Poker players today have a tendency to push small edges, in order to realize maximum value, when their opponents don’t defend. To those that do defend, the game can then develop into a chess like battle between two gladiators looking for a chink in the armor to land a deadly blow.
Such was the case on table 21 today in the 1k 6 handed event, here at the Aussie Millions. The action was fast and furious and it was tough not to get caught up in the cross-fire. Blinds were 75-150 (10k in chips to start) and in one of my first key hands I was dealt pocket 44’s. I made a min. raise to 300 in 1st position and got two callers. Out of position now, I decided to lead for 550 into a pot of 1050, on a flop of 3/5/9 two hearts and got one lone caller. The turn was a black 2 and with this card decided to continue my story of strength and made an 800 bet, with what I thought was a reasonable chance of having the best hand. My opponent insta-called. The river was a King of diamonds, which now I thought was a perfect card for me. If my opponent was on a flush draw I had the best hand and just in case he was being stubborn with a hand like A-5 suited or 9-8. I wanted to make a good value-looking bet on the river and finish off a well played hand. So I cut off 1200 and fired at the pot. My opponent thought for 2 mins. before calling and turning over 4-5 off-suit, to win the pot with a pair of 5’s. Ugh!
My assessment on this particular hand is that my play was fine, but I lacked judgement on my opponent who was obviously a calling station. It didn't appear he could fold a napkin, let alone a pair. As such, I violated the principle - "Never bluff the Sheriff." The player went broke 2 hands later after slow playing top 2 pair and having his opponent turn trips. Unfortunately, not before he transferred about 3k of my chips to that players stack. That player then put me in a tough spot when he raised my bb from his sb to 400. I re-raised making it 1100 to go with A9. He moved in and after some strong consideration, made the fold, opting to look for a better spot. He shows me one card, an eight, smiles and drags the pot.
So it was tough going, but I managed to start to turn it around when a player UG made it 400, the next player who had shown a move also, made it 1200 and I moved in for 3500 and got called, again I have A9. He made the call with KQ, my hand held and I was back to having about 8k of my initial 10k starting stack. After some back and forth in chip movement, I re-raised (1200) an ep raiser who had a stack of about 4k with AK. We got it all-in Pre with him holding 99’s. I lost that race and was once again fighting for survival. My last hand w blinds 100-200, I raised-called the sb 2400 from the button w KJ suited and found myself all in as a 3-2 dog against AQ. The flop fell A-K-J but the board ran out 4 to a suit, giving my opponent a flush and flushing me right to the rail.
I was dealt a lot of medium strength hands today, which in a 6 handed match usually are pretty good, but today they were dogs. Hands like small pairs, suited Broadway type hands like KJs/ QT, – etc. and Ace-Medium type hands A8/A9/AT, etc. The deck was hot, players were active and with a fast structure to start and action type flops, it was going to take immaculate timing and a little bit of luck. Unfortunately for me, she was out to lunch.
Next Up: Tomorrow's 1k Rebuy Event.
Good Flops and Happy Days,
KJ
www.acesuccessfulpokerlife.com
