Considering my game options and what I like to play...
Small buy in tournaments with short blind levels were out right away. I've done this before and it's not worth it.. the play is all over the place and time goes so fast.. and you start with barely any chips so it's just a mess.
Now cash... well I really have less than $200 to put in a cash game. Eh.. It's really not my favorite. I really like tournaments..
The decision.. Caesars 12pm daily tournament. $125+10 one time add on at buy in.. total chips 7500. 30 min levels. Antes at 2nd 600-1200 level.
I played here last trip and was really comfortable with the players and liked the room and the structure of this tournament. I did well last time but made a poorly timed move. Could use a redo here.. but this will probably be all I play since I only play sober and planned on drinking for the concert.
Tournament started with 47 players. A low turnout compared to last time of 180. But last time I played in this one it was a Thursday. The average player seemed weak and easy to read. I played patient.. and I hit a great spot. The player to my left was and older gentlemen: loud, fun, novice and from the mid-west. He chatted it up with the players at the table.. I was in a hand in late position with A-6. I usually don't play many A-rags but I was 1 off the button, blinds 50-100, I limped and then the SB raised to 250 and BB and a middle position called the extra 150.. I call and the button (the older gentlemen) called. There's 1250 in the pot now. The flop Ac-As-3s. It checks around to me and I check.. then the older gentlemen bets 1000. SB(original better) calls and I call. Button give a "Hm" to the calls on his bet. I'm stressed about my kicker since the SB called.. I watched him.. I couldn't figure him out yet. Turn.. 7h. SB checks. I bet 2000 into a 4250 pot. Little small for a possible flush draw. Older gentlemen calls. SB gives it up. Now I am thinking I'm out kicked. (I can be so negative). River... Jd. Flush misses.. I check thinking he'll check back (hopefully) or he'll value bet the A and it'll be cheap since he might put me on the busted flush now.. He thinks for a bit (which seemed a little weird if he had an A).. and then goes all in. I think for a bit, single stack and pick up my chips and look at him. He's staring right at the pot. Very different from his baseline- happy/comedian guy.. and now he's not talkative at all.. not the same guy... So.. I call pretty easily.. wrong means out but I'm confident.. and I'm right. He shows down a busted flush. I become and early chip leader and am up to 22800 at the 1st break... leaving older gentlemen with only 700.. He, however, turns that around quickly with his wild play.
A little later in the tournament I knock someone out with a really ugly hand.
I have AA and raise to 1200 (blinds are 200-400) from middle position. UTG calls, who had limped, and everyone else folds. The flop is 9-8-Q rainbow. UTG looks at his chips and acts weak and then checks.. hmm.. well, I have a lot of chips so I bet 3000. He goes all in for 1900 more. I call and hope he's just on a nice looking draw.. Q-J maybe.. He shows J-10. He flopped a straight. I take the felt and say nice hand.. but then a 9 comes on the turn.. and another 9 on the river.. runner runner full house. Damn that's rough for him.. and poker. Love it. Hate it.. Love it.. on that hand.
I build up my chips to a healthy 38000 later on.. down to 3 tables. I lose 1/3rd with AA again to flopped trips. Bummer.. but I hang on for the final table.. I make it in with 6th place chips.. and 6 pay. Also, 2 are college friends and 2 others are father-daughter from Europe.. definitely soft play between these players. Another player is the older gentlemen who some how made it in with a nice stack and again is to my left. 9th is out right away. There's another woman who is the short stack now and playing very very tight. Then there is the fact that no one is really pushing around chips... and taking a lead.. Finally, short stack lady goes all in and I call with 88.. everyone else folds. She shows A3 off. I sigh and wait for the flop. All low.. so far so good.. Turn.. A.. my heart sinks.. she had a 12% chance to hit that card.. river blank.. she wins. I'm left with 2200. I double up quickly with K-7.. Yay! haha.. Then I get A-6 suited and go all in.. A nice guy (one of the college buddies) was in the BB and called with K-6. It was only like 2400 more for him to call at this point. He said.. I'm hoping this will double you up.. Good intentions, I believed since we had been playing earlier and I doubled him when he was short. Flop.. Q-K-K... yeah that's it for me.. wow. That was rough those last 2 hands..
Worst part.. out in 8th and top 6 paid.. damn so close. I was happy with my play and I love to play though so for that the 7 hours wasn't for nothing.
