I sat down at the Fitzy’s Australian Poker League Monday night tournament confident about my chances once again. When the TD (Tournament Director) asked first timers to put up their hands, 4 of the 7 other people at my table put them up. Great, more suckouts for me tonight. The TD then pointed out the current Venue Leader which happened to be 2 to my left. A cocky looking guy who was trying to pretend he didn’t know how blinds and the dealing worked. I’m not sure who he was trying to fool (I suppose all the new players), but after you’ve been pointed out by the TD, the jig is up buddy.
Play began slowly (as usual) and I didn’t hit a hand until my first BB (Big Blind). Pocket 7’s. I checked my BB option and saw a flop. Q, 7, A was a nice start for my first played hand. I raised hoping for a Ace to call me. One did and the turn draws a blank. I moved in the rest of my stack as the only player left was a beginner who had been making some awful calls since play started. He still didn’t realise you could fold at any time and when he was about to put the call in I reminded him with urgency that he could fold.
I did this for two reasons. One, if he folded the table would think I was scared of a call and like to move chips around with nothing. Second, he was actually a nice guy and I had been helping him with how to play and didn’t want a conflict of interest. Mind you, if this was a cash game he would most certainly be on his own.
Turned out he folded and I drew in a nice pot. This resulted in a big smirk from the VL and I saw my opportunity for a play at him if a situation would allow.
The cards I was looking for came up on my next BB. Pocket 9’s looked good enough for a small raise. As expected everyone called the raise as no one, I repeat NO ONE in the APL can lay a hand down with chips committed, unless its massive bet.
The flop brang what I was looking for – 9, J, 2.
I checked to the VL (venue leader) who bet at it for 200 (blinds 25-50, starting bank 1500). Another caller (with a runner runner straight/flush draw no doubt) until it folded to me. I knew I was in the lead as the VL’s bet looked weak. I slow played the set and just called. The turn was a blank and I again checked to the VL whilst looking nervous (an obvious reverse tell that a good player would notice). He looked at me and smirked again while throwing a purple $500 chip into the pot. The 3rd player folded quickly and I “went into the tank”. After checking my cards for what must have been the 4th or 5th time, nodding my head up and down like I was counting out a non existent straight draw, I called.
The River offered no flush or straight draw possibilities which only left me behind to a set of jacks. I checked again to him and he bet a small amount (about 200 again I think). I beat him in the pot with an All In raise. He was obviously shocked and yet still couldn’t realize what was happening to him.
He called (I actually had him covered by 100 or so) and stood up, smirked again and walked away mumbling something about “good hand”. This is the main reason I play in the APL. The chances of me getting to the State finals aren’t good and from there the chances to get some money are even worse. There are so many bad calls that its usually reduced to a crap shoot. Even the “regulars” I see at every venue I go to (be it on the Gold Coast or Central Brisbane) have no clue what they are doing.
I got a run of bad beats (which I won’t bore you with – I’m sure there will be enough of them in this blog) which moved me back down to my $1500 starting bank when I was moved to a big stack table with some of the worse bogan players ever. I couldn’t wait to stick my money in with a J,3 on a J,5,6, board. I got called by the guy I was helping. He had a Jack with a Q kicker and that was that.
I later heard my friend got into the money and got a nice beat when his trip J’s with an ace kicker got run down by a full house J’s full of Q’s.
Posted by midge 