As we come towards the end of Level 6, here is another interesting hand. Under the gun makes it 700 to play (150/300/25) still. I decide to see a flop (hopefully) with QT-suited. We do see a flop heads-up.
In fact, the UTG player thought everyone had folded and went to muck his cards. I make sure to tell him to take them back. Some of the other players seemed to think I could force him to muck and claim the pot. I do not know if this would have been a correct ruling, but in any case I have zero interest in doing that. It is just wrong, imo, $4 Million prizepool or not.
So, we see a flop AQ2r. He checks and I think my Queen is probably good – I bet 1,300, which is called. The turn is another Queen ! It puts 2 clubs on board but I suppose it is unlikely he has a flush draw (which is a shame). It is very unlikely I am not ahead now. He checks and I bet 3,300 which in hidsight was too much when, really, I have the nuts and he may have 2 outs. He folds. Missed opportunity to get more out of him ?
Level 7. 200/400/25. 19,825 chips. 921 players left
I am moved to “Blue 50” and announce my presence by shoving from the button with 98o. The short-stacked SB calls me with ATo and wins. The BB was even shorter, hence my shove. I also lose a little when a 2BB stack pushes into my BB. I call without looking obviously and am not in great shape with J6.
Level 8. 300/600/75. 15,300 chips. 760 players left.
My stack is only as high now as six hours ago and therefore I am starting to have a stack that allows few moves. I also fall below average chips for the first time since I hit the set of 5s vs Mike Eise.
I fall to 13,375 at the low but a couple of shoves and re-shoves with AQ, AK advance me to 24,900 at the end of this break, when we colour up the 25-chips. I am the player who buys up the chips and I stay for the whole colour up. Now that I have a fair amount of tournament experience, I do like to be the one doing this – partly just doing my bit, partly so I can be 100% they don’t mess it up. Last year in the Mega-sat I nearly lost 5k chips during a colour up.
Level 9. 400/800/100. 22,900 chips. 583 players left.
Strangely, when I get back from the break, my 24,900 stack has become 22,900. This is confusing. I have to assume I miscounted before the break.
Key hand #2. Here comes the H-bomb .. this is it. Here is the swing hand of the whole tournament, effectively.
A good player opens for 2,100 in UTG+1. He is opening quite a few pots; not a ridiculous amount, but he will be opening a wider range than just super-premium, because he should. The next player thinks and calls. He presumably has some hand. It is folded to me on the button and here is a big decision.
The call is almost exactly 10% of my stack which is the outer limit of what I call with a speculative holding. On the other hand, I am getting 3:1 and probably close the action here as the blinds are very tight. I will have position. I have 9s8s – a pretty hand with which to possibly win a huge pot.
I call. Pot is 3x2,100+9x100+400+800=8,400.
The flop falls Js6s5c. The preflop raiser leads out for 4,000, just less than half the pot. I guess he will continue on a lot of flops. The other caller dwells. I imagine he maybe had something like pocket 7s. Whilst he is dwelling I get a chance to consider what I will do.
I guess my options will be:
Fold – I have 9high
Call – I have a gutshot straight draw, a 9high flush draw and two live cards.
Raise – the pot will contain 16,200 after my call and I will have 16,900 left so my all-in raise would be a pot sized raise. So, if I raise it has to be all-in really.
I am never flat calling here. And, let’s face it, I did not come here to call with 98-suited and fold on this flop. I only have to decide how long to appear to dwell once the other player folds.
I manage to wait about 5 seconds before announcing the all-in. The other player immediately calls. I must admit I thought he might shows a set of Jacks.
In fact, he has Queens. I am near to 50/50. I am 100% comfortable with the move. He will lay down some hands that are beating me (pocket 9s. Ace-Queen etc) and when he calls I have at least 42%.
Turn ... Jc. River .. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM Ks. I am on 50k !! Now I can seriously think of making day 2 and the money. I am ecstatic. The fella with Queens is not happy. He has me well covered (and went on to cash easily), but he has been well and truly H-bombed.
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