In part 1 we saw how I leapt to over 10,000 chips in early play. I had to give up on the turn to “moustache” with top pair, top kicker on a Jack high board, but out of position to a raise on the flop and a bet on the turn, I think I am beaten. Next ... I have exactly 9,000 as we start Level 2.
Level 2 50/100. 9,000 chips. 2,500 players estimated.
Now, lest you think that the real H-bomb has been lost in translation, and should you be allowing yourself to think that I only play Aces, Queens and sets, consider this play at 50/100:
Nike makes it 225 from early position. Now, I don’t think that near-minimum raises are the way to play level 2. I have the button and the perfect re-raising hand: 8c3s. I make it 800. Degenerate Gambler, as he is wont to do, calls from the blinds. Nike sees the game is up and passes.
The flop is pretty good for black 83o: 9d5d4d. DG checks and I fire out 1,100 to take it down.
I think we can agree this is so standard that even Louise would play it like this ?
I pick up Aces for the second time and face the same 225 from Nike. This time, however, I am in the Small Blind. Nike has about the same chips as me: 11k or so. I have no interest in letting him see a cheap flop. If he has a big hand, let’s get it in now or play a 3 or 4 bet pot. I make it 1,225 and he passes.
Level 3 75/150. 11,000 chips. 2,100 players estimated.
Interesting hand: California bets 350 from under-the-gun. He has started to raise more hands preflop but is not making strong action post-flop. I have pocket Tens in early middle position and decide to flat call with so many players behind. California is not that deep: he has about 3,000. Obviously I can “afford” to double him up if need be but I am necessarily keen to jam in so many chips immediately.
The flop is 964 rainbow. Now, I guess for the most part I am now way ahead or way behind ? If he started with Jacks or better I am still losing and drawing to 2 outs. I am also now losing to 9s. Obviously if he has AK, AQ then he’s way behind now.
A lot of people will say I should just bet this flop but I am thinking that if I am ahead then he has only 6 outs and that if he check-raises me then I probably cannot get away even though I know I am losing. I check behind.
Turn is another 6 and presumably helps no one. He bets 500 into 850. I call for the same reasons as the flop.
The river is another 6 and he bets another 500 with perhaps 1,800 behind.
Now, I just call and he shows 44 ! So, as it turns out, I rivered him to counterfeit his flopped set/turned house. If I had bet the flop then we get it in and I runner-runner him. I probably should raise the river on the basis that JJ – AA bet harder on flop and turn. I am not worried about him having a 6 obviously. On the actual hand he may find a pass if I raise as he now is losing to 55+ and any 6 or 9. But, he may have sighed and paid me off at least a min raise ?
Level 4 100/200. 15,000 chips. 1,800 players estimated.
I find pocket 7s when it is folded to me in the cut-off. Degenerate gambler is quite short now, and I limp hoping to snap his shove from the SB. However, another LatAm player who has come into Adam’s seat makes it just 500 (?). LatAm2 has just taken out Mike Eise with slow-played Kings.
DG passes but moustache makes a contemplated call. I assume this puts him a small pair or two high cards or other kinds of pretty starting combos. OK, plan A did not work but I do not give either of the active players a big hand so I make it 1,800 to go. LatAm passes and now moustache apparently has a decision. “Call, you may hit your set” I say. He calls.
Flop: 765 all red. Gin. Unfortunately he doesn’t look like he hit it. Still, I don’t want to give him a free card and more to the point, if a free card could hurt me then he may be prepared to pay to see a card. I bet 2,000 (in hindsight I think I might try less). He passes quickly so I guess he had black JT or something like that. Why couldn’t he have hit a set of 6s !
Oh well. Our table finally breaks. As I take my new seat I try to remember all those times I went broke after a table move and hope I can avoid doing this again.
Andy and “I Pity The Fool, Sucka” join me on the rail and get to see me misplay AQ: I pick up this hand on the small blind and face two early/mid limpers. Well, people shouldn’t limp and I want to raise them off their hands. I don’t want to play a flop o.o.p with this hand so I decide on a big raise to 1,200 which gets rid of the first player easily but the second player (who covers me by about 3/2) calls fairly quickly.
Flop is 345hh. I have overcards, a gutshot and a backdoor queen-flush. Not great. I could check and see what happens but checking is not my thing. I fire 2,000 and face a small raise to 4,600.
Hmm. Andy reckons this bet asks “do you really have Aces” and thinks a reraise may take it down here. I agree that the pot may be for sale and my gut says the guy is using position to steal the pot BUT he could have flopped big and I do not want to go broke with AQ in the small blind.
In hindsight, a smaller pre-flop raise was probably the move but I decide to fight another battle having thrown away 3,100 chips.
Level 5. 100/200/25 13,000 chips. 1,650 players left
Not much to report
Level 6. 150/300/25 15,000 chips. 1,100 players left
Under-the gun I make it 700 with AT. UTG+1 insta-calls. The Small blind calls. Flop is KJx rainbow. I can maybe fire at this but opt to check my gutshot ace-high. Checked to the Qc turn.
Nuts ! I bet 1,600 called by the UTG+1 and the SB folds with some apparent reluctance.
No club please ... the river is another King. OK .... so a set housed up. Quite obviously he did not have a set on the turn. It is possible that he has KQ or KJ and I may be going home here. I hope he has a hand he can call with... I bet 4,000. He calls .. with AT ! Oh well. Would I fold if he jams the river he asks. We will never know, but I think not.
The SB says he folded T9 for the low straight but actually speaking to him later when he cashed in 243rd I think that was a lie.
Ed Roger walks by. I say “walks” but actually he steamed by – just knocked out by a 3-outer with the money going in on the turn. Sick. I feel lucky to be the last gutshotter still standing especially since the ones who have hit the rail are all better players than me by a distance.
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