Cardzilla presents …

The most frustrating thing to me about tournament poker is playing awesome, not making any mistakes, building your stack, then just getting the rug ripped out from under you by someone’s bad play. Poker definitely has some luck to it, and lately I just seem to be the on the wrong end of it.

Played in the 2.5K NL event yesterday and was cruising. I had a way above average stack when I sat down at my new table. I raised from early position with AKd and got called in 3 places. Flop came Kxx and I bet pretty big, and got called. I didn’t know the sytles of any of the players at the table, but I did recognize Erick Lindgren. The turn brought another blank and he checks to me, so I made another large bet. He then goes all-in. After thinking for awhile, he could only have made this play with at least 2 pair, so I folded.

My stack was now about average when right before the 2nd break, disaster struck. I pick up 99 in early position again and raise 4x the blinds. Erick Lindgren calls. He seemed to be calling all my raises, and it’s pretty nerve wracking playing a pro from in front. The flop came 633, so I bet 1200, which was almost a pot sized bet. He just called. The turn brought the 2h, so now there are two hearts on the board. I didn’t want to give him a chance to outplay me. I couldn’t put him on TT or better and I didn’t see him calling my raise with A3, so the only thing I was kind of worried about is 66. But if he had it, he had it, so with that conclusion, I pushed. He insta-called 1/2 his stack with (drum roll please) 6h7h !! I said “What?” My heart sank when the dealer flipped over the Qh for his flush. I was just flabergasted. I don’t understand how anyone, especially a pro, can play like this. I just wish I understood what goes on in their mind to make a call like this. Oh well, such is poker, but after doing so well, it’s pretty infuriating to go down like that. I am very pleased with my play lately though, so I can’t wait for the next event.

Ugh. Not the start I wanted to the 2006 WSOP. Maybe I was tired from my trip to Tahoe this last weekend, but I don’t like making excuses. I would have liked to play in the $5K NL event yesterday, but nothing went right in the two $525 satellites I played in. First satellite, FIRST hand, early position raises to $150 with blinds at $25/25. With two callers, I’m on the button, and look down to find AA. I thought for a second and re-raised to $550. I’m still wondering if that was enough, and I don’t think it was in hind-sight. It was enough if I was only up against the original raiser, but with two other limpers, I’m thinking it should have been at least $750. So, the original raiser was the only caller to a flop of QT8 rainbow. He thinks for a second and goes all-in. Now, this is the first hand, what do you do??? I put him on AQ or KK, so I call, and he turns over T9o?!?!?! I just don’t understand these types of players and inevitably, my hands seem to never hold up against this type of aggression (stupidity). Of course, he has about a 30% chance to win, but it is very frustrating when you get run down by the underdogs. The J came on the turn (and river for more of slap in the face), and I was out.

The next satellite lasted a bit longer and I decided to raise from the small blind with KQo against 5 limpers. Great, all 5 limpers called! The flop came JT3 rainbow, and I checked. The big blind bets out 1500. Everyone else folds to me and I tried to figure out what he had. I figured that I have 14 outs, so with the blinds going up big on the next hand, I just pushed. I was delighted (I thought) to see him turn over 89c ??!?!? Again, all I see lately is just super-aggression and I have him dominated. Then, as usual, I get run down by another 30% underdog when a K comes on the turn, and the Q comes on the river. Frustrating as hell, but what can you do but get your money in when you have the best of it. That’s OK though; I’ll just lick my wounds and get ready for this Friday’s $2.5K NL event.