Cardzilla presents …

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.