Saturday, April 29, 2006

Hazy Cat Caught All the Mice

Hazy Cat showed us how it was done tonight.  Thirty-five players sat down but when the smoke cleared it was the mouser that had all the chips.  ThreesRWild, also known as # was the heads up victim, Sengar finished third, Rocknfish fourth, and Hemi Henry completed the money table.

It was nearly two hours before we seated the final table this week.  This is a strong testament to the level of play in this weekly event.  Unionthug was showing why he is so feared in the Holdem Affair.  Hazy Cat was at the bottom of the ladder when we sat down for the final ten.  This final group was stacked with former winners.  I count at least eight title holders and that is just from memory.  Here is how the final table shaped up when they sat down.
  1. Unionthug = 11925

  2. Sengar = 10435

  3. ThreesRWild = 6190

  4. Nutzrus = 5960

  5. Hemi Henry = 4470

  6. Rocknfish = 4425

  7. Mellow Yellow = 2715

  8. Glenso = 2310

  9. DebiMac = 2060

  10. Hazy Cat = 2010

Fasten your seat belts and hang on – this is going to be quite a ride for the Hazy Cat.  Watch as he climbs the ladder.  He started with the very first hand of the final table.  He opened for 1300 and when Unionthug raised him to 2300 he pushed it all to the middle holding Qh Qc.  Unionthug held As 7c and made the call.  The board ended up missing both of them and  Hazy Cat was very quickly in 5th place.

On the third hand, Unionthug limped to Mellow Yellow who pushed all-in for 2040 from the button.  The mellow one was holding pocket sevens.  Our favorite Thug called holding AQo.  By the turn it looked like this - Th Td 6h Jc, and Mellow Yellow was looking good to double up.  But the river Ac sent him packing as the first victim.

They sparred until hand 13, then Glenso was the bottom stack and open pushed for 1720 holding pocket deuces.  But Rocknfish was sitting just to his left with pocket Queens – an easy call and an easy kill.  Glenso was out in 9th place.

Just two hands later and DebiMac min-raised to open the betting.  ThreesRWild re-raised to 2300 taking DebiMac all-in.  Deb held Ac Qh, a good hand to make the call but TRW he big slick and the king was the difference.  Our mistress of the Mac Attack was gone in 8th place.

Hazy Cat update, by hand 20 he had been staying out of the big confrontations but had taken several smaller pots and was now in third place.

They diced for the next 14 hands, then Rocknfish woke up with Ac Qs and raised to 1750.  Unionthug, in his usual aggressive style, re-raised all-in for 5495.  He had the Fish covered and that must have been a difficult call – but the thug is known for his aggressive style and could have been making a play here.  Rocknfish called and must have been just sick to see the Unionthug turn over As Kc.  But our rockfish caught a miracle flop when the Qc showed up for the party.  No king came to join her and Rocknfish doubled up at the cost of mortally wounding Unionthug.

By now the antes were 50 and the blinds 200/400.  Just three hands later, Unionthug was UTG and pushed all-in for his last 1475.  All folded to Sengar sitting in the big blind as our chip leader.  We haven’t heard much of this master of the final table.  He had been staying out of trouble and taking down small pots but this time he made the gutsy call holding just Ts 9c.  Unionthug actually had a hand this time showing Ad 6d.  The flop came Ah 2d Tc giving each a pair and Sengar the flush draw.  The 7c on the turn was no help for either but that darn river can be a problem.  This time it was the 9s, Sengar had caught two pair and Unionthug had gone from chip leader at the start of the final table to busting out in 7th place.

Hazy Cat took the chip lead on an interesting hand #41.  Sengar raised to 1700 and the mouser re-raised to 3000.  Sengar called to see the flop come Ah 2c Js.  Hazy Cat immediately pushed all 5610 into the middle.  No slow playing here.  Sengar thought for awhile then folded showing pocket tens.  Hazy Cat graciously turned over his AK to assure Sengar he had made the right play.  A 6700 chip pot from the chip leader and we have a new top cat at the table.  Hazy Cat then went on a rush taking the next three pots for 1950, 4950 and 7350.  Hazy Cat now had 20935 in chips and Rocknfish was second with only 8465.  Hazy Cat was in command of this table now.

Hand 51, Sengar raised to 2550 and Nutzrus was the only taker.  The flop showed 6d 6c 9d.  Nutzrus said she liked that flop and pushed for 1145.  Sengar suggested he didn’t believe her and made the call holding Ad Ts – two over cards.  Nutzrus proudly showed her pocket Kings and it looked bad for Sengar.  But the odds don’t always play out right, this is poker after all.  The Ac decided to join the party on the turn and we were down to the money table just that quickly.  Nutzy was our bubble girl this week.  Good to see you back in action though Nutzrus.  Good game.

Hazy Cat shifted gears now and started pressuring even more.  He lost a large pot to TRW but was still soundly in the lead.  That pressure paid off on hand 61 when, with the antes 75 and the blinds 300/600, Hazy raised to 2475 UTG.  All folded to Hemi Henry in the big blind holding a short stack of just 1020.  Henry knew he had to make the call with any decent holding with less then two BBs left in his stack.  Well, As 7d definitely fits into my range for an all-in from the short stack, especially facing a play from the chip leader who is pushing the table around.  You can’t fault Henry on his play but you can lament his luck for Hazy Cat had a hand this time – Ad Ks.  OUCH.  Hemi Henry was the first victim of the money table.

Sometimes the poker gods are just brutal and hand 66 they did it to Rocknfish big time.  Rock open raised to 1200 holding Ac 8d and Hazy Cat made the call.  The flop came 9s 5s As, giving Rocknfish top pair.  When Hazy Cat bet 3000 into that flop, Rocknfish jumped out of the water pushing all 7790 into the middle.  That flop had hit him hard and in a four handed game the odds are good no one else has an ace. Well Hazy Cat didn’t have an ace but he did hold pocket fives – he had flopped a set.  Runner sevens on the turn and river turned it into a full house and Rocknfish was our 4th place finisher.

The very next hand – Sengar raised to 2325 UTG and Hazy Cat re-raised him to 7800.  Sengar liked that action and answered by pushing all of his second place stack into the middle.  He turned over As Qc.  You have got to think you are in good shape in a three handed game – all-in with AQ.  But this time Hazy Cat turned over Ah Ac – the pocket rockets.  DANG.  No miracle boards for Sengar and he had to settle for third place money.

We were heads up with Hazy Cat at 42400 and # ( the player formerly know as ThreesRWild) 10100.  That disparity in the stacks was just too much to overcome and it was just six hands later that Hazy Cat caught his last mouse to end the night.

It was a great night of poker – AGAIN.  Each week the action is fun and the poker is good.

See you next Saturday night.

Peace,

Sunbob

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Way to go Brian



I know he hasn't been around lately but I caught up to an old Holem Affair titleist at the final table of Sunday night's $10 Limit Omaha 8/b tournament and had a great time watching him school that table. Brian had no problem as he rolled over the final table to post another victory. If you happen to see this, Brian, come on back to the HA. We miss you. To you old-timers, if you run across Brian let him know we are proud of him.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Greatape Dominated

Greatape totally dominated the final table in this week’s Holdem Affair.  He went into the final table in 4th place but ended up personally busting about half of the table to take his first Holdem Affair title.

Twenty-eight players sat down this week in an early Holdem Affair.  We were down to 19 by the first hour break.  Some of the past winners who were gone included Maronie47, Papoorboy and myself.  It was a tough first hour.  Papoorboy had one of the toughest breaks when his pocket kings ran into pocket Aces.  Don’t you just hate that?  He fought back from the short stack but it just wasn’t going to be pa’s night.  I made a foolish call with a flush and straight draw that didn’t hit and I was gone in 21st.  My own fault.  Here are your first hour leaders.
  1. Deadmanshand = 4935

  2. gjones = 4740

  3. Greatape = 4455

  4. Tai Pan = 4310

  5. Jennifear = 3070

  6. Glenso = 2905

  7. Hazy Cat = 2907

  8. Emily Mancini (aka – d o double d) = 2515

  9. ArkDiamond = 2055

  10. Idblondee = 1945

The next nine were gone in just 25 minutes.  As always the second hour is really when the tournament heats up.  As is her usual pattern, Jennifear exerted her influence on her table and took over the chip lead by the time we got down to 10.  Gjones held his position and the cat and the ape improved their positions.  Going into your final table the stacks looked like this.
  1. Jennifear = 6805

  2. gjones = 6065

  3. Hazy Cat = 6030

  4. Greatape = 5575

  5. Glenso = 4230

  6. Tai Pan = 3670

  7. deadmanshand = 3610

  8. ArkDiamond = 2950

  9. Idblondee = 1830

  10. DebiMac = 1235

Folks, at this point I’m going to have to apologize.  My hand grabber program crapped out on me this week and didn’t save any of the hand histories.  So, I’m not able to give you the blow by blow that I usually record.  But the main story line for the final table was Greatape.  He just kept climbing the ladder as the play progressed.  By the time we were down to 6 or 7 he had a commanding chip lead and once he accumulated that stack he used that power very effectively.  He basically neutralized Jennifear.  That is not an easy accomplishment at any final table.  Anyone else that tried to push him off his throne got shot down as well.  The end result was that we were down to the 3 player money table within about 50 hands.  Greatape,  Tai Pan and ArkDiamond cashed this week.  The big ape took out ArkDiamond, that short and pretty little lass, to put the South Pacific Islander in a tough position.  Tai fought hard and even doubled up once against King Kong but it wasn’t going to be enough.  Greatape climbed to the top of his stack and swatted down every attempt by Tai Pan to shackle him.

Your final standings were:
  1. Great Ape

  2. Tai Pan

  3. ArkDiamond

  4. gjones

  5. Jennifear

  6. Hazy Cat

  7. deadmanshand

  8. Idblondee

  9. Glenso

  10. DebiMac

I couldn’t repeat my performance from last Thursday’s Mac Attack but I had a great(ape) time anyway.  I hope you all did too.

See you next week.

Sunbob

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Heeeeere's Jugga





By popular demand, here are a couple of pictures of Violentjugga. Oh, and that gorgeous woman with him is his wife Lori.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Hazy Cat Took Control

Hazy Cat took control of an excellent money table tonight to post his first Holdem Affair victory. It was a great final table and the final five was a war. For most of the time the stacks were pretty evenly matched. The stalemate wasn’t broken until the blinds put everyone in a short stack situation. Then Hazy Cat found another gear and started to push the others. That was the deciding factor, a well timed change of pace did the trick. That and an amazing final hand. Spideytwo played exceptionally well tonight and almost prevailed. ThreesRWild struggled with a short stack through most of the money table to post his third place finish. Fastbk65 was fourth and deadmanshand completed the five.

Thirty-seven sat down for this week’s Holdem Affair. Thirty-seven friends who know my game far better than I would like them to. But, hey – that’s the Holdem Affair. We are here to have fun but no one ever forgets that it is good poker as well. We were down to 28 when the first hour break rolled around. I was gone already but the hostess with the mostess was on a roll. Marti had failed to keep “evil Marti” under control and was leading the pack. Here is your first hour leader board.
  1. Marti = 4505

  2. Sengar = 3780

  3. ThisBods4U = 3380

  4. ThreesRWild = 3070

  5. deadmanshand = 2875

  6. DebiMac = 2765

  7. Maronie47 = 2730

  8. Rocknfish = 2655

  9. burldog44 = 2565

  10. Mellow Yellow = 2540

There was a bounty on Marti this week, after last week’s win. Most of that was even donated by Marti herself. It looked like she may even get to keep that bounty and be the first to win back to back Holdem Affair events. But just before the final table seated, Hazy Cat sent Marti to the rail in 11th place. Your final table looked like this:
  1. Hazy Cat = 11110

  2. burldog44 = 9580

  3. spideytwo = 9535

  4. ThreesRWild = 6590

  5. sugar luck = 5135

  6. fstbk65 = 4420

  7. deadmanshand = 4405

  8. Maronie47 = 3435

  9. DebiMac = 1140

  10. Hemi Henry = 150

Henry was the big blind the very first hand and everyone folded to actually double him up to 300 chips. That bought him a few antes and as a result we found ourselves on hand 3 - DebiMac reraised ThreesRWild all-in for her 1090 chips holding Ah Js. Nice hand Deb but TRW had big slick – As Kc and made the call. The Ks on the flop was all ThreesRWild needed to send Deb to the rail in 10th place.

Hemi Henry made it to hand five before the antes forced him all-in holding just Qc 3d. Spideytwo held AKo this time and Henry was gone in 9th place.

By hand 25 the antes were 50 and the blinds 200/400. With only 1280 left burldog was feeling the pressure to act. Five folds to the dog on the button and he pushed holding Kd 6d. A very reasonable play with position. When Hazy Cat called and turned over 9c 7h it looked like a brilliant play. The flop came Ks 2s 7c and it looked great for the dog in this cat and dog fight. Each had flopped a pair but the Kings held the high ground. The 5h on the turn meant nothing but the river washed in the 9h giving the Hazy Cat two pair and sent Burldog44 to the pound.

By hand 36 ThreesRWild had taken the chip lead and Hazy Cat had actually fallen to a close fourth place. Maronie and spideytwo filled in the middle. Sugar Luck was feeling short and when the big blind took him down to 3500 chips he saw the flop along with Hazy and deadmanshand. 2s Jd 9h – Hmmmmm. Sugar was holding Jc 7s and check raised Hazy Cat all-in on the flop. Oops. Hazy turned over Qs Jh. Some nights that happens. Some nights you get the big blind special and some nights you get the big blind shaft. Sugar Luck had to settle for 7th place and Hazy Cat was back in the chip lead.

For the next 25 hands the battle was on. All six were throwing heavy weight punches and the lead was being passed around as well. Then hand 61 and Hazy Cat raised pre-flop to 3400. Maronie pushed all 3730 in response. Hazy Cat had to call for just the 330 more. Hazy held Kh Qh and Maronie Ac Ts. The race was on. The flop came Jh 8h 5h. Hazy flopped a flush. Maronie was drawing dead and gone in 6th place and again Hazy Cat regained his lost chip lead. Gotta love those haymakers.

For the next 25 hands it was anybody’s match to win or lose. Spideytwo actually took over the chip lead and fstbk65 pulled up right behind him in second place. The blinds were now 600/1200 and everyone was forced to act. Even Spidey in the lead only had 12 big blinds. It was action time. And action we saw, on hand 86. Folded to deadmanshand on the button and he simply called to see the cheap flop come 7c 7s 2d. Two checks to Deadmanshand and he pushed the rest of his stack into the middle holding Ad Tc. Definitely the right play. At least one I would make. But this wasn’t the time to be bold. The Big Blind Special pulled into Spidey’s station and he turned over 4c 7h. He had flopped trips. Deadmanshand had to settle for 5th place money. And now Spideytwo was a dominant chip leader.

For the next 40 hands they just spared. The blinds and antes were 150/800/1600 and they just traded steals. But I’m going to argue that this is where Hazy Cat won the tournament. The lead changed back and forth between all four of them and actually by hand 130 Spideytwo had 17205, fstbk65 = 15890, Hazy Cat = 12420, and ThreesRWild 9985. The blinds escaladed to 1000/2000 with a 200 ante. By hand 153, Hazy Cat had won 8 pots, Spideytwo had actually won nine and TRW and fastbk only two and three. Spideytwo and Hazy Cat were pulling away.

Hand 153 saw Spideytwo make a move and push all-in UTG. Fastbk65 was down to only 3410 and he called with Ad 8c. But Spidey had As Ts. The flop brought an ace but no miracle eight for fastbk and he was out in 4th place.

Hand 159, spideytwo called ThreesRWild going all-in for his last 8280. TRW held pocket sevens and was the race favorite against Spidey holding Qh Th. But the flop brought the Qs and that was all it took to set the heads up match. ThreesRWild was forced to settle for third place.

Spidey took a 10,000 chip pot the very first hand, giving Spideytwo a 2:1 chip lead. But Hazy Cat fought back winning 13 of the next 15 hands, including a wild final hand.

Hazy now had 44000 chips and Spideytwo 11000. Both saw the cheap flop come Jh Jc Js. Hmmmm – does either have the case Jack? Both checked to see the turn Qs. Spideytwo threw out a feeler bet of 2400. Hazy just called. The river was the Kh. Spideytwo held Ts 9h and had just filled his straight. Ok, what to do? What can beat him? AT? No, he would have raised pre-flop. Qx? Maybe, but he would have bet on the turn. Kx? Possible – but again, wouldn’t he have raised pre-flop? The Jd? Probably the least likely card for Hazy to hold. It looked good for a play and Spideytwo chose to push it all into the middle. Hazy Cat called and proudly turned over 4d Jd. Yep, Hazy Cat had flopped quads to win this week’s Holdem Affair.

Way to go all of you. What a great final table.

Peace,

Sunbob

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Marti Comes Through

This was one of the most entertaining final tables in Holdem Affair history.  BigLar8 went into the final table in 9th place and Marti was in 10th.  And who was left for the heads up match?  You guessed it.  BigLar8 and Marti. BigLar8 had a commanding lead going into the heads up match but Marti just stayed calm and played smart.  The heads up match lasted 68 hands.  Longer than it took to knock out the other 8 players.  Marti took the early momentum and took over the lead only to have BigLar8 take it back later and keep it for quite awhile. Then Marti dealt what turned out to be the death blow when her pocket aces held up.  Marti prevailed to post another Holdem Affair win.  Daddybob, Rankdizzle, and Maronie47 rounded out the money table.

Forty-four sharks entered the Holdem Affair this week.  Good to see this kind of turn out.  We were down to 33 by the first break.  This is a little more attrition than usual.  Looks like we had a pretty aggressive field the first hour.  Here is your first hour leader board:
  1. Jennifear = 6555

  2. Rankdizzle = 5425

  3. Maronie47 = 3400

  4. Sunbob = 3030

  5. Idblondee = 2935

  6. Daddybob = 2605

  7. Stick-n-Mud = 2520

  8. BuckElvis = 2495

  9. Rocknfish = 2405

  10. verbalkint = 2305

We still had 33 going into the second hour.  Thirty-three, and the field was filled with the big names of Holdem Affair.  It took the whole of the second hour to pare this group down to the final table.  We seated that table just one hand before the second hour break.  The action was vicious and wild, just the kind of action that Maronie47 thrives on.  Here are your final table survivors.
  1. Maronie47 = 17740

  2. Rankdizzle = 9360

  3. msrinny02 = 6920

  4. Jennifear = 6750

  5. Mellow Yellow = 6665

  6. Daddybob = 6110

  7. txranger2 = 4325

  8. Sunbob = 3395

  9. big lar8 = 2645

  10. Marti = 2090

Look at those names closely because we are going into one of the wildest final tables ever seen in the Holdem Affair.  Just from memory, I see at least seven names on that list that have recorded Holdem Affair wins.  Well, hang onto your seats folks, here comes the action.

The very first hand, antes 25 and blinds 150/300.  I look down and see Ac Qc.  Six folds to me and I raised to 1300.  Then big lar8 pushed all 2620 into the middle from the small blind.  I’ve got him covered, think about it for awhile and decide to go for it.  I call.  He turned over pocket eights.  The board ended up Kh 7h 2s Jh Js and big lar8 doubled up on the first hand.  I’m in BIG trouble with only 750 chips left.  When we came back from the second hour break I was dealt 5h 5d with the antes 50 and blinds 200/400. Five folds to me and I have got to push with only 700 chips left.  Txranger2 called me with his pocket eights and I was gone in the first two hands.  Bummer.

Hand 9 and big lar8 is at it again.  This time Jennifear was his victim.  Jennifear minraised from the small blind when everyone folded and big lar8 made the call.  The flop came 9s 6d Tc.  Jennifear bet 1500 and big lar8 pushed all-in for 6040.  Jennifear called and turned over AA – the pocket rockets.  She was feeling good about her hand but – OOPS – big lar8 turned over a lowly 8s 7s.  Yep, he had flopped a straight.  Jen was dead and big lar8 had doubled up again.  Just nine hands into the final table and big lar8 had climbed from 9th place to 2nd.

Just three hands later and big lar8 takes a nice pot from Marti when his AQo hit trip queens.  Big lar8 is now our chip leader.

Hand 15 and Jennifear is still around but on life support.  She was all-in for her last 25 chips holding 7d 5d.  Maronie and Rankdizzle were fighting for the larger side pot.  The board ended up  Qd Jd 2h 4d Ad, giving Jen her flush but Maronie held the 9d and the higher flush.  Jennifear was gone in 9th place.  That hand also put Maronie back into the chip lead.

BTW, the field is spread out after this hand with Maronie holding 15940 chips at the top end and Marti with only 2915 at the bottom.  Watch this folks because this is significant.

The very next hand Maronie raised UTG with her As Kd and called Daddybob all-in for his last 3985.  Oops, Daddybob turned over Ad Ah.  No miracles for Maronie and Daddybob doubled up.  

Daddybob won the next two hands, including a big pot to knock out Mellow Yellow when his Ad Ks bettered Mellow Yellow’s As Qh.  After just 21 hands we are now down to seven and Daddybob is in the chip lead. Marti is still alive with her short stack.

Hand 26 and txranger has just 2960 in chips.  The antes are now 75 and blinds 300/600.  Ranger tried to limp into the flop but decided to call msrinny when she min-raised.  Txranger held 9c 7c and when the flop came 2c Tc 5d, he pushed the flush draw for his last 1685.  Msrinny made the call holding Qs Qd.  No more clubs by the river and txranger2 was gone in 7th place.  Now msrinny is in second place with Daddybob still the chip leader.

Big lar8 took over the chip lead on the next hand with his pocket kings.  This was actually a VERY interesting hand because Marti made a very unorthodox lay down.  The hand went down like this.  Rankdizzle, our winner from two weeks ago, raised to 1800, Marti called and Big lar8 called.  The flop came 8h 7s 6c.  Rankdizzle checked, Marti checked, and Big lar8 bet 3000.  Rankdizzle folded and Marti went into the tank.  She took almost all of her time and then folded showing 9d 9c.  She had flopped an over pair to the board and the open ended straight draw but had somehow known she was beat.  Big Lar8 showed his pocket kings.  I know I could not have made that lay down and some of us commented upon it at the time.  But watch now, because this was the play of the match.  At this point Marti had 990 chips, one more orbit of life.

Hand 30 – Daddybob min-raised to 1200 and Marti pushed her last 765 to the middle.  Daddybob held Ah Qd but Marti turned over As Kc.  No help for either on the board and Marti has doubled up.

Hand 31 and Marti has pocket sevens – another small pot to add to her new life.

Hand 35 – big lar8 raised to 1200 and msrinny called to see the flop - Kd Jc 5c.  Big lar8 bet 600 on that flop and msrinny raised to 1200.  Big lar8 re-raised to 7350 and msrinny pushed her last chips in to make it 11355.  Big lar8 called.  Wow, what is this?  Msrinny showed As Ks and had flopped top pair/top kicker.  OK, now I see.  But wait – big lar8 is turning over Js Jh.  Larry had hit another super flop, this time a set of jacks.  The Ad on the turn just teased msrinny and she was gone in 6th place.  Big lar8 now has 30460 chips and a huge lead.  Marti is now in last place (5th), with only 2955.

Hand 37 and we are at it again.  This time Maronie raised pre-flop to 2475 and big lar8 called. The flop came Kc 7s Td, lar8 checked and Maronie bet just 600, lar8 called.  The turn card was the Qh and that excited Maronie who bet 6825.  Apparently big lar8 likes that card also because he re-raised to 13650 – Maronie pushed it all to the middle and we saw the reason why.  Maronie turned over Ts Th – she had flopped a set.  But she had let Big lar8 see the turn.  He showed Jh 9h and had turned the straight.  Maronie was gone in 5th place and Big lar8 had twice as many chips as the rest of the field combined.  Marti is now in 4th place (out of 4) with only 1905 chips.

The very next hand Marti woke up with pocket sevens and almost tripled up to win a 5210 pot.

The next hand – the action is fast now – all four saw the cheap flop fall 7c 5d 8h.  All three checked to Big lar8 who bet 2600.  Daddybob bailed but Rankdizzle liked that flop and check raised to all 4160 he had left.  Marti dove for cover as well but Big lar8 made the call.  Rankdizzle proudly turned over 5c 5s to show his set.  Big lar8 was in trouble as he turned over Ts Tc for an over pair.  The Kc on the turn didn’t change anything but then Rankdizzle was punched in the stomach by the poker gods when the Th floated by on the river to give big lar8 the higher set.  Rankdizzle was gone in 4th place. We were now down to three and Marti is still sitting there.

Marti then went on a rush and won the next seven hands. The capper was hand 60.  Marti raised preflop to 1600 and Daddybob called to see the flop come 3c Qs 2c.  Daddybob checked, Marti bet 800 and Daddybob check-raised to 6300.  Marti just smooth called. The turn was the 9d.  Daddybob went all-in for 2090 and Marti called.  Daddybob turned over 2d 2h – he had flopped a set of deuces.  But Marti showed 3s 3d – she had flopped a set of treys. Oh my goodness. Daddybob was gone in third place.  Can you believe it?

We were down to the final two – a heads up match between the two players who were 9th and 10th when we sat down at the final table.  Marti had 25000 chips and Big lar8 had 41000.  Little did those of us on the rail watching know that we were in for 68 hands and 40 minutes of amazing heads up action.

They diced for the next 11 hands with Marti getting the best of it.  She took the chip lead on hand 71.  She built that lead to a 45K to 20K margin only to have Big Lar8 take it back by hand 90.  By hand 98 Marti had fought back to a slight lead when this hand came down.  With the antes 150 and the blinds 800/1600, they saw the un-raised flop come 4c 7c 8c.  Marti checked and Big Lar8 bet 1600 – Marti just called.  The turn was the 6d, Marti bet 1600 and Big Lar8 raised to 11500.  Marti called.  The river was the 8s.  Both checked it down.  Marti showed Ts 5s and had hit the straight on the turn, but Big Lar8 showed 5c 3c for the flopped flush.  Big Lar8 had taken a huge pot for 29700 and now had a huge lead.

Hand 99 and Big Lar8 took a 10500 pot to put Marti on life support.  It looked like it was all over for Marti at this point.  Big Lar8 won the next two hands and it looked like mop up time.

They diced back and forth for the next 20 hands with Marti holding her own but just barely closing the gap.  Then hand 122, Lar8 raised preflop to 4000 and marti called.  The flop came 7c Th 3c.  Marti bet 8400 and big lar8 smooth called.  Hmmm.  What is going on here?  The turn was the 2h – surely that didn’t help either of them, but Marti pushed all-in for her last 14750.  Looked like a steal attempt to Big Lar8 and he was happy to call.  Big lar8 had Js Td and had flopped top pair – but Marti turned over two red Aces.  This turned out to be the deciding hand.  Marti now had 54700 and Big Lar8 11300.

The final hand came just six hands later.  Big Lar8 raised preflop to 6400 and Marti called.  The flop brought 6d 9c 5c.  Marti bet 2000 and Big Lar8 pushed for 3500.  Marti was quick to call.  Big Lar8 had Kd  Jd – two over cards, but Marti had caught top pair with 9s Qs.  That was all it took.

Marti had gone into the final table in 10th place.  She had been the smallest chip stack for almost all of that time until the end.  But who is still alive at the end is what counts. The keys to this win were a very brilliant and unorthodox lay down early and some very patient small stack play.

Good game to all.  It is so great to have the Holdem Affair going again.  See you Saturday night.

Sunbob

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Maronie47 Dominated


Maronie47 dominated the final table. She went into the last ten in fourth place but didn’t take long to assert her strength. Then she rolled over the field for her first Holdem Affair victory. Jennifear battled hard in the heads up match but just didn’t have the fire power tonight to overcome Maronie. Coachstove rounded out the money table and I went out on the bubble.

Twenty-five players saw the return of the Holdem Affair. It was great to be back. I don’t know about the rest of you but I missed you folks. One of the things I noticed most was the level of competition. I just don’t see that in the SnGs that I can afford to enter. This field is good every week and this week was no exception.

We were only down to 20 at the first hour break. As usual, the first hour play was very strong. Here are your first hour leaders:
Sunbob = 4320
coachstove = 3970
Maronie47 = 3530
Msrinny02 = 2920
Papoorboy = 2685
Txmom22 = 2600
von ebb = 2525
big lar8 = 1790
Jennifear = 1760
goodtime chas = 1510

The action really heated up in the second hour. It only took another 35 minutes to pare the troops down to the final table. Your final table faces included:
Jennifear = 7235
ThisBods4U = 6825
Maronie47 = 6445
Sunbob = 6180
Coachstove = 4125
Marti = 3150
Txmom22 = 1600
Msrinny02 = 1095
Papoorboy = 515
big lar8 = 330

It was the fifth hand and it was Txmom22 that made the early exit from the final table. With just one limper ahead of her, Txmom raised to 900 to open the hand. ThisBods4U was the limper and the only one to call. The flop came 3d Ks 9d, TB4U checked and Txmom pushed the 600 that was left in her stack. ThisBods4U thought a moment and made the call holding Ah Th. It was a great call when Txmom showed her Ac 8d. The table ended up missing them both and the ten kicker was the deciding card.

On the very next hand Papoorboy was UTG with only 815 left in his stack and facing a 200 big blind the next hand. He chose to gamble and pushed holding 7s Th but Maronie47 called with her Ah 7h. Pa was dominated and the board missed them both. One of the most successful tournament players on UB was gone in 9th place. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief coming through the screen.

Hand 8 and msrinny was feeling short with only 795 chips. She pushed holding Ah 8h and I called with the Ad Qd. My queen was the deciding card and msrinny was gone in 8th place.

Maronie won the next two pots to take over the chip lead. Then on hand 11 it was time for Big Lar8 to make his stand holding Ac 2d. With the blinds 150/300 he pushed his last 360 chips into the middle. ThisBods4u made the call holding Ad Jh. When the flop came Qc Jd Js it was all over for Big Lar8.

Over the next 16 hands Maronie strengthened her position and now was almost double Jennifear in second place. Hand 27, with only six left at the table, Marti raised to 600 and I called to see the flop come 2d 3h Ac. Marti checked to me and I minimum bet 300 – Marti responded by pushing her last 750 into the middle. I thought awhile, Marti is a formidable opponent, but I held As Qd and just couldn’t give up top pair. Marti showed pocket jacks. The aces held and Marti was gone in 6th place. That hand put me in second place for the time being.

Hand 33 was the next big one. Maronie raised to 1475 and ThisBods4U made the call. The flop was an uninspiring 7d 7h 3s but ThisBods4U pushed in his last 945. Maronie thought about it, but didn’t believe Bod and made the call holding 2 over cards – As Td. It was a great call, ThisBods4U turned over Kc Qh and it was all over. Gone in 5th place.

At this point Maronie had 17805 chips, Sunbob had 8315, Jennifear 7135 and Coachstove 4245. We danced around trading small pots for the next 34 hands. During this time Jennifear took back 2nd position and Maronie strengthened her position even more. Then hand 68 was significant – at least for Coachstove and me. The blinds were still 150/300 but antes now 25 as well. I raised UTG to 600 holding pocket sevens. Coachstove reraised me to 2350. I pushed back taking him all-in. When Coachstove turned over 6s 6h I was feeling pretty good about making the money. But the poker gods were fickle again tonight. The very first card to hit the table was the 6c. Coach had his set and I was on life support.

I battled back as best I could. I even doubled up through Coachstove on hand 83. On hand 84 Coachstove raised to 900 before the flop and Maronie reraised him holding Ac Jc. But coachstove held big slick and pushed it all into the middle. The board missed them both and Coachstove took over the chip lead. But Maronie took it right back from him only three hands later.

Over the next 20 hands we traded punches. I was just trying to stay alive. At one point I was down to 1000 chips and tripled up when my 57o paired a five that held up. But finally on hand 104, I limped UTG and check raised Maronie when she opened for 1600. Bad timing for a check raise bluff. Maronie held big slick and thought nothing of making the call. My 9c 7c looked pretty puny in comparison. The flop was Qd 6h Td, giving me a gut-shot straight draw to go with my under cards but none of my 10 outs made an appearance and I was gone in 4th place – just out of the money.

Just two hands later Coachstove made the play that so many of us have kicked ourselves for doing. We tell ourselves not to do it, but of course, we all try it. Some times it works great but all to many times it comes back to bite us. Coach looked down in the small blind and saw two red rockets staring back at him. When Jenni folded he wanted to get some value and just min-raised to 600. Maronie called and the flop came Qh 7h 9s. Coachstove checked then smooth called Maronie’s 300 bet. The turn was the 8d. Coach checked again and when Maronie bet 1875, he pounced – 3750 was his response. Maronie made it 5625 and coachstove put the rest of his 8860 into the middle. Maronie almost beat him into the middle if that is possible online. Maronie turned over Qs 8h. Coachstove had slowed played his pocket aces and Maronie had hit two pair. Coachstove was out in third place.

Going into the heads up match, Jennifear had 9365 in chips and Maronie held 28135, three-quarters of the chips in play. Everybody knows that Jennifear is a formidable opponent heads up but tonight we found out the Maronie knows what she is doing as well. The match lasted 27 hands. Jennifear just couldn’t get any traction and gain any of Maronie’s stack. Maronie finally took it down with two pair and Jennifear with a missed flush.

It was a great night and it was great to be back in Holdem Affair action. Thank you Marti, for all the hard work putting this event together.

Peace,

Sunbob