Vegas - Summer poker tournament thread

[ChuckyTheGoat]

wow you're in vegas chucky?!? That's awesome, what's it like?

Baller, if you're still working on your game, maybe you should be out there during June. I referenced that I'm not a cash-game specialist at all. But I did play some in the down-time.

Wasn't impressed by the cash-game talent at all. One thing that surprised me was how sloppy players were with their opens. Some will limp in, and scale up if they have a real hand.

I donk-played a few hands. But I was net +$ in cash, which isn't standard for me. Weak games, imho.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Playing the short-stack, did encounter a few noteworthy hands:

* Sort of unhappy how I played this hand, but it was an un-comfortable chip-stack. Therefore, I'm not sure what else I could do.

I raise mid-pos w/ TT. Button is player who has shown to play dog-shit. He 3-bets me. I'm not folding, but I feel like I'm a little too deep (25 BB) to shove + play for it all.

Flop is 99A, which is not good for my hand. Any Ax hand is beating me, and any premium pair has me beat. He checks flop, which he MIGHT do w/ any Ax hand on a flop this dry. I check behind, he bets Turn and I fold.

If I was any shorter (like 18BB), I'd have responded to the re-raise w/ an all-in shove. Remember that the way this game is playing, he surely didn't think I was as strong as TT.

I wanted to re-visit this thread. A few things I dis-liked about my play. I'll start off w/ a few comments:

1) This was biggest buy-in I ever made, by factor of 4x or so. I have some gamble in me. If I lose, I'm not gonna cry about it. $$ on the table = $$ in play.

2) As a $1500 event, there were several pros that were in this event. I've seen several on video, don't necessarily recall all their names. I did see Tony Dunst, Andy Frankenburger, and Kristen Bicknell on nearby tables. I wasn't nervy, but there is a question of preparation.

I read Janda's two books. He made a comment that you never want to feel un-prepared for any situation that presents itself at the poker-table. That's where I feel like I came up short.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Specifically, note the difference btw 10-man Full-ring vs 6-max. 6-max is not quite half-table, but it's pretty close. Anyone that plays full-ring knows that you often need to make a nutted hand to win a family-pot. In a short-handed game, that's not the case at all.

See the TT hand above. I mentioned that I would have shoved over the top if my chip-stack was a little shorter. What if I had JJ there? Would I have been strong enuf to go All-in? I think so, yes. But TT might have been strong enuf anyway. Remember, in 6-max, it takes less of a hand to win the pot. Strong pocket-pairs are no joke.

The other thing I referenced was how I gave opponents credit for strong hands way too often. 6-max tournament poker is a game of small pin-pricks. Taking a shot at the pot, regardless of your holding. In particular, the blind-steals from the Button (w/ a follow-up Continuation bet on flop) were blatant. Some players may have been opening 80% from the button. When they have to show their hand, it's so weak.

Just my observations, as I think back a few weeks later.

[playersonly69]

I arrive in Vegas on Thursday to play in some events and the main event

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I arrive in Vegas on Thursday to play in some events and the main event

Good luck, PO. Wish I was back out there. Still might go back in July.

Wear your SBR gear to final table, PO. You can do it. These fields aren't insurmountable.

[playersonly69]

I dont have any SBR gear anyway. I have other websites gear, but I wouldnt wear any logo stuff without some sort of tip

[ChuckyTheGoat]

PO, good luck. I'm pulling for u.

If u have any free time, check out the cash-games. You hear this story about cash-games being soft during WSOP. I played some at Wynn, have to say it's true. Guys play bad ranges. Clean up, PO.

[Crusherrr]

I just won an entry into the ME and will be flying out July 3rd and playing Day 1C on July 4th. Anyone else playing the main here besides PlayersOnly69? If anyone wants to meet up and get a bite to eat or something let me know

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Will be back in Vegas by THURS and into next week.

Have to be honest. Last tournament left a sour taste in my mouth. Might not even play many tournaments...but will be scouting out some cash-games.