Event #54 Report - part 1

I am writing up this blog from my notes and I see it is going to be a LONG report, and possibly very boring. Well, you don't have to read it.

You may also find it is better to read it on the Gutshot forum blog where I will post the same content but there the page is wider and I can use card icons to make it easier to read.

http://www.gutshot.com/bforum/blog.php?u=13218

Anyway, here goes. You may already know the ending of course.

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WSOP 2009 Event #54, $1,500 No Limit Hold’em. 3 Day Event, 29th June 2009

I come into this event with a 0/6 record in WSOP bracelet events that I have played in the last 4 years. I have been somewhat deep before – late in the first day – but never threatened to make the money. I am sure that I am better player than when I first played in 2005 and exited in level 1 after flopping the second nuts, but am I good enough or lucky enough to break my duck ?

Things start well when I actually get into the event unlike dozens (maybe hundreds) who attempt to buy in after the event sells out at 10pm on the day before. I assume there would have been over 3,000 runners if the event were not capped at 2,818 runners. 2,800 was the official cap and I can only assume the last 18 were at the TD’s last-minute discretion.

I start the event in confident mood. It is hard to put your finger on exactly what experience of a WSOP event buys you over a player with the same skill, but playing his first event. But there is something there, for sure, and one factor is that it’s not quite a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so we have the willingness to put our tournament on the line. Against that, I am still trying to get a result so I am obviously not wanting to donk out.

I do feel confident, though, and confidence is important. Let’s go !

I play tight, obviously, in the very early running. I make a conscious effort to try to profile the table. I still remember Richard Gryko’s advice on the topic on the forum. I cannot begin to approach his skill at immediately getting a take on the players but who do we have:

Seat1: Adam – recognises my Gutshot logo and asks about the club. I tell him to check out the Spirit of Gutshot at The International. He’s obviously not a very experienced live player or else he would know that the Clerkenwell club had to close, even if he never played there. But he looks fairly comfortable so I rate him as a somewhat solid opponent. Unfortunately I am often only able to classify people as “somewhat solid”. I guess it is better than nothing.

Seat2: is wearing sunglasses-with-headphones combo and wearing a “degenerate gambler” shirt. As play goes on I see that he doesn’t play position that well.

Seat3: American with grey hair and moustache. Call it stereotyping, but I find these players to play predictable holdings and to be rather passive. Their play on late streets is very readable.

Seat4: Mike Eise, winner of this year’s Event #28. He is not a professional (lack of logos, and just his table demeanour). His play does not seem fearsome, but I credit him with being a good player. In my opinion, notwithstanding the luck element, you do not win a 3,000-runner event over 3 days without being a decent player. I did not immediately recognise him, but the bracelet on his wrist was a giveaway and I asked him at the break which event it was (that is a polite way of asking “who the heck are you?”. I looked up his name later).

Seat 5: Showed up late, Latin American with a “Toronto” cap. Looked hungover. Not a threat.

Seat6: “Nike” and sunglasses. Seemed tight-aggressive and a smart bettor. Decent player. Play him in position only.

Seat7: "California". Lots of mixed logos on the hat and shirt but definitely "customer bought". Talked about his WSOP and WPT events of the past. Clearly a regular attendee of these kinds on events but no talk of great success. Seemed as time went on to play somewhat weakly (in the sense of not applying maximum pressure).

Seats 8 & 9. Very obviously tight.

Seat 10: Lunatic, wearing team gutshot logos, foreign accent, has his own “H-Bomb cards”. Doesn’t look like he will last long.


First Level 25/50. 4,500 starting chips. 2,818 runners

We started with 4,500 chips so the fact is we are deep-stacked in Level One. I fold for a whole orbit, then raise Nike (who limped UTG) with 8h7d. I flop a pair on the Q74ss board, but decide to check one street. I call 300 when the Qs falls but give up when he fires the river as well.

I am back to 3,825 when the first key hand occurs. I limp with 5h5c and then, when Mike Eise raises to 200 out of the small blind, I call with set odds and position.

The flop comes 865, all red. OK. Bottom set. Am I prepared to go broke on this hand ? Yes is the answer. Mike Eise leads for a slightly more than the pot: 600 is the bet.

I have 3,625 left at this point and the pot is currently 1,100 before my action. I can’t be too worried about the flush or straight draw, as such, but I think the key is that I may represent a draw myself and I don't want scare cards to kill the action. I am only thinking about how best to get all the money in.

I opt for the raise to 1,600 leaving 2,025 behind. Mike Eise sets me in and I SNAP, obviously.

He has black Queens and misses his two outs. Boom #1. With nearly 8,000 chips after 30 minutes I am clearly making a good start.

A short while later, I am in the big blind when short-stacked Mike Eise limps from middle position. The tight small blind reluctantly puts in an extra 25. I look down at two black Aces. “With 250”. Mike shrugs and puts in his whole stack of 850, SB folds and I show him the bad news.

He needs help with pocket 8s and help comes in the shape of a flopped 8. Well, as far as having Aces cracked goes, I’ll take a loss of 850 chips. Mike ends up surviving a few more hours although he will eventually fall in level 4.

Still in Level 1, it is folded to me with Queens on the button. I make it 200 and now soon-to-be-international player Adam makes it 650. I have him about 2-1 covered. I make my plan. He may have Aces or Kings, of course, but I decide I will pay him off on a low flop as I cannot be eliminated. I call planning to probably fold to overcards.

The flop brings T96cc. Adam leads for 1,000. He has just over 2,000 left. I set him in. When he doesn’t instant-call I know where we’re at. But, with a resigned look he makes the call with Jacks. Ace and Queen complete the board and we lose our first player.

I have over 10,000 after 45 minutes. Now this is what I’m talking about !