I've been playing poker for a while. But strictly as a recreational player. However, I've decided to become a professional poker player. What does that mean to me? It's means making it my job. My goal is to be come the best No-Limit Hold Em' Tournament player in the world! (To my wife: Don't worry dear I still have my other job so the bills get paid. Love you. ;) )
My first goal is to win $1,600 by Mid January to enter the Main Event WSOP circuit event in Durant Oklahoma.
My second goal is to win $10K to enter the WSOP main event in Las Vegas!
The purpose of this blog is for you, my readers, to following along with me on the Journey. So here we go!
Today I entered the Poker Showdown at the Cherokee Casino in Roland, OK. The buy in was $30 and re-buys were allowed until the 1st break. Starting stack was 4K. You could also buy and additional 1K in chips for $5 at the break. Blinds go up every 15 minutes and there were 30 players today. 1st place was $950, 2nd $500 and $325 for third.
Here is my personal recap of the tournament:
I started out conservative only playing premium hands. I played very well in the first round and 2nd round. I had a slip up in the 2nd round that cost me $1200 in chips. The pot ended up being HUGE. Close to 20K. I folded A4s but I considered calling. It ended up being a great fold. I hit nothing on the flop, turn and river. Saved myself a lot of money.
At the break I was close to 7K in chips. By no means the chip leader but just above the chip average for the tournament. Coming back from the break I didn't see many cards I could play and folded a lot.
The 1st hand I got into was with pocket eights. I was in early position so raised 3 times the big blind. I got 1 caller. The flop was paint and a low card. No 8's. I checked. He bet 2K. I folded. Probably a good move. I'm pretty sure I was beat.
I won a few smalls hands by betting from early position with good cards. My chip stack stayed pretty even. I felt like I was playing well and the blinds were now $400-800, I had almost 9 big blinds and I got pocket 5's.
I was in early position so I raised the BB 3x's to 2400. I was called by the chip leader in late position. Everyone else folded. The flop was a rainbow 9, J, 4. I lead out with a continuation bet of $2500. He called. He was pretty aggressive the entire time he was playing at the table so it should have got my attention that he was calling. The turn is a 7. I bet 4K. He raised all in. I only had $800 left at this point so I called for the rest of my chips. I have 55's and he's got K9 off. I was a little surprised he called with only a 9. He even thought he was beat before I showed. The river missed me and I'm out in 23rd place.
I feel like I played the 55's right once I committed to play with them. But once I got home and did a little research I realized I never should have been in the hand to begin with. I should have folded and waited for a stronger hand. 86% of the time pockets fives end up with a negative outcome. Had I been betting against someone a little more conservative I would probably have won that hand. My biggest mistake, besides playing in the hand was not recognizing the type of player I was up against and it cost me all my chips!
After thinking about it for a while I decided I could have/should have:
1. Gone all in with the 55's and taken the blinds. I don't think I would have gotten any callers as opposed to my $2,400 bet which got called.
2. Folded pre-flop. (Most likely the best option)
3. Instead of leading out with a bet post flop, I could have just checked and waited to see what action he would take. If he bets I fold with only a pair of 5's. I might have been too aggressive trying to knock out an aggressive player.
What are your thoughts?
All in all I'm pretty happy with the way I played until I got those 5's. I really misplayed the hand and it cost me all my chips. Lesson learned today is once you start playing a hand you need to understand you could be putting all your chips at risk on this one hand.
Career Earnings: $0
Career Investment: $35
+/- $-35
I'll be playing again next Friday and possibly Wednesday and will be blogging about my results!
Take care!
Paper
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