I came back from Day One with some hope, despite a calamitous injury-filled morning which did not bode well for how well I would run that day. I started off pretty nicely with a couple of 3-bets with AK and 88 in the first two hands. Getting cold 4-bet on the second one wasn't part of the plan.....grrrr. Pretty much sat tight for a while as I tend to when trying to assess a new table, and began to realise this was a toughie. I had the most chips by far but all bar one player was at least what I would call 'strong', so it may turn out to be tough day for me.
I really didn't pick up many hands at all in the first level or so in a major contrast to Day One. My stack dropped to about 80K, by which time I was getting frustrated by being 3-bet and 4-bet every time I tried to accumulate some chips. Towards the end of level two, sat with around 75K in chips, the pot was opened two seats to my right. I had JJ, and 3-bet it up and got it through ...ZOMG lol! Sort of a shame but meh, I'll take it.
Key pot with the Big Slick
On the very next hand I picked up AK suited, the guy to my immediate left opens and I 3-bet again. Knowing how this looks after the previous hand, I decided if he 4-bet me I was snap jamming all-in. He does so to about half his stack (after pausing and asking me if I have JJ again) and I instantly put him all in (about 47K). He sighs and goes into the tank. I am very confident he has either TT/99 here due to his comment about me "having JJ again", as people have a subconscious tendency to ask you if you have the hand that ranks slightly above theirs, and the knowledge that he hasn't snap called means my read about him not being uber-strong was good. He makes the best decision for me and folds tens (apparently) which is a great result as I pick up an extra 30K uncontested.
The error
Just after we come back from the break, and just before I move tables I pick up JJ again and raise it to 1,500. I get a call from the big blind and the flop brings Q 9 5 (two clubs). He leads out for 2,500, I decide to peel one for the small bet and see how he responds. The turn is an ace of clubs which is a scary card for a lot of his hands and mine obviously. He checks so I lead out for around 6,000. He calls, and the river is a blank. He checks again. Now this was a massive error from me; my hand has show down value and the call on the turn suggest he is still attached to his hand. He could have been betting the flush draw or a set, or top pair on the flop and will call most river bets. I lead out for 11,500 and he quickly calls with a set. Of all the hands I played in this tournament, this is the one I regret the most. It cost me 25K in chips at a crucial time.
Moving onto the Mad Russian's table, I had no idea who he was, but this guy was unconventional to say the least, and also very annoying. I could see very quickly that he trying to control the table, and was right in my firing line three seats to my left. Nothing much happened for a while and I steadily accumulated chips in a few pots. Although this was a seemingly tough table, I was getting a measure of it and was begining to have a good presence. Then a disastrous hand occurred.
The cold war returns
I had AJ (which I normally hate anyway) and raised from the cutoff. The Russian calls in the big blind, and the flop came J T 6 rainbow. He check-called me on the flop and the turn brought a seven, which is not a great card for me. He checks so I cautiously (and I think wrongly) check behind. The river is an 8 and he bets pot. I sigh and have to think. Has he got a nine? Two pair or a missed draw or just complete air? I eventually call and he flip 95 spades for a straight, and yes on the flop he did have no-pair and back door draws. FFS....I was steamed. Next han, I get JJ and 3-bet pre flop. Flop came king-high and I lose more chips..../sigh. Down to 40K from nowhere, due to a couple of badly played hands and some pretty horrible boards, and we are in trouble.
I manage to flop a set with QQ in a 4-way pot, and top pair with AK for very little action, to finish the day on an unhappy 40K.
Next up, Day Three...
Discomonkey