My First Time...
I experienced my first "big" tournament this weekend in Regina. I went to meet Dave, Bob and Devin from Team Canuck. These guys are definately ambassadors to the game, and I had an absolute blast getting to know them a little better.
The Casino was hosting SnG's for entries into the $1000 Freezeout event on Saturday. I took a shot. I find myself headsup for a seat with 4500 against a guy with 5500. I double through with A9 suited against KK when I hit my A, then win it on the next hand when my K8 holds up against his K7. I am shaking so bad I can hardly sign my name on the paperwork. I catch up with the guys and they are all happy for me. We agree to meet for breakfast the next morning before the tourney.
I hardly sleep that night. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I get up at 7:30 and run a few errands before I meet the guys for breakfast. We laugh and joke and Bob reminds me to just have fun with the game.
We start. There are 181 players entered. I do not recognize anyone at my table.(I find out after the tourney that Dave Klassen was seated 2 to my left.) About the 2nd or 3rd hand into the tourney with the blinds at 25-50 a guy in MP raises to 300, and a LP player reraises to 1000, MP reraises allin and LP immediately calls. MP shows AA, LP shows KK. I think "How in the hell could LP call the allin? What did he think the other guy had?" Flop has a K and the MP is left with 200 in chips. Holy Crap.
Things settle down. I am not feeling nervous any more. I am focused and playing well. I have stayed at or ahead of the average stack at the table the entire time I was there. Early on in the 3rd round, they close my table. Damn, I was very comfortable here. I am the last one to take my new seat card from the table(one of my superstitions). I move to my new seat to find Devin sitting 2 to my left. Holy Crap.
At the break, I am doing well. I have 12500, Devin and Dave have 10000, and Bob has 5500. I am having fun, but I don't like this table near as much as my first one.
Devin gets knocked out in Round 5. Poor bastard has to buy breakfast again! As relieved as I am to not have to worry about him anymore, I am sad to see him get knocked out. I continue to plug along, getting my stack as high as 16000 at one point. Cards go cold for a long time. I try limping a few times with suited connectors , but to no avail.
OK folks, pop quiz. This is my knockout hand. I would appreciate any feedback.
Last hand of level 7, blinds 400-800. Going to be 500-1000 next hand.
I am in early position with 10K stack. I have 77 and raise to 3K. folded to button who has about 70K. I should mention here that the button came to this table about 30-45 minutes before with a stack of 4K, and hit an unbeliveable streak of luck. He raises to 8K, blinds fold. I think he could have a pair, a suited A, suited connectors, or any two cards T+. Most likely it is a coin flip, or I am a huge underdog, I figure. Calling is not an option in my mind. I either fold or go allin. What would you do?
Well, I went allin and he called instantly and flipped over AA. Holy crap.
Flop comes 7-x-x. Holy crap.
Turn x. Holy crap.
River A. Holy crap!
What a roller coaster of emotions! 4:1 underdog preflop, 10:1 favorite after the flop, 22:1 favorite afte the turn, then IGHN on the river.
I left the showroom floor feeling crushed. I walked down to the casino lounge to find Team Canuck and Dave Klassen already sitting there. I ordered a beer and talked with them. About 10 minutes later the pain was gone, and I was laughing and joking again. These guys are good people. Poker needs more of these guys.
I will continue to work on my skills and my discipline playing micro limit poker online, with the occasional trip to Regina for a cash game. I hope to do this again when I am ready.
Thanks for reading this and any advice you may provide.
The Casino was hosting SnG's for entries into the $1000 Freezeout event on Saturday. I took a shot. I find myself headsup for a seat with 4500 against a guy with 5500. I double through with A9 suited against KK when I hit my A, then win it on the next hand when my K8 holds up against his K7. I am shaking so bad I can hardly sign my name on the paperwork. I catch up with the guys and they are all happy for me. We agree to meet for breakfast the next morning before the tourney.
I hardly sleep that night. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I get up at 7:30 and run a few errands before I meet the guys for breakfast. We laugh and joke and Bob reminds me to just have fun with the game.
We start. There are 181 players entered. I do not recognize anyone at my table.(I find out after the tourney that Dave Klassen was seated 2 to my left.) About the 2nd or 3rd hand into the tourney with the blinds at 25-50 a guy in MP raises to 300, and a LP player reraises to 1000, MP reraises allin and LP immediately calls. MP shows AA, LP shows KK. I think "How in the hell could LP call the allin? What did he think the other guy had?" Flop has a K and the MP is left with 200 in chips. Holy Crap.
Things settle down. I am not feeling nervous any more. I am focused and playing well. I have stayed at or ahead of the average stack at the table the entire time I was there. Early on in the 3rd round, they close my table. Damn, I was very comfortable here. I am the last one to take my new seat card from the table(one of my superstitions). I move to my new seat to find Devin sitting 2 to my left. Holy Crap.
At the break, I am doing well. I have 12500, Devin and Dave have 10000, and Bob has 5500. I am having fun, but I don't like this table near as much as my first one.
Devin gets knocked out in Round 5. Poor bastard has to buy breakfast again! As relieved as I am to not have to worry about him anymore, I am sad to see him get knocked out. I continue to plug along, getting my stack as high as 16000 at one point. Cards go cold for a long time. I try limping a few times with suited connectors , but to no avail.
OK folks, pop quiz. This is my knockout hand. I would appreciate any feedback.
Last hand of level 7, blinds 400-800. Going to be 500-1000 next hand.
I am in early position with 10K stack. I have 77 and raise to 3K. folded to button who has about 70K. I should mention here that the button came to this table about 30-45 minutes before with a stack of 4K, and hit an unbeliveable streak of luck. He raises to 8K, blinds fold. I think he could have a pair, a suited A, suited connectors, or any two cards T+. Most likely it is a coin flip, or I am a huge underdog, I figure. Calling is not an option in my mind. I either fold or go allin. What would you do?
Well, I went allin and he called instantly and flipped over AA. Holy crap.
Flop comes 7-x-x. Holy crap.
Turn x. Holy crap.
River A. Holy crap!
What a roller coaster of emotions! 4:1 underdog preflop, 10:1 favorite after the flop, 22:1 favorite afte the turn, then IGHN on the river.
I left the showroom floor feeling crushed. I walked down to the casino lounge to find Team Canuck and Dave Klassen already sitting there. I ordered a beer and talked with them. About 10 minutes later the pain was gone, and I was laughing and joking again. These guys are good people. Poker needs more of these guys.
I will continue to work on my skills and my discipline playing micro limit poker online, with the occasional trip to Regina for a cash game. I hope to do this again when I am ready.
Thanks for reading this and any advice you may provide.
Comments
I think you have to call. You aren't pot committed but pretty much since you've stuck your neck out and with the increasing blinds, you'll be down to 7xbb or less.
The mistake may have been putting in such a big raise. Could you have gotten away with something closer to 2k? Or is it better to just limp here? And if so, would you have folded to a re-raise? Or are you calling anything that player bets? Interesting situation. Mid pairs are difficult to play with a weakening stack.
Nice post. Congrats on lasting longer than Devin.
And... thanks for your kinds words.
We try. Mostly we try to stay sober. But, we DO try.
Thanks for the compliment, although I am not nearly as intimidating at the poker table or as funny away from it as Dave, Bob, and the missing Ralph are. I agree that there is no better company to be with after busting out of a tournament than these guys. Maybe they're so lighthearted about losing because they're so used to it!Â
good story!