Anatomy of the Win

This will be a long blog going through many of the big or interesting hands of the tourney with my thoughts in red.

30/60
Seat 8: heyfreddy (3,920)
Seat 9: PiMaster (3,975)
Dealt to PiMaster [9d Td]
boltsva folds
Tmay420 folds
heyfreddy raises to 180
PiMaster calls 180
NBAplayer folds
ACDollar folds
ISRHI77 folds
scam8 folds
BlueOceans folds
*** FLOP *** [7s 4c 8d]
heyfreddy has 15 seconds left to act
heyfreddy has timed out
heyfreddy checks
PiMaster bets 300
heyfreddy raises to 600
PiMaster raises to 3,795, and is all in
heyfreddy calls 3,140, and is all in
PiMaster shows [9d Td]
heyfreddy shows [7h 7d]
If you noticed he had timed out, so I thought his min checkraise was just checknig to see if I was stealing, and I figured if he wasn't making a play I still had the open-ender w/ a back door flush. As it was he may have been angle shooting (and got what he deserved)
Uncalled bet of 55 returned to PiMaster
*** TURN *** [7s 4c 8d] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [7s 4c 8d 5s] [Js]
PiMaster shows a straight, Jack high
heyfreddy shows three of a kind, Sevens
PiMaster wins the pot (7,930) with a straight, Jack high

I then picked up another 1000 on the last hand of the hour on a very passively played flush w/ QQ on an A high four flush board. I ended the first hour at 8965 (over double avg).

60/120
Seat 1: NBAplayer (5,655)
Seat 9: PiMaster (9,455)
The button is in seat #3
Dealt to PiMaster [Kh Ac]
boltsva folds
bperr17 folds
Hava Nagila folds
PiMaster raises to 300
NBAplayer calls 300
ISRHI77 folds
scam8 folds
BlueOceans folds
*** FLOP *** [8c Kc 6s]
PiMaster bets 500
NBAplayer calls 500
Typical continuation bet
*** TURN *** [8c Kc 6s] [5s]
PiMaster checks
NBAplayer bets 820
PiMaster calls 820
I can't fold here considering my check was to induce a bluff, but I could raise.
*** RIVER *** [8c Kc 6s 5s] [Qh]
PiMaster checks
NBAplayer bets 2,120
PiMaster calls 2,120
I was close to folding here, but I thought there were just too many hands I could beat including many missed draws.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NBAplayer shows [6d 6c] three of a kind, Sixes
PiMaster mucks
NBAplayer wins the pot (7,660) with three of a kind, Sixes
I think he played this very well, I don't know how to think of my play. Did I minimize losses by not doubling him up, or should I have gotten away from this? In any case it knocked me down to 5715 (still a little above avg).

100/200
Seat 2: JAKOBY918 (9,006)
Seat 3: PiMaster (6,875)
Seat 5: jaytheo40 (6,703)
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [Jd Kd]
TheStein folds
The Kig folds
Anniebets folds
AceSt1 folds
xBIG_BUGx folds
JAKOBY918 raises to 400
PiMaster calls 400
Sly Zim 24 folds
jaytheo40 has 15 seconds left to act
jaytheo40 calls 200
I don't like raising here in position w/ our stack sizes.
*** FLOP *** [7s Qs 3c]
jaytheo40 checks
JAKOBY918 checks
PiMaster bets 800
jaytheo40 calls 800
JAKOBY918 folds
*** TURN *** [7s Qs 3c] [2c]
jaytheo40 checks
PiMaster checks
*** RIVER *** [7s Qs 3c 2c] [Js]
jaytheo40 bets 1,250
PiMaster raises to 3,600
jaytheo40 folds
Uncalled bet of 2,350 returned to PiMaster
PiMaster mucks
PiMaster wins the pot (5,400)
I took a shot on the flop when it checked around. His bet on the river felt like a defensive bet, and even though I did have J's, I didn't like just calling. He could easily have a Q. I decided to make it look like my flush draw hit by raising a smallish amount compared to the pot size. Everything about the hand looked like how I would play a flush. In addition, if he called and was wrong, he would be crippled. That hand took me up to 9825. I ended the 2nd hour at 11275.

I picked up 4K on a strangely played JJ to get to 14685.

150/300 Ante 25
Seat 3: PiMaster (13,560)
Seat 8: THE__D__RY (8,627)
The button is in seat #5
Dealt to PiMaster [Jc Js]
lidrum5 folds
SuckoutKing86 folds
cappla011 folds
PiMaster raises to 750
Ahvall folds
poolguy321 folds
Gettin Daize folds
THE__D__RY calls 450
*** FLOP *** [Th 9d Qd]
THE__D__RY checks
PiMaster bets 1,200
THE__D__RY raises to 7,852, and is all in
PiMaster calls 6,652
THE__D__RY shows [9c Tc]
PiMaster shows [Jc Js]
The DRY is a very good tricky player, so he could be making this move w/ various hands. Getting 1.6 to 1, I didn't feel this was foldable (and I would still have almost 5K if I lost). As it turned out I was a 49/51 dog.
*** TURN *** [Th 9d Qd] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [Th 9d Qd Ks] [7d]
THE__D__RY shows two pair, Tens and Nines
PiMaster shows a straight, King high
PiMaster wins the pot (17,554) with a straight, King high
I won the flip, and increased my stack to 22,487 (just outside the top 10 I believe).

I picked up 6K on an A high river bluff with what may have been the best hand anyway, and then another 3K with a RR pre with A9c. I was up to 33K. These two hands were big not only for the 9K I picked up but because they were against the other two big stacks at my table. This allowed me to take control of the table. I ended the third hour at 34942.

I got up to 47K via some steals and a failed stop n go that hit, but I resucked. Then this hand:

400/800 Ante 100
Seat 1: saladfingers44 (52,023)
Seat 5: PiMaster (47,657)
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [Qd Qc]
BNation22 folds
Garbonzo24 folds
almost tapped folds
anjlewis folds
saladfingers44 raises to 2,400
KITYKATS folds
lidrum5 folds
PiMaster calls 1,600
Salad and I were both among the chip leaders at this point. Instead of RR pre, I just called out of the BB. I didn't want to create a potential huge pot against the only guy who could bust me. Plus the call had some deceptive value.
*** FLOP *** [6d Jd 8s]
PiMaster checks
saladfingers44 bets 3,950
PiMaster calls 3,950
I was content to check call here. If he has a hand like AK/AQ and hits his few outs, I am not happy but OK with it, but alot of times he might bet at me again drawing very thin.
*** TURN *** [6d Jd 8s] [8d]
PiMaster checks
saladfingers44 checks
*** RIVER *** [6d Jd 8s 8d] [Ts]
PiMaster checks
saladfingers44 checks
While I played this very weak, I don't think I could have got anymore out of him, and it minimized my downside if he was slowplaying. I'm not saying this is the perfect way to play this, but it made sense to me against this opponent at this point in the tourney.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
saladfingers44 shows [Qh Ah] a pair of Eights
PiMaster shows [Qd Qc] two pair, Queens and Eights
PiMaster wins the pot (13,900) with two pair, Queens and Eights
I was up to 55K, and took over the chip lead at my table.

I picked up another 10K when I picked off an allin with QQ vs A9 (65K). Some steals near the bubble and another allin for 6K w/ AJs vs KQ (80K). I then lost one small pot, and 13K in a blind battle making a thin call on the river w/ 3rd pair on an AKK63 board not raised pre.

600/1200 Ante 150
Seat 2: lock8 (16,791)
Seat 5: PiMaster (62,663)
The button is in seat #9
Dealt to PiMaster [Td Qd]
lidrum5 folds
PiMaster raises to 3,000
BNation22 folds
almost tapped folds
anjlewis folds
saladfingers44 folds
lock8 calls 1,800
*** FLOP *** [7d 9h 4d]
lock8 checks
PiMaster bets 59,513, and is all in
lock8 calls 13,641, and is all in
PiMaster shows [Td Qd]
lock8 shows [8c 7s]
He was probably planning on checkraising allin, not that I was going anywhere. I pushed knowing if I get called I'm likely a slight favorite anyway.
*** TURN *** [7d 9h 4d] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [7d 9h 4d 9c] [Tc]
PiMaster shows two pair, Tens and Nines
lock8 shows two pair, Nines and Sevens
PiMaster wins the pot (34,932) with two pair, Tens and Nines (81K)

16K more allin pre w/ 77 vs AT (103K). Another 20K w/ QQ vs TT, plus many steals (142K)

1000/2000 Ante 250
Seat 2: ocrowe (59,688)
Seat 3: LAGJEM (111,167)
Seat 6: PiMaster (128,833)
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [6s 7s]
BNation22 folds
Martine23 folds
PiMaster calls 2,000
AceSt1 folds
JohnyCashOut2 folds
yoshdog22 folds
ocrowe calls 1,000
LAGJEM checks
I had been raising alot. I just limped to mix things up. I love doing this in this situation with a hand like this because it looks so fishy.
*** FLOP *** [3c 7c 4s]
ocrowe checks
LAGJEM bets 4,000
PiMaster calls 4,000
ocrowe folds
Huge flop but I want to continue the passive play to make it look like a possible big pair playing it carefully.
*** TURN *** [3c 7c 4s] [5d]
LAGJEM bets 10,000
PiMaster calls 10,000
No point raising here.
*** RIVER *** [3c 7c 4s 5d] [3s]
LAGJEM bets 18,000
PiMaster calls 18,000
Ditto.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
LAGJEM shows [7h 5c] two pair, Sevens and Fives
PiMaster shows [6s 7s] a straight, Seven high
PiMaster wins the pot (72,000) with a straight, Seven high (167K, and in 2nd with around 16 left)

I kept oscillating between 135K and 190K. I would steal a bunch of pots, and then lose a smallish coin flip. I was controling the table at this point, but couldn't get my stack any higher because of the coin flip losses to the very small stacks. I lost about 30K w/ AQ with 10 left. The button had limped (chipleader), the SB went allin. I just called instead of isolating because the button had never limped before that I could remember, and I thought he could be big. In addition, the SB's allin was large enough that I thought he would fold most hands. In any case, he called with 98c and the SB had AKh. The SB tripled up when he flopped the nut flush.

Then one of the two hands of the tourney came up:

2500/5000 Ante 600
Seat 3: LAGJEM (260,166) (The BB and chipleader)
Seat 5: PiMaster (150,796) (The soon to be chipleader)
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [Qd Qc]
anjlewis folds
PiMaster raises to 12,500
saladfingers44 folds
zelong folds
LAGJEM calls 7,500
*** FLOP *** [8s Qh 4d]
LAGJEM checks
There is no slow-playing this guy in this situation. He is very aggressive and likely to make a play.
PiMaster bets 18,000
LAGJEM calls 18,000 (I am doubling up barring some suckout)
*** TURN *** [8s Qh 4d] [Ts]
LAGJEM checks
PiMaster bets 40,000
LAGJEM raises to 80,000 (MIN CHECK RAISE!, don't insult me Joel invented that bluff)
PiMaster raises to 119,696, and is all in
LAGJEM has 15 seconds left to act
LAGJEM has requested TIME
LAGJEM: chit i cant fold
LAGJEM calls 39,696
PiMaster shows [Qd Qc]
LAGJEM shows [8d 5d]
*** RIVER *** [8s Qh 4d Ts] [Kc]
PiMaster shows three of a kind, Queens
LAGJEM shows a pair of Eights
PiMaster wins the pot (305,892) with three of a kind, Queens

The final table started a couple hands later. Here is the seating chart:
Seat 1: AAsugarfreeAA (89,354)
Seat 2: zelong (129,527)
Seat 3: LAGJEM (116,170)
Seat 4: anjlewis (61,758)
Seat 5: PiMaster (320,692)
Seat 6: lidrum5 (178,310)
Seat 7: feltgelt (76,492)
Seat 8: saladfingers44 (100,450)
Seat 9: JohnyCashOut2 (55,247)

3000/6000 Ante 750
Seat 5: PiMaster (334,692)
Seat 8: saladfingers44 (79,150)
The button is in seat #7
Dealt to PiMaster [8s 8c]
AAsugarfreeAA folds
zelong folds
LAGJEM folds
anjlewis folds
PiMaster raises to 15,000
lidrum5 folds
feltgelt folds
saladfingers44 raises to 78,400, and is all in
JohnyCashOut2 folds
PiMaster calls 63,400
This isn't an autocall, but with my stack and him not being that tight, I decided to.
saladfingers44 shows [Kh 9d]
PiMaster shows [8s 8c]
*** FLOP *** [4h 7c Kc]
*** TURN *** [4h 7c Kc] [2s]
*** RIVER *** [4h 7c Kc 2s] [Td]
saladfingers44 shows a pair of Kings
PiMaster shows a pair of Eights
saladfingers44 wins the pot (169,550) with a pair of Kings
This knocked me down to 255K (still 70K more than 2nd place) Literally three hands later this came up:

3000/6000 Ante 750
Seat 5: PiMaster (254,042)
Seat 9: JohnyCashOut2 (92,944)
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [As Qh]
anjlewis folds
PiMaster raises to 15,000
lidrum5 folds
feltgelt folds
saladfingers44 folds
JohnyCashOut2 raises to 92,194, and is all in
AAsugarfreeAA folds
zelong folds
LAGJEM folds
PiMaster calls 77,194 Once again a tough situation. I don't know if this is a call or not. If I lose I still have over 150K which eases the potential pain (still good for 4th)
JohnyCashOut2 shows [Ad Kc] damn
PiMaster shows [As Qh]
*** FLOP *** [Jd Ac 3s]
*** TURN *** [Jd Ac 3s] [3h] more outs for the chop
*** RIVER *** [Jd Ac 3s 3h] [Qc]
JohnyCashOut2 shows two pair, Aces and Threes
PiMaster shows two pair, Aces and Queens
PiMaster wins the pot (200,138) with two pair, Aces and Queens

Finally a crucial suckout. These had gone against me so many times late in tourneys this year when I had my opponent dominated. I guess I was due (361K). AASugar lost a coin flip soon after and feltgelt was dominated and dropped out (both to the same guy) to get down to 6. I now had company at the top. anjlewis's AQ knocked out zelong's KK - 5 left. Two shortstacks got it allin with A6 vs AJ. The A6 lost to get crippled and was out the next hand - 4 left.
Seat 3: LAGJEM (209,224)
Seat 4: anjlewis (196,196)
Seat 5: PiMaster (358,640)
Seat 6: lidrum5 (363,940)

I lost 75K reraising with 33. anjlewis pushed allin for 250K. I had dropped to 260K. I won 9 of the next 11. All but 2 were with preflop raises. These guys would not play back at me. I increased my stack to 421K (160K increase) without seeing a turn. I got up to 460K when this hand came up.

5000/10000 Ante 1000
Seat 3: LAGJEM (178,224)
Seat 4: anjlewis (213,046)
Seat 5: PiMaster (461,730)
Seat 6: lidrum5 (275,000)
anjlewis posts the small blind of 5,000
PiMaster posts the big blind of 10,000
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [5c Jh]
lidrum5 folds
LAGJEM folds
anjlewis calls 5,000
PiMaster checks
*** FLOP *** [7d Qh Jd]
anjlewis checks
PiMaster checks
*** TURN *** [7d Qh Jd] [5s]
anjlewis bets 30,000
PiMaster calls 30,000 2 pair in a blinds battle. He bet more than the pot. I don't think I should raise here because I think he is weak and may bet again.
*** RIVER *** [7d Qh Jd 5s] [9d]
anjlewis checks
PiMaster bets 420,730, and is all in
anjlewis has 15 seconds left to act
anjlewis has requested TIME
anjlewis calls 172,046, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 248,684 returned to PiMaster
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PiMaster shows [5c Jh] two pair, Jacks and Fives
anjlewis shows [4d Td] a flush, Jack high
anjlewis wins the pot (428,092) with a flush, Jack high
I really didn't think he had the flush when he checked the river, but I also thought he was possibly on a queen when he didn't lead at that scary river card. I thought he would lead at that card if he was real weak or if it hit him via the straight or flush. I wanted to make a weak looking bet by putting him allin for 2x the pot size. He actually tanked for a good time before calling. His river check was a very sneaky move, and it definitely suckered me in.
Seat 3: LAGJEM (177,224)
Seat 4: anjlewis (428,092)
Seat 5: PiMaster (248,684)
Seat 6: lidrum5 (274,000)

Two hands later - suckout number two and definitely my most marginal play of the entire tourney.

5000/10000 Ante 1000
Seat 3: LAGJEM (176,224)
Seat 4: anjlewis (427,092)
Seat 5: PiMaster (261,684)
Seat 6: lidrum5 (263,000)
lidrum5 posts the small blind of 5,000
LAGJEM posts the big blind of 10,000
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [As 9d]
anjlewis raises to 27,575
PiMaster calls 27,575
lidrum5 folds
LAGJEM raises to 175,224, and is all in
anjlewis folds
This is the guy who has made many moves during the tourney including that check min raise bluff against my set of queens. Because of this, I really think he is squeezing. It is for about 2/3 of my stack though. I am getting 1.6 to 1. Ultimately I go with my gut.
PiMaster calls 147,649
LAGJEM shows [Qd Qh] At least its not AA :)
PiMaster shows [As 9d]
*** FLOP *** [9c Ad 9s]
*** TURN *** [9c Ad 9s] [Th]
*** RIVER *** [9c Ad 9s Th] [3s]
LAGJEM shows two pair, Queens and Nines
PiMaster shows a full house, Nines full of Aces
PiMaster wins the pot (387,023) with a full house, Nines full of Aces

I don't regret this because I went with my instincts. You aren't going to be right all of the time, but I can live making the wrong call in this situation (not just because I won). It is much better than going against your gut which I have done in the past. When I have gone against my instincts and am wrong, I get very upset with myself (no matter the results).

5000/10000 Ante 1000
Seat 4: anjlewis (430,092)
Seat 5: PiMaster (466,483)
Seat 6: lidrum5 (231,425)
PiMaster posts the small blind of 5,000
lidrum5 posts the big blind of 10,000
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [Jc 8c]
anjlewis folds
PiMaster calls 5,000 I don't like raising from the small blind very often.
lidrum5 checks
*** FLOP *** [2c 6h Kc]
PiMaster checks I think a check here pays off better in the long run. The deceptive value is big. Most guys expect you to lead out in this situation with the flush draw.
lidrum5 checks
*** TURN *** [2c 6h Kc] [9s]
PiMaster bets 14,000
lidrum5 calls 14,000
*** RIVER *** [2c 6h Kc 9s] [4c]
PiMaster bets 45,000 Now I bet big because he doesn't think I really have the flush, and I think he has something worth calling with.
lidrum5 calls 45,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PiMaster shows [Jc 8c] a flush, King high
lidrum5 mucks
PiMaster wins the pot (141,000) with a flush, King high

Seat 4: anjlewis (429,092) Seat 5: PiMaster (537,483) Seat 6: lidrum5 (161,425)
lidrum5 got pretty short and finally pushed with J9 and ran into anjlewis's A2 which held. When we got heads up, he had 646K to 482K lead. I stayed between 400K - 500K with a few big RR.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3486114288: $55,000 Guarantee (25997376), Table 14 - 6000/12000 Ante 1500 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:07:24 ET - 2007/09/07
Seat 4: anjlewis (626,517)
Seat 5: PiMaster (501,483)
anjlewis antes 1,500
PiMaster antes 1,500
PiMaster posts the small blind of 6,000
anjlewis posts the big blind of 12,000
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [Jd 9s]
PiMaster calls 6,000
anjlewis checks
*** FLOP *** [6d 9h Kh]
anjlewis checks
PiMaster bets 12,000
anjlewis calls 12,000
*** TURN *** [6d 9h Kh] [5d]
anjlewis bets 36,000
PiMaster calls 36,000
*** RIVER *** [6d 9h Kh 5d] [Jc]
anjlewis bets 84,000
PiMaster calls 84,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
anjlewis shows [9c 5c] two pair, Nines and Fives
PiMaster shows [Jd 9s] two pair, Jacks and Nines
PiMaster wins the pot (291,000) with two pair, Jacks and Nines

Suck - resuck. I didn't raise the river because I thought he was either on a move or had me beat. As it turned out, he would have had a tough fold if I did raise with his smaller two pair. I was now up 647K to 481K.

I picked up another 130K with AQ vs KT. He flopped a K and we both checked. He checked a blank turn again. I bet and he just called. The river A came, and I bet small. He called. He misplayed this hand in my opinion. He should have checkraised the turn. I wasn't putting another penny in once he called. So his smooth call was pointless.

Hand of the tourney number two:

8000/16000 Ante 2000
Seat 4: anjlewis (324,517)
Seat 5: PiMaster (803,483)
anjlewis posts the small blind of 8,000
PiMaster posts the big blind of 16,000
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PiMaster [Qh Jh]
anjlewis raises to 40,000
PiMaster calls 24,000 I sometimes RR here, but he could easily push and then I guess I would have to call probably as a 40/60 dog.
*** FLOP *** [2s Qd Kh]
PiMaster checks
anjlewis checks He easily could check here with a K, as he has shown in previous hands.
*** TURN *** [2s Qd Kh] [9d]
PiMaster checks
anjlewis bets 56,575
PiMaster calls 56,575 I just check called despite picking up the gutty, because I am probably way ahead or way behind.
*** RIVER *** [2s Qd Kh 9d] [4d]
PiMaster checks
anjlewis bets 145,755
PiMaster has requested TIME The flush came and he bet pretty big. I had a feeling he was bluffing but it still was a large bet, and I just had 2nd pair.
PiMaster calls 145,755
*** SHOW DOWN ***
anjlewis shows [As 2h] a pair of Twos
PiMaster shows [Qh Jh] a pair of Queens
PiMaster wins the pot (488,660) with a pair of Queens

After this hand he was left with just 80K. He pushed allin the two hands later with 54, and doubled up against my A8s. Two more hands later he pushed with 87, but this time my AQc held up for the win.

I won my fair share of coin flips, and had a couple 30/70's go my way. This is going to happen if you play enough tourneys. However, it is worth noting I was only allin and covered once w/ the trip Q's, and the guy was drawing dead. I took chances when I had chips I could gamble with, and played cautiously if I felt it was necessary.

For a long time now, the breaks had been going the other way for me. I always believe if I am playing well I only need a couple breaks to win something. It was nice to see things go my way and bring it home.