This weekend was going to be my anniversary celebration weekend.  I was going to take Leana out to dinner, movie, etc but come to find out on Monday, Jeff was going to have his bachelor party in Wendover on Sat.  Thanks to the greatest wife in the world, she was willing to reschedule everything to Monday the 17th (which is the actual day of our anniversary) so I could attend his bachelor party.  It worked out great because this weekend is the Rainbow Spectrum poker tournaments, which Wendover's big tournaments that they have 3 - 4 times a year. 

Friday night, I played really bad at Bob's house and got knocked out early in the first game of our poker league.  I was mad about my play because I hate losing but at the same time a little glad because I was able to get to bed early Friday night since I was planning on waking up at 7am to make the noon tournament on Saturday.  My brother and Ing were kind enough to wake up at the crack of dawn to ride out with me.  The rest of our friends were going to meet us out there later that evening. 

Saturday's tourney is $100 entry with multi $100 rebuys and they cap the entry at 108.  1000 stack, blinds start at 5/10, 30 min rounds, and doubles every level.  It is a very fast structure and you have to play accordingly.  My strategy in a tournament with complete strangers is to establish a tight image but at the same time, if you play a pot with me, I'll be very aggressive and put you to decisions for your stack.  I do this by playing only strong hands in EP and marginal hands I save for LP.  I rarely limp into pots in EP unless I feel the table is really passive.  I say 90% of the time, if I'm coming into the pot, I'm coming in with a raise.  Depending on my opponent's image, when it looks like I'm making a move, I'll show my AA because eventually, I will have to make the same move with 7 2.  I might show my J 2 button raise when theres a bunch of limpers in front me because next time, you'll call when I have AA. 

30 mins into the tourney, I felt my table draw was good.  There was only 2 people I felt concerned about but for the most part, the table was weak/tight passive.  I can't even count the number of times people would limp or raise with AJ, A10, Ax, KJ, K10, KQ, QJ, etc and then call raises/re-raises out of position.  Then they would hit one of their cards and go broke.  Example, EP raises 4x bb, mp calls, LP raises 16x bb.  EP and MP calls.  Flop brings Q 8 3.  EP checks, MP bets 2/3 pot, LP goes AI.  EP instacalls, MP folds.  If I was LP, I would think, damn, I ran into a set.  Nope, EP shows QJo and LP shows KK.  REBUY!

At the first break (after 3 levels and no more rebuys), I built my original stack of 1K to 2.5K + I took the add on bringing my total chip stack to 3500.  Decent stack but blinds start at 40/80 at the 4th level.  You can start to sense the panic at the 4th - 6th level.  40/80, 80/160, 150/300 so you start to see ALOT of push poker.  During this period, I was lucky enough to have the hands that were suppose to win, hold up.  Not to mention, on my button, the sb and bb were very tight players.  But then oddly enough, this hand happen.  300/600 level:  mp limps and I look down at KQs on the button and decided to raise to 3K.  SB shakes her head and pushes AI for 7K and its folded around to me.  At this point, I'm thinking she got sick of me stealing her blinds and is making a move.  The only hands i'm worried about are AK, AQ, AA, KK, QQ.  The last time she had monsters though (AA, KK, AK) she instapushed, no hesitation.  Regardless, the math was right to call but I didnt' feel like I was dominated.  I called and she turned over Q8. 

I was able to maintain a decent stack for a while and then this hand came up.  300/600 level.  2 mp limpers and I look down at 88 in the sb.  I raised to 3K and one of the limpers push for 6 - 7K.  I called and he turned over AK and spiked a K on the flop.  I was left with 6Kish.  It was the first big hit I took in the tournament and there was around 20 people left.  VERY NEXT HAND, JJ on the button.  MP goes AI for 4Kish, another player AI for 4.Kish and it comes back to me and I call.  KQ vs 1010 vs JJ.  Sickest flop ever: K Q 10!  Turn rag, River 9.  SICK SICK SICK! 

Coming back from the next break, there was 15 people left, 1000/2000 blinds and I'm chip leader on my table with about 22K.  Ya, pretty ridiculous.  We played 1 hand and someone proposed we just chop since it was getting ridiculous.  15 way chop was $1960, 4th place money at that point and everybody voted yes.  I was in the game $200 so I was happy.  Ya I was chip leader but what am I going to do with 11 bb's. 

Our friends arrived not too long later and we celebrated by eating some good ol filet mignon and drinking the bubbly at the steakhouse.  We also killed some Jager and took the party over to the strip club!  We definitely blew the roof off of the place!  I didn't get to bed until 5am so you can imagine the night we had!

I woke up Sunday about 10am and my head was pounding.  Thats how I knew I had a great time the night before.  Took a cold shower, popped about 20 advils, and headed to the poker room to sign up for the tournament.  Today's event is $200 shootout event.  1K starting stack, 5/10 blinds, and double every 30 mins.  They seat 12 people at 9 tables and you win your table and move to the final table.  Again, I start by playing super tight and playing in position until I can get a feel of the table.  Oddly enough, the standard raise at the 5/10 level became 100 - 150.  WTF?  During the 10/20 level, I was able to double up when I flopped a set of 7s on a board of 3 7 10 and a guy pushed on me with 10 9 on the turn.  Sweet.

At the break, I ran into D-Rock and said whats up as he was playing on another table.  After the break, I managed to do absolutely nothing and I watched this lady accumulate massive amounts of chips.  We went heads up at the 75/150.  I had about 3K and she had 9K.  At first, she would let me limp in and we played post flop.  I kept on taking pots away from her and sure enough, she soon realized it.  I would limp and she would raise no matter what.  I adjusted by raising my button and then limping and reraising.  I was able to battle back to almost even and this hand came up.  150/300 level:  She raised on the button to 1K and I called with 67.  Flop was 7 3 2 with 2 diamonds.  I check and she bets 1K and I call.  Turn Jd.  I check and she checks.  River Q, non diamond and I check again.  She bets 2.5K.  Basically, if I call and lose, its over.  I played the hand so wierd that she can't put me on a pair.  Either it was a great value bet or it was a I can't win if I don't bet.  She lost control of the hand when she checked the turn.  At that point is where I felt like I had the winner.  I would have rather not see the Q hit the river.  But I think AQ, KQ, etc would still fire on the turn.  I don't know but I just couldn't put the story together.  If she got lucky and hit a Q, so be it.  I went with my instincts and called and she turned over A5.  Now I had the chip lead.  When I had about 9K, we got it all in when I had AJ vs 1010 and couldn't spike either card.  At the 300/600 level (ridiculous with 10K in play) We got it all in when I had A7 spades vs Q8 diamonds.  We both had exactly 6K.  Flop brought 2 spades and 1 diamond, turn diamond.  Uh oh......River fell the ace of clubs and I move on to the final table!

The final table had some pretty good competition.  I had previously played with 4 of them, leaving 4 unknowns.  Someone proposed an equal chop which equated to about 2600 each but 2 rejected so we play on.  After about 3 hands, I proposed we each take 1K and then play on which everybody agreed.  10K starting stack, 30 min rounds, blinds start at 50/100.  The first hand I played, I limp on the button with 45.  Flop was A 4 5.  5 way action and its checked to me and I bet $500.  sb (really good player) calls and everybody else folds.  Turn brings a 7 and sb bets $800.  At this point, I had him on an ace.  I think 36 or 23 would check raise on this spot or even two pair.  Normally I would raise here but I elected to just call and see what happened on the river.  I didn't want to raise and get reraised either at this point.  I really didn't want to play a big pot in a limped pot with a really dangerous board.  River 10.  To my surprise, he bets $1500.  I felt like I couldn't raise in this spot as I would only get called by the better hand.  Not to mention, I would be putting my tournament life at risk in the first level.  So I just call and he shows me A 10.  OUCH!  I missed a raise on the turn but I took a gamble and he happen to catch his card.  I think he would have bet the same way even if he doesn't hit his 10.   A little bit later, I call in LP with 33 and its three way to the flop.  Flop:  2 4 5.  Checked to me and I check.  Turn A and sb bets $300.  Folds to me and I raise to $1200.  I can see out of the corner of my eye he's shaking his head and not happy with the raise.  At this point, I had him on 2 pair or possibly a set and was looking to check raise the flop.  I can tell he wanted to fold his hand and I really wanted him to fold too and just take the pot right there.  Instead he calls.  River 4, pairing the board.  He checked and looked right at me.  Somehow I knew he liked that card so I check behind and he turns over A4 for a full house.  I guess I lost the minimum there too but damn I felt so unlucky.  So right from the get go, within 20 mins, I down to about 3Kish.  Now I have to put in some work and pick my spots. 

With the blinds 100/200, I have A9clubs in the bb in a limped pot.  Flop brings A 10 rag.  I bet 1K and was called by a MP.  Turn brings another rag and I push for my remaining chips.  MP calls and turns over A6.  River bricked out and I was back up to around 7K. 

Blinds 200/400:  In LP, I raise with AhJh to 2500 with 3 limpers in front of me.  Everybody folds except one of the early limpers.  Flop J 10 7.  Checked to me and I instashove.  He calls and shows 108off.  HUH!?  I wasn't out of the clear yet but really, you call me with 10 8 off out of position preflop?  Luckily the turn and river bricked out and I was now right back in the hunt. 

With the blinds still at 200/400, I was able to build my chips to around 12K, good for 2nd in chips with 7 remaining.  UTG, I look down at KK.  I made a huge raise to 2.5K to make it look like I didn't want any callers.  Sure enough, the button shoves for 7K and I instacall.  He turns over AJ.  Flop rags, turn rag, but the ace fell on the river.  I was so pissed.  I had to get up and walk around for a minute just to get my head straight.  About 3 or 4 hands later, I look down at AA in the cutoff, with a raise and a call in front of me.  I shove, trying to sell the "tilt" raise but no one fell for it but was able to gather about 3K in chips. 

I slowly collected chips here and there, making good decisions for the most part the rest of the way.  I was able to build back up to 2nd in chips with 6 remaining.  Then I got into a pot with the chip leader which I lost.  Right after that hand, with the blinds 800/1600, someone proposed a 6 way chop as we were all pretty equal in chips except for the chip leader.  We settled on him taking 3K and the rest of us about 2.3K.  I decided to accept since the blinds were starting to get ridiculous and was happy with the 3300 total. 

I was really happy with the way I played in both tournaments.  I faced adversity both times and was able to overcome them.  For the most part, my reads were right on.  I laid down some monsters and pick some great spots to make moves.  I felt good about Sunday's tourney because at both tables, I had to battle back from being down so low.  Lets hope I can continue to play well and run hot at the next tournament!

Thank you all for reading.

TK