Manchester G

I went out to Manchester G last night for a change.

They have a pretty good structure in the tournament although it does finish late but I don’t mind that if I’ve got to the money.

Starting with 5000 chips and blinds at 25/50, my first hand of not involved me limping with JQ in early position.

Not something I would do against good players but in these tables you tend to have at least 3 or 4 top a flop whether it is raised or not. Also there are a lot of players who will give you chips with weak holdings post flop.

Anyway, in this hand the flop came 9 10 K rainbow, an ideal flop against the 6 players involved and I know I will get chips here if I don’t get outdrawn.

The small blind lead out for 200 into the 300 pot and, with 3 players behind me I decided to call rather than raise even though it was a wet flop as I was hoping that someone behind had a good enough hand to raise. 2 other players called and the turn came a 9. Now at this point any set on the flop has just made the full house and I’m drawing dead. So I bet 1500 into the 1500 pot and decided to fold if raised. In hindsight I should have check called here and re-evaluated on the river as there were not many cards left to improve someone who I was beating. Anyway the player on the button raised all in and, because I felt that he would have raised a flop like that with a set I called and he showed me 9 10 for the full house. I hate the way I played this and if I was going to bet the turn I should have bet less and then I should have stuck to my initial decision and folded when raised.

The next hand of significance involved me making a small raise pre with 77 and flopping a set on a Kc 7c 2c flop. I lead out for 400 into the 700 pot and this was called. I check called a 1000 bet on a Qh turn and when the river came with 6c I check folded to his 1500 bet where any club had me beat.

I did get someone talking about what a crap bet I made when I was on the button in a limped pot that had 5 players and was checked around to me 3 times on a board of 667 6 7 so on the river I made a bet of 700 into the pot of 500 knowing that anyone who was beating the board would have bet. I got 1 out of the 4 players who called and so instead of getting my 100 back I got 250. He was talking to the player who called saying that it was a stupid bet but my thoughts were that we were all splitting the pot so anyone that folded meant I was getting more than I put in. For me it is also a way of giving off an image that I will bluff more than I actually do and if I ever do that in a pot where I have the 6 or 7 or even an overpair someone will pay me off.

Next up was a hand where I was on the big blind with AT against a loose player’s button raise of 3600. I reraised all in for 9000 and he called with 23 and the ace on the turn doubled me up.

Then, with the blinds at 800/1600 I raised to 4200 with A8 in mid position when 7 handed and the same player called. The flop came 44T and I checked to let him make his inevitable bet but he checked behind. Turn was another T and I checked again, he bet 7000 and I raised all in to which he passed saying that if he had an ace it would be a split pot to which I agreed, telling him that I did indeed have the best hand.

But then came the pivotal hand of the night. In the big blind of 4000 a player UTG+1 went all in for 37000 as he had done a couple of times all night with tens telling everyone that he didn’t want to see a flop. So I know that he has anything from 88 to JJ with almost certainty. Then Mr 23 called for 25000 all in and I have a look to see KK in the hole.

I call and am up against the TT as predicted and AA from Mr 23. This is not so bad since the side pot between me and Mr TT is 22000 meaning I will have 48000 left if I only win that and 26000 if I lose both.

The flop came A 9 J leaving us both drawing thin but the turn 7 and river 8 gave Mr TT a huge pot of 100,000 and a cruel outdraw for Mr 23. Mr TT did get a bit excited when the 8 came and did apologise to me after for celebrating which he didn’t need to do since it was pure excitement and not like some of the muppets who are not very nice at the table and gloat in that sort of situation.

My eventual downfall came when I reraised a button raise in the BB with AJ v KT but the QQK flop out flopped me and no Ace or ten came to save me and I was off home at 2am with nothing. But hey, that’s poker. I don’t really get upset by the outdraws as it is a long term game and we all suffer from them and all benefit by them too. All you can do is hope that you suffer more than you give as that means you are playing better poker.

On the Family front, Emma, my daughter of 13, was celebrating this week when her audition to get onto the LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) development programme which involves some sessions in her school and then potentially going to the institute. I’m not sure of all the details yet but she works hard at her dance (3-4 times a week) and it is well deserved.

We’re going to see Star Trek at the weekend, which I wouldn’t normally mention on here, but we have decided to try out the iMAX version at the Manchester Odeon. iMAX is basically the same but on a much bigger screen. With it being a space based movie we thought we would give it a go and see what it is like on the huge screen.