More NOT this week

As mentioned in the last post, slb159 and chipperdh have slightly different versions of what happened last week. Quatloos has managed to post some screen shots of various stages of last week's game as well.

Let's see if we can get back to breaking our record this week (although I don't really mind the smaller games - especially when I win).

What: WWdN: Not The chipperdh Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, August 3rd, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 28896393
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey

NOT a great turnout, but a GREAT game

Well everyone else might not agree, but I actually like the smaller format. We only had 10 people show up to play, although a few more showed up to railbird a little. We very quickly moved on to a single table when L0K1 took out waffles in what had to be the first or second hand. I managed to hang in there for the 1st half hour, then I went on a bit of a rush (well actually a huge rush) and took out a few people.

I can't take credit for talking out slb on the bubble tho. The credit for that has to go to our next tournament's namesake, chipperdh. Slb has quite the rant going on about it, so you can check his blog for that. surflexus did a great job of fighting with me for the lead and in a great hand I managed to sucker him when I had pocket queens and he doubled me up to take the lead. Of course he may not agree it was a great hand. ;-) He didn't have a chance after that and chipperdh and I were heads up.

This left me with a dilemna. If I went out in 2nd place, I would have to name the next tournament after me and I figured people might not understand that. The only solution was to go ahead and finish in 1st so we could have the WWdN: Not The chipperdh Invitational next week. It was a little harder than that, but in the end I won my first tournament / MTT / SnG in quite a while.

Overall it was a great game, suckouts, hammer falls and all.

Just a reminder

Just a quick note to remind everyone to keep the WWdN: Not The A'arab Zaraq Invitational on their calendar this Thursday at the regular time:

What: WWdN: Not The A'arab Zaraq Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, July 27th, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 28483571
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey

We tied the record

We had a great turnout, tying our current record of 25 players. Not the kind of turnout that the other regular blogger and bloggee tournaments get, but I am happy with our little Thursday night game attendence. Congratulations have to go to shadowtwin, A'arab Zaraq and NewinNov for finishing in the money, and of course A'arab Zarab gets special recognition for Not winning. There was some mighty sucking out going on to make that final money showing, but it was very entertaining (as usual).

Once I managed to donk out in 22nd, and Guin managed to finish in 20th, we decided to go try a joint 45 SnG to continue with the challenge. Unfortunately this wasn't our night there either and we went out in 23rd and 18th respectively.

After I finished that, I went back and watched the final table of the WWdN: Not. Needless to say the railbirding and trash talking is part of what makes this so much fun. Stay tuned next week for the WWdN: Not The A'arab Zaraq Invitational.

Trying for more records

Tonight is your chance to help Wes Not win the WWdN: Not The Boobie Lover Invitational. Go get yourself signed up right now, in case you are a little late arriving tonight.

What: WWdN: Not The Boobie Lover Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, July 20th, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 28090247
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey

In other news, I tried another one of those 45 person SnGs again last night. I got down to 3 tables and limped in with KJ suited in the cutoff. The button and blinds completed for a total of 4 to the flop. The flop came KJ2 rainbow and it was checked to me. I decided to just slow play, checked, and the button bet $300. The other two players called the bet and with only ~T1000 left into a ~T2000 pot, I pushed all-in. The button calls and the other two fold. The button turns over wired 2s for 3 of a kind. They hold up and I go home.

I didn't think my play was that bad (always open to comments tho) but I didn't get as far this time as last time (when I bubbled out in 8th). Oh well..

45 SnG Challenge and the Boobie Lover Invitational

I signed up for the 45 SnG Challenge that drewspop is running over here. It looks like fun, although my first attempt yesterday ended in a 19th place finish. I figure I have a month, so I will take my time and see how it turns out. The biggest challenge is waiting for the damn game to fill up most times.

Just a reminder that the regularly scheduled WWdN: Not is trying to break its current record turnout of 25 on Thursday. Come help Wes Not win again!

What: WWdN: Not The Boobie Lover Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, July 20th, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 28090247
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey

No records tonight

But we did have our regular 15 or so turnout. Congrats have to go to Iakaris, Boobie Lover and Mungo36 for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes - in the money. I actually felt I stood a chance for a short while, but was dissuaded when Wes sucked out on me and my final all-in with the hammer didn't stand up.

So stay turned next week for WWdN: Not The Boobie Lover Invitational!

WWdN: Not The tonight

So much for my WSOP 150 challenge last night. I took a muscle relaxant for some shoulder problems and promptly fell asleep. I don't think it helped my shoulder much, but I will keep the medicine around in case I need help sleeping.

Other than that, just a reminder about the WWdN: Not The mowemdown Invitational tonight, same time and place as usual.

What: WWdN: Not The mowemdown Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, July 13th, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 27691916
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey

Patience

They say patience is an important part of playing poker. I actually agree whole heartedly and am usually a fairly patient player.

Well tonight I wanted to make another attempt at the WSOP 150 at Pokerstars, but sat outside enjoying the cooling evening a little too long tonight and when I came in, there was no interesting tournaments starting for at least 30 minutes.

Given I didn't have the patience to wait, I found one in the regular tournament tab which was about to start. I figured I could afford it as it cost a grand total of $1.10. I like to occasionally play the cheaper tournaments because they usually have a larger field and it makes for a different game than the smaller tournies.

We are now on the 3rd break, and if I went out right now in 23rd of 773 players, I would win a grand total of $3.41 (minus my costs for a net of $2.31). That isn't what this is about tho. It is about having the patience to out last 750 other players. The break is about over, so we will see how long I last after this.

At just about the 4 hour point, I was the serious short stack and on the final table button. I had A7o and the flop came 568 rainbow and I pushed figuring high card and an outside straight draw. My caller had A5 for the baby pair and it held up. That was it for me in 10th place for a grand prize of $8.12.

Overall I was lucky to get that far - back to that patience thing I guess. I had really lousy cards for a lot of it and the crowd at this level were pretty agressive. I played real tight (lousy cards helped) and when I finally got something I usually doubled up (and needed it at that point). Eventually that luck had to give out. I'm happy enough - now only if that had of been a $10+1 instead of $1.00+0.10.

Trying for the WSOP 150 at Pokerstars

So I read my email and I decided I would try to win myself an entry into the WSOP 150 giveaway this weekend at Pokerstars.

I took a look around, hoping for one of their double shootouts that I like so much, but all they had were various flavours of freezeout and rebuy events. I decided I would give a $3+0 rebuy event a try - the main reason was the more expensive events didn't pay as many positions (less people playing, etc). Sounds kinda backwards typing that, but generally the cheaper events have more payout (and a bigger crowd to fight).

So I battled my way through the 1st hour, rebuying more than a few times (I think I spend $15 or so) and finally a more normal game started to appear. The advantage was that most these types weren't that quick at switching from the all-in fest of a rebuy, (especially a cheap one) to a more normal game and they were quickly eliminated.

The disadvantage of this format tho was there were only 16 seats to the Sunday tournament, and 610 players. The other disadvantage is the rather long slog to make it into the top 5% which is all that won anything (top 25 positions actually).

If you're still reading this, now you know what it feels like to play this. We are now down to 43 players and we have been at it 3 hours and 43 minutes - it seems like forever. I also just discovered that the player chat is disabled for some reason - I assume there was a problem somewhere and pokerstars disabled it? I have never seen that before, but I know the chat worked earlier.

I am not sure I can make it now. The blinds are up to $3000/6000 + 300 and before I finished typing this, I got sucked into an all-in (my M was about 4) and I was in the big blind. I had the great hand, 53o and the flop came 599. I was pretty pot commited so I pushed and the other person in the hand called and turned over KK. I never improved (I had a 2 outer) and I went out in 33rd. Which kinda sucks after playing for 3 hours and 53 minutes and do not even make the money.

Oh well. I am happy with the way I played, which is an improvement over a couple of weeks ago. I plan on trying this every night this week except for the WWdN: Not night (and if I go out early there, perhaps that night as well).

WWdN: Not The mowemdown Invitational

Here's everyone's chance to help break the record for next week by registering early. Come join us to see if mowemdown will Not win again next time:

What: WWdN: Not The mowemdown Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, July 13th, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 27691916
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey

Record turn out tonight..

I was amazed that we got 25 people to come out to try to dethrone MiamiDon tonight. I expected a slightly less than usual turnout, given the mad rush to get to Vegas and all. In the end, Mookie succeeded, taking Don out in 6th place and then after taking some bad beats goes on to finish in 1st place!!! As usual, congrats have to go out to Mookie, mowemdown, and hacker59 for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes (in the money). Next week, stay tuned for the WWdN: Not The mowemdown Invitational!

Last Chance

For those who haven't headed to Vegas yet for the big party, tonight is your last chance for a regularly scheduled blogger event. The winner from two weeks ago was our favorite knight, Sir Waffles and because we do it the way we are Not supposed to, this weeks event is named after the 2nd place finisher, MiamiDon. For those who aren't going to Vegas, here is your chance to win a tourny while all the others are out playing live games.

What: WWdN: Not The MiamiDon Invitational
Where: Pokerstars
When: Thursday, July 6th, 7:30PM PT
Which: Tournament: 27048121
Cost: $10+1 NLHE
Password: monkey