Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Thanks Claire.

Shush, Tom, I'm hard.

[Claw75]

Shush, Tom, I'm hard.

I think snow is exciting too.

[tikay]

I must have played 20 straight Live Tourneys without a cash, but it has not dented my belief or confidence, Tourneys are like that sometimes, and anyway, I was always crap, nothing has changed.

I ran very well yesterday, as simple as that. The Table was quite passive, & good fun, mostly "fish" like me, with just 2 "regulars", who, obviously, were very very good. They must be, they were regulars.

I inched up from 30k to 40k quite steadily, just small pot stuff, & a bit of run good.

Then I got very lucky against poor BobAlike - what a lovely chap! - when I was in the SB with  in a multi-way limped pot.

BobAlike had button-limped with  & the flop came all spades, K-10-4. It soon becme heads up, he & I, & I somehow convinced myself he did not have it, he was playing it very strong from the Button, maybe he had the bare A? Anyway, I was playing three times his stack, which changes the thought process, so when he jammed on the blank turn for his last 10k, after some thought, I made the call, & then miracled the river. Sorry Sir! He was very gracious & dignified in defeat though, a genuinely nice chap.

Then a most peculiar hand went off, two early limpers, & I make it 3k, which was quickly called behind me. Now, Seat 2, a Gent in his early sixties (& therefore obviously hopeless), jams for 45,000! This, usually, is a quick fold for me - can't be too careful! - but I just sat & thought, wtf, he cannot have better here, he would not bet so big, we are flipping, I'd bet a grand he has A-K, & I decided to flip. Hey, let's gamble.

He turns over Q-Q, & has 100% outplayed me, I go to shake his hand, he says "let's see the Board first" (why, it means the same thing win or lose?), & I river the J for a really ugly outdraw. He was not very impressed with my play, poor chap. Sorry fella, I just could not put you on that hand in a month of Sundays, & I was 100% wrong. Very unfair game, poker.

I just ambled along after that, doing a big chunk in a hand that played itself after the pre-flop action, when I got it in pre with A-K v dem Aces. I got it all back a few orbits later, with A-K v peculiarly played 10-10, he called my pre-flop 3 bet, checked the K high flop to me, I bet, he jammed, I called.

I ran good for the next Level or two, & come bagging up time minus 2 minutes I had 130,000, that'll do for Day One. Or so I planned..... 

[tikay]

So, penultimate hand of the night, 130,000 juicy chips to bring back for Day Two, & life is good.

A really nice Asian lad, Record Producer or similar, pops it up to 6k (1k-2k) I have A-K. I'm thinking, don't get involved now Tony, just go home & return with a nice stack.

I decide to wimp-fold, but my mouth springs to life & says "15,000". Bugger.

He dwells for fully 5 minutes, then flats.

It was at precisely this moment that my brain shut down.

The flop came 9-7-6, & without a moments thought or hesitation, just wholly impulsive, I throw out 30,000. He snap jams all-in (& covers me) & I instantly wake up & realise that was a masterclass in how to butcher 45,000 chips. He can ONLY have J-J  or Q-Q here, & waiting to see a safe flop. A-B-C......

I don't even do the maths, & just fold, & curse myself for murdering 30% of a healthy stack. I'm supposed to lose 15,000 here, not 45,000.

No excuses whatsoever, but I guess mental fatigue, stupidity, lack of concentration, or maybe I'm just a proper fish must be assumed.

I return with 72,000 @ 1,500 - 3,000, & need to forget that I should be coming back with 130,000. Or that I should not be coming back at all if that J had not rivered to bust the guy's Queens earlier.

All told, thoroughly enjoyed the day.

I need to get to London tonight, & the roads are a bit iffy, so I'll be pretty active early, & either get a stack or bust. Might even lower my range to include Q-Q.

Rob Yong was incredible yesterday, by the bye, once the weather got bad, & snap announce that the Club would remain open all night, there would be a Midnight Tourney, & free brekkie for everyone.

I had to dash away, unfortunately, but that went badly wrong, as I got trapped on the A50 by a big crash. Can't believe I passed up the chance to be "trapped" in a poker club all night, but needs must & all that, I needed to take the dog for a walk.

[tikay]

Shush, Tom, I'm hard.

I think snow is exciting too.

Claire! This is not Tom's Diary, you know.

[bobby1]

Good luck today mate

[Karabiner]

I'm fully expecting you to deliver a master-class in day two live tekkers today Tony.

Good luck should it be necessary.

[bobAlike]

All the best today Tikay.

[tikay]

Going well so far.

Button-raised, got jammed on, then opened with 6-6 (playing 20 bigs) and found the fold, just, to be showed K-K.

But I got a walk in my BB, which I played to perfection.

[tikay]

Thanks Ralph, Bob.

Back to overnight stack now, and - get this - I am easily the most active player at the table. That's not often been said about me. Can almost see this car crash coming.

[EvilPie]

Good luck today TK.

[Marky147]

Good luck today TK.

[RED-DOG]

So, penultimate hand of the night, 130,000 juicy chips to bring back for Day Two, & life is good.

A really nice Asian lad, Record Producer or similar, pops it up to 6k (1k-2k) I have A-K. I'm thinking, don't get involved now Tony, just go home & return with a nice stack.

I decide to wimp-fold, but my mouth springs to life & says "15,000". Bugger.

He dwells for fully 5 minutes, then flats.

It was at precisely this moment that my brain shut down.

The flop came 9-7-6, & without a moments thought or hesitation, just wholly impulsive, I throw out 30,000. He snap jams all-in (& covers me) & I instantly wake up & realise that was a masterclass in how to butcher 45,000 chips. He can ONLY have J-J  or Q-Q here, & waiting to see a safe flop. A-B-C......

I don't even do the maths, & just fold, & curse myself for murdering 30% of a healthy stack. I'm supposed to lose 15,000 here, not 45,000.

No excuses whatsoever, but I guess mental fatigue, stupidity, lack of concentration, or maybe I'm just a proper fish must be assumed.

Is this a good time to point out that your initials are AK?

[tikay]

Out, that went well.

All standard stuff really.

Short stacked button playing 9 bigs jams into my BB, he can't have a hand here, the kids taught me that, I call with 8-8, he has K-K. I ask for a ruling, he can't have that hand there, but I'm over ruled.

Next hand, now playing 28k (7 bigs) I can't believe I get 10-10 and someone making it 19,000 round the back, heave ho, he has A-Q and the flop and turn are kind to me, the river not so much.

Seriously, no complaints at all, really enjoyed the whole tourney, though a bit miffed that Matt Russell failed to show, the L-L was all mine.

Heading back to London now, to watch my Super Bowl betting coup. Go the Dolphins.

PS - thank you for all the kind wishes, via PM, text, and on here. "Always mid-division, briefly threatened, found nothing off the bridle, faded badly. Not to be relied upon, needs to drop down in class, would run well in a selling plate".

[EvilPie]

Can I still buy in?

I don't mind dusting off £560 to ship the LL.