Another Near Miss
I played the Affiliates Summer Championships Tourney at Carbon last night. It was a $500 freeroll with just 45 entries, 2500 starting chips and a decent structure, exactly the kind of game I like. It started terribly, getting a few decent cards but either people folded or my pocket pairs missed the flop and I was forced to fold. Eventually though my patience paid off and I hit a nice hand and started to make some headway. I received a pleasant compliment when the Beer Guy identified me as one of the tough players to be up against. I`ve always enjoyed reading his blog and think he writes some great poker strategy articles and although we`ve been at a few tables together I didn`t think I`d registered on his radar.
The final table arrived and it was a pretty long battle to eliminate the necessary five players to get into the money places. My stack dwindled as the cards went cold but I stuck to my principles and kept a cool and patient head. I was lucky to river an ace against KK but shortstacked as I was it was the right move and things started to look up. I made the final three and if my final hand had held up I would have been in great shape to get the accolade I so desired. I was ahead pre-flop, on the flop and the turn but my opponent spiked his 2nd pair to drown me on the river.
Funny isn`t it, a few months ago I would have been made-up about winning the money but all I felt was disappointment at not winning the entire thing. I played very well at the final table and it was a huge disappointment to lose in the way I did. Not a bad beat I guess although certainly I was unlucky. I could perhaps have just raised a decnt amount and then taken it down on the flop but then again there`s no guarantee my opponent wouldn`t have put me all-in if I`d just bet. On a positive note I think the attitude I have at the moment that only a win will do is one of the factors in my recent improvement in form, and I have no intention of changing that attitude. My bankroll is more than sufficient for the games I want to play so I no longer have to worry about just scraping into the cash positions to build it up a little.
The final table arrived and it was a pretty long battle to eliminate the necessary five players to get into the money places. My stack dwindled as the cards went cold but I stuck to my principles and kept a cool and patient head. I was lucky to river an ace against KK but shortstacked as I was it was the right move and things started to look up. I made the final three and if my final hand had held up I would have been in great shape to get the accolade I so desired. I was ahead pre-flop, on the flop and the turn but my opponent spiked his 2nd pair to drown me on the river.
Funny isn`t it, a few months ago I would have been made-up about winning the money but all I felt was disappointment at not winning the entire thing. I played very well at the final table and it was a huge disappointment to lose in the way I did. Not a bad beat I guess although certainly I was unlucky. I could perhaps have just raised a decnt amount and then taken it down on the flop but then again there`s no guarantee my opponent wouldn`t have put me all-in if I`d just bet. On a positive note I think the attitude I have at the moment that only a win will do is one of the factors in my recent improvement in form, and I have no intention of changing that attitude. My bankroll is more than sufficient for the games I want to play so I no longer have to worry about just scraping into the cash positions to build it up a little.
posted by DangerMouse at 4:23 AM
1 Comments:
Having known you for as long as I have I know how far you have come in your poker play. You are a great player and I am starting to love being at the same table as you and battling with you. More often then not I don't win the battle, only the odd war but its great fun to play with a great friend and great teacher.
Keep it going hun xxx
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