BCPC

I played in the BCPC $500+50 donkament today at the Rock today. The plan was to write about how I took it down, spread the sixty grand all over my bed and rolled around it continuously as I screamed like a school girl... but of course, that is not the case.

That whole saying that goes something like "you've gotta win the races to go deep" is not a saying, it's a fact of poker.

With a 6k starting stack and blinds starting at 25/50, 30 minute levels, I knew that I was going to have to double up within the first two hours if I wanted to go deep, let alone make the money. Just over $1,100 for 54th place with 550 runners to start the day.

My last hand before the first break, 2 hours into the tournament, I looked down at AKo. This was the second time I was dealt this hand. The first timeI had to fold to a flop bet when I whiffed. The guy showed his set of ducks. My read felt on, and I was well focused.

I was actually feeling great heading into the tournament. Usually I get a bit nervous, my heart starts racing and I start doubting myself, wondering why I decided to sign up in the first place.

This time it was different.

UTG limped and I was in the cutoff with AKo as mentioned. Two limpers and there was already 900 in the pot before it got to me. I thought about putting in a raise of about 1000 chips but then realized it equaled over 20% of my stack. Raise folding would have been weak, so I decided to shove my 24 BB's. UTG thought for about a minute as I stared off into space.

He called and flipped over pocket 10's.

Let me say that again. He limp called with 10's for his whole stack (I had 300 more chips than he did). We were off to the races and I couldn't catch.

It was depressing and I beat myself up about it all the way home. Shove with AKo that early in the tournament? 24BB shove, was that an overshove? Did I really just do that? I kept kicking myself and wondering if it was the right play.

The more I think about it (and talk it out), the more I know I made the right decision. Sure I could have just raised preflop, seen the flop and folded (I guess shoving is the other option, and the flop did have a Queen on it). I feel like I have progressed beyond that though. At the time I knew that I needed to get some chips, and fast. The structure becomes such a crap shoot that you need to just take a chance sooner rather than later.

When I sat down I didn't recognize anyone at my table. I am not that up to date on the "who's who" of poker fame. A couple of guys started to talk to this one guy who was wearing a jacket with his name on the sleeve. He was one of those guys you could tell was a pro, just based on his table mannerisms. He arrived about 5 minutes late and got respect from some other players right away. He had a routine, and he was very well polished. It's something that I have been working on lately, so I was paying attention to how he was protecting his hand, how he was putting in raises etc. In that sense, I learned a few new things, which is always nice.

So anyway, his name is Marc Karam and he was still wearing his jacket. The jacket had a Canadian Flag on the sleeve and below that his name was spelled "Mark Karam." I wonder which one is a typo... I also wondered, at the time, if it was poker related or not. I mean really, who wears a jacket with there full name listed on the sleeve. I really hope it was a gift.

He limped from the SB and there were four players to the flop. The flop came out 6-Q-2 rainbow. Marc checks his SB and the BB leads out for 500 chips (almost a pot size bet). One fold, and the cutoff calls 500. Marc, took his time, thought about his options, and min-raised to 1000. The BB folds and the cutoff re-raises to 3000.

Marc pushes all in and the CO insta-calls! Marc flips over pocket 6's for middle set. The CO flips over pocket 2's for bottom set. Two cards to come and the CO shouts out "come on deuce!"

Deuce on the river. A one outter on the river and Marc jumps out of his chair in disgust. He was covered and left immediately without saying anything to anyone. It was pretty gross to see that happen live, but I'm sure he's had his share of suckouts as well.

The same guy in the CO later hits a one outter to take another guy out 20 minutes later. Maybe it is destiny.

At the break I remember the one outter dude say to his buddy that he had about 26K in chips. The average was about 7500 after the first break and the blinds were at 150/300. My final hand I threw in my scraps when I was dealt KJc... which lost to pocket tens (of course lol).

You've gotta win the races if you want to go deep...

And hit one outters... those are always nice.