Day Two of Event 37 (final trip report till Main Event):

We entered Day 2 of the $2k PLHolem event with everyone in the money and 45 players left. I had moved to the top 10 in chips with the last second rush the night before. Both Rizen and BelowAbove urged me to "grind it" because in Pot Limit Holdem there are no antes. It turned out, unfortunately, that it wasn't a hard thing to do. I was essentially card dead for the entire Day 2 run. I never had: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 10 10, 99, 88, 66, 55, 33, or 22. I pushed when I got 77 a few hours into play and won the blinds. I folded my only other pocket pair -- 44 -- after a limp and a pot size raise. I had AK once and AJ once. That was it! Not even a A 10. I had A3 maybe 10 times and K 10 a lot. I don't recall seeing double paint until I went out! So I think that's pretty card dead.

The AK hand was important. I was down to 60k chips (from 77k) and repotted a shorty who flipped 99 and I won the race. That pushed me over 80k and I basically lived off that hand for a long time. I lost the AJ hand but I can't recall how now. I got three walks, which were life saving for me.

So it was an easy day of play for me with no difficult decisions. When we got down to two tables, I got to play with TJ Cloutier, who was entertaining. He pushed back on the big stack, who was sucking out against everyone, with A 10 and showed when the big stack folded. People rarely played with TJ.

The big stack, who eventually went out third, just had the most amazing run of luck all day. He did make one great bluff on a guy for a huge pot, so he had skills. But boy did he always get his money in bad -- often after the flop -- and still win. One example: he repotted a guy on a queen high flop. The smaller but significant stack thought a long time and repotted and they got all in. Big stack flipped Q6 and the other guy had QJ. Six on turn, gg sir. The same big stack, on the final table, got all in against the second chip leader after a flop of AK8. The 2nd chip leader had AK and big stack had K8. So you can't blame him -- he had two pair. But then an 8 spiked on the turn giving him a boat. I wish I knew how he lost the tournament -- he had an amazing chip lead.

Anyway, with 13 to go I was in critical condition when it folded to me and I had a monster A3. Easy pot bet. But then, oddly, the good size stack in the BB just flat called. I only had 12k left, I think. Flop was AKK and I hesitated and just flicked my chips in. A buddy on the sideline told me he sure thought I missed. The BB swore he had a pocket pair and he laid it down. I can't imagine how he could fold a pocket pair there but he had been playing tight. I could have used the extra chips.

Two hands later it folds to me in the cutoff and I have KJ clubs. It was the first double paint I had seen in many hours and it just felt like aces. Unfortunately, the BB repotted, putting me all in. I took my time and tried to think it through. I was getting 2 to 1 on my money. If I fold, I was back down very low and would need a rush like the night before. Plus we were playing 6 handed on my table, so the blinds were coming around very fast.

I took a good look at him and he didn't look that strong -- but what could I beat? I started praying for mid pair or AQ and finally decided I was getting the right price to call. It was great to see him turn over 10 10 ... the same hand I played against the night before that started my rush (when I had KQ). It wasn't meant to be when he flopped a set. I did pick up a flush draw on the turn but bricked the river. TJ told me I had to call there and Rizen, who had stopped over on a break, said I had to as well. Oh well. Unfortunately, TJ went out 10th and didn't make the official final table.

So far I've played in three events at the WSOP (one last year and two this year) with two cashes and one bubble. I'm back out for the Main Event next week. Good luck all!

mindwise

P.S. See Part 1 and Part 2 of my trip reports on 6/27 and 6/28 of this blog.