Wil Wheaton Outlasted Me

[shipitfish]

I finished 300-something in the blogger freeroll. I wasn't paying as much attention to the thing as I should have been early on, as the final table of the WSoP $1,500 satellite overlapped for about 40 minutes or so.

It was fun chatting with the bloggers. It seems generally, poker bloggers are nicer people than your run-of-the-mill online poker player.

I played ok, flopped one set and bet out (my preferred set-playing method), but got no action as no one had top pair. I held onto a short stack as the blinds got up. I bet all my money in on the upside of a 60/40 (A7o vs KTo).

Fine with me, although it would have been cool to get a second $1,500 entry for the week before, and play two of them. (Prizes 3-9 or somesuch were $1,500 entries in the blogger tourney.)

I know a ton of people have won main event seats out there, and are probably reading “so what” to all my excitement about this $1,500 secondary event seat. But, for me, it means more because making the money seems actually attainable in a secondary event. Also, I probably would never have gotten around to visiting Las Vegas if I didn't have something like this to compel me to get out there.

Strangely, I'm used to coming out of a weekend up a couple of hundred in cash games, but I've been doing all this tourney stuff and I am actually down a bit in cash games for the weekend. But, I see why people love tourneys. It's so different than the cash game grind and a win like this feels so much more exciting than even a big cash score.

Comments

[shunny.livejournal.com]

I played ok, flopped one set and bet out (my preferred set-playing method), but got no action as no one had top pair.

But still almost got someone to reraise with nothing. :)

Nice blog, good chatting with you during the tournament.

[jellymillion.livejournal.com]

186th here. That's my 3rd (I think) blogger tourney (last year's event and the Charlie one) and they've all been fun, plus they standard of play is more even and therefore a bit more predictable. TAGs as far as the eye can see. If I could have remembered how to loosen up once I realised the others were actually aware of how I was playing, I might have gone a bit deeper.

$1,500 Event

[frankieriver.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the WSOP-qualifying win and I'm glad to see you're still writing excellent entries. Have fun in Vegas.

As far as the WSOP Event goes, I just wanted to drop you an FYI regarding your perception on the 'ease' of actually placing. I played in several events last year (and plan to play this year, as well), and the $1,500 events are extremely tough to play in. You start with 60 BBs and depending on your table, it will not be easy to double that within the first two-three levels; which is where you want to be. The more expensive buy-in WSOP Events have better structure's, longer levels, and more chips to play with. Either way, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and worth the trip. If I were you, bring you're NL bankroll b/c the games, even at high stakes, are incredibly awesome. The Wynn, IMHO, is the best.

Good luck.

Re: $1,500 Event

[shipitfish.livejournal.com]

Good to hear from you, Frank! Yes, you are quite right about the structures. I hadn't realized how bad they are. Do you think doubling through was tough because the players are too tight and won't commit chips without strong holdings? I have taken Ciaffone's advice not to go in with a game plan, but adjust based on the table. My hope, though, is that I can bluff small pots if the table seems a bit too tight, and trap with position and odd hands (like I do in cash games) if the game seems a bit looser.

The funny thing is that it took something like this to get me to Vegas. I knew I'd never bother to take off work and make the trip if I didn't have some “bigger reason&;rdquo. So, that alone makes it worth it — and the extra $500 should pay the hotel bill, more or less.

And yes, I am staying at the Wynn. Will you be out there this year? I'd like to get together for dinner at some point if you are!

Re: $1,500 Event

[frankieriver.livejournal.com]

Just wait and see -- it'll be more than a worthwhile experience. Adjusting to your particular table is certainly the best plan. I have found that starting tables at these events are extremely tight -- no one wants to best out and most are amateurs looking for an experience anyway. I snuk my way into some pots and played good position (not overly aggressive) in the beginning stages to set me up well in the 3/4 levels. Good luck and play your best.

I'm flying in on the 5th for an elongated weekend and then again on the 20th. We should certainly catch up.