Summer Poker Series 2011 – WSOP Event #20

Save for Later

If the Saturday 1.5k starting table was a dream, the 1k starting table was a nightmare.  Actually, my official starting table lasted about 5 hands and then I was moved to a tough table.

At the official starting table I was able to turn my 3k starting to 3.8k super easily.  I flatted QJ from the sb against a raise and 4 limpers and got value on 3 streets from TP when i flopped 2 pair.  Of course we were at 25/25 so i wasn't able to stack the guy because he just called 3 times, but I was able to add a nice chunk right off the bat.

Then, I got moved.  As I walk over, I recognize 4 of the faces.  One of them was Believer82, a very successful online player.  And everyone else is young and wearing hoodies or listening to iPods.  WPT Hard Rock winner Taylor von Kriegenbergh also made an appearnce an hour late and busted very quickly.

As I sat down I said, "I liked my old table better" and one of the guys I recognized (but couldn't place a name) said "oh really?"  I felt like I made a mistake there because I think i gave away too much information about being aware of the online scene.

I was still able to chip up.  I know it's a small sample but I'm having such ease chipping up early.  I don't know if everyone is super excited to play, and just overplays but I can't believe how often you get paid off, even against good players.  It's as if everyone is trying to win the tournament now and can't let a hand go.  Position makes everything so much easier as well.  Maybe it's just getting a better sense of what people are doing because of the physical cues.  I don't know.

I was able to run up to about 6k by first break, and then 7.5k at 75/150.  I wish i had a great story to tell here but I don't.  A new player came to the table with a big stack and slowplayed AQ on an A high flop and got value from me on turn and river with my TT knocking me down to about 5.8k, and then after a few orbits of nothing I played back at one of the more aggressive players at the table with negative results.

The hand before I had opened the button and gotten raised by the SB, who was the only tight guy at the table with a <20bb stack.  I folded 66 and the very next hand I got ATs in the CO and this super aggro guy in the BB 3 bets me.  It's the 2nd time in a row I am three bet there and I had folded to a three bet last orbit as well.  I had 4.8k to start the hand, and I think it's a good spot to put in a 3 bet as his range is wide given how I'm getting pushed around a little, my opening range is still wide given my image and I have an A blocker.  I think he folds enough there to make a jam good, and he did tank but eventually called with AQ.  It held to bust me.

Live play can be so grueling.  I only had 2 shots at WSOP gold on this leg of the trip and they were over just like that.  Next up was the Venetian 1.5k though.