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First Table Reads (Table 10):
1 empty
2 young, middle aged guy with glasses
3 young guy with glasses on neck
4 old guy with glasses
5 old guy
6 old guy, bald
7 hero
8 old lady with Seminole Hard Rock hoodie
9 middle, old aged guy with beard
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Hero late registered during break between level 4 and 5.
There were 21-23 players remaining, but the tournament clock had 32 players. (11 players were eliminated.)
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Level 5 - Blinds: 200/400
Read: Vil7 seemed to show aggression
Hero dealt in Button: Ac 2x 5c 3c
Preflop:
7 handed
(folds to Vil5)
Vil5 (HJ): calls
Vil6 (CO): raises to 1000
Hero (But): calls
Vil8 (SB): calls
Vil9 (BB): calls
(5 players - 5000 in pot)
Flop: Ah 6c 2s
Vil8: checks
Vil9: checks
Vil6: checks
Vil7: bets 3000
Hero: folds
Vil8: folds
Vil9: folds
Vil6: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited ace in likely multiway pot.
Flop: Hero could peel flop, but there are many players behind hero. Hero would have to fold to raise. If HU or 3 way, a call is more reasonable as villain may be cbetting with air.
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Hero dealt in Button: Kh Kd 4x 3h
Preflop:
7 handed
(folds to Hero)
Hero (But, ~19k)): raises to 1000
Vil8 (SB): folds
Vil9 (BB, ~15k): calls
(2 players - 2600 in pot)
Flop: Kh 3d Ts
Vil9: checks
Hero: bets 1800
Vil9: calls
(2 players - 6000 in pot)
Turn: Kh 3d Ts 2d
Vil9: checks
Hero: bets 3600
Vil9: calls
(2 players - 13200 in pot)
River: Kh 3d Ts 2d 4c
Vil9: checks
Hero: bets all in
Vil9: folds
Vil9: says he picked up diamonds, but did not want to call turn.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has decent single suited kings on button.
Flop: Standard. Villain's call range are wraps.
Turn: Same as flop.
River: This may have been better to bet/fold smaller (says ~6-7k). Hero gets value from rivered 2 pairs, but can fold to check/raise shoves. Villain is folding air/missed draws.
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Hero dealt in CO: 7c 6d 3c 2d
Preflop:
Vil2 (UTG): calls
Vil3 (UTG+1): calls
Vil4 (HJ): raises to 1200
(folds to Hero)
Hero (CO): calls
(folds to Vil1)
Vil2: calls
Vil3: calls
(4 players - 5400 in pot)
Flop: 8h Ac 5d
(all players check)
(4 players - 5400 in pot)
Turn: 8h Ac 5d Jc
Vil2?: bets 3000
Vil3?: reraises all in (7k)
Vil4: folds
Hero: folds
Vil1: calls
Vil2?: shows Tx 9x 9x 2x
Vil3?: shows Xx Xx Xx Xx
Board: 8h Ac 5d Jc 7x
Vil2: wins pot
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. It is the lowest of the run down range, but it is playable.
Flop: Hero is looking to check with bad draw multiway.
Turn: Standard. Hero has little nut equity against a reraise range.
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Even though late registration was still open, tables were consolidated to 2 with 17 players remaining. (Hero was 3rd last player to enter at this point, as 1 player reentered after busting.)
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Second Table Reads (Table 10):
1 older African American
2 older guy with jacket
3 old guy with glasses
4 old guy with glasses (seat 6 from table 11) (read from previous table: jammed non-nut boat on river, already paired 4th nuts; HU - calling with non-nut draw)
5 old guy with glasses
6 older guy with white gap and sunglasses
7 hero
8 old lady from Table 11 (read from previous table: value betting worse hands, pots with nuts on drawy board, places face up)
9 mid aged, old guy
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Level 6 - Blinds: 300/600
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9 handed
Hero dealt in Button: 7d 5h 3s 2s
Preflop:
(folds to Vil2)
Vil2 (UTG+1): calls
Vil4 (HJ): calls
Hero (But): calls
Vil8 (SB): raises to 2300
Vil1 (BB): folds
Vil2 (UTG+1): folds
Vil4 (HJ): calls
Hero (But): calls
(4 players - 8400 in pot)
Flop: Jx Kx Js
(all players check)
(4 players - 8400 in pot)
Turn: Jx Kx Js 6s
Vil8: checks
Vil2: checks
Vil4: checks
Hero (But): bets 4200
Vil8: folds
Vil2: folds
Vil4: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited lowest run down and is in position. Against reraise, hero should continue given pot odds and relative stack size depth (> 40 BB effective)
Flop: Hero could bet, but hero decides to see turn card and see if that reveals more info.
Turn: When checked around, hero likely can steal this pot. Hero can mimic a boat and/or Jxxx that wants to bet to charge a flush draw. Hero takes down sizable pot.
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Level 7 - Blinds: 400/800
8 handed
Hero dealt in UTG: Kh Qx Jd Tc (hero is not exactly sure of hand, but likely a good rundown)
Preflop:
Hero (UTG): raises to 1800
(folds to Vil4)
Vil4 (But): calls
Vil6 (BB): calls
(3 players - 5800 in pot)
Flop: 7s 4c 4h
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 3500
Vil4: folds
Vil6: calls
(2 players - 12800 in pot)
Turn: 7s 4c 4h Kd
Vil6: checks
Hero: checks
(2 players - 12800 in pot)
Flop: 7s 4c 4h Kd Ah
Vil6: bets 6000
Hero: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has strong multiway hand and builds pot.
Flop: Hero could bet/fold a smaller amount (say 2500-3100), so this was a slight mistake. Both villains seemed straightforward, so a smaller bet size should have happened. Vil6's calling range is trips/boat heavy (with small chance of a straight or wrap).
Turn: Hero is way behind, but picks up equity against naked straight draw. Hero tries to cheaply get to showdown.
River: Vil6's leading range has some bluffs, but the majority are value hands. Hero folds.
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Hero dealt in SB: Ah Tx 9x 8h
Preflop:
Vil2 (UTG+1): calls
Vil5 (CO): calls
Hero (SB): calls
Vil8 (BB): checks
(4 players - 3200 in pot)
Flop: Jc 9c 6d
(all players check)
(4 players - 3200 in pot)
Turn: Jc 9c 6d 2d
(all players check)
(4 players - 3200 in pot)
River: Jc 9c 6d 2d Jh
(all players check)
Hero: wins at showdown as other players muck.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited ace and some connected cards. This is likely a call/call.
Flop: On drawy board, hero does not have great equity. Hero decides to keep pot small, likely folding to any bet.
Turn: Same as flop.
River: Hero can beat some bluffs. There is little value in betting in this spot as few worse hands are calling. Hero may consider bluff catching depending on player and bet size.
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Hero dealt in Button: As Kx Tx 5s
Preflop:
Vil5 (HJ): calls
Vil6 (CO): folds
Hero (But): calls
Vil8 (SB): calls
Vil9 (BB): checks
(5 players - 4000 in pot)
Flop: Qh Qx 4h
Vil8: checks
Vil9: checks
Vil5: checks
Vil6: checks
Hero (But): bets 1800
Vil8: folds
Vil9: folds
Vil5: folds
Vil6: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: This pot looked easy to steal. Unless players have a boat, naked Qxxx would bet MW.
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Hero dealt in CO?: As Qx 8x 5s
Preflop:
(folds to Hero)
Hero (CO?): calls
Vil8 (But): calls
Vil3 (BB): checks
(3 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: Kh Th Jh
Vil3: checks
Vil8: bets ???? (2000?)
Hero: folds
Vil3: calls
(2 players - ???? in pot)
Turn: Kh Th Jh Jx
Vil3: checks?
Vil8: checks?
(2 players - ???? in pot)
River: Kh Th Jh Jx 5x
Vil3: bets ????
Vil8: calls
Hero: folds
Vil3: calls
Vil3: shows Ah Qh Xx Xx (royal flush)
Vil8: says they had lower flush, and mucks hand.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Standard. Hero. It is interesting to see how villain will play nutted hand in the future.
The live reporter showed up 1 minute later, and Vil3 asked if he can get the royal jackpot, even for a tournament.
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Hero dealt in BB: Jx 8h 8x 4h
Preflop:
(folds to Vil2)
Vil2 (HJ): calls
(folds to Vil6)
Vil6 (SB): calls
Hero (BB): checks
(3 players - 3600 in pot)
Flop: Tx Ks 9c
(all players check)
(3 players - 3600 in pot)
Turn: Tx Ks 9c 9s
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil2: folds
Vil6: calls
(2 players - 6600 in pot)
River: Tx Ks 9c 9s Ax
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 3800
Vil6: Says "do you have a boat, flush, or straight?", then folds.
Vil6: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited ace in likely multiway pot.
Flop: Standard. Hero does not have any equity.
Turn: Hero's bet size seems better. (Hero does not remember if this was at 400/800 or 600/1200 blinds). Hero can bet smaller (1/3 pot) because both players seemed to play fit/fold.
River: Bet size may be slightly too big. A smaller bet would be more ideal (perhaps 3k). Hero still tends to bet a little bit larger in polarized range spots than is necessary against nits and/or straight forward players.
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Hero's stack at Level 9 break (Blinds: 800/1600): 29200
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Hero finds out that final table is 10 handed. Unfortunately, that makes the tournament run longer :(
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Level 9 - Blinds: 800/1600
5 handed
Hero dealt in BB: Qh Tx 8h 8x
Preflop:
Vil8 (UTG, ~35k): calls
Vil3 (CO): calls
Vil5 (But): calls
Vil6 (SB): calls
Hero (But): checks
(3 players - 8000 in pot)
Flop: Qd 8d 3x
Hero: bets 3500
Vil8: raises to 10k
(other players fold)
Hero: thinks for a long time, trying to remember villain's play, but then says "I'll try to find better spot" and folds.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Standard flop bet. Hero then assigns range of (sets, some draws). The field seemed relatively soft too.
Hero made 1 mistake: Vil8's bet sizes were telling of hand strength. Unfortunately, hero forgot that fact when weighing ranges.
Was this a spot that fold is better?
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Final Table was at the "feature table" with a Seminole Poker felt and dealer style leather chairs. It was roped off in the center of the event center.
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Final Table Reads and Initial Chip Counts (Table 16):
1 30k older guy, played at Venetian
2 26k older guy, sunglasses on neck
3 35k? younger guy
4 23k younger guy with baseball cap
5 22k hero
6 190k guy with baseball hat
7 150k old guy, bald (table 11 (first table), seat 6)
8 70k older guy with balding head
9 110k lady from previous 2 tables
10 30k bald guy with glasses
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Hero's stack had dwindled to 13.5k.
4 players had busted, leaving 6 left.
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Updated Final Table Reads
1 30k older guy, played at Venetian
2 24k older guy, sunglasses on neck
3 out in 7th
4 out in 9th
5 13.5k hero
6 100+k guy with baseball hat
7 150k old guy, bald (table 11 (first table), seat 6)
8 out in 8th
9 110k lady from previous 2 tables
10 out in 10th (busted 2nd hand of FT)
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Level 11 - Blinds: 1500/3000
Hero's stack: 13.5k
Hero dealt in BB: Ah Ax Th ?h (at least single suited aces)
Preflop:
Vil6 (UTG): raises to 7000
(folds to hero)
Hero (But): thinks for a little bit, then calls
(3 players - 15500 in pot)
Flop: Tx 6x 4x (rainbow)
Hero: checks
Vil6: bets 10000
Hero: instantly calls
Vil6: Shows Jx Jx Tx Xx (rainbow)
(2 players - 28500 in pot, 1 all in)
Board: Tx 6x 4x Ax 9x
Hero doubles up to 28.5k
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited ace in likely multiway pot.
Flop: Hero could reraise if it was a single bet/call, but hero decides to avoid huge variance with wheel wrap and little fold equity if hero raises.
Discussion from Vil6:
Vil6 was actually more worried about flat call than a reraise preflop. Vil6 suspected hero had AAxx based on thinking for a little bit before acting.
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Hero dealt in Button: Kx Kh 7x 5x
Preflop:
Vil1: calls
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises to 12500
(folds to Vil1)
Vil1: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero isolates and looks to get it on most flops. Vil1 may have realized that (with speculative hand) and decided to fold.
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Hero dealt in SB: Kx Qc Jx Tc
Preflop:
(folds to Hero)
Hero (SB): calls
Vil6 (BB): checks
(3 players - 6000 in pot)
Flop: Ax Jx 2h
Hero: checks
Vil6: checks
(2 players - 1200 in pot)
Turn: Ax Jx 2h Jh Ax
Hero: bets 4500
Vil6: calls
(3 players - 15000 in pot)
Flop: Ax Jx 2h Jh Ax
Hero: thinks for a bit, then checks
Vil6: checks
Hero: shows hand
Vil6: mucks
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero would strongly consider limp/reraising, or limp/calling and jamming most flops.
Flop: Hero will not get worse hand to call. Hero has great equity, but decides to let villain bet/hero raise line.
Turn: Hero goes for value and may get called by KKxx, QQxx, etc... Hero also sets up for possible river shove.
River: Hero will not get value by betting. Hero can only hope villain bets with worse hand and/or bluff.
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Level 12 - Blinds: 2000/4000
Hero dealt in But: Qc 9x 8x 7c
Preflop:
(folds to Hero)
Hero (But, ~40k): raises to 9000
Vil6 (SB, ~190k): calls
Vil7 (BB, ~190k): calls
(3 players - 27000 in pot)
Flop: Qx Tc 3h
Vil1: checks
Vil2: bets 15000
Hero: folds
Vil1: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has semi-connected hand.
Flop: Ugly spot for Hero. Hero did not think about stack sizes well enough before playing hand. Although, there is little that can be done when 3rd player calls. The pot is too big, and hero is forced into a "tournament life decision".
It was ok if hero did not have 3rd player in pot, but it should have been a thought given situation.
TBH, Hero's hand has enough equity for tournament life. Hero's equity is quite good event against top and bottom pair. ICM pressures are intense though given 3 other stacks were also short.
It's close. Hero decides to fold and pick better spot.
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Hero dealt in HJ: Ac Kc Jc 8x
Preflop:
Vil2 (UTG): folds
Hero (HJ): raises to 8500
Vil5 (But): calls
Vil1 (BB): calls
(3 players - 29500 in pot)
Flop: Th 4h 3h
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 15000
Vil5: folds
Vil1: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited ace and 3 broadways.
Flop: Hero bet/folds. If Hero gets any action, hero is folding.
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Hero dealt in BB: Qs Jx 9s 4x
Preflop:
Vil2 (SB): calls
Hero (BB): checks
(2 players - 8000 in pot)
Flop: Js 3s 4s
Vil2: checks
Hero: checks
(2 players - 8000 in pot)
Turn: Js 3s 4s 6s
Vil2: bets 4000
Hero: calls
(2 players - 16000 in pot)
River: Js 3s 4s 6s As
Vil2: bets 4000
Hero: thinks for a bit, then calls
Vil2: shows Ax Jx Tx 4x
Hero: shows flush and wins hand.
Hero's stack: 39400
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero can keep stack depth and has no need to apply pressure.
Flop: Great flop for hero. Hero is likely going to get value the whole way. Hero checks to let villain bluff at pot.
Turn: Hero starts getting value. Hero would likely start value betting on turn or river (probably river only).
River: Is there value in raising? Hero is not sure. Hero would likely only get called by the nuts (K high flush). The ace nut flush is a good card (as well as a 5th flush card on a now monotone board), because it eliminates flush possibilities and easily lets villain bluff a worse hand.
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As the tournament progresses, seats 7 and 8 were getting in ugly spots and ugly verbal talk was occurring.
She lost a big pot.
Female is tilting. It could get ugly. She is also shortest stack now.
Her image and table demeanor were actually quite mean. Hero is not sure if it's her style, but seat 7 was making fun of her too.
She eventually becomes shortest stack, and busts in 5th.
Afterwards, people were saying she was banned at poker room Fort Myers (Bonita Springs) dog track because she was berating and cussing out other players.
Vil8 busts just as the break started at the end of level 12.
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Hero's stack at Level 13 break (Blinds: 3000/6000): ~37000
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Updated Final Table Reads
1 28.5k older guy, played at Venetian
2 25k older guy, sunglasses on neck
5 ~37k hero
6 180k guy with baseball hat
7 140k old guy, bald (table 11 (first table), seat 6)
---------------
While on break, the 4 other players discussed a deal. (Hero was not present at the time.)
They asked hero if $75 from each player should go to bubble person. Hero said "ok", but hero was concerned that there was not change with player at time.
Hero normally does not initiate deals, but will usually accept if all other players accepted.
Thus, bubble received $50 profit (($75 * 4) - $250 entry)
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Level 13 - Blinds: 3000/6000
2 hands after the break
Hero dealt in Button: Xx Xx Xx Xx
Preflop:
Vil1 (CO): calls
Vil2 (But): calls
Hero (SB): folds
Vil6 (BB): checks
(3 players - 21000 in pot)
Flop: Kd Jx 4d
Vil6: bets 12k
Vil1: raises all in
Vil2: calls all in
Vil6: calls
Vil1: shows Kx Kx Xx Xx (top set)
Vil2: shows Ad Xd Xx Xx (nut flush draw)
Vil6: shows Kx Qx Jx Xx (top 2 pair)
(3 players – 2 players all in)
Board: Kd Jx 4d 6x 8x
Vil1: wins main pot
Vil2: out in 4th
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero had junk hand (it was not even written down). Hero is fortunate to see other players bust.
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Level 13 - Blinds: 3000/6000
Hero's stack: 17k
Hero dealt in Button: Ac 8x 7x 5c
Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero: folds
Analysis:
Preflop: A suited A8 is not strong enough to continue. While a suit is nice, AK** or JJ** is appropriate shove range with <= 3BBs.
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Hero's stack: 11k (after paying 6k in BB)
Hero dealt in BB: Ac Qc 8h 5h
Preflop:
Vil6 (CO): raises to 15000
Vil7 (But): calls
Vil1 (SB): folds
Hero (But): calls (all in)
(3 players - 45000 in pot, 33000 in main pot, 1 player all in)
Flop: Kd Jd Qx
Vil6: bets ~30k
Vil7: raises to ~120k
Vil6: folds
Vil6: shows Tx 9x 2x 2x
(2 players - 1200 in pot)
Board: Kd Jd Qx Kc 5c
Hero out in 4th.
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard. Hero has suited ace in likely multiway pot with most of stack already invested.
Flop: With bet and raise, hero was in trouble. At least hero is not drawing dead (hero has gutshot to scoop, and some tieing board runouts).
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Hero out in 4th place of 32 entries (including re-entries).
$250 -> $1000
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Overall Thoughts:
Hero was very fortunate to get a min cash.
Hero was running late due to not feeling well. Fortunately, hero was feeling better as the tournament progressed. It was also easier to basically cash by being 4th/20-22 remaining entries (by the time hero registered).
Hero was a short stack for the entire final table (never getting above ~12BBs), but a couple key double ups and watching other players bust helped out hero. Hero did a good job as a short stack ninja.
Many villains seemed inexperienced at PLO MTTs (especially the short stacks). They seemed to be looser and check/folding. There were a few competent players in the soft field.
