PPP Irish Open Confessional

califano

There were a good few boards players playing in this event. I think peope would be interested in reading your tournament report and what you made of it all however brief or extended you'd like to make it?.

Whos first for the confessional?

pokertroll

rounders123 wrote:

There were a good few boards players playing in this event. I think peope would be interested in reading your tournament report and what you made of it all however brief or extended you'd like to make it?.

Whos first for the confessional?

Lasted just under 3 hours in the main event until my KK was cracked by AK all-in pre-flop - another player had folded AQ so the villain was drawing to 2 aces.
I fared better in the 300 crapshoot but again KK was to let me down against JJ in a 30k pot when the river brought 4 clubs to match the jack of clubs in the villain's hand.

shaydy

unlucky! poker can be a cruel game sometimes. At least you can be happy you got your chips in the middle as a high percentage favorite.

Shay

Daithio

The main event was a bit of a non starter for me, I just never really got going. My starting table was tough enough with Mike Caro, Simon Trumper, Nicky Power, Stever Jelinek and Rob Yong at it. There was also a decent scandi player there who's name I can't remember.

It was my plan to build up a really tight image and then step up a gear and benefit from that image, so I started off slowly and didn't really play a hand for an hour. Then the following hand occured which got me up to 13k. After there were 3 limpers I decided to limp on the button with 4d5d. The flop brought KK6 with two diamonds. Checked around to me and I figured my image would allow me to take it down, so I bet 300 into a 400 pot. Folded around to Mike Caro who's sitting on my right and flat calls. I followed through on the turn when he checked to me, and again he flat called. At this stage I was pretty certain he had a 6, so reckoned a big bet on the end would take it down. The river filled my flush though and he called a sizeable enough value bet, showing me KT. He later told me that it was the first hand I'd played so he was worried about KJ/KQ.

Straight after this I got JJ then QQ and then KK three hands in a row! I had to fold the JJ to a limp reraise from an absolute rock who showed AA, and the KK and QQ just took down the blinds:( , so I was a little frustrated. Then the cards completely dried up. I must've gotten AK or AQ about 20 times, but never once did I connect with the flop, and only a couple of times did my continuation bets work. So I drifted back down to about 8k, and for a couple of levels floated between 7k and 9k, never catching a run of cards and at this stage I didn't really have enough chips to bluff.

So, at 7k I get dealt AJ on the button. I'd been raising a fair bit in late position with muck, and pumped it up again here when folded around. It was Rob Yong's BB, who'd remarked an awful lot about my positional raising and continuation bets, so I was prepared to push to a rraise. Anyway he flat called my 1200 raise (blinds now 200-400), and checked to me very quickly on a 9 5 2 board. I knew he was going to rraise me if I followed through here, so I considered a push but then thought twice about it and decided to see what he'd do on the turn. The turn paired the 5 on the board, and he very quickly picked up 2.5k and threw it out. I thought about it for ages, and figured that my A high was ahead. If he'd hit anything on that flop or turn he'd check to me, as by the way I've been playing there's no way I'm checking two streets after raising pre flop. So I figured my A high was ahead, and even considered slowplaying it lol, but eventually decided to push over his 2.5k bet for 6k and he folded instantly and I showed him which I probably shouldn't have. TBH though I don't think it was a bluff, A high was definitely the best hand there.

That got the confidence back a bit, but again I went completely card dead, and drifted back down to around 8k. The blinds were 300 600 with a 50 running ante now I think, and average was around 16k. Anyway the tight aggressive Northern player down the end raises from early position and I look down to see TT. I figured he was tight and it was an early position raise, but then I started to talk myself into playing the hand; it was the best I'd seen in about 5 hours, he'd just doubled up and would likely be playing a few more flops etc etc. So I decided to peel one off against my better judgment. Anyway the flop came 9 high, and first to act he bet out 2k. I have 6.8k left, and decide to go with the plan that I hd preflop, ie to push on a favourable one. He was a tight player, but he also had a bit of game and had been caught on continuation bets before. Also I think he's calling me with 77-88 here. He called instantly with QQ and that was the end. A queen on the turn and I was drawing dead by the river. It doesn't sound too bad, I had an overpair to the board, but the right play was just to fold preflop, there was no need to get involved with a solid early position raiser with TT there. I basically gambled that he had AK or AQ or possibly 77-88, but I should have just passed and waited for a better spot. Anyway that was it, no good in the 150 rebuy and 300 FO crapshoots either.

The Ace Face

Done a blog on Antesup, not sure how you post the link here. I f some one can tell me that would be helpful. I will copy across for now!

Ray


In college should be studying after getting time off work, but here I am writing my blog.

Firstly my poker background:

Playing now for 6 mths online, played live 7 times ( 3 Fitz scalps, 2 S/E, Drogheda game and 1 CPt if you include that!). So my experience is limited but I learn fast! Live games have been in past 2 mths leading up to open and my play was appalling, so going into open all I was looking for was to make the 1st day alive.

PP had us dragged us in early which meant we had to wait around for 3 hours, I met Gholi, Len and Pat O'Callaghan. Myself and Len went to Baggot t to watch football for 2.5 hours which helped me relax and chill out, watched game and talked guess what? yep..poker. Len is a top bloke and we headed back to Jurys at 3.45. I was getting real nervous at this stage but just wanted to get on with it.

Sat down at my table 34 seat 9, looked around table..Scandi, 2 frenchies, 4 Irish ( Pat Griffin, young guy from Crossmaglen, Northern woman and a.n.other )and a Turk to my left who lives in Stockport!
My plan was to play tight but when i'm in a pot I am in to win it, only play premuim hands unless had S.c.ers in late position. Played 3 hands in 2.5 hrs won all 3 and moved from 10k to 13.5k.

1st hand I got AJ in cut off, raised to 200, Turk called, blinds folded, flop KJx, bet out 300 to see where I was and he called ( I was so nervous now, planking it, ) turn was blank, after seeing him play 60/70% of hands so far I put him on small pair or st8 draw so I bet 500 he folded and my heart relaxed. I then relaxed and began to enjoy it I had 11k in chips and things were ok.

Won a pot with AK when I hit AA7 on the flop, checked it but Irish guy ( with a hood over his face, looked stupid, French guy kept ripping piss out of him which was funny )didn't bite, turn was 6 hs, I was a little nervous of flush/st draw so bet 1k to make it look like I was stealing but he folded.
I won a 3k pot off this guy as well when my AQ hit an A on river to beat his K9 flop KQ6 x A. He wasn't happy but I didn't give a f uck. Didn't cost me much till river hit and then he raised!

Table wasn't agressive I had good reads on all players, that was my main goal in early play..then we broke tables...I had 13.5k so was happy enough.....

......until I seen my new table..Simon Trumper to my right, Rob Yong, Jelink ( spelt wrong ,)
Dave O'c, Nicky Power, Mickie Boland ( Cork, made ft in Boyles )....didn't know Dave but guessed who he was after a while..introduced myself after an hour of play. He didn't get any cards and ran 1010 into QQ against Marti (tight agressive guy) he was ul but I'm sure he felt he had to start making a move.

Nicky Power was sssooooooooooo ul, big time felt for him, 50k pot with Paul daly and he got rivered with a K to give set against his JJJ ( had on flop ). He was playing well and really ul. Talked to himafter couple of times dead sound bloke.

In the mean time faces were changing I had a Cork guy round my age move to my right, he was an agressive guy and a gambler ( as you will see ). I was card dead for 3.5hrs yep 3.5 hrs after moving to table. Got AQ once raised and Marti reraised big so I folded. I was down to 7.5k and wondered if big cards existed...then in mp I look down at KK ( happy days ) just need someone to pay me off. Cork guy to my right raises to 2.5k blinds maybe 200/400. I go allin ( took 2 seconds to decide ) folded around to him and he calls showing 10Jds. I felt this was a v. bad call for all his chips but hey he needed to gamble. 232 flop and turn x river x and I double up to c. 14k ( average stack around 17k )

At this stage players are dropping like flys, the number on the screen is dropping every 5 mins and a Mr Tony Cascarino joins my table.

I was card dead for 3.5hrs then I get KK,QQ,AA,JJ in 40 mins. My inexperience showed in the way I played 2 of the 4 hands. KK was no option. AA I doubled blind to 1.6k under the gun hoping for a raise so I could reraise but Rob Yong called, blinds folded. flop was 456 2hs, pretty scary so I went all in and took the chips on offer.

I get QQ and big Tony raises to 2.5k I reraise to 5k, he calls, I felt he would have gone over the top with KK AA, so happy to see flop....67K..poxy K...I wasn't sure where I was he could be on AK,KQ, didn't know his play at all. I bet 2k he called, really didn't know what was going on in hand! Checked the turn (blank) to which Tony says "stopped betting now mate?" I just blanked him we checked to showdown I was hoping he wouldn't go over me with big bet. He says " QQs yeah?" I say "yep". I throw over QQ he throws over JJ. Phew.

Next hand I played really poorly, Mickie from Cork raised 2.5k and I had JJ in mp, thought about it for an age ( for which Cas and rob slagged me off, good humoured stuff ). I called 2.5k. Flop came Jxx, now I was odds on fav. and should have suckered him in, but I didn't have aread on him maybe AQ,AJ, 1010, even higher pp maybe. I bet 5k and he folded. I regret this hand big time. Need to be able to trap guys and take more chips off them, I was too scared of being outdrawn. Ended up he had 1010! ah well.

I gave away 5k to marti after making a bad play ( worst of day )..no need to discuss it ( my blog! my rules )

I then went from 21k, lost 5k and floated down to 11k. Guy to my right from Cork built his stack from 900 to 25k. his 27 allin at 900 beat my call with AJ and he snowballed from there.

Cas left after 45 mins and a Mr Jon Wong arrived followed soon after by a Dutch guy with 100k. I have discussed Wong on other posts.

Around this time Paul Daly who had rivered Nicky Power pulled one of the moves of the tournie. he bet 3.5k ep, Rob Yong ( who is a vocal player with loads of mates running around the floor ), reraises to 9k, Paul calls his 9k and I think Jon backs away. Flop is K63, Rob bets out 6k and paul goes allin, Rob has 6k left and it is a big pot. after along time he folds. Paul throws over A2...Rob goes bananas..berating his own play and lack of a call, he leaves table for 10 mins and comes back to build his stack to 40k. He folded QQ.

I was card dead most of time, stole the odd pot to keep a float, getting late into morning I get 1010 and was almost 1/2 of the average stack size. Cork guy to right bets 3k ish and I go allin for 11k he calls instantly and shows A9....I hit a 10 on flop all hearts..but the turn and river come hearts to split the pot. I was well pissed with this result but focused on getting 2 good cards again, knowing I had to double up soon. Wong UTG raised 3.5k Cork lad calls and I go all in for 11k again with KQ. Wong calls and Cork folds ( surprised me, thought I'd get some value ). Wong has 77 and I tell him we'll race. I hit KQ on flop and make a flush K high to take pot. I then struggled through early hours watching guys throw over hand after hand of AA,KK,QQ,JJ, I couldnt get a sniff and didn't have enough chips to play many hands to speculate.

Anyway the field has been a bloodbath and we are down to 85 by 4a.m. I am mentally bolloxed and tired - Liam announces last hand, I look down at 88 in EP. I had 18k and I have a good think about stealing blinds ( 800/1600 with 400 ante ) but Rob Yong ( agressive animal all day ) is BB and Wong is counting his chips for a raise. So do I limp in to see a flop NO, do I go allin and risk running into bigger pair out of 6 guys NO, raise 3.5 and see flop NO...I say f uck it and fold. tomorrow is another day and if i double up early I'll be back in it. Average stack is 35k at this stage. Any way Jon does raise 3.5k and rob calls. Flop comes 8 high ( I nearly vomit ). 2 boys get stuck into it, full board is 56892. with 20k in pot Rob bets 10k..Wong thinks for 10 mins and eventually calls with J9..Rob has K high. What a call at 4 a.m. he read Rob to a tee again. I think of the 40k I could have had and stumble off to bed.

Mickie Boland was gone, Northern Marti too after jelink ( i know ) rivered him. Wong had 50k ish, Rob 15k, Paul Daly was going well.

There was rumour that there were 4 left in Paddy last for rip to Vegas ( announced on intercom ) however karl advised me next day there was 9!

First day was over and I was delighted to have grinded thru some bad droughts, I should have done better when I had certain hands but I was learning so much from the other players so it leveled out.

Got 3.5 hrs sleep and awake at 8.30.

to be continued

MrPillowTalk

Irish Open 2006 Main Event.

Ok so I had played two live tournaments since my French EPT debacle, the Dublin Open pokerevents one where I exited on day 2 just before the money and the Drogheda €250 where I went out just before the money on the last three tables also. But alas this is tournament poker and I have been playing well and was due a result so had a quiet confidence running into this event, only my second big buyin tourney but after playing Deauville I felt comfortable that I could play my game and make some headway.

So roll on Saturday and I take my seat at a relatively good table there are only two players I know at it Don Fagan and Paul Daly, also there is a youngfella who looks about 16 from Scandinavia who does his whole stack by level 2 with 5s9s on nought but a draw pushing into an obvious over pair. As he leaves the table some of the others inform me that he has won $800k online in the nl games this year, hmmm I had him tagged as the easy chips. In the first level I had AA twice and KK once picked up pots all three times but unfortunately this was the last appearance these pairs would make for me for the duration of the tournament. So by the first break was cruising along with 17k and feeling very comfortable.

After the first break I moved up a gear and started to move on more pots and was up to 25k without a showdown, then I raised in the cut-off with QQ to 1k with blinds at 150/300 the shortstacked bb moved in for 5k I called, he had AQ but the board brought an ace. This table was broken and I was moved just before dinner, this table seemed to be playing far more aggressively the only player I knew was Thomas Nolan but there were a few English and Scandies and I felt there were a lot of chips to be had. Managed to move Thomas off top pair with a big reraise bluff for a 20k pot before this table was broken and I was moved on to a table with Mickey Wernick, Steven Pearse, Tikay from blonde poker and a German player I recognised. This table was perfect, there were a ton of chips in play the average in the tournament at this time was around 21k I was third smallest stack at the table with 30k.

I stayed at this table for the rest of the day and got a really good feel for how everyone was playing and was picking my spots nicely, Stephen was giving a load of verbal and playing every second pot but was on a big stack of 90k and was playing it well, but I was taking big pots off him reraising his bets when in position and built my stack to 60k without incident. Then I raised to 3200 with AJ blinds 600/1200 and got one caller in Mickey who was playing like a slab of marble, flop came ace high and I called a 4k bet, the turn was another ace and it went check check, river was a rag and Mickey fired another 5k, against most players I raise here but I flat called and Mickey showed AK to take it down. I won a 40k pot with TT shortly afterwards, an English player on 20k raised to 5k blinds 800/1600 I flat called and the English lad moved in on a Q J 8 flop, I didn’t believe him and called he turned up AK and missed the turn and river so I’m up and floating around the 70k mark where I stay for a good while.

Played a nice hand against Stephen were he raised my bb to 5k and I flat called with 99, flop comes 8 high I check he bets 10k I make it 25k to go he has been firing continuation bets at most flops and no one is really standing up to him so I feel the pot can be won right here. He thinks for an age and tells me he thinks I’m too tight to risk my stack without a hand that has him beat in this spot; he shows TT and folds, phew!! I show the 99 and the table get a good laugh out of it. They all gave him a bit of grief for folding but I think his reasoning was fairly spot on and I reckon he’s behind to my bet there more often than he is in front. So I’m up to 90k and it’s the last level of the day, I lose a couple of smallish pots and am sitting on 75k when Mel Judah gets moved to my table with 20 minutes left before we finish for the day. I pick up QQ and raise to 6k Mel moves all in for 24k total I call and he flips AJ, turn brings the dreaded ace and I lose a big pot, Mickey tells me he folded AK so that was a two outer, lovely biscuits. I finish Day one in the middle of the field with 42k and 85 players left in.

Day 2

First hand back I find AsJs and make it 7k to go in the cut-off the BB a paddy power qualifier cant remember his name moves in for 13k total, an obvious auto call I make up the extra 6k and he turns AA, a jack on the flop gives me some hope but it holds up and I am all of a sudden under some pressure on 27k. Next hand I get KhQh and raise to 7k again Mickey comes over the top and puts me all in, I fold as the only hands I’ve seen form Mickey have been premium. Table is broken and I am moved to one with Peter Roche, Tony Chessa, Player X and Barry Connolly. Barry’s story is a great one managed to win his seat on the Eamon Dunphy show so was freerolling for a big cash.

Pulled off a nice squeeze play a round or two after I sat down, Tony (who has been raising a lot of pots with a 100k stack) raises to 7k in mid position, player X calls, English player calls and I move all in for 28k total with 67clubs, I figured that when Norman and the unknown flat call Tonys bet there is no real hand there and with Tony having these two to act behind him he cant call me without AA, KK or QQ. Tony moans for a few minutes before letting it drop and its folded around to give me a nice little pot.
Next big hand I play I raise from the cut-off with AK to 8k Peter Roche moves all in (he has me covered) from the sb and I call, he has A10, no ten on the board and I scoop a 65k pot and have room to breathe again. I manage to pick up another few pots picking on a two very tight Scottish chaps and when this table is broken I am sitting on around 75k.

Nothing much happens for a while and we are down to the last 45 players when I pick up JJ blinds 2k/4k, I raise to 12k and the button calls (Eoin Tobin) as does BB, flop comes J 10 x and BB checks, now I choose to check don’t ask me why, I had visions of check raising all in when the button bets but it was a very fishy check and I usually lead at this pot as this would be the best way to get all the chips in the middle if either other player has a hand. Button checks behind and turn brings a Q, BB checks I check button fires 15k , BB folds and I call. River is a blank and I check call another 20k and get shown AK for the nut straight DOH DOH DOH.

So I’m down to about 35k and short stacked, a round or two later I pick up KJ on the button and raise to 12k, Barry moves all in from the BB, I call for my last 23k because having played Barry a bit I know he can easy have any pp here so I hope I’m racing, also with the blinds going to 3k/6k soon I had to get some chips together. Barry turned up AK and that was that out in 39th or 40th I’m not sure which. 36 places where paid but with 36th only getting €2000 (less than the buy in) it wasn’t worth trying to limp into the money I wanted to play for a final table prize. Bitterly disappointed but I will be there again I’m sure.

Another time deep in atourney gone just before the buisness.

Apologies for the length of the post I had originally intended it to be a short one

carrigeen

The tourny didnt start well or me was playing badly for the first two hours. Raised to 200 (blinds 25/50) with pocket tens one caller flop comes 9 9 4 and i bet 300 and called turn is a four we both checkriver 9 he bets 100 without thinking i raise to 500 and he comes over me for 2.5k and i stupidly call he has the case 9. Im really annoyed with myself as raising aftre the 100 bet is only going to be called by a stronger hand than mine and i know im playing really weak.

next hand cascarino (my new buddy ) takes another 1.5 off me hitting a flush on the river to beat my str8. Im now at 5k and its time for a fag break have a good chat with myself and go back in to try retrieve the situation. Thinks started to improve from there in bb 5 players (i have 6 9 )flop comes 234, everyoen checks turn a 5 i bet 600 into a 1200 pot folded round to player who raises to 3k now im worried i have to call cant put him on 67 in mid position river j (or something) im very happy to split pot at this stage i check he checks and turns over ace something i cant believe it but gladly take the chips.

Just before dinner took a big pot of tony cas i have 99 and riase he calls . flops three rags under 9 rainbow tony cas bets strongly at it which looks like an overbet i come over him for three times his bet (sorry folks cant remmeber the amounts) and he folds now up to 20k and for first time in tourny above avaeage stack.

i work my way up to 35k and im now happy with the way im playing. The key hand for me in the tourny came in the 2nd last hand of the night. I have 35k and folded to me one from button (blinds were 600/1200) i rise to 5k with A 10 and bb reraises to 15k . i would normally fold str8 away but he had won the previous four pots and was bullying the table he had 80k. I called flop comes a 10 x and he goes all in i call he has a j and i double through lucky but i'll take it
finish the day on 73k and in very good shape.

Cause im an online qualifier i found as i moved tables people felt i would be a weak tourny player and they would keep attacking my blinds when i sat down. this worked to my advantage as anytime i put in a raise they felt i had a monster and folded.

first two hours of day 2 i couldnt get thestack up at all i started with twice the average stack and the end of two hours i still had the same chips but now only average stack.I had taken micky warnicks bb 2 out of three times previously when i got dealt aa for the first time in tourny im utg and raise to 3 bb aroung to micky who is bb and he goes allin (he has me more than 100k i have 70k) saying "now make your decision" he has 10 10 and my aces hold up now im motoring on 170k.

out of room will finish it on next posting

carrigeen

Were now around bubble time and with my stack i was able to pick a few blinds and kepp my stack motoring nicely. after the bubble theres only two paddy power lasts left for the wsop package and players are giving a lot of verbals and attacking my blinds. I decided at this stage have to put that out of my head and play the tourny for itself about 27 left this stage. i find my reriase are respected and i have the stack up to 200k when the final player in paddy power last got knocked out i changed down gears and went card dead for a while ,

utg raises to 15k im in bb (5k) and call with kj of diamonds flop comes three rags two diamonds and i bet out 25k on my flush draw player comes over me all in another 30k i have to call as i know i have an over card and a flush draw and getting around 40%. he has qq and i dont hit Im annoyed with myself as i made the same mistake in vienna at the ewsop earlier this year getting myself dragged into chasing a flush and its something im going to have to look at (not today though).

Im now down to 70k and 19 players left average stack 170k another bubble at this position 6k to 10k in prizemoney. im in sb folded around to button who makes it 40k i go all in and he calls he has kq i have aq , flop comes aj rag turn is a rag and the river is the dreaded 10 and thats it im out

im disappointed but to be honest even though that was a bad beat my a 10 v's aj the night before was my luck so no complaints and have to be happy with 6k and a wsop package plus i had a few pounds on myself in the last longest.

A big thank u to tom and mike who as usual kept all the buddies informed lads the website is the business. now looking froaward to the boyles in june (ive already won my ticket online) and then the big one,

cheers lads

pat

BrokenArrows

nice posts very interesting reading.

nicnicnic

debanned so heres my tourney

It didn’t take me long to get into the action as I ended the second hand with half my chips in the pot with that mad genius. Cairo raises to 300 on the button and I called with 99 flop is 4 6 8 rainbow, mike raises to 350 and I double it to find out where I’m at, he calls and checks the turn which happens to be a 7. I bet 1100 expecting to take it down but he calls the river is a 10 giving me the straight and with no flush on the board I’m pretty confident when Mike fires 3k into the pot. My decision is not whether I call but rather am I all in, I don’t think he can have 9 j but then I think, well he is the mad genius so I better just call in case. What is Mike playing? a bloody 9 4 os for a split pot. There were some funny expressions from the other players who generally said unlucky and well played to me.

The very next hand I got involved with Simon Trumper. Raise to 300 early position with AJ os no hearts and Trumper calls in sb, the flop is K J rag 2 hearts Trumper bets 600 and I make it 1200 he calls rather reluctantly I feel, turn is another rag heart, trunper checks and I bet 1200 to take down the pot.

My stack stays between 12k and 13k for about an hour when I get involved in a hand with the table chip leader. The English guy has won a few big pots and has 25k and is playing well. I raise to 600 with JJ and he makes it 1200 flop comes 998 I check and he bets 1600 and I instantly make it 3200. The guy takes 6 to 8 mins to fold his QQ after a lot of verbal. I tell him good fold that I had KK, he doesn’t believe me and keeps on and on about the hand. Mr Trumper who is wearing the same sponsorship as the guy (dusk till dawn poker) decides that I played 9 10 suited and had hit trips I tell him that he is rightl.

Next hand I’m involved was talked about a fair bit over the weekend, Nicnicnic gets a gift from the mad Kerry man. I’m on the BB with Q 7 and three limpers. I honestly think to myself wouldn’t a 77Q flop be nice and low and behold that’s what hits the board. I check instantly and start thinking I’m gonna check this baby till the river and hope someone hits something when Mike Caro goes all in to a 400 pot with 7200 chips with A2os. Well my birthday has come early and its happy days as my chips hit 20k. Mike comments that he thought there was some free chips on offer, guess not Mike. No one at the table could understand the move, Dave O C suggested the guy wanted to get out as he needed to catch a plane home but as Mike was still in Dublin on Monday this wasn’t the case. Guess there really is a fine line between madness and genius but its one of the worst plays I’ve seen on a poker table. I mush say it was a great privilege to play with mike for the two days and he is a lovely guy but mike you looked so strong making that bet and we all know strong is weak.





Got involved with the scandy guy two hands before the break I doubled his preflop 600 raise with kk. He checked and I raised 5k on a rag flop. Wanted him to think that I was trying to take it down with an A but after a long deliberation he folded JJ.

The next couple of levels were tame enough for me basically taking down pots or folding to re raises. Was feeling fairly good about my game and 25k stack when faith dealt me a sucker blow. Paul Daly had taken Dave O C seat to my right and rose to 2.6k straight away I feel he is very strong. I look down at JJ. I just call and tell myself not to get married to them when the flop brings a J and two rags. Paul checks and I put in a 3.6k raise, he calls instantly. Now I’m pretty sure he ha AA or KK and thinks that he is trapping me I decide to try and get them all in and when he checks another rag turn I put in a 10k raise and he immediately moves all in. I call and Paul shows his KK. I turn my jacks and he says well done and well played to which I reply the fatal line its not over yet. Well it was when that dreaded king hit the board leaving me gutted with a couple of hundred chips. Now I’m usually not the worst to take a beat but when Paul started telling me that it’s a cruel game and about a beat he had the previous day I’m sorry to say I was a little sharp to him. However I made sure I caught up with him later and wished him well.

All in all I’m happy with the way I played, it’s my biggest tourney and Im happy that I just played my game and was in no way out of place in such a strong line up.

strewelpeter

nicnicnic wrote:

debanned so heres my tourney...
All in all I’m happy with the way I played, it’s my biggest tourney and Im happy that I just played my game and was in no way out of place in such a strong line up.

Well Done Nicky and tough luck on that beat, Everyone was rooting for you and looking forward to seeing you on the telly, now that woulda been fun.

I'd love to have seen Liam Flood trying to deal with you being called for having a Dirty Stack

connie147

Connie here with my report.I didnt know many players at my table except Duncan from Waterford so i sat back for the first hour and didnt play a hand except in my blinds where i picked up a small pot with 10-Js when I hit two pair and reraised a raiser to stop any draws to a straight.I only spotted one weak player at the table who was calling any raise in his blind and giving up to a flop bet,otherwise it seemed to be a pretty high standard.One rock to my left (nicnicnic told me he only bets into pots with huge hands),and a serial raiser to my right who just happened to be my button.He (english player)was constantly raising both my blind and player to my left and I told Duncan that if we didnt start playing back at him ,he was going to make life very difficult for us.so in the next few orbits i reraised his raises pre flop(my tight image at this stage made him put down),and then twice i flat called his raise pre flop,checkraised his continuation bets and steadily built up my stack to 15,000 after the 2nd blind level.I had only picked up 1 big hand(A-A) with which I raised and took down a small pot but showed the table the aces to keep the image.things were going great until this hand occured.blins 100-200, im in SB with Qc-10c(15,000),folded to me,I flat call,BB(rock player) raises to 600,I call to see the flop. Flop is Kc-4c-Jd,giving me up and down str draw and 2nd nut flush draw.I check and he bets 1,000,I call.Turn brings 7c filling my 2nd nut flush,I check,BB bets out 1,500,I reraise to 5,000 and he immediately goes all-in(he had about 12,000 ).I felt like calling immediately but the words of nicnicnic were setting the alarm bells off.So now i figured he might have raised with ace of clubs suited and I just couldnt see how this rock was putting his tournament at stake without having the nuts,so after an age I reluctantly folded(he turned over the Ac-6c and I told him I folded a set).thinkink back on the hand I probably should have folded pre-flop and also I could have reraised him out of the potafter the flop.But thats poker.20 mins later I was out when I raised off the button with A-k,called only by the BB,flop K-K-5,I lead out,called,turn 7(rainbow)I lead out again,BB rerauises me all in and I call and he turns over pocket 5's,no help on the river and my tourney is over.great athmosphere,great experience,only grievence was the absence of the 75-150 blind level.Why would you skip the 75-150 blind level at the Irish Open.Doesnt make sence to me but I suppose they had some reason for it.All in all, I really enjoyed it.roll on june and the poker events/boyle sports tourney for more of the same.
sorry for going on a bit

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connie

Shortstack

Not my best performance in a big buy in event but I don't think I did too much wrong. I went into the tournament determined to gather chips early and was pleased to be sandwiched in between two aggressive players, Tony Chessa and Sverre Sundbo. If I got a hand I was sure I could get payed and If I didn't then I could make some moves here and there.

The first two hours were very frustrating as I was getting no cards and missing any flops where I had marginal hands. I managed to take Sverre off a 9 high board when he had TT, I had a missed gutshot and flush draw.

All the action was happening down at the other end of the table, George Geary was on over 30k after level 2 having busting the only other player on the table who had increased his stack considerably with a QQ vs KK confrontation.

Tony Chessa was visibly frustrated, dropping down to 4k before clawing himself back up to 6k. I raised in LP with QJs and he was the only caller and has position on me. The flop came down KQJ and I figured he would take a pop at the pot with any of that or even air. If he had caught a piece his stack size would have made it difficult to fold. I check raise all in covering him by 3k and am horrified to see he has hit the flop harder than me with KQ

Now I am in a tough situation, no room for play just push and shove poker. I know all is not lost as one double up and I am back in the game. I take a pot down from the BB pushing vs 3 limpers and the next hand turns out to be very interesting.

I look down at QQ in the small blind. Tony Chessa limps UTG and then an unknown raises to 1100 out of turn. The player who was missed in the betting calls for a ruling as to whether his chips stay in the pot if he decides to move all in. This young guy has me covered by 50 chips and eventually moves his chips into the middle. He has a monster or is making a move. He has been caught making moves by Sverre a short while ago, Sverre calling him all in with 3 5 on a 7 5 3 flop. The out of turn better calls but doen's like it. I cannot miss an opportunity to treble up and stick my chips in also.

KK for the young guy and A9 for the out of turn guy. A9 holds up and that's all she wrote.

ollyk1

I'd just like to say to all the boardsters who have contributed to this thread and played in the Irish Open well done. This is an interesting thread for anyone harbouring ambitions of playing in a big game to hear about the patience needed in a slow structured game and the general quality of play.
By the sounds of it nobody let themselves down in their general play and everyone played with real purpose and strong game plans. Hats off to all.


Some of this stuff is worthy of stickification. (word patent pending)

Well done Rounders for kicking this off.

Ste05

Agreed, great thread. WP to all and keep the reports coming...

cooker3

Yeah I agree that thread has really been a great read and really informative about what goes in a really big buy in tournament, I have already taken a lot from it. Although it highlights for me how disappointing the final table turned out to be in standard and pity nobody who posted here didn't qualify from it.

bops

I was knocked out on Sunday in the Irish Open (44th I think) and since my wife won't listen to my constant moaning this may make me feel a little bit better.

Level 8: 80,000 chips - lovely juvely!!

Level 9 to 13:

My AJ was no match for A 10
My AK was no match for A 5
My A 10 was no match for A 7
My A 8 was no match for A 4

and finally...
My AQ was no match for Q J !!!

I was first to stick 'em all in on the above hands and they were all called by "professionals" - I could give you there names but i'd probably face legal action!!

Every other hand i got em in I was in front and stayed in front. I did not out draw anyone in 16 hours (nor did i need to really)

I called 4 hands over the duration just for pot odds - each time i hand 2 live cards against a week ace - not once did i catch!!

Ive sorta quit playin online for the last couple of weeks coz it was going horribly wrong - i was playin way too much anyways...

I decided that "real" poker gave me more of a fair chance!!

hmmmmmmmmmmm??

I suppose on a positive note - i really could not have played a better game (by my standards) - maybe next time lady luck might smile on me just once!!

I'm lookin forward to the kilkenny cup on friday - i've already decided to go on a massive tilt and expect to be gone inside 5 minutes!!

roryc

....Norman?

AllIn

Alan O’Gorman here. Finished 22nd in the end and 2nd in the PaddyLast, missed out on the WSOP Package by one.

I’m the rock Connie spoke about above, glad to see my table image is finally paying. First table I ended up sitting beside Duncan from my local club Blazin Aces, was a bit odd considering the open draw for 350 seats. Connie who obviously knew Duncan was sitting on my Button, so we had a relaxed start. David McGeachie (finished 10th) was to Connies right.

Didn’t play a hand for the first 2 hours, not really by choice just absolute rubbish, still it kept me out of trouble. First big hand of the day was against Connie (see above), Nut Flush over what I thought was Top Set (now I know was 2nd nut flush). Went on a small rush then picking up a few pots without showing down.
Roy The Boy joined the table a few hours later during which time I had to lay down a couple of marginal hands after big reraises.
Doubled thru just before dinner. New guy had recently joined table to me left. I was on the SB with AKo and made a small bet, I had raised his blind last couple of rounds which played well to disguise my hand he reraised me allin, I call and he turns over AQs. No help on the flop and my hand held up.

Then lost a bit in last hand of the night when I called an Allin from a short stack with KK v QJ, flop came 8,9,10! Still could have been worse I would have called a bigger bet. Per Hildebrand gave an exhibition of stack building late on day 1 raising every pot, very impressive player. Really felt the last hour, was shattered.

Started Day 2 (85 players) with 35k. Made a few allins without getting looked up to stay alive. The players dropped like flies about 25 in the first hour alone.

Picked up some nice chips just after joining a new table. It folded to me in the SB, I just called with 65o. German guy in BB checked. Flop came 653 rainbow. I checked and German guy raised the pot. I instantly moved allin. I had just showed down some rubbish after stealing the blinds and I was hoping he would think I was a lunatic. Very funny hand as we bantered for ages before he laid down botton 2 pair. Unlucky not get a call for a massive double up.

With 5 tables left table was very tough, Mel Judah, Tony Chessa, Per, Sylvester. Had about 50k when I found 10s under the gun. Raised to 10k, folds to BB who called. Flop came Q spades, A spades, 5, worst possible scenario. BB checks and I have a choice. Considering his call he could easily be trapping with an Ace, but if I check he is going to know for sure I don’t have one, plus he could easily have a big draw. I stick in a raise of 30k and hold my breath. He thought for an eternity and folded.

Was allin when 37 players left (36paid) AK v J8 and survived but boy was I sh*ting it waiting for an 8 to bubble me! Made a big lay down of AQs soon after when Mel Judah reraised my raise UTG, he showed down Pocket Aces.

Unlucky in the end, allin with A10 v Q10 only for a Q to come on the flop. Just annoyed that I missed out by 1 on the 12.5k WSOP package as Pat O'Callaghan went out in 19th very soon after, but I couldn't have done things any different.

Fantastic event and weekend in general. 1st major event so have to be happy as Nicky said above never once felt out of place. The only one negative everyone was talking about was the payout structure. The 2k for 36th to 28th was very poor. They should have at least got the 3.2k entry back, but thats only a small point to learn from

First entry on the boards so hope it’s not too long and boring. Planning on going to Kilkenny Open, so might see some of you there. Make sure and introduce yourselves.

ionapaul

Well done you men!

Goodluck2me

im not sure if any of the final tablers are postign here, but just as a general point of information i remember going out to a nightclub on monday night and looking up at the TV and seeing 3 players left when low and behold a local pub game player was there playing away in the final three i honeslty never sobered up so quickly... so shocked...and to say the least a little surprised...:rolleyes: