Finally a Big Tournament Win!

Yesterday I went a little tournament crazy and entered some small stakes tourneys online. On some of the less trafficked sites you can sometimes find an overlay of money with their guaranteed prize pools. For instance if it's $20 to enter and the prize pool is guaranteed at $2000, all you have to do is find out if they have less than 100 players.

I was splashing around on Full Tilt yesterday and noticed their $24+2 guaranteed $3500. Therefore it needs 146 players to break even. I signed up with about 15 minutes until cards in the air and there was less than 100 players. Unfortunately, there was a late rush and I think they pushed over 150.

At the beginning I did not do much of anything. I really wasn't getting much to play with and I was just hanging around. I was happy that Full Tilt gives you 1500 chips to start and the blinds move up rather slowly so I could afford to be patient. This was the point where I started to pull some unbelievable suckouts from my ass. Here is a sample of some of my hand histories:

FullTiltPoker Game #221483751: $3,500 Guarantee (1394091), Table 3 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 12:43:04 ET - 2005/09/17
Seat 1: JACKSCHIPS46 (4,490)
Seat 2: Scubatoast (1,970)
Seat 3: Captian Eric (1,660)
Seat 4: Poker_Bully1 (3,580)
Seat 5: taxationfinance (1,480)
Seat 6: aslatman (1,275)
Seat 7: MELCOCHON (1,750)
Seat 8: Buzman (2,660)
Seat 9: rommmi (3,890)
rommmi posts the small blind of 40
JACKSCHIPS46 posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Poker_Bully1 [9c 9s]
Scubatoast folds
Captian Eric folds
Poker_Bully1 calls 80 I had been raising a lot and felt I should play this one for set value or a limp reraise.
taxationfinance folds
JACKSCHIPS46: IM NO GOOD JUIST LUCKY
aslatman folds
MELCOCHON folds
Buzman calls 80
UTfan (Observer): i can tell
JACKSCHIPS46: YOU ARE WORSE
rommmi has 15 seconds left to act
rommmi is sitting out
rommmi has timed out
rommmi folds
JACKSCHIPS46 checks
*** FLOP *** [8h 6h 7c]
JACKSCHIPS46 bets 80
rommmi has returned
Poker_Bully1 has 15 seconds left to act
Poker_Bully1 raises to 360 I feel I have the best hand so I raise to charge any possible flush draws
Buzman folds
JACKSCHIPS46 calls 280
*** TURN *** [8h 6h 7c] [Qh]
JACKSCHIPS46 bets 80
Poker_Bully1 calls 80
*** RIVER *** [8h 6h 7c Qh] [2h]
JACKSCHIPS46 bets 80
Poker_Bully1 calls 80
*** SHOW DOWN ***
JACKSCHIPS46 shows [9h 7d] (a flush, Queen high) I'm lucky he didn't bet more.
Poker_Bully1 mucks
JACKSCHIPS46 wins the pot (1,320) with a flush, Queen high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,320 Rake 0
Board: [8h 6h 7c Qh 2h]
Seat 1: JACKSCHIPS46 (big blind) showed [9h 7d] and won (1,320) with a flush, Queen high
Seat 2: Scubatoast didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Captian Eric didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Poker_Bully1 mucked [9c 9s] - a pair of Nines
Seat 5: taxationfinance didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: aslatman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: MELCOCHON didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Buzman (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: rommmi (small blind) folded before the Flop


FullTiltPoker Game #221487253: $3,500 Guarantee (1394091), Table 3 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 12:47:19 ET - 2005/09/17
Seat 1: JACKSCHIPS46 (5,170)
Seat 2: Scubatoast (2,090)
Seat 3: Captian Eric (1,780)
Seat 4: Poker_Bully1 (2,900)
Seat 5: taxationfinance (1,600)
Seat 6: aslatman (1,275)
Seat 7: MELCOCHON (1,750)
Seat 8: Buzman (2,500)
Seat 9: rommmi (3,690)
Poker_Bully1 posts the small blind of 40
taxationfinance posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Poker_Bully1 [8c Kc]
aslatman calls 80
MELCOCHON folds
Buzman folds
rommmi calls 80
JACKSCHIPS46 folds
Scubatoast calls 80
Captian Eric calls 80
Poker_Bully1 calls 40
Buzman: can't win on skill alone, we all know that
taxationfinance checks
*** FLOP *** [8s Jc 4c] I limp into pot with suited King and the flop looks good. I briefly consider betting, but maybe I can get better odds if I check, so I do.
Poker_Bully1 has 15 seconds left to act
Poker_Bully1 checks
taxationfinance checks
aslatman bets 1,195, and is all in The pot was 480 and he overbets it. Usually that's a flush draw. I have the 2nd nut flush draw, plus I already have a pair of 8's
rommmi folds
Scubatoast folds
Captian Eric folds
Poker_Bully1 raises to 2,820, and is all in I decide I am going to play. I raise all in to make sure the last guy in the pot doesn't play with me
taxationfinance folds
Poker_Bully1 shows [8c Kc]
aslatman shows [Jh Qs] Oops he has top pair. C'mon flush!
Uncalled bet of 1,625 returned to Poker_Bully1
*** TURN *** [8s Jc 4c] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [8s Jc 4c Qd] [2d] No flush for me. :-(
Poker_Bully1 shows a pair of Eights
aslatman shows two pair, Queens and Jacks
aslatman wins the pot (2,870) with two pair, Queens and Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,870 Rake 0
Board: [8s Jc 4c Qd 2d]
Seat 1: JACKSCHIPS46 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Scubatoast folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Captian Eric (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Poker_Bully1 (small blind) showed [8c Kc] and lost with a pair of Eights
Seat 5: taxationfinance (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: aslatman showed [Jh Qs] and won (2,870) with two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 7: MELCOCHON didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Buzman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: rommmi folded on the Flop

Here is where my luck turns around.

FullTiltPoker Game #221513688: $3,500 Guarantee (1394091), Table 3 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 13:19:20 ET - 2005/09/17
Seat 1: JACKSCHIPS46 (1,810)
Seat 2: Scubatoast (7,360)
Seat 3: Captian Eric (2,380)
Seat 4: Poker_Bully1 (1,565)
Seat 5: Btrain83 (945)
Seat 6: aslatman (1,550)
Seat 7: MELCOCHON (3,205)
Seat 8: Buzman (895)
Seat 9: rommmi (4,000)
JACKSCHIPS46 posts the small blind of 80
Scubatoast posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Poker_Bully1 [Ac 3c]
Captian Eric folds
Poker_Bully1 raises to 1,565, and is all in
Btrain83 folds
aslatman folds
MELCOCHON folds
Buzman folds
rommmi folds
JACKSCHIPS46 folds
Scubatoast calls 1,405
Poker_Bully1 shows [Ac 3c]
Scubatoast shows [Kh Kd]
*** FLOP *** [5c 4c 5d]
*** TURN *** [5c 4c 5d] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [5c 4c 5d 2h] [Jd]
Poker_Bully1 shows a straight, Five high Nothing like cracking pocket kings! Now I have a little breathing room.
Scubatoast shows two pair, Kings and Fives
Poker_Bully1 wins the pot (3,210) with a straight, Five high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,210 Rake 0
Board: [5c 4c 5d 2h Jd]
Seat 1: JACKSCHIPS46 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: Scubatoast (big blind) showed [Kh Kd] and lost with two pair, Kings and Fives
Seat 3: Captian Eric didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Poker_Bully1 showed [Ac 3c] and won (3,210) with a straight, Five high
Seat 5: Btrain83 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: aslatman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: MELCOCHON didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Buzman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: rommmi (button) didn't bet (folded)


FullTiltPoker Game #221526683: $3,500 Guarantee (1394091), Table 13 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 13:34:18 ET - 2005/09/17
Seat 1: ksay1122 (12,395)
Seat 2: Dlorican (11,505)
Seat 3: HASITNOW (11,120)
Seat 4: forkmule (4,670)
Seat 5: J111333444 (1,745)
Seat 6: scooter02 (4,460)
Seat 8: SurfinC (11,575)
Seat 9: Poker_Bully1 (4,590)
Dlorican posts the small blind of 100
HASITNOW posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Poker_Bully1 [Qd Ks]
forkmule folds
J111333444 calls 200
scooter02 folds
SurfinC folds
Poker_Bully1 raises to 800
ksay1122 folds
Dlorican folds
HASITNOW folds
J111333444 calls 600
*** FLOP *** [7c Kh As]
J111333444 checks
SurfinC: short stack bullying is what it was right kojack
Poker_Bully1 bets 950 Smaller stack shows weakness on the flop so I put him to a decision for all his chips. It wasn't a very hard decision since he was trapping me.
J111333444 calls 945, and is all in
Poker_Bully1 shows [Qd Ks]
J111333444 shows [Ah Tc]
Uncalled bet of 5 returned to Poker_Bully1
*** TURN *** [7c Kh As] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [7c Kh As 5h] [Kc] YES! One of my 5 outs hits on the river.
Poker_Bully1 shows three of a kind, Kings
J111333444 shows two pair, Aces and Kings
Poker_Bully1 wins the pot (3,790) with three of a kind, Kings
J111333444 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,790 Rake 0
Board: [7c Kh As 5h Kc]
Seat 1: ksay1122 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Dlorican (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: HASITNOW (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: forkmule didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: J111333444 showed [Ah Tc] and lost with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 6: scooter02 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: SurfinC didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Poker_Bully1 showed [Qd Ks] and won (3,790) with three of a kind, Kings

FullTiltPoker Game #221533795: $3,500 Guarantee (1394091), Table 13 - 120/240 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 13:41:28 ET - 2005/09/17
Seat 1: ksay1122 (12,300)
Seat 2: Dlorican (11,790), is sitting out
Seat 3: HASITNOW (9,645)
Seat 4: forkmule (3,715)
Seat 5: Whitey72 (5,885)
Seat 6: scooter02 (5,685)
Seat 8: SurfinC (10,880)
Seat 9: Poker_Bully1 (6,700)
ksay1122 antes 25
Dlorican antes 25
HASITNOW antes 25
forkmule antes 25
Whitey72 antes 25
scooter02 antes 25
SurfinC antes 25
Poker_Bully1 antes 25
forkmule posts the small blind of 120
Whitey72 posts the big blind of 240
Dlorican has returned
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Poker_Bully1 [7c Jc]
scooter02 folds
SurfinC folds
Poker_Bully1 raises to 800 I had been quiet for a while so I decide to try and steal the blinds.
ksay1122 calls 800 Dammit! a caller and now I am out of position.
Dlorican is sitting out
Dlorican folds
HASITNOW folds
forkmule folds
Whitey72 folds
*** FLOP *** [Qc Jh Jd] Bingo, Bango, Bongo I have 3 Jacks! Time to play for all my chips. As Vince Van Patten would say, I set the trap and I am putting branches and leaves over it.
Poker_Bully1 checks
ksay1122 bets 6,240 He falls into the hole!
Poker_Bully1 calls 5,875, and is all in
ksay1122 shows [Js Kc] Sarcasm alert: He's right where I want him now. I only need the 2 remaining 7's or to split I need one of 3 Queens or runner runner Aces.
Poker_Bully1 shows [7c Jc]
Uncalled bet of 365 returned to ksay1122
*** TURN *** [Qc Jh Jd] [7h] Yahtzee!
Dlorican has returned
*** RIVER *** [Qc Jh Jd 7h] [Td]
ksay1122 shows three of a kind, Jacks
Poker_Bully1 shows a full house, Jacks full of Sevens
Poker_Bully1 wins the pot (13,910) with a full house, Jacks full of Sevens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 13,910 Rake 0
Board: [Qc Jh Jd 7h Td]
Seat 1: ksay1122 showed [Js Kc] and lost with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 2: Dlorican folded before the Flop
Seat 3: HASITNOW (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: forkmule (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Whitey72 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: scooter02 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: SurfinC folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Poker_Bully1 showed [7c Jc] and won (13,910) with a full house, Jacks full of Sevens

Eventually I made it all the way to the final table and finished 5th for $262. I chuckled to myself that when you get to the final table, the backround changes into a studio similar to the World Poker Tour.

Later in the day, I found a $5 turbo tournament on Noble Poker that was guaranteeing $1250. So that means there has to be 250 players. When I signed up for this one there was just over 100. After I signed up, I realized that it was a rebuy and add on tournament. So once again it looks like Noble Poker will make money. Oh well.

Since it was a turbo and only $5 rebuys, I figured I would see some really crazy plays. To my surprise, most of the players played conservatively. The blinds increased every 5 minutes so there is no time to wait for good hands. You need to push every small edge and hope you get lucky. I was planning to take advantage of my opponents' stupidity.

I doubled up early with a straight. Then lost it all when my Kings with a Queen kicker went down to Kings with an Ace kicker. Rebuy! I bled off some chips and had about 600 left with Ace 5 suited utg. I limped and 4 other guys went all in. I figure what the hell, so I call. No flush so I rebuy. This time I win a couple of small pots but I run out of time as the break hits with 50-100 blinds and $5 add ons for $1,000 chips. I only have $1100 so I need the chips badly.

Back from the break and I think the blinds were 60-120. The other players just had no idea how to play in this format. 90% of the time when I was first in the pot in middle or late position, I raised all in. I was seldom called. When I was called, it was usually by a hopelessly short stacked player. This went on and on all the way to the final table.

Amazingly they stop raising the blinds once it gets to 5000-10000. There were 4 of us left and we played for probably 20 minutes. I was usually fluctuating between 80 and 120k in chips so there still wasn't much room for creativity. I really felt like the best player of the bunch due to my experience with all the bubble play in Sit-n-Go's.

Finally I made it to heads up with a 2-1 chip lead. Again, I tried to remember what Harrington said in his book and call with any 2 from the small blind, and mix up my play once in a while. The great thing was, that once it was down to 2 players we actually had a lot of chips to play with since the blinds had stopped going up. I finally ground him down to about 60k in chips and just started putting him all in, every chance I could.

Then the miracle happened. He called my all in bet and my hand held up. Mother fucking Champion of a 150 player tournament. $478 to the winner.