Mscell's Blog

I am going to squeeze in one more poker trip before Christmas. I will be heading back to AC to play in the WSOPC at Harrahs starting on Decmber 1st. I had a great time at the Borgata Fall Poker Open and thought I played my best poker in the $500 Bounty Six Max event and the Main Event.

I correctly fired three barrels holding Q high to win a pot, successfully called down three streets with K high to win a pot, and successfully called a river jam with TT on a 9297A (with three clubs showing) after flatting a three bet preflop and check/calling bets on the flop and turn. I even recovered from losing 80% of my stack on the 2nd hand of Day 2 in the Main Event after 5 bet shoving AA and losing to QQ.

If you will be in town, please let me know.

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So I didn't make any noise at the WPT Borgata event back in September. But the tournaments were great (both in their structures and field sizes) and I managed to have some fun hanging out with ToniSinz, Sandler1860, Becomelegendary, Gutshtallin, and Sheets. (Or Tony, Jerry, Scott, Ryan, and Eric as they are known in real life....)

And since we shouldn't be results oriented when we play this game, I didn't let my Borgata losing streak get the best of me. Instead I msged ToniSinz to see if he was going to be at Foxwoods in October and to see if he wanted to split a room. He was already planning on going and so my next poker trip was taking shape. I had never ventured up to Foxwoods before so I felt a little out of my element at first. (I live one hour from Atlantic City so I've always been hard pressed for a reason to drive 4.5 hours just to play cards.) But once you get settled in and comfortable with the surroundings, poker is poker.

I couldn't get much going in the first few events. In fact, I felt I was running about as bad as I could ever remember. Tony and I were seated at the same table in the $1K event on Sunday, and he got to witness me losing three times with pocket kings all within two levels. The first two times I was able to get away from the hand while losing about the minimum but the final time I was down to 55 BBs and managed to get it allin preflop vs pocket aces.

Again, trying not to let my results cloud my judgement, I actually thought I was playing well and it was great having a poker roommmate to talk with at the end of each level and at the end of the day. So I registered for my final tournament - the $500 Monday event. And with a little bit of luck and a lot of solid play I managed to survive Day 1 with an average stack. Early on Day 2, I was able to hold when a short stacked player 3bet shoved AJ to an EP raise and I 4bet re-shoved with JJ from the SB. That gave me some breathing room and assured me that I would get my first cash of the series.

Unfortunately, as we played down short-handed to the final table, I wasn't able to chip up much. I was caught between players who were overly aggressive and players who were catching cards. This left me as the short stack at the ten handed final table but I didn't mind. I managed to get the last of my chips in with AQ vs JJ. I was able to turn the A but he rivered the J and I was out. (Amazingly in this hand, the two players sitting between me and the BB who had the JJ, actually managed to fold AQ and 99! So after folding for like four orbits, when I finally get an actual spot to shove from the cutoff - the poker gods manage to give all three players left to act a legimaite hand....)

So 10th place was the best I could do which was better than Mindwise did at Foxwoods but not nearly as good as Hutch did. My next roadtrip is to Disney for my Mom's 60th birthday. It is a full family affair with both of my brothers, my parents, and my kids making the trip. Should be a lot of fun and a nice break from poker.....

.....but I already have my room booked for the Borgata Fall Poker Open when I get home!

- Mark

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Tomorrow marks the start of the WPT Borgata Poker Open. I plan on playing about 5-10 events including the $3500 Main Event. Last year I had planned a similar schedule but ended up only playing one event. Illness and scheduling changes with my children washed out the rest of my plans.

This year things will be better. I have my hotel rooms booked and my parents are dog sitting and helping out with the kids. I'm not staying in Atlatic City for the entire series but since I only live an hour away, I can go back and forth when needed. I have played a ton of cash at Borgata this summer so my rooms are free and I feel my live game is in very good shape.

If you are going to be in town, please drop me a line. I will try and send updates via Twitter (@mscell) and take good notes so I can discuss interesting hands when I get back.

- Mark

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