it. There might be a slight delay as I can only send £10k per day. If it takes say three days to send the full amount to everyone, I will divide each person's piece into thirds, and pay them the same amount three days running.

Could you let me know whether you want bank or Stars. Stars may now be difficult, as it's a larger amount, and I just don't play on there much. However, if people do want Stars over bank, I'm 100% sure I can sort it.

Most people still have money owed from the initial package, so obviously I will add both amounts and create a total figure for everyone.

Thanks so much for the comments guys, means alot. Wow, so lucky that the Summer turned around right at the end. I think the cashes were one for eleven, and then 3 for 4 at the end? Lucky, lucky.

Two days of fun in Vegas now, and then home. Always feel gutted to be leaving this hiliarious town, but also, can't wait to be home.

Already looking forward to next year's chapter.

 ;popcorn;

Nice result in the end, Stuart, was a great sweat even though I missed this year.

I wouldn't recommend that payment schedule.  Sending the same amount to the same person 3 days running is going to set off alarm bells at the bank.  To me it looks like the worst way to do it both from an effort point of view and from the anti fraud perspective.  Sure the ones at the end won't mind waiting 2 days.  I just did daily payment updates when I did it over a few days. 

This may be a minor point, because if your bank is anything like mine, whatever you do, the fraud team are going to ring you daily anyway!

I don't mind being at the end of the queue mate. As Doobs, said, seems tons of extra hassle on your part and I'm sure people won't mind waiting.

I read this entire thread over breakfast. About halfway through I forgot to eat and now my breakfast is cold.


Mad writing skilz.

Congrats on a great run, and good luck making it out alive!

Almost forgot... Drive carefully mate ;)

Yeah also think it's better to pay people in full and happy to be at the back of the queue also

Back of the queue for me or keep it for next year, dont mind either way.

congrats on the deep run Stu and enjoyed all your write ups

+1 for the end of the queue.  Thanks again

Doobs, thanks so much for this. You're right, it must make sense not to split payments. So, will change to a plan where I just pay in full, by alphabetical order of surname. Thanks very much for the kind offers to go back of the queue guys, that makes things feel easier, so very much appreciated.

Just got home. Three days of fun at the end, including the new Drais which I thought was just spectacular. Will update on pamyents as soon as the wire hits, and do so on a daily basis.

also don't care when or how i get paid

Republican credits

Top gents, thanks so much Alex, Ryan, rfgqqabc, Rupert and Cos. Won't be long either way.

Payment update:

No wire in yet, but with a couple of other things in and help from Pads on sending a big bulk on Stars, payment will be possible from tomorrow. I'll be making the payments Saturday, Sunday and (if required) Monday, so all will be done by Monday.

Everyone has either given me their bank details, or currently has a PM asking them for their details.

Many thanks

can confirm payment from Stu..many thanks for this and the great write ups and sweats

All but two payments made now, just waiting on Gary Bush's and Marc Convey's bank details.