Winning the 45€ rebuy side event

Just when I was whinning about not be able to do anything this year, I ended winning the (small) 45€ rebuy side event of the Olympic Casino Hold'em Series.

I made 4 rebuys in the first three levels, putting the total cost of the tournament at 270€. I ended with quite nice stack. 25 players initially registered.

20 minutes levels.

Level 4 - 50/100 - 6800 chips
23 players, 2800 average stack.
UTG raises 350, I reraise 1100 with JJ and take the pot (raiser mucks 99)
Button raises to 350, I call from my SB with AJo (I made a mistake, I wanted to raise but I threw the wrong chips and didn't say "raise"). Flop QJT with 2 diamonds. I check with intention of raising any bet, but button checks. Turn is another J. I'm pretty sure I have the best hand, so it's better to check and give opportunity to bluff. I check, button bets 150, I raise to 600 and he insta folds.
I raise OTB to 375 with A4s. BB reraises to 800. He has 4000 in total. I know he is a solid player and that he also never believes me when I raise. I suspect him to resteal, so I push all in (he'll call only with premium hands). Unfortunately he has AA, I lose half of my stack and looks like stupid donkey ("what a gift hahaha")
I raise to 250 (another mistake, wanted to put 350!) with KQo in LP. BB calls. Flop 355. Check check. Turn 7. SB bets 350, I decide to float and I call. River is Q. BB bets 750, I call and win vs T4.

Level 5 - 75/150 - 5500 chips
21 players, 3000 average stack.
I'm really not paying attention today, so I didn't see the UTG raising to 1100. I put 400 OTB with QJo, everyone laugh and I casually complete my "raise" to 1100 and calls. Flop Q87. UTG bets 1400. I know he is not ultratight, so he could have a small pair, not only AQ/AA/KK. I call, leaving behind around 2000 chips (he has me covered). Turn is T. It's a good card for be, giving me outs in case I'm behind. He goes all in. I'm comitted so I call. He shows 99 and my hand holds. I have played this hand pretty badly on the flop. I should have pushed. It was either fold or push, not just call! I played weak.
MP raises to 400. I call with J8s (I have a big stack and I have the confidence that I can outplay people on the flop with position). Flop A42 rainbow. Checked to me, I bet 600 and take the pot.
I raise in MP with T7s. BB goes all in 2500 and I have to fold.
EP limps, I raise to 600 with QQ. Limper calls. Flop 946. Checked to me, I bet 1200 and take the pot.

Level 6 - 100/200 - 11875 chips
19 players, 5300 average stack.
2 limpers, I raise to 750 with TT. First limper calls, he has 1900 behind. I'll push/call all in whatever the flop. Flop 872 with 2 hearts. Opponent pushes all in, I call. He shows 7h9h but my hand holds.
I raise to 700 with 99. Tight player calls. Flop AAK. Check check. Turn T. I check, he bets 700, I fold and he shows Kh.
I raise UTG+1 to 700 with 44 and take the blinds.

Level 7 - 150/300 - 14625 chips
15 players, 6700 average stack.
I raise MP to 750 with 34s and take the blinds.
Otherwise, I'm pretty card dead and can't find any good spot to make moves.

Level 8 - 200/400 - 14700 chips
14 players, 7200 average stack.
One limper, SB folds. I check my 86o BB. Flop 844 with 2 hearts. I bet 700 and take the pot.
I lose 1100 K7 vs K9 all in preflop (short stack pushing on my SB from button)
Short stack limps UTG+1, I raise to 1500 with KTo and take the pot (I was pretty sure he would fold)
I raise UTG to 1200 with A6s and take the blinds.

Level 9 - 300/600 - 15200 chips
14 players, 7200 average stack.
I raise on the cutoff to 1600 with KTo and take the blinds.
I lose 3500 coin flip 66 vs AKs all in preflop.
I raise to 1600 with Q9 OTB, BB goes all in 7000 and I fold.
I raise to 1600 UTG with 78s and take the blinds.
I win 2100 coin flip 88 vs KQo all in preflop.
I raise UTG ATo and take the blinds.
I lose 1500 coin flip 22 vs Q8s all in preflop.

Level 10 - 400/800 - 12200 chips
11 players, 9200 average stack.
We are short handed, average around 10BB, now only preflop play occurs. Aggression is the key to build a stack quickly before blinds get really huge.
I raise to 2100 with 96s and take the blinds.

Final table - 400/800 - 12600 chips
10 players, 10100 average stack.
Button raises to 2400, I push all in from BB with A5 and take the pot (I know he'll call only with premium hands).
I raise my SB to 2100 with KJo, BB calls. Flop KQ7 rainbow, I bet 3500 and take the pot.
LP raises to 2400, he has 7000 total, I push with AQo but he insta calls with KK and no help from the flop.
I took a hit and I'm dow to 10100, the average.

Level 11 - 500/1000 - 10100 chips
8 players, 12600 average stack.
I'm card dead and can't do anything (and I still can wait before pushing with any two).
I get a walk though :)

Level 12 - 700/1500 - 8600 chips
7 players, 14400 average stack.
Now I can't really wait anymore (no one can, but they are all afraid to call with anything but premium hands)
So I push all in three times in a row (55, A4s, T9s) and take the blinds each time.
Folded to the blinds. SB calls, I check my 9d2d BB. Flop AKJ 2 diamonds. SB bets 1500, I call. Turn Ah. Check. I check too, I can't really sell a hand here, and I want to see the river, which comes 8c. Check. The SB knows me, and he could have J3 and call any bet from me. So I surrender and check too. He shows 3d4d and my 9 high wins! Incredible :)

Level 13 - 1000/2000 - 15500 chips
7 players, 14400 average stack.
I raise to 5K with A5o and take the blinds. Same with AKo.
I try another raise with 89s but I get reraised all in and I fold (he shows AK).
I go all in UTG with 33 and take the blinds.

Level 14 - 1500/3000 - 13500 chips
6 players, 16800 average stack.
We put 30€ each for bubble boy (6th place). I usually don't do that but we don't have any bubble effect here anyway (blinds too high), so why not :)
I get blinded out a round, and I have 9000, 3 BB. I'm the short stack.
I double A9 vs TJs, cool!
UTG calls, I call my SB T5o, BB checks. Flop Qh-Jh-2s. I put the limper on small connectors so I try my luck and bet 5500 (4000 would have been enough). Limper is a good player and he calls. Turn 2. I give up on the bluff, I don't have any fold equity and I could beat only 4h5h!. Check check. River As. Check check, I lose to KJo.

Level 15 - 2K/4K - 20K chips
4 players, 25K average stack.
Well, from now it's a lottery. I push and win some classic race, end up heads up against the good player. I win two small pots. He raises to 12000, I see A7s and push, he insta call with JJ but flops comes a very lucky AA7xx and I win.

I win 1200€ for 1st place.

At the last stages, it was mainly luck, but I still feel good about this small victory. It gives me a little bit of confidence for the EPT and demonstrates that it's indeed possible to build a stack!

Olympic Hold'em Series

This week was the Olympic Hold'em Series with 4 interesting events. In the 150€ and 225€ freezout I didn't do anything good (card dead, nothing really interesting, classic lost coin flip at the end), I make an horrible 100€ rebuy (total of 700€ at the end, and terrible play with early exit).

Here is now the log for the 750€ freezout main event which attracted 30 players. 10000 starting stack and 45 minutes first three levels, then 30 minutes.

Level 1 - 25/50 - 10000 chips
30 players, 10000 average stack.
I limp UTG with KQo. LP raises to 200, button calls. I call. Flop Q94 with 2 spades. I bet 350 to know how my hand is doing and they all fold.
2 limpers, I check my BB T7s. Flop 732 with 2 clubs. SB checks, I bet 150 and they all call. Turn Qh. I fold to the BB 600 bet.

Level 2 - 50/100 - 10100 chips
29 players, 10345 average stack.
I limp UTG AJo. One caller. Flop 334 with 2 hearts. SB bets 300 and I fold.
One limper, I call OTB with Th8h, SB raises 450, BB calls, limper folds, I call (position and good pot odds). Flop KhJd7h. It's checked to me, I bet my big draw 1000 and take the pot.
MP raises to 300. I call 24s on the cutoff. BB calls. Flop 6d-Td-4c. BB checks, raiser bets 600. I decide to float and I call. SB calls and this ruins my plans for a move after. Turn 9h. SB checks, raiser bets 1600, I fold as I'm pretty sure I'm beat (raiser shows later 99).

Level 3 - 75/150 - 9850 chips
28 players, 10700 average stack.
EP raises to 500, one caller, I call OTB with 78o, both blinds call. Flop Q46. SB bets 750, it's folded to me and I call with my gutshot. Turn 7. Not a good card for me. SB bets 1500 and I fold (he shows Qh).
One limper. I call with J9o on the cutoff. Flop comes J24. It's checked to me, I bet 350 and take the pot.
UTG raises 450. I call KQo. 2 callers. Flop A93 rainbow. It's checked to the button who bets 600. I'm pretty sure he has AT/AJ and that he would fold to a raise (I know he sees me as a reasonable player). I raise 1500 and he open folds AT. This was a nice play and it felt good to make a move knowing exactly what whould happen.
I raise UTG J9s to 400. LP calls. Flop Q47 with 2 diamonds. I bet 600, LP calls. Turn 5d. I bet 1500 and LP calls after some time. I put him on KQ or QT. River is Qh. I don't think I can make him fold any queen so I give up my bluff and check. He check and shows 77.
2 limpers, button raises to 800. I call with AQo from SB. Flop T73 rainbow. I check, LP bets 2000, button raises 6000. I fold and button shows A9. This was a weak play, I should have raised my AQ preflop knowing the button was a very aggressive lose player.

Level 4 - 100/200 - 7575 chips
27 players, 11100 average stack.
I raise 600 with 99. Reraise to 1600, one caller. I decide to be cautious and I just call. Flop 875. I check as I'm not sure TT is not there. Both player check. Turn is 4 and put 2 clubs on the board. I'm pretty sure I'm against overcards so I go all in. One player folds quickly and the last call all in with 3000 chips. He shows KQ of clubs. He has 15 outs, the river is 9c and I lose. This was a key pot, and losing it killed my moral and stack.
I'm down to 3200.
I win a small pot next with the nut flush.
I raise in MP with K9s and take the blinds.
4 limpers, I raise my BB to 1200 with AsQs. 2 callers (LP and SB). Flop comes 862 all clubs. SB checks. I go all in for 3000. Both opponents make me sweat a lot but finally fold (they had 77 and 55, but without clubs). It was a bold bluff but I worked :)

Level 5 - 150/300 - 7500 chips
26 players, 11500 average.
2 limpers, I call on the cutoff with A6s. Flop 663 with 2 spades. It's checked to me, I bet 1200 and get one caller. Turn Qd. Check, I bet 2800 and opponent folds.
I then get a walk, always nice! :)
I raise OTB with A5s to 800. SB calls, saying he has to call with such nice cards. BB folds. Flop 678 rainbow. SB bets 1200. I call with my draw. Turn 8. SB bets 1700. I put him on A8, or a small pair like 44/55. I have very good odds so I call. River is another 8, SB puts me all in and I insta fold. He shows KQ. I made a mistake on the flop, I should have raised with my draw to get informations. Had I raise to 3000 the hand would have cost me the same, but I would knew better where I was (and here he would have folded to my raise). He played the hand well, I played it bad. Aggression is the key! And this was a perfect spot to be aggressive.

Level 6 - 200/400 - 6100 chips
25 players, 12000 average stack.
Button raises to 1100. I see AJ0 on my SB, the button is aggressive and lose, so easy all in. He folds and I take the pot.
I limp EP 9Ts, blinds call. Flop A57 2 heart. All check. Turn 6. It's checked to me, I bet 800 with my gutshot. SB calls. River 6h. SB bets half of his stack, I insta fold.
Folded to the blinds. SB calls, I check my KT. Flop 224. Check check. Turn A. SB bets 600. I don't believe him at all so I call. River put third club. He checks, I bet 600 thinking I'm far ahead. He calls and shows A7. I got owned.

Level 7 - 300/600 - 4200 chips
23 players, 13000 average stack.
I go all in with JJ and take the blinds.
I pick up AQs, go all in, I'm called by AT, two players say they folded a ten, but the flop brings the last ten in the deck, and again a one outer puts me out of my misery.

In conclusion, I can say I didn't make too much mistakes, made one small good play, but couldn't get enough luck to win the key pots to build a stack.

Again, I have played small stack poker and I was never in a position where I could do any kind of elaborate move. It's months now I haven't be a big stack in any tournament. I always survive, playing desperate poker. This is very frustrating. I must have a very big leak in my game but I still can't figure it out. Should I play much more hands in the early stage and be very aggressive, hoping to make a big double up? Very tough question.

Next Tuesday, I play in the day 1A of the EPT Copenhagen. I'm not feeling very confident, and I'm very afraid to again lose the key pots and go down in the 10BB situation after the 5th level. I'm really in the mood where I can't see how's it's possible to do win anything in poker, so this will not help either.

Oh well... We'll see! :)

EPT Dortmund, Day 2

With only 7000 chips and a level of 400/800 I don't have many real possibilities of play. I have to shove on the first occasion available and pray.

Level 9 - 400/800, 100 ante - 7000 chips
150 players left, 27400 average stack.
I drew a good table: only one big stack of 40,000. I can hurt all other stacks so I will not be called with any two cards. Only player I know if Rolf Slotboom, a well known Dutch player.
I'm on seat 7, and button will be seat 4. Not so good! I'll get the BB very quickly.
Hand 1: I'm UTG. I see QT. Not so bad, but this is too dangerous. I fold. Big action after: raise and reraise. So it was good decision!
Hand 2: button raises to 2300. SB folds. I'm on the BB. I look at my cards: 34o. Well, I'm sure that I'm live but I can't make my move with that, so I fold.
Hand 3: It's folded to my SB. I see 83o. I don't have any choice. I push all in. The BB (the big stack of 40000) insta folds. Phew!
Hand 4: raise and reraise. I see Q6 on the button and fold.
Hand 5: Rolf raises to 3K. I see QT on the cut off. I know Rolf is tight so I fold (anyway my goal is to push and steal, not to call with trash)
Hand 6: it's folded to me in MP. I see Qh8s. I push all in. Folded to BB which pays with JJ. Not good! Flop: Ah... Kh... 6h!!! I flop the nuts. Unbelievable! Turn and river doesn't change anything and I double to 15500.
I feel great and can now wait an orbit or two before shoving.
Rolf raises to 3000 in LP. I have A6 on my BB. I'm pretty sure I'm dominated, but the question is: could I make him fold if I push all in? (we have more or less the same stacks) Someone crashes on the table, and the tictac boxes on top of Rolf's stack falls down. I ask him if it's a bad sign and he laughs. He looks quite strong and relax so I finally folds. He shows A9. I wonder if he would have called my all in... Oh well.
It's folded to me on the cut off. I raise to 2300 with K9 and take the blinds.
I'm on the button. I raise to 2300 with 66. SB (super tight) calls. BB (tight) raises to 7000. I'm sandwhiched. I think I must be behind. I fold. BB shows AA! Phew!

Level 10 - 500/1000, 100 ante - 9600 chips
122 players, 33700 average stack.
I'm moved to a new table with many big stacks. I get horrible trash or can't pick a stealing spot so I get blinded off one orbit.
I'm down to 7500. It's folded to me on the button. I'm the mini stacks and everyone knows what's going to happen. I see 42o. Oh well... At least I'm sure I'm live. I push all in. SB folds. Unfortunately BB gets a playable hand and call with QT. No miracle for me and I'm out.

I don't think I made a stupid move at the end. I had to do something, I can't just get blinded out, and if the BB would have picked T3 or 48 he would have folded (very few will insta call with any two cards, it was still 7 BB).

On this tournament, I had the pleasure to meet lot of French poker players and they are all very nice and easy going. I'm looking forward to see them again (as well as the cool press teams) on the next EPT in Copenhagen.

Let's hope that this time I'll be lucky enough to build a playable stack! I want to play poker! :)