Event 6 - Limit Holdem $340

The action picks up in Level 4 of Event 6 - Limit Holdem $330 with blinds at 75-150 and 150-300 limits. I am down to 1,700 after taking a string of hits on the river two pair losing to flush, trips losing to straight. That is the nature of Limit Holdem, you cannot bet a drawing hand out of the pot. However, in the long run - the drawing hand will make you money because it does not always hit. But this is a tournament and we are playing for now and not for the long run. The field has been narrowed to 70 players and only the top 18 get paid.

I am dealt AJ suited in mid position and raise the pot to 300, remember that this is limit and you have to bet in increment of the big blind until after the flop. After the flop, the increments double. The button position calls. Remember in a earlier blog, I mentioned the cards maybe hot but the cocktail waitresses of Whiskey Roadhouse (WSOP Circuit Area) are even hotter. Dana, the cocktail waitress walks by and I just motion for another drink (Hot Tea) with the flick of a finger. I intentionally watch her walk away and in the corner of my eye; I notice that the other player is peering at his cards hard and staring at the board hard and reaching for chips. It appears that he does not think that I am paying attention but I am. My initial read is that regardless of what the next card is that he will bet the pot. He's bluffing and will try to bet me out of the pot. I intend to call whatever the bet is. The flop is 8,Q,J. I check, and he bets 150, I raise to 300, he re-raises to 450; I re-raise his raise to 600 and the betting is capped there. The turn is a 3 and I again check. He bets 300 and I raise all-in for my last 600. The river is a 4 and my Jacks hold up for a pot worth 3,625 and right on cue, Dana brings me my drink and this table was directly under the AC vents and blowing out cold air. Here is a pic of Dana, she actually helped me win a few pots in the various tournaments without realizing it. Thanks Dana! if you get to see this blog, you'll get another mention in the next blog.


The next few hands, I manage to win a few small pots by simply calling the big blind and win with hands such as J,4 ; K,5 ; and A,9. It is through the showdowns that the other players are beginning to realize that I have been virtually playing any two cards in the last few hands. This is a dangerous strategy in that this is Limit and Not No Limit and its hard to push players off of pots when they call. I end level 4 with 5,400 in chips. In the process of accumulating chips the field has been narrowed to 60 and my friend and fellow Poker Across America mate Chuck P is moved to our table with a short stack of 1900.

We do not acknowledge each other and play as if we do not know each other. I would help Chuck in a few pots if I had more chips but will stay away from pots that Chuck is in unless I have a strong hand. Chuck's blinds are constantly raised and he has to fold hand after hand. His stack is now down to 1,200. The blinds are at 200-300 with 300-600 limits. Chuck raises from the button position with pocket 6s to 600 and it is called by the small and big blind. I shoot a quick glance at Chuck and can tell that he will need lots of help from this board in order to advance further in this event. The flop is A,9,4 and the small blind bets 300 and the big blind calls. The turn is a 7 and both players check it down. The river hits Chuck squarely with a 6 and Chuck scoops the pot of 1,800. The rest of the level, I have to lay low until Chuck is the big blind and I raise with pocket 8s and A,J in another hand. This is one of the reasons that it can be hard to play at the same tournament with your mates.

I end Level 6 with 9,700 in chips and am working my way up in chips. This is only my second ever Limit format Tournament and thus far I feel good. Chuck has also tripled his stack and sits at nearly 3,500. We are now on Dinner Break and kind of wish we could keep playing as I am on a rush. Chuck and I eat dinner with our group and discuss the difference on Limit strategy versus No Limit strategy and come to the consensus that Limit is more chasing than No Limit.

Level 7 blinds at 200-400 with 400-800 limits. This level is not kind to Chuck and I as we both take successive hits to our stack. I now sit at 10,500 in chips when I am dealt A,2 in button position and raise to 800 and the big blind calls. The flop is A,2,5 and I have two pair. I bet out 400 and it is raised to 800; I re-raise to 1200 and the big blind calls. The turn is an 8, I bet 800 and he calls. The river is a stinking 8 and my two pair is counterfeited with Aces and 8s with a 5 kicker and he has Aces and 8s with a six kicker. My stack is now down to 7,200 and its a good thing that I slowed down and checked the river because I save a few chips in the process. 10 minutes later I'm dealt pocket Jacks and get beat by a straight and am down to 2,200. Chuck survives another all-in and manages to have 1,900 in chips. Both of us are now in short-stack status. 10 minutes later, Chuck is eliminated and out in 29th place. In the process, I also get lucky and triple through with pocket 3s versus A,6 by catching a 3 on the river. I was out of my chair and ready to leave when the magical 3 hit. I end Level 7 with 5,300 in chips but my swagger was clearly gone and the average chip stack in the room was at 15,000. I had lots of work to do in order to get back into average chip stack position. Level 7 definitely tested my patience as I had to walk away from the table a few times to prevent from going on tilt.

Level 8- 300-500 blinds with 500-1000 limits. The first two orbits, I have to fold and have been moved to a new table. I am now down to 2,200 and on life support, literally. We are now inside 26 players and only 8 spots form in the money. This is so familiar to me because this just happened less than 48 hours ago in the No-Limit $550 event. I am dealt A,J of diamonds in late position and raise to 1,000. The small and big blind call. I really was just trying to pick up the pot pre-flop and it did not work. The flop is K,Q diamonds, 8. it is checked to me and I put in my last 1200 into the pot and it called by both of the blinds. The turn is a 9. I now have a royal fush draw, flush draw, straight draw and tons of outs. The river is a stinking 4 of clubs and I am sent to the rail in 24th place; only 6 spots from in the money. So many outs and still it didn't hit. I hate this game! No, just kidding but clearly I was not in a friendly mood at the moment. Uggh, I leave the table in disgust and go to the satellite area to play in single table satellites. Another event, and oh so close to the money but yet so far.

My next blog will chronicle how I fared in the single table satellites and actually made more money this way than I did in the circuit events itself. There is also a record time of playing in a single table satellite and perhaps the best table that I played in during the trip. Here's a hint, I do go on a rush!

Limit or No Limit?
Chewey