blonde poker forum

Hi All,

I am selling up to 20% at 1.075 for a package of 4 events at the WSOP APAC, at the Crown Casino Melbourne, in early October.

The total buy-in of the package is $18,850 Australian Dollars, and comprises two no-limit holdem events ($12,200 AUD) and two mixed game events ($6,650).

As a guideline, $1000 AUS is currently £539, so one Australian Dollar is slightly less than one American dollar.

The schedule of events is:

#1 Wednesday 8th October              $1,650 Dealer's Choice Event (15 games)        210pm
#2 Thursday 9th October                 $2,200 6-max no-limit holdem                        210pm
#3 Friday 10th October                    $5,000 8-game mix event                              210pm
#4 Monday 13th October (Day 1B)    $10,000 No limit holdem main event              1230pm

For a total of $18,850 AUD.

I have not played in Australia before, but have asked around extensively, and the unilateral opinion is that the value provided by local players is good, without being great. Although difficult to measure, the feeling is that the standard would be similar, or slightly worse, than the equivalent events at the WSOP in Vegas.

I think the two mixed games events are better than average value for mxied game events. This is on the basis that I feel am equally strong across all the non-holdem mixed games, and so the value increases in line with the number of games in the mix, and the opportunities for players to have weaknesses. In particular, I am sure that the 15 game mix dealer's choice, featuring games which people might be very raw in like badeucey, badacey and 2-7 no limit, will be great value.

To note:

- Because of other commitments, I am not arriving in Melbourne until Tuesday 7th October. This is obviously a couple of days later than the ideal jet-lag clearing arrival time would be. I am normally largely unaffected by jet lag, am looking thoroughly into extra leg room sleeps and preparing to sleep on the plane, but obviously thought this relevant to mention at this stage.

- With the first three events on consecutive days, there is some possibility of refunds for events #2 and #3 , in the case that I go deep in events #1 and #2 respectively. However, I would register events #2 and #3 any time up to the close of late registration, and so this possiblity is diminished. For events #1 and #4 there is no possibility of enforced late registration, and so I will enter those (as with #2 and #3 if avaliable) not a minute late.

- Given buyers will be sending either in pounds or US dollars, they will send at the exhange rate today (23rd September). They can then choose either to lock this rate for money paid back (please say option 1), or to use the exchange rate on the day of sending back (please say option 2)

I am looking to sell in minimum chunks of 1%. Here are the prices, for the $18,850 AUD package, at 1.075

1%- $202.63 AUD (£109.29 or $179.22)
2%- $405.26 AUD (£218.58 or $358.44)
5%- $1113.15 AUD (£546.45 or $896.10)
10%- $2026.30 AUD (£1092.90 or $1792.20)

Please choose option 1 or option 2 concerning exchange rates. Money by bank transfer (details by PM) or Stars (sturutter23) if possible, to be received by Sunday 3rd October.

Many thanks,

Stuart

2% option 2 please.

Booked for redbull and cambridge Alex, PMs sent

Sent glgl!

5 please option 2, will send stars tomorrow

5% please Stu. Option 2.

It may be coincidence, or Dan Morgan using expert maths skills with the last piece, but the package is now exactly SOLD OUT.

Confirmed pieces are:

Redbull- 2% (paid)
Redarmi- 2%
Cambridge Alex- 2%
Scotty77- 2%
Freerollin- 5%
rfgqqabc- 5% (paid)
DMorgan- 2%

PMs coming to the final four stakers ASAP

If it's OK, please no more transfers by Stars, at least for the moment. If bank is no good for people, I can give you Skrill details as well.

Could I ask people's advice- I cashed out one of the payments transfered to me without playing with the funds (probably a mistake), and got an email from PokerStars support saying that cashout had been frozen because the funds originated from a transfer. What is the best response to this, do you think? Is it OK to simply respond "I was using the Stars transfer system as a medium for friends to send me money," or is this exactly what they want to block from happening?

They most likely will want you to rake a few VPPs , i think this is usually the case.

Many thanks.i.e. ask for it back, play a little, and then withdraw in a few weeks? Previously, I have sat with my whole balance at a $0.01/$0.02 limit table, folded one hand, and left, and they have allowed me to withdraw it. Is that enough to "beat" the system?

This guy loves a little bracelet hunt

Redbull- 2% PAID
Redarmi- 2%
Cambridge Alex- 2% PAID
Scotty77- 2% PAID
Freerollin- 5%
rfgqqabc- 5% PAID
DMorgan- 2% PAID

Feeling fresh and excited for the first event, here at 210pm (0410am GMT), which is the $1,650 dealer's choice event. Updates coming

i know it's not a diary, but i d love the staking threads by mr pickings (even though i couldnt afford to back him this time)

subscribed!!!!

Good luck stu!

Gl tomorrow stu

Did you sell the last 3%? I'd be happy to take it if you want. I'll be on the grind 6pm gmt whilst hopefully late so just quote this post and say booked.

$1,650 dealer's choice event, Wednesday 8th October, day 1

First of all, an apology. I had described this event as a 16 game dealer's choice, when it was actually an 8-game mix dealer's  choice. I could swear I had seen it advertised as 16 somewhere, and had talked about it as such with Matt Ashton etc, but obviously was wrong, and sorry for the overview. In reality, it doesn't make much difference at all, but a small shame in a way to not have the random games that make up some of the extra 8.

We started with 4,500, and a field ultimately of 89. I won't write much as I still need the sleep during the quick turn arounds. It was a day of stuttering progress, but the steps forward just about exceeded the steps back throughout the day, and I finished ultimately with 20,775. This is a smidgen below the avergae of 21,079, and good for 10th place with 19th left (9 in the money)

My biggest two pots of the day occured in the last twenty minutes. The first is the stud hi-lo hand, described by www.pokernews.com here as the Estfandiari exit hand:

http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2014-wsop-apac/1650-dealers-choice/

My bet on sixth street was of course really interesting once he checked (xx)  5d 4s 4c 4d. He obviously had exactly trip fours and a great low draw, as he would have to bet a house or better to charge me for drawing to my low. I wondered if there was any chance at all he would induce me to bet a flush on this basis and check-raise with better, but it would be a super-advanced play and I ruled it out almost completely. I estimated roughly that I would be a small favorite with  2c 7c 3c 5c Tc 6d  for made flush and worse low draw over (A2)  5d 4s 4c 4d for trips and better low draw, and propokertools.com confirms it in my favour as 64%/36%.

This lovely scoop saw me up to 27,500, but four hands from the end, I got into a standard race with  Jh Jd  vs Ac Kd on someone's no limit holdem choice, and the  Aspades was the first card out. Winning the 17k race for 37,500 would have been sweet, but the 20,775 that it left me with feels a good and exciting spot for tomorrow.

Wrong 4am, congratz on day 2, shame about the flip. Looks like good value from the field.

Gogogo Stu.

19k half an hour in, beaten up a bit by PLO round. Completely bizarrely, jeff gross (who is presumably a super star at at something) has given away completely that he's completely new to triple draw. Can't see any option but to pick it!

Massive stud8 pot, gut shot wheel made against me on the river, 13k

Massive triple draw pot comes down to 1 vs 1 on the river, I value bet j7642 ip and get called by t8642. Down to 3k out if river luck

Out. Took 4150 in to 250/500(150) no limit Holdem round. Busted in fairly standard fashion, but just made the first hand seem complicated. Utg five handed, I had 66 and a good spot to move in 4150. The bb was tight and passive, and I decided to make it 1500 to make him more likely to fold kt, a7 etc as he might think I look stronger and is the kind of player who wants to gamble against the all-in. It effectively comes to the same thing, and obv if anyone 3bets I effectively call all in. Now the button 3bets to 2800 and the small blind flat calls. This is now far more complicated than it needs to be. I think about moving in vas giving the button to 5bet isolate, but decide against it. I might as well save myself the extra 1350 on bad flops, and do so when it comes a53 and both players remain interested. I then have 1350 and  Qc 4c on my big blind, and call all in as the button raises and small blind calls. I don't win on  Kh 2d 6h 4d 8h.

Got knocked out just as the 2200 six max nlhe started, and so after a bit of getting over disappointment, have now jumped in

Thursday 9th October, $2200 no limit six max

This was unfortunately a swift, simple and brutal end.

level two, 50/100
It was quite a nice table with a very recreational player two to my left. Utg opens to 225 off 7k, I have  Aspades Ks and 7300 and decide to flat the button with the rec in the big blind. He goes to call, but fumbles and accidentally puts in an extra 1k chip. The dealer gets it right (far from a guarantee) and makes him raise to 1225. The pessimistic side of me fears exactly what then unfolds, but obviously I have to go with the opportunity that it now presented to me. Utg makes the move and 4bets to 2700. I move in for 7k effective. Obviously I would like him to fold his decision range, as I am sometimes dominating but often 50/50 or 60/40. He says something about gambling and calls all in with  Qd 9d. Board comes  Jd 6d 6c 7h 9s.

I am down to 300 and get back to 900 but bust at the start of the 75/150 level three with a9<33.

Obviously this kind of bizarre spot is just another type of hidden cooler, but it feels slightly frustrating to have the tournament all hang on that.

Tomorrow is the 5k eight game mix which should be a great one

Friday 10th October, $5,000 eight game mix, day 1

I am out of the eight game mix, at the start of level nine. Is is gutting, as it felt decent value in the field, and obviously was a chance to go deep in a short field.

I don't think I did too much wrong, but started badly, and did not get more than a smidgen above starting stack all day. I got bashed up in a number of limit holdem rounds, which feels a shame in the one game in which there are no real edges.

These were most interesting pots of the day:

Stud hi, level 5, 400-800(100/100)

I raised  ( Ks Tc) Ts three off the bring in,  as the high card, and Antonio Estfandiari defended (xx) 5c. The boards ran out ( Ks Tc) Ts 6c 7s Kc, and (xx) 5c 3s 4h 6d. I bet 4th and 5th, and checked called 800 on the nasty sixth with two pair. I was unimproved on the river, and he quickly bet  after I checked. Every hand that he gets to sixth with must have some kind of straight draw, and so the only hope was to catch him having called down with Ace high on sixth. I knew it was possible he would turn one pair of sixes into a bluff, but to have a six in the hole without a straight, he would have to have a 3 or 4 to justify his early street calls, and thus have two pair. Two small pair is a hand he would check down on the river surely, and so it seemed only an ace that was a possibility. I thought for an unusually long time for stud on the river, and took something from the speed with which he had bet, and the inevitable suspicion I was stealing on 3rd street, and thought he could have ace high enough to justify a call. I called, and he showed AJ6543x, and so I imagine had called with AJ high on 4th, and improved to a gut shot on 5th. That was a nice pot, taking me from 8k back up to 11.5k, and back into it.

Level six, deuce to seven triple draw, 200-400[/b]

I was 87632 pat on the button and raised, and the small blind flat-called. He was a young Kiwi, who I did not recognise, but who had played well. He drew two, and I stood pat. He check called after the first draw, and drew 1. On the second draw, he check-raised. It of course could be a break attempt, based on the fact that I may be prepared to pat a bit wider on the button. However, I am definitely not going to pat a 98, and alot of my 97s I will decide to draw with. It felt that he certainly was not going to be genuinely check-raising with a worse pat hand. Given the slim odds of me improving should I decide to break and the possibility of my more vulnerable pat range, I decided to call and stand pat.

He did indeed draw one, meaning it had been a break attempt. Having done that, he unfortunately bet the river. This is of course terrible news for my hand. I decided to fold. In this spot, there is such a factor for the opponent of having been caught once, that you see almost all of the time that people will give up. As well of course, my range is not necessarily capped. Whilst I might not trap a 7, I could be freezing with a strong 8. With the addition that he will expect me to call having "caught" him once, it seemed very unlikely for him to bluff, and so I decided to fold, unfortunately thus surrendering a big pot.

My downfall came about in a 4-bet pre three-way triple draw hand with Lisandro and Madsen, where we all drew one from the start. I drew to 7632, and missed three times, making a ten on the river where I was all in, with a small side-pot. Therefore, as soon as there was a  bet and a call, I was dead, and indeed Madsen had a 87632.

The $10,000 main event is the remaining event, and I will decide on Sunday morning based on how I feel whether to play it on Sunday or Monday. I think the great likelyhood is that I will play Sunday.

$10000 Main event, day 1

31,000 going into the last level of a very uneventful day!

Sunday 12th October, $10,000 WSOP Australia Main Event

Well, that was definitely one of the most unspectacular days of poker I've ever played.

At the end of it, I bagged up 27,600 chips, which is quite pleasing in the circumstances. I had only  Th Ts and  Aspades  Js pre-flop as hands of any strength at all in nine hours of play. Whilst I didn't VPIP very much pre-flop, I did win a small number of chips that I shouldn't have quite regularly, which I needed to avert the blind and ante slide.

This was my one mistake of the day:

Level 5, 250-500(50)

Joe Hachem's son (who played alot like the man himself) opened the button to 1,200, and I flatted the small blind with  Ad 9d.  The flop came  Kc 7h 2s rainbow, and I check called 1,500. The turn was  Kc 7h 2s 8c,  and he quickly checked behind. The river was Kc 7h 2s 8c  6h and I bet 3,400 into 6,050. I obviously have a lot of licence to bluff having called such a dry flop. I felt that he might not be good enough to know that my small blind range is concentrated with more ace highs than a  big blind call would be, as I am flatting fewer random hands. This bet definitely makes even QQ into a bluff-catcher, and he should know he can only beat a float, or an ace high turned into a bluff. He thought for a long time, and eventually called with  Tc 6c.

 I should possibly just 3-bet pre. It just felt that he would get sticky, and I am better having a hand to catch bluffs on an ace high flop by leaving him with the momentum, than I am playing ace high alot out of position on the flop.

Three-bet the last two hands of the night with quite a clean image, and now looking forward to taking 27,600 to Tuesday after tomorrow's break day.

WSOP APAC $10,000 Main Event, day 2, Tuesday 14th October

I went back today with just less than a starting stack (27,600), with the average stack at 49,000.

It was a day where I couldn't win a hand at all, and ended at the end of the 400/800 (100) level 7.

Level 6, 300-600 (75)

i) I raised with  Aspades Jc, got 3 callers, and check-folded on  Kh Th 2h

ii) I defended  Qc Jc with 22,000  against a cut-off open to 1,500, and flopped the nuts on  Ac Ks Th. I thought about leading three streets given the stack sizes were awkward to check raise, but with a decent chance he might bluff once, and some chance that he might bluff twice, I decided to check. He bet 2,200. I think check-raising is awkward here given the stack sizes, and with only 6 cards (the queens and jacks) to stop him betting most of his two pairs and sets on the turn, I decided to flat with the plan of check raising the river if he checked the turn behind for possible pot control.

The turn was  Ac Ks Th  Ad. I thought it likely (incorrectly) that he would bet every trip aces, and checked. He checked behind. The river was  Ac Ks Th Ad Jh. With almost no chance he would call with worse than a straight if I bet, I checked to control against possible full houses. I checked, he bet 4k, I called, and he had  Aspades Qs for a chop.

I guess I might actually have won the hand had I check-raised the flop, but that is of course irrelevant.

iii) I raised  Ac Qs to 1,300 off 17k from UTG +1, and had a caller from mid position. The flop was  Ts 4h 3d, I bet 1,900, and he fairly quickly called. The turn was  Ts 4h 3d 2c. There was 7,400 in the middle and 15,100 left. I did not think a turn bet of 4,600 had much leverage, as he would call rather than move in with anything weaker than AT. It felt like the classic one shot or three situation, and with him having some traps and some ATs in his range, I decided to give up and not fire three shots. It was checked to the Ts 4h 3d 2c  4c river, where he made a small, tanked bet, and I folded.

Level 7, 400-800 (100)

I was down to 13,800, had  Kh 6h, and there was an open with hesitation from UTG+2. I thought I had some kind of read on the hesitation, as this player had twice raised immediately and had JJ and AK, and once raised hesitantly, and check-folded the flop. The player on the button flatted, and though he was good, he had flatted a ton in position. I wasn't sure, but it felt like a good spot to move in to try to pick up the 5k in dead money. I moved in, the original raiser quickly folded, but the button flatter quickly called with  Ac Ks. It was over on a  Qc Jd Tc flop. I still feel unsure about the move, but I think I just hit the unfortunate upper end of his wide flatting range.

Really gutted to brick the four event package, had some bad luck in the first two, and then just nothing go for me in the latter two, big ones.

Unlucky Stu, sorry to hear it was no good.

Let me know when you are getting home!

Unlucky Stu.

Unlucky Stu.

Enjoying the WSOP coverage btw  ;) Very tilting guy you had to endure lol

ul stu, wp

Cheers guys, thanks for the support, better luck us next time. Have come back a bit disappointed- a 23 hour flight on your own gives you time to think- but I don't think there are too many hands across the events that I would have changed.

Tommy- when are you at EPT til? Vaguely thinking about coming down Friday for the £1k ten game.

Yeah, the Curtis/Kyle situation was very interesting! Although Curtis was ultimately out of line with his rubdown after the epic hand, I'm actually surprised, and a bit disappointed, that they came down far more on the Kyle side than the Curtis one.

I love Curtis (he actually has kept in touch about the coverage), and whilst he would be really annoying to get stuck next to on a train journey, I could not believe at the time that Kyle titled so much at him. For a professional to get that angry seemed inexplicable. The crucial thing, not highlighted by the coverage, is that before the argument started, Curtis had not directed anything, not even a joke, at Kyle. It should have been the easiest thing in the world for Kyle to take in the fact he was chip leader with 100 left, and let the big recreational player have a bit of fun. I guess the TV coverage needs their character to cast as a villain, and Curtis just about lost that flip to Kyle.