Another $5r Tournament Report

Ok guys, sorry for the lack of updates, but i've been fairly busy due to various things and haven't played that much poker recently. I'm going to do another $5r report, and this time i'll attempt to explain my thinking in various pots that are less straight forward. The first half of this tournament was really boring, basically i got AK vs AQ early on an AKQ board, then AA vs KK. I'm going to skip to blinds of 400/800, where i have a 21 stack.

UTG+1 (29k) limps for 800, MP2 (48k) also limps, and its folded to me on the button. The UTG+1 player limps quite a bit, and the MP2 is a solid player. I have 52o on the button and raise to 3200. This is something i will do if there are people with bigger stacks who i know can fold. Obviously i aim to take this down preflop, but lots of flops i will fire out and take it down.

The flop comes J T 2 with two spades, and he bets 4000 into me. Now some people might giveup here, but people know me as a fairly agressive player, so if he has a premium had (set, two pair etc) why wouldn't he checkraise me. Obviously you can argue if i'm agressive its good to bet into me with a premium hoping i push, but generally players love to checkraise, so his 4000 bet to me seems like he either has a mid PP and wants to see where hes at, or he has nothing and hoping i have AK (For some reason, everyone assumes you have AK when you raise...). I push for 18k and he quickly folds. This play is something i will do rarely, but with two fairly ABC solid players in the pot, i was pretty sure i could take it down preflop, or on many flops.

The next hand i got involved with, was raising AA utg to 3600 (blinds 600/1200/100a). The big blind calls, and the flop comes J 4 2 rainbow. He has 18k left, and checks. I fire for 4800 and he just calls. The turn is a 7 and he checks. Now here i can fire again, or just push - but if he has some mid pair or A4/A2 etc he might be able to find a fold. However if i check behind he might read for AK or something, and fire on the river, or call a small bet. The board is pretty draw free, and im not too scared about giving a free card. The river is a 10. Obviously JT just got there, but i beat everything else. He leads into me for 4800 and im pretty sure i have the best hand. I push and he folds for his last 7000. I think enough hands pay me off here to make it worth a push, if he has a set im pretty sure i get checkraised on the flop, so only JT would now be beating me, and plenty of other hands might pay off a push.

A good solid player limps UTG+1 and i check Q8o in the BB. The flop comes KQ8r. I check, he bets the pot (3000) and i raise to 8k. This type of flop will hit a limper hand quite often, and i was hoping she would push over my checkraise. I think maybe leading into her would have been best if she raised preflop, but there is a fair chance she has 22-77 or something, and im not going to get anything off her if i lead. She folds to the checkraise. I show my Q8 to help solidify my image, but also it doesn't give that much information away, but next time i checkraise her limp with air, she'll likely remember this hand.

We are now exactly on the bubble, one more player to bust and we make money. Two small stacks at my table are chatting about making the money. One of them (12k) limps for 1200 on the button, and i push 44 in the big blind for 50k. If he calls i'm not all that bothered, but unless he has a huge hand hes going to be folding here, and there is nearly 4k in the pot to pickup. He folds.

Its folded round to the button who minraises to 4000 at (1k/2k.150a) blinds. Last time he did this both the SB and myself called, and it got checked to the river where the button/sb chopped it up with KJ. Basically i have little respect for his minraises, and hey, its my blind! He also has a 48k stack, so i can afford to raise it up, and fold to his push if that happens. I reraise to 14k (50k behind) with 83o and he folds. Here my cards don't matter at all - some people think you need something like A8, 55 to make a stand here, but i don't want to be pushing my 25k stack with them as im only getting called by dominating hands, and if i get 3bet from the button, i have to fold these hands anyway. So if im not pushing, and im folding most things to a 3bet, there are two types of hands i can reraise with - those im calling a push, and those im not. So in this instant, A9 = 83o as far as im concerned, because i don't think this player would smooth call here, hes going to fold of push (and im pretty sure his minraise = marginal hand).

Two hands later the big stack at the table minraises UTG+1(62k) to 4k and MP1 (38k) smooth calls. I am on the button with AKo, and shove for 54k. There are several ways i can play my hand. Obviously, we aren't folding here. AK is way too good 7 handed to consider folded, especially given the action. Big stack minraises - this could be lots of hands, and a fairly solid but weak player smooth calls. This could be something as big as JJ, or something like 45s. I don't really expect him to call or have a monster. So with 12k in the pot, pushing is a nice option as it increases our FE (fold equity) and puts them to the decision, and if they both fold i pickup a nice pot. If we reraise, its going to need to be somewhere around the 15-20k mark for it to be meaningful, and thats a good amount of my stack. It also sucks if the first raiser folds, and the second one calls with 99-JJ and pushes the The T63 flop, as the pot will be about 40k+ and he'd be pushing 18k into it. I decided im happy with the pot as it is, and shove. The first player calls pretty fast with QQ and its off to the races for the chipleader. K96 flop, and we double up to 117k, and the chiplead.

I then tighten up a bit, making loose LP steals with J7s, A7 etc, but generally keeping it tight from EP. Then with blinds 2k/4k/200a i pickup AQo utg (135k). The table is still 7 handed, but i have 40k more than everyone else. I raise it up to 12k, and a tight quiet player (64k) smooth calls. This worries me, and i think his range is AQ+, 88+. Great... Then a solid player in MP pushes for 54k. He can get pretty tricky, and im aware he knows how to squeezeplay, so his range here is huge. If the smooth caller was someone else, i probably repush to isolate, but im worried if i push i'm going to run into a big hand from the smooth caller. I fold, and the smooth caller timebanks and folds, claiming TT.

Few hands later i raise on the button with A4o to 12k, and the big blind calls, and instantly shoves the 8s7s5h flop for 50k. The stop n' go worked fine here, as there is no way i can call here. I fold.

Down to 6, and UTG (63k) minraises to 8k. MP (71k) calls, and i also call in the BB (104k). There are few times where i will fold my BB to a minraise, and i'm never folding K5c here. Flop comes Ac 9s 7h and i check, and UTG bets 4k. Folded back to me, and i call planning on stealing on the turn. The turn comes 7c, pairing the 7 and giving me the nut flush draw. I plan to checkraise here, but he checks behind. The river is Ad, and i fire out 18k having the nut no pair, and possibly he has nothing (hard for him to call here with 88-KK). He things and pushes for 50k... oops. I fold.

Im now a touch upset my 150k stack is down to 73k, but its still plenty for me, and im confident im the best player still in this, despite a few tricky players still being in also.

Now comes a hand which really confuses me.... The blinds just went up to 2500/5000/250a, and we are 6 handed with 12 left in the tournament. I pickup 44 UTG+1 and raise to 15k, and the big blind defends. The flop comes T 7 3 and he donk bets into me for 5k. I smooth call planning on pushing any facecard turn. The turn is a 2 completing the rainbow, and again he donk bets me. I'm a bit worried he might not be able to fold a 7, but i think most of the time he is weak here, and shove for 50k. He instantly calls off his last 33k with A2, and the river blanks. I have no idea what he put me on to call here, when he called i really didn't expect to be ahead lol

At this point the other table goes nuts, and two people get knocked out so the final table begins with blinds 2500/5000/250a.

Seat 1 - BMORGAN ($104735 in chips
Seat 2 - EQUANIMITY ($92915 in chips)
Seat 3 - FLASHBOMB ($56165 in chips)
Seat 4 - DOITDEALER82 ($70431.68 in chips)
Seat 5 - POKERQUEST ($98685.82 in chips)
Seat 6 - JRC1953 ($71020 in chips)
Seat 7 - MONSTERHAND3 ($50550 in chips)
Seat 8 - CARDIACKIDD ($66745 in chips)
Seat 9 - EDDIE12345 ($128252.50 in chips)

Seat 2 and 3 are both solid tricky players, and both recognise me. Seat 4 and 5 i have some random notes on, and i see playing often, the rest are unknowns other than the reads i picked up during this tournament. Seat 9 is the best player at the table (its me obv!)

My plan at this table was to calm down, and play pretty tight for the first few orbits. Final tables do strange things to people, generally they either tighten up when they realise each person that busts = more $$$ so they aim to stick around as long as possible, and those who go nuts trying to get chips to get a high payout spot. Then there are the better players who can adapt to the table dynamics. I like to chill out and see how the table is going to play before i raise lots, or play overly tight while everyone goes nuts.

Well, the table has a few players who are mass raising. I stay out of the way for the first few orbits, only raising myyself with KK and TT which take down the blinds. The first pot i get involved is when the SB (65k) completes for 3k (3k/6k/300a) and i check with 63o Flop comes A25 and it goes check check. Turn is a 7 and he bets 6k. I call, and he checks the 9 river. I fire out 15k and he folds. I was planning on betting any river if he checked, and obviously if he has anything and i make my straight, im going to win a nice pot.

We are down to 7 now, and the table has started to settle. Preflop raises are generally taking down the blinds and no one is going too mad. With blinds 4k/8k/400a UTG (117k) raises to 32k. I shove for 137k with AK and he timebanks. Obviously i want him to fold pairs, but he calls with AK and we chop it up. Shame i couldn't make him fold AK :(

Blinds are now 5k/10k/500a and UTG pushesfor 31k. His range here is huge, as he wants to push before the blinds hit him while he has some FE. I smooth call in MP with KJd planning to fold to a bigstack shove behind. Everyone folds and i beat his Q9o.

The next hand someone goes bust and we are 5 handed, with a bigstack decent player on 365k, 176k for myself and three players under 100k. Pretty fast we get three handed, and i am now the shortstack on 170k vs 214k and 354k. I still have 17BB so not all that worried, if i double through someone i become chipleader.

JQ UTG = raise three handed, everyone folds.

A8 sb = raise, bb folds and i show.

96o in the sb, i complete planning on betting any flop. Sadly the chipleader BB moves allin. I guess he doesn't like me limping!

The next sb i limp with A8o, but he checks. I fire 24k on the Jhi flop and he folds.

AJo on the button, and i raise it up to 36k (blinds 6k/12k/600a) SB instantly moves allin for 300k, he has me covered. I think his range here is pretty big, including most aces and KQ, KJ possibly - im ahead of his range. I call and he shows AT. The flop comes Jhi all dimonds, and i have Ad. BOOOM I double up and take the chiplead.

Next button i have QJs and raise to 36k, and he shoves for 131k. Its 95k more for me to call and the pot is 181k. Im getting close to 91k, and if i win this i have a big chiplead HU. I finally decide to gamble and call, and he has A5. Flop comes K88, but i spike a Q on the turn and the river blanks. Im now HU with 495k vs 244k. Blinds 6k/12k/600a. I will cover all the hands HU.

He raises to 36k, i fold Q3o.

QQ on the button and i limp. He's been pretty agressive and im hoping he raises/pushes. He checks (DAMN!) Flop comes K63 two spades and he bets 24k. I call. Turn is 4d and he bets 48k. I think for a bit, and decide hes betting lots of hands here, not just Kx. I push and he folds. I think i prefer a smooth call/fold on the turn, if i think im good i should just call and let him bluff river, and i can also bluff push the flush if he has a king and it gets there and he checks. I don't really like how i played this hand.

45o in the BB, he folds.

J4s on the SB (573k) i complete and he checks (165k) I bet 20k on the Q42 flop, he folds.

82o in the BB, he folds. This should be over quick, hes so passive!

A6o on the SB, i make it 36k and he shoves for 145k I call and he shows K4s. Board comes 832J4, and he gets saved on the river to double up.

He raises from the SB to 36k, i shove for 445k with AQ. He folds.

I limp yet again on the SB with 67o, and he shoves for 255k. I fold

He limps in the sb and i check my KT. Flop comes 973 two spades, and goes check check. Turn is 2s, and i have the Ks. I check call his 24k bet. River is a red Q and i bet 48k. He thinks and calls with KQo. Bad river for me :(

We are about even now. I raise on the button with T9h. He pushes and i fold. He takes a slight chiplead.

A7 in the BB, he folds and i show.

84o in the SB, i raise because i don't want him to start winning and gaining momentum. He folds.

Blinds are now 8k/16k/800a. He raises to 48k and i fold 83o.

T6o in the sb and i fold for the first time (i think?)

82o in the BB. He completes and i check. Flop comes 832 and goes check check. Turn is a 3 and goes check check. River is a 9 which i should check, but i bet 32k annoyed at how passively this hand went. He folds.

I complete the SB with 63o. Flop comes AQ2 and goes check check. He checks the 8c turn and i bet 32k. He folds.

I now have a 30k lead. He completes in the SB and i raise to 64k with KQo. He calls 48k. Flop comes QQ7 and i check and he moves allin for 294k. I instantly call and hes drawing to two outs with 22. The turn/river are blanks and i win.

Nothing too technical or advanced, but hopefully thats kinda helpful. I have three more final tables to report, i will get them up sometime soon over the next few days. Everything has settled down for me now, so i'll be playing more poker again so will have more content and final tables to report coming soon (hopefully i can final table the damn 45k on stars finally!)