Hey guys,
So you all might not of known this, but I competed in the ANZPT during the past week. A bunch of guys, including my dad Simon Elderfield, and I all threw in a bunch of cash to put up the tournament entry. With around 400 entrants we always knew it was going to be a bit of a crap shoot. I ended coming 127th and only out due to a cooler of a hand. However, nothing could prepare me for what a nightmare day one turned out to be.
All I was thinking before getting on the tables was I really hope I don't get put on Jonathan Karamalarkis' table. And sure enough after sitting down Monster Dong himself takes a seat in position 10. Not only that but we were also accompanied with 2010 Sydney Champ and proclaimed online poker phenomenal Daniel Nielson. As the play began I knew I was going to be in for a roller coaster of a first day. But I could not let these aggressive player's run over me and the only way I was going to do this was by making a stand. Play kicked off, but there was one seat remaining, seat 9.
I managed to successfully bluff Jono, the hand went like this. I had be quiet for a few rounds pretty card dead only defending blinds when someone else had entered the pot. Any way it was Jono's BB and I thought fuck it lets see what he has got. So I raised it, at this time the blinds were 75/150. I made it 450 from middle positon, One person had limped in front of me and both him and Jono called. The flop cam 2♥ 5♦ 6♥. and Jono leads out 600. Pretty standard I thought, he's playing his position, the limper folds, and I'm thinking there could be a strong possibility he has a 6 but he could also have nothing. Lets see what a raise does to him. I make it $1725, he thinks for about 5 seconds and mucks. Pulling that bluff gave me a lot of confidence to continue my game.
My next big hand, I had to fold. It was probably the biggest fold of my life top 2 pair on the flop. People thought I was mad, but I was later confirmed by Daniel Nielson that I had made the right fold even though it might not have been correct. The blinds were 100/200. I'm in middle position and get dealt J 10 off suit, with one player also limping in front of me I also limp as does Daniel, two to my left in the high Jack, every one else folds back to the BB, who raises is to 550, the early position calls, I call so does Daniel.
The Flop: 5 J 10 rainbow
Both the BB and the early position check, I lead out to 1100, roughly half the pot, J 10 on the board always makes it pretty draw heavy, even through I have top two pair. After about a 30 seconds of thinking Daniel, who is next to act raises my bet to 3200. Both the BB and the early position, get out of the way quicker than lighting. And I feel my heart beating, finally I got this guy. I'm about to pick up a stack of 8 thousand, but I pause and look over at him. He's not giving much away, what do I know about this guy, why would he raise me there? Surely he has an Up n down and is trying to buy the pot. But just a second, think about it, he limped from a late position with KQ? That's not his style, that's not any aggressive player's style.... and what does he put you on? Maybe he is putting you on an up n down like KQ and thinking YOU are trying to buy the pot.
I repeat to myself, What do I know about this guy? I had just played a hand with him where I continued on a Q high board from my pre-flop raise and he only Flat called me with QJ in his hand. We both checked when a K hit on that turn and he value bet his Q on the river, he doesn't know I called him down that hand with Ace high - just to see his cards. So he's not into raising with just top pair - not at this stage of the tourney at least.
What sort of hands do good players limp with and call raises with pre-flop? Pairs, little pairs. He could also have Q9 suited, that would make sense with the hand. I don't think he has the KQ there, not with the limp pre-flop. And for him to raise me, he either has Air or I think he has a monster. He could also have J 10 as well, but, because I've got J 10, this is the least likely scenario.
I flat call his raise. It may be telling him that I have a hand and I'm not going down with out a fight, it may just be telling him that I do not like to be bluffed. The turn brings K♣ but puts 2 clubs out there. If he did have the Q9 he just got there. If he has the set, he needs to bet more now to protect his hand. If I bet here, and he has the set, I think he'll shove it on me. If I check and he check's I could spike the J or 10 for my boat. Not knowing what to do, and beginning to think that this is more and more fishy I check. After a long minute Dan bets 4500. That's about 2/3 of the pot. He wants my chips, I don't think he is bluffing here.
I fold. That's right I folded top two pair. WTF? I didn't feel it, and I went with my gut.
I later became good friends with Daniel Nielson, and he confirmed he indeed did have 55 (the set of 5's), but also thought I was mad to fold top two there. Jono, knowing what we both had, thought, Dan's bet was a bit much getting me to fold. And it was, but only against me. Anyone else, I think, it wouldn't of gotten to the turn, all the chips would have gone in on the flop. Which is what he wanted. I gave myself a pat on the back for making the perfect play, even though it might not have been the correct one.
Enter Joe Hachem.... that's right Joe "I'm mother flipin World Champ" Hachem. Like it was scripted Joe sit's down in Seat 9....
No comments:
Post a Comment