HORSE mtt at Seabrook Poker Room July 19, 2009

I noticed on their calendar that they were holding a HORSE mtt and that as opposed to past months they had lowered the buy-in from $150 to $100.  I was hoping it might draw a bigger crowd than I’ve noticed it had in past months but alas it was not so.  I haven’t played live poker since the end of October 2008 so I felt this would be a fun way to get back on the horse (snicker snicker).

When I signed up there were 18 other players.  I was fine with that, it’s like playing a 3 table sng.  In the first level we were up to 24 players for 3 full tables.  By the end of the 2nd level they’d added another table which I thought was weird.  40 minutes in to the tournament and they allowed a full third table to start with full starting chips.  I got over that quick though lol.

Started with 6k in chips, 20 minute levels, blind structure a bit strange but ended up working towards my style of play.  After the first holdem level (25/50 blinds, 50/100 limits) I had 7150 in chips.  Our first level of play was short handed and my play was getting respect.  After the omaha h/l level (25/50 blinds, 50/100 limits) I had 7250 in chips.  In the next level, razz (25 ante, 25 bring-in, 100 complete, 100/200 limits), I didn’t have a single playable hand until the last one and ended with 7550 in chips.

The next two levels, stud and stud 8 or better (25 ante, 25 bring-in, 100 complete, 100/200 limits) I didn’t do much of anything except pay my ante and bring-in and went to break down to 5675 in chips.  After a ten minute break we came back to holdem with 100/200 blinds and 200/400 limits.   I picked up KK in ep and raised and the guy to my left (very loose and already mentally moved on to the next tournament starting) cold-called and the blind called.  The flop came Q, 9, 2 rainbow and I bet out.  The guy to my left raised me and the bb folded.  Because of how loose this player had been playing and the fact that I know he is ready to go play in the 4pm nlhe mtt I don’t put him on a huge hand.  I feel that if he’d had a pair preflop he would have raised which he didn’t.  I put him on two face cards with a Q.  I still chose to cold call to see the turn and get a raise in there.  The turn came with a ten and I checked and he bet and I raised.

He flipped out saying that I obviously was running around with the Seabrook nuts which happens to be KJ and that I very obviously hit my straight.  He called anyway.  The river came putting 3 spades on board and I fired out a bet and he bitched and moaned for a minute and then called.  I turned over my KK and he turns over….Q2 offsuit lol.  He says that he had to call the river because there was too much money in the pot.  I say I understand but that I don’t understand why he called my raise preflop.  His answer…oh I was just trying to donkey off my chips so that I can take my seat in the 4pm tournament.  Well gee thanks for that, sigh.  After this level I am down to 2250 in chips and there are still 32 players.

After the next omaha h/l level (100/200 blinds and 200/400 limits) I am down to 1175 in chips and am feeling despondent.  One of the dealers comes up behind me with a tray and tells me I’m being moved to another table because one of the other tables lost 2 players.  He said that it’s probably a good thing for me and he feels my luck is going to turn around.  I start at the new table at the beginning of the razz level (50 ante, 50 bring-in, 300 complete, 300/600 limits) and I get down to 800 chips and I pick a hand and move in with it and double up.  Next hand I have another low to start and I get my chips in the middle with another short stack and knock him out.  I end the level with 4225 in chips.

Stud and Stud 8 or better (50 ante, 50 bring-in, 300 complete, and 300/600 limits)…I lose about 1000 chips during stud and gain another 1000 during stud 8 or better ending that HORSE round with 4400 chips.  Still struggling but managing to stay in.  At this point I honestly felt if some luck would enter my side I could make it to the money.  The next holdem level (200/400 blinds, 400/800 limits) I end with 4200 chips and we have 16 players left.  Omaha h/l (200/400 blinds, 400/800 limits) was rough for me and I end with 3100 chips (a miracle that I even had that left).

I end the razz level (100 ante, 100 bring-in, 500 complete, 500/1000 limits) around 2600 chips.  Stud hi (same antes,bring-in, complete, limits) I end with 2100 chips.  My last level was stud 8 or better (same antes, bring-in, complete, limits)and I decided I had to go now…double up or get out.  I got my chips in while holding A, 3  in the hole and had 7, 7, 3 up.  I got called by a guy with no low possibility and a pair of kings.  His last two cards, 5 and 5 to knock me out since I never improved my hand.

I lasted 15 levels, I managed to fight back after getting muckled with a full field of players still left and I’m actually very proud of how I played and of my attitude.  I only had one bad moment right after that one hand and I got myself right back together.  I felt that this tournament was a very strange but good structure for me because I was able to last a long time fighting with a small amount of chips.  Next week they are holding their very first razz tournament ($100 buy-in, 6k in starting chips) and I think I’m going to go play.