A statement that is as exhilarating as it is devastating, and with 17 players remaining in Day 1B for the Florida Millions at Derby Lane (where 15 advance to the money round), that is what I picked up, Pocket Kings. However, let’s rewind back about 10 and a half hours.
I qualified to the Florida Millions through a MTT satellite, where I played really well. Made one loose call that even if I lost I would have plenty of chips remaining and sucked out and coasted into a Day 1 seat. Now that I advanced, it was time to play poker.
The blind structure is very favorable for this tournament, 15000 in chips, and 40 minute blinds so there was lots of play available for this tourney and I took advantage of that for the first 2 hours. I went from 15000 to around 20000 by the first break. Played real snug, looked at really tier 1 and 2 hands. Made a few plays, which if I thought there was no way to continue I would abort mission. Then after chipping up to about 25000, pocket Aces happened.
Late position with AA is not an advantageous place to be, especially in a deep stack tournament. Yes, it can yield major benefits, but can also cost you about 30-40% of your stack if not careful and I was not. I raised to 800 (blinds 100/200) and got 3 callers. Board comes 9,9,10 and I bet 2500. Player next to me calls and everyone else folds. Turn is an 8 and I check, she fires 2000, which I call. River is a Jack and I check, she fires another 3000, which I begrudgingly call and see the 9 I thought I would. A9 of hearts, which was well in her range and I walked into it. Now I am below 15000 and looking for something to happen, which I make a call which should have sent me home, but doubled me up.
Blinds have increased to 400/800 and I have AQ UTG. I raise to 3200 since the BB has been shown to defend and I wanted max pressure at the table. I have about 12000 behind and the tournament has been getting very frustrating for the past 2 hours or so. The table does fold to the BB who does put the other 2400 in and we see the flop. It comes 8,9, J. Immediately he shoves all-in and I just die a little inside. I just don’t get it, why shove? I know I only have about 12000 left, but why shove? If he hit the flop, wouldn’t he want me in just passing chips over and continuation betting? I sit there for a minute and stack my chips up and put them in. He turns over 7,6 off suit and now I just need to fade 14 cards, which I do and double up. Now over 30000 and feeling a little more comfortable I start getting cards, hands and chip up to about 75000 before our table gets broken and we are down to 50 runners.
We move tables and I have a strong aggressive table. I make a great call with a 7 high flush to recoup back to 65000 and then go over 100000 when my KK holds versus 99. We break at 30 players and then again at 20 players. I head to my last table with 130000 chips and the downward spiral starts. I have A9 clubs and raise to 11000 (blinds 1500/3000) and player to my left shoves for 30000 more. I think about folding but decide to go for a knockout and watch him roll over QQ and I’m down to 80000. Two more players leave the tournament and I have 76000 left when from the BB I pickup KK. The kid who snapped me off with QQ just 5 hands earlier raises to 20000, and a short stack sits there for about 2 minutes and is in agony. I never usually look before it gets to me, but I get impatient and look down at the two kings. He folds and I of course now shove in. I get snap called and he rolls over AA. Nothing of note comes out and I’m gone in 17th place. I played real well, made hard decisions and couldn’t have asked for a better opportunitiy, however I just could not find my way past a mistake and it cost me a nice payday. But this is definitely the start of great playing and if I can just maintain the same focus and concentration I can and will cash consistently in tournaments.
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