Dry Side Stupidity - ATLarge Part 2
ATLarge Trip Report Part 1
So... After giving back some earlier winnings, I head back to check in at around 1:30am. I decided to stay at the Knights Inn because it was cheap and, as the web site says, "Newly built Hotel - 2005", figuring, you can't go too wrong with a place that is barely a year old. So much for that idea. The interior was cheap, and looked like it was 12 years old, not one. OK, no problem, I'm just going to go to sleep, shower in the morning, and head to the Taj for some Stabucks, and the tournament. So much for that idea #2. There were probably 6-8 high school kids in the next room that didn't care to settle down until 5:30, so needless to say, sleep was at a premium most of the night. Wrap things up with a ceiling tile in the shower that was wet, moldy, and smelling like urine, a front desk person acknowledging that they were aware of it, and not seeming to care that it has probably been there for weeks, and it's time to add Knights Inn to the list of places NEVER to stay.
Off to the Taj, and a stop at Starbucks on the way in the casino. So much for that idea #3. The Starbucks on the way in from the parking garage has closed. Luckily, after checking with guest services, I learn there is a Starbucks next door at the Showboat. Perfect, a chance to get out in the sun, take a short walk along the boardwalk, and take in some fresh morning air before hitting the tournament.
Time to play. 174 runners registered, playing for a top prize of $6,630, top 18 cash. Structure is ok, $1,000 in chips & 30 minute levels. I draw table 6, seat 9, hmmmmmm... 69 can't be all that bad. I muddle through the first two levels, and can't seem to get anything going. I play too loosely and have to tighten up after not hitting any flops, even with decent starting hands. Two hours in it feels like all I'm seeing is Q-4, 7-2, 9-3, J-4...wash... rinse...repeat. Midway through level four, I'm down to T825 with 134 players remaining, and end up having to muck JJ after a 4x preflop raise, and a feeler bet on a AQx flop. Now down to T325 I have to push pretty soon with the blinds at 50/100. After doubling up when my Hiltons hold up, and still well below average, I start stealing with a push or fold strategy, and get back to my starting stack of T1,500, but well below average. At least have a little breathing room to play now. Since I didn't take notes, I don't have any real details, but the next few levels I made some good reads and forced some better hands to fold, still not making any hands myself. Now it's level 9 and 40 or so left and I finally look down at AA, in the big blind. Of course it folds around and I'm hoping the small blind at least completes. Nope, SB tries a semi steal with A-10 and raises to 2,000. I double to T5,800 and for the first time near average.
A few hands later I bust making not one but THREE rookie mistakes. I look down and find KcQc. Folds to me and I raise 3x to T1,200 from middle position, hoping to pick up the blinds, and get smooth calls from a tight short stack, and the big stack button.
Mistake #1 - A red flag should have gone up here with a tight player smooth calling nearly half his stack, but no. Flop comes Jxx, one club. I check, short stack pushes his remaining T1,500 and gets a call from the button. I go into the tank, and again completely overlook the short stack and start playing back hands that I had played with the button earlier in the day.
Mistake #2 - I was looking for a reason to stay in the hand with the button. The reason I found was a completely different situation than this one, but I somehow justify the call. Turn comes off another club, giving me 4 to the flush, and I present you with the most egregious mistake....
Mistake #3 - Without even a second of thought, I push my remaining T2,800 into the dry side pot, on a draw. I have nothing to gain by pushing the button off his hand, I'm beaten by the short stack for the main pot at least 90% of the time here, and beaten by the button if he calls and I don't improve. Why would I act without even thinking? Oh ya, I wasn't thinking. Ultimately, I wanted to push the button off the hand, and that's what lead to all three mistakes.
The button actually considers folding, but calls with, "you are ahead now", and tables AQ, and I'm dominated. The river is a blank and he takes the side pot with a high card ace. IGHN in 31st place. If I take a second and evaluate the situation on the turn and check the turn, he most likely checks behind me, and with a blank on the river, we check it down and I still have chips. Oh ya, tight short stack held AA.
So boys and girls, what did we learn/I remind myself of today?
I'm sure there are more points here, but I'm on mega tilt with myself after blogging this. Good thing I'm at work, and not at the tables!
Great experience overall, great group of people. Coming back from near broke with 130+ left, to finish 31 good. Busting making three stupid mistakes in the same hand, very bad. One lapse in concentration, or a single rushed decision/judgment is all it takes.
So... After giving back some earlier winnings, I head back to check in at around 1:30am. I decided to stay at the Knights Inn because it was cheap and, as the web site says, "Newly built Hotel - 2005", figuring, you can't go too wrong with a place that is barely a year old. So much for that idea. The interior was cheap, and looked like it was 12 years old, not one. OK, no problem, I'm just going to go to sleep, shower in the morning, and head to the Taj for some Stabucks, and the tournament. So much for that idea #2. There were probably 6-8 high school kids in the next room that didn't care to settle down until 5:30, so needless to say, sleep was at a premium most of the night. Wrap things up with a ceiling tile in the shower that was wet, moldy, and smelling like urine, a front desk person acknowledging that they were aware of it, and not seeming to care that it has probably been there for weeks, and it's time to add Knights Inn to the list of places NEVER to stay.
Off to the Taj, and a stop at Starbucks on the way in the casino. So much for that idea #3. The Starbucks on the way in from the parking garage has closed. Luckily, after checking with guest services, I learn there is a Starbucks next door at the Showboat. Perfect, a chance to get out in the sun, take a short walk along the boardwalk, and take in some fresh morning air before hitting the tournament.
Time to play. 174 runners registered, playing for a top prize of $6,630, top 18 cash. Structure is ok, $1,000 in chips & 30 minute levels. I draw table 6, seat 9, hmmmmmm... 69 can't be all that bad. I muddle through the first two levels, and can't seem to get anything going. I play too loosely and have to tighten up after not hitting any flops, even with decent starting hands. Two hours in it feels like all I'm seeing is Q-4, 7-2, 9-3, J-4...wash... rinse...repeat. Midway through level four, I'm down to T825 with 134 players remaining, and end up having to muck JJ after a 4x preflop raise, and a feeler bet on a AQx flop. Now down to T325 I have to push pretty soon with the blinds at 50/100. After doubling up when my Hiltons hold up, and still well below average, I start stealing with a push or fold strategy, and get back to my starting stack of T1,500, but well below average. At least have a little breathing room to play now. Since I didn't take notes, I don't have any real details, but the next few levels I made some good reads and forced some better hands to fold, still not making any hands myself. Now it's level 9 and 40 or so left and I finally look down at AA, in the big blind. Of course it folds around and I'm hoping the small blind at least completes. Nope, SB tries a semi steal with A-10 and raises to 2,000. I double to T5,800 and for the first time near average.
A few hands later I bust making not one but THREE rookie mistakes. I look down and find KcQc. Folds to me and I raise 3x to T1,200 from middle position, hoping to pick up the blinds, and get smooth calls from a tight short stack, and the big stack button.
Mistake #1 - A red flag should have gone up here with a tight player smooth calling nearly half his stack, but no. Flop comes Jxx, one club. I check, short stack pushes his remaining T1,500 and gets a call from the button. I go into the tank, and again completely overlook the short stack and start playing back hands that I had played with the button earlier in the day.
Mistake #2 - I was looking for a reason to stay in the hand with the button. The reason I found was a completely different situation than this one, but I somehow justify the call. Turn comes off another club, giving me 4 to the flush, and I present you with the most egregious mistake....
Mistake #3 - Without even a second of thought, I push my remaining T2,800 into the dry side pot, on a draw. I have nothing to gain by pushing the button off his hand, I'm beaten by the short stack for the main pot at least 90% of the time here, and beaten by the button if he calls and I don't improve. Why would I act without even thinking? Oh ya, I wasn't thinking. Ultimately, I wanted to push the button off the hand, and that's what lead to all three mistakes.
The button actually considers folding, but calls with, "you are ahead now", and tables AQ, and I'm dominated. The river is a blank and he takes the side pot with a high card ace. IGHN in 31st place. If I take a second and evaluate the situation on the turn and check the turn, he most likely checks behind me, and with a blank on the river, we check it down and I still have chips. Oh ya, tight short stack held AA.
So boys and girls, what did we learn/I remind myself of today?
Don't put too much value on one hand in the past Take the time to evaluate the current circumstances, and compare it to previous situations Don't bet into a dry side pot, when you can take one off.
I'm sure there are more points here, but I'm on mega tilt with myself after blogging this. Good thing I'm at work, and not at the tables!
Great experience overall, great group of people. Coming back from near broke with 130+ left, to finish 31 good. Busting making three stupid mistakes in the same hand, very bad. One lapse in concentration, or a single rushed decision/judgment is all it takes.
posted by voodoopoker at 8:24 AM
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