Best 2 of 3 matches
The draw party was pretty interesting too. Although draw party was at 12:30, Hero could have shown up as late as 12:45 and still made it for the majority of the picks and the start of matches at 1:00PM.
The TD got a copy of everyone's tournament receipts + those who were not there.
They were put in a hat and a nice bracket on a poster board was filled out.
Odd Numbered Rounds: Top of bracket gets the button in 1st and 3rd match.
Even Numbered Rounds: Bottom of bracket gets the button in 1st and 3rd match.
The picture shows a B in a circle to indicate which side of match gets button to start.
Some players sat in 1 and 4 seats, while others sat in the 3 & 6 seats.
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Note: While many hands were played and it would have been great to have done a full hand for hand history, unfortunately hero was lazy and did not get a chance to do it to keep the match flowing :(
Maybe hero was embarassed, but it would have been great for documentation.
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Hero wrote down key hands and will try to review them. Since it is a HU match, game flow matters much more in this spot and hero will try to provide reads.
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Opponent: Middle Aged Caucasian Male
He seemed very friendly after some brief interactions.
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Round 1, Match 1
Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero does not remember exact hand unfortunately.
Hero dealt in Button: Ac? Qc Jx 9c
Hero (~15.5k): raises to 400
Vil1 (~14.5k): calls
(2 players - 800 in pot)
Flop: Tc 8c 4x
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 1800 in pot)
Turn: Tc 8c 4x Jc
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 1300
Vil1: raises to 5000
Hero: raises all in
Vil1: calls
(1 player all in)
Board: Tc 8c 4x Jc Xx
Players chop.
Analysis:
PreFlop: Even if just 4 big cards, this is a pretty standard raise even if hero is a nit on the button. This could be a good hand to 3b OOP too.
Flop: Standard.
Turn: Hero is trying to get all in and hoping to be freerolling villain (if not ahead).
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Game Flow:
IIRC, Hero and Vil1 also had AAxx and got money in all pre within first 5 hands. This was a chop pot and there were no chances for freerolls on the turn.
Both players were freerolling each other in some big hands that ended up getting chopped very early on in the match (first 5 hands or so).
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Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in Button: K987r
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 400
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 800 in pot)
Flop: 6d 8d 4x
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 500
Vil1: raises pot (2600 total)
Hero: reraises pot
Vil1: reraises all in
Hero: calls
Vil1: Shows Kd 8x Xd Xx
(1 player all in)
Board: 6d 8d 4x Kx 8x
Players chop pot.
Analysis:
Preflop: 3 connected cards = raise on the button. It is towards the bottom of opening button range.
Flop: Hero could bet/call instead of jamming the pot. Hero could be in very bad shape with only a OESD/no straight draw + top pair.
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Read: called down with As Js Qx 5s, but unsure of board texture.
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Reads and Game Flow:
There was very little folding on the button pre-flop.
There was a hand where hero gained a huge amount.
Hero was winning a lot of medium sized pots by mainly having large hands and trying to stay aggressive in spots where it might be a showdown.
Villain did seem to adjust pretty well, although both villain and hero were making mistakes in spots.
Villain's stack kept decreasing and was making some pre-flop reraises that hero was folding.
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Level 3 - Blinds: 300/600
Hero/Villain Stack Sizes: 18k/12k
Hero dealt in Button: 9x 7x 8x 4x
Preflop:
Hero (~18k): raises to 1500
Vil1 (~12k): reraises to 4500
Hero: calls
(2 players - 9000 in pot)
Flop: Js 5s 6x
Vil1: bets all in
Hero: calls
(1 player all in)
Board: Js 5s 6x 8x Jx
Vil1: shows As Ax Qs 8x
Vil1: mucks hand.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Standard. Even without flush draw, hero has enough equity to call given pot size.
Hero 1, Vil1 0
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Round 1, Match 2
(Hero 1, Vil1 0)
Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero is unsure of betting action.
Hero dealt in Button: Ad Js Kx 6x
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 1000 in pot)
Flop: As Td 7d
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 700
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 2400 in pot)
Turn: As Td 7d 7s
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 5400 in pot)
River: As Td 7d 7s Kx
Vil1: checks
Hero: checks
Vil2: shows Ax Tx Xx Xx
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: This could be a check back, but hero sets up to possibly bluff scary turn/rivers (flush completing with nut flush blocker).
Turn: Hero tries to generate fold equity from broadway draws.
River: Hero decides to show down hand and sees little value betting unless Villain thinks hero is bluffing air by betting flop/turn/river.
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Hero is unsure of level where this hand took place. Betting action may be incorrect.
Level 2 - Blinds: 200/400
Hero/Villain Stack Sizes: 20k/10k
Hero dealt in Button: Ks 8s Xx Xx
Preflop:
Hero (~20k): raises to 1000
Vil1 (~10k): calls
(2 players - 2000 in pot)
Flop: Ax Kx 4x (unsure if there was a flush draw, but seems likely)
Vil1: checks
Hero: checks
(2 players - 2000 in pot)
Turn: Ax Kx 4x 8x (unsure if there was a flush draw, but seems likely)
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 1200
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 4400 in pot)
River: Ax Kx 4x 8x Tx (unsure if there was a flush draw, but did not complete on the river.)
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 3000
Vil1: thinks for a while, then calls.
Vil1: shows Ax 4x Xx Xx
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard to open suited King on button in HU play.
Flop: Hero decides to check.
Turn: Hero decides to bet for value with 2 pair.
River: This is a pretty thin value bet. It is pretty close, but a fold is likely better. Hero could make it look like a bluffy line, but did hero's image match? Not really.
Villain comments that this is a check back.
Villain said he was surprised hero was trying to bet on river with "showdown value".
Villain continually said hero was a tough opponent. Hero said he was not expecting any easy matches during this tournament.
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Villain takes the chip lead.
But after about 5-8 hands, Villain's gave up the lead.
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Level 2 - Blinds: 200/400
Hero dealt in Button: Ax Th 7h 6d
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 800
Vil2: calls
(2 players - 1600 in pot)
Flop: Tx 6h 4h
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 1000
Vil2: calls
(2 players - 3600 in pot)
Turn: Tx 6h 4h Kx
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 2500
Vil2: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: This is a bit loose even for button opening range, but it is ok to open a wider range on the button.
Flop: Hero flops a huge hand/redraw (lots of equity). Hero bets for value.
Turn: Nothing really changes (as no draws complete). Hero hopes to continue to get value, but Villain folds.
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After losing a couple large pots (like one listed above), Vil went from 2.5k -> 5k, then 4k -> 8k in about 5 hands when getting all in preflop and/or winning hero's blind.
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Level 3 - Blinds: 300/600
Hero/Villain Stack Sizes: 24.5k/5.5k
Hero dealt in BB: Ah Th 9x 3x
Preflop:
Vil1 (5.5k): raises to 1200
Hero (24.5k): calls
(2 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: Tx 9x 3x
Hero: bets 2400
Vil1: calls (all in)
Vil1: shows Jx 8x 5x 4x
Board: Tx 9x 3x Qx 9x
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Hero decides to maximize fold equity and get value from worse hands.
Hero wins first live HU match!
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Other matches finished quickly. Other player was waiting for hero.
Hero is able to take a short break as they were not strict in terms of restart time(s).
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Round 2, Match 1
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Reads and Game Flow: There was some folding on the button (more by hero than villain), unlike in previous round where there was maybe 1 fold on the button.
Board: Qc 7c Ts 4x Ax
unsure of notes/significance
Board: 7x 5x Ax Qx 9?
unsure of notes/significance
Read: calls 2nd pair HU on turn
bets small (into pot) (< 1/2 PSB), but hero did not see showdown since hero had no showdown value and could not beat a bluff.
Qs 9c 6s Ad Ah
Villain wanted to bet OOP on flop, hero checks through on this board
Ax Kx Js 3s
Villain makes 1 stab OOP on 7x 2h 2h Xc
Read: 4x BB size on turn and then 2x BB size on river -> for value
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Game Flow Notes:
Hero was checking behind on a lot flops in 1st 2 matches
Hero was cbetting 2x on A high flop.
Hero did not seem to win many pots.
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Level 4 - Blinds: 400/800
Hero/Villain Stack Sizes: 25k/5k
Hero dealt in Button: Kx Tx Tx 4x
Preflop:
Hero (5k): raises to 1600
Vil1 (25k): reraises all in
Hero: thinks for a bit, then calls
Vil1: Ah 9h 9x 3x
Preflop:
Hero should have thought carefully about villain's stack size and raising range.
Hero does not really like TTxx against villain's raising range. Hero was fortunate to win though.
Vil2 1, Hero 0
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Round 2, Match 2
(Vil2 1, Hero 0)
Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in Button: Qx Jh Th 2x
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 400
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 800 in pot)
Flop: 7d Kd 3x
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 1800 in pot)
Turn: 7d Kd 3x 3x
Vil1: checks
Hero: checks
(2 players - 1800 in pot)
River: 7d Kd 3x 3x 6x
Vil1: bets 1200
Hero: folds
Analysis;
Preflop: 3 broadway connected cards is a good middle range hand to open on the button.
Flop: Board is dry enough that hero will try to generate fold equity with air.
Turn: Villain call on flop = hero shuts down.
River: Hero folds to donk bet. Standard.
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Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in Button: 9c 8c 7s 3s
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 1000 in pot)
Flop: 6s 4h 2c
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 600
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 2200 in pot)
Turn: 6s 4h 2c Tc
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 1400
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 5000 in pot)
River: 6s 4h 2c Tc Kc
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 4000
Vil1: calls
Vil1 shows: Xx 7c 5c 2x
Analysis:
Preflop: Close to bottom of opening range, but fine to open.
Flop: Hero cbets with gutshot + overs. Hero hopes that villain folds since board can generate lots of fold equity, even if hero is 100% VPIP on button.
Turn: Hero turns a huge draw for HU play. Hero continues to apply aggression.
River: This is a thin value bet. Hero hopes villain will call down with straights or bad 2 pairs.
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Read: Board of Kx 7x Kx Xx
Vil1 after hero's flop check bets the turn OOP.
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Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in Button: 6c 4c 5x 2x
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 1000 in pot)
Flop: Qx 2x Qx
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 500
Vil1: calls
(2 players - 2000 in pot)
Turn: Qx 2x Qx 5x
Vil1: checks
Hero: checks
(2 players - 2000 in pot)
River: Qx 2x Qx 5x 3x
Vil1: bets 1200
Hero: raises to 4500
Vil1: calls
Hero: shows straight
Vil1: shows a Qxxx and folds.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Hero bets as a flop continuation bet and calls.
Turn: Hero picks up some boat outs/straight outs and decides to try to just show down hand.
River: Hero raises for value to get a call from Qxxx, but folds to a raise. Hero is fortunate to get value.
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Level 3 - Blinds: 300/600
Hero/Villain Stack Sizes: 23k/7k
Hero dealt in Button: Ax Kx 9x 6x
Preflop:
Hero (23k): raises to 1200
Vil1 (7k): reraises to 3600
Hero: reraises all in
Vil1: calls
Vil1 shows: Kx Kx 8x 6x
Board: Ax Qx 6x 9x Ax
Analysis:
Preflop: This could be a raise/call instead of raise/reraise. Hero is at best flipping or could be dominated. This may not have been best jam.
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Game Flow Notes:
Vil1 seemed to 3b a couple times OOP. Hero's hands were too weak and he had to fold to a reraise.
Only once in round 2 was there a 3B OOP by hero.
Neither player was really able to turn momentum that started early on in any individual match.
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Round 2, Match 3
(Vil2 1, Hero 1)
Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in Button: Ad Ax Jd 7x
Preflop:
Hero: raises to 500
Vil2: calls
(2 players - 1000 in pot)
Flop: Ac 2c 6s
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 400
Vil2: calls
(2 players - 1800 in pot)
Turn: Ac 2c 6s 7s
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 600
Vil2: calls
(2 players - 3000 in pot)
River: Ac 2c 6s 7s Xx (likely not completing any draws, so offsuit T for example)
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil2: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Standard.
Turn: Standard. Villain does not seem tricky.
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Level 1 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in BB: Qh Jh 9s 8s
Preflop:
Vil2: raises to 300
Hero: raises to 900
Vil2: calls
(2 players - 1800 in pot)
Flop: 9d 5d 4x
Hero: bets 1500
Vil2: raises pot
Hero: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard with strong holding and hero can have deception value.
Flop: This may have been a better spot to bet/call. Hero is not in awful shape and can hit top 2p/wrap, while folding to diamond turn cards (and/or possibly straight cards). This was probably a bad fold.
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Level 2 - Blinds: 200/400
Hero/Villain Stack Sizes: 13k/17k (approximate)
Hero in BB: Ah Qx 9h 2h
Preflop:
Vil2 (17k): raises to 800
Hero (13k): calls
(2 players - 1600 in pot)
Flop: 9h 2c Tc
Hero: checks
Vil2: bets 1000
Hero: calls
(2 players - 3600 in pot)
Turn: 9h 2c Tc 9d
Hero: checks
Vil2: bets 3000
Hero: reraises pot
Vil2: reraises all in
Hero: calls
Vil2: shows Ax Tx Tx 2x (probably suited to A)
Board: 9h 2c Tc 9d 4x
Hero out.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Standard to wait until the turn. Hero's hand is ok, but not great given board texture.
Turn: This may have been a bad spot to call all in. What hands is villain is bet/reraising that hero beats? Hero has worst boat, and big draws do not seem very likely for villain to try to generate fold equity. Neither hero nor villain were maniacs pushing big draws or being super aggressive.
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Vil2 said Hero could not be read at all after the match and seemed genuinely friendly.
Hero eventually finds out that Player 2 won the whole thing (after agreeing to HU chop).
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Summary:
The HU MTTs had a 1 on 1 conversation feel.
The first round winning 2 matches took about 1.5 hours, but we played 4 and 2 levels IIRC.
The 2nd round 3 match duel lasted about 1.5-2 hours too, IIRC (3/3/2 levels).
The staff and players were very nice with slowing down and patience for both players as matches continued.
Player 1 - from Pittsburgh, PA
Player 2 - plays in AC, was talking about mixed games too and was thinking about playing the WSOP Stud Hi event.
Also, hero tried to help the dealer reset stacks for the matches.
It was apparent that some dealers were not used to be a best of 3 HU format. Some were also reminded about HU/button in HU play and correct pot sized raises.
Hero did not cash as only 4 out of 32 places paid out (requiring wins in 3 matches).
Hero was fortunate to win first ever live HU match.
Bracket:
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