OOOHHH WWWEEE look at them Aces

I came in 5^th out of 79 this week in the live tournament I play on every Tuesday night. I learned my lesson from the night before and played a tight aggressive game as opposed to the tight weak game which played online the night before at Pokerstars.

This a free tournament held weekly in the function hall of a local restaurant. You can’t play poker “legally” for money in Massachusetts, so the prizes are $100 American Express Gift Card for 1^stwhile 2^nd and 3^rd get $50 / $30 gift certificates to the restaurant. I usually think of this tournament as a giant freeroll. There is no assigned seating, so I usually sit with the same group of guys who are all solid players and who won’t suck out on you with a foolish call but will certainly make a move if the moment seems right.

I decided to find another table this week because the guys at my table know my style and I know theirs. I was on the hunt for a soft table when I came upon a guy sitting at a table with a Miami Dolphins hat and jacket which is a very rare site in New England. People where calling him Miami’s last fan which I thought was pretty funny. This guy played every hand dealt to him and usually raised when someone told him it was his turn to bet. He was quite comical and really was enjoying himself. He would look at his cards hold them 2 inches from his glasses while leaning back in his chair and he did this after the flop and every street. When I took a seat I made sure this guy was on my right so I could take advantage of him. He would also show his cards after every hand (whether he had to or not) and laugh loudly if he won with while holding nothing. One time 2 Aces flopped and he yelled out ooohhh wwweeee look at them Aces!! I ended up doubling through him (he lasted about 40 minuets).

I then went on a rush that carried me to the final table. I ended up pretty card dead at the final table I got it all in with the chip leader with A K and he also turned over A K. We ended up chopping the pot. I got 27 points for 5^th place which should easily give me enough points to make the quarter finals as I am sitting in 16^th overall out of 138.

My Snowmen Got Melted

I was extremely card dead this Tuesday night not having won a hand in the first hour of the tournament. Early on I hit bottom pair with 2 jacks on the board and made a semi-bluff when I got re-raised I threw my hand away. I ended up wining a couple hands after the break to hulk up to $200 chips (you start with 100 chips and blinds of $1-$2 which go up every 20 minuets). They had just moved a girl to our table with a big chip stack and she had played all three hands she was at the table for so far and was on a rush having won the 3 hands she played (usually coming from behind to win).

I was in the big blind for $40 which leaves me with $160 behind. Everyone folds around to the button who is short stacked and goes all in for $65 the girl from above in the small blind also calls. I look down at a pair of eights (or a pair of snowman as Mike Sexton would say). I call the $25 thinking if I hit trips or a favorable flop then I will push, but if there are over cards on the board I will proceed with caution. The flop comes 2-7-4 rainbow, so I push all in for my remaining $135. Lucky girl sitting with about $700 thinks for about 2 seconds and calls. When we turn the cards over the button has A-8 the girl in the small blind has A-9. On the turn comes a 9 and out the door I go. Excluding runner runner for a straight she only had 5 outs (two A’s & three 9’s) and I was an 8 to 1 favorite to win the hand after the flop. Oh well maybe next week.

Reflecting back on the hand I think I made the right play. I always try to make my all in move on a made hand. I put the big blind on a hand such as A-K that is why I waited to push. I don’t like the feeling of busting out of a tournament chasing. I like going out with a made hand and with the odds in my favor.

Tuesday Night Poker

I play poker every Tuesday night in the function room of a local restaurant. I also play online mostly in the Micro-Limit ($1 + .20) 45 player tournaments on Poker Stars.

I am starting this blog to put in writing some strategy and hand analyses in hoping that it will help me to get to be a better poker player by writing about it.