Thursday, December 20, 2007

Santa Special at the Jackpot

Before I throw up a brief run-down of the goings on at the Christmas Special in the Jackpot, a update on my online poker runnings of late.
I decided to try grinding it up again. As soul crushing as it can be, it can also be an excercise in two of the most important poker skills that must be learnt, bankroll management and tilt control.
www.bonuswhores.com have a decent affiliate deal with Titan for low limit players. 100% up to $200, but it clears 3x quicker than the better sites on ipoker for offers (GJP is commonly regarded as the best). I started off ok, 2 or 3 tabling and I ran pretty good at first, 10BBs/hr. Bit a cooler I couldn't get out of reversed that and I found myself in the red. Its to normal now, but after a little more than a week amd a half, im even. I hope to run out a few weeks for a decent profit, plus the bonus on top. Then switch to another site and bonus (200% up to $200 on VC, or 100% up to $500 on GJP).

Now to the highlight of the week, The Jackpot Xmas special.
It got 63 runners. And the mood very light and as soon as they started handing out santy hats it looked like the night would be a laugh. Of course, the santy hats were soon put to shame when Gary Clark stuck to his word and came dressed as a Polar Bear, wp Gary.
A truely sick hand unfolded early of Set vrs Set vrs Set all-in on the flop. It didn't stop there, QQ pre-flop, set of flop, villain turns a straight with J10. Board didn't pair and i'm down to 400 (I actually thought he had me covered was was leaving). The blinds are 50/100. So I ship the next hand, 3 callers and 9 10 makes a pair and its good. Very next hand AQ two callers and i'm good again. Over the next hour or so I try repeatedly to double up, of about 6 times I pushed, 4 times no callers and I win the blinds, twice a caller with the same hand and split the blinds.
Then finally Gary doubles me up and is left short, couple of hands later I am KK on the SB. Folded to Gary who pushed, Keith calls, I push Keith folds. Gary shows JQ, of course he hits trips. So, i'm short, push K2 from the button, and hit trips against AJ, sorry Keith.
Between now and the final table I raise over weakness or in LP for the blinds and make a good job of it too and take 50k or so to the FT.
The payout structure was very top heavy, with 6th-9th getting maoney back. So I was aiming for 4th+. Some players were getting quite drunk as it was almost 3am and Duke had provided free beer.I was sitting tight, waiting for a hand, while I did this, the various 3 shorties went all-in a couple of times, everytime the shortie survived. Creating a new shortie, who then survives his all-in.
So we are down to 8 and I have 10 BBs, I can't wait anymore (alot of the table is fairly happy to fold to the felt). Chipleader raises to 12000 UTG (BB is 4000). He has done this in 3 of the last 5 hands. I re-raise all-in for 45k with AQ on the SB, this is almost half the CLs stack. And I'm happy to take dowm the 16k in there. He insta calls and before he flips over his hand i'm hoping its JJ and a race. I was half right as he happily shows KJo , my AQ is no goodof course, with a J on the river.
If I had of won that hand I was chipleader or there abouts and would of fancied my shot at taking it down for 2k+, instead I has to contend for money back after 6 hours of poker.

LOL Donkaments indeed