1/1442

The title of this blog refers to my finish in the $55 daily on Pokerstars. First place out of 1442 people for a little over $15k. This is my first tournament victory since around Thanksgiving and my first five figure score since sometime in June I believe. It is also the largest field that I have ever beaten in a poker tournament and quite frankly I was both super lucky and opportunistic to win this one. I haven't been able to follow up with a good Sunday as I'm about to go 0 for the century again on Sunday, but I did have a decent Saturday because of a wonderful cash game. I want to devote some of this blog to poker and some of the key hands that occurred, so if you don't want to read about them and some of my narration, then just skip. The hand histories are a little difficult to understand, but I'll point out some things in them that will help understand them better if you want to read through them.


So let's start from the first big hand.

POKERSTARS GAME #14648213232: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL I (10/20 (This amount is the stakes we are at with (small blind/big blind)) - 2008/01/18 - 15:05:45 (ET)
Table '73433652 95' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: creepdogxxx (3040 in chips)
Seat 2: bestpoker03 (2900 in chips)
Seat 3: roorkee1 (3300 in chips)
Seat 4: RhodeML (2720 in chips)
Seat 5: ARPHIL3090 (3090 in chips)
Seat 6: tobyone (2970 in chips)
Seat 7: Steelsen (2970 in chips)
Seat 8: iacog4 (2780 in chips) <---------CHIP COUNT for my name on here
Seat 9: JazzyCFC (3230 in chips)
iacog4: posts small blind 10<---this will tell if I was a blind or not, here I am sb
JazzyCFC: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [7d Ah] <--These are my hole cards, the d, h signify the suit diamond and hearts respectively. (s for spades, c for clubs)
creepdogxxx: folds
bestpoker03: folds
roorkee1: folds
RhodeML: folds
ARPHIL3090: calls 20<----Everything here in blue is the preflop betting
tobyone: calls 20
Steelsen: folds
iacog4: calls 10
JazzyCFC: checks
*** FLOP *** [7s Ac Qs]<--This is the flop, the first 3 community cards
iacog4: bets 60
JazzyCFC: folds
ARPHIL3090: raises 60 to 120
tobyone: folds
iacog4: raises 380 to 500<<<---------This next purple text is the action after the flop
ARPHIL3090: raises 380 to 880
iacog4: raises 1880 to 2760 and is all-in
ARPHIL3090: calls 1880
*** TURN *** [7s Ac Qs] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [7s Ac Qs Js] [5d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [7d Ah] (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
ARPHIL3090: shows [7c Qd] (two pair, Queens and Sevens)
iacog4 collected 5600 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5600 | Rake 0
Board [7s Ac Qs Js 5d]
Seat 1: creepdogxxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bestpoker03 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: roorkee1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: RhodeML folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ARPHIL3090 showed [7c Qd] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sevens
Seat 6: tobyone folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Steelsen (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: iacog4 (small blind) showed [7d Ah] and won (5600) with two pair, Aces and Sevens
Seat 9: JazzyCFC (big blind) folded on the Flop


OK, the rest of the hand history is pretty self explanatory if I didn't highlight it. A couple more things. TURN signifies the fourth community card that is being shown. RIVER is the last community card. If there was betting action after either of those rounds, it would appear right under the line with ***TURN*** or ***RIVER***. In this hand specifically, there was no action because all the chips went in after the flop. Ok, now that some of that is explained, I'm going to go into what I'm thinking and what happened, etc.

In this hand, I pick up A7 off suit and I'm not ready to go crazy with this hand at all, but in the SB and only 10 more chips to call, I do call. I'm lucky enough to flop two pair here on the AQ7 flop. With a flush draw possible out there, when I am raised I'm either thinking a few things about his possible hands AA and QQ is pretty much rule out here. 77, A7, AQ are possible, but I'm not too concerned. In a tournament like this with a field of so many different skill levels, I feel pretty comfortable getting all the money in here. We get it all in and I double up early against a Q7 for a lower two pair. I really can't ask for anything more than this.

POKERSTARS GAME #14648511147: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL II (15/30) - 2008/01/18 - 15:18:39 (ET)
Table '73433652 95' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: creepdogxxx (1680 in chips)
Seat 2: bestpoker03 (2825 in chips)
Seat 3: roorkee1 (4180 in chips)
Seat 4: RhodeML (3035 in chips)
Seat 5: shg18 (3890 in chips)
Seat 6: tobyone (2600 in chips)
Seat 7: Steelsen (3980 in chips)
Seat 8: iacog4 (5760 in chips)
roorkee1: posts small blind 15
RhodeML: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Tc 9c]
shg18: folds
snoman315 is connected
tobyone: raises 90 to 120
Steelsen: folds
iacog4: calls 120
creepdogxxx: folds
bestpoker03: folds
roorkee1: folds
RhodeML: folds
*** FLOP *** [8c 7c Kc]
tobyone: checks
iacog4: bets 150
tobyone: calls 150
*** TURN *** [8c 7c Kc] [5d]
tobyone: checks
iacog4: bets 660
tobyone: calls 660
*** RIVER *** [8c 7c Kc 5d] [9d]
tobyone: checks
iacog4: bets 1350
tobyone: calls 1350
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Tc 9c] (a flush, King high)
tobyone: mucks hand
iacog4 collected 4605 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4605 | Rake 0
Board [8c 7c Kc 5d 9d]
Seat 1: creepdogxxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bestpoker03 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: roorkee1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: RhodeML (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: shg18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: tobyone mucked [Jh Jc]
Seat 7: Steelsen folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: iacog4 showed [Tc 9c] and won (4605) with a flush, King high


I call here with a suited connector from the early raiser because I basically have chips to play some pots with. I have a dream flop with a made flush and a straight flush draw. I lead right at the pot and pretty much bet hard for value. I didn't figure him for that big of a hand and really just thought he might have missed the ace high flush. I didn't expect to get called on the river, but he did miss his Jack high flush draw as he had the J of clubs and just couldn't give up. I won a nice pot here.


POKERSTARS GAME #14649883238: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL V (75/150) - 2008/01/18 - 16:19:41 (ET)
Table '73433652 120' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: BestBoy24 (1348 in chips)
Seat 2: Twingo_ES (8777 in chips)
Seat 3: QuasiFiction (14225 in chips)
Seat 4: dropkick84 (3435 in chips)
Seat 5: Benjamin134 (5655 in chips)
Seat 6: iacog4 (7025 in chips)
Seat 7: AquaFish (7320 in chips)
Seat 8: igotdanutz (795 in chips)
Seat 9: MrDutchGuy (12430 in chips)
BestBoy24: posts small blind 75
Twingo_ES: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Ks Ac]
QuasiFiction: raises 300 to 450
dropkick84: folds
Benjamin134: folds
iacog4: calls 450
AquaFish: folds
igotdanutz: folds
MrDutchGuy: calls 450
BestBoy24: folds
Twingo_ES: folds
*** FLOP *** [Kc 2h 2s]
QuasiFiction: checks
iacog4: checks
MrDutchGuy: bets 450
QuasiFiction: folds
iacog4: calls 450
*** TURN *** [Kc 2h 2s] [Td]
iacog4: checks
MrDutchGuy: bets 750
iacog4: calls 750
*** RIVER *** [Kc 2h 2s Td] [2c]
iacog4: bets 5375 and is all-in
MrDutchGuy: folds
iacog4 collected 3975 from pot
iacog4: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3975 | Rake 0
Board [Kc 2h 2s Td 2c]
Seat 1: BestBoy24 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Twingo_ES (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: QuasiFiction folded on the Flop
Seat 4: dropkick84 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Benjamin134 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: iacog4 collected (3975)
Seat 7: AquaFish folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: igotdanutz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: MrDutchGuy (button) folded on the River

This is an interesting hand because I have one of the strongest hands in hold em AK. First position raises 3x the BB. Usually I would reraise this, but I have position on the guy and I'm a little concerned about the under the gun raise (under the gun refers to the first position to act preflop). Another guy calls behind. The flop is a good one for me K 2 2. The only hand that really gets all my money is AA or KK which is rare or 2 2, but I'm doubting that. I check because I feel my hand is disguised well here and I'm going to let someone else fire at it. The 3rd guy in the pot does and I call him after the other guy folds. I decide to check again on the turn because it gives him a chance to bluff at it still. He bets again. I don't really like my play on the river here. The river comes a 2 basically ruling out a 2 in his hand, but I have a full house. I expect to split the pot here, so I probably should have just checked again and let him bluff. I played the hand awkward that I bet this river bet really looked strong and I doubt I get paid off by anything.

POKERSTARS GAME #14650100591: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL VI (100/200) - 2008/01/18 - 16:29:18 (ET)
Table '73433652 79' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Pyas (4660 in chips)
Seat 2: jjj77777 (5247 in chips)
Seat 3: CAPTAINPATCH (5801 in chips)
Seat 4: vegas008 (8633 in chips)
Seat 5: AFCA JJ (11444 in chips)
Seat 6: TrulyRaNd0m (3894 in chips)
Seat 7: tapout1111 (4495 in chips)
Seat 8: tako1010 (3910 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (8445 in chips)
tako1010: posts small blind 100
iacog4: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [7d 7c]
Pyas: folds
jjj77777: folds
CAPTAINPATCH: folds
vegas008: folds
AFCA JJ: folds
TrulyRaNd0m: raises 400 to 600
tapout1111: folds
tako1010: folds
iacog4: raises 7845 to 8445 and is all-in
TrulyRaNd0m: calls 3294 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Kh 5d 7h]
*** TURN *** [Kh 5d 7h] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [Kh 5d 7h 2d] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [7d 7c] (three of a kind, Sevens)
TrulyRaNd0m: shows [Kd 3d] (a pair of Kings)
iacog4 collected 7888 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7888 | Rake 0
Board [Kh 5d 7h 2d 8h]
Seat 1: Pyas folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: jjj77777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: CAPTAINPATCH folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: vegas008 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: AFCA JJ folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: TrulyRaNd0m showed [Kd 3d] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 7: tapout1111 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: tako1010 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: iacog4 (big blind) showed [7d 7c] and won (7888) with three of a kind, Sevens

Here a late position raiser makes a raise preflop. He had been aggressive so I just pushed him all in expecting to take the pot or have the best hand. He makes a pretty loose call and I have him crushed. My hand holds up.


CRAZY HAND
POKERSTARS GAME #14650241576: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL VI (100/200) - 2008/01/18 - 16:35:41 (ET)
Table '73433652 79' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Pyas (4660 in chips)
Seat 2: jjj77777 (4347 in chips)
Seat 3: CAPTAINPATCH (6501 in chips)
Seat 4: vegas008 (10333 in chips)
Seat 5: AFCA JJ (10644 in chips)
Seat 6: takemeonboy (1490 in chips)
Seat 7: tapout1111 (4295 in chips)
Seat 8: tako1010 (4110 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (12639 in chips)
takemeonboy: posts small blind 100
tapout1111: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Qh Qd]
tako1010: folds
iacog4: raises 400 to 600
Pyas: raises 1200 to 1800
jjj77777: folds
CAPTAINPATCH: folds
vegas008: folds
AFCA JJ: folds
takemeonboy: folds
tapout1111: folds
iacog4: raises 6800 to 8600
Pyas: calls 2860 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [9h Qc Kc]
*** TURN *** [9h Qc Kc] [Qs]
*** RIVER *** [9h Qc Kc Qs] [Ad]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Qh Qd] (four of a kind, Queens)
Pyas: shows [Ac As] (a full house, Aces full of Queens)
iacog4 collected 9620 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9620 | Rake 0
Board [9h Qc Kc Qs Ad]
Seat 1: Pyas showed [Ac As] and lost with a full house, Aces full of Queens
Seat 2: jjj77777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: CAPTAINPATCH folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: vegas008 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: AFCA JJ (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: takemeonboy (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: tapout1111 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: tako1010 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: iacog4 showed [Qh Qd] and won (9620) with four of a kind, Queens

I raise here and get reraised by I shortstack. I'm almost never folding QQ here. I get lucky to hit a queen and I make sure I hit four of a kind on the turn just so when he hits that Ace on the river I'm still winning. Have to get lucky to win.

POKERSTARS GAME #14651386611: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL IX (300/600) - 2008/01/18 - 17:28:07 (ET)
Table '73433652 24' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Refilplz (23074 in chips)
Seat 2: minifres (13324 in chips)
Seat 3: ioalou (16930 in chips)
Seat 4: SweetSwe (28346 in chips)
Seat 5: Clairvoyant (4665 in chips)
Seat 6: iacog4 (11979 in chips)
Seat 7: ultra radi (12140 in chips)
Seat 8: maurino71 (26774 in chips)
Seat 9: BuLL3t_bG (19412 in chips)
Refilplz: posts the ante 60
minifres: posts the ante 60
ioalou: posts the ante 60
SweetSwe: posts the ante 60
Clairvoyant: posts the ante 60
iacog4: posts the ante 60
ultra radi: posts the ante 60
maurino71: posts the ante 60
BuLL3t_bG: posts the ante 60
Clairvoyant: posts small blind 300
iacog4: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [7c 7h]
ultra radi: folds
maurino71: folds
BuLL3t_bG: folds
Refilplz: folds
minifres: folds
ioalou: folds
SweetSwe: raises 1200 to 1800
Clairvoyant: raises 2805 to 4605 and is all-in
iacog4: raises 7314 to 11919 and is all-in
SweetSwe: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qs 2c Td]
*** TURN *** [Qs 2c Td] [Kc]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 2c Td Kc] [Th]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Clairvoyant: shows [4s Ah] (a pair of Tens)
iacog4: shows [7c 7h] (two pair, Tens and Sevens)
iacog4 collected 11550 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11550 | Rake 0
Board [Qs 2c Td Kc Th]
Seat 1: Refilplz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: minifres folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ioalou folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: SweetSwe (button) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Clairvoyant (small blind) showed [4s Ah] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 6: iacog4 (big blind) showed [7c 7h] and won (11550) with two pair, Tens and Sevens
Seat 7: ultra radi folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: maurino71 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: BuLL3t_bG folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Here the button (last position to act) raises preflop. A short stack goes all in on the small blind. I'm on the big blind with 7 7. I just think I'm ahead of the button and small blind's range of hands here and the button had been aggressive. I isolate by pushing all in and I'm right in that I'm ahead big time again A4 and it holds up.

For the next few levels I just stayed patient picking up blinds and no big pots occurred until this one.

POKERSTARS GAME #14652876373: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XIII (800/1600) - 2008/01/18 - 18:35:02 (ET)
Table '73433652 181' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: stosh101 (58180 in chips)
Seat 2: Miklan300 (112500 in chips)
Seat 3: STAM1NA (59227 in chips)
Seat 4: Aryamehr (121647 in chips)
Seat 5: MrDutchGuy (20336 in chips)
Seat 6: GripDsNutz (35243 in chips)
Seat 7: iacog4 (24104 in chips)
Seat 9: mariosi (51496 in chips)
stosh101: posts the ante 160
Miklan300: posts the ante 160
STAM1NA: posts the ante 160
Aryamehr: posts the ante 160
MrDutchGuy: posts the ante 160
GripDsNutz: posts the ante 160
iacog4: posts the ante 160
mariosi: posts the ante 160
Miklan300: posts small blind 800
STAM1NA: posts big blind 1600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [9h 9s]
Miklan300 said, "i folded aq"
Aryamehr: folds
MrDutchGuy: folds
GripDsNutz: folds
mariosi said, "good fold had AK"
iacog4: raises 2700 to 4300
mariosi: folds
stosh101: folds
Miklan300: folds
STAM1NA: raises 54767 to 59067 and is all-in
iacog4: calls 19644 and is all-in
mariosi said, "2nd time"
*** FLOP *** [5h 9c 2d]
mariosi said, "first time had nothing"
*** TURN *** [5h 9c 2d] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [5h 9c 2d 8s] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
STAM1NA: shows [Ad Ac] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
iacog4: shows [9h 9s] (a full house, Nines full of Eights)
iacog4 collected 49968 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 49968 | Rake 0
Board [5h 9c 2d 8s 8h]
Seat 1: stosh101 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Miklan300 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: STAM1NA (big blind) showed [Ad Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Eights
Seat 4: Aryamehr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: MrDutchGuy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: GripDsNutz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: iacog4 showed [9h 9s] and won (49968) with a full house, Nines full of Eights
Seat 9: mariosi folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Again I get miraculously lucky and beat AA. I think my reraise here is probably a bad play with the raiser being the first position raiser. I'm not sure why I decided to reraise here and I can make a case for all three options fold, call and raise. I think the result of the hand is the same no matter what (unless I fold) because I would probably call and still double up when I hit my set. This is just a part of a tournament you need to get lucky. It would have looked better though if I just call and put all the chips in when I'm ahead.

POKERSTARS GAME #14653051317: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XIV (1000/2000) - 2008/01/18 - 18:43:04 (ET)
Table '73433652 90' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: GURUrabBIT (69336 in chips)
Seat 2: Madcityb (57440 in chips)
Seat 3: MrDima (33391 in chips)
Seat 4: iacog4 (46768 in chips)
Seat 5: Tutnik (15720 in chips)
Seat 6: fabsoul (12974 in chips)
Seat 7: mikpen13 (52258 in chips)
Seat 8: mrLando (49601 in chips)
Seat 9: RockfAce10 (98204 in chips)
GURUrabBIT: posts the ante 200
Madcityb: posts the ante 200
MrDima: posts the ante 200
iacog4: posts the ante 200
Tutnik: posts the ante 200
fabsoul: posts the ante 200
mikpen13: posts the ante 200
mrLando: posts the ante 200
RockfAce10: posts the ante 200
iacog4: posts small blind 1000
Tutnik: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Ac Js]
fabsoul: raises 6000 to 8000
mikpen13: folds
mrLando: folds
RockfAce10: folds
GURUrabBIT: folds
Madcityb: folds
MrDima: folds
iacog4: raises 6000 to 14000
Tutnik: folds
fabsoul: calls 4774 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [9c 7h 3c]
*** TURN *** [9c 7h 3c] [5d]
*** RIVER *** [9c 7h 3c 5d] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Ac Js] (high card Ace)
fabsoul: shows [Ad Ts] (high card Ace - lower kicker)
iacog4 collected 29348 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 29348 | Rake 0
Board [9c 7h 3c 5d 6c]
Seat 1: GURUrabBIT folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Madcityb folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: MrDima (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: iacog4 (small blind) showed [Ac Js] and won (29348) with high card Ace
Seat 5: Tutnik (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: fabsoul showed [Ad Ts] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 7: mikpen13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: mrLando folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: RockfAce10 folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Here I have AJ on the small blind and the short stack first to act basically puts himself all in. I am basically saying that he is desperate to double up and I'm probably beating most of the hands he does this with. I'm right and he has A10 and my hand holds up.

Table '73433652 142' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: MrDutchGuy (41652 in chips)
Seat 3: Aryamehr (44208 in chips)
Seat 4: Miraculixx (117204 in chips)
Seat 5: SweetSwe (75012 in chips)
Seat 6: Latuz (118883 in chips)
Seat 7: iacog4 (58042 in chips)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 (207340 in chips)
Seat 9: jake784 (156228 in chips)
MrDutchGuy: posts the ante 400
Aryamehr: posts the ante 400
Miraculixx: posts the ante 400
SweetSwe: posts the ante 400
Latuz: posts the ante 400
iacog4: posts the ante 400
Funkymonk21: posts the ante 400
jake784: posts the ante 400
MrDutchGuy: posts small blind 2000
Aryamehr: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Ks As]
Miraculixx: folds
SweetSwe: folds
Latuz: folds
iacog4: raises 6980 to 10980
Latuz said, "might have been the best hand there"
Funkymonk21: folds
jake784: folds
MrDutchGuy: raises 30272 to 41252 and is all-in
Aryamehr: folds
iacog4: calls 30272
*** FLOP *** [6h 3d 9s]
*** TURN *** [6h 3d 9s] [7s]
*** RIVER *** [6h 3d 9s 7s] [Ad]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MrDutchGuy: shows [4h 4d] (a pair of Fours)
iacog4: shows [Ks As] (a pair of Aces)
iacog4 collected 89704 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 89704 | Rake 0
Board [6h 3d 9s 7s Ad]
Seat 1: MrDutchGuy (small blind) showed [4h 4d] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 3: Aryamehr (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Miraculixx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: SweetSwe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Latuz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: iacog4 showed [Ks As] and won (89704) with a pair of Aces
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: jake784 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Here is a standard play with a strong hand like AK and I'm lucky to win the race. I'm not a big fan of that push with 44 though.

DISASTER

POKERSTARS GAME #14653607558: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XVI (2000/4000) - 2008/01/18 - 19:08:47 (ET)
Table '73433652 92' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: neblogas (55686 in chips)
Seat 2: madchad13 (16580 in chips)
Seat 3: shg18 (137548 in chips)
Seat 4: matichou (104126 in chips)
Seat 5: Lepakkopes (85610 in chips)
Seat 6: keanesixteen (111288 in chips)
Seat 7: Mr Thorne (32202 in chips)
Seat 8: senh266 (46322 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (105294 in chips)
neblogas: posts the ante 400
madchad13: posts the ante 400
shg18: posts the ante 400
matichou: posts the ante 400
Lepakkopes: posts the ante 400
keanesixteen: posts the ante 400
Mr Thorne: posts the ante 400
senh266: posts the ante 400
iacog4: posts the ante 400
senh266: posts small blind 2000
iacog4: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Ad Qd]
neblogas: folds
madchad13: folds
shg18: folds
matichou: folds
Lepakkopes: raises 8000 to 12000
keanesixteen: folds
Mr Thorne: calls 12000
senh266: folds
iacog4: raises 92894 to 104894 and is all-in
Lepakkopes: calls 73210 and is all-in
Mr Thorne: calls 19802 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [8s 9c Ts]
*** TURN *** [8s 9c Ts] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [8s 9c Ts 2d] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Ad Qd] (high card Ace)
Lepakkopes: shows [Jd Jh] (a pair of Jacks)
Lepakkopes collected 106816 from side pot
Mr Thorne: shows [Ac As] (a pair of Aces)
Mr Thorne collected 101006 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 207822 Main pot 101006. Side pot 106816. | Rake 0
Board [8s 9c Ts 2d 4d]
Seat 1: neblogas folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: madchad13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: shg18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: matichou folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Lepakkopes showed [Jd Jh] and won (106816) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 6: keanesixteen folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Mr Thorne (button) showed [Ac As] and won (101006) with a pair of Aces
Seat 8: senh266 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: iacog4 (big blind) showed [Ad Qd] and lost with high card Ace

I credit this hand to the great play by Mr. Thorne on the button here. He flat calls the raise making me believe that he is fairly weak. I believe the raiser with JJ was being pretty aggressive, so I just attempt a squeeze play here with a fairly good hand AQ of diamonds. I get called in both spots and I'm pretty much dead in the water. I'm down to virtually no chips after this hand and I thought I blew my tournament here. I really could have avoided this situation by maybe just calling with the big chip stacks these guys have. I just don't like doing that out of position here. Well played Mr Thorne.

I play the short stack very well. It is one of my strong points and I just stayed patient picked up blinds here and there until this hand.

POKERSTARS GAME #14654433657: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XVIII (3000/6000) - 2008/01/18 - 19:46:48 (ET)
Table '73433652 92' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Madcityb (86000 in chips)
Seat 2: madchad13 (109520 in chips)
Seat 3: shg18 (143886 in chips)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker (318878 in chips)
Seat 6: allsam (179704 in chips)
Seat 7: Mr Thorne (134267 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (35568 in chips)
Madcityb: posts the ante 600
madchad13: posts the ante 600
shg18: posts the ante 600
th0mas-poker: posts the ante 600
allsam: posts the ante 600
Mr Thorne: posts the ante 600
iacog4: posts the ante 600
Mr Thorne: posts small blind 3000
iacog4: posts big blind 6000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Kd 9s]
Madcityb: folds
madchad13: folds
shg18: folds
th0mas-poker: folds
allsam: raises 6000 to 12000
Mr Thorne: folds
iacog4: raises 22968 to 34968 and is all-in
allsam: calls 22968
*** FLOP *** [Tc 4d 7c]
*** TURN *** [Tc 4d 7c] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [Tc 4d 7c 2h] [2c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Kd 9s] (a pair of Deuces)
allsam: shows [Qs Jh] (a pair of Deuces - lower kicker)
iacog4 collected 77136 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 77136 | Rake 0
Board [Tc 4d 7c 2h 2c]
Seat 1: Madcityb folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: madchad13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: shg18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: allsam (button) showed [Qs Jh] and lost with a pair of Deuces
Seat 7: Mr Thorne (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: iacog4 (big blind) showed [Kd 9s] and won (77136) with a pair of Deuces


I have a K9 here. The button min raises which could be a steal, but I just decide it's as good a spot as any to push here. I'm actually ahead and I win. I usually wouldn't do this play in retrospect because I want to have fold equity. Fold equity is just having enough chips that you can win the pot without facing a showdown. Anytime you face a showdown, you risk being knocked out. I just decided to risk it here because I was so shortstacked that I had to get back in and being isolated with one player that I felt wasn't that strong was good enough for me. Luckily I was right and luckily I win the 60/40 (term for 60% to 40%).

After this hand, I had enough of a chip stack that I was able to make some good moves preflop and I also picked up some very good hands along the way to allow me to build my stack up.

POKERSTARS GAME #14654676640: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XIX (4000/8000) - 2008/01/18 - 19:57:47 (ET)
Table '73433652 92' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: jofey (178124 in chips)
Seat 2: madchad13 (81920 in chips)
Seat 3: shg18 (223885 in chips)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker (364478 in chips)
Seat 5: xTheWall (102376 in chips)
Seat 6: allsam (130336 in chips)
Seat 7: Mr Thorne (117312 in chips)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 (120014 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (97092 in chips)
jofey: posts the ante 800
madchad13: posts the ante 800
shg18: posts the ante 800
th0mas-poker: posts the ante 800
xTheWall: posts the ante 800
allsam: posts the ante 800
Mr Thorne: posts the ante 800
Funkymonk21: posts the ante 800
iacog4: posts the ante 800
Funkymonk21: posts small blind 4000
iacog4: posts big blind 8000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [9h 9d]
jofey: folds
madchad13: folds
shg18: folds
th0mas-poker: folds
xTheWall: folds
allsam: raises 121536 to 129536 and is all-in
Mr Thorne: folds
Funkymonk21: folds
iacog4: calls 88292 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [8c 3d Qs]
*** TURN *** [8c 3d Qs] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [8c 3d Qs Ks] [2c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [9h 9d] (a pair of Nines)
allsam: shows [Jc Ac] (high card Ace)
iacog4 collected 203784 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 203784 | Rake 0
Board [8c 3d Qs Ks 2c]
Seat 1: jofey folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: madchad13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: shg18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: xTheWall folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: allsam showed [Jc Ac] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 7: Mr Thorne (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: iacog4 (big blind) showed [9h 9d] and won (203784) with a pair of Nines


This hand had some history behind it. This player made all in or fold his only move preflop. This usually tells me that 99 is beating that range. Most players just don't push monster hands that hard. In this situation, he's pushing almost 15 big blinds any time he enters the pot. He had done this a bunch of times, so I decided to roll the dice with 99 here hoping he had some lower pair or I was in a race and ahead. I was in a race and I won another one.

POKERSTARS GAME #14655162623: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XX (5000/10000) - 2008/01/18 - 20:20:08 (ET)
Table '73433652 92' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: p0cket00 (258212 in chips)
Seat 3: shg18 (345662 in chips)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker (241412 in chips)
Seat 5: seaanchor (209954 in chips)
Seat 6: matichou (230840 in chips)
Seat 7: FaceMeNow (480358 in chips)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 (192947 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (238784 in chips)
p0cket00: posts the ante 1000
shg18: posts the ante 1000
th0mas-poker: posts the ante 1000
seaanchor: posts the ante 1000
matichou: posts the ante 1000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 1000
Funkymonk21: posts the ante 1000
iacog4: posts the ante 1000
seaanchor: posts small blind 5000
matichou: posts big blind 10000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Js Jc]
FaceMeNow: folds
Funkymonk21: raises 18000 to 28000
iacog4: raises 52000 to 80000
p0cket00: folds
shg18: folds
th0mas-poker: folds
seaanchor: folds
matichou: folds
Funkymonk21: raises 111947 to 191947 and is all-in
iacog4: calls 111947
*** FLOP *** [As 2c 9s]
*** TURN *** [As 2c 9s] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [As 2c 9s 2d] [Td]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Funkymonk21: shows [Ad Kh] (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
iacog4: shows [Js Jc] (two pair, Jacks and Deuces)
Funkymonk21 collected 406894 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 406894 | Rake 0
Board [As 2c 9s 2d Td]
Seat 1: p0cket00 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: shg18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: seaanchor (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: matichou (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: FaceMeNow folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 showed [Ad Kh] and won (406894) with two pair, Aces and Deuces
Seat 9: iacog4 showed [Js Jc] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Deuces


Here I 3 bet preflop with JJ and get into a big race. Unfortunately, I lose this one and once again I'm in dead last. This was around 16 players left and I thought my tournament would be over. I again stayed ready as a short stack to find a spot. I soon doubled up from my short stack with A5 vs 66.

Then this hand occurred.

POKERSTARS GAME #14655229558: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XX (5000/10000) - 2008/01/18 - 20:23:11 (ET)
Table '73433652 92' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: p0cket00 (194212 in chips)
Seat 3: shg18 (341662 in chips)
Seat 4: th0mas-poker (150000 in chips)
Seat 5: seaanchor (200954 in chips)
Seat 6: matichou (339664 in chips)
Seat 7: FaceMeNow (501521 in chips)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 (371482 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (98674 in chips)
p0cket00: posts the ante 1000
shg18: posts the ante 1000
th0mas-poker: posts the ante 1000
seaanchor: posts the ante 1000
matichou: posts the ante 1000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 1000
Funkymonk21: posts the ante 1000
iacog4: posts the ante 1000
iacog4: posts small blind 5000
p0cket00: posts big blind 10000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Qh Ac]
shg18: raises 14555 to 24555
th0mas-poker: folds
seaanchor: folds
matichou: folds
FaceMeNow: folds
Funkymonk21: folds
iacog4: raises 73119 to 97674 and is all-in
p0cket00: folds
shg18: calls 73119
*** FLOP *** [7c Ad 7s]
*** TURN *** [7c Ad 7s] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [7c Ad 7s Td] [6s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Qh Ac] (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
shg18: shows [Kh Qd] (a pair of Sevens)
iacog4 collected 213348 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 213348 | Rake 0
Board [7c Ad 7s Td 6s]
Seat 1: p0cket00 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: shg18 showed [Kh Qd] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 4: th0mas-poker folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: seaanchor folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: matichou folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: FaceMeNow folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Funkymonk21 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: iacog4 (small blind) showed [Qh Ac] and won (213348) with two pair, Aces and Sevens

On this hand, I actually covered up his hole cards and pinched the first one to see a K. I thought it was either KK or AK, so when I saw the flop, I was pretty sure once again it was tournament over. I was thrilled to reveal a Q, QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ. I was so happy to be back in this tournament after this hand.

POKERSTARS GAME #14655667379: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XXI (7500/15000) - 2008/01/18 - 20:43:33 (ET)
Table '73433652 92' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: SWE_CS (241716 in chips)
Seat 5: seaanchor (385908 in chips)
Seat 6: matichou (226164 in chips)
Seat 7: FaceMeNow (1107749 in chips)
Seat 9: iacog4 (496848 in chips)
SWE_CS: posts the ante 1500
seaanchor: posts the ante 1500
matichou: posts the ante 1500
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 1500
iacog4: posts the ante 1500
FaceMeNow: posts small blind 7500
iacog4: posts big blind 15000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Kh Kd]
SWE_CS: raises 30000 to 45000
seaanchor: calls 45000
matichou: raises 179664 to 224664 and is all-in
FaceMeNow: folds
iacog4: raises 270684 to 495348 and is all-in
SWE_CS: folds
seaanchor: folds
*** FLOP *** [5s 2s 7s]
*** TURN *** [5s 2s 7s] [5d]
*** RIVER *** [5s 2s 7s 5d] [2h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [Kh Kd] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
matichou: shows [As Qh] (two pair, Fives and Deuces)
iacog4 collected 554328 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 554328 | Rake 0
Board [5s 2s 7s 5d 2h]
Seat 2: SWE_CS folded before Flop
Seat 5: seaanchor folded before Flop
Seat 6: matichou (button) showed [As Qh] and lost with two pair, Fives and Deuces
Seat 7: FaceMeNow (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: iacog4 (big blind) showed [Kh Kd] and won (554328) with two pair, Kings and Fives

This is a dream. We are now shorthanded and I picked up tons of good hands to steal blinds. As you can see my stack was built up to almost 500,000 at this point all the way from the 41,000 I was left with just a few hands ago. Everyone goes crazy here and I pick up KK and it holds to give me a very nice chip stack.

The rest of shorthanded play did not go so well. I played aggressively, but missed some flops and made a couple of bad calls to have my chip stack down to the amount in this hand.

POKERSTARS GAME #14656072883: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XXIII (15000/30000) - 2008/01/18 - 21:02:25 (ET)
Table '73433652 90' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Mr Thorne (234488 in chips)
Seat 2: nahpets1 (496946 in chips)
Seat 3: stosh101 (109146 in chips)
Seat 4: Latuz (115209 in chips)
Seat 5: iacog4 (451796 in chips)
Seat 6: keanesixteen (435809 in chips)
Seat 7: seaanchor (434908 in chips)
Seat 8: SweetSwe (857949 in chips)
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (1189749 in chips)
Mr Thorne: posts the ante 3000
nahpets1: posts the ante 3000
stosh101: posts the ante 3000
Latuz: posts the ante 3000
iacog4: posts the ante 3000
keanesixteen: posts the ante 3000
seaanchor: posts the ante 3000
SweetSwe: posts the ante 3000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 3000
keanesixteen: posts small blind 15000
seaanchor: posts big blind 30000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Kh Qd]
SweetSwe: folds
FaceMeNow: folds
Mr Thorne: folds
nahpets1: folds
stosh101: folds
Latuz: folds
iacog4: raises 50000 to 80000
keanesixteen: folds
seaanchor: raises 351908 to 431908 and is all-in
iacog4: calls 351908
*** FLOP *** [Qs 5d 8h]
*** TURN *** [Qs 5d 8h] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 5d 8h 4c] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
seaanchor: shows [Kd 3s] (high card King)
iacog4: shows [Kh Qd] (a pair of Queens)
iacog4 collected 905816 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 905816 | Rake 0
Board [Qs 5d 8h 4c 7c]
Seat 1: Mr Thorne folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: nahpets1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: stosh101 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Latuz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: iacog4 (button) showed [Kh Qd] and won (905816) with a pair of Queens
Seat 6: keanesixteen (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: seaanchor (big blind) showed [Kd 3s] and lost with high card King
Seat 8: SweetSwe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: FaceMeNow folded before Flop (didn't bet)


This hand has big history behind it. seaanchor always seems to play like this against me. He pushes me back very light to resteal my button raises. I had a note on this. This call takes courage and is what I really felt won me the tournament. I had a read and went with it. I know that I was lucky to see him show up with K3 here and to have him dominated. He could easily have done this with any A and I would be behind, but I knew his range to be very large against me on the big blind here. I was thrilled to see the result here. Something finally seemed to go right at a final table.

POKERSTARS GAME #14656093687: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XXIII (15000/30000) - 2008/01/18 - 21:03:24 (ET)
Table '73433652 90' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Mr Thorne (231488 in chips)
Seat 2: nahpets1 (493946 in chips)
Seat 3: stosh101 (106146 in chips)
Seat 4: Latuz (112209 in chips)
Seat 5: iacog4 (922704 in chips)
Seat 6: keanesixteen (417809 in chips)
Seat 8: SweetSwe (854949 in chips)
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (1186749 in chips)
Mr Thorne: posts the ante 3000
nahpets1: posts the ante 3000
stosh101: posts the ante 3000
Latuz: posts the ante 3000
iacog4: posts the ante 3000
keanesixteen: posts the ante 3000
SweetSwe: posts the ante 3000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 3000
SweetSwe: posts small blind 15000
FaceMeNow: posts big blind 30000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [Ac Ah]
Mr Thorne: folds
nahpets1: folds
stosh101: folds
Latuz: folds
iacog4: raises 50000 to 80000
keanesixteen: folds
SweetSwe: calls 65000
FaceMeNow: folds
*** FLOP *** [4h Qc 4c]
SweetSwe: bets 90000
iacog4: calls 90000
*** TURN *** [4h Qc 4c] [Td]
SweetSwe: bets 90000
iacog4: calls 90000
*** RIVER *** [4h Qc 4c Td] [2c]
SweetSwe: bets 90000
iacog4: calls 90000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SweetSwe: shows [8c 8s] (two pair, Eights and Fours)
iacog4: shows [Ac Ah] (two pair, Aces and Fours)
iacog4 collected 754000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 754000 | Rake 0
Board [4h Qc 4c Td 2c]
Seat 1: Mr Thorne folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: nahpets1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: stosh101 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Latuz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: iacog4 showed [Ac Ah] and won (754000) with two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 6: keanesixteen (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: SweetSwe (small blind) showed [8c 8s] and lost with two pair, Eights and Fours
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (big blind) folded before Flop


This is an interesting hand that occurred almost right after the previous hand. I pick up a monster hand and get called by the big blind. The flop is pretty harmless Q 4 4. If he has QQ, then I'll accept the set up like a man. I really am hoping here that he has AQ and feels the need to push the hand hard. He bets a fairly nice sized bet here. I decide to just call here because I don't want to lose the other hands he could have including any pair or weaker hands that have a Q in it. He bets a very small 90,000 bet into almost a 400,000 pot on the turn. At this point, I change my perspective on his hand. I'm almost certain that he has a hand weaker than a Q or even a flush draw. I decide not to raise here because my hand looks weak to him and if he misses his flush draw he may still fire at the pot with a lot of money in there. The river card is a complete blank. He bets way too small on the river another 90,000. It's a blocker bet, one designed so he doesn't have to call anymore if he checks to me. It's a good one too because I do not raise. He shows 88 and I win the hand. I think I played this hand pretty well. A lot of players would just shove this flop and lose the player, shove the turn and lose the player or make a river raise that will only get called if it's beat. I think I had a great idea of where he was at in the hand at the time and I played it pretty well. I would have liked to get more from him, but I don't know if that was possible here.

After this hand, the big stack at the table pretty much ran over everyone. He knocked out most of the other players and the other pots I was in were pretty small. I just stayed patient and we finally got heads up after I won this hand.

POKERSTARS GAME #14656443350: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XXIV (20000/40000) - 2008/01/18 - 21:19:47 (ET)
Table '73433652 90' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: nahpets1 (882782 in chips)
Seat 5: iacog4 (775495 in chips)
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (2667723 in chips)
nahpets1: posts the ante 4000
iacog4: posts the ante 4000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 4000
nahpets1: posts small blind 20000
iacog4: posts big blind 40000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [As Td]
FaceMeNow: folds
nahpets1: raises 838782 to 878782 and is all-in
iacog4: calls 731495 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [8c 6d Ac]
FaceMeNow said, "gh"
*** TURN *** [8c 6d Ac] [5c]
*** RIVER *** [8c 6d Ac 5c] [4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nahpets1: shows [Ts Jh] (high card Ace)
iacog4: shows [As Td] (a pair of Aces)
iacog4 collected 1554990 from pot
iacog4 said, "ty"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1554990 | Rake 0
Board [8c 6d Ac 5c 4h]
Seat 2: nahpets1 (small blind) showed [Ts Jh] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 5: iacog4 (big blind) showed [As Td] and won (1554990) with a pair of Aces
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Here I basically just put my hand ahead of his range and I was right and my hand held up.

We were now 1 on 1 FOR ALL THE MARBLES BABYYYYY!!!!!

The difference between 1st and 2nd was around eight thousand, so it was a pretty high stakes heads up match. He really did a great job of taking me out of my comfort zone. He basically played pretty aggressive, but he pushed all in, folded or just called. There was no other raise he made besides all in. I was then just at a point where I had to decide how long I was going to dwindle. I believe we started heads up at 1.6mill to 2.7 mill. I was down to about 1.4 mill which is almost a 2 to 1 disadvantage. Judging by how he was playing, I basically took a risk again.

POKERSTARS GAME #14656655112: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XXIV (20000/40000) - 2008/01/18 - 21:29:47 (ET)
Table '73433652 90' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 5: iacog4 (1418277 in chips)
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (2907723 in chips)
iacog4: posts the ante 4000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 4000
FaceMeNow: posts small blind 20000
iacog4: posts big blind 40000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [4c Ac]
FaceMeNow: raises 2863723 to 2903723 and is all-in
iacog4: calls 1374277 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Td 6h 6d]
*** TURN *** [Td 6h 6d] [As]
*** RIVER *** [Td 6h 6d As] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
iacog4: shows [4c Ac] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
FaceMeNow: shows [8c Kh] (a pair of Sixes)
FaceMeNow said, "gh"
iacog4 said, "ty"
iacog4 collected 2836554 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2836554 | Rake 0
Board [Td 6h 6d As 4s]
Seat 5: iacog4 (big blind) showed [4c Ac] and won (2836554) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (button) (small blind) showed [8c Kh] and lost with a pair of Sixes

Here I pick up A4 of clubs and decide to finally make a stand against his all in. He was making the all in enough that it was not possible for it to be just hands that are beating A4. I was probably a little behind where I wanted to make a stand here. I would rather have A9 or higher probably, but I really felt that it was time. He had the momentum heads up for sure at this point and my strong suit was neutralized by him. I knew if we didn't play all in poker, I would probably have the advantage, but he took that out of my hands. I don't want to sound cocky here, but I'm very confident in my heads up play. I've played thousands of hands in the last couple weeks heads up and I have many more 1st place finishes in tournaments than 2nd places.

After that, I caught crabs, and not the parasitic venereal disease.

POKERSTARS GAME #14656694131: TOURNAMENT #73433652, $50+$5 HOLD'EM NO LIMIT - LEVEL XXIV (20000/40000) - 2008/01/18 - 21:31:39 (ET)
Table '73433652 90' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 5: iacog4 (2902554 in chips)
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (1423446 in chips)
iacog4: posts the ante 4000
FaceMeNow: posts the ante 4000
iacog4: posts small blind 20000
FaceMeNow: posts big blind 40000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to iacog4 [3d 3s]
iacog4: raises 50000 to 90000
FaceMeNow: raises 1329446 to 1419446 and is all-in
iacog4: calls 1329446
*** FLOP *** [Ks 6d 8d]
*** TURN *** [Ks 6d 8d] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [Ks 6d 8d 5s] [Jc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
FaceMeNow: shows [4c Ac] (high card Ace)
iacog4: shows [3d 3s] (a pair of Threes)
FaceMeNow said, "gg"
iacog4 collected 2846892 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2846892 | Rake 0
Board [Ks 6d 8d 5s Jc]
Seat 5: iacog4 (button) (small blind) showed [3d 3s] and won (2846892) with a pair of Threes
Seat 9: FaceMeNow (big blind) showed [4c Ac] and lost with high card Ace


I went here with the idea that Dan Harrington's books often put into my head. A pair heads up is a very strong hand. A pair here is almost guaranteed to be in a race situation and with my chip lead, I was willing to gamble. I knew he would have it no other way. In retrospect, I probably could have waited, but I'm a luckbox and I run great so I win the race and the tournament.



I know that was a lot of poker talk, but hopefully it gives some insight into how I was thinking about this tournament. It felt great to be deep and consistently get my money in ahead because I can't always say that I do late in tournaments.



A special thanks to my boy Keith who writes at keithjaranovic.com

Keith gave me a special shout out and I want to make it come true. He anticipates a big year and I know that I have flaws in my tournament game that need to get worked out, but I have won some big tournaments in the past and I know I can be a very profitable player if I do these things the right way. There have been streaks where I haven't played great poker and I want to fix that. No matter what happens with the luck, I always want to play great. That's what I'm striving for.


Goal Update for 2008

Final Tables= 5 Goal 100
Wins = 1 Goal 15