“First time?” Mike laughed good naturedly at his hesitation. “It’s already lit, just suck it a little, like a straw. There you go. Wait, wait, don’t blow it out yet.” Walter did his best to oblige, holding his breath as he removed the cigar from his mouth. The taste was surprisingly sweet, like citrus and pine, and a little peppery. He liked it.

After a few seconds, he coughed out a cloud of gray smoke. He tried to take a breath, but that triggered a further bout of coughing, and soon he was doubled over and sputtering. Smurf snatched the blunt from his hand as he cast about for something to drink.

John previously appeared on Episode 64 and Episode 132. He’s also recommended a lot of great guests to use over the years, including Dick Carson.

Timestamps

0:30 – Hello, welcome, and strategy
14:45 – John The Lawyer

Links

High Rollers: A History of Gambling
The Fear of 13
The Staircase
Serial

Timestamps

0:30 – Hello & Welcome
8:32 – Strategy
22:46 – Interview

Strategy

The hand comes from a $400 buy-in WSOP circuit event at Foxwoods. We are nearly at the bubble. 56 players remain and 54 make the money. The blinds are $2,500 – $5,000 with a $5,000 big blind ante. I’m on the button with AK offsuit and about 130k in chips. It folds to the highjack who has about 700k chips. I don’t have any reads, but he is the biggest stack at the table. He raises to 20k. I fold.

Timestamps

7:20 – Ego
22:20 – 7 Card Stud
63:30 – International Relations
70:45 – Heads Up NLHE
84:45 – Multi-Table Tournaments

Timestamps

0:30 – hello & welcome
10:09 – strategy
50:40 – superdave

Thanks to everyone who played in yesterday’s inaugural Thinking Poker Home Game tournament. I had a lot of fun and it seems like everyone else did as well.

Spidurman was our champion, outlasting 15 other competitors, including yours truly, to win first place in the $5+.50 “6-Max and Deep Stacks” event. Bond2King was the runner-up, and Piefarmer bubbled in 3rd place. Also scoring points in the nebulous League Standings were LiPhanOK and QandA201 in 4th and 5th place, respectively. Thus, after one tournament, the current standings look like this:

Don’t ask me how those points are calculated, because I have no idea. As you can see, though, there’s not a huge difference in points between 1st and 5th place, so even if you missed or didn’t do well in yesterday’s tournament, there’s no reason you couldn’t go on to win the season and the grand prize of a Leakfinder review with yours truly.

The next tournament will take place on Sunday, March 6th at 16:30 ET on PokerStars, coinciding with the epic Sunday Five Million. It will be a $1+.10 Triple Stud tournament, meaning that we’ll alternate between 7 Card Stud, Razz, and Stud/8. I deliberately made the buy-in as small as possible so that you can come play and have fun even if you have no idea what you’re doing in those games.

There will also be a Thinking Poker cash game tomorrow night at 20:00 ET. We’ll be playing $.10/$.25 6-max with a 100-250 BB buy-in. The results won’t count towards league standings, but if yesterday’s experience is any guide, it should be a good time.

The 2+2 MTT community is mostly salivating over this, though some are a little concerned that the smaller events will actually discourage people from trying satellite into the bigger events. I don’t think they’re wrong, but I still expect the big events to be plenty soft thanks to tourney donks playing with relatively deep stacks for fairly big money.

The only issue for me is how to get enough money on Stars by April to enable me to play the ones I want without busting the bankroll. I may suck it up and make a wire transfer, which I’ve so far refused to do on principle since Stars makes the depositor pay the wire fees. It’s really preposterous- I pay enough rake in 10 minutes to cover the fees, and it’s clearly in their interest for me to have money on their site.

Anyway, the schedule:

Event 1 – 2 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em with Rebuys [6-max]

Really looking forward to this one, will probably play the medium and the large.

• 01-L: $5.50 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 01-M: $55 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 01-H: $530 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 2 – 2 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – PL Omaha Hi/Lo

I like PLO8 and will probably play the medium, maybe the large depending on what the field looks like. I’d probably even be willing to play the large if I thought I was slightly -EV.

• 02-L: $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 02-M: $109 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 02-H: $1,050 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 3 – 3 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – PL 5-Card Draw

I might play the small or medium for fun, but definitely won’t be playing the large.

• 03-L: $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 03-M: $109 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 03-H: $1,050 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 4 – 3 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [2X Chance, turbo]

It’s hard to turn down the great value that all of these NLHE tourneys represent, but I really hate turbos. In these, the tourney donks might actually have the edge on me.

• 04-L: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 04-M: $162 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 04-H: $1,575 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 5 – 4 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em Shootout [10-max]

The large will probably be worth playing.

• 05-L: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 05-M: $162 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 05-H: $1,575 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 6 – 4 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – PL Omaha [1R1A, 6-max]

I might play the medium, but lately I’ve no interest in PLO.

• 06-L: $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 06-M: $215 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 06-H: $2,100 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 7 – 5 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – H.O.R.S.E.

Recently I’ve concluded that I may not be as good at HORSE as I thought, and/or everyone else is getting better. If I play, it will probably just be the low.

• 07-L: $109 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 07-M: $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 07-H: $10,300 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 8 – 5 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [2-day]

Juicy! The medium will be fine, but it’s probably not a good idea to burn so much time on a $300 tournament. I really want to play the large though.

• 08-L: $33 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 08-M: $320 buy-in, $1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 08-H: $3,150 buy-in, $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 9 – 6 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – FL Triple Draw 2-7

If I play, it would only be the low for fun. Whenever I play this game, I always end up screwing up and getting excited about an Ace or a straight.

• 09-L: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 09-M: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 09-H: $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 10 – 6 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play]

Nice opportunity for heads up, will probably play medium and large.

• 10-L: $16.50 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 10-M: $162 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 10-H: $1,575 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 11 – 7 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – Mixed Hold’em [6-max]

Meh. I really hate and suck at FLHE. I’ll probably sit this one out.

• 11-L: $33 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 11-M: $320 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 11-H: $3,150 buy-in, $800,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 12 – 7 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo

I like this game, but I’m probably not good enought for the large. I’ll likely play the medium though.

• 12-L: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 12-M: $215 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 12-H: $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 13 – 8 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – FL Razz

Same as above, only Razz is more frustrating. Maybe the medium, not the large.

• 13-L: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 13-M: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 13-H: $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 14 – 8 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [6-max]

Tight! Medium and large are both high priorities, and I might even play the low.

• 14-L: $55 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 14-M: $530 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 14-H: $5,200 buy-in, $1,250,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 15 – 9 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – 8-Game

I’m probably too bad at too many of these games to warrant playing even the medium.

• 15-L: $44 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 15-M: $425 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 15-H: $4,175 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 16 – 9 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – 7-Card Stud

I don’t really like and suck at 7-stud, so I won’t be playing these.

• 16-L: $33 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 16-M: $320 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 16-H: $3,150 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 17 – 10 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em [1R1A]

I’ll play the medium, and I’d like to play the high, but it’ll stretch the bankroll. We’ll see.

Event 18 – 10 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – PL Omaha

Meh, probably skip all of these.

• 18-L: $55 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 18-M: $530 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 18-H: $5,200 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 19 – 11 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – FL Omaha Hi/Lo

I’m not much on this game, will probably skip it.

• 19-L: $55 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 19-M: $530 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 19-H: $5,200 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 20 – 11 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – FL Hold’em [6-max]

Definitely not playing these.

• 20-L: $55 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 20-M: $530 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 20-H: $5,200 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 21 – 12 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play]

I’ll play the medium and maybe the low but definitely not the high.

• 21-L: $270 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 21-M: $2,600 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 21-H: $25,500 buy-in, $800,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 22 – 12 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em Main Event [2-day]

I’ll play the medium for sure. I’d really like to play the high, but I don’t know if it’s going to be practical.

• 22-L: $109 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 22-M: $1,050 buy-in, $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 22-H: $10,300 buy-in, $5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

But I also made a pretty big error in a Stud/8 game, so I guess I’ll be talking about how I suck at Stud/8 (though this is really just a Stud high error). On the river, my opponent was showing 6655, and I had Aces up with both Aces and two high cards showing. My opponent bet, and I raised for value. Like I was saying, no matter how clear I make it that I have Aces up, people will call down with any two pair.

I forgot, however, to think about what my opponent would be value betting. Since his two pair was open, there was no way he could be betting on the strength of that alone. He had to have either a boat or a low, and in either case there was no value in a raise. Sure enough, he had 6’s full.

Despite playing for four and a half hours, I only made it to the top 25% of the field. The hand that really hurt me came in LHE. A guy in MP raised, and I 3-bet with AKo. He called. The flop came Ad 5c 3c. He checked, I bet, he check-raised, and I called. the turn was an off-suit 8, he bet, and I raised. The river was a T, and he check-called with Ac Tc. Unlucky river for me, but there were quite a few of those that could have come.

FullTiltPoker Game #5166723748: FTOPS Event #3 (35825861), Table 26 – 500/1000 Ante 100 – Limit Stud Hi – 0:35:56 ET – 2008/02/08
Seat 1: zartarious (10,468)
Seat 2: WCJOKER (16,873)
Seat 3: Rambo no5 (2,006)
Seat 4: jesseja777 (17,150)
Seat 5: joshuah333 (9,909)
Seat 6: Sira21 (6,110)
Seat 7: urbandb888 (3,792)
Seat 8: hattrick8810 (5,714)

*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to zartarious [Ad]
Dealt to WCJOKER [7c]
Dealt to Rambo no5 [6s]
Dealt to jesseja777 [4s]
Dealt to joshuah333 [5h]
Dealt to Sira21 [4d]
Dealt to urbandb888 [4c 5c] [Jc]
Dealt to hattrick8810 [Ks]
Sira21 is low with [4d]
Sira21 brings in for 150
urbandb888 completes it to 500
hattrick8810 folds
zartarious raises to 1,000
WCJOKER folds
Rambo no5 folds
jesseja777 folds
joshuah333 folds
Sira21 folds
urbandb888 calls 500

*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to zartarious [Ad] [8c]
Dealt to urbandb888 [4c 5c Jc] [Tc]
zartarious bets 500
urbandb888 calls 500

*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to zartarious [Ad 8c] [Ac]
Dealt to urbandb888 [4c 5c Jc Tc] [Jh]
zartarious bets 1,000
urbandb888 calls 1,000

*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to zartarious [Ad 8c Ac] [9c]
Dealt to urbandb888 [4c 5c Jc Tc Jh] [Qs]
zartarious bets 1,000
urbandb888 calls 1,000

*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to urbandb888 [4c 5c Jc Tc Jh Qs] [7s]
zartarious bets 1,000
urbandb888 folds
Uncalled bet of 1,000 returned to zartarious
zartarious shows [Ah 7h Ad 8c Ac 9c 6h] three of a kind, Aces
zartarious wins the pot (7,950)

There are a couple of things wrong with my play on 3rd street here. I’d been playing very tight, partially because that’s just the right strategy in fixed limit tournaments and partially because of some lackluster cards, and so I thought my raise would get some credit. It was a semi-bluff, hoping to represent a pair of Jacks but actually holding a three flush.

However, my hole cards are small, making them less valuable, and worse, they are dead. That is, a 5 and two 4’s are showing, making it more likely that I will brick future streets. Stud is a game about constant improvement. Generally your hand needs to keep getting better, either by pairing or improving draws, for you to continue with it on each street. And those dead cards make it harder me to improve my hand.

Raising into two bigger cards behind me is also problematic. No matter how tight my image, no one is folding a pair of K’s or A’s when a J raises.

Three flushes are also generally less playable in tournament Stud, especially when stacks are shallow. This is because pots are more likely to be contested heads up and you will often commit a lot of chips chasing only to fold the river, as I did here, and leave yourself crippled.

It’s always true in tournament poker that your last chips are worth more than the others, but it’s especially true in fixed limit games. In NLHE, a short stack is worth more than half a stack of twice its size because of the value of survival, but it also has its disadvantages. With a short stack, you lose the ability to make certain plays, such as to re-raise with fold equity pre-flop or to make a continuation bet on the flop. In a game where the bet sizes are fixed, a guy with enough chips to bet every street to the river is almost exactly as threatening as a guy with ten times his chips. There is very little the bigger stack can do that the shorter cannot. Thus, it is especially important not to put your last chips in jeopardy in a marginal spot. Like I did.

In the early rounds of a stud tournament, where stacks are deep relative to the stakes, Gray advises nothing more than a “good, normal, solid strategy” akin to what would be appropriate in a cash game. I appreciate that he doesn’t elaborate overly much on what exactly that is, since there are other, presumably better resources for learning the game of Seven Card Stud.

As its name implies, this compact chapter sets its sights on tournament stud, his approach to which Gray sums up as follows: “After the first few levels, you can’t afford to lose a full pot in a tournament and still have relative chip strength. You are definitely looking to play a top hand and move on people you think have nothing.” His point is that you can’t afford to play from behind. Even when getting the right pot odds, the price is too high to chase a likely big pair with a flush draw or an underpair and an overcard or two, since you end up crippled all too frequently.

But doesn’t one also lose money by folding when the odds are good? Gray does his best to mitigate this effect by advising extreme selectiveness on third street (you can’t make a four-flush if you fold your three-flush) and again on fifth street, when the bets double and calling is likely to price yourself in until seventh.

Intuitively, this cautiousness makes sense, and I’m inclined to say that it’s good advice. What concerns me is Gray’s occasional resort to weak-tight tournament platitudes such as, “a tournament… is about losing the least, especially because losing hurts you more than winning helps–when you’re out, you’re out.” I’ve just heard this from too many old nits at live tournaments to accept it as gospel in a stud tournament with no further analysis. I’d like to know that Gray is aware of this principle’s flawed application in NLHE tournaments and nonetheless believes it relevant in a stud setting.

It is also hard to say when exactly one ought to switch from cash game to tournament strategy. Gray advises that, “Until you are very close to the money, you should play your normal strategy.” However, his warrants for especially cautious play relate more to stack depth than to the divergence between chip equity and cash equity.

Presumably it is acceptable and maybe necessary to take some gambles when your stack gets small relative to the stakes. As he cautions, “If you play too tight, you can become so low on chips that even winning with your last chips doesn’t improve your position.” But in lieu of advice about how to navigate between these extremes, the reader gets only an acknowledgment of the challenge: “Weighing proper strategy… against your survival is difficult, and though I recommend you place a very high value on your survival, you sometimes have to risk going broke.”

This tight strategy works, Gray believes, because other players tend to be overly loose and because stud poker is not a game of implied odds. It is difficult to make a killing with a concealed monster the way one can in NLHE by flopping a set or an unlikely two pair. Thus, his goal is to stay out of trouble, play mostly big pairs and rolled up trips, and take advantage of others’ loose play. As Gray puts it, “I don’t ever want to enter a pot where I don’t think I’m a favorite.”

Gray addresses some other unique elements of tournament poker, such as the fact that the ratio of ante:big bet will change from level to level, necessitating an adaptation in hand selection that few players recognize. He also considers short and big stack play, arguing that the former need to pick a hand and stick to it, whereas the latter ought to splash around a bit more but get out of the way quickly when a shorter stack shows interest, since that player can probably not be bluffed out.

David Gray’s tournament stud strategy seems like a useful one, particularly for those new to the game, ie the majority of his readers. It is designed to keep you alive, keep you out of trouble, and put you in position to win some money. With a good table draw and a bit of luck, it might even win you a tournament or two.

Stud/8 is a tricky game to play on a short stack. With 5 BB’s in NLHE, I’m looking to pick a hand and go with it, moving all in and hoping for the best. In Stud/8, though, hand values tend to solidify on 4th or 5th rather than 3rd street, and since it’s a fixed limit game (at least it was in this tournament), you can’t just commit all your chips with a decent starting hand and pray. So I came into a few unraised pots but kept bricking on 4th and folding, managing to lose about half of my already short stack before this hand came up against 2+2’s Sirwatts:

I’m So Short, Even a Chop Will Help

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($300/$600), Ante $60 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.40 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx J:heart:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade:___calls
Seat 4: xx xx 6:club:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx J:diamond:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 6:heart:___raises
Seat 7: xx xx 3:spade:___folds
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart:___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (4.40 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club:___bets___raises
Seat 6: xx xx 6:heart: K:club:___calls___folds
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club:___[b]checks[/b]___raises___calls 131 and is all-in

[b]5th Street[/b] – (5.42 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club: 8:heart:
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club: 5:club:___all-in

[b]6th Street[/b] – (5.42 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club: 8:heart: 5:heart:
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club: 5:club: J:spade:___all-in

[b]River[/b] – (5.42 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club: 8:heart: 5:heart: xx
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club: 5:club: J:spade: 2:club:___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (5.42 BB)

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($300/$600), Ante $60 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.40 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx J:heart:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade:___calls
Seat 4: xx xx 6:club:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx J:diamond:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 6:heart:___raises
Seat 7: xx xx 3:spade:___folds
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart:___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (4.40 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club:___bets___raises
Seat 6: xx xx 6:heart: K:club:___calls___folds
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club:___[b]checks[/b]___raises___calls 131 and is all-in

[b]5th Street[/b] – (5.42 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club: 8:heart:
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club: 5:club:___all-in

[b]6th Street[/b] – (5.42 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club: 8:heart: 5:heart:
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club: 5:club: J:spade:___all-in

[b]River[/b] – (5.42 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade: 4:club: 8:heart: 5:heart: xx
Hero: 4:diamond: A:heart: 4:heart: A:club: 5:club: J:spade: 2:club:___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (5.42 BB)

But I’d Rather Scoop

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($300/$600), Ante $60 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $8,379
Seat 3: $5,889
Seat 4: $1,252
Seat 5: $1,462
Seat 6: $11,259
Seat 7: $6,600
Hero: $1,541

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.40 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 9:club:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 2:club:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx K:club:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 7:heart:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx J:heart:___raises
Seat 7: xx xx 7:spade:___folds
Hero: 4:diamond: 6:club: 5:diamond:___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.70 SB)

Seat 6: xx xx J:heart: 6:diamond:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: 4:diamond: 6:club: 5:diamond: 4:heart:___bets

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.85 BB)

Seat 6: xx xx J:heart: 6:diamond: A:spade:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: 4:diamond: 6:club: 5:diamond: 4:heart: A:diamond:___bets

[b]6th Street[/b] – (4.85 BB)

Seat 6: xx xx J:heart: 6:diamond: A:spade: T:diamond:___calls
Hero: 4:diamond: 6:club: 5:diamond: 4:heart: A:diamond: 4:club:___[b]bets 281 and is all-in[/b]

[b]River[/b] – (5.79 BB)

Seat 6: xx xx J:heart: 6:diamond: A:spade: T:diamond: xx
Hero: 4:diamond: 6:club: 5:diamond: 4:heart: A:diamond: 4:club: Q:heart:___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (5.79 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 3472 | Rake 0

Seat 6: [Tc Qs Jh 6d As Td 9d] (HI: a pair of Tens)

Hero: [4d 6c 5d 4h Ad 4c Qh] (HI: three of a kind, Fours)

[/color]

Thanks For Limping, Everyone

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($400/$800), Ante $80 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $2,952
Hero: $4,313
Seat 3: $8,291
Seat 4: $2,430
Seat 5: $5,092
Seat 6: $20,920
Seat 7: $16,826
Seat 8: $10,337

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.60 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 6:spade:___calls
Hero: 9:diamond: K:heart: 2:club:
Seat 3: xx xx 9:spade:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx Q:spade:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 2:diamond:___calls
Seat 6: xx xx 7:spade:___calls
Seat 7: xx xx 8:heart:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 4:club:___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.40 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 6:spade: Q:diamond:___calls___calls
Hero: 9:diamond: K:heart: 2:club: K:diamond:___raises
Seat 5: xx xx 2:diamond: T:diamond:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 7:spade: T:heart:___folds
Seat 7: xx xx 8:heart: J:diamond:___folds
Seat 8: xx xx 4:club: K:club:___[b]bets[/b]___calls

[b]5th Street[/b] – (4.70 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 6:spade: Q:diamond: 6:heart:___[b]checks[/b]___folds
Hero: 9:diamond: K:heart: 2:club: K:diamond: A:diamond:___bets
Seat 8: xx xx 4:club: K:club: J:heart:___folds

[b]Total pot:[/b] (4.70 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 3760 | Rake 0
[/color]

Bring In Defense

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($400/$800), Ante $80 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Hero: $4,193
Seat 3: $8,371
Seat 4: $2,510
Seat 5: $5,172
Seat 8: $10,217

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Hero: 2:spade: 2:diamond: 3:diamond:___calls
Seat 3: xx xx K:club:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx 4:heart:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx T:diamond:___folds
Seat 8: xx xx A:spade:___raises

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.00 SB)

Hero: 2:spade: 2:diamond: 3:diamond: 4:spade:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx A:spade: 2:heart:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.50 BB)

Hero: 2:spade: 2:diamond: 3:diamond: 4:spade: 9:diamond:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx A:spade: 2:heart: 7:club:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]6th Street[/b] – (4.50 BB)

Hero: 2:spade: 2:diamond: 3:diamond: 4:spade: 9:diamond: 7:heart:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx A:spade: 2:heart: 7:club: 4:club:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]River[/b] – (6.50 BB)

Hero: 2:spade: 2:diamond: 3:diamond: 4:spade: 9:diamond: 7:heart: 9:club:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx A:spade: 2:heart: 7:club: 4:club: xx___[b]bets[/b]

[b]Total pot:[/b] (8.50 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 6800 | Rake 0

Hero: [2s 2d 3d 4s 9d 7h 9c] (HI: two pair, Nines and Deuces)

Seat 8: [Kh 2c As 2h 7c 4c 6d] (HI: a pair of Deuces; LO: 7,6,4,2,A)

[/color]

Villain is Andy Mcleod, a top-ranked NLHE tournament player. From what I’ve seen, he’s at least decent at Stud/8, and very aggressive. If he were showing a less scary card, I’d 3-bet him on 3rd street. If he weren’t raising from steal position, I’d probably let it go on 5th, but I felt he could have almost any two cards in the hole, such that my pair could be good, and even if it wasn’t, a lot of cards could substantially improve my hand on 6th street. Kind of a lucky river, as it turns out, but really there were quite a few cards that would have given me at least half the pot.

Steal Attempt Gone Wrong

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($400/$800), Ante $80 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Hero: $4,193
Seat 3: $7,851
Seat 4: $2,750
Seat 5: $5,172
Seat 7: $2,020
Seat 8: $8,477

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Hero: 9:club: 7:heart: 8:heart:___raises___calls
Seat 3: xx xx 4:spade:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx T:club:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 3:club:___[b]bets[/b]___raises
Seat 7: xx xx 5:club:___folds
Seat 8: xx xx A:club:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (7.20 SB)

Hero: 9:club: 7:heart: 8:heart: 2:club:___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 3:club: 3:spade:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (4.60 BB)

Hero: 9:club: 7:heart: 8:heart: 2:club: 9:spade:___raises___raises 113 to 2513 and is all-in
Seat 5: xx xx 3:club: 3:spade: 8:spade:___[b]bets[/b]___raises___calls

[b]6th Street[/b] – (10.88 BB)

Hero: 9:club: 7:heart: 8:heart: 2:club: 9:spade: 7:diamond:___all-in
Seat 5: xx xx 3:club: 3:spade: 8:spade: 7:club:

[b]River[/b] – (10.88 BB)

Hero: 9:club: 7:heart: 8:heart: 2:club: 9:spade: 7:diamond: 9:diamond:___all-in
Seat 5: xx xx 3:club: 3:spade: 8:spade: 7:club: xx

[b]Total pot:[/b] (10.88 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 8706 | Rake 0

Hero: [9c 7h 8h 2c 9s 7d 9d] (HI: a full house, Nines full of Sevens)

Seat 5: [4d 5h 3c 3s 8s 7c Jh] (HI: a pair of Threes; LO: 8,7,5,4,3)

[/color]

This player had brought it in for a full bet (pretty much never a good move in Stud/8) the last three times he was in the bring-in, so I wasn’t giving him a lot of credit. Ordinarily I would fold this hand with so many baby cards left to act behind me (it isn’t as strong as it looks, since it can make at best a very weak low and rarely makes a strong high), but I was hoping to steal and thinking that making it two bets to go would chase out all but the strongest hands behind me. When the bring-in 3-bet me, I still wasn’t willing to give too much credit. For all I knew, he was just a psychopath who wanted to bet the most at every opportunity. This worked out alright in the end, but I really think I’m better off just folding 3rd.

Hold!

POKERSTARS GAME #12308594405: TOURNAMENT #70002018, $300+$20 7 CARD STUD HI/LO LIMIT – LEVEL X (400/800) – 2007/09/27 – 21:21:05 (ET)
Table ‘70002018 2’ 8-max
Seat 1: Kenny Rap (3019 in chips)
Seat 2: foucault82 (2902 in chips)
Seat 3: Entropy xx (4974 in chips)
Seat 4: UMEE (3550 in chips)
Seat 5: ATCDerby (4721 in chips)
Seat 7: jms919 (2420 in chips)
Seat 8: Andy McLEOD (8877 in chips)
Kenny Rap: posts the ante 80
foucault82: posts the ante 80
Entropy xx: posts the ante 80
UMEE: posts the ante 80
ATCDerby: posts the ante 80
jms919: posts the ante 80
Andy McLEOD: posts the ante 80
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Kenny Rap [7s]
Dealt to foucault82 [4c Kh Kc]
Dealt to Entropy xx [5h]
Dealt to UMEE [Th]
Dealt to ATCDerby [2d]
Dealt to jms919 [7h]
Dealt to Andy McLEOD [Qc]
ATCDerby: brings in for 120
jms919: folds
Andy McLEOD: folds
Kenny Rap: raises 280 to 400
foucault82: raises 400 to 800
Entropy xx: folds
UMEE: folds
ATCDerby: calls 680
Kenny Rap: raises 400 to 1200
foucault82: raises 400 to 1600
Betting is capped
ATCDerby: calls 800
Kenny Rap: calls 400
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to Kenny Rap [7s] [Qd]
Dealt to foucault82 [4c Kh Kc] [4h]
Dealt to ATCDerby [2d] [7c]
foucault82: bets 400
Kenny Rap said, “awesome”
ATCDerby: calls 400
Kenny Rap: calls 400
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to Kenny Rap [7s Qd] [4d]
Dealt to foucault82 [4c Kh Kc 4h] [5s]
Dealt to ATCDerby [2d 7c] [3h]
foucault82: bets 800
ATCDerby: calls 800
Kenny Rap: raises 139 to 939 and is all-in
foucault82: calls 22 and is all-in
ATCDerby: calls 139
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to Kenny Rap [7s Qd 4d] [Qh]
Dealt to foucault82 [4c Kh Kc 4h 5s] [6d]
Dealt to ATCDerby [2d 7c 3h] [6c]
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to foucault82 [4c Kh Kc 4h 5s 6d] [Ah]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Kenny Rap: shows [6s As 7s Qd 4d Qh 3c] (HI: a pair of Queens; LO: 7,6,4,3,A)
ATCDerby: shows [9c 5d 2d 7c 3h 6c Ac] (HI: high card Ace; LO: 6,5,3,2,A)
Kenny Rap collected 117 from side pot
ATCDerby collected 117 from side pot
foucault82: shows [4c Kh Kc 4h 5s 6d Ah] (HI: two pair, Kings and Fours)
foucault82 collected 4513 from main pot
ATCDerby collected 4513 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9260 Main pot 9026. Side pot 234. | Rake 0
Seat 1: Kenny Rap showed [6s As 7s Qd 4d Qh 3c] and won (117) with HI: a pair of Queens; LO: 7,6,4,3,A
Seat 2: foucault82 showed [4c Kh Kc 4h 5s 6d Ah] and won (4513) with HI: two pair, Kings and Fours
Seat 3: Entropy xx folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: UMEE folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: ATCDerby showed [9c 5d 2d 7c 3h 6c Ac] and won (4630) with HI: high card Ace; LO: 6,5,3,2,A
Seat 7: jms919 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: Andy McLEOD folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)

3rd is a little questionable, because ATC really ought to have a strong hand with two-way potential to call two bets cold, but the way people had been playing in this tournament, it seemed possible both of these guys just had Razz hands with little high potential, so I decided to push my perceived edge. Turns out ATC didn’t even have three to a low, I don’t know what the hell he was thinking.

Right around here, the stakes jumped to 500/1000, and we collapsed to two tables. Only the 8 players at the final table were going to get paid, so this was basically the start of the bubble. At my new table were Pearljammer and AndyMcLEOD, both successful NLHE tournament players whom I expected to play loose and aggressive on the bubble. An early scoop against Andy was helpful:

Rigged:

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($500/$1,000), Ante $100 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $4,064
Hero: $5,633
Seat 5: $4,676
Seat 6: $16,416
Seat 7: $16,054
Seat 8: $13,217

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx K:heart:___folds
Hero: 3:spade: 5:spade: 6:spade:___raises___calls
Seat 5: xx xx J:spade:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx T:spade:___folds
Seat 7: xx xx J:club:___folds
Seat 8: xx xx 3:diamond:___raises

[b]4th Street[/b] – (5.20 SB)

Hero: 3:spade: 5:spade: 6:spade: Q:heart:___[b]bets[/b]___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 3:diamond: J:heart:___raises

[b]5th Street[/b] – (4.60 BB)

Hero: 3:spade: 5:spade: 6:spade: Q:heart: 6:diamond:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 3:diamond: J:heart: 9:spade:___bets

[b]6th Street[/b] – (6.60 BB)

Hero: 3:spade: 5:spade: 6:spade: Q:heart: 6:diamond: Q:spade:___[b]bets[/b]
Seat 8: xx xx 3:diamond: J:heart: 9:spade: 5:club:___calls

[b]River[/b] – (8.60 BB)

Hero: 3:spade: 5:spade: 6:spade: Q:heart: 6:diamond: Q:spade: 4:club:___[b]checks[/b]
Seat 8: xx xx 3:diamond: J:heart: 9:spade: 5:club: xx___checks

[b]Total pot:[/b] (8.60 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 8600 | Rake 0

Hero: [3s 5s 6s Qh 6d Qs 4c] (HI: two pair, Queens and Sixes)

[/color]

For some reason you can’t see the results here, but he had buried Aces and typed “****ing rigged” in the chat box after losing. I’m not sure if he was joking, but this is pretty standard in Stud/8, where Aces aren’t nearly as big a favorite over a worse pair as they are in NLHE. Plus I had a monster starting hand, with three suited and connected babies.

Profitable Chop

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($500/$1,000), Ante $100 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $22,498
Seat 2: $11,513
Seat 3: $19,767
Seat 5: $17,915
Hero: $13,615
Seat 8: $2,803

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3:heart:___calls___calls
Seat 2: xx xx T:diamond:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 2:spade:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx K:spade:___folds
Hero: 5:diamond: 4:diamond: A:spade:___raises
Seat 8: xx xx 2:diamond:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.50 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3:heart: Q:spade:___calls
Hero: 5:diamond: 4:diamond: A:spade: 6:heart:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.75 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3:heart: Q:spade: 2:club:___calls
Hero: 5:diamond: 4:diamond: A:spade: 6:heart: K:diamond:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]6th Street[/b] – (4.75 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3:heart: Q:spade: 2:club: 6:spade:___calls
Hero: 5:diamond: 4:diamond: A:spade: 6:heart: K:diamond: 6:diamond:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]River[/b] – (6.75 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3:heart: Q:spade: 2:club: 6:spade: xx___raises
Hero: 5:diamond: 4:diamond: A:spade: 6:heart: K:diamond: 6:diamond: 5:heart:___[b]bets[/b]___calls

[b]Total pot:[/b] (10.75 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 10750 | Rake 0

Seat 1: [8h Ah 3h Qs 2c 6s 4c] (HI: high card Ace; LO: 6,4,3,2,A)

Hero: [5d 4d As 6h Kd 6d 5h] (HI: two pair, Sixes and Fives)

[/color]

Big Draw

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($500/$1,000), Ante $100 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $15,248
Seat 2: $4,982
Seat 3: $11,116
Seat 4: $1,634
Seat 5: $14,156
Seat 6: $5,576
Hero: $9,333
Seat 8: $14,453

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.60 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx A:heart:___calls___calls
Seat 2: xx xx A:diamond:___raises
Seat 3: xx xx J:diamond:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx 9:diamond:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 3:club:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 5:spade:___folds
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:diamond: 7:club:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 2:spade:___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (5.60 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx A:heart: 5:club:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Seat 2: xx xx A:diamond: 4:club:___bets
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:diamond: 7:club: 4:heart:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 2:spade: 6:spade:___calls

[b]5th Street[/b] – (4.80 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx A:heart: 5:club: T:heart:___calls
Seat 2: xx xx A:diamond: 4:club: K:club:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:diamond: 7:club: 4:heart: J:heart:___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 2:spade: 6:spade: 9:spade:___calls

[b]6th Street[/b] – (8.80 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx A:heart: 5:club: T:heart: 7:diamond:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx A:diamond: 4:club: K:club: 3:heart:___[b]bets[/b]___raises 882 to 2882 and is all-in
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:diamond: 7:club: 4:heart: J:heart: 3:spade:___raises___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 2:spade: 6:spade: 9:spade: T:club:___folds

[b]River[/b] – (14.56 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx A:diamond: 4:club: K:club: 3:heart: xx___all-in
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:diamond: 7:club: 4:heart: J:heart: 3:spade: K:spade:

[b]Total pot:[/b] (14.56 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 14564 | Rake 0

Seat 2: [Ac 9c Ad 4c Kc 3h Ts] (HI: a pair of Aces)

Hero: [5d 6d 7c 4h Jh 3s Ks] (HI: a straight, Three to Seven; LO: 7,6,5,4,3)

[/color]

In retrospect, I think I should raise 4th. I’ve got a huge draw, but others may be drawing at better lows, and I want both to chase them out if possible and build the pot against any one-way hands that stay in. I believe my thinking at the time was that it would be easier to chase them with a raise on 5th, when the bets were bigger, but then I bricked and decided to make my hand first. This is the type of trick multi-way situation that separates good Stud players from great ones, and I fear that although I scooped the pot, I may have failed the test.

Another Steal Gone Wrong

POKERSTARS GAME #12309577604: TOURNAMENT #70002018, $300+$20 7 CARD STUD HI/LO LIMIT – LEVEL XII (750/1500) – 2007/09/27 – 22:16:22 (ET)
Table ‘70002018 8’ 8-max
Seat 1: Striker 10 (9660 in chips)
Seat 2: PearlJammer (28275 in chips)
Seat 3: a_zuzolo (20139 in chips)
Seat 5: somebody (16803 in chips)
Seat 7: foucault82 (13234 in chips)
Striker 10: posts the ante 150
PearlJammer: posts the ante 150
a_zuzolo: posts the ante 150
somebody: posts the ante 150
foucault82: posts the ante 150
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Striker 10 [Ad]
Dealt to PearlJammer [Ks]
Dealt to a_zuzolo [4h]
Dealt to somebody [6d]
Dealt to foucault82 [2h Qh Ah]
a_zuzolo: brings in for 225
somebody: calls 225
foucault82: raises 525 to 750
Striker 10: folds
PearlJammer: folds
a_zuzolo: calls 525
somebody: calls 525
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to a_zuzolo [4h] [6c]
Dealt to somebody [6d] [4c]
Dealt to foucault82 [2h Qh Ah] [Js]
foucault82: checks
a_zuzolo: checks
somebody: checks
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to a_zuzolo [4h 6c] [Ac]
Dealt to somebody [6d 4c] [Td]
Dealt to foucault82 [2h Qh Ah Js] [9d]
foucault82: checks
a_zuzolo: bets 1500
somebody: folds
foucault82: folds
a_zuzolo collected 3000 from pot
a_zuzolo: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3000 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Striker 10 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: PearlJammer folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: a_zuzolo collected (3000)
Seat 5: somebody folded on the 5th Street
Seat 7: foucault82 folded on the 5th Street

My plan here was to abuse the bubble a bit by representing a pair of Aces. It definitely matters that I have three to a flush and two babies when I do this. Unfortunately, I got called by two players and caught bad while they caught well on 4th, so I just gave up.

More of the Same

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $10,110
Seat 2: $28,950
Seat 3: $15,339
Seat 5: $14,778
Hero: $18,934

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 9:club:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx T:diamond:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx Q:heart:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 5:club:___calls
Hero: 8:heart: 5:heart: J:heart:___raises

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.00 SB)

Seat 5: xx xx 5:club: 3:club:___bets
Hero: 8:heart: 5:heart: J:heart: 7:spade:___[b]checks[/b]___folds

[b]Total pot:[/b] (3.00 SB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 2250 | Rake 0
[/color]

Under Pressure

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $9,810
Seat 2: $28,650
Seat 3: $14,814
Seat 5: $16,953
Hero: $17,884

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 8:diamond:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 5:heart:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx J:spade:___raises___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 7:diamond:___folds
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:club: A:heart:___raises

[b]4th Street[/b] – (5.30 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx J:spade: 9:spade:___checks
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:club: A:heart: T:spade:___[b]checks[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.65 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx J:spade: 9:spade: 9:heart:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:club: A:heart: T:spade: 4:spade:___calls

[b]6th Street[/b] – (4.65 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx J:spade: 9:spade: 9:heart: K:spade:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:club: A:heart: T:spade: 4:spade: J:diamond:___calls

[b]River[/b] – (6.65 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx J:spade: 9:spade: 9:heart: K:spade: xx___[b]checks[/b]
Hero: 5:diamond: 6:club: A:heart: T:spade: 4:spade: J:diamond: 6:heart:___checks

[b]Total pot:[/b] (6.65 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 9975 | Rake 0

Seat 3: [4c Jh Js 9s 9h Ks 2d] (HI: two pair, Jacks and Nines)

[/color]

This would generally not warrant a raise on 3rd and might even be a fold, but again I was looking to apply pressure on the bubble, and I did have an A showing with my 3-low. I think this was the best of my failed steals, though it cost me the most.

Weak?

POKERSTARS GAME #12309490241: TOURNAMENT #70002018, $300+$20 7 CARD STUD HI/LO LIMIT – LEVEL XII (750/1500) – 2007/09/27 – 22:11:24 (ET)
Table ‘70002018 8’ 8-max
Seat 1: Striker 10 (10598 in chips)
Seat 2: PearlJammer (29925 in chips)
Seat 3: a_zuzolo (12639 in chips)
Seat 5: somebody (15490 in chips)
Seat 7: foucault82 (19459 in chips)
Striker 10: posts the ante 150
PearlJammer: posts the ante 150
a_zuzolo: posts the ante 150
somebody: posts the ante 150
foucault82: posts the ante 150
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Striker 10 [9h]
Dealt to PearlJammer [8h]
Dealt to a_zuzolo [8d]
Dealt to somebody [2s]
Dealt to foucault82 [5h 6c 4d]
somebody: brings in for 225
foucault82: raises 525 to 750
Striker 10: folds
PearlJammer: folds
Striker 10 said, “change sea”
a_zuzolo: raises 750 to 1500
somebody: folds
Striker 10 said, “t”
foucault82: calls 750
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to a_zuzolo [8d] [8c]
Dealt to foucault82 [5h 6c 4d] [Tc]
a_zuzolo: bets 750
Striker 10 said, “right click on another”
foucault82: folds
a_zuzolo collected 3975 from pot
a_zuzolo: doesn’t show hand
Striker 10 said, “and sit ther”
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3975 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Striker 10 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: PearlJammer folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: a_zuzolo collected (3975)
Seat 5: somebody folded on the 3rd Street
Seat 7: foucault82 folded on the 4th Street

It may be a little weak to fold such a strong starting hand in a raised pot on 4th, but remember that the two 8’s my opponent is showing substantially decrease my odds of making a straight.

Scooooooooop

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $23,498
Seat 2: $21,413
Seat 3: $14,739
Seat 5: $13,465
Hero: $13,790
Seat 8: $1,206

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 5:spade:___calls
Seat 2: xx xx A:heart:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 5:diamond:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 7:club:___folds
Hero: K:diamond: 6:heart: 2:spade:
Seat 8: xx xx 3:club:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (1.80 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 5:spade: 5:heart:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: K:diamond: 6:heart: 2:spade: K:heart:___calls

[b]5th Street[/b] – (1.90 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 5:spade: 5:heart: 4:heart:___calls
Hero: K:diamond: 6:heart: 2:spade: K:heart: K:spade:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]6th Street[/b] – (3.90 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 5:spade: 5:heart: 4:heart: Q:heart:___calls
Hero: K:diamond: 6:heart: 2:spade: K:heart: K:spade: 9:spade:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]River[/b] – (5.90 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 5:spade: 5:heart: 4:heart: Q:heart: xx___folds
Hero: K:diamond: 6:heart: 2:spade: K:heart: K:spade: 9:spade: A:spade:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]Total pot:[/b] (5.90 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 8850 | Rake 0
[/color]

Good Game

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $19,223
Seat 2: $21,113
Seat 3: $14,439
Seat 5: $13,615
Hero: $18,365
Seat 8: $1,356

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx J:club:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 9:club:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx K:spade:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 8:diamond:___folds
Hero: 5:diamond: 5:spade: 3:spade:___raises
Seat 8: xx xx 5:heart:___raises___calls 456 and is all-in

[b]4th Street[/b] – (4.81 SB)

Hero: 5:diamond: 5:spade: 3:spade: 2:diamond:
Seat 8: xx xx 5:heart: 3:club:___all-in

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.40 BB)

Hero: 5:diamond: 5:spade: 3:spade: 2:diamond: 9:diamond:
Seat 8: xx xx 5:heart: 3:club: 7:spade:___all-in

[b]6th Street[/b] – (2.40 BB)

Hero: 5:diamond: 5:spade: 3:spade: 2:diamond: 9:diamond: 8:spade:
Seat 8: xx xx 5:heart: 3:club: 7:spade: K:heart:___all-in

[b]River[/b] – (2.40 BB)

Hero: 5:diamond: 5:spade: 3:spade: 2:diamond: 9:diamond: 8:spade: 8:club:
Seat 8: xx xx 5:heart: 3:club: 7:spade: K:heart: xx___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (2.40 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 3312 | Rake 0

Hero: [5d 5s 3s 2d 9d 8s 8c] (HI: two pair, Eights and Fives)

Seat 8: [7h 6s 5h 3c 7s Kh 3d] (HI: two pair, Sevens and Threes)

[/color]

Get Out!

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $11,273
Seat 2: $31,313
Seat 3: $12,714
Seat 5: $10,615
Hero: $22,196

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 6:diamond:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 8:diamond:___raises___calls
Seat 3: xx xx 7:diamond:___raises___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 7:heart:___folds
Hero: 2:diamond: K:club: K:diamond:___raises

[b]4th Street[/b] – (10.30 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8:diamond: 2:spade:___raises___calls
Seat 3: xx xx 7:diamond: J:diamond:___folds
Hero: 2:diamond: K:club: K:diamond: 4:diamond:___[b]bets[/b]___raises

[b]5th Street[/b] – (8.15 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8:diamond: 2:spade: A:spade:___raises
Hero: 2:diamond: K:club: K:diamond: 4:diamond: K:spade:___[b]bets[/b]___calls

[b]6th Street[/b] – (12.15 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8:diamond: 2:spade: A:spade: Q:club:___bets
Hero: 2:diamond: K:club: K:diamond: 4:diamond: K:spade: T:club:___[b]checks[/b]___calls

[b]River[/b] – (14.15 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8:diamond: 2:spade: A:spade: Q:club: xx___bets
Hero: 2:diamond: K:club: K:diamond: 4:diamond: K:spade: T:club: A:diamond:___[b]checks[/b]___calls

[b]Total pot:[/b] (16.15 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 24225 | Rake 0

Seat 2: [4c 7s 8d 2s As Qc Kh] (HI: high card Ace; LO: 8,7,4,2,A)

Hero: [2d Kc Kd 4d Ks Tc Ad] (HI: three of a kind, Kings)

[/color]

I wasn’t happy to see Pearljammer pull out a chop here. 874 is pretty thin to raise UTG into so many babies, even at a short-handed table, and he definitely shouldn’t call two more bets cold.

Aggression

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $18,698
Seat 2: $23,063
Seat 3: $14,889
Seat 5: $11,065
Hero: $20,396

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx K:spade:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx J:heart:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 8:diamond:___raises___calls
Seat 5: xx xx Q:club:___folds
Hero: 8:heart: 5:heart: 7:heart:___raises

[b]4th Street[/b] – (5.00 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx 8:diamond: 7:club:___[b]checks[/b]___folds
Hero: 8:heart: 5:heart: 7:heart: 5:spade:___bets

[b]Total pot:[/b] (5.00 SB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 3750 | Rake 0
[/color]

I know I said I usually play these draws slower, but here it’s a good spot for the opener to be stealing, and he’s only showing an 8, so I think there’s a lot more value in a 2-bet.

Nice Bluff

These next two pots are against Pearljammer:

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $11,573
Seat 2: $24,825
Seat 3: $18,489
Seat 5: $10,015
Hero: $23,209

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 8:heart:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx A:club:___raises
Seat 3: xx xx 3:heart:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx T:diamond:___folds
Hero: 4:heart: 5:club: 6:club:___raises___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (5.30 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx A:club: J:heart:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 4:heart: 5:club: 6:club: K:spade:___calls

[b]5th Street[/b] – (3.65 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx A:club: J:heart: 8:spade:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 4:heart: 5:club: 6:club: K:spade: Q:heart:___folds

[b]Total pot:[/b] (3.65 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 5475 | Rake 0
[/color]

He showed me that he also had a busted low draw after I folded. Even so, he had both a better low draw and a better high hand than I did. This is one of the disadvantages of my conservative 3rd street strategy with strong drawing hands: since I don’t take the initiative, I can get bluffed out by more aggressive players.

Definitely Weak

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($750/$1,500), Ante $150 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $11,423
Seat 2: $27,900
Seat 3: $18,114
Seat 5: $9,865
Hero: $20,809

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 9:spade:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 9:heart:___raises
Seat 3: xx xx 3:heart:___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 4:spade:___folds
Hero: K:club: A:spade: K:diamond:___raises___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (7.00 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 9:heart: 7:heart:___bets
Seat 3: xx xx 3:heart: 7:diamond:___calls
Hero: K:club: A:spade: K:diamond: T:spade:___[b]checks[/b]___folds

[b]5th Street[/b] – (4.50 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 9:heart: 7:heart: A:club:___[b]bets[/b]
Seat 3: xx xx 3:heart: 7:diamond: J:diamond:___calls

[b]6th Street[/b] – (6.50 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 9:heart: 7:heart: A:club: 3:diamond:___bets
Seat 3: xx xx 3:heart: 7:diamond: J:diamond: 7:club:___[b]checks[/b]___calls

[b]River[/b] – (8.50 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 9:heart: 7:heart: A:club: 3:diamond: xx___bets
Seat 3: xx xx 3:heart: 7:diamond: J:diamond: 7:club: xx___[b]checks[/b]___folds

[b]Total pot:[/b] (8.50 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 12750 | Rake 0
[/color]

I so often have KK when I 2-bet 3rd with a K showing that it’s pretty suicidal for PJ to 3-bet me cold showing a 9 unless he has buried AA or rolled up trips. However, one 9 is dead (I may not have noticed that at the time, since it’s not generally a card one needs to track), and I’m holding an A, so it’s more likely that he’s just being a LAGtard. This is a pretty bad fold on my part.

Meh

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($1,000/$2,000), Ante $200 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 1: $6,935
Seat 2: $22,225
Seat 3: $31,914
Seat 5: $15,553
Hero: $11,484

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3:club:___folds
Seat 2: xx xx J:spade:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 6:spade:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 5:club:___raises
Hero: 6:heart: 5:spade: 8:heart:___calls

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.30 SB)

Seat 5: xx xx 5:club: 3:heart:___bets
Hero: 6:heart: 5:spade: 8:heart: 6:club:___[b]checks[/b]___calls

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.65 BB)

Seat 5: xx xx 5:club: 3:heart: A:club:___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 6:heart: 5:spade: 8:heart: 6:club: Q:diamond:___folds

[b]Total pot:[/b] (2.65 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 5300 | Rake 0
[/color]

3rd is questionable here. I’ve got some shot at a high and a weak low against a guy who could be stealing, but it’s going to be tricking to play on later streets. He keeps catching good, and that Ace is a scary card, as it probably either completes a low or gives him a pair with a low draw, both of which will be ahead of me. At this stage in the tournament, I didn’t want to get drawn into a big pot where I might be trailing both ways.

Can’t Complain

This was one of the first pots at the final table. I really thought I’d rivered a monster scoop, but as it turns out, I was a little lucky to river even half the pot.

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($1,000/$2,000), Ante $200 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $29,425
Seat 3: $26,282
Seat 4: $45,845
Seat 5: $22,453
Seat 6: $30,215
Hero: $11,184
Seat 8: $26,596

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.40 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 7:diamond:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 4:heart:___raises___calls
Seat 4: xx xx A:club:___raises___raises___calls
Seat 5: xx xx T:spade:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 9:diamond:___folds
Hero: 8:heart: 6:spade: 7:heart:___calls___raises
Seat 8: xx xx 6:diamond:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (13.40 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:heart: T:heart:___calls
Seat 4: xx xx A:club: J:club:___[b]bets[/b]___calls
Hero: 8:heart: 6:spade: 7:heart: 2:diamond:___raises

[b]5th Street[/b] – (9.70 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:heart: T:heart: 9:heart:___calls
Seat 4: xx xx A:club: J:club: 3:diamond:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: 8:heart: 6:spade: 7:heart: 2:diamond: 8:club:___bets

[b]6th Street[/b] – (12.70 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:heart: T:heart: 9:heart: A:diamond:___raises
Seat 4: xx xx A:club: J:club: 3:diamond: 6:heart:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: 8:heart: 6:spade: 7:heart: 2:diamond: 8:club: 4:club:___bets___calls 984 and is all-in

[b]River[/b] – (18.19 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:heart: T:heart: 9:heart: A:diamond: xx___calls
Seat 4: xx xx A:club: J:club: 3:diamond: 6:heart: xx___[b]bets[/b]
Hero: 8:heart: 6:spade: 7:heart: 2:diamond: 8:club: 4:club: 5:club:___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (20.19 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 40384 Main pot 34352. Side pot 6032. | Rake 0

Seat 3: [Ah As 4h Th 9h Ad Js] (HI: three of a kind, Aces)

Seat 4: [2c 3s Ac Jc 3d 6h 4s] (HI: a pair of Threes; LO: 6,4,3,2,A)

Hero: [8h 6s 7h 2d 8c 4c 5c] (HI: a straight, Four to Eight; LO: 7,6,5,4,2)

[/color]

Standard

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($1,500/$3,000), Ante $300 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $24,625
Seat 3: $16,898
Seat 4: $50,662
Seat 5: $26,078
Seat 6: $31,940
Hero: $18,976
Seat 8: $22,821

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.40 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 4:spade:___calls
Seat 3: xx xx 8:spade:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx 8:heart:___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 7:club:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx K:heart:___folds
Hero: 7:spade: 2:diamond: 5:heart:___raises
Seat 8: xx xx T:heart:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.40 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 4:spade: 2:club:___calls
Hero: 7:spade: 2:diamond: 5:heart: 3:heart:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.70 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 4:spade: 2:club: K:spade:___calls
Hero: 7:spade: 2:diamond: 5:heart: 3:heart: 5:spade:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]6th Street[/b] – (4.70 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 4:spade: 2:club: K:spade: 8:diamond:___raises
Hero: 7:spade: 2:diamond: 5:heart: 3:heart: 5:spade: Q:club:___[b]bets[/b]___calls

[b]River[/b] – (8.70 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 4:spade: 2:club: K:spade: 8:diamond: xx___checks
Hero: 7:spade: 2:diamond: 5:heart: 3:heart: 5:spade: Q:club: J:club:___[b]checks[/b]

[b]Total pot:[/b] (8.70 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 26100 | Rake 0

Seat 2: [6d Ad 4s 2c Ks 8d Ts] (HI: high card Ace; LO: 8,6,4,2,A)

Hero: [7s 2d 5h 3h 5s Qc Jc] (HI: a pair of Fives)

[/color]

Valuetown?

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($1,500/$3,000), Ante $300 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $19,225
Seat 3: $18,023
Seat 4: $62,362
Seat 5: $21,203
Seat 6: $29,840
Hero: $25,126
Seat 8: $16,221

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.40 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx T:spade:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx Q:club:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx 8:diamond:___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 9:spade:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx K:club:___folds
Hero: 5:heart: K:diamond: K:spade:___raises
Seat 8: xx xx J:diamond:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.40 SB)

Seat 4: xx xx 8:diamond: 9:heart:___calls
Hero: 5:heart: K:diamond: K:spade: 3:heart:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.70 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx 8:diamond: 9:heart: 4:heart:___calls
Hero: 5:heart: K:diamond: K:spade: 3:heart: 4:diamond:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]6th Street[/b] – (4.70 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx 8:diamond: 9:heart: 4:heart: 9:club:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: 5:heart: K:diamond: K:spade: 3:heart: 4:diamond: 3:club:___bets

[b]River[/b] – (6.70 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx 8:diamond: 9:heart: 4:heart: 9:club: xx___[b]checks[/b]
Hero: 5:heart: K:diamond: K:spade: 3:heart: 4:diamond: 3:club: 5:diamond:___checks

[b]Total pot:[/b] (6.70 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 20100 | Rake 0

Seat 4: [2d 2c 8d 9h 4h 9c 7s] (HI: two pair, Nines and Deuces)

Hero: [5h Kd Ks 3h 4d 3c 5d] (HI: two pair, Kings and Fives)

[/color]

I’m not sure why I didn’t bet the river here. Smart players won’t call with a worse high hand, but I had no reason to think this guy was smart.

Brutal

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($2,000/$4,000), Ante $400 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $33,275
Seat 3: $58,466
Seat 4: $28,502
Seat 6: $20,390
Hero: $32,276
Seat 8: $19,091

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 5:diamond:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 4:spade:___calls
Seat 4: xx xx K:heart:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx K:spade:___folds
Hero: A:diamond: 2:diamond: 7:heart:___raises
Seat 8: xx xx 8:spade:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (3.20 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:spade: 6:spade:___calls
Hero: A:diamond: 2:diamond: 7:heart: 3:heart:___[b]bets[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.60 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:spade: 6:spade: A:heart:___[b]checks[/b]
Hero: A:diamond: 2:diamond: 7:heart: 3:heart: 2:heart:___checks

[b]6th Street[/b] – (2.60 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:spade: 6:spade: A:heart: 6:heart:___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: A:diamond: 2:diamond: 7:heart: 3:heart: 2:heart: A:club:___bets

[b]River[/b] – (4.60 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 4:spade: 6:spade: A:heart: 6:heart: xx___[b]checks[/b]___calls
Hero: A:diamond: 2:diamond: 7:heart: 3:heart: 2:heart: A:club: T:club:___bets

[b]Total pot:[/b] (6.60 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 26400 | Rake 0

Seat 3: [3s Qs 4s 6s Ah 6h 6c] (HI: three of a kind, Sixes)

Hero: [Ad 2d 7h 3h 2h Ac Tc] (HI: two pair, Aces and Deuces)

[/color]

I figured him for a low draw, but he actually had quite a few outs for high. At least he didn’t raise 7th. At the time I was thinking he clearly should have, but I guess from his perspective, I’m very likely to have a low and could have a straight or flush, so in retrospect, I think his call is better.

One Time, Dealer!

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($2,000/$4,000), Ante $400 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $59,875
Seat 3: $75,466
Seat 4: $15,102
Seat 6: $5,990
Hero: $14,876
Seat 8: $20,691

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx A:spade:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 8:club:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx T:diamond:___raises___raises
Seat 6: xx xx 2:club:___folds
Hero: 5:heart: 4:heart: 2:heart:___raises___raises___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 3:spade:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (9.50 SB)

Seat 4: xx xx T:diamond: 5:club:___raises___raises 702 to 6702 and is all-in
Hero: 5:heart: 4:heart: 2:heart: K:club:___[b]bets[/b]___raises___calls 476 and is all-in

[b]5th Street[/b] – (8.04 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx T:diamond: 5:club: 9:diamond:___all-in
Hero: 5:heart: 4:heart: 2:heart: K:club: 7:club:___all-in

[b]6th Street[/b] – (8.04 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx T:diamond: 5:club: 9:diamond: 8:heart:___all-in
Hero: 5:heart: 4:heart: 2:heart: K:club: 7:club: K:heart:___all-in

[b]River[/b] – (8.04 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx T:diamond: 5:club: 9:diamond: 8:heart: xx___all-in
Hero: 5:heart: 4:heart: 2:heart: K:club: 7:club: K:heart: 3:club:___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (8.04 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 31952 | Rake 0

Seat 4: [Ts 4c Td 5c 9d 8h 9s] (HI: two pair, Tens and Nines)

Hero: [5h 4h 2h Kc 7c Kh 3c] (HI: a pair of Kings; LO: 7,5,4,3,2)

[/color]

Pot Odds

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($2,000/$4,000), Ante $400 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $59,475
Seat 3: $75,066
Seat 4: $16,202
Seat 6: $4,990
Hero: $15,976
Seat 8: $20,291

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.20 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 5:club:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 5:heart:___folds
Seat 4: xx xx 7:club:___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 7:heart:___raises___raises 590 to 4590 and is all-in
Hero: K:club: 2:club: 3:spade:___raises___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 9:diamond:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (5.79 SB)

Seat 6: xx xx 7:heart: K:spade:___all-in
Hero: K:club: 2:club: 3:spade: 8:spade:

[b]5th Street[/b] – (2.90 BB)

Seat 6: xx xx 7:heart: K:spade: J:diamond:___all-in
Hero: K:club: 2:club: 3:spade: 8:spade: Q:spade:

[b]6th Street[/b] – (2.90 BB)

Seat 6: xx xx 7:heart: K:spade: J:diamond: 6:heart:___all-in
Hero: K:club: 2:club: 3:spade: 8:spade: Q:spade: 6:diamond:

[b]River[/b] – (2.90 BB)

Seat 6: xx xx 7:heart: K:spade: J:diamond: 6:heart: xx___all-in
Hero: K:club: 2:club: 3:spade: 8:spade: Q:spade: 6:diamond: T:spade:

[b]Total pot:[/b] (2.90 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 11580 | Rake 0

Seat 6: [4d 3c 7h Ks Jd 6h 3d] (HI: a pair of Threes)

Hero: [Kc 2c 3s 8s Qs 6d Ts] (HI: high card King)

[/color]

Busto!

7 Card Stud [b]High-Low[/b] ($2,000/$4,000), Ante $400 ([url=http://www.andyblackwood.com/converter.html]converter[/url])

Seat 2: $58,275
Seat 3: $95,468
Seat 6: $10,380
Hero: $9,186
Seat 8: $18,691

[b]3rd Street[/b] – (1.00 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 3:club:___calls___calls
Seat 3: xx xx Q:spade:___raises___raises___calls
Seat 6: xx xx 3:diamond:___folds
Hero: 4:club: A:spade: 5:spade:___raises___raises
Seat 8: xx xx 3:spade:___folds

[b]4th Street[/b] – (13.00 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 3:club: 2:heart:___calls
Seat 3: xx xx Q:spade: J:spade:___calls
Hero: 4:club: A:spade: 5:spade: 5:club:___[b]bets 786 and is all-in[/b]

[b]5th Street[/b] – (7.09 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 3:club: 2:heart: Q:heart:___[b]checks[/b]
Seat 3: xx xx Q:spade: J:spade: 2:diamond:___checks
Hero: 4:club: A:spade: 5:spade: 5:club: Q:club:___all-in

[b]6th Street[/b] – (7.09 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 3:club: 2:heart: Q:heart: 7:diamond:___[b]checks[/b]
Seat 3: xx xx Q:spade: J:spade: 2:diamond: 9:heart:___checks
Hero: 4:club: A:spade: 5:spade: 5:club: Q:club: 2:spade:___all-in

[b]River[/b] – (7.09 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 3:club: 2:heart: Q:heart: 7:diamond: xx___[b]checks[/b]
Seat 3: xx xx Q:spade: J:spade: 2:diamond: 9:heart: xx___checks
Hero: 4:club: A:spade: 5:spade: 5:club: Q:club: 2:spade: T:spade:___all-in

[b]Total pot:[/b] (7.09 BB)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot 28358 | Rake 0

Seat 2: [4s 7h 3c 2h Qh 7d Jd] (HI: a pair of Sevens)

Seat 3: [Qd 4h Qs Js 2d 9h Ks] (HI: a pair of Queens)

Hero: [4c As 5s 5c Qc 2s Ts]

[/color]

A good low draw with an overcard to Villain’s likely pair is a fine time to make a stand, and with my stack and the top-heavy payout structure, I’m definitely looking to double up or go home at this stage of the tournament. I guess it only helped my equity, but Pearljammer’s cold call with 743, when it was very likely that two more bets were going to go in on 3rd, is just awful.

On the whole I ran pretty well and was excited to final table a WCOOP event, even one this small. It was also a lot of fun, because Stud/8 is a great game. Thanks for following along!