Posted by Junelli 7:31 PM
I just got eliminated from the Sunday Million Tournament. I only lasted about an hour and half, and I am generally disappointed with how I played. I didn’t win any big hands, and only picked up a few small pots. If I had stayed out of marginal situations I would’ve last longer, and given the deck a chance to hit me a little better. Here’s what happened:

I picked up 2 small pots by leading out with middle or bottom pair on the flop getting everyone to fold.

With 4,900 under the gun, I get AA. I limp expecting to come over the top of a raiser. A middle position player who is extremely short stacked (580) limps. A late position player also limps and the blinds complete. There are 5 players and the pot is 200. The flop is 85T rainbow. The blinds check to me and I lead out for 125 (a little over half the pot). The short stack folds, and the late position player (who is about equal in chips with me) make the minimum raise to 250. I smooth call and the pot is 700. The turn is a 3 and I check to him. He bets 250 again (approx 1/3 the pot). I smooth call again and the pot is 1,200. The river is a 2 and puts 3 spades on the board. I check and he bets 40 into a 1,200 pot. I think my overpair of aces is good here so I raise him to 250. He smooth calls and turns over TT (top set on the flop).

Overall I think I played that hand well. Except for my improper raise on the river (I should’ve just called), I managed to lose very little (about 800). It could’ve been much worse with AA against a set. I’m happy to get out of that one alive. And I still have 4,000 in chips.

I manage to pick up a small pot with I raise with A6s on the button and make a continuation bet/bluff on the flop.

I fold about 15 hands in a row before getting KJo in middle position. I limp and everyone folds to the blinds, who complete/check. The flop is AA5. The SB bets 100 and I smooth call (pretty sure he wouldn’t bet an Ace here). The turn is another Ace and he checks to me. I decide to represent the ace, or a smaller pair which would give me a full house. I bet 200 into a 380 pot. He moves all-in for 1,844. I fold. Down to 3,800 in chips.

My defining hand came a few hands later when I was dealt KK in the SB. The chip leader at the table has been very aggressive and he’s under the gun and first to act. The blinds are 30-60, and he raises it to 200. Everyone folds back to me. I think about raising here, but since this pot is already limited to 3 people at most, and likely 2 since the BB will probably fold, I decide to smooth call. The BB folds, and the flop is 78T rainbow. I check and the chipleader bets 300 into a 460 pot. I raise it to 700, and he smooth calls. The turn is a disastrous 9, putting a 4 card straight on the board (789T). I decide to make one stab at the pot to represent the straight, in case he has 2 pair, a set, aces or something other than a Jack or a Six. I bet 1,300 into a 1,860 pot. He immediately moves all-in for 11,000. I have to fold.

That hand crippled me and I am down to 1,600 in chips.

3 hands later I get KT in late position. 6 people limp including myself. The flop is 3KA with 2 diamonds. The first 4 players check to me, and I check to the button. The button bets 200 into a 360 pot. The SB calls and the other 3 players fold to me. I call. And the turn is another 3. The SB leads out first for 60 into a pot of 960. I smooth call and so does the button. The river is a 5 and the SB again bets 60. I call again, and the button raises to 500. The SB calls the 500 and I have to fold. The chip leader turns over A3 for a full house. The other guy had an A6. I’m now down to 1,228.

In middle position I limp with A7s suited and fold when I miss the flop.

The next hand I get 33 in middle position. I see a cheap flop for 60 with 3 other players. The flop is KKJ. The blinds check to me, and I bet 200 into a 360 pot. The player behind me folds, but the SB calls. The turn is a 6 and we both check it. The river is an 8 putting 3 spades on the board. He leads out for 500 and I fold. Down to 900 now.

Blinds are now 50-100. A few hands later I get QTs in the BB. A late position player raises to 300 and everyone folds around to me. I call and the flop comes 678 with 2 clubs. I have no clubs. I check and he bets 700. I fold. Down to 608 now.

On the button I limp with ATs and fold when I miss the flop.

I only have 458. I limp for 100 with KJ and fold to a flop of A62.

With 358 I move all-in with AQ and pick up the blinds. I now have 508

The blinds move through me and I’m back down to 358. On the button I get AT. An early position player makes the minimum raise to 200. I move all-in for 358. He calls with AK and my tournament is over.

I am very disappointed with my play. I played way too loose and passive during the early rounds. Once I was crippled with KK, I should’ve just moved in with big hands until I got my stack back up to a manageable level. Instead I tried to limp and see cheap flops. When I missed them all my stack had been reduced to nothing. I would’ve been better off posting and folding for the first hour (away from the PC).

1 Comment(s):

Posted by  Dr Fro, at 7:44 PM, June 18, 2006  

Do you use the phrase "smooth call" to convey something other than when you use the phrase "call"?

Sucks that you lost...I had a good feeling about your chances today. Next time you'll get 'em.

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