440 PLO MTT at Grey Eagle Casino

20000 starting stack with 50/100 blinds and 30 min. levels

First Table Reads:

1 (late registrant) - old guy with cap
2 old guy
3 older lady
4 hero
5 middle aged guy - glasses and headphones
6 middle aged guy
7 late registrant - middle aged guy
8 mid aged man (a bit larger and sounded like he wanted to gamble)
9 busted quickly after hero sat down; late reg - old Asian (people said that "you can't play that tight in a tournament"

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Hero late registered around midway through level 1. Table started 6 handed and 38 or so registrants to start over 5 tables.

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Level 1 - Blinds: 50/100

Read:
Vil5: loose player

Hero dealt on button: 8x 7s 5s 4x

Preflop:
Vil3: calls
Vil5: calls
Hero (button): raises to 400
(folds to Vil3)
Vil3: calls
Vil5: calls

(3 players - 1350 in pot)
Flop: Ax Qx 9x (rainbow)
checks to hero
Hero: bets 800
Vil5: calls
Vil3: folds

(2 players - 2950 in pot)
Turn: Ax Qx 9x Qx(rainbow)
Vil5: checks
Hero: bets 1800
Vil5: raises to 3600
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero decides to preflop raise to try to show some aggression in position. Limping behind is ok too.
Flop: Hero decides to cbet since it hits a PFR more.
Turn: This was a spot to b/f to try and extract more value. One could easily check/call and bet any river too, but hero decides to continue barrelling.

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Hero also folded to flop bet after being 3 bet by seat 8.

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Level 2 - blinds 75/150

(8 handed at time)
Hero dealt in CO: Ax Qh Jh 9x

Vil8: a larger guy who said he "wanted to gamble".

Preflop:
Vil8 (UTG): blind raise to 400 as a "straddle"
(folds to hero)
Hero (CO): raises to 1700
Vil7 (BB): calls
Vil8 (UTG): calls

(3 players - 5175 in pot)
Flop: Ax Jh 7x (hero has Qh back door flush draw)
Vil7: checks
Vil8: checks
Hero: bets 3300
Vil7: folds
Vil8: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Although hero has no suit, hero decides to isolate the UTG "straddle".
Flop: Hero flops top 2 and makes smallish

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Level 3 - Blinds 100/200

Dealt to hero: 8x 7h 6h 5x

Read: Vil2 seemed to be playing a lot of fit/fold from the couple rotations at the table.
Hero had tightened up some from earlier play.

Preflop:
(folds to button)
Vil2 (button): raises to 600
Vil3 (SB): folds
Hero (BB): raises to 1800
Vil2: calls

(2 players - 3700 in pot)
Flop: Kd Td 3x
Hero bets 2400
Vil3: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero has a strong rundown and decides to play back against likely wide button opening range.
Flop: Hero misses flop, but would cbet often here against a player whose read seemed to be fit/fold.

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Hero dealt on button: Tc 8c 6h 5h

Preflop:
Vil1 (UTG+2): limps
Hero: raises to 600
Vil6 (BB): calls

(3 players - 1900 in pot)
Flop: Qd 3d 2x
Vil6: checks
Vil1: bets 2000
Hero: folds
Vil6: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero isolates limper in hopes with ok strength double suited rundown (albeit with gaps)
Flop: Hero folds to villain donk bet.

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Level 4 - Blinds: 150/300
Hero dealt on button: Qh Qx 5h 2x

Preflop:
Vil2: limps
Hero: limps
Vil5 (SB): raises to 1050
Vil6 (BB): calls
Vil2: folds
Hero: calls

(3 players - 3350 in pot)
Flop: Qx Js 2s (hero has no flush draw)
Vil5: checks
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 2600
Vil5: folds
Vil6: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This might be a spot where hero should limp/fold in an MTT (an unheard of concept for hero). But, hero has position and decides to call, even though hero needs to make sure that hero can steal some pots in position (besides just playing for set equity).
Flop: Hero bets a fairly large size of the pot and would bet/call.

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Level
Hero dealt in BB: Jh Th 8x 6x

Preflop:
Vil5 (UTG): raises to 750
Vil7 (UTG+2): calls
Hero (BB): calls

(3 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: 9x 8h 5d 6h 2c
all players check

(3 players - 2400 in pot)
Turn: 9x 8h 5d 6h 2c
Hero: checks
Vil5: bets 1250
Vil7: calls
Hero: calls

(3 players - 6150 in pot)
River: 9x 8h 5d 6h 2c
Hero: checks
Vil5: bets 5000
Vil7: thinks for a while, then calls
Hero: thinks for a while, then folds

Vil5 and Vil7: shows 75xx and chop the pot. Hero does not believe either player had a flush draw and was freerolling.

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero makes standard call preflop OOP. Hero does not really want to bloat pot multi-way.
Flop: Standard check. Hero could try to c/r, but middle pair+OESD+weak bdfd is not really good unless players are maniacs who might stab.
Turn: Hero calls with 2 pair + bad flush draw. This may have been loose because hero does not have good boat outs (low boat) and hero has non-nut hearts (sand gut shot straight flush draw)
River: Easy fold especially with the over-call. Even if only Vil5 bet, this is likely still a fold anyway.

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Hero's stack at 1st break: 17125 @ 200/400 blinds

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Level 5 - blinds: 200/400

1st hand after break:

Hero dealt UTG+1: Jx Tx 8x 6x (rainbow)

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises to 1050
(all players fold

2nd hand after break:
Hero dealt UTG: Ac Ac Tc 3x

Preflop:
Hero raises to 1050
(folds to Vil7)
Vil7 (CO): calls

(2 players - 2700 in pot)
Flop: Kc 8s 3x
Hero: bets 1400
Vil7: raises to 3000
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard raise. The dynamic is different having just raised preflop in the previous hand.
Flop: Since hero had just raised hand preflop, this might be a spot where hero should be bet/calling because villain may think there's over-aggression and small hero bet size. Hero could c/r any flushing turn too. Hero decides to be a nit and fold OOP.

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(4 hands later at 8 handed table)
Hero dealt in HJ: Kh Tx 9h 8x

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (HJ): raises to 1050
Vil5: calls
Vil6: calls
Vil1 (BB): calls

(4 players - 4400 in pot)
Flop: Kx Qy 4h (rainbow)
Vil1: checks
Hero: checks
Vil5: checks
Vil6: bets ~3000
Vil1: folds
Hero: folds
Vil5: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This is an ok hand to raise preflop unopened. It has a 2 gap on top, but should play well postflop (even with suited king).
Flop: Hero's hand is not really great and is a c/f multiway. Vil5 could c/r although it is kind of unlikely.

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Hero's stack: 13225

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Hero dealt in SB: Ah Ad Tx 3x (rainbow)

Preflop:
Vil7 (UTG): raises to 1000
(folds to hero)
Hero (SB): calls
Vil6 (BB): calls

(3 players - 3000 in pot)
Flop: Kh Tx 5h
Hero: checks
Vil6: checks
Vil7: bets 2000
Hero: folds
Vil6: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero does math and realizes that a reraise does not fully commit hero's stack. (A raise to 3400 total and 1 call = 7200 in pot with ~10k behind.) Maybe it's a better spot to do it, but hero's hand is "face up". Hero decides to play a smaller pot.
Flop: Hero decides to c/f instead of trying to rep a nut flush blocker semi-bluff raise. The board is rather wet and villain would likely b/c on this flop texture since villain's range is broadway heavy for raising UTG.

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Level 6 - Blinds: 300/600
Hero's stack: 12225

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Vil8: new read - late reentry - young player with glasses, seemed to be playing somewhat loose

Hero sees Vil8 showdown QQxx (no hearts) and doubled up.
Hero plays tight for a couple rotations.

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Blinds: 600/1200

Hero's stack: around 6k

Hero dealt on button: Qx Jx 9x 7x (rainbow)

Preflop:
Vil7 (UTG+1): raised to 3000
Vil2: calls
Hero: calls
SB: folds
BB: folds

(3 players - 10800 in pot)
Flop: 8h 5x 2x (two tone, hero has no flush draw)
Vil7: bets 6000
Vil2: folds
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This is a standard call IP. Hero could try to 3b squeeze and get it in most flops, but increasing variance is not too necessary especially with little to no fold equity. Hero could be mistakened about the fold equity though as hero had been tight preflop.
Flop: Hero could gamble here with ~1 PSB remaining and a gutshot + overs, but it is really loose (and the wrong play as hero does not have enough equity to call).

Hero loses some more chips as blinds pass around.

Hero's stack: 2925 @ 600/1200

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Hero dealt in UTG+1 (7 handed): As Qs Jd 4d

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (UTG+1): raises to 2925 all in
(folds to Vil7)
Vil7: calls
Vil1 (BB): calls

(3 players - 9375 in pot, 1 player all in)
Flop: Kx Ts 7s
Vil1: checks
Vil7: checks

Turn: Kx Ts 7s 9s
Vil7: checks
Vil1: bets 6000
Vil7: folds

Vil7: shows KTxx (no flush draw)

Board: Kx Ts 7s 9s 4d

Hero's stack: 9375

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero's raise with AQxx DS is slightly behind the usual AKxx/QQxx+ raising range preflop, but hero decides to be slightly looser.

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next hand:
Hero dealt in BB: Kc Kx 5x 5c

Vil7 (50k) was looser opener preflop.
Vil1 (30k) seemed to be playing fairly tight.

Preflop:
(folds to Vil7)
Vil7 (HJ): raises to 4000
Vil1 (button): calls
Hero: reraises all in (9375)
Vil7: folds
Vil1: calls

Vil1: shows Jx Jx 9x 2x (no hearts)

Board: 9h 8c 3h 8s 4x

Hero doubles to 19000 @ 800/1600 break.

Analysis:
Preflop: This is a great spot to squeeze. Vil7 is a rather loose opener and Vil1 (although tight) only flat called. Although Vil1 may have flatted AAxx in this spot, it seemed a smaller part of Vil1's range.

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Level 9 - Blinds: 800/1600
Vil8: showed a lot of aggression and was loose preflop. Hero also saw villain bet/fold earlier.

Hero dealt in button: 8h 7d 5d 4h

Preflop:
Vil8: raises to 4000
Hero: calls

(2 players - 10400 in pot)
Flop: Qx 7x 6x (flush draw)
Vil8: bets 7000
Hero: raises all in (15600)
Vil8: calls

Vil8: shows Kx Tx 8s 6s
Board: Qx 7x 6x 5x 3x (flush draw for neither player on flop, no flush draw completes)

Hero doubles to ~36k.

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard to call. Hero is not deep enough to 3b and apply pressure on flop.
Flop: Hero believes that villain can b/f sometimes and hero has decent equity against 1p hands. Hero could theoretically wait for additional better spot, but with fold equity and a villain capable of b/f, this seemed like the right play.

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Second Table Reads: (3 tables left)

1 old guy
2 African American guy
3 old guy
4 same guy from seat 1 - old guy (who helped out hero with generosity away from table)
5 hero
6 old guy with glasses
7 older guy - moved 3 hands into table
8 dead stack from freeroll winner
9 young middle aged man

Yes, there was a dead stack that had been floating around. It was likely a satellite winner who forgot they had a seat. Spoiler alert: dead stack busts around 17th (9 places paid).

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Level 9 - Blinds: 800/1600

Hero's stack: ~39k
Hero dealt in SB: Qx Tx 9h 8h

Vil2 (HJ): raises to 4500
Hero (SB): calls
Vil6 (BB): calls

(3 players - 13500 in pot)
Flop: Ks 8s 7x
Hero: checks
Vil6: checks
Vil2: bets ~9k
Hero: folds
Vil6: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Some merit to 3b a semi-late position opener, but hero decides to play it conservatively preflop.
Flop: Standard fold multiway. This is a fairly weak hand on this board texture and hero is OOP.

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Hero dealt on button: 7x 6x 4d 3d

Preflop:
(folds to Vil3)
Vil2: limps
Vil3: limps
Hero: limps
Vil6 (SB): folds
Vil8 (BB): checks

(4 players - 7200 in pot)
Flop:
Vil3: bet 5k
Hero: folds
Vil6: calls all in
Vil8: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Low rundown = call.
Flop: Standard.

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Level 10 - Blinds: 1k/2k
Hero's stack: 34k

Hero dealt in CO: As Js 7c 4c

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (CO): raises to 4500
Vil6: calls
SB: folds
BB: folds

(2 players - 12k in pot)
Flop: Kd Jc 5d
Hero: checks
Vil6: bets 10k
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard open with a suited ace in LP.
Flop: Hero could bet/fold in this spot, but hero decides to check/fold. It likely hits villain's range often enough that it is not worth continuing.

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Third Table Reads (3 tables left, but then 1 hand later, it was consolidated to 2 tables):

1 younger guy with basketball cap and beard
2 old guy from before (helpful player from table 1 and 2)
3 young-middle aged friendly & talkative African American
4 hero
5 dead stack
6 old guy w/ cap and glasses
7 old guy w/ cap and glasses
8 grey hair and black cap
9 old guy with glasses (seat 6 from 3 tables left)

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Level 11 - Blinds: 1.5k/3k
Hero's stack: 18k @ 1.5k/3k

1st hand at third table (5 handed with 19 players remaining)

Hero dealt in BB: Ax Kx Kx Jx

Preflop:
3 players limp
SB: calls
Hero (BB): tries to raise all in, but is 3k too much
(all players fold)

Analysis:
Preflop: AKKx is a raise in the BB with up to being able to get 33% of stack in preflop. In this case, if hero had 45k (15bb), this is the right play.

Hero's stack: 33k
(consolidated to 2 tables of 9)

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A rotation later.

Hero dealt in SB: Ks 9s 9x 7x

Preflop:
Vil2 (CO): limps
Vil3 (Button): folds
Hero: calls
BB: folds

(2 players - 9k in pot)
Flop: Ax 8c 7c
Hero: checks
Vil2: bets 5k
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero calling or raising was probably better than folding.
Flop: Hindsight 20/20, hero should likely bet 2/3-3/4 pot and fold to any additional action (as a limper) or bet if preflop raise.
TBH, this should be hero's default play

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2 players are eliminated from hero's table. Thus, tables are rebalanced.
Vil8: replaced with Asian player

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Level 12 - Blinds: 2k/4k

(8 handed)
Hero dealt in UTG+1: Qx Qx 6d 4d

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (UTG+1): raises to 13k
(folds to Vil9)
Vil9 (Button, 75k): calls
Vil1 (SB, 75k): raises to 43k
Hero: calls
Vil9: thinks for a while, then folds

Vil9: shows Ax Ax Tx 7x

Board: 2x 6x 9x 2x 4x (no flush draw completes)

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero with 5BB = QQxx is a b/c even against the tightest player who might be reraising wider than AAxx.

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Overall Thoughts: Hero played decently well, but made a couple minor mistakes. The field was not super soft, but it's expected in a Canadian venue (where online poker is legal) and the buy in is mid-stakes (440).

Hero out 16/78 entries.

5-5 PLO at Deerfoot Inn

5-5 PLO at Deer Foot Inn
Buyin: 5-5 PLO (200 min, 70% max stack)
50c chips are actually used and rake is taken out in 50c increments.

Hero's stack: 800
Hero moved from seat 8 (briefly) to seat 2.

Hand 1:
Reads:
Vil4 seemed to donk bet often when no one bet flop

Hero dealt in CO: AJ94 ss
Button straddled pot?

Preflop:
3 players limp
hero: limps
Button: checks

(5 players - 60 in pot)
Flop: 7x 4x 2x (two tone, no hero flush draw)
all players check

(5 players - 60 in pot)
Turn: 7x 4x 2x 9x (two tone, no hero flush draw)
Vil4 (SB): bets 50
(other players fold)
Vil1: calls
Hero: calls

(3 players - 210 in pot)
River: 7x 4x 2x 9x Qx (two tone, no hero flush draw)
Vil4: checks
Vil2: bets 150
Hero: thinks for a while, then folds
Vil4: folds

Vil2: shows QQ65r
Hero: says he had 2 pair and folds.

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard
Flop: Hero has 1 pair and little fold equity on a somewhat wet board.
Turn: Should hero raise? Does hero get value from worse (bad 2p, draws, etc...)? Hero probably should raise and get value from worse pair+draw combos and/or flush draws.
River: This is a standard bluff catcher. Unfortunately, a villain actually donk bet with a made hand. Since this villain checked the turn, it seemed more likely it was a bluff since it completed zero draws.

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Hand 2
Reads: Vil8 seemed to be loose
Vil1 had just sat down at the table.
Hero had been playing tight for a live game (15-20% VPIP)

Effective stack sizes: 700

Hero dealt in MP: Ax Kx Qx 8x AQ K8 ds

Preflop:
(button straddle)
Vil8: raises to 40
Vil1: calls
Vil4: reraises to 150

Vil8: calls
Vil1: thinks for a long time, shows dealer hand, then folds

(2 players - 365 in pot)
Flop: 949 rainbow (hero has no flush draw)
SB: checks
Hero: bets 250
SB: raises all in
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero decides to squeeze with a decent hand and Axxx blocker (so less likely AAxx). Hero's hand is relatively strong and hero suspects isolation + lots of fold equity.
Flop: This is an awkward spot in a 3b pot. Hero should usually be bet/folding with most of range because villains play straightforward in 3b pots.
Maybe, hero's being results oriented in wanting to see turn action.