Monday, July 02, 2007
World Series of Poker Room
It is almost impossible to describe the size of the WSOP poker room. It is a total poker orgy. There are literally hundreds of tables of guys and gals playing every type of poker from low ball to no limit. Cash games. Satellites. The sound of chips clicking and "blinds please" is everywhere. The rush of adrenaline from being that room is clearly potentially additive.
The chairs, bathroom facilities and food however all suck. More later.
AM Surgical Poker
$1500 WSOP Event 49
It was the third largest field EVER at the WSOP--well over 3000 people. My first table had a couple of European pros who were super aggressive. One guy almost went out on the first hand when JJ beat 99. We also had a super hottie dressed in a halter top who kept adjusting it. She busted out in less than an hour. That helped the rest of us who could then focus only on the cards.
I ran my chips up to $10000 by the first break and thought I was in great shape. Right after the first break, I got queens. I made it $800 to go after a couple limpers. The guy in the big blind called and the others folded. The flop came out 10-9-8 with two spades. The big blind checked. With a straight draw and an overpair, I thought I was good but I didn't want the BB to catch a card. So, I made it $2400 honestly just hoping he would fold. Instead of folding he came over the top and raised me. I went into the tank for 5 minutes and folded thinking he might have had pocket 10s. He flipped up pocket 88s and despite losing $3200 I felt okay. I then waited for 20-25 hands folding everything because I had NOTHING. On the button I got, K-7 suited. I was just trying to steal the blinds with an $800 raise when the BB called. The flop came out 447. The big blind checked. I thought I was good when I paired my 7 and wanted to end the hand. So, I made it $1200 to go. The BB reraised me! I thought he might have been slow playing a high pair so I folded. He turned over 8-4 OFFSUIT......CRAZY. He said he likes to play a variety of hands.
I then went into a total tight mode hoping to get a decent hand. Just before the end of the fourth level I looked down at K10 suited. My stack was now back down to $3000 and the blinds were about to go up. One guy called and I was in middle position. So I tried to make a move and went ALL-IN. Everyone else folded around to the first position limper. He studied me for a couple minutes and then called. I knew I was in trouble when he called. He was fairly tight. His AQ sent me to the rail.
I was steamed for several hours and upset that I didn't wait for a better hand. I probably shouldn't have played with K7 or K10 suited. They just aren't very good hands. They were, however, the best I saw and the blinds/antes were brutal with only $3000 in starting chips. I went out somewhere between 2200 and 2400. They don't post the numbers when their that high.
Overall, a great learning experience. I must admit I was fairly nervous and didn't read people well at all. I made one big mistake as well. I was in position 10 in the big blind. I thought everyone had folded over to me and I looked down at KK. I was disgusted to get a walk on such a great hand so I flipped them up. I didn't see the guy under the gun had made a $600 raise. The dealer looked at me and informed me of the raise. I immediately went all in. The guy folded and showed AK. He only had $1500 left at the time but that could have been mine.
Many lessons learned. I will be back next year
Next time how I got amazing cards in a cash game......
AM
I ran my chips up to $10000 by the first break and thought I was in great shape. Right after the first break, I got queens. I made it $800 to go after a couple limpers. The guy in the big blind called and the others folded. The flop came out 10-9-8 with two spades. The big blind checked. With a straight draw and an overpair, I thought I was good but I didn't want the BB to catch a card. So, I made it $2400 honestly just hoping he would fold. Instead of folding he came over the top and raised me. I went into the tank for 5 minutes and folded thinking he might have had pocket 10s. He flipped up pocket 88s and despite losing $3200 I felt okay. I then waited for 20-25 hands folding everything because I had NOTHING. On the button I got, K-7 suited. I was just trying to steal the blinds with an $800 raise when the BB called. The flop came out 447. The big blind checked. I thought I was good when I paired my 7 and wanted to end the hand. So, I made it $1200 to go. The BB reraised me! I thought he might have been slow playing a high pair so I folded. He turned over 8-4 OFFSUIT......CRAZY. He said he likes to play a variety of hands.
I then went into a total tight mode hoping to get a decent hand. Just before the end of the fourth level I looked down at K10 suited. My stack was now back down to $3000 and the blinds were about to go up. One guy called and I was in middle position. So I tried to make a move and went ALL-IN. Everyone else folded around to the first position limper. He studied me for a couple minutes and then called. I knew I was in trouble when he called. He was fairly tight. His AQ sent me to the rail.
I was steamed for several hours and upset that I didn't wait for a better hand. I probably shouldn't have played with K7 or K10 suited. They just aren't very good hands. They were, however, the best I saw and the blinds/antes were brutal with only $3000 in starting chips. I went out somewhere between 2200 and 2400. They don't post the numbers when their that high.
Overall, a great learning experience. I must admit I was fairly nervous and didn't read people well at all. I made one big mistake as well. I was in position 10 in the big blind. I thought everyone had folded over to me and I looked down at KK. I was disgusted to get a walk on such a great hand so I flipped them up. I didn't see the guy under the gun had made a $600 raise. The dealer looked at me and informed me of the raise. I immediately went all in. The guy folded and showed AK. He only had $1500 left at the time but that could have been mine.
Many lessons learned. I will be back next year
Next time how I got amazing cards in a cash game......
AM
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Poker VIP and Royalty Rooms
I arrived at the WSOP on Friday and played a little cash game and then bought in for Event 49, the $1500 buyin. I tried my luck at a sat. game and took third for NO money. Then my luck changed. Phil Hellmuth sent me a text and asked me to dinner.
On the way to dinner he took me to both the Poker VIP room and the Poker Royalty room. They have a high Wii System inside the royalty room and we played a little of the bowling game with Daniel Negreanu watching and Greg Raymer in the next room. That game is addictive....
We then went to the VIP lounge and saw Doyle Brunson playing chinese poker. I tried not to gawk and didn't take any pictures but it was amazing. We then went to dinner at Gaylord's. Not a bad beginning to the WSOP.
Next time: The WSOP's third largest field EVER. I felt like I was at the BIG HOUSE (Michigan's Football Stadium). Also, I met a nice pro from Sweden and a super HOTTIE at my first table.......
AM Surgical Poker
On the way to dinner he took me to both the Poker VIP room and the Poker Royalty room. They have a high Wii System inside the royalty room and we played a little of the bowling game with Daniel Negreanu watching and Greg Raymer in the next room. That game is addictive....
We then went to the VIP lounge and saw Doyle Brunson playing chinese poker. I tried not to gawk and didn't take any pictures but it was amazing. We then went to dinner at Gaylord's. Not a bad beginning to the WSOP.
Next time: The WSOP's third largest field EVER. I felt like I was at the BIG HOUSE (Michigan's Football Stadium). Also, I met a nice pro from Sweden and a super HOTTIE at my first table.......
AM Surgical Poker
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Off the World Series of Poker
I am leaving Friday for Vegas and the World Series of Poker. It should be an amazing time.
My plan is to play in the $1500 no-limit event starting Saturday. Via this blog, I will send in updates. Stay tuned........
AM
My plan is to play in the $1500 no-limit event starting Saturday. Via this blog, I will send in updates. Stay tuned........
AM
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Bubble Boy AGAIN
I just played in the Bay 101 Saturday tourney as a tune up for the WSOP. This time I finished 13/89 players. Please comment on how I played my final two hands. We were down to 15 players and I was in the bottom three at my table with about 20,000 chips. The blinds were 2000/4000 so it was almost desperado time.
I was in the big blind when the guy under the gun went all in with his last 17,000 in chips. A tight and strong player two to his left came over the top for his last 25,000 in chips. All other players folded to me. I look down and see AJ off-suit. Finally, I paused and thought about it for several minutes. I concluded that at least one of those players could/did have AQ or AK or perhaps QQ/KK. With two players going all in before me, I decided reluctantly to fold. I evacuated my bowels when the flop came AJ5 rainbow and one guy flipped up A6 diamonds and the other guy KQ offsuit. The A6 held up and I was disgusted because I could have TRIPLED up and sailed into the final table.
Two hands later, I fortunately got two black nines on the button. One guy put in 15000 before I had to act and I insta went all in. He grinned and insta called with wired queens. His queens were good when no nine, straight or flush hit the board and I was on the rail in 13 place.......
Suggestions>>>>>>>>>>>>
I was in the big blind when the guy under the gun went all in with his last 17,000 in chips. A tight and strong player two to his left came over the top for his last 25,000 in chips. All other players folded to me. I look down and see AJ off-suit. Finally, I paused and thought about it for several minutes. I concluded that at least one of those players could/did have AQ or AK or perhaps QQ/KK. With two players going all in before me, I decided reluctantly to fold. I evacuated my bowels when the flop came AJ5 rainbow and one guy flipped up A6 diamonds and the other guy KQ offsuit. The A6 held up and I was disgusted because I could have TRIPLED up and sailed into the final table.
Two hands later, I fortunately got two black nines on the button. One guy put in 15000 before I had to act and I insta went all in. He grinned and insta called with wired queens. His queens were good when no nine, straight or flush hit the board and I was on the rail in 13 place.......
Suggestions>>>>>>>>>>>>
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Phil Hellmuth with Beatles LOVE Show Cast Member
Cirque du Soleil has a new show in Vegas called LOVE with all Beatles music. It is simply amazing. It is at the Mirage. Check it out if you get a chance......
Surgical Poker
Sunday, May 20, 2007
TAO Beach Party
Saturday in Vegas was CRAZY. Here is one of the several pix from that night. I think these girls will be on Howard Stern next week.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Blue Man Group gets ready for WSOP
Let's see if anyone can read me
if I wear this at the World Series of Poker!
if I wear this at the World Series of Poker!
Friday Tourney at Bay 101
It is about six weeks until I hit Vegas for the WSOP. So, I started my training with the Friday Bay 101 tourney. A field of 94 signed up today.
Early on I hit a couple of nice hands and had 5x the starting chips at the first break. With the add on I was in good shape and decided to cruise for a while. Perhaps I should have pushed it hard with my stack because I went card dead and until there were about 45 people left. I got a little frisky with 56 suited on the button and raised it 3x the big blind. The guy who had called under the gun instantly called me and I knew I was in trouble. That was until the flop came outt 5-5-Q. The guy under the gun then bet with his shirt shaking indicating he had a queen with a big kicker. He went all in because he had only a moderate amount left. Too bad he didn't have more. My trip 5s held up and I was back in the hunt.
The blinds go up every 20 minutes in this gig so my 18,000 that looked so good after the trip fives, was a little thin when the blinds went up to 1500/3000. We were now down to 22 players and I thought I needed to start moving with almost anything decent. In the BB after 6 more players were eliminated with A-7 offsuit I was ready to push when a guy in the middle pushed all in for 20k. I thought about for a while and then folded. The next hand, I again I looked down at A-3 again offsuit. Getting ready to push in, I heard ALL-in from another middle player. I hate not having first mover pressure power so again I folded. Was I being too tight?? Should I have gone in with one or perhaps both of these hands???
The next hand I felt pretty good about my choice to fold when I was on the button and woke up with K6 suited. Everyone folded around to me and pushed in. I was feeling smart until the BB called and had me dominated with A3 suited. No diamonds came for me and an Ace popped up on the turn to send me to the showers. I finished 15/94 out of the money.
Any thoughts on end game short stack management?? I need to improve to get ready for the World Series of Poker
Surgical Poker
Early on I hit a couple of nice hands and had 5x the starting chips at the first break. With the add on I was in good shape and decided to cruise for a while. Perhaps I should have pushed it hard with my stack because I went card dead and until there were about 45 people left. I got a little frisky with 56 suited on the button and raised it 3x the big blind. The guy who had called under the gun instantly called me and I knew I was in trouble. That was until the flop came outt 5-5-Q. The guy under the gun then bet with his shirt shaking indicating he had a queen with a big kicker. He went all in because he had only a moderate amount left. Too bad he didn't have more. My trip 5s held up and I was back in the hunt.
The blinds go up every 20 minutes in this gig so my 18,000 that looked so good after the trip fives, was a little thin when the blinds went up to 1500/3000. We were now down to 22 players and I thought I needed to start moving with almost anything decent. In the BB after 6 more players were eliminated with A-7 offsuit I was ready to push when a guy in the middle pushed all in for 20k. I thought about for a while and then folded. The next hand, I again I looked down at A-3 again offsuit. Getting ready to push in, I heard ALL-in from another middle player. I hate not having first mover pressure power so again I folded. Was I being too tight?? Should I have gone in with one or perhaps both of these hands???
The next hand I felt pretty good about my choice to fold when I was on the button and woke up with K6 suited. Everyone folded around to me and pushed in. I was feeling smart until the BB called and had me dominated with A3 suited. No diamonds came for me and an Ace popped up on the turn to send me to the showers. I finished 15/94 out of the money.
Any thoughts on end game short stack management?? I need to improve to get ready for the World Series of Poker
Surgical Poker
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