Sunday Feb. 21
I’m up early so that Ben Bass and I can climb a mountain, a fantastic
tradition that is now two years old and I hope lasts as long as the mountains
themselves. He amps it up a bit this year and so I don’t get back to the casino
until 2:00 PM. The $1650 Bounty tournament started at 1:00 PM but late
registration goes until 5:00 so I’ve got plenty of time. (you know how I
lovvvvve bounty tournaments – did I mention I won one last year?) On the phone
Ruth asks me if after climbing the mountain, I’ll want to take a shower before
I go downstairs to start the tourney. I tell her that I should but “the way I
smell right now is still better than most poker players smell at the best of times”
but then I take one anyway.
tradition that is now two years old and I hope lasts as long as the mountains
themselves. He amps it up a bit this year and so I don’t get back to the casino
until 2:00 PM. The $1650 Bounty tournament started at 1:00 PM but late
registration goes until 5:00 so I’ve got plenty of time. (you know how I
lovvvvve bounty tournaments – did I mention I won one last year?) On the phone
Ruth asks me if after climbing the mountain, I’ll want to take a shower before
I go downstairs to start the tourney. I tell her that I should but “the way I
smell right now is still better than most poker players smell at the best of times”
but then I take one anyway.
I get downstairs and I hate my table. It’s all pros. Kelly
Minkin is at my table. I’ve seen her on TV. I don’t like her any better in
person. And there’s this really obnoxious young pro at my table who probably is
a big name, but I don’t know it. Anyway, I’m immediately short-stacked after
getting my hand caught in the cookie jar once or twice. But this obnoxious pro
is even shorter and when my A9 suited took out his A9 unsuited, well there’s
just no better feeling in the world. That’s my first $500 bounty. I collect one
more bounty, before QQ holds up against my AK and my tournament ends early. I probably played way too
aggressively in general, but I’ll take that over playing too timid. And I collect $1000 in
bounties which makes this not a total loss.
Minkin is at my table. I’ve seen her on TV. I don’t like her any better in
person. And there’s this really obnoxious young pro at my table who probably is
a big name, but I don’t know it. Anyway, I’m immediately short-stacked after
getting my hand caught in the cookie jar once or twice. But this obnoxious pro
is even shorter and when my A9 suited took out his A9 unsuited, well there’s
just no better feeling in the world. That’s my first $500 bounty. I collect one
more bounty, before QQ holds up against my AK and my tournament ends early. I probably played way too
aggressively in general, but I’ll take that over playing too timid. And I collect $1000 in
bounties which makes this not a total loss.
But now it’s 7:00 PM and what to do? There’s a $1000
satellite for the main event which I can’t play in, or there’s a $350 H.O.R.S.E
tournament that started at 5:00 that I can still get into. Or I can go play in
a cash game and take my chances with those
alligators. Or I could call one of my clients and meet them for a drink. Or I
could read a book.
satellite for the main event which I can’t play in, or there’s a $350 H.O.R.S.E
tournament that started at 5:00 that I can still get into. Or I can go play in
a cash game and take my chances with those
alligators. Or I could call one of my clients and meet them for a drink. Or I
could read a book.
I opt for the H.O.R.S.E. tournament. For those of you that
don’t know, this is a tourney where the game shifts every four hands between Hold
‘Em, Omaha, Razz, Seven-Stud, and Seven Stud Hi-Lo Eight-or-better. I have
about as much business playing in this tournament as Danny De Vito has showing up at a dunking contest. I’ve
played Razz about three times in my life and the last time I played any form of
Seven Stud was on a “snow-day” in the lunchroom at Forest Hill Collegiate. And
I’ll be up against seasoned pros who play HORSE for a living! And yes, James woods.
don’t know, this is a tourney where the game shifts every four hands between Hold
‘Em, Omaha, Razz, Seven-Stud, and Seven Stud Hi-Lo Eight-or-better. I have
about as much business playing in this tournament as Danny De Vito has showing up at a dunking contest. I’ve
played Razz about three times in my life and the last time I played any form of
Seven Stud was on a “snow-day” in the lunchroom at Forest Hill Collegiate. And
I’ll be up against seasoned pros who play HORSE for a living! And yes, James woods.
I figure it’ll be fun if nothing else and a great learning
experience. I suppose for 350 bucks I could’ve also learned to skydive but where’s
the challenge in that!? There’s a mere 95 entrants and 12 get paid. I catch on
pretty quick. And as they say “cards are luck, chips are skill” and I certainly
know my way around chips. I shove a lot, because I figure for me it’s my best
strategy. Also it’s pretty much a turbo. Long story short, I make final table,
going out in 8th place for a tidy $910 pay off. Who knew!? I’m a H.O.R.S.E. specialist!
experience. I suppose for 350 bucks I could’ve also learned to skydive but where’s
the challenge in that!? There’s a mere 95 entrants and 12 get paid. I catch on
pretty quick. And as they say “cards are luck, chips are skill” and I certainly
know my way around chips. I shove a lot, because I figure for me it’s my best
strategy. Also it’s pretty much a turbo. Long story short, I make final table,
going out in 8th place for a tidy $910 pay off. Who knew!? I’m a H.O.R.S.E. specialist!
If you do the math – as I did – I pretty much broke even for
the weekend. I had a lot of fun though and I am definitely making progress. There was a time when I would walk away from
these big tournaments and think “If I keep playing like this, I can’t possibly win”. Now
I walk away thinking “If I keep playing like this, I will win”. Mind set.
Big difference.
the weekend. I had a lot of fun though and I am definitely making progress. There was a time when I would walk away from
these big tournaments and think “If I keep playing like this, I can’t possibly win”. Now
I walk away thinking “If I keep playing like this, I will win”. Mind set.
Big difference.
Thanks for reading. Til next time.
virgilgoestoeurope 
Leave a comment