Wednesday, October 03, 2007

APPT Trip Report

First things first, I have to give it up to Pokerstars for a sick-good event.
Incredibly well run, and they took really good care of thier players. Being at the event has made me really want to play some more.

That said, I didn't cash in the main event. I've never played any tournament with such a slow structure, and maybe I didn't adjust as well as I could've. But then, maybe I'm just being results oriented.

I lasted about 8hours into day 1.
I got involved in about 4 memorable pots, and didn't take down a single one. I think I played them all out of position too, but I couldn't really help that.

The table was full of unknowns.

The first hand I got involved in was with JJ in the SB. I still had my starting stack, which was 10k. BLinds were 25/50 and the Hijack raised to 150. No real reads yet, but I bumped it up to 550 which he called. The flop came AQx, I fired a continuation bet of $1k which he called. I shut down and check/folded the turn.

Next hand, blinds still 25/50 I think. Same guy as last hand raises to 150 from late position. The small blind calls him, and I squeeze to 650 with AQ. Open raiser folds, and small blind calls. The player was really weak from what I had seen, but was a nice guy Canadian who had qualified for $1. I figured I'd be able to take it away on most flops without resistance.

Flop came 9 high, and I bet 1200. He doesn't think long and calls. The turn pairs the 9, and he donk bets into me for $2k. I pretend to think a bit and fold.

I have about 6500 now, and pick up AK in MP. Blinds are 50/100 now. I raise to 300 and get called by the button.

Flop was Q high, 2 spades. I fire 500 into the flop and get snapped called, which makes me think he has spades. The turn is another spade so I bet again because I'm smart. I bet 1k and he thinks and raises me to 4k. I pretend to think again and FOLD and am now on tilt because I get no respect.

So I have ~half my stack now, but still lots of room to work with. And now I have a laggy/weak image as I had been opening more pots than anyone else at the table.

So naturally, this is the perfect time for the tourney director to come and move me to a new table. sonofahyatctchcuihcicici.

He brings me to my new table, and things perk up as he sits me a few seats away from Joe Hachem. I'm not really concerned or anything, actually I'm pretty excited about the whole thing.

I hung out with Joe a bit the night before at the pokerstars party, and he seemed like a nice enough guy. So obviously I say hi to him as I sit, but he ignores me which puts me on even more tilt. Now not only do I have a shortstack, but I get to find out nobody likes me.

Joe played pretty well, except that he limped a lot of pots. I guess it was because he could get away with it as the table was pretty weak tight. He limped when I was in the big blind a few times, which allowed me to lead at a few pots and slowly build up my stack. I managed to climb back as high as 8k, but no further.

Eventually I dwindled back down to about 4k when blinds were 150/300. Some older asian dude who had been active raised to 900 from MP. I pushed on the button with 66. He thought for like 5 minutes which made me happy and then calls with AKs. WTF DUDE SLOWROLLZZ YOU HAVE 20K IN CHIPS.

Flop KKx, turn A, gg me.

All in all it was fun. Met some cool people and learned a thing or two.

What was more fun was the cash games afterwards. I destroyed 2/5 and 1/2 for the next 3 days for $3,000 and like 1,000,000 gin and tonics.

Anyways, since I've been back at my apartment things have been shitty. A bunch of my friends are in trouble, and some left the country. Plus my Internet has been out for 3days (just came back today) and my fridge is broken.

FRIDGE RANT:
Ok so I come back on monday and open my fridge, which is warm and very smelly. I leave it because I'm lazy and deal with it on Tuesday.
So I call the technician and he comes and says the compressor is shot. $180 to fix. Whatever, it's 5yrs old and these things happen. Plus it's not mine so I get my g/f to get hold of the landlord so she can fix/replace it.

Keep in mind that in 14months, I've never seen/spoken to/asked for anything from my landlord. Also that I had $100+ worth of groceries in there, which I've had to toss out.

SO yeh, the real estate liaison says that the owner will be VERY angry to hear about this problem, and that is my fault for damaging the fridge. Also, in the 5yrs of this building, there has never been a problem with any fridge. OH REALLY? As an employee of an electronics chain for 3years, I can sort of smell the bullshit here.

Anyways. She gets hold of the landlord, and now she wants to come and look at it. Why in the world does she need to see the fridge? Is she a fridge expert? The technician said what the problem was, told her it was not my fault-- so just deal with it please.

It's just really annoying that she doesn't believe me and that everyone assumes its my fault. Isn't it totally standard to have to make repairs to your place? And shes going to come in, and say things I wont understand, and she wont understand me, so it's just going to be a mess.

whatever this post is way too long, eff it im going to sleep.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice trip report
love ur blog

popers

Anonymous said...

Hey man, my names James (stunnersuh on Stars), I'm pretty sure we've played each other a bit. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm pretty sure I know you through mutual friends but don't think we've met (Does Joel Start ring a bell? Or Mike McKenna?).

Just wanted to say congrats on your success so far, and maybe I'll run into you one of these days.

James Suh

the_main said...

thanks
Yeah I know Joel ... not sure about mike. You're in korea I take it?

James Suh said...

Yeah I've been teaching here for close to 5 months now. Add me on MSN sometime if you want, I'd like to share strategies with you if you're up for it. stunnersuh@hotmail.com