June 28th, 2008
WSOP
Out in Vegas to take a shot in the World Series of Poker today. I entered event #49, which is a $1500 buy-in No-Limit Holdem tournament. Last year there were about 3000 entrants and the top 10% or so get paid. It’s a 3-day tournament — if you’re lucky — so hopefully I won’t be back to Houston until Tuesday…
UPDATE: Maybe I shouldn’t have started this post with “out” — that is not a word you want to be using!!!
Played for 3 levels — an hour a level… Never could get any cards! I had AK twice — raised with it and took down the blinds once, next time raised with it and got 3 callers — no A or K and I fold on the flop. The only other hand I raised the first hour was KJ suited in late position - again, taking down the blinds.
The ONLY pair I saw in 3 hours was 77. I called a raise of 350 with it and the flop came AKQ all clubs. Nice. I had a 7 of clubs, but that is no good here and I folded on the turn when the original raiser bet.
I raised in late position with A9 of diamonds — with only 3 players behind me — made it 350. He moved all-in and it was back to me for 600 more. The pot had about 850 in it, so it was marginal to call. If I folded I would still have 1700 in chips, if I called and lost only 1100. He later told me he had 5s — which is what I figured… a small pair or bigger ace — either way I am behind. So, I folded like a lawn chair!
Kept getting hands like K2, Q3, and other absolutely unplayable hands. On my 3rd table move I was down to 1075 in chips — from a starting 300 stack. The blinds were 100/200 and I was about to hit the big blind in 2 more hands. If I folded through the blinds I would have less than 800 which is almost impossible to do anything with. So, I pushed with 10 9 of hearts in early position and hoped that everyone would fold. I got two callers — not good news! But the flop was 553 with two hearts, bringing me some hope. One guy bet into the dry side pot and the 3rd player folded. I couldn’t catch a heart to beat his pocket tens. If I had gotten lucky there you never know!
It was a good experience and I saw a bunch of famous poker players. Incidentally, one player asked me if I was in the line for the bathroom (the lines were LONG at the break!) and I told him that he looked familiar. He said, “I’m Matt.” and I replied, “Matros?”, which he affirmed. Matt is a former WPT champion and pro poker player — although his name is not as familiar to those of you that don’t play and he is not a highly recognizable player. I told him that his poker book was one of the first that I had ever read and we chatted about the tournament for a minute, so that was sort of cool…
Enjoyed the experience overall — although it would have been nice to catch some cards! Going to try again in a smaller buy-in tournament tonight over at Harrah’s … we’ll see what happens. 
Filed under: Poker
June 28th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Best of Luck Brad!
June 29th, 2008 at 9:46 am
WOW!!! Break a leg!!!?? Hmmmm??? What is the appropriate saying for good luck in poker?? LOL!
GOOD LUCK BRAD!!!!!!!!