HuckNall chops for 2^nd in Stake-A-Shark Tournie at DTD

After a sumptuous meal of salmon fishcakes and chips, (I’m learning to eat cheap meals after being made redundant!) I tell my wife that I’m off to get some milk – won’t be long. I head along the A610 to the Nottingham ring road and DTD. I had forgotten to tell ‘her indoors’ that I have qualified online for the prestigious Stake-A-Shark sponsored tournament, part of the eagerly awaited EMS forum weekend of fun.

On arrival, most of the usual suspects have already arrived and after a last fag I find my tournament seat. Lo and behold I’m parked next to the buoyant Stanters as usual, (Spurs have turned the corner!) - not a good start!

Just the second hand in I pick up 88 in the SB and call a raise and another call. The flop comes a juicy K 8 2 which I obviously check and following a half size pot bet, a fold, I coolly call. Another blank card is followed by another good bet which I just call again. The river looks innocuous so I check raise all in, wondering if I am gonna be the first one out, only to face a fold. Still my stack is up 65% after just two hands and I sit back smugly.

Over the next two hours I collect KK and QQ twice only to face an A on the flop and in all three hands I know I am beaten and fold – back to starting chips, but hey, I’m still in!

Around 1145 I find myself with below average stack of about 7,000 and on the same table as Chris Bayliss. He has three bad beats in ten minutes and retires to ‘the rail’ only to be replaced by Bas. Unusually for him, he is not having a good time and after a few hands I am in the BB chatting to an adjacent player when I hear Bas go all in. I pick up my cards to be welcomed by the monster KK and poor Bas disappears after producing 22 and no help on the board. Sorry Bas!!!

Past midnight now and call from my wife asking where the fxxxxxg milk is! I explain that I am at the news agents awaiting the early papers.

Down to 25 players now and cashing looks a distinct possibility as I have an average stack for a change! No real dramas until my table collapses when we reduce to the last 18 and I am moved to seat 9 with Dean on seat 1!

A few battles between us but honours are even after an hour. EMS’ers left in now were Dean, Chris Spinks, TallGuy, Camking, myself and one other who escapes me (I’m still knackered, sorry!). We are soon down to the bubble which seems to go on for an eternity and I pick up 88 again. I decide to shove UTG and get called by the BB who is the big stack. He has 85s and I am very, very happy with this and after a nice board double through to above average stack. Shortly after TallGuy unfortunately makes a departure and we are down to the final table where I am joined by both Camking and Dean.

I am placed immediately behind the big stack who has about a third on the chips in play. I am fortunate to get 2 shoving hands following a raise by him to which he reluctantly folds on both occasions. Shortly after he raises again and I pick up AA. I think about it and figure he’s got to call another shove but after dwelling in the tank he again folds. By this time, Camking has bowed out and we are down to 5 with Dean still battling well with a good stack about the same as mine.

The blinds are now 3000/1500 with antes of 300 and after a fold round to the big stack in SB, he shoves and I look down at J8 suited, and after a brief dwell I put him on crap and call. He has 83 off and after negotiating a friendly board, I double through to around 3^rd biggest stack. Dean shoves a couple of raises by myself which I decide to put down and I start getting a bit worried. I’m now a short stack so I start pushing.

A fold round to me and I look at T2 off and think that if it is good enough for Doyle Brunson I’ll give it a go and shove. I am insta called by KJ and a pretty board comes down with a couple of deuces and I’m back in the hunt. Dean gets himself involved in battle with the original big stack and they lock horns leaving leaving Dean bloodied with just dust. He shoves and regretfully makes his way to the bar. Shortly after we are down to three and I am happy that I will depart with a 4 figure reward come what may and, after all, as I had qualified in the EMS qualifier, it had only cost a fiver – so a good days work!

Its 3am and we do battle for another 20-30 minutes and the stacks become pretty even. I am thinking about my wife awaiting her milk for her cuppa so I agree to a chop which finds me in 2^nd again with £1719 and entry to a £100 buy-in event!

All in all, another good night and I must thank all those who stayed to the bitter end offering their usual encouragement and another good performance by DTD.

I finally arrive home at around 3.50am and I wake the wife up to request some refreshments and find a bottle of milk disappearing up my backside!

50k Guaranteed, 100 $ + 9$ buy in, 577 runners,  5k starting stack and 15min blinds.

After seeing fellow EMS players play in the Cake 50k G over the last few Sundays I decided to give this well structured tourney a shot. Feedback from some of the palyers was that the tourney was full of open play and loose aggressive moves in the opening period of the games and having always been the type of player who seems to do ok at the start f games I had decided on a strategy where by I would look to control pot sizes etc early in the game by betting draws and small balling tptk type hands.

Feeling good about my game in general recently I started the game in that vein with bet and made flushes for reasonable pots.
7thsenseless: shows [ Jc Ac ] (Flush, Ace high)
abou***: mucks
7thsenseless wins 2,880 with Flush, Ace high
abou***: mucks [ 2h, Ks ] (TwoPair)

7thsenseless: shows [ 9h Qh ] (Flush, Ace high)
abou***: mucks
7thsenseless wins 2,100 with Flush, Ace high
abou***: mucks [ 8d, Jh ] (Pair)

Following these earlier plays I settled in with the intention of tightening right up and aiming to create a nice tight image at the table raising only once in the next 30 hands with KK and JJ and taking pot down after the flop.  I thought that a tight image may pay later on when the antes kicked in if I got deeper in the game.

Then came a poorly played hand pre flop and a disciplined lay down.

I enter the pot in ep with ak suited with a limp (expecting a raise ).. so when no raise come I am happy to play the pot passively I tell myself.  A rainbow Ace high board looks safe enough to bet and clear some players out and I get two callers.  The board pairs and I feel with draws and weak aces possible ill take one more shot at it .. one call.. I check the none diamond river expecting a weak bet or check but I receive a large bet on the river .. Annoyed at myself I reluctantly fold to an 8 or a busted flush draw … u decide…??

Hand #1665323928001488: Tournament Table 27
Seat 1: Good*** (5574.00 in chips)
Seat 2: Atem*** (4465.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Chur*** (4880.00 in chips)
Seat 4: supe*** (6846.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (7715.00 in chips)
Seat 6: abou*** (4228.00 in chips)
Seat 7: PADR*** (4810.00 in chips)
Seat 8: pynn*** (6445.00 in chips)
Seat 9: SNIP*** (5325.00 in chips)
Seat 10: WHAT*** (4915.00 in chips)
WHAT***: posts small blind 25
Good***: posts big blind 50
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Ks As  ]
Atem***: folds
Chur***: folds
supe***: folds
7thsenseless: calls
abou***: calls
PADR***: folds
pynn***: folds
SNIP***: calls
WHAT***: calls
Good***: checks
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Ad 8d 5c  ]
WHAT***: checks
Good***: checks
7thsenseless: bets 250
abou***: calls
SNIP***: calls
WHAT***: folds
Good***: calls
# # # TURN # # # [ 8s ]
Good***: checks
7thsenseless: checks
abou***: checks
SNIP***: bets 625
Good***: folds
7thsenseless: calls
abou***: folds
&&& RIVER &&& [ Ts ]
7thsenseless: checks
SNIP***: bets 2,500
7thsenseless: folds
7thsenseless: mucks
SNIP***: returns uncalled bet 2,500
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SNIP***: mucks
SNIP*** wins 2,500

The rest of hour one was spent playing TAG playing only the AJ + pps.  I had some playable hands but all in ep when I had established a good tight image only showing down with strong hands.  I  lost one pot other pot other than the AK fold that I VPIP when I had AJ and lost to a turned Q on a 9J3 board…. even this hand I felt like I lost the minimum and was happy enough with the play keeping my moral high… this hand plus a few set mining attempts saw me dwindle for 8k - 6.5k at break 1.

183rd/422/580

30 minutes into the second period.  I’m was at 5.5k when hand 93 brought my 1st all in moment in the game.

Hand #1665323928004132: Tournament Table 27
Seat 1: scra*** (4481.00 in chips)
Seat 2: Atem*** (4665.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Chur*** (12960.00 in chips)
Seat 4: supe*** (13186.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (5540.00 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodn*** (8937.00 in chips)
Seat 7: PADR*** (4360.00 in chips)
Seat 8: pynn*** (9248.00 in chips)
Seat 9: SNIP*** (10299.00 in chips)
Seat 10: GetI*** (9117.00 in chips)
supe***: posts small blind 200
7thsenseless: posts big blind 400
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Qc Jd  ]
Rodn***: folds
PADR***: folds
pynn***: folds
SNIP***: folds
GetI***: folds
scra***: folds
Atem***: folds
Chur***: folds
supe***: calls
7thsenseless: checks
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Qd Qs 6s  ]
supe***: bets 800
7thsenseless: calls
# # # TURN # # # [ 4s ]
supe***: bets 1,200
7thsenseless: is all in 4340.0000
supe***: calls
supe***: shows 4h 6d
7thsenseless: shows Qc Jd
&&& RIVER &&& [ 4c ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless wins 11,080 with Full House, Queens  full of Fours

12.5k  in chips I go card dead for the rest of hour two and mange to maintain my stack with a few raise and takes.  Scouting for any re-steal opportunities and watching players actions and showdowns carefully.

Break 2    12.5 k             101/161/580

chippie was 65k        Average stack was 16 k (ish)

Playing well for the next 50 hands but with no action I build up to 20k but with the top 90 paid this was action time for some and alas I found my pre flop raises where targeted by good players when I was in late position and felt forced to tighten up completely  as I suffered another burst of poor hole cards.  After a huge struggle to do anything I squeezed into the money with just 5 big blinds left!!!

Now looking at the money jumps, I noticed that from 90- 30th the cash jumps were petty as always and as such the play dramatically loosened up as it always seems to for a short period.  Then come three important hands in quick succession….the 1st being a quick double up shoving A rag into a BB when folded round to me SB  he calls with 78 and I’m on 15k.  A massive 10bb !! heheheh

The second was so funny and occurred just before break 3. So much so I spent the break period in stitches over it. Hand 233

Hand #1665323928006397: Tournament Table 27
Seat 1: scam*** (107589.00 in chips)
Seat 2: bear*** (71322.00 in chips)
Seat 3: GIVE*** (19878.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (15330.00 in chips)
Seat 6: Minu*** (54591.00 in chips)
Seat 7: tedl*** (51736.00 in chips)
Seat 8: Th3W*** (13782.00 in chips)
Seat 9: Clai*** (40917.00 in chips)
Seat 10: GOOD*** (37104.00 in chips)
scam8 posts ante of 150
bear2 posts ante of 150
GIVENuNUTHIN posts ante of 150
7thsenseless posts ante of 150
Minus2TheEV! posts ante of 150
tedlogan19 posts ante of 150
Th3Washer posts ante of 150
ClaireBennet posts ante of 150
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 150
GOOD***: posts small blind 800
scam***: posts big blind 1,600
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Qs Ac  ]
bear***: raises to 3,475
GIVE***: folds
7thsenseless: calls
Minu***: calls
tedl***: folds
Th3W***: folds
Clai***: folds
GOOD***: calls
scam***: folds
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 2c Ks Kc  ]
GOOD***: checks
bear***: checks
7thsenseless: checks
Minu***: checks
# # # TURN # # # [ Qd ]
GOOD***: checks
bear***: checks
7thsenseless: checks
Minu***: checks
&&& RIVER &&& [ 9s ]
GOOD***: checks
bear***: bets 8,425
7thsenseless: is all in 11705.0000
Minu***: folds
GOOD***: folds
bear***: folds
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 3,280
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless: mucks
7thsenseless wins 33,700

I might add I took a fair amount of time to push in my chips thinking through the hand as played I couldn’t picture his hand holding a king.  So I breath in and push…..he auto folds !!!!!!!!!!  I mean come on !!!!  He also told the table he had AQ and misclicked.  Even funnier imo J

Break 3 I’m 36k and with blinds at 2k I feel in the green zone.  On returning I choose to tighten up for a while taking small pots down and moving to 45k.  A card dead period sees me float back down to 37k before finally getting a premium hand and some action.

Hand 255

Hand #1665323928006604: Tournament Table 27
Seat 2: Tony*** (16628.00 in chips)
Seat 3: bIyk*** (45845.00 in chips)
Seat 4: TheQ*** (38904.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (38535.00 in chips)
Seat 6: darr*** (89656.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (201564.00 in chips)
Seat 8: TheD*** (50754.00 in chips)
Seat 9: mend*** (95321.00 in chips)
Seat 10: Saig*** (72143.00 in chips)
TonyaFarting posts ante of 300
bIykO posts ante of 300
TheQueenB posts ante of 300
7thsenseless posts ante of 300
darrel999 posts ante of 300
Veryking posts ante of 300
TheDrDill posts ante of 300
mendle8 posts ante of 300
Saigak posts ante of 300
mend***: posts small blind 1,500
Saig***: posts big blind 3,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ As Ac  ]
Tony***: folds
bIyk***: folds
TheQ***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 6,600
darr***: folds
Very***: raises to 24,000
TheD***: folds
mend***: folds
Saig***: folds
7thsenseless: is all in 31635.0000
Very***: calls
7thsenseless: shows As Ac
Very***: shows Kh Ad
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 9c 6c Qd  ]
# # # TURN # # # [ 4h ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ Jc ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless wins 83,670 with Pair of Aces

Now id like to tell you I maintained and moved forward but I didn’t.  I loosened up and raised pots in late position again getting called or raised off pots over the next 40 hands or so running down to 36k again.  We had been at this table together for over an hour and a half so we knew each other very well something I was hoping to get some advantage of later if I could only build my stack.  With the blinds now at 5k and 12.5k in the pot to take down pre flop  the larger stacks started to take control.

Hand 280
I wake up with Ak and with a raise infront I shove pre flop looking for a double through.  Happy days I’m called by 99 and hit my ace to double through to 86k.  QQ quickly follows with apre flop bet and fold by villain I’m close to 100k for the first time and 12th place with 24 remaining

Hand 313 and 314

Now as I said we’d been on the same table for along time now and atleast 5 of the players had stayed with me.  The quilty of play was good and I thought I might find some opportunities to resteal.  A raise is shoved on by my self from the sb.  Expecting a fold from this aggressive pre flop player I get called by 99 and thankfully make a hand to double through to 180k.  The following hand ive put up to show you just how frustrated I was getting with the 2 players behind me (who I might add finished 1st and 2nd above me !!).  Ive I raised light I got killed of these two players especially very*** hence my out of character play from the button with the big hand.  I had plans for this guy but knew id have to bide my time.

Hand #1665323928006802: Tournament Table 27
Seat 2: Adan*** (144847.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Oxid*** (296223.00 in chips)
Seat 4: TheQ*** (54143.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (85440.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (225316.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (443281.00 in chips)
Seat 8: TheD*** (235196.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (520530.00 in chips)
Adanthar posts ante of 600
Oxide posts ante of 600
TheQueenB posts ante of 600
7thsenseless posts ante of 600
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 600
Veryking posts ante of 600
TheDrDill posts ante of 600
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 600
7thsenseless: posts small blind 3,000
GOOD***: posts big blind 6,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Tc Ac  ]
Very***: folds
TheD***: raises to 15,999
$BER***: folds
Adan***: folds
Oxid***: folds
TheQ***: folds
7thsenseless: is all in 81840.0000
GOOD***: folds
TheD***: calls
7thsenseless: shows Tc Ac
TheD***: shows 9d 9c
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 5d Kd 6h  ]
# # # TURN # # # [ Jd ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ Th ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless wins 180,480 with Pair of Tens

Hand #1665323928006804: Tournament Table 27
Seat 2: Adan*** (144247.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Oxid*** (295623.00 in chips)
Seat 4: TheQ*** (53543.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (180480.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (218716.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (442681.00 in chips)
Seat 8: TheD*** (149756.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (519930.00 in chips)
Adanthar posts ante of 600
Oxide posts ante of 600
TheQueenB posts ante of 600
7thsenseless posts ante of 600
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 600
Veryking posts ante of 600
TheDrDill posts ante of 600
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 600
GOOD***: posts small blind 3,000
Very***: posts big blind 6,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Ah Kh  ]
TheD***: folds
$BER***: folds
Adan***: folds
Oxid***: folds
TheQ***: folds
7thsenseless: is all in 179880.0000
GOOD***: folds
Very***: folds
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 173,880
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless: mucks
7thsenseless wins 19,800

Top 16 .. Another dead period sees me having to scrap to maintain a stack so aggressive play the key I set about raising and cbetting.I’m in 9th place and feel I can play my way to the final table with the inevitable tightening of play around the FT bubble I looked to take advantage but to no avail.  I have to tighten up and wait ofr ahand worthy of shoving.  I might add that I folded 77 88 during this phase in the game something I was very happy about especially in one hand where 2 players went in with 99 and AK when I folded 88.  Mid-pairs are a problem for me as I seemed to overplay them for my tourney life so often so I was really happy to avoid that trap.

The final table arrives and I’m in small stack shape with just 10bbs lying inth place from the 10.  I stay focused and watch a few players drop to 6 handed.

Hand 351

Hand #1665323928006847: Tournament Table 27
Seat 2: Adan*** (209647.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Oxid*** (350223.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (140480.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (315832.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (402281.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (345014.00 in chips)
Adanthar posts ante of 800
Oxide posts ante of 800
7thsenseless posts ante of 800
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 800
Veryking posts ante of 800
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 800
GOOD***: posts small blind 4,000
Very***: posts big blind 8,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Ac 3c  ]
$BER***: folds
Adan***: folds
Oxid***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 22,800
GOOD***: folds
Very***: calls
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Tc Th 9c  ]
Very***: checks
7thsenseless: is all in 116880.0000
Very***: folds
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 116,880
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless: mucks
7thsenseless wins 54,400

But again I am quickly jumped on by the two players behind me .. man they played well.

Hand #1665323928006863: Tournament Table 27
Seat 2: Adan*** (187247.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Oxid*** (352623.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (153680.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (284732.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (355081.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (430114.00 in chips)
Adanthar posts ante of 800
Oxide posts ante of 800
7thsenseless posts ante of 800
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 800
Veryking posts ante of 800
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 800
$BER***: posts small blind 4,000
Adan***: posts big blind 8,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ 8h Ah  ]
Oxid***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 24,400
GOOD***: folds
Very***: raises to 60,000
$BER***: folds
Adan***: folds
7thsenseless: folds
7thsenseless: mucks
Very***: returns uncalled bet 35,600
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Very***: mucks
Very*** wins 65,600

So here I am again with 10bbs nd looking for a spot to shove with.  When along comes a pair of ducks and as the  Berth*** had been raising light and regular again I took the chance to shove into him knowing I would be called down.  He showed a 7 of from e.p !! and my itti bitty two’s held up!!! Woo hooo

Hand #1665323928006879: Tournament Table 27
Seat 2: Adan*** (206647.00 in chips)
Seat 3: Oxid*** (373623.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (110680.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (266132.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (432081.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (374314.00 in chips)
Adanthar posts ante of 1,000
Oxide posts ante of 1,000
7thsenseless posts ante of 1,000
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 1,000
Veryking posts ante of 1,000
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 1,000
Oxid***: posts small blind 5,000
7thsenseless: posts big blind 10,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ 2d 2c  ]
GOOD***: folds
Very***: folds
$BER***: raises to 30,000
Adan***: folds
Oxid***: folds
7thsenseless: is all in 99680.0000
$BER***: calls
7thsenseless: shows 2d 2c
$BER***: shows Ad 7h
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Th 8d Qd  ]
# # # TURN # # # [ 3h ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ 4s ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless wins 230,360 with Pair of Deuces

So here I am 6 handed and in 6th place.  When I wake up with 99.  But with a raise fromj the UTG very*** and a call from the loose re flop play of the other villain my aim when shoving was to take it down pre flop.  However I got a nice surprise when I am called by the other villain who shows 88 happy days I’m in with a shot of this now I think to myself.

Hand 399

Hand #1666323928000039: Tournament Table 27
Seat 4: Minu*** (490725.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (230560.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (825379.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (626029.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (348484.00 in chips)
Seat 10: WAQA*** (378823.00 in chips)
Minus2TheEV! posts ante of 1,500
7thsenseless posts ante of 1,500
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 1,500
Veryking posts ante of 1,500
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 1,500
WAQAW posts ante of 1,500
7thsenseless: posts small blind 8,000
GOOD***: posts big blind 16,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ 9d 9h  ]
Very***: raises to 40,000
$BER***: calls
WAQA***: folds
Minu***: calls
7thsenseless: is all in 221060.0000
GOOD***: folds
Very***: folds
$BER***: folds
Minu***: calls
Minu***: shows 8d 8h
7thsenseless: shows 9d 9h
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Kc 7h 5s  ]
# # # TURN # # # [ Kd ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ Kh ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless wins 563,120 with Full House, Kings  full of Nines

LOL  straight away I’m in trying to get some pre flop respect but very slaps me back down to size .. Hehehe I was loving this battle but losing it for sure so far..

Hand 400

Hand #1666323928000040: Tournament Table 27
Seat 4: Minu*** (260165.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (563120.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (807879.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (584529.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (306984.00 in chips)
Seat 10: WAQA*** (377323.00 in chips)
Minus2TheEV! posts ante of 1,500
7thsenseless posts ante of 1,500
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 1,500
Veryking posts ante of 1,500
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 1,500
WAQAW posts ante of 1,500
GOOD***: posts small blind 8,000
Very***: posts big blind 16,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ 4s Ah  ]
$BER***: folds
WAQA***: folds
Minu***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 45,000
GOOD***: folds
Very***: raises to 100,000
7thsenseless: folds
7thsenseless: mucks
Very***: returns uncalled bet 55,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Very***: mucks
Very*** wins 107,000

I know this is a spot to try and make plays given my tight image so I look for a re-steal as TG and Desp 2 of my railing friends on ems (who I should thank for supporting me), had been pointing out the plays being made by our friends very*** and Good***  were to steal my blinds.. Also I had a guy to my immeadite right who thought he could open shove every time on my BB without any worries!!! Now was the time to act.

Hand #1666323928000050: Tournament Table 27
Seat 4: Minu*** (261665.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (463120.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (1169702.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (637029.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (368484.00 in chips)
Minus2TheEV! posts ante of 1,500
7thsenseless posts ante of 1,500
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 1,500
Veryking posts ante of 1,500
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 1,500
7thsenseless: posts small blind 8,000
GOOD***: posts big blind 16,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Tc 2h  ]
Very***: folds
$BER***: folds
Minu***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 45,500
GOOD***: calls
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 7d 7s 7h  ]
7thsenseless: checks
GOOD***: checks
# # # TURN # # # [ As ]
7thsenseless: checks
GOOD***: checks
&&& RIVER &&& [ 5d ]
7thsenseless: bets 49,250
GOOD***: folds
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 49,250
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless: mucks
7thsenseless wins 98,500

I started small……. Then a little bit bigger……

Hand #1666323928000060: Tournament Table 27
Seat 4: Minu*** (303165.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (540120.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (1057202.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (743529.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (255984.00 in chips)
Minus2TheEV! posts ante of 2,000
7thsenseless posts ante of 2,000
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 2,000
Veryking posts ante of 2,000
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 2,000
7thsenseless: posts small blind 10,000
GOOD***: posts big blind 20,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ 2s Kd  ]
Very***: raises to 50,000
$BER***: folds
Minu***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 160,000
GOOD***: folds
Very***: folds
Very***: shows Ad Tc
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 110,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless: mucks
7thsenseless wins 130,000

Please take note of the fact that this guy choose to show me that he folded A 10… now this meantto me I had some respect at long last and raised my moral no end at the time.

30-40 hands lfy by with the same flow peeking back into the game and my now leel on chips villain to my right in the sb kept shoving and shoving my BB … I mean 400k in chips open shove … EVERY SB ???.  I nearly called him down with k 5 at one point but was “encouraged” to fold by tg and desp !!!

Hand 454

I waited till I was ready and I know this hand may seem daft on the surface but I was 100% sure I was ahead here and took the plunge with no fear.

Hand #1666323928000094: Tournament Table 27
Seat 4: Minu*** (435260.00 in chips)
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (489620.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (1252152.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (534984.00 in chips)
Seat 9: $BER*** (187984.00 in chips)
Minus2TheEV! posts ante of 2,500
7thsenseless posts ante of 2,500
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 2,500
Veryking posts ante of 2,500
$BERTHIAUME$ posts ante of 2,500
Minu***: posts small blind 12,500
7thsenseless: posts big blind 25,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Qc Ks  ]
GOOD***: folds
Very***: folds
$BER***: folds
Minu***: is all in 420260.0000
7thsenseless: calls
Minu***: shows Kh 5c
7thsenseless: shows Qc Ks
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Ts 4s Qs  ]
# # # TURN # # # [ 5s ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ 2c ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless wins 878,020 with Flush, King high

4 handed and I’m in with a real shout I feel good about my place on the table and my knowledge about the players styles etc.  4th place goes and I’m top 3 and feel like I can win it.

15 hands later I make this play I feel like I really can go on and win this game.  I mean…. calling turn and river with ace high felt sooooooo good I can tell you and I am sure it put him in his place.  However he was to have the last laugh on me…

Hand #1666323928000108: Tournament Table 27
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (779880.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (1362152.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (757968.00 in chips)
7thsenseless posts ante of 2,500
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 2,500
Veryking posts ante of 2,500
Very***: posts small blind 12,500
7thsenseless: posts big blind 25,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Ac 7c  ]
GOOD***: folds
Very***: calls
7thsenseless: checks
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 2h 5h Js  ]
Very***: checks
7thsenseless: checks
# # # TURN # # # [ 9c ]
Very***: bets 25,000
7thsenseless: calls
&&& RIVER &&& [ 9d ]
Very***: bets 90,000
7thsenseless: calls
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Very***: shows [ Ts 4s ] (Pair of Nines  )
7thsenseless: shows [ Ac 7c ] (Pair of Nines  )
7thsenseless wins 287,500 with Pair of Nines with Ace  kicker

Play ebbs and flows ….
Hand #1666323928000114: Tournament Table 27
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (862380.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (1599652.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (437968.00 in chips)
7thsenseless posts ante of 2,500
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 2,500
Veryking posts ante of 2,500
Very***: posts small blind 12,500
7thsenseless: posts big blind 25,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ Ts Jh  ]
GOOD***: raises to 67,500
Very***: folds
7thsenseless: raises to 167,500
GOOD***: folds
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 100,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7thsenseless: mucks
7thsenseless wins 155,000

until I pick up 99 again with a button raise from our friend very***.  Now I wish I had taken time to think this through a little more and I suppose that most people will say I played them right… however I went over this hand with Mick hart last night and I now feel given the stack the guy has behind him in relation to mine the more prudent play would be to call the 80k and when seeing an ace flop go cold.  However 99 3 handed is strong and I felt I could shove and be in with the best of it.  If this holds I’m HU and in a commanding position to go on and win it was my thinking.. If I lose it I have a small stack left but could still come bck three handed…. I shove my stack.

He flips AQ like I assumed he would be….

Hand #1666323928000124: Tournament Table 53
Seat 5: 7thsenseless (797880.00 in chips)
Seat 6: GOOD*** (1619152.00 in chips)
Seat 7: Very*** (482968.00 in chips)
7thsenseless posts ante of 3,000
GOODGIRLBELL posts ante of 3,000
Veryking posts ante of 3,000
7thsenseless: posts small blind 15,000
GOOD***: posts big blind 30,000
Dealt to 7thsenseless [ 9c 9s  ]
Very***: raises to 80,000
7thsenseless: is all in 779880.0000
GOOD***: folds
Very***: is all in 399968.0000
7thsenseless: returns uncalled bet 314,912
7thsenseless: shows 9c 9s
Very***: shows As Qs
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Jh 7s Ac  ]
# # # TURN # # # [ 6d ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ Qh ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Very*** wins 998,936 with Two Pairs, Aces  and Queens

Gutted.

I last another 20 hands or so mixing it up with the players left but I can see they are being prudent as I should have been and waiting for me to double through or get knocked out before opening up.  My exit hand was another re-steal attempt that was called down but to my surprise I was I a race pre flop with A6 v 55.  with the river to come I need any heart and ace any six to win but it doesn’t drop my way and I leave the game with the best payout in my time so far.

To sum up I was really over the moon with my efforts and play and as I mentioned to the esm hierarchy this would not have been possible without the improvements I have made to my game over the last 12 months by reading, watching videos and chatting with fellow ems players about

Raising amounts when in ante games…  pre flop play with mid-pairs and re-stealing for kicks when you have my image at a table.

I cant thank you all enough for the support network at EAT MY STACK and fingers crossed this is the start of  a regular thing for me.

After a successful Saturday morning and afternoon playing cash games I decided to take a break and play a variety of SNG’s and MTT’s. One of the tournaments I decided to play was the $13.5k GTD Knock-Out on Full Tilt. The entry is $24+2 but I had a $26 token in my account so I was actually freerolling. Here’s what happened.

The tournament started poorly when I called off close to half my stack with top pair and folded the river. UTG raised, SB called and I called in the BB with AJo. The flop came A72r and I check/called a c-bet from UTG. I called another bet on 8s turn and folded to the all-in on the 4h river. To be honest I played this poorly and should have folded pre-flop, failing that I think the turn is an easy fold.

I managed to recover the chips at the next level thanks to a BB special. A couple of players limped from MP and I decided to be deceptive and just check my option with a premium 8c3c. The board came K66r (one club) and it got checked around. The turn was Jc and I bet 100 and one of the limpers min-raised. I called and on the 2c river shoved and got paid off by KdTd. Less than an orbit later I picked up another 1000 chips. I raised from MP with KJo and got called by the button and SB. On a board of J72(r)85 I got two streets of value out of the button who strangely folded to a half-pot all-in on the river.

Nothing happened for a couple of orbits and then a 9BB stack at 50/100 shoved from MP, I called with KK (stack ~2600) and got overcalled by the BB (6200 stack). On a QQ4r board the overcaller donk bet into me, I put the rest in and the cards were on their backs. The BB overcaller had 77 and the original raiser had A9 so I was in great shape. That is until the ace came on the river and shortie tripled through, and although I missed out on his bounty I still managed to add to my stack due to BB’s lol bad play.

No good situations came up for me and at the 100/200 level my stack was back down to 2.8k when I picked up QQ UTG. I decided to raise to 500 and got one call from MP. For once the flop wasn’t a rainbow, instead it was K6s3s. First to act I decided to check and call the MP’s all-in and his 55 failed to improve. Villain’s play seems to be standard with a medium pair in this tournament and it must have happened at least half a dozen times through the evening.

An hour passed without incident, my stack gradually being whittled away by the blinds and antes and just not being able to do anything. I managed to open shove AJo with 8BB from the hi-jack and got no callers, then a couple of minutes later I reshipped over a MP raise with AKo and held versus his AQo to put me up to an 18BB stack.

Before I could make use of my new stack it was all on the line again. Even though it’s 100% standard I felt at the time it was going to be the crucial point and I think it proved to be. At 300/600 9BB MP raised, I shoved from MP with QQ and got overcalled by the SB. In a higher buy-in tournament this isn’t necessarily a disaster but in a $24 I think you’re dead a lot of the time. This proved to be the case when the SB showed AA, the original raiser showed 44 and I was in bad shape. However a board of QJ878 gave me two bounties and a nice chip boost. Easy game.

With my new stack I made a decent call down in a BvB situation. Still at 300/600 I opened for 1.8k (22k stack) and got called by BB (19k stack). On another rainbow (no hearts) TT3 it got checked through. On the 9h I check/called a ½ pot bet and then check/called another ½ pot bet on the Th river and was good versus KQ. I think my play is fine because I don’t expect a random tournament player to bet the river with a pair and players do spaz out a lot on double-paired boards. FWIW his river bet is horrible as King-high has showdown value and isn’t going to be able to fold out better.

I continued to add to my chips with various strong hands. AK, AJ, TT, AA and JJ within a couple of orbits. I then got QQ, AK and then AK again. If you’re thinking to yourself “why doesn’t this happen to me” then I have to say I didn’t get much action with them so it wasn’t that amazing. Unlike later…

With about 150 of the 950 entrants left (90 paid) I went on a sick surge. In the space of six hands my stack size did a “Michael Martin” and went from 62k (12BB) to 300k (60BB). Firstly I called a button all-in from the SB and 66 > AJ. Two hands later I raised from CO and a shortie moved in, my KQo > 97o. Next hand I raise/call AKo and beat A8o. Very next hand I raise JJ, get called by the BB and on a T32r snap call his open shove and I hold versus 55. Straight afterwards I get all-in with another shortie and QQ > A2s. There’s no doubt I had a lot of luck in that orbit and the the table started commenting on how many hands I was getting and seemed rather scared of me.

Up to this point I had played a very solid game and been very patient despite being a bit short at some points. However a tournament wouldn’t be complete without a spew and after having that massive chip surge I managed to donk a 1/3rd of it away in one hand! A nit opened from EP with 16BB and I decided it was a good time to reshove ATo. I lost versus QQ and Bas ran up the stairs to berate me. He was of course totally right and I was annoyed with myself, when I do stuff like that I feel I don’t deserve the positive variance such as that ridiculous orbit of strong hands above.

But something I’m learning is not to let the past affect you and not to get attached to what was. Yes I made a mistake and could have still had a 300k stack but the situation was I had a 200k stack, well above average, and all I could do was concentrate on making the right decisions going forward. There’s no point dwelling or tilting over stuff that is in the past or is outside of your control.

So that’s what I did, I concentrated on what was happening in the now rather than dwelling on how much of a donk I am. And funnily enough it wasn’t long before I had all the chips back with interest thanks to KK and AA. Six-handed the SB shoved 13BB and I snap-called with the cowboys. He had been shoving the SB regularly so my calling range would have been a lot wider, in this instance he actually had 99 but it didn’t matter as my hand held.

A short while later we were down to the final table and I won a massive 505k pot with the bullets early on. Blinds were 4k/8k/1k and there was a MP raise to 20k (111k stack). In MP I decide just to flat (282k) and the button calls behind (433k). At this point I’m like “oh noes, it’s going to be multi-way and I’ve tarped myself” but thankfully the SB shoves his entire 225k stack into the middle. I obviously call and everyone else gets out the way and I hold versus TT. What made this especially sweet was villain was the guy in the AT < QQ hand so I quite literally did get my chips back.

It wasn’t until we were down to five handed that I won another big pot. Blinds 6k/12k/1.5k and a mediocre player (361k) raised to 36k second to act and I made the call in the BB with 98o. Flop Qh82h and I check/called a 36k bet. The turn was 8c and checked through and I then led for 88k on the 6s river and got called by KQ. I think it’s a pretty standard hand for all involved although perhaps I could have bet even larger on the river.

Four handed I won a couple of decent pots. I completed in the SB with 98s and on a board of A82K6 I check/called two bets and won versus Q6. Then I raised on the button with A5s and got min 3-bet so I obviously called. The board came 772 with two of my suit and I raised all-in over the top of his c-bet. I also lost a pot where I raised with AQ and got two callers and on a board of K53 my c-bet got raised and I had to give it up, but then won it back when I called a min-raise with A7s and CRAI on a 995, again with two of my suit.

We soon made it down to three handed and the first notable action was me losing a 120k pot. I opened KTo on the button and got called by the BB. On a J66r I decided to check behind because I felt a c-bet wouldn’t get much respect, there were turn cards I could barrel and king high might be good. On a Qc turn villain led and I considered raising but decided just to call as I had the OESD and maybe two overcards. On the 5d river it went check/check and villain showed 54o FTW.

I then made trips on the river after calling a pre-flop raise with 76o and getting paid off on the end by ace-high. It was nice to win the chips but what happened next was even nicer. Next hand villain who had just lost shoved over a raise with A3o and got called by Q9s. The shove with A3 seems reasonable but I have no idea what the Q9s was thinking, it was a really bizarre call especially because he seemed to be a solid player (he eventually won the tournament). Maybe seeing the hand before he thought villain was tilted but even so I think it was still an aggressive call. Still I wasn’t going to complain and after Q9 won we were down to heads-up.

Heads-up lasted 17 hands before eventually I lost A6 < A9. Villain had the better hands in our short battle but that’s the way it goes and I was happy with second. To end it I’d just like to say many thanks to Bas and RealScot (and anyone else) who railed the final table. __________________

After playing the Gala casino £25 triple chance last week and it only having 35 runners, I decided to try the new venue in Leeds who were basically running the same competition but in better surroundings, with most of the old Gala regulars playing there. Therefore after working late on Friday, I decided to gobble down my tea and make my way to the new Alea casino in Leeds, handy as it is only a 10 minute drive away from my house.

My initial reaction was that the venue was very impressive and the dedicated cardroom was the best I had seen outside DTD, I was very impressed. I waited for the start and I think there were just over 50 runners in the end. A triple chance is basically 2 rebuys and/or add-on, so the outlay for me is usually £75 plus fee. 5000 chips for each buy-in and blinds started at 50/100. You can rebuy at 2500 chips or less. 40 minute blind for rebuy period (2 levels) then 20 minute levels thereafter.

I took my seat and thankfully wasn’t dealing, I will be grateful if they make tournaments such as these dealer-dealt, I wouldn’t even mind paying some extra fee for this, given there were only 5/6 tables. The dealer wasn’t very good and in fairness to him he hasn’t come to deal and be criticized, so I felt sorry for the guy. I can deal but as I have the hand co-ordination of a bull in a china shop, I am useless at card shuffling, so I rarely put myself forward.

I started off well in my usual semi-LAG style, and within an orbit I had 6000 chips. Main hand being AQ 3 way on a horrible (but standard for me) KQx flop, but I took it down anyway. Things were going OK as it was the usual limp-fest, so my plan was to apply pressure in position and take it from there.

Later in the level I get 10s after a couple of limpers and make it 400 and got a caller, but the BB who was fairly quiet made it 1600. Against my better instincts I called (thought about a shove as it was a rebuy) and the other guy called. Flop was J32 and the BB shoved, I pondered and made an easy fold and he showed me QQ. Calling off the chips like that is my weakness sometimes. After that I was missing flops with semi-decent hands or flopping top pair in the BB and getting shoved on and my stack was heading towards the 2500 rebuy stage despite my early success. I probably wouldn’t have played as many hands if I hadn’t had the buffer of a second chance. Looking down at KK and then realising there was a misdeal was also a delight.

I finally got to the 2500 stack after flopping bottom pair and a gutshot with j9, turning 2nd nut flush draw as well and completely bricking the river, so folding to a river bet. I topped up to about 7,000 and we were part through the 100/200 level.

Then as the sign for last 3 hands came up, I got aces UTG and made it 600 to go. To my horror I got 4 callers and then with relief the BB made it 4000 total, leaving himself 2,000 behind (phew). I shoved and all others folded. He knew what I had but had to call with QQ and he didn’t get there. I managed to lose another 1,000 or so in the last few hands with 53s (oops) so after adding on I had about 19,000 chips, blinds were going to be 150/300 after the break.

I had two calling stations to my left and this had been troubling me all night, one was really short stacked and the other had luck-boxed his way to about 35,000. But I just couldn’t resist with 63h on the button and made it 900 (I had raised OTB with AQ and A10 previously unchallenged). The big calling station in the BB called. Flop was KJ9 and he check called my 1,500 c-bet. Now I had a big read on him, he basically overbet and got very excited with anything top pair or better. His check-call was weak and he either hand a low pair or a gutshot. The turn was an 8 and it went check-check. The river was a perfect bluffing card, a Q, and he promptly checked to me. With 6 high I either had to give up or play at it. I bet 3.5k and after a ponder he called and showed AJ (he owned me) and I chucked my cards in the muck. This prompted one particular player to say I had to show and we had a long argument about rules on showdown, basically he was applying a local gala rule where mucking wasn’t allowed (due to suspicions of collusion) and I stated that the only guy who could insist to see my cards was the guy in the hand, basically told him to stay out of the discussion as it had nothing to do with him. Out of courtesy I told all I had 6 high but that was the last info they would get from me for free.

Obviously embarrassed, I at least knew I could get value for anything big. A few new players joined the table and now I only had just over 10,000 chips. New player raised to 900 and a lady called, I basically decided to “squeeze” with my 99 and shoved my 10,000 in the middle. First player folded and to my surprise, the lady snapped me and showed AK, just covering me. The 9 on the flop was pretty reassuring though and I was back to around 22k and I had some play again.

Played a couple more pots with hands like AK/A10 and missed the flop but took the pot anyway and was on around 27k at 400/800 and was fairly quiet, watching the short stacks and others go to war whilst I was card dead.

Then I managed to get another big hand UTG and looked at KK. Made it 3,500 at 600/1200 and a fairly TAG guy in MP calls and a decent player in the SB also calls. Flop is 972 with 2 hearts and I bet 8,000 when checked to, leaving myself about 14k behind and the MP guy calls, SB folds. At this point his range is flush draw (with overs), a middle PP or 10s/Js and obviously a set. My heart sank as the ace of diamonds hits the turn. It completes a lot of his range so I am either miles behind or in front with no chance of action, I really feared something like AJh. The pot is like 28k and I have 14k behind. I think this is basically a bad spot. I look at the pot and shove, immediately thinking I maybe could have checked. Anyway he folds JJ showing, I was so happy that I showed my kings for some inexplicable reason. He said that’s what he thought I had and I laughed saying that his flop call was awesome then. What would you do here?

This sits me comfortable in the 30k+ zone for a while, despite losing 9k with 88 when I was check-shoved on an ace high flop.

At this point the tension surrounding the dealing was getting a bit much and I volunteered to deal (the guy who did it before me was excellent), but warned people that criticising the shuffle was not a good idea. First hand I deal myself 99 and make it 3500 again, a guy shoved for 14k (who I think I had annoyed by arguing with him) and the JJ guy shoved for 20k in the BB. I was calling the first shover, but couldn’t call after the action. I laughed when they both showed AK, but the K on the flop made me feel better.

I was enjoying myself having a bit of banter with the dealing and the blinds went to 1000/2000 so the short stacks were in trouble. Shortly after the big stack raised in early position to 6k and I looked at 99 in the BB and decided to play it strong. I shoved 28k in the middle and he quickly folded.

I had about 32k, one guy had about 55k on my table but the rest were pretty short. A young guy shoved about 8k from the SB into my BB and I already said I was snapping anything reasonable. AQ was more than enough and it held against 83o. The blinds were going fairly quickly though and I went back down to about 34k.

Shortly after this we were down to 20 and 2 tables, ours was being broken thankfully. I was moved to a new table and was sat 2 from a guy who appeared to have at least 150k, probably a bit more, named Lawrence. I managed to see part of the reason why when he raised to 6k and a guy shoved on him for about 20k. Shover 10s and he had J2s. The flop of 1093 looked safe until an 8 and a 7 followed for runner-runner sickness. At this point I was in shove mode with about 33k at 1500/3000 but with a huge stack behind I had to be selective. On this table there were several huge pairs going against each other but none were in my hands. I made a couple of shoves with hands like a10 and got through but this basically maintained my stack.

Then get a lucky break when a guy takes out 2 players on the other table. I am due in the BB and get moved to where we play 5 handed tables hand-for-hand, a 9 paid final table. Although I did get moved to UTG, I said “hello new table, I am all in” as I look down at AQ. It gets through. I am not one to hang on for the bubble, but there was a very short stacked guy on the table I left. I folded q10 to a shove from a nitty SB, then I folded rags in the SB when the guy in the BB had a huge stack. Relief when the bubble was broken.

I was the shortest stack with 33k, about 5 players had 35-70k, and there were 2 big stacks with 175k and 120k who I was sat right in between. We had about 10 minutes of 1500/3000 left then it was 2000/4000. I knew what my strategy was going to be, 9th got less than I bought in for, the next 5 places after that weren’t that much either so I had to make top 3 which was £470, £690 an £1,310 I think. I wasn’t going to be passive, fortunately the players at the table didn’t really know me.

I proceeded to shove with regularity. I won’t share the hands but I was quite glad not to get a call, but needs must. Whereas the other short and medium stacks just seemed to sit there. The only other guy making the action on the table was Lawrence on my right, but he had the chips to do so, the chip leader to my left sat there pretty tight but was getting fed up at my play. I basically shoved from late position or the small blind everytime it folded to me. He hated it. I had gone from 33k to 67k without showing down, the players (and observers) were of the opinion I couldn’t play proper poker and that all it would take is for one call and I would be out. That’s their opinion. In fairness I was lucky that I didn’t run into anything callable I guess, but I did have to withstand a few dwells.

A couple of other players exited when I wasn’t involved so at least I was getting my buy-in back, although the next prizes were only £140/170, so no time to take it easy and ladder up.

With about 58k in front of me at 3000/6000, I looked at my first big hand at the final table, aces in middle position. I did my usual routine and put my stack over the line. This time the chip leader snapped me, I was like wow. Even more surprised when he showed Q10o, which shows that I really must have got to him; although he did just lose QQ v10J to a short stack a few hands earlier when the flop came JJ9. I hit trips on the flop and filled up on the river and with 120k I was now able to play, joking that I may continue shoving anyway.

A few hands later and its folded round to me in the SB with reversed chip stacks now. I have QQ and I consider limping in. He has about 10bbs left and I change my mind to do what I have always done and shove, hoping for another tilt call. He stares at me and folds. Next orbit I get JJ at 4000/8000 and make a normal raise to 22k UTG. This gets the respect it deserves and I get through, keeping my stack about the 130k mark in second place.

A few people exit and we are 5 handed. A guy who has been fairly solid thinks for a bit and raises for 30k leaving 55k behind, I have 130k. My initial read is either he is unsure what to do because he has the button or he has a monster and wants to extract. I have a10 and want to bin it. But my aggressive impetuosity gets to me and I shove on him for him to snap me with aces. I think the table enjoyed that I spewed all my chips and this confirmed to them that I was in fact, useless. At that point I would have agreed with them.

Back to 40k and with 5bbs I then shoved the next 2 hands just to say that I am still here and won’t go out quietly, so that gets me back to around 55k after another orbit of the blinds. Then Lawrence raises to 32k on the button and I have aces in the SB. So I shove and he is committed and calls with k10, I am right back in it again.

We have a split pot blind on blind the orbit after when he limps and I check with 78, we check a 322 flop, but I shove on him after he bets a 7 on the turn. He has 74 and we chop the pot as the river J negates my kicker. The guy who had aces earlier then has a brain explosion in a limped pot blind on blind, when he 4bet shoves a QQ99 board with a3 and Lawrence has q3. This leaves 4 left and Lawrence is clear chip leader. Blinds have gone 5/10000 and 6/12000; we are now at 8/16000.

Then comes a crucial hand. The guy UTG shoves for 100k and I am in the SB with 88k with 88. His range is wide and I think I have to call, but the guy to my left has us both covered and snaps as well with QQ, the original raiser has 66. So this is me done. My play isn’t bad, I just ran into something big behind me. However an 8 on the flop sends one guy to the rail and the other guy over the edge, who wasn’t best pleased with me as it was. So then I go from 88k to over 250k.

We mess around 3 handed for a while but it is late (3.15am) and the blinds are 10/20000 and we all know that larger sums of money are basically going to be determined by luck. I was just 2nd in chips at the time and was happy to accept a 3way chop equally for £805, officially taking 2nd place.

I enjoyed it and although I played pretty badly at times, I am glad I took the final table in the way I did against some fairly decent players, given the way I have been playing for the last 3 months.

I decided to play the £300 mtt at DTD as I really want to play more live, and where better in the UK to play, then DTD!

I sat at my 1st table after playing cash for about 2 and a half hours, so I probably wasn’t in the best shape,
but with the 10k starting stack, I knew I had some room to dance, so I decided to do what I usually do, and build up a nice stack at start.

Nothing really happens for first 30 mins, then I get 7s3s in the cutoff, it’s folded to me, I raise to 150 at 25/50, the BB was a reasonably old man, looked like the standard
live player, only re raises huge hands, always bemoans other people constantly raising, etc etc. He re raises to 450, and I know he has like JJ+ here, so I’m just looking to outflop,
or outplay on really horrible boards for him, stuff like Kxx and Axx boards, as you can find out really easily if they have it or not

Of course.. I don’t need to worry about that rubbish, as the flop comes 773, I was laughing so much in my head, thinking about how he’s going to probably kill me if this
gets to showdown! He leads for 600, I dwell, and raise to 2050. He thinks for about 10 seconds, and announces re raise as I expected, and makes it another 2000 on top!
I decided to just flat as I had position, and thought he would shove almost every single turn, whilst if I shove over top, he is likely going to fold.

So I dwelled… pulled a few faces of discontent, and then called. The turn was a ten, he thought for 5 seconds and shoved, I snap called him, he turns over JJ, and begins
to absolutely flip at me! “oh my god how can you play 73 to a re raise, you wont last long in this” etc etc, I was trying really hard not to laugh at this point!

The guy on my right then whispers to me “I don’t think he knows who you are”, I was taken back by that straight away, as I had no idea who he was! He then tells me he’s
CCTV from AWOP, and we spend the next few hours getting to know each other and joking away to each other, he certainly made things a lot easier for me after I showed the 73,
cos I was getting the usual rubbish from the other players, of course I then get aces and flop a set and pick up another pot, and in no time I was up to 25k

Then the rest of the day went terribly, I got re raised every single time I entered the pot, with hands like 99/TT, and then some ace rag steals, I also couldn’t win
a showdown to save my life! I got moved table, to my left was John Sadler, who was the person who busted me from the £500 deep stack, James (CCTV) was moved to other side
of table, sat beside Ali Mallu, who had at least 50k, and was certainly a presence at the table!

I can’t remember much from this table as I was so card dead, I did call down with 99 on a KxxTT board and the person insta-mucked river after I called after a little dwell.

Then I lost AK vs T6 AIPF for 12k pot, he decided to move his 8bb stack in after I raised to 1750 at 300/600 from UTG+1, Ali flats, and he shoves, I obviously isolate,
and Ali folds, and board comes x2345, so I was then down to 16k.

Ali then busts someone TT vs AT AIPF for like 50k pot, after he huge overshoved from the BB to this button raise.. then very next hand, I raise AT at 400/800/100 to 2000 with 14.5k,
he insta-ships from the SB, and I tank for like 3 mins, I decided to relucantly fold as I’m beat here like 95% of time and I still felt I had enough of a stack to do damage, and
I’m so used to playing the short stack that I am more comfortable with it than an average stack! Then my much needed double up comes, the guy who had T6, shoves the cutoff
for 13k, I had just shoved 99 UTG and got no action, and now in the BB I pick up AQ and insta-call, he has A8 and does not get there, back up to 27k!

Then I make my standard sick fold to live players, 15 mins left of day 1, I have 27.5k, competent player limps UTG, as he’s competent I’m sure he does it with more than KK/AA, Ali limps behind, I raise it up
to 3k with JJ in the SB, the BB (my nemesis, John), re raises to 9.6k, I know his game really well from playing with him in £500 for a long time, and then at this table
for a few hours, I fake dwell and show my jacks, I was always folding, cos I know his range there is QQ-AA, if he had AK he’d have raised bigger, he shows his aces and
I’m like yeah live poker is easy!

Then I get moved table with 10 mins left of the day, I dont recognise anyone at the table. My first bit of action was from the SB with 76os. The cutoff limps, I complete,
BB checks. Board AK6, I check, BB checks, cutoff bets 1k into like 3k pot, I think he’s full of it here as his limping range is really wide, so I bumped it up to 3.8k,
he calls after a long thought, by this stage I’m fairly certain I can get him off an ace too as it’s right before end of day 1! Luckily I get rewarded again, when the turn
comes a 6. He had about 21k at start of hand. I ask him how much he has left, and then bet 4800, he thinks for ages and folds, I take the nice pot.

Then the huge hand comes, it’s announced that it’s the last hand of the day, and I have 27.5k or so, 4 limpers, I look down at JJ on button, and contemplate just shoving
and picking up all the money, instead I raise to 6k, the blinds fold, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls 6k of his 20k stack, and then the guy on my right shoves 18.2k, now, by this
stage I’m thinking wtf?! in my head, I know the guy on my right is full of crap, I mean, if you had a big hand on the last day, would you limp behind 3 others with 20bb’s?

My only worry was the guy who limp called 1/3 of his stack, and I took a lot of time to think the hand through. I just decided that these players looked bad enough that my
jacks are in reasonable shape, and of course my pot odds are huge at this point, and ship it in. UTG+1 looks at me like Wayne Rooney would if you stole his christmas dinner,
he then announces “I have absolute crap”, well played then mate? He tanks for 3 mins, and as I’m asking the dealer to call for the clock, he says he calls and turns his Q3 up,
whilst the other guy shows Q7, £300 mtt, does not matter guys! Luckily my jacks hold and I win a 70k pot, even though I had to sweat the 865 flop!

I was in a state of shock, and the adrenaline rush was huge, I was so pumped, I couldn’t stand still, I tried to help the dealer count my chips, but I was shaking like hell!

So I ended day 1 in 3rd out of 34, with 11 paid, I knew I was in great shape, but it was nowhere near over, I mean 70k at 600/1200 blinds is fine, but all it takes is to run bad in some big pots
and you are out in 30th, I went back to the hotel that evening and tried to relax, I thought about what my plan was for day 2, and decided that my best bet was to play as lower-variance game
as possible to start with, dodging all in pre-flops without a big hand etc, it’s not the optimal way to play, but it was what I wanted to do to start out, as I knew an early hit would crush my
already struggling confidence whilst in such a bad tournament spell.

So I got there on day 2, got up and running, and was down to 50k within no time, as I tried a few steals, and lost a few showdowns, and then I got back up to 70k with a few nice hands, and then with the following hand:

Ali limps button, I have KJhh in SB and complete, BB checks, board 9c4c2x, I lead 2800, Ali thinks for 30 seconds and calls. Turn is an 8, I bet 4800, he thinks for 2 minutes and then folds, my line
is top pair at worst almost always, so I feel he has to give me a ton of respect in that spot, and he knew I wasn’t a rash player, so I felt he gave up all his drawing hands and 55/66 etc

Then a huge hand for me happened, Ali limps UTG+1, I limp 76dd in next position, button limps, SB completes, BB checks, board comes 3d 4d 5x, holla? SB shoves 15k or so, BB calls and has like 16k total, Ali folds,
I think for about 10 seconds after looking the button’s stack, and go all in, he folds, and BB obviously calls, the SB had 85 for top pair, BB had 65 for top pair + open ender, which are both
of course in absolutely awful shape vs my hand, no 7 on turn or river and they are both gone, and I’m over the 100k mark, I think I had about 110k after the hand.

Then I run really really terrible for what seems like forever, from 27 left until about 20 left, I fold a load of mid pocket pairs to re raises, I get into sick post-flop spots, example:

Blinds 1k/2k, I have around 55k by this stage, Ali opens to 5k, I flat AJos, SB and BB call, so pot is like 22k. board J54, they all check, so I stab 8k at the pot enticing action from the blinds,
as I’d snap call any shove from them, they both fold after little thought, and Ali immediately announces all in. He was the 1 person I wasn’t expecting to shove the flop, and I tanked for about
5 minutes, and I just could not believe it, he’s the most loose and unpredictable player I’ve ever played against, which is why I should probably call in this spot, but I’d never seen him do this
move after raising pre flop, so I mucked, and he flipped aces, which was a deceptive play to say the least. At least I knew what his 2.5xbb raise meant compared to his normal 3-3.5xbb raises!

I dropped all the way down to 40k at 1200/2400, then managed to pick up a few pots and get back up to 65k, then the following hand happens at 1.5k/3k:

Ali limps, I raise to 11.5k with KK, all fold to him, he calls, board 984, he open shoves for effectively around 50k, a huge overbet, I insta-called, he had JT and did not get there, and I was
back up to being 1 of the chip leaders with less than 20 to go

After that hand, I just kept my stack between 110-140k, and then the bubble burst and I had 130k, and I managed to do what I do best when deep, lose every flip!, First at 2k/4k,
the guy on my right had let himself get blinded down to 40k, and he shoves the button, whilst I know he’s not shoving his whole range, I know my AQ is more than enough to get it all in,
he has 77, 1 of the strongest hands he can have, and I miss everything, instead of going into final table with huge stack, it looked like it would be less than average. But wait, there is still
time to lose more chips!, I get A2 on the button at 3k/6k blinds, the SB has 36k, I have about 70k, and the BB has me covered, I decide to open to 15k, and the SB shoves, I’m getting such good odds
that I decide to call with A2, and I was actually ahead of his KQ, and he gets there, so now I am left with 5bb and on the verge of final table bubbling, I was steaming at this point as I’d seen
all my hard work be worthless as 2 flips crushed my stack, and the hope of ending the huge tournament downswing looked over. It didn’t help it was hand for hand and taking a long time, then I got
K5hh on the button next round and shoved my stack in, the BB called with A3, and I flopped a 5, and rivered another 5 and was back up to 75k, and then someone went out, so the final table
was set, I was only on 12bb’s (and blinds 4k/8k soon into final table), but I felt confident as I just needed to double up and I would have some play. I was of course really happy to have made it,
but it could have een so much different if I win AQ vs 77, I’d have been in a really big shot of 1st without having to get lucky. Someone had 400k coming into final table, there was only 1.18mil
chips in play, and of course I got blessed with him 2 on my left, I then had 3 good players to my right, and all the worse players on other side of table, so it was a terrible seat draw for me.

Luckily I got my early double up, I went through the blinds and was down to 60k, Norwegian pro Rolf Woods raised from the hijack position to 18k, and I find QQ on the button and shove and try
to look like I don’t really care, he thinks for about 2 minutes and then decides hes getting too good pot odds to fold, and calls with KJ, board comes all low cards and I’m back in it!

Then nothing happens forever for me personally, I watch 3 others go out, I sit there folding and just moving up money/waiting for a reasonable situation to re-steal, it doesn’t come, the blinds
were about to be 5k/10k, I get QTos on the button and shove about 80k, both blinds fold, next hand i get 66 and shove the cutoff and get called by TT and don’t get there, and end 6th for just over
£1500.

I was really gutted not to have got a better finish, but there was literally nothing I could do, and I didn’t exactly run awesome, apart from the 73s, I only got my money in bad once until final
hand, and that was the K5 vs A3. I was really happy with how I played, and I feel my live tournament game is really really strong in these buyin tournaments, the next step is to test it on
a higher live stage, as then I’ll really find out what I need to do to improve my game!

Thanks to everyone who cheered me on, and big thanks to the people who came to DTD and got me drinks/kept me calm/gave me lifts to hotel!

Well where do I start? Arrived at Loose Cannon sauna centre Saturday morning to play main event, I know a few people disliked the venue, but i found it quite quirky and charming, the main problem was basically the heat and lack of ventilation. Started the main event well and had a 40k stack at about 7pm, unfortunately it was downhill after that losing 3 big races (one with certain “Ramchip” fella) when my JJ lost to his AQ AIPF, didn’t mind too much as it was another EMS`er and a race is a race. Went out shortly after that. Watched Scottie win his STT game to qualify for the final the next day and decided that I would enter the Terminator MTT on Sunday instead of having another go at the STT title id won in Newcastle previously.

Terminator began Sunday, it was a £30+3 buyin with £10 of that going on each players head as a bounty, my kind of game you could say. Sat down at first table with Jeff to my immediate left thinking to myself well one of us is going to double the other at some point lol. Began like an absolute rack, 1st 3 hands i had was QQ AA KK, unreal!!! Opposite me on table was a middle aged Chinese guy and a good player, I’d watched him make a few moves but picked up a “tell” on him, basically when he had a big hand he sat back, it was that obvious!. Was in BB and dealt AJ hearts. He raised 4xBB and it folded to me, i smoothed him. Flop came K 7 3, all hearts, i looked at him and he sat back, BINGO!!!. I checked (obv) he bet pot, and i flatted. Next card was Q clubs, i checked and he bet 3/4 pot, I dwelled (whilst counting his stack trying not to be noticed) and then I pushed in, I thought I had him covered but he had 100 chips left dammit, he called and turned KQ, thankfully river was another 3, and I doubled nicely again and crippled who I considered one of the better players on the table. Next hand I get A* suited in sb, Jeff is in BB and its folded round to me, I raise 4x and Jeff shoves in!!!! &^%*^&% I’m thinking to myself, the git prob has nothing so i insta call him, he turns 77 lol. Flop and turn are nothing then i hit 8 on river (sorry jeff). I’ve now got a big stack and decide to have some fun and turn on the JAG ATTACK mode raising from any position with anything half decent and shoving in pre flop when I had any big hands, this worked like a dream as I began knocking people out left right and centre.

Final Table. Was imo some good players on the table, IanUk was to my immediate left and 4TKNOX was on my immediate right. I had a nice stack and decided to read the table for a few rounds. IanUk was the aggressor early on and was playing exceptionally well in position, i decided that I would try not to get involved with him unless I was huge, I knocked a few other players out with some good TAG play then Ian went out, cant remember his hand tbh. Then we were down to 5, now its my kind of table, 4 quite tight players and the maniac that is me lol. I started bullying big time and took out 2 quite quickly as they had got short I was prepared to have a go at them with basically anything connecting or suited. Got down to the last 3, 4TKNOX was still there and A N other, 4TKNOX got a bit short and went out 3rd. Well played Mate. So know were heads up, and whatever happens now I’m going out betting, I had a good chip lead over guy and we showed each other respect, for about 15 mins. Then i got 89 suited, a hand I like, i bet 4xBB and he called. flop was J2J. We both checked, turn was 8, I thought about it a while, and decided it was good enough to have ago, I didn’t put him on a J or better as he didn’t raise my bet preflop. I bet half his stack, basically committing him, he dwelt for what seemed a lifetime and shoved all in, I already decided i was going to call so I insta call him, he turns over 78 and I’m 90% there, river comes another 2 and he thinks its a split, but my 9 had come into play and the title was mine!!!!

I would like to thank everyone who’d railed after RoyalScot had got knocked out ME final table, you guys don’t realise how much it helps then your all there. I rushed off to put on my EMS shirt for the Photos, I hadn’t worn it that day cos it was a bit smelly from the heat the day before lol, but I wanted it on for the photos whatever. I’m proud to be a part of EMS and the win is for us all as well as myself.
Congrats to RS for a great display and to Scottie for runner up in the STT final (still gutted for you).
Well done for everyone for yet another great EMS performance over the weekend. I hope to see you all at the EMS Championship in November at DTD

TWO TIMES!!!!!!!

The 6th EMS podcast is now online. The podcast features interviews with Annete Obrestad, Johnny Lodden, Andreas Horvold and Simon Trumper

Listen here: http://eatmystack.podomatic.com/
Download here: CLick Here
Itunes Here: itpc://eatmystack.podOmatic.com/rss2.xml

I started of this tournament playing very tight as i usually do at the start of any MTT, moving up the gears as the blinds increase. At the first break i had an average stack of about 4500 from an original starting stack of 3000 after i won a pot against a short stack when he pushed his 800 stack in i called from the big blind with ak he shows QK my hand holds.

After the break is the time to get busy, stealing blinds from position and calling raises in position, especially when the antes come into play it makes the blinds worth stealing. After doing this for the next hour or so i had grinded my stack up to around 7000 (about the avg) with about 400 players left from an original 1351 with 216 getting paid.

Now the blinds are getting big 300-600, so now its time to try and double up to give me a chance of cashing and having a deep run in this tourney. Then comes this hand, the player in the cut-off makes a standard 3x raise to 1800 i’m on the the bb with AA i decide to flat call and check raise all in on the flop, flop comes Qxx i check he bets 2000 i push he calls me with KQ my aces hold up and i double up to around 15,000.

After a couple of blind steals and a couple of small pots i have a comfortable stack of around 22k with the blinds now at 500-1000 with 250 players left.

Just before we go into the money my stack is back down to 9000 after i ran my QQ into KK for a huge pot at this stage, so after being on a comfortable stack i only just make the money with my 8x bb stack with the blinds now at 600-1200, time to get busy.

Shortly after i manage a double up AQ to AT, then went from strength to strength really battling away until i had my stack up to a healthy 40,000, feeling confident for a deep finish.

Now there’s 80 or so players remaining my stack is 40,000 blinds are now 1500-3000 i have 99 on the button its folded round to me i make it 9000 sb folds bb goes all in, he has me covered, i call he has AJ and i win the race, now up to just over 80,000 and into the top 20 of the remaining field.

Now we’re down to the final 18 players i’m sitting around 13th in chips with a stack of around 180,000 and very large blinds now of 3000-6000, its time to try to build a healthy stack for the final table. I have a short stack directly on my right and we’re in the blinds its folded to him he shoves for 70,000 i have AT i instantly call he has A6, Ten on the flop and he’s gone and my stack increases to 250,000. Then a huge stack of 1.2mil gets moved directly to my left.

12 players left now, getting very close to the FT im around 6th in chips with about 280,000, still the huge stack on my left raising nearly every hand as you would with his stack. Normally at this stage in a tourney i like to get very aggressive as alot of players are trying to hold out for the final table and its a good time to build a stack stealing their blinds, but on this occasion i’m playing very tight coz of the bully to my left. Then im dealt KK on the button, blind now 5000/10,000 i raise it to 30,000 the big stack on my left reraises me to 115,000 i obviously go all in he thinks for a little bit then calls me with K8o lol, perfect spot for me, of course its never that easy tho as he picks up a flush draw on the turn with his 8 of spades but thankfully the rivers a blank and im now up to 2nd in chips with around 600,000.

Final table time. I finished 7th in this same tourney a couple of days earlier after throwing away a good stack and was very dissapointed, so i was determined to do better. It was a very strange final table because of the large stack, still on my left, was getting super lucky in every pot, running like god taking player after player out in a very short space of time and soon enough we were down to just 4 players and ive hardly won a pot still sitting on my 600,000 stack, still 2nd in chips with the chip leader now up to 3million, its seeming like its a race for 2nd. We’re soon down to 3 and i find AQ on sb, button folds i raise to 55,000 blinds now 10k-20k, big stack flat calls flop comes ten high i c-bet 80,000 he puts me all in i fold. My stack now down to 400,000 the other short stack has 250,000 with the chips leader at 3.3million. Then big stack and shortie get it all in with T8 v A8 and has big stack has done throughout so far spiked his Ten on the flop and we’re now heads up.

His 3.7million to my 350,000, as you can see it’s not going to be easy to win but i wasn’t giving up. First hand of heads up i double up when he limps in, i check my big blind with KT flop comes Kxx i bet he puts me in i call he has K9 my kicker plays i double up to 700,000. Very next hand, 2nd hand of h/u is the last hand. I raise from button with 77 to 120,000 he reraises all in i call, he has JJ, and i dont improve. gg.

I finished 2nd from 1351 runners for $4390.

Bas walked away with first prize over $48,000 beating 1075 players in this $200 +16 buy in event. I hope to have a more detailed report from Bas in the next couple of days.