Commerce Casino was having a 500k Guarantee this past weekend.  It was an event being held over the course of 3 days.  I didn’t go on Thursday for the first day, because that’s when I run one of my regular Tourneys. Actually, I didn’t plan on playing at all.  I hate the drive, and the fact you only start out with 3000 in chips.  Plus it feels like it’s a crap shoot.  Last time I played that tourney, guy went all in on a bottom half gutshot draw, and fucking got it.  So yeah, I did not plan on going. But I had alot of regulars go and make an attempt at it, fail, then call me up to reserve a spot for my 8:30 game.

1220 players entered on Thursday. My girlfriend had been talking all week about going and making an attempt to play on Friday.  She’s starting to enjoy poker and is actually getting pretty good at it.  She still has alot to learn, but still, she’s better than most.  I still had no intention of playing, but then I saw how pretty she had dressed up to go, and realized every horny bastard would be hounding her all day if I wasn’t there.  So as she was literally going out the front door, i told her to hold up.  Grabbed my shirt and boots, and was officially going to commerce to play in Fridays 2b 500k event. Women.  We arrived early, about 11 am, because we had no desire to be alternates.

Walking into the Casino this early just allowed us to see the all night grinders still grinding away.  I noticed a good friend of mine Jim Lemkin whose a regular at my games.  He had won the 50k guarantee the previous friday and walked away 22.5k richer.  I was glad to have had the honor of watching him make a comeback heads up to take it.  Walked over and said good morning to him.  Was a good thing I did too.  He had a room there, and gave me the key so my girl and I could go sleep until the tourney started at 2pm.  Otherwise we would’ve just took a nap in the car.   We being poker people, have the craziest sleep schedules.  So we were tired.  Jim did us a solid.  Connie and I paid our entrance fee’s, and went up to the room.

I was given a great table draw.  In the main room at Table 15.  Meant I wouldn’t get moved for a while.  Had no idea where Connie was seated.  When the time came to play, my table was weak as hell.  People chasing every draw known to man.  Bluffing with 72.  Raising with 24.  Just idiots being donkeys.  I loved it.  Just sat and waited.  Established my table image as a rock.  And then doubled up with my KK, AA, and AK’s.  Level’s went up every 40 minutes, and the blinds started out at 25 25, so even though we’re only starting with 3000 in chips, it’s a patient mans game.  Waiting was the key.  I find that most players can not play under pressure.  My table was towards the front of the room, and my back was facing the long line of alternates waiting to get into the game.  People were dropping like flies.  While I was sitting there I enjoy talking and getting to know the other players around me.  I find that being friendly at the poker table has it’s perks.  People just feel less compelled to crack you if they like you.  After getting to know everyone for a little while, it was the 3rd round I think, a familiar name came up and started railing me, and this helped give my table image a major boost.

Kenna James was standing behind me and talking to me.  He had become friends with my girlfriend at the last Dream Team Event.  He actually won that.  He and my girlfriend had swapped info, and he started playing at the poker house she works at.  Im pretty sure he has a crush on her, but he’s been real respectful and he and I have even become friends somewhat.  He was an alternate for this event and while he was waiting, he was just watching how I was doing.  That made me feel a little special.  The entire table wondered who the hell I was, and i just flat out told them, I’m a nice guy.  People like me.  As the day wore on, all the alternates had gotten in, and I had increased my chipstack tremendously.  Connie had gotten knocked out in the 2nd or 3rd round and was playing the cash games and walking around and saying her hello’s to friends and whatnot.  We know alot of poker players.  I had been using my table image to my advantage and started increasing my chipstack big time.

I was definitly a big stack.  Had made it to just before the dinner break, and the donkey to my right who had sat with me all day had sucked out on 2 all in players and taken the lead at the table as far as having chips.

I had 38k, he had maybe 40k.  I’m in the small blind with AA, 4 people limp in.  Blinds are 400 800 with 75 ante. I bump it up to the 13k.  And 2 players fucking call me.  The flop is  345 rainbow.  I go all in, and get 1 guy to fold.  The button however who sucked out to take the chip lead, thinks about it, looks at me and says “I feel like gambling”.

Calls with Q8 of diamonds.

Granted there was no straight draw, or flush draw.  This is the dream call everyone wants with my hand.  Before anything else happens, I call the guy an idiot.  The Turn? 6. The River? 7.  This motherfucker runner runnered a straight on me.  Was again reminded about how much I hate Commerce players.  Out of 1289 players, I was out in 180th.  Called my girl to go and steamed out.  On the way home, was just in disbelief on how bad my luck was and pissed off at how donkey retard poker play seemed to always be rewarded against me deep in tourneys.  Was very dissapointed.  Got home, saw a movie, played some online poker, and just continued to shake my head on how idiots seem to thrive in this game.  Around 4am, i still couldn’t let it go, and I turned to my girl and told her, “I’m going back and playing again today.  Those fucking players are garbage.”  And just like that we were in the car and on our way to commerce at 4am to reserve our spots.

Saturday was expected to be the biggest turnout of the 4 day event.  And it was.  We get there to register at 4:30, and we’re alternates 70 and 71.  Saturday would have 1600 players.  I was seated at table 62, and came out swinging.  Started playing my cards hard, and going after the fish.  Knocked out 4 people in my first level.  Then ran out of steam, when my QQ’s ran into AA’s.  But was still healthy with chips.  Stayed conservative and Patient.  The day wore on, Connie got knocked out.  Kenna James got knocked out, Barbara Enright got knocked out, and they would all visit me to see how I was doing.  I was fine, patient, and just slowly staying afloat and above the chip average for the day.  135 spots were getting paid.  And it was a major grind to get to that point.  I could’ve stole pots, but I was not going to be fucking bubble boy that day.  So I just took my time with each hand and got blinded down to 11k when the bubble was finally popped.  Everyone went crazy and started going all in like there was no tomorrow.  Had to stay conservative and wait for them to either get knocked out or calm down.  Then was able to start chipping up.  As the night wore on, we had been playing for 13 hours.  And I had built my chip stack up to 180k.  I woke up with AA and would get them cracked by 44.  Fucking sucked.  If I had of won that hand, I would’ve been entering the next day as chipleader.  Of course I didn’t.  My monsters do not hold up.  I’m just not lucky like that.  I have to outplay my luck it feels like.  I was crippled down to 75k, and was able to build it back up to 92k when the final player bubble was popped for the day.

I had made the final 27 for the biggest field of the event.  I would show up on Sunday in 53rd place out of 81 remaining.  Built my stack up to 200k.  Then had JJ cracked by as short stacks 77.’s.  Then eventually my QQ all in preflop would lose to AQ.  Of course the Ace is going to come out on the flop.  Out of 3967 players, I would end up in 57th.  Had just one of my monsters held up late in the tournament, i would’ve been in a position to take it.  I’m glad I went back on Saturday.  I had alot of friends supporting me and sending me text to keep my mind in it.  Alot of the big guns were cheering for me too from both close and afar.  Jerry Yang was a big supporter, making me give updates, Marsha Waggoner, Pam Brunson, Christina Lindley, Jose Canseco, Kenna James, and Barbara Enright were all great in cheering me on.  Of course none of this would’ve happened if my girlfriend hadn’t dressed so pretty that morning.  This was the furthest I’ve gone in any field event.  It just lets me know, that I am a good poker player.  Even though my Aces got cracked 5 times, my queens cracked 4 times, and my Jacks cracked when I needed them to hold up most.  I can completely outplay my luck, and I will have no problem advancing further in the next one.

I fucking hate and love this game.

Related posts:

1. My luck sucked in the Aussie millions

Tagged with: bluffing, Bluffing with 72, Commerce Casino, Erik Aude, Erik Aude Blog, Erik Aude Poker, Erik Aude Poker Blog, funny poker stories

TPD Latest

• Tips on multi-tabling
• Dealing with three-bettors
• Dissecting a poker hand
• Poker for Beginners
• Isolating
• Tips for satellite success
• TOP 10 – POKER STARTING HANDS
• Phil Laak Biography – The Unabomber
• Dealing with limpers
• At the Rio – So close to the bracelet ….
• Poker770 Bonus
• Finnish Fear Factor – Ilari “Ziigmund”
• Basic Tells in Poker
• Tips To Follow in Cash Games
• Devil Fish Poker – Promotions
• The squeeze play
• Bio: Howard Lederer
• NoiQ Poker Promotions: June
• Starting Hands For Donks ^^
• Phil Laak goes Guiness…
• Knowing When to Fold
• Sexiest Poker Pros – Clonie Gowen
• Poker Etiquette
• Erik Aude – V for Life
• The Four Types of Poker Players
• Phil Ivey Biography
• Online Poker Tips – 3 Mistakes to Avoid
• Learning new games
• Professional Female Poker Players -Annie Duke
• What Is Tilt And Why Do You Need To Have Control Over It