No seat for me last night.
It turned out to be quite a popular event. 24 players turned up, which translated into 2 full seats plus more than a grand for 3rd place. Among those 24 names were a whole host of strong players from the "gutshot family". One might pick out JJ Hazan, Dominic Kay and James Mitchell for example, but one could have picked others.
Each and every one was a "name" in these circles, and quite a few had enjoyed conspicuous success.
So, a strong line up and an enjoyable game. Played in good spirit by all and very well run.
I fear I fell between the H-rock and the H-lunatic in a somewhat unsatisfactory way. But, in fact, I think I also played pretty straightforwardly and it perhaps was just not meant to be.
To give an example of what "meant to be" might mean, let us take a look at what happened to JJ Hazan. He seemed to be playing early on a lot more straightforwardly than is sometimes the case with him. He is known for being aggressive and creative. "Lucky JJ" is his nickname.
Anyway, he'd been playing solid and then all of a sudden he's all in pre-flop against Ed Rogers.
Ed flips up pocket Aces ! Oops ? No, JJ turns over Aces as well !
There are 2 clubs on the flop which means someone is free-rolling to the nut flush. JJ is that someone. Jack of clubs on the turn gives JJ the royal flush draw. Just the 7 of clubs on the river gives him the 5% flush and doubles him up, nearly felting Ed.
Ed, mind you, came back strongly later and could easily have come through himself.
I went along pretty quetly and tightly. I played only one hand for the first level then picked up Queens. A raise to 350 (50/100 blinds) and a call ahead of me prompted me to pop it to 1,150. The initial raiser folded, as did the caller (who mucked AK face up !).
I picked up a couple of small pots with AK (raise pf, check the flop, c-bet the turn), AJ on the SB vs BB (raise/fold). I made up the SB on one hand with a suited Ace and bet the Ace-high flop, no callers.
All very quiet.
However, I was not making a great deal of forward momentum and at 100/200 I re-raised an early raiser (we were 6-handed) with pocket 9s - I hoped he may have something like AJ/AT, KQ, 66 etc that he would fold. Else, I have position.
It was re-raised all in behind me by JJ so I felt I had to fold there and was back below 5k starting chips.
With the blinds now stepping up and no opportunities to get my money in, I was down to 7BB when I pushed with J4 in the cut-off - called by KJ.
And that was it.
I played a little bit of cash. First hand I flopped top pair and stacked off my £50 initial buy-in. I rebought for £100 and picked up Kings on the Big blind. Action ahead of me: raise/re-raise/re-raise allin. I raise all in as well (ldo) and am called. Board runs out something like 7-9-4-6-5 and my Kings are good.
I hovered around flat until I got all my chips in on an 8-high flop (2 clubs) holding T8-clubs.
The other player has KJ-clubs and rivered a Jack. I'd only been playing an hour or so but unusually I felt I should call an early end to proceedings, so I watched the last 30minutes of the satellite then headed off home.
Congratulations to Dean, Dru and JJ who cashed. I have to think about whether to buy in direct. I probably will. If so it will be the last event of the year for me. Still looking to break that day-2 duck !
One day it must come, surely ?
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