Aussie Millions Satellite Review

NOTE: Poker content blog...could get boring! Comments will be after each hand, and hands are seperated by *****************

*********** # 3 **************
PokerStars Game #14036964711: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/12/22 - 22:01:13 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 4: billig (3000 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (2950 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (3070 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2980 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3000 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (3000 in chips) is sitting out
THESHARK222: posts small blind 10
wesleyw: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Ad Qd]
Bake 'n Rake: folds
billig: raises 80 to 100
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 80
*** FLOP *** [Jc Qh 8h]
wesleyw: checks
billig: bets 175
wesleyw: raises 375 to 550
billig: folds
wesleyw collected 560 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand

First hand I played, pretty standard against an unknown player.

*********** # 4 **************
PokerStars Game #14036980188: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/12/22 - 22:02:04 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 4: billig (2725 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (2950 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (3070 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2970 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3285 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (3000 in chips) is sitting out
wesleyw: posts small blind 10
Bake 'n Rake: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Ks Qc]
billig: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: raises 40 to 60
THESHARK222: calls 60
wesleyw: calls 50
Bake 'n Rake: folds
*** FLOP *** [9c Kh Ad]
wesleyw: checks
gloierm: checks
THESHARK222: checks
*** TURN *** [9c Kh Ad] [Th]
wesleyw: bets 120
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: calls 120
*** RIVER *** [9c Kh Ad Th] [9s]
wesleyw: checks
THESHARK222: bets 200
wesleyw: calls 200
*** SHOW DOWN ***
THESHARK222: shows [Kd 9h] (a full house, Nines full of Kings)
wesleyw: mucks hand
THESHARK222 collected 840 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 840 | Rake 0
Board [9c Kh Ad Th 9s]
Seat 4: billig folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: malone77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: gloierm folded on the Turn
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (button) showed [Kd 9h] and won (840) with a full house, Nines full of Kings
Seat 8: wesleyw (small blind) mucked [Ks Qc]
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (big blind) folded before Flop

I think this is the first mistake I made. If I wanted to play, I should've re-raised preflop. No sense of playing a marginal hand out of position. As it turns out I probably lost the minimum here.

*********** # 22 **************
PokerStars Game #14037212047: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/12/22 - 22:15:09 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2710 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2300 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (1775 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (5020 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (4330 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2120 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2785 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2910 in chips) is sitting out
billig: posts small blind 10
malone77: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [5s 5c]
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 40 to 60
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: calls 60
Zeppo72: folds
billig: folds
malone77: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ah 5d 4c]
wesleyw: bets 100
knight1688: calls 100
*** TURN *** [Ah 5d 4c] [3h]
wesleyw: bets 200
knight1688: raises 200 to 400
wesleyw: calls 200
*** RIVER *** [Ah 5d 4c 3h] [Qc]
wesleyw: checks
knight1688: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [5s 5c] (three of a kind, Fives)
knight1688: mucks hand
wesleyw collected 1150 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1150 | Rake 0
Board [Ah 5d 4c 3h Qc]
Seat 1: knight1688 mucked [Ts Ac]
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: billig (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: malone77 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: gloierm folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: wesleyw showed [5s 5c] and won (1150) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Nothing really happens for awhile. I basically just folded up until this hand. So I'm in middle position here and decides to raise with presto (aka 55). Gets a caller from knight1688 who hasn't played a hand this whole tournament. Flopping a set helped alot, especially with the A as well. knight1688 here will have an ace with a pretty good kicker for the most part. A9+ (meaning A9, A10, AJ, AQ, AK) is my guess. My mistake came on the turn. The min-raise by knight threw me off. Based on the way this hand played out so far, I can't imagine him having A2 (or a hand with any 2 in it) or 67. It turns out to be a block raise so he can see the showdown for free. But I should have just shoved over his raise on the turn, and will probably be called half the time, and I'm good almost 99% of the time. A bet on the river probably wouldn't be too bad either if for some reason he was playing AQ or something, but basically I won the minimum this hand.

*********** # 28 **************
PokerStars Game #14037313099: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:20:55 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2060 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2300 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (1585 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (5410 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (4590 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1820 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3305 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2880 in chips) is sitting out
knight1688: posts small blind 15
Zeppo72: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [6h 6s]
billig: raises 90 to 120
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 120
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
*** FLOP *** [3h Tc Jc]
billig: bets 150
wesleyw: raises 250 to 400
billig: calls 250
*** TURN *** [3h Tc Jc] [7h]
billig: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [3h Tc Jc 7h] [4d]
billig: bets 450
wesleyw: calls 450
*** SHOW DOWN ***
billig: shows [Qs Js] (a pair of Jacks)
wesleyw: mucks hand
billig collected 1985 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1985 | Rake 0
Board [3h Tc Jc 7h 4d]
Seat 1: knight1688 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: billig showed [Qs Js] and won (1985) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 5: malone77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: gloierm folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: wesleyw mucked [6h 6s]
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

A few hands later this came up. I should've just foled on the flop without hitting a set, but monkey brain just decided to raise there to see if this player had a hand. After getting called on the flop I should have just gone to check-fold, so I don't know why I called the river bet. Bad play and lost more chips than necessary

*********** # 32 **************
PokerStars Game #14037381293: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:24:51 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2015 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2255 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (3910 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (2740 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (4890 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (4970 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1865 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2335 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2880 in chips) is sitting out
gloierm: posts small blind 15
THESHARK222: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [6h 6c]
wesleyw: calls 30
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: calls 30
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: calls 30
billig: raises 130 to 160
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 130
knight1688: folds
avi23: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ac Jc 7h]
wesleyw: checks
billig: bets 350
wesleyw: folds
billig collected 425 from pot
billig: doesn't show hand

66 again, against the same guy. Not sure if I like limping in from UTG, and also cold-calling with 2 players to act behind me. Could've easily been squeezed but this time I smartly check-folded without flopping a set.

*********** # 36 **************
PokerStars Game #14037448658: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:28:46 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1595 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2255 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4315 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (3020 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3670 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (6220 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1820 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2130 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2835 in chips) is sitting out
knight1688: posts small blind 15
Zeppo72: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [8c Tc]
avi23: folds
billig: folds
malone77: raises 60 to 90
gloierm: calls 90
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 230 to 320
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
malone77: calls 230
gloierm: folds
*** FLOP *** [Kh 6c 8d]
malone77: checks
wesleyw: bets 420
malone77: calls 420
*** TURN *** [Kh 6c 8d] [9s]
malone77: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [Kh 6c 8d 9s] [7c]
malone77: bets 990
wesleyw: raises 400 to 1390 and is all-in
malone77: calls 400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [8c Tc] (a straight, Six to Ten)
malone77: shows [Th 9h] (a straight, Six to Ten)
malone77 collected 2198 from pot
wesleyw collected 2197 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4395 | Rake 0
Board [Kh 6c 8d 9s 7c]
Seat 1: knight1688 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: avi23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: billig folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: malone77 showed [Th 9h] and won (2198) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 6: gloierm folded before Flop
Seat 7: THESHARK222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: wesleyw showed [8c Tc] and won (2197) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

malone77 has been opening about 60% of the hands up to this point. Alot of the times raising behind limpers and in position. I randomly decide to 3-bet him light with 10-8 of clubs, just figured that this would be a hand thats pretty disguised and more importantly I would have position on him. Flop wasn't a bad flop, but his call on the flop did shut me down for the turn card as he could easily be playing some hands that would've hit. The river put a 4 card straight and I was sure that I had the best hand since I don't see him calling the flop bet with a J10 there unless he was floating which would've been really ugly. Just thought it was an interesting hand...

*********** # 51 **************
PokerStars Game #14037647266: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:39:48 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2285 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2480 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4675 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (2930 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3288 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (5950 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1115 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2347 in chips)
THESHARK222: posts small blind 15
wesleyw: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [6d 6h]
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: folds
billig: folds
malone77: raises 60 to 90
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [3c 6s Ts]
wesleyw: checks
malone77: checks
*** TURN *** [3c 6s Ts] [5c]
wesleyw: bets 120
malone77: folds
wesleyw collected 195 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand

I fold some more, and malone77 again raises like he has been for like 50%+ of the hands. I find 66..again, and decides to play for set value. Flops a set and it goes check check, and was hoping he was trapping with an overpair or something but got no action...

*********** # 53 **************
PokerStars Game #14037678492: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:41:30 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2085 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2480 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4475 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (2730 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3823 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (5950 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1100 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2427 in chips)
knight1688: posts small blind 25
Zeppo72: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [8h 8s]
avi23: folds
billig: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 100 to 150
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Jh 2d 9h]
Zeppo72: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** TURN *** [Jh 2d 9h] [7d]
Zeppo72: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [Jh 2d 9h 7d] [2s]
Zeppo72: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Zeppo72: shows [5s 5h] (two pair, Fives and Deuces)
wesleyw: shows [8h 8s] (two pair, Eights and Deuces)
wesleyw collected 325 from pot

Nothing really interesting. In a sense I didn't want to get raised off the best hand, and I did want to show this hand down to show I'm not stealing even though the blinds are still small. Maybe I could've put out a value bet on the turn or the river.

*********** # 64 **************
PokerStars Game #14037786577: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:47:35 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2060 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2180 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4400 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3573 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9230 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1125 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2502 in chips)
malone77: posts small blind 25
gloierm: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Th Ac]
THESHARK222: calls 50
wesleyw: raises 150 to 200
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: calls 200
avi23: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
*** FLOP *** [As 7c 6s]
MfrigginL is connected
wesleyw: bets 300
Zeppo72: calls 300
*** TURN *** [As 7c 6s] [Js]
wesleyw: checks
Zeppo72: bets 550
wesleyw: calls 550
*** RIVER *** [As 7c 6s Js] [7h]
wesleyw: checks
Zeppo72: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [Th Ac] (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
Zeppo72: shows [Kh Ad] (two pair, Aces and Sevens - King kicker)
Zeppo72 collected 2225 from pot

This was another hand where I lost more chips. Shark has been playing pretty nitty and was shortstacked. In retrospect I probably could've folded to the turn bet, but I was check-folding to any river bet.

*********** # 66 **************
PokerStars Game #14037813885: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:49:07 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2210 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (3355 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4400 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3575 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (3498 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9130 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1025 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (1452 in chips)
THESHARK222: posts small blind 25
wesleyw: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Qh Qs]
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: raises 200 to 250
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 400 to 650
avi23: raises 3750 to 4400 and is all-in
wesleyw: calls 802 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [5s 6h 9d]
*** TURN *** [5s 6h 9d] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [5s 6h 9d 9c] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [Qh Qs] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
avi23: shows [As Kd] (a pair of Nines)
wesleyw collected 2929 from pot

Got short-stacked after the last hand so pretty standard, good to win a race for once thats for sure.

*********** # 71 **************
PokerStars Game #14037892722: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:53:26 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1885 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2980 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (2848 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3525 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (4668 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (8810 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1075 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2854 in chips)
MfrigginL: posts small blind 25
malone77: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Qd As]
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 100 to 150
knight1688: calls 150
Zeppo72: raises 300 to 450
avi23: folds
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: folds
wesleyw: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72 collected 525 from pot
Zeppo72: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

I was probably squeezed here and probably should've at least called to see a flop, but I don't hate the fold.

*********** # 85 **************
PokerStars Game #14038150657: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:07:53 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2535 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (3480 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (2123 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3425 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (4918 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (8510 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1125 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2704 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2450 in chips) is sitting out
RomfordRobot: posts small blind 50
knight1688: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [As 9s]
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: folds
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: raises 200 to 300
gloierm has timed out
gloierm: folds
gloierm is sitting out
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 300
RomfordRobot: folds
gloierm has returned
knight1688: folds
*** FLOP *** [3c 9h 2d]
malone77: checks
wesleyw: bets 500
malone77: folds
wesleyw collected 750 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand

Pretty standard bet after malone checked.

*********** # 92 **************
PokerStars Game #14038247071: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:13:23 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2135 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (3330 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (1373 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3275 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (4668 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9210 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1075 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3804 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2400 in chips) is sitting out
THESHARK222: posts small blind 50
wesleyw: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Th Kh]
RomfordRobot: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: raises 200 to 300
avi23: calls 300
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: calls 300
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [6c 3h Ah]
wesleyw: checks
Zeppo72: bets 1000
avi23: folds
malone77: folds
wesleyw: raises 2504 to 3504 and is all-in
Zeppo72: folds
wesleyw collected 3250 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

Only reason I decided to see a flop with this hand is that I close the action from the BB. Decent flop for me as I do flop a flush draw. Zeppo has been making continuation bets on almost all of his raises, and with a 5/6 bet, it feels like he just wants to bet players out hence I went with the check-raise semi-bluff. Even if called I would have some outs in the hand with the flush draw in this spot.


*********** # 106 **************
PokerStars Game #14038417905: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:23:20 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1885 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (1105 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (873 in chips)
Seat 4: Sydney St@r (1510 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (5618 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9810 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2250 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (5304 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2100 in chips) is sitting out
avi23: posts small blind 50
Sydney St@r: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Ah Tc]
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 200 to 300
RomfordRobot: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: calls 250
Sydney St@r: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc 5c 8c]
avi23: bets 573 and is all-in
wesleyw: calls 573
*** TURN *** [Jc 5c 8c] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [Jc 5c 8c Qd] [As]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
avi23: shows [7d 7h] (a pair of Sevens)
wesleyw: shows [Ah Tc] (a pair of Aces)
wesleyw collected 1846 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***

This played felt exactly like a stop and go to me, and getting 2.4 to 1 or so, with any club and an ace being probably good, and maybe even my 10, I was willing to get chips in there to gamble. It worked out in the end but glad that my read is so far so good.

*********** # 110 **************
PokerStars Game #14038459578: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:25:48 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1785 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (1105 in chips)
Seat 3: floes (4550 in chips)
Seat 4: Sydney St@r (1810 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (7868 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9660 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (6227 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2000 in chips) is sitting out
RomfordRobot: posts small blind 50
knight1688: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [9s 9c]
Zeppo72: folds
floes: folds
Sydney St@r: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: raises 200 to 300
wesleyw: raises 800 to 1100
RomfordRobot: folds
knight1688: folds
gloierm: folds
wesleyw collected 750 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

gloeirm has been taking advantage of his position on the sitting out player and opening alot when its folded to him, so I took a stand with 99 here preflop.

*********** # 119 **************
PokerStars Game #14038530669: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/12/22 - 23:30:02 (ET)
Table '70311069 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: malone77 (10503 in chips)
Seat 2: Electronutz (6025 in chips)
Seat 3: Bake 'n Rake (2115 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: wesleyw (6677 in chips)
Seat 5: noam (10170 in chips)
Seat 6: latinogrek (6420 in chips)
Seat 7: Diamond<>T (4200 in chips)
Seat 8: shaka 1234 (4115 in chips)
Seat 9: vouna (3905 in chips)
Diamond<>T: posts small blind 75
shaka 1234: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [As Qs]
vouna: folds
malone77: raises 300 to 450
Electronutz: folds
Bake 'n Rake: folds
wesleyw: calls 450
noam: calls 450
latinogrek: folds
Diamond<>T: folds
shaka 1234: calls 300
*** FLOP *** [Kd 7c 9d]
shaka 1234: checks
malone77: bets 900
wesleyw: folds
noam: folds
shaka 1234: folds
malone77 collected 1875 from pot

Not sure if I like my play here with AQ. Probably marginal both ways calling/folding/re-raising. Check-fold to a flop that missed...I guess its standard with malone's tendency.

*********** # 127 **************
PokerStars Game #14038622286: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/12/22 - 23:35:33 (ET)
Table '70311069 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: malone77 (11703 in chips)
Seat 2: Electronutz (5350 in chips)
Seat 3: Bake 'n Rake (1890 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: wesleyw (6227 in chips)
Seat 5: noam (14070 in chips)
Seat 6: latinogrek (6270 in chips)
Seat 8: shaka 1234 (2690 in chips)
Seat 9: vouna (5930 in chips)
latinogrek: posts small blind 75
shaka 1234: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [8d As]
vouna: folds
malone77: folds
Electronutz: folds
Bake 'n Rake: folds
wesleyw: raises 300 to 450
noam: folds
latinogrek: calls 375
shaka 1234: folds
*** FLOP *** [6c 7c 4c]
latinogrek: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** TURN *** [6c 7c 4c] [Qs]
latinogrek: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [6c 7c 4c Qs] [3c]
latinogrek: bets 600
wesleyw: raises 900 to 1500
latinogrek: folds
wesleyw collected 2250 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

River bet looked too much like a "you raised but not following through so I will take a stab at this pot" bet. So I decided to represent the Ac which worked.

*********** # 140 **************
PokerStars Game #14038742922: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/12/22 - 23:42:50 (ET)
Table '70311069 11' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: malone77 (12003 in chips)
Seat 2: Electronutz (5800 in chips)
Seat 3: Bake 'n Rake (1515 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: wesleyw (4277 in chips)
Seat 5: noam (17370 in chips)
Seat 6: latinogrek (6570 in chips)
Seat 8: shaka 1234 (2240 in chips)
Seat 9: vouna (4355 in chips)
Bake 'n Rake: posts small blind 75
wesleyw: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Qc Ad]
noam: folds
latinogrek: raises 300 to 450
shaka 1234: folds
vouna: folds
malone77: calls 450
Electronutz: folds
Bake 'n Rake: folds
wesleyw: raises 1350 to 1800
latinogrek: folds
malone77: calls 1350
*** FLOP *** [2h 5c 9h]
wesleyw: bets 2477 and is all-in
malone77: calls 2477
*** TURN *** [2h 5c 9h] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [2h 5c 9h 9c] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [Qc Ad] (a pair of Nines)
malone77: shows [6d 6h] (two pair, Nines and Sixes)
malone77 collected 9079 from pot

The hand that I played horribly. I have been 3-betting malone77 pretty light, and with my stack, the re-raise basically commited me to the pot, so I should've just shoved preflop. I won't analyzed malone's play, but it was probably a light call on his part, but my mistake was only re-raising and not shoving preflop.

So thats that. I was hoping for a Christmas gift to the Aussie Millions, but I guess I now have to wait until the WSOP.

Looking back, I did make a few glaring errors, in which one cost me my tournament life. Not sure if he would've folded to a shove preflop, but I think that would've been the right/better play. This analysis really shows me that there is still alot of holes in my tournament game even though I've been getting into the money on a regular basis lately, but really haven't had any significant scores except for a second place finish in a $33 HORSE tournament a couple of weeks ago. I really felt like I had a good shot winning a seat at this satellite because there wasn't any players I recognized who are MTT experts (multi-table tournament), and from checking a database with records, most players that are playing haven't had any major success from tournaments, so relatively speaking, it was a pretty easy field. Obviously I'm a bit disappointed from not qualifying, but there are many more opportunities in the future.

Annual Tradition

No, its not going shopping, nor doing anything festive really. For the past 7 or 8 years, I've spent the parts of the Christmas holidays watching the World Junior Hockey Championship. It is one of my favourite hockey tournaments to watch, and it helps that I have some game used memorabilia - but thats another subject altogether. The reason why I like to watch it so much, besides the fact that Canada tends to dominate the tournament, is the quality of hockey offered. The players playing might not have the skills set of NHL players, for some this tournament might even be their last chance to play on national television, but all of the players who participates give 110% every single shift (as much as that is a cliche). These players play because they love the game, they are proud of putting on the maple leaf sweater, and more important they want to showcase their skills to advance to the next level. As much as players in the NHL are more skilled, there are games where it is simply boring to watch. I don't think I've experienced a single boring game yet from the WJHC. It is simply the best tournament there is, maybe besides the Olympics, but that only happens once every 4 years.

While I'm on that topic, here is a funny story from the WJHC courtesy of Gord Miller from TSN.

Thousands of Canadian fans from Manitoba and Saskatchewan drove down for the games, but one night the highway was closed due to a snowstorm, meaning the fans could not return home. Local officials opened the domed football stadium, and nearly 5,000 fans spent the night there.

The officials later reported two things: that the Canadians pitched in and cleaned up the next morning, leaving the stadium in immaculate condition, and that they sold more beer that night than they sold in an entire season of North Dakota football.