WOW, Tournament Style

Despite my satisfactory display in the Sunday tournaments, WOW (why oh why) is alive and well in my tournament game a lot of the time.

On Friday night, I had kicked off a couple of cheap ($11 and $9) MTTs. I didn't necessarily expect to get too far but I was trying to play properly.

The first WOW moment came very early in the $11. I often can't resist the urge to squeeze if there is a classic raise followed by several calls. Having made it $850 (blinds are only $25/50 at this point, with 3,000 starting chips !) with KQo in the small blind, I received one caller. The flop was all rags, so I felt the urge to move all in (his remaining stack was approximately the pot size of ~ $2,000 and was called by JJ.

I nearly received an unjust reward as a King fell on the turn, but a flush on the river restored the order of things. Mind you, he "should" fold JJ pre-flop surely !

I took this as a bit of a wake-up call, and I actually recovered from that position to finish just a few places out of the money in the end when I raced unsuccessfully with AQ vs. 55.

Meanwhile, I was playing quite solidly in the$9, which had a standard rather than turbo clock. Because I usually play turbos, this actually felt very slow and steady !

I perhaps had a few "almost wow" moments - that's where I re-shove with 45s and they fold !

The first key moment in this one came right on the bubble - 198 places pay, 200 of us left. I had made up the SB with K8s (huge odds with the antes and my feeling that the BB would not raise) (200/400/50ante. The flop was checked, and then I called just 400 on the turn. The river made me the 2nd nut flush. The BB now bet out (I am calling him for sure). Then, another shortish stack moved in and I was a little concerned that I had rivered a second best hand, but my hand was good against 2 straights.

I had KK busted by A8, and QQ busted by A9. My Aces get no action.

However, a double up comes along when I push all in on a button raise with KhJh. He dwell-calls with 44 and I hit. Now I get Aces against Jacks and move up into 3rd place overall.

I start to really concentrate - even closing down my PLO game !

Key hand: 2,000/4,000/500. I have 170k about 18 players left (avg chips ~ 106k). Players with 110k or so limps UTG+1. I have AhKh on the button.

This players has NEVER limped before as far as I can remember. I have a hunch he may be limping Aces. However, I need to find out so I raise to 18,000 and only he calls. I still think he may have them as heads-up it is not unreasonable for him to flat call here sometimes.

The flop is pretty friendly: K54 with 2 spades. I've hit is pretty well (although missing the flush completely). He moves all in for 91k !

I decide to back my hunch and fold here. So many times this has turned into a "WOW" moment where I get shown 555, or the AA that I first feared. Interested in any thoughts on this laydown. On reflection I think maybe I just have to pay him off if he has it - can he really have 44, 55, KK or AA ?

I also lay down AQ after my re-raise is re-re-raised by the chip-leader. Next hand, I get AK. A poor player UTG raises, another poor player re-raises. I put in a 3rd raise hoping to get heads up with the first bettor who I have covered 3-1. I do, and it's a race with 55 which I win.

Up into 2nd with 16 left.

It's setting up to a WOW ....

I can't remember the last time I made a final table on Stars. I fully expect to now, though.

We are playing 5-handed when the bad player on the button (OPR 15% !) limps for 5000. Chip-leader is in the BB. I decide to see a flop with KQo.

Flop is QJ5. Surely I am good here ? I bet, get raised by the button, and then shove.

He thinks for a moment then calls. He shows Aces !! Nooooooo! I have fallen for the limped Aces again. In hindsight, he can have QJ here, or maybe 55. Or, he could have had a pair and a flush draw or whatever. I should have followed my first instinct and raised pre. He probably raises then, and I can fold. If not, I may get away from it easier on the flop.

In any case, I am kicking myself for going broke with 1pr at this point. At least I put my chips in first but, still, this is a full WOW. 6 hours to get to that stage. 11th paid $97 vs $1,800 for 1st ! Or, anyway, $300 for 5th say.

I was influenced in this hand by the fact he was a bad player. I thought he might put all his chips in with less than my TP2K. Maybe I was right about this and just unlucky. Any thoughts ? In any case, with 25BB I should not have gone broke this this, I think. Better to fold to the reraise and move on (as I had been doing, doh !)

Why Oh Why can't I go on to finish the job and win a tournament once in a while !

And Why Oh Why did I fall for the limp Aces trick again ...