The most exciting news of the day comes to us from Carlos, who reports:
So I bust the PH 200K and at the last minute, a friend from back home hits me up to late reg the Monster. I rush over and get in with 15 mins left in the 200/400 level. I have 16.5K at dinner.AA to AK takes me to 26K.Stolen blinds take me to 31K.99 to KJo shorty shove takes me to 39K.Last hand of the night, I defend 54s against aggro guy with 20bbs. Flop TT7 with a flush draw for me. I check shove and end the night with 47.5KDidn’t see many flops at all.While we were bagging, a guy got excited and says “it’s after midnight, I cannot believe I bagged on my birthday!” At this point, I break my silence for the first time and reveal the fact that I am also a fish on a heater and that we share a birthday. There was a bracelet winner on my right (Greg Ostrander) bragging about how he took down a 3K three years ago for $750K. I cut him off mid sentence all like yadda yadda yadda. It’s my birthday, take my picture and he did.
My own play in the Monster Stack was not so exciting. I had to fold good pairs to bad rivers in a couple of medium sized pots, and that took me down to about 9K. In one of my first hands at a new table, a competent-looking player limped UTG at the 100/200 level. I was UTG2 and chose to limp behind with 99.
I raise here more often than not, and always against a weaker limper, but I think calling is a viable option when a good player has limped UTG. I didn’t want to face a limp-raise, and with so many players behind me, there’s a good chance that at least one player who has position is going to call me anyway, in which case the value of going to the flop in a raised pot is not so high. Limping makes it harder to win the pot, but it also makes the pot less important, conceals my hand, and sometimes gives me the option to limp-raise myself.
Sure enough, another capable-looking player limped the CO, and then a young European on the button raised to 1000. The blinds and the first limper folded, and I think at this point I have an easy shove. I gain a lot from his folds, I won’t be in terrible shape when called, and I don’t particularly want to induce a shove by 3-betting less than all-in. To my surprise, the CO jammed as well, and the button folded. This seemed like an even better outcome for me, because I thought he was more likely to have a smaller pair than a larger one, but he actually had AKo and won the flip.
It was a weird hand, but it did in fact turn into the good spot that I hoped it would.
Edit: Carlos asked me to add a shoutout to PokerJunkey.com for providing him with the Eat Sleep Poker t-shirt he’s wearing in this picture. Yet another milestone in CW’s career: free endorsement SWAG!
Happy Birthday, Carlos! Maybe another trip to Whole Foods, or celebrate like a nit? Enjoy.
Man don’t tell the CBL its your birthday. She be making you and your roomie wear party hats and blowing candles and she be washing your BOWLs! Have a happy one my man. I wish I was there railing you. But you know me. If it wasn’t for bad luck I have no luck at all. Kill it!!!
There is a lot of sadness in poker. Thank goodness for folks like Carlos and stories like this.
Thanks guys.
I kind of made a WSOP blog update (not really). Before the last hand was dealt, this Greg guys says he is not gonna bag a short stack and that he’d rather just bust. He picks up AA UTG and shoves, gets called by UTG1 with 66, and I think for half a second in UTG2 before folding 77. Flop A7x. http://www.wsop.com/tournaments/update/IGA/greg-ostrander-flops-aces-on-last-hand-of-the-night/
Shortly after the hand, I ask him to take my pic.
Just realized they got the action wrong. This was definitely an open shove from UTG. I was 2 to his left in MP.
where is Poker News when you need them.
Made it a few hours into day 2 and busted after the break with AK to KK. It was fun, but I will not be a live pro any time soon. Way too much variance.
Only thing left on the bucket list now is the main, maybe next year. After that, it’s all online for me and the occasional daily or live STT.
Are you still playing the 50/50 and the WPT?
I am ending my package in the black, so I dont plan on the 50/50. I played a WSOP 1K and a 1.5K. Afterwards, I was left wondering what all the hoopla was about. It’s just a tournament. Same typical players and dealers. Same typical rivers. But for a lot more money and time investment. If I ever final tabled one, maybe the excitement would be addictive. I better get out now before the bug bites me.
I may still play the WPT500 and just split the action with someone if I am feeling it at the time.
Right now, I just enjoy online MTTs way more and I do better at them. Happiness first.
This makes me happy to read. Keep on keepin’ on.
Haha. Love it. Happy Birthday!
Don’t tell me you’re jaded already!? Your recent podcast about enjoying being a poker player was refreshing and inspiring. Crush that live game. Don’t let a few rivers get you down!
Complete opposite actually. This is jade prevention. Jadedness results when people feel compelled to play when they dont want to. I dont want to play live every day, so I am not going to. I want to play online every day (where there are plenty of more rivers, but also the ability to block chat and no misdeals), so I am going to. Even if it means playing for a lot less money and glory. I’d rather just enjoy being an online poker player. Happiness first.