That extra time cut into time I normally spend working on projects for clients, so, when I was back in the office, I chose to complete work for clients, and then there was no time to blog…either I was off to play another no limit hold em tournament or it was time to go to bed.  

So, did my efforts pay off?

Why was I so jazzed about these tournaments?
Because they are only played a couple of times per year, you have to qualify (can’t buy your way in), and the grand prize is a WSOP Main Event package worth $12,000! Who doesn’t want to play in the WSOP?

July 7th, I wrote about the satellite no limit hold em tournaments the Eastern Poker Tour is hosting for its players who have reached a certain level in tournament wins and in tournament points. I reported that I had qualified for both tournaments and noted that I need to keep an eye on the player rankings for the points-qualifying no limit hold em tournament.

July 7th, there were 12 players between me and the cut off for the “points” satellite. During the month of July, that number declined to 5 players. As of today, there are 8 players between me and the cut off for the “points” satellite.

During July, I played only twice – BUT - I placed second in one of those no limit hold em tournaments and earned 116 extra points, so, my qualifying rank for “points” satellite was shored up a bit.

No Limit Hold Em Satellites Training
I see August 1 – 25 as my training period for the end of the month satellites. My plan is to crank the volume of tournaments that I play. I am accustomed to playing twice per week. During August, I will play a minimum of 4 times per week, and, more if I can find the opportunities.

August Recap to Date
So far I have played 5 of the nightly no limit hold em tournaments. I’ve earned ZERO extra points to help secure my eligibility as a player representing the Central Mass region. I’ve earned 72 points in the Framingham Region, but, representing Framingham is not my goal. My goal is to practice as frequently as possible, and practicing with players who are unfamiliar to me is best for training.

I used a $30 voucher that I had won May 3, 2010 (Why do we call when we know we are beat?) to get into the first satellite. Not really much to say about that one. Didn’t get any cards and couldn’t get any momentum going. Basically, got blinded off.

Second satellite, I paid $30 cash. Got one decent hand every round, and, that was one-upped by another player’s hand. When there were still 7 or 8 players at the table, I was the Small Blind. A player out of position, say under-the-gun +2, had raised it 2x the Big Blind. Action folded around to me. I had pocket 5s. I flat called the raise as did the Big Blind. The Flop came something like 5 K 2. A 5 right in the door! I’m breathing easy and choking back an ear-to-ear smile.

P-e-r-r-r-f-e-c-t, I’m thinking! Time to go All In. The under-the-gun +2 had been timid and didn’t mix it up much. He acted like he was more afraid of losing than he was interested in winning, so, he’d fold. The Big Blind was a more experienced player, had a ton of chips, and I knew that he would call with whatevah. BUT…and this is a BIG BUT – when he called, He said, ‘Sorry…I have to call.” Okay, so there’s the kiss of death. You know he’s got pocket Ks or pocket Aces.

Sure enough, under-the-gun +2 folds, and I’m heads up with the Big Blind. He turns over a pair of Aces. Gulp… I’m ahead with trip 5s and crossing my fingers that an Ace doesn’t hit the board. And my hopes are dashed immediately. A big fat Ace comes on the Turn. Now that its set over set, I’ve got one more card to survive… Can I suck out with the case 5? Nope. The 3 of hearts comes on the River. Wasn’t meant to be, and I hit the rails with the bemoans of the remaining players fading in the air as I walk away.

Third satellite, I paid $30 cash. Players were good and the action was at a good pace. When we were down to three, I was short stacked. The chip leader (on my left) had about 50% of the chips in play and the other player (on my right) had about 35%. I was determined to fight my way into the top 2 so that I could play the main event at 4:00. While I didn’t have so many chips, I believed that I could recover. The player to my right was not a good player, probably a beginner. The player to my left was a very good player with lots of experience. He appeared to be mentoring the player on my right, and they had played together the night before.

One obstacle I had is that they were playing together to get me out – and pretty obviously so. So, it wasn’t one brain against another. It was always two brains against mine because they would signal without overtly signalling and talk without talking. After each hand played between me and just the inexperienced player, the mentor would explain to the inexperienced one what he should have done…If you’ve experienced it, you know what I mean. Two people from the same region.  Naturally, they want to advance to the main event together.

Anyways, I knew that my skills were better than the player to my right. I hacked away at him mostly when he was the Small Blind. I made some smart plays and he made some blunders and my chip stack started to be even with his. So much so that his buddy on my left remarked that he didn’t like the way things were going…”I’m not liking this”, he said. And shortly after that, I had just a slight edge on the player on my right.

I’m in the Big Blind. Player to my left is on the Button. Player to my right is the Small Blind. The Button folds. The Small Blind flat calls. I move All In with A K offsuit. The Small Blind thinks for a long time. Fiddles with his chips as if he is going to move them in. Brings them back to his torso. Fiddles some more with the chips. Finally, he calls with K 10 off suit. And we are off to the races!

I was feeling good. Thinking…When I win the hand, he’ll be down to the felt and unable to recover… and I’ll advance to the main event. I will coyly smile at the two of them and… Screechhhhh. Hear the brakes on the train…fingernails across the chalk board. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

Sure enough, by the time the Turn comes, he’s made a K-high straight – and – I need a ten on the River to survive. Nope. Adios amigos!

Okay so that’s a wrap. I invested $90 to win a seat in the $125 main event. After three stikes, I figured I was out!

My biggest frustration on the results of the last satellite is that I would have been able to last so much longer than the newbie who knocked me out. Oh well, guess I was that player one day…

To work off my frustration, I came home, got on PokerStars and placed fifth in a $6.50 45-player no limit hold em tournament. There…I recovered $24 on the day.

Championship No Limit Hold Em Tournament Eligibility
To qualify for the Championship No Limit Hold Em Tournament, you need to have advanced from one of two satellite tournaments.

Satellite Eligibility
To qualify to play in the satellite tournaments, you have to have either won at least one tournament during the season, or, have earned enough points to place you in the top 15% of your region.

The two satellites are run on separate days: The August 28th tournament is for those who qualify by points and the August 29th tournament is for winners of the no limit hold em tournaments played throughout the season.

PokaPaloma’s 2010 performance on the Eastern Poker Tour

I qualify to play in both satellites!  So I have TWO chances to make the final 27.

Prior to playing last Friday, I was eligible for both, but, with regard to the points (top 15%) satellite, there were only three players between me and the cut off amount. Placing second on Friday, put 12 players between me and the cut off amount; meaning that I probably don’t have to sweat the next 8 weeks.

Learn more about the Eastern Poker Tour’s Championship No Limit Hold Em Tournament

Total no limit hold’em tournaments played: 6
Total Top Ten Finishes: 0
Top Five Finishes: 0

First Place finishes: 0
Eleventh place finishes: 1
Donut finishes: 5

Anyways, in celebration of the Fourth of July Holiday, the payouts were doubled and we recieved 5K more chips (15K) than usual. So it was kind of deepstack, but, the blind levels were the same as usual (15 minutes).  

It was a new venue for me. Same ‘ol Eastern Poker Tour poker players with the exception of a handfull of unknowns. $20 Buy in. Buffet.

Heads Up

Blinds were $20K/$40k. I was outchipped 2.5-to-1 (485k to 190k). I was not discouraged by being down that much. I knew that I could recover, and, indeed, had on several occasions recovered to emerge the victor. Given the hour of the day (11:45 pm), I did feel that my opponent would be shoving All In as frequently as possible.

First hand…

I am the Small Blind. Hole cards are 5s 3c.

 

Second hand…

I am the Big Blind. The Small Blind limps in.

 
I check my option with a whispy, “At least they’re suited.”

This is the second hand of the night. Eight-handed table. I am in the Big Blind. Blinds are $100/$200. My hole cards are KK.

Pre-Flop:

1. Under the Gun (UTG) folds
2. UTG + 1 limps in
3. UTG + 2 limps in
4. UTG + 3 folds
5. Hi Jack limps in
6. Cut Off folds
7. Small Blind limps in
8. I raise to $800

UTG + 2 and the Small Blind call. UTG + 2 called so easily that I had him on a decent pair, J’s or higher. Small Blind has a habit of speculating so I thought he just wanted to see the Flop.  

Flop: K 9 10 rainbow
Woo Hoo – I’ve got trip Kings. Now what are the chances that either has QJ to make the straight? UTG + 2 I figured definitely not, Small Blind maybe.

1. I bet out a small $800 to see the response
2. UTG + 2 raises to $1600 – So now I put him on a pair of Aces or trip 9s or 10s; and, actually, I considered it a bet correction. I had not bet enough.
3. Small Blind folds.
4. I push All In
5. UTG +2 thinks a minute and calls

I turn over my Kings and he turns over QJ unsuited. So I need the board to pair to make a boat. Got about 10 outs – because Quad Kings win it as well.

Turn and River are blank cards and I’m out. That’s when I heard Mike Sexton saying,

“I don’t like the bet, Vince…You can get the same information – betting less and not putting your tournament life on the line.“

Yep. I thought of that one during the drive home. Thanks, Mike. I agree with you. Maybe next time, I’ll remember before I bet.
 
Of course, I talked to myself the whole way home. Shoulda…Woulda…Coulda. And…Who plays Q J offsuit out of position? Who calls a 4 times Big Blind bet pre-flop with Q J out of position?  It’s not like he was running hot. It was only the second hand of the night. Shaking head…I cannot control what others do. Okay – focus on my play. Next time bet an amount that will keep me in the tournament.

Interesting that I got a pair of Kings in my first Big Blind. My goal for the tournament was to practice defending my blinds. In the past, I have let them go too easily. Last week, I was lucky to be at a table with Andre. He’s a master at defending his blinds and I paid attention. So, the plan was to raise every Big Blind. I thought 4 times the Big Blind would be enough. I learned that it is not.

How about you? Are you good at defending your blinds? What is your strategy? Do you do it for all hands, including the 9 2 offsuits?

Final Hand
Blinds $600/$1200. I was in the Big Blind. For the last 1/2 hour I had been waiting for a hand to go All In. Now, I’m sitting in the Big Blind, $1200 in the pot with $2300 behind, the short stack at the table – and – I’ve got Jc 3s. Not really the hand I want to go All In with.

Seven handed at the table. Under the Gun plus One (UTG+1) calls $1200. Small Blind calls $1200. I check my option.

Flop:

UTG+1 checks. Small Blind bets $1200. I rasie All In for $2300.
UTG+1 folds. Small Blind calls for another $1100.

Turn:

River:

My two pair (J 3) get counterfeited by the Ks. I have a small glimmer of hope ’cause I’ve got a J – BUT – the Small Blind has Jh 10h. The 10 plays, and I’m out!

Lousy photo of the lousy board on my Final No Limit Hold'em Hand June 14, 2010

I think I’ll go chew on sand.

Over the weekend, I received a prize from the Poker Players Alliance for having correctly answered one of their trivia questions about the 2010 WSOP last week. 

A great XL (how’d they know?) Black PPA t-shirt. Front has the PPA logo.

Back…

I look forward to wearing it tonight at the Eastern Poker Tour No Limit Hold’em tournament in Milford, MA.

Not yet a member of the PPA? Click  “Join Here” on the banner in the sidebar on the right (no reimbursement to me) to go to the PPA’s website and sign up!

Total no limit hold’em tournaments played: 7
Total Top Ten Finishes: 4
Top Five Finishes: 3

First Place finishes: 1
Second place finishes: 1
Third place finishes: 1
Eighth place finishes: 1
Thirteenth place finishes: 1
Fifteenth place finishes: 1
Donut finishes: 1