BARGE Tourney 1 - NLHE shootout to Limit HORSE
My plan today was to head down to Binion’s after lunch, and either play in some BARGEr mixed game or walk across the street to play NL at the Nugget. I stayed up all night last night, however, and took a nap this afternoon after only sleeping for a couple hours this morning. So, I get to Binion’s, get my badge, and say ‘hi’ to a few people I know. While I still don’t feel like a real member of this group, I’m getting more comfortable. When I get to my table, I see Randy, who I know, is to my left. Also, JP, who I got HU against in one of the warmups last week. I also see a couple other people whose faces and/or names I recognize and introduce myself to a couple others.
On the first hand, I’m in the SB, JP raises to 150 in early position (utg +2, 10 handed). Mark calls, I look down at As7s and decide to call, and Randy calls in the BB. Flop is 8TJ, one spade, and surprisingly enough it checks around. Turn is the 6s, I bet 350 and take it down. Nice start. When you only get 2000 chips and blinds go up every 20 minutes in a live sng, it’s especially nice to give yourself some pad early.
I steal a couple times, but generally play tight (as does the majority of the table) and am sitting at about a little less than 3k when the next interesting hand comes up (I did “resteal” once with TT). I’m in the BB at 100/200, Sharon pushes for 825 utg +2 (after showing up late, she’s been her fun self to this point, all the while playing very well despite now being short chipped). It folds to me and I’ve got to call 625 to win 1125. I look down at Kc4c. I think usually this is a fold, BUT I wanted to show gamble, I had chips, and I “think” Sharon can have a wide range here (not crazy wide, but wider than many). I call. She shows 66. Flop AT6 all clubs. I flop the nuts, and quickly get resucked when the board pairs the A on the turn (and the T on the river for good measure). Ok, back to grinding.
I chip back up a little. I blind out a little. Blinds go up. And up. We’re only down to 8 at 150/300. I’m utg with 1625 and look down to Kc9c. Ok, I push. mjoseph calls in late position with 99 and the blinds fold. Ugh. Flop comes with two clubs. Ok, from dominated to flipping. Turn K. Flipping to him having one out. River bricks. I play good.
A few hands later, I’m on the button. It folds to me and I look down to see A2. I’ve already counted down the BB to having 1275. He’s been pretty tight, but even if he calls, I’m willing to gamble with good chips. As I put out the wrong amount (after verbally committing to 1275), I see Randy reach for his chips. He’s been card dead but patient and I know I’m crushed. BB folds (says he would have gone with Q7), and I’ve got a fairly trivial call even “knowing” I only have three outs. Yep, he’s got AcQc. Nice. I turn a deuce and HGHN. Randy gave me a ride to the sushi outing a couple years ago, and is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. I genuinely feel bad for putting a beat on him. But, I get a cool bust out chip. So, that’s nice.
The table now knows I’m a total luckbox. So, that’s nice, too.
Unfortunately, at this point, I go generally card dead for the remainder of the sng. I get a couple walks and steal once or twice, but at 300/600 I’m hovering around 5k. When we get HU, I have about 4k. A couple folds and then I’m on the button and look down to Q9. Despite being very lucky when I was behind, this is the only play I want to take back. I push. Online, I think it’s right, and fairly clear being that short. I think, however, that I should have studied for a minute before pushing. Whatever, he calls with A6, board comes 78J6J, and IGHN. nh and gg.
I think I played ok. I probably should have made a couple more moves before getting that short. And, while it sucks to be that close to going on to the HORSE final table, I can’t complain given the luck. I could very well play better in the Lowball tourney tomorrow and the NLHE on Saturday, and finish a lot worse. We’ll see.