So I was playing $5/$10 nl during the week of the WPT (at fallsview
Casino Resort) as these were the smallest games that were offered. The
action was really soft as a lot of tourists and 5/5 and 2/5 regulars
were forced to play much above their bankrolls and skill level. I
expected to make a few buyins each day during the time I was there. I have had some bad streaks over my poker career
and this was one of them. Every time I got my money in (and all the
money got in) when I was 70% favourite (or better) to win the hand I
would somehow end up losing. I can remember 4 or 5 hands where I got my
money in with 2 pair or better vs very marginal hands where I would end
up losing. And these were certainly not setup hands. Example 78 suited
and the board comes k78 rainbow and I get my money in against a k6 off.
K hits turn and guy scoops 900 pot. In that situation the guy thought
he was committed as there was 175 in preflop and original raiser put in
130 on the flop which he called and I check raised the flop to put him
all in. I also recall about 4 or 5 times where I got all my money in
when I had two pair or better vs a naked flush draw or a
pair and a flush draw. I lost every single situation. Don’t get me
wrong I definitely want to get my money in when I am such a heavy
favourite. In poker you certainly don’t want to wait to see a card that
will hurt your action or better your opponent’s hand. Unless you are
playing deep stack poker (which I wasn’t for the most part) most
players who wait to see if a blank comes on the turn are generally
playing with scared money.
On top of running bad I also got setup horribly.
Within a 24 hour period I lost two stacks with set over set. One hand
there was a raise under the gun and a call in mid position. I had 22
and called on the button. The board came 2J7 rainbow and the guy UTG
(initial raiser) lead out. The mid position called and I raised. Both
players called and the turn was an A. No flush draw was on board.
Everyone checked to me and I bet pot. UTG folded and mid position
raised me. I reraised all in and he called with JJ. This is what we
call a cold deck. The same thing happened the next day with 44 vs 77.
When board came 4710 turn A. All the money got in by the turn. I
also ran into a set when I had top 2 pair and a back door flush redraw
on the turn. AQ Spades vs 99. Flop AQ9. 7 spades hit the turn. I
reraised the player preflop. By the turn all the money got in.
What can I say about this whole experience? Sick
runs like this generally happen very rarely. However I can’t really
complain as this is the nature of the business. For about 4 days I felt
like I was in Mike Matasau’s shoes. I am taking a few days off of poker
and then hitting up Vegas for a week where I will probably play a few
tournaments at Caesars. Caesars Palace is having its ‘Mega Stack’ Poker
Tournaments during the month of October. Action should be good.
Oh yah I forgot to mention that Glen Witmer took
down the world poker tour event in Niagara and a cool 1.2 million. I
have played with Glen before in Niagara. Glen resides in Waterloo,
Ontario Canada. Glen is a really nice guy and it was a pleasure to see
him win.
Cheers,
Errol
To read my full blog please go to http://blogs.outstandingpoker.com/errol/
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