WSOP Review

Last month I didn't have anything to show for all my hard work at the WSOP series in New Orleans. I've been thinking about it lately and there were times when I stuck with my strategy and times when I didn't. In the $1600 event in particular there was one hand that I'm still disturbed about.

I had AQs in the blind. A super loose and somewhat stupid player raises in late position as my table is breaking and people are starting to walk off. I put in the 3 bet. He goes over the top all in. The only hand I'm really worried about here is AK. I know he can have an array of hands that beat me, but I don't think he has those hands. I've already seen him put all his chips in with KJ. I've seen him raising with some really weak hands. I finally decide that I will feel terrible if I call for my tournament life and see him turn over AK so I fold my hand. I still regret folding that hand. I had committed enough chips to the pot that I was left with about 15 or 20 big blinds to take to my new table. The strategy that I didn't stick to was my chip collecting strategy. I think there are times in a tournament, even when you might be behind when you need to go for it. It was a close decision for me. And being suited was enough of an edge that should have pushed me into making that call. I don't know. I was probably correct in folding there. He probably had a bigger hand. I know he played like a donkey but I read him as strong and that means that he had my hand at worst which would make my call bad. It's just that I couldn't do any good after that. I got moved to a new table. I kept getting called down by donkeys and bleeding chips. I would shove with hands like AJ and get called by hands like A4 and chop. It was just ridiculous and I felt I could have played that new table better if I had more chips like I had at the previous table. Eventually, I ended up getting sucked out on by someone who called one of my all in s with a weak hand and making something. Next time I am faced with that decision I need to think about the future of my life in the tournament whether I win, lose, or fold. I think that in the past I've only been thinking about the outcome right then and there. If I win THIS hand.... If I lose THIS hand... but never thinking about how my tournament strategy and style might be affected if I FOLD THIS hand after putting myself in this position.

Future strategy: Keep up the 3 bets. It works great for me. I manage to collect lots of chips this way and squeeze out mediocre hands like middle pairs. Keep up the aggression. Think about the consequences of folding before I fold.

I'm ready for another tournament. I don't have the bankroll to find a good one right now, but I'm ready!