I sucked it up and made a deposit on Stars. I quit playing there about a year and a half ago after a particularly bad run of variance. I'd have to dig out the stats again, but I think I lost 30 or so consecutive 70/30's. But, since it was the Tao's 5th B-Day, I figured I'd donate to the PokerStars rake machine and deposit $100.
I registered for the Tao5 and jumped in a 6-max $13 Turbo SNG during my lunch break yesterday. Took it down relatively easy for a 40-something dollar score. Fast-forward 6 hours. We are remodeling our kitchen and one of the last things to finish is the new counter top. I was piecing together the buildup to the plywood - cutting lengths of 1x4's (which if you didn't know this - actually measure 3/4 x 3.5), and glueing and screwing them to the boarders of the plywood. I started to get dizzy, and my legs and hands were shaking. And I was pouring sweat off my head and ripped abs. Wait, I mean my head and gut - I don't have ripped abs.
I then realized I hadn't eaten all day, or the day before. I was about to black out into a coma as this struck me. Adderall has been great for my ADD, but too frequently it makes me forget to eat. A few sandwiches later I finished up the counter and fire up Stars to unregister for the Tao5. I was still feeling like shit, was dehydrated, and was in no position to play. Only it was 9:06 already. I thought the tourney started at 9:30, but it started at 9:00 and I was already sat at my table. Figured I might as well play.
My starting table was filled with unfamiliar names, so I was very cautious. 500+ players, so I knew it was a minefield. I played very tight, and in the first hour had only 2 open raises (AQs, AK) and one reraise (JJ) which took pots without seeing the flop.
Hour 2 was more interesting. Garth was moved to my table, the first familiar face I saw. I picked up AA in the blinds. One preflop raiser, and then an all-in behind him. I call all-in, and the initial raiser also calls. AA vs AQ vs AJ. AA hold up, and I triple up. A few hands later I'm forced to lay down AJ after I raise and get a re-raise all-in and a re-re-raise all in and another player calls. They held A3s, TJs, and 99. 99 won that one.
A bit later an EP LAG raises to 300, I re-pop to put him all in with AQs, he calls with KQoff and flops KKT, no J comes and he doubles through me. I'm back to a starting stack.
Picked up AA again with a raise and a re-raise all in ahead of me. I call all-in again, and original raiser calls as well. AA vs QQ vs TT. AA hold up and I get to 4K in chips.
Lucko gets moved to my table directly on my right. Cha-ching! Obviously Lucko is one of the best players among the bloggers, but I hoped his aggressiveness would land me some chips. The blinds were getting high, so I started making some moves with marginal hands like middle pairs. Chipped up a little, and then then picked up KK which I called an all-in raise with. KK vs AT, made a boat on a 777xx board. Up to 7K in chips.
Doubled though Lucko when it folds to him the the SB. He pushes his stack and I insta-call with AQ. Bad timing on his part. AQ beats 52off. On the bubble I push with A5 from the button and both blinds fold. Hand for hand lasted only 1 hand. Suck. I was going to start stealing like a bandit.
Folds around to SB, not Lucko anymore, but a LAG player who raises to 2400. I boldly go over the top with A3 and he folds to my tight image.
I'm one of the last bloggers standing at this point I think, and the railbirds start showing up. Thanks to all that railed me and wished me luck. Again it folds around to the SM who raises it to 3500. I push all-in (about 13k) with 77. He folds. Get up to around 18k.
In second position with the Blinds at 1000/2000 I push with AQoff. Two all-in calls. Fuck. AQ vs JK vs QQ. QQ holds and IGHN. Finished in 31st out of 519. Not bad. Saw 7% of flops, took 5% preflop, won 61% of showdowns, and won 75% of hands not going to showdown.
Net profit - about $6.
Happy Blog B-day and thanks to Pauly for hosting and to the Borgata for adding the 5K seat. Good luck to Garry Gates who took the tourney down last night. Now that I have some cash in Stars I guess that means I'll try to show up for the Saturdays w/Pauly PLO tourney.
This was the first online game I've played in a number of weeks. I was really burnt out after the BBT3, but yesterday was pretty fun and I feel the itch starting up a bit again for online play. See you all at the tables....
