This is not 38, This is Old 97

Home tournament last night. Approximately 25 players, same format at previously with two rebuys available. With the WSOP going on, several of the steady players are out in Vegas, so it was a motley crew of folks who showed up. I made some mental notes that perhaps there were going to be some unbluffable folks and some players who might make some charitable donations to the cause.

With that in mind, I decided to be patient. Of course, the second hand of the night I flopped the nuts when my Q,10 off hit a K,J,9 flop. It got a little worrisome when a second 9 came on the turn, with the levels being low and the game having just started, I didn't figure to make much but if by chance someone was slow (or mis) playing pocket jacks or kings, I was going to take my first rebuy sooner than expected. As it turns out, I was up against A,J and no J or 9 came on the river so I won a decent pot right off.

The next couple levels were pretty rough, as I mainly folded garbage and watched some big pots go on without me. Sets against top pair, that kind of thing. I got caught speculating a few times and dumped bottom pair in one instance and A,Q that had missed everything in another when I did pick up some hands.

But patience is something I pride myself on at a table and tonight I remembered it. Literally. After folding for awhile to some strange play, I got the itch to play. Anything. Any 2 cards.

But I didn't. I constantly reminded myself to make good plays and not to get antsy and start limping just to get the feel of being in the game.

Instead I waited. And I got bested when I flopped top pair in the BB with Q,8 and my middling stack was immediately called by the table captain and his A,Q. But I didn't panic, didn't think about how I had to shove immediately with my rebuy. The levels were at 100/200 when I rebought for 1500 and I was able to steal some blinds. Then, at 200/400 I woke up to Brooklyn, the borough of Kings. No brainer shove from 2nd position for 1700 but no one picked up anything. Bummer, but I rake the blinds. Now at 2300. Very next hand, painkillers: AcAs. I'm under the gun. The guy I rate as the most knowledgeable of the other players at my table is in the BB. He just watched me shove and pull the blinds and I didn't show. He's in for 400 already. Of all the people in the BB, I'm glad it's him, as he would be the most suspicious of my back to back moves. I shove, it comes around to him, he smiles and lays it down. He tells me that if he had any face card, he was going to call. I show him the aces to put in the back of his mind for later on, just in case.

Then, a few hands later, I get the hand that helped me the most through the middle stages of this game. A monster 5,10 offsuit. But I'm in an unopened pot in the SB and I limp. The BB follows suit and the flop is money: 10,5,3 rainbow. I check, BB bets 600, I shove and he instacalls with top pair. He doesn't match up his kicker and I'm doubled.

After this, patience. And more patience. It makes for a dull recap but a solid game. I rode my stack to the final table, where I got literally nothing for 3 rounds as the blinds crept up. Anything marginal and I was beaten to the pot by a shove or something to preclude my move. Finally, after joking to the table in an effort to remind everyone that I hadn't yet played, I look down at 2,2 in early position. My stack is marginal comparative to the others and not in good shape with regard to the blinds. I need to make something happen.

But I fold. A month ago I probably would have shoved after folding so much. Behind me comes a shove and a call. 6,6 and A,A. Bullets dodged, literally. (incidentally a 6 flopped and an A came on 4th street. Rough.)

So I wait. And finally, I get a break. In the BB, I look at 10,8 and three players limp. I check my option and get the sweetest sight: 7,9,J. Boo-yah baby. Needless to say, I raised it up after someone came in and doubled through them. It got me comfortable and a few hands later, I see the Brooklyn boys again. Again, they only rake me the blinds but the blinds are significant at this point and no need to risk a flopped ace when I can smell the money.

And then, the heavy lifting was done by others. After I had won a good pot when my A,7 turned into lucky sevens on the flop and turn, I sat back and folded as people got overagressive or desperate. Again, the blinds were big and I could have made moves with hands like A,8 but I didn't see the need when committing to a multi-way pot this late could bust me or cripple my stack. Here is where I was happiest with my patience. Throwing away openers that can play in order to achieve my goal of cashing. And cash I did. I ended up 3rd after my run of cards ended and I pushed from the button with Q,6. K,10 called and that was that when a 10 flopped.

A follow up tomorrow to break down a couple hands.