If I truly wanted to leave, I would have left already...aka I go but to return...aka The Love Elf saves the day
You know all that stuff I said about outgrowing the FT 20k…that I was better suited to 75s and 109s and would camp there permanently as soon as I could?
You all knew that was self-delusional bullshit right?
This blog is good for me. In these recent lengthy posts outlining my self-perceived weaknesses and then receiving feedback that highlights other, subtler holes in my game, I have been able to make some important mid/late game adjustments. Deliberately made over the past three days and to great immediate effect. No it hasn't just been luck - I have played specific hands very differently these last four days and the results are clear. An improvement has occurred.
No final tables. Yet.
But I cashed in the FT 2pm DS 6k Guaranteed two days ago, and cashed in the 30k on both Saturday and Sunday (75th and 99th respectively). The 30k is boasting a field of 1500 these days. I am pleased by the deep finishes, but even more pleased that both bustouts were beats on the magnitude of 3/1 or so. Sunday boasted the somewhat predictable QQ v A7o which made trip 7s by the turn. On each of these bustouts, if I win I am an average stack again. [NB: that wasn’t a badbeat story because like I said I am truly proud that once again I have found that spot where I am getting my chips in way, way ahead.]
Since I don’t really play poker for my hourly rate, the only results-oriented benchmark for me is depth of penetration into these big field MTTs. Not a bad week.
Actually moneying last night was a particular source of pride because I took a terrible hit to my stack when I made a tough shortstack call of a push from the cutoff holding a measly A4o. I had been watching the villain for over an hour and his range was wide open. I had also been leaving my blind undefended deliberately and he had taken it 3 of 4 previous orbits. It’s an odd habit of mine, but at times I will not defend even with playable (but not great) cards for a few orbits when the blinds are mid-range in the hopes I can then resteal with air down the road when it counts. This trick is surprisingly effective, esp in late stages, but it depends on an observant but greedy opponent – which villain clearly was. The move also predictably widens the range the CO and button will try to steal with. Which is why I felt ok with busting if I was wrong, but felt good he wasn’t packing an ace or much of a hand at all.
I call and he shows 67s. Sadly for us dear readers he manages to cripple our hero down to less than 2k with blinds about to hit 200/400. Say what you will, that was not a random, “let’s gamble” call. That was simply (for better or worse) the best poker I can play. I have long since learned in my real job to trust my instincts at all times, and as I start to do it more and more in poker I am noting they reliably come through for me.
The board is another matter, of course. But rather than tilt, I just start picking my spots and stole two sets of blinds uncontested. The power of being the shorty is that the bigstack is sometimes loathe to double you. Then came Hand of the Night v1.0, with the eponymously lovely Love Elf watching no less, when I get JJ.
Home free, right?
Nope. QQ.
As I am literally getting ready to go to the fridge for a drink of ice watah to detilt, Tina types “J!” in the chat and BOOM! not one but TWO Jacks appear by the turn. Right back in it. To his credit, the player who took this sickening beat (the same guy who crippled me earlier) took it like a gentleman – observing it was oddly fair. Fucking Good Form.
From there I played it strictly by position, folding even 33 in MP to EP pressure, preferring to go for postional pushes with fuck all as holdings. Worked very nicely, and that brings us to Hand of the Night v2.0. It was a push at the exact moment the bubble was about to burst. I am dealt Q3o in the CO-1 and decide fuck it, I have both blinds almost covered (my 9k to 9.5k and 10k). The big stacks in between me and the shorties will assume I am packing a premium to push right on the bubble and get out of my way. They do. As for the shorties in the blinds, they will fold up to AJ (at least) to a push rather than bubble. And fold they do, taking me to 11k, and getting me to believe that the comeback was just getting started. It cracked me up that Hoy, who I guess had been quietly watching for a while recognized this instantly for the move it was. I'd point out where I picked up such MTT delicacies, but if you've read this blog at all, you can probably work it out for yourself. On the other hand, I chuckle to think how dumb I'd have looked if I ran into a premium... But that's actually the point: with only 4 to act in front of you, and with that much pressure on them - you're golden way, WAY more times than you're not.
So as you might have guessed by the time I saw those queens, I had already begun to think about my midstack strategy and who would be the victims of steal attempts now that I would have a stack to work with. I admit was ecstatic to call UTGs push knowing I was way, way ahead. Until I wasn’t. I appreciate Hoy, JJ and Tina hanging in there for me – it was good to play my A game with friends watching for a change. It slightly ameliorated the bitter taste of almonds.
Honestly, as idiotic as it sounds, I believe it’s just a matter of time. I will be at that final table before I go back to work. If not, it won’t be for a lack of me bringing my best game and enough shots to let the math open the door. I take no small pride in the fact that I have played this tournament a fair bit, and am positive dollars for the effort. When I hit that big one, it will look goot, goot, goot.
FT 20k – I love you, darlin’. I have decided I must have you and make you mine. You will love every minute of it baby. You know you will.
Laytah.
You all knew that was self-delusional bullshit right?
This blog is good for me. In these recent lengthy posts outlining my self-perceived weaknesses and then receiving feedback that highlights other, subtler holes in my game, I have been able to make some important mid/late game adjustments. Deliberately made over the past three days and to great immediate effect. No it hasn't just been luck - I have played specific hands very differently these last four days and the results are clear. An improvement has occurred.
No final tables. Yet.
But I cashed in the FT 2pm DS 6k Guaranteed two days ago, and cashed in the 30k on both Saturday and Sunday (75th and 99th respectively). The 30k is boasting a field of 1500 these days. I am pleased by the deep finishes, but even more pleased that both bustouts were beats on the magnitude of 3/1 or so. Sunday boasted the somewhat predictable QQ v A7o which made trip 7s by the turn. On each of these bustouts, if I win I am an average stack again. [NB: that wasn’t a badbeat story because like I said I am truly proud that once again I have found that spot where I am getting my chips in way, way ahead.]
Since I don’t really play poker for my hourly rate, the only results-oriented benchmark for me is depth of penetration into these big field MTTs. Not a bad week.
Actually moneying last night was a particular source of pride because I took a terrible hit to my stack when I made a tough shortstack call of a push from the cutoff holding a measly A4o. I had been watching the villain for over an hour and his range was wide open. I had also been leaving my blind undefended deliberately and he had taken it 3 of 4 previous orbits. It’s an odd habit of mine, but at times I will not defend even with playable (but not great) cards for a few orbits when the blinds are mid-range in the hopes I can then resteal with air down the road when it counts. This trick is surprisingly effective, esp in late stages, but it depends on an observant but greedy opponent – which villain clearly was. The move also predictably widens the range the CO and button will try to steal with. Which is why I felt ok with busting if I was wrong, but felt good he wasn’t packing an ace or much of a hand at all.
I call and he shows 67s. Sadly for us dear readers he manages to cripple our hero down to less than 2k with blinds about to hit 200/400. Say what you will, that was not a random, “let’s gamble” call. That was simply (for better or worse) the best poker I can play. I have long since learned in my real job to trust my instincts at all times, and as I start to do it more and more in poker I am noting they reliably come through for me.
The board is another matter, of course. But rather than tilt, I just start picking my spots and stole two sets of blinds uncontested. The power of being the shorty is that the bigstack is sometimes loathe to double you. Then came Hand of the Night v1.0, with the eponymously lovely Love Elf watching no less, when I get JJ.
Home free, right?
Nope. QQ.
As I am literally getting ready to go to the fridge for a drink of ice watah to detilt, Tina types “J!” in the chat and BOOM! not one but TWO Jacks appear by the turn. Right back in it. To his credit, the player who took this sickening beat (the same guy who crippled me earlier) took it like a gentleman – observing it was oddly fair. Fucking Good Form.
From there I played it strictly by position, folding even 33 in MP to EP pressure, preferring to go for postional pushes with fuck all as holdings. Worked very nicely, and that brings us to Hand of the Night v2.0. It was a push at the exact moment the bubble was about to burst. I am dealt Q3o in the CO-1 and decide fuck it, I have both blinds almost covered (my 9k to 9.5k and 10k). The big stacks in between me and the shorties will assume I am packing a premium to push right on the bubble and get out of my way. They do. As for the shorties in the blinds, they will fold up to AJ (at least) to a push rather than bubble. And fold they do, taking me to 11k, and getting me to believe that the comeback was just getting started. It cracked me up that Hoy, who I guess had been quietly watching for a while recognized this instantly for the move it was. I'd point out where I picked up such MTT delicacies, but if you've read this blog at all, you can probably work it out for yourself. On the other hand, I chuckle to think how dumb I'd have looked if I ran into a premium... But that's actually the point: with only 4 to act in front of you, and with that much pressure on them - you're golden way, WAY more times than you're not.
So as you might have guessed by the time I saw those queens, I had already begun to think about my midstack strategy and who would be the victims of steal attempts now that I would have a stack to work with. I admit was ecstatic to call UTGs push knowing I was way, way ahead. Until I wasn’t. I appreciate Hoy, JJ and Tina hanging in there for me – it was good to play my A game with friends watching for a change. It slightly ameliorated the bitter taste of almonds.
Honestly, as idiotic as it sounds, I believe it’s just a matter of time. I will be at that final table before I go back to work. If not, it won’t be for a lack of me bringing my best game and enough shots to let the math open the door. I take no small pride in the fact that I have played this tournament a fair bit, and am positive dollars for the effort. When I hit that big one, it will look goot, goot, goot.
FT 20k – I love you, darlin’. I have decided I must have you and make you mine. You will love every minute of it baby. You know you will.
Laytah.
posted by Iakaris aka I.A.K. at 1:50 AM
7 Comments:
Great job last night as always brotha. I wasn't watching every hand of yours as I had my own tables to keep tabs on, but I saw your big moves and once again was impressed by the depth of your penetration into the field (yes I tried to make that sound as sexual as I could, don't ask me why).
Btw, last night I went out of the 30k on hand #1. I'll have that up on my blog later today, but isn't it always awesome when that happens? Especially when you're a monster favorite when the cards are turned up. Fuggers.
I was also, er..uh..impressed by the, uh...
never mind.
Great play last night! You chose your spots well, and seemed fearless. Your play last night displayed the advice Ray gives me all the time: play your position. I was impressed, and definitely learned a thing or two from watching you!
Great job!
Hey Iak,
You said your play has improved, but out of curiosity, how have you improved particularly? Just curious.
You can count me as a subscriber, even though I don't do those bloglines thingies. Can you show me how many I have? I'm guessing 4.
JJ is ok when you catch another JJ. otherwise, not ok.
nice job and from where you used to be to ur post now a days actually talking about poker you've come light years and it will be only a matter of time before you starting raking tournies left and right...keep it up
Hoy - sorry I missed MATH, DSL issue, resolved now... I did see you went out super-early and knew it had to be something like AA or KK. Ridiculous. Anyone who lays down Kings in the 20k needs their head examined. The AQ/88/JTs triple push is not unusual. You win that hand like you were supposed to and you'd have 4500 chips starting hand two. Again, ridiculous.
L.E. - tx darlin' - lookin forward to seeing you guys live soon. Sadly no good live MTTs for smoke to lay waste to.
Jordan - Since ya asked:
What was happening to me for about the last two weeks would be that I would play a decent early game - very TAG (30/20's) and pick on one or two opponents as much as possible until the antes hit. I'd have doubled once or twice with change and be looking good with a solid chance to cash (twice I had relatively big stacks). Then just as the bubble was approaching I would take the old adage "people tighten up on the bubble, so aggression pays" too religiously and loosen up way too much. In four consecutive MTTs where I had an M of 8-12 within 15 of the bubble, I managed to bustout OTM. That's inexcusably stupid MTT play.
What I was doing wrong was that rather than push with an M of 8 preflop, putting hellacious pressure on my opponent, I was 3x'ing: a tactical error just begging for a mid/short stack to push back and force me to fold. Either that or they would smooth call and push the flop confident I had missed it more times than not. That little stop and go was nullifying my advantage of position.
So the adjustment was essentially to reign in a bit near the bubble and when I decided I wanted to make a move to make the move that actually generates pressure: the positional All-in. The results are clear. Q3o should not win blinds & antes at 500/1000+ antes. But it does if coming from the MP on the bubble with 9k behind it. I know I personally would fold up to JJ there (maybe even queens depending on the opponent).
The classic example of my diseased thought process lately is how I played those kings - which is why posting it for people to gawk it is good for me. That obscenely fucking stupid post-flop play characterized all of those recent bustout hands. I can't say enough how dumb that was, because anyone who thinks it's easy to come by 11000 chips in an MTT is crazy. So many things have to have gone right. To show such little respect for your own hard work is just pure ego - ie. Watch me put a move on this guy! kind of stupidity.
In making a conscious decision to go back to a more positional, all-in attack strategy near the bubble I truly feel I plugged a leak.
Peak - lol. i have no clue how to check - that's why god put Fuel in our lives...
smokkee: true dat. JJJJok, JJnotOK
Rav: tx brotha - I was chuckling over the fact that poker content is slowly leaching into this blog against my better efforts...
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