Archive for July 10th, 2009

Ironically, after surviving two days at three tough tables playing in some cases less-than-stellar poker, I busted at a great table after a few hours where I think I was playing quite well.

The day got off to a nice start. Blinds were 600/1200/200 On the third hand, I overcalled a raise with 22 on my BB, flopped K52, and led out for 4400. The pre-flop raiser called, and the other guy folded. Turn was a 6, I bet 7000, he called. River 9, I bet 15K, he tanked, called, and mucked when I showed my set. That got me up to 125K right away.

About 20 minutes later, I raised to 3000 with 54s in middle position. The same guy (the Czech) called in the SB. Flop JT3 with two of my suit. I bet 4400, he raised to 15K with about 40K behind, and I shoved. After some thought, he called with AJ. The turn was a 7 to give me a gutshot, but the river blanked and I was down to 60K.  Read the complete post...

Just finished up the first break of the day, Andrew is down to 26k after a couple hands didn’t get there. Table is much less intense than days 1 and 2 though, so we’ll see.

Updates on twitter fairly regularly, you can view the feed at www.twitter.com/thinkingpoker

Thanks to everyone for following along and for the good luck wishes!

First off, I want to say thanks to everyone who’s commented to wish me luck or to share intelligence. What an amazing thing that one of you is a Russian from Prague able to offer some insight into both a Czech opponent and a Russian one! I’m not going to lie to you: the WSOP is an awesome experience no matter what. But it’s so much more exciting to have people in my corner! Thanks for following along, I’m touched and flattered. Hopefully I’ll have a few more days of excitement to share.

I really didn’t play that many big hands on Day 2, but here are three kind of interesting ones:

At 300/600/75, Ludovic raises to 1500 UTG+1 and I call with JJ. Pagano calls behind me, Levy calls on the button, and a loose/bad Swede calls in the BB. Flop Tc 7c 5d. Ludovic bets 2600, I raise to 7000, two folds, he calls. Turn 2h, we both check. River 8d, he checks, I tank. Granted my hand looks like a busted draw, but his range for raising in early position, betting into four people on the flop, and calling a raise shouldn’t be that wide. Given that my hand looks like a missed draw, he ought to be checking even his strongest hands to me on the river, but in reality he probably isn’t. I decline to value bet, giving him way too much credit and costing myself probably 9-10K. He shows an 8. I show my Jacks and he calls me the worst player he’s ever seen and walks away from the table in disgust.  Read the complete post...