Ended tonight's mini just outside the cash, although I did take five bounty's to make a £5ish profit.
I learned something tonight. I am unable to watch football and play poker at the same time. My first hour was terrible, wasn't really concentrating at all
Played at DTD yesterday and got my third live tournament cash; finishing 3rd for £590. Strangely, on all three occasions, I have reached the final table.
Here are some notes:
- Playing tight in live tournaments continues to work for me. Starting off with 100 BB's means you can just wait for premium hands, I don't really know why everyone else plays so loosely. Definitely finding that live poker is considerably easier than online poker; which is contrary to my original thinking.
- Navigated some crazy players to be early chip leader, and got to the final table (7 players) with relative ease.
- Had the shortest stack in the final six. My tight image helped me here as when I started to loosen up and shove (about 1.25 times per orbit roughly), no-one was calling. Picking up the blinds actually helped build my stack up to a point where I laddered into the final four. I then knocked out another player to sit in the final three.
- Felt really comfortable at this stage of the tournament, and managed to build up a decent stack with extremely good "notes" on the player to my right.
- That player was consistently aggressive/loose and shoved on me from the BTN (A9o), I called from the SB with (77), and he hit his ace on the river.
- I feel like I am playing some of my best ever poker right now, and perhaps more importantly, I am thoroughly enjoying it too. Can't wait to go back there next week.
- I also feel like my concentration is improving. I was able to play for approximately eight hours with no problem whatsoever - aided by two glasses of coke and a hot chocolate.
- Also developing my "bladder management", i.e. staying hydrated, but not drinking so much that you need to pee before the break comes along.
1) Going to be focussing on the DYM steak week promotion over the next 14 days (still will do MTT's, but a reduced amount). Somewhat disappointed that the maximum level for the promotion is £11 though.
2) Also going to be focussing on winning a seat to SPT Nottingham.
So, DTD yesterday, 6-max event. Boy was that eventful. Certainly the most remarkable tournament I have ever been part of.
Started off with an experienced player to my left who has a reputation for unorthodox play in the early stages. He was playing two tables online (one phone, one iPad) and not really interested in the live tournament, to the point where he was playing down the streets without even having checked his cards. Incredibly, he managed to knock another player out; straight flush over straight flush!
That worked out well for me, as I subsequently beat him at showdown twice to take his entire stack, and take the early chip lead. The second of these instances resulted in him criticising my play for calling his UTG shove with 77. I tried to explain that I realise it's not a GTO play, but he was playing so loosely and erraticly that it made the call worthwhile. He didn't seem to understand this concept, and sarcastically implied that if I have reads that good then I will have made millions playing poker. One day that may be true, perhaps, but not yet
I ran really well in the first hour, including picking up aces thrice. But then, as @cal69 joined the table (first time I have ever come across a SkyPoker player in a live tournament), I became completely card dead for a good 30-45 minutes, albeit with the exception of one hand. Aces once again, where I knocked out two players, including cal69. I tried to slow play that hand by flatting pre, but checking back the flop was poor play on my part. I got very lucky there.
From that point, I lost a few hands and ended up bobbing up and down around the average stack for an hour or so. Then, my sickening exit hand occurred.
Blinds were 10k/20k. Action folded around to me on the button with A8o. I raise to 50k. Called by BB. Flop comes down 842 rainbow. He checks. I bet 50k, opponent calls. Turn comes a 7. He checks. I bet 90k, opponent shoves (covers my stack, and then some). I use a timebank wondering if he has 65, or an over pair. I realise I probably shouldn't call in this spot, but something instinctual tells me he's bluffing. I am still not sure why I felt like that, it was just a vibe. I call, he turns over QJo.
The instantaneous joy of seeing queen high, followed by the dismay of the jack on the river, was a gut wrenching moment. Got lots of sympathy and "good call" comments from the table, but man that's frustrating. Finished about 25th, didn't make the cash.
An eventful day, and as much as I hate how it ended, I really am enjoying my poker at the moment. I do feel like I am playing well for the most part, albeit with some errors in there. On the other hand, I had aces four times and didn't make the cash - which paints quite the story!
Not sure these days I'd have the patience to share tables will some selfish oaf who wants to play a Tournament on his Ipad, another on his 'phone, whilst playing the Live one too. Bet he's an interesting sort to sit & have a coffee with.
Not sure these days I'd have the patience to share tables will some selfish oaf who wants to play a Tournament on his Ipad, another on his 'phone, whilst playing the Live one too. Bet he's an interesting sort to sit & have a coffee with.
Will we be seeing you at SPT Notts?
As a few people on here have suggested, and much to my surprise, I have found live poker considerably easier than online poker. Honestly, I thought it would be the other way around.
I don't have a problem with people who want to play other tournaments at the same time. I certainly don't think it's selfish. In this specific case it was great because the chap was playing like a nutter and I was able to exploit that. I know at the WSOP a number of the pro's register for two tournaments at the same time and physically switch between tables - which is a similar strategy I suppose, just in person.
@cal69 actually reminded me of the upcoming SPT Nottingham. As it's not an F1 weekend, I really have no excuse. I shall try to qualify this weekend.
The plan is that I will be playing the day one on Friday as things stand, but that is subject to change. I'm not sure which day gives me the best odds of getting to day two, Saturday will undoubtedly have considerably more players.
As I have very little experience of full ring games, I'm going to practice by playing "The Big Tuesday" tournament at Alea tomorrow, followed by an MTT (or two) on PokerStars on Wednesday.
Actually, I did try to get in some PokerStars practice today, but I forgot to turn my filters off and played in a 6-max by mistake. What a moron!
Comments
sort of joking, but seriously, that's absurdly wide in that spot, bounty or no bounty
Don't think it's a crazy play though.
I learned something tonight. I am unable to watch football and play poker at the same time. My first hour was terrible, wasn't really concentrating at all
Very enjoyable tournament, which included the strangest hand I have ever been part of.
Here are some notes:
- Playing tight in live tournaments continues to work for me. Starting off with 100 BB's means you can just wait for premium hands, I don't really know why everyone else plays so loosely. Definitely finding that live poker is considerably easier than online poker; which is contrary to my original thinking.
- Navigated some crazy players to be early chip leader, and got to the final table (7 players) with relative ease.
- Had the shortest stack in the final six. My tight image helped me here as when I started to loosen up and shove (about 1.25 times per orbit roughly), no-one was calling. Picking up the blinds actually helped build my stack up to a point where I laddered into the final four. I then knocked out another player to sit in the final three.
- Felt really comfortable at this stage of the tournament, and managed to build up a decent stack with extremely good "notes" on the player to my right.
- That player was consistently aggressive/loose and shoved on me from the BTN (A9o), I called from the SB with (77), and he hit his ace on the river.
- I feel like I am playing some of my best ever poker right now, and perhaps more importantly, I am thoroughly enjoying it too. Can't wait to go back there next week.
- I also feel like my concentration is improving. I was able to play for approximately eight hours with no problem whatsoever - aided by two glasses of coke and a hot chocolate.
- Also developing my "bladder management", i.e. staying hydrated, but not drinking so much that you need to pee before the break comes along.
1) Going to be focussing on the DYM steak week promotion over the next 14 days (still will do MTT's, but a reduced amount). Somewhat disappointed that the maximum level for the promotion is £11 though.
2) Also going to be focussing on winning a seat to SPT Nottingham.
Since then, my schedule has been busy that I have barely played. I plan to hit the tables more this coming week though.
Started off with an experienced player to my left who has a reputation for unorthodox play in the early stages. He was playing two tables online (one phone, one iPad) and not really interested in the live tournament, to the point where he was playing down the streets without even having checked his cards. Incredibly, he managed to knock another player out; straight flush over straight flush!
That worked out well for me, as I subsequently beat him at showdown twice to take his entire stack, and take the early chip lead. The second of these instances resulted in him criticising my play for calling his UTG shove with 77. I tried to explain that I realise it's not a GTO play, but he was playing so loosely and erraticly that it made the call worthwhile. He didn't seem to understand this concept, and sarcastically implied that if I have reads that good then I will have made millions playing poker. One day that may be true, perhaps, but not yet
I ran really well in the first hour, including picking up aces thrice. But then, as @cal69 joined the table (first time I have ever come across a SkyPoker player in a live tournament), I became completely card dead for a good 30-45 minutes, albeit with the exception of one hand. Aces once again, where I knocked out two players, including cal69. I tried to slow play that hand by flatting pre, but checking back the flop was poor play on my part. I got very lucky there.
From that point, I lost a few hands and ended up bobbing up and down around the average stack for an hour or so. Then, my sickening exit hand occurred.
Blinds were 10k/20k. Action folded around to me on the button with A8o. I raise to 50k. Called by BB.
Flop comes down 842 rainbow.
He checks. I bet 50k, opponent calls.
Turn comes a 7.
He checks. I bet 90k, opponent shoves (covers my stack, and then some).
I use a timebank wondering if he has 65, or an over pair. I realise I probably shouldn't call in this spot, but something instinctual tells me he's bluffing. I am still not sure why I felt like that, it was just a vibe.
I call, he turns over QJo.
The instantaneous joy of seeing queen high, followed by the dismay of the jack on the river, was a gut wrenching moment. Got lots of sympathy and "good call" comments from the table, but man that's frustrating. Finished about 25th, didn't make the cash.
An eventful day, and as much as I hate how it ended, I really am enjoying my poker at the moment. I do feel like I am playing well for the most part, albeit with some errors in there. On the other hand, I had aces four times and didn't make the cash - which paints quite the story!
Morning Peter. @peter27
Live Poker is the nuts, eh?
Not sure these days I'd have the patience to share tables will some selfish oaf who wants to play a Tournament on his Ipad, another on his 'phone, whilst playing the Live one too. Bet he's an interesting sort to sit & have a coffee with.
Will we be seeing you at SPT Notts?
I don't have a problem with people who want to play other tournaments at the same time. I certainly don't think it's selfish. In this specific case it was great because the chap was playing like a nutter and I was able to exploit that. I know at the WSOP a number of the pro's register for two tournaments at the same time and physically switch between tables - which is a similar strategy I suppose, just in person.
@cal69 actually reminded me of the upcoming SPT Nottingham. As it's not an F1 weekend, I really have no excuse. I shall try to qualify this weekend.
Will try win a second seat to be able to play in both day one's.
Look forward to meeting you at SPT Notts Peter.
As I have very little experience of full ring games, I'm going to practice by playing "The Big Tuesday" tournament at Alea tomorrow, followed by an MTT (or two) on PokerStars on Wednesday.
Actually, I did try to get in some PokerStars practice today, but I forgot to turn my filters off and played in a 6-max by mistake. What a moron!