Mixing it Up in Renfrew....

Well what can I say? Back to back nights of really long poker sessions in tourneys. After 37 at the loft on Friday and then onto Renfrew for a 43 person freezeout. The blind structure was great too with 30 minute blinds. To say the skill level was horrible at best would be probably too much of a compliment. Right to the final table there were players who pretty much never play. As all of the WNP players were busting I kept saying....its like a play money tourney on stars.

My first table was full of some really nice older people from Renfrew. Really I do not think any of them had really ever played a long tourney before. They were not there to win just to play some cards. On about the 4th hand there was a raise to 150 and 5 callers. I was in the bb with 89o and called. (blinds were 50/50). The flop came down 865 rainbow. It checked to the raise who bet 500 into a pot of almost 1000. The SB flat called so I thought maybe he had an 8 as well. The turn was a Jack and it was obvious the raiser hit his set. It was written on his face. He bet 500 again into a huge pot on a draw heavy board. The SB called again and I had to call as I knew I was doubling up if I hit. I missed the river (the board paired 6s) and he bet 1200 and the SB flat called which was strange. They both had a boat, 5s full versus Jacks full. I was definitely doubling or maybe tripling if a 7 hit. So I was a bit short and I waited and waited.

I came back from the first break and decided I was going to play more aggressive. It was folded to me on the button and I raised with A8. I never ever raise with that hand...But I just felt it was time. The BB called and the flop came A62. He bet 600 into a pot of 1300. I re-raised to 2500 trying to represent hugeness and he flat called. ( RED LIGHT). The turn was a Jack and I immediately put him on AJ when he checked to me. So I checked and the river was a 9. He came out betting 1500 and I was sure he had AJ. But now there is over 6000 in the pot and I cannot fold getting 4/1 so I call and he shows A4o and my 8 kicker plays...woot woot. This was the hand I needed. Out of all the crappy poker I played in Renfrew I was never able to get over starting stack. Now I was up over 12000. I then starting running over my table. 3 hours in and it became obvious when people hit and did not. When our table busted it was very disappointing.

The new table was interesting to say the least. Very early on, I bet on the turn on a 3 spade board. I was BB and no one looked real interest in the pot. I bet about 3/4 of the pot and I got 1 caller who happened to be the SB. The board was total crap so I figure he is in the SB he must have hit. The river brought a 4th spade. I still only have nothing nada, zilch. But he checks again and I fire another 2/3rds pot bet and he thought forever and called with 2 pair and no spade. I said "how can you call that without a spade"? Frankly I couldn't care less but I made it seem like someone had just pickpocketed me. I was going on and on acting all frustrated. The guy was pissed. LOL...I didn't care. About 4 orbits later, it was limped to my BB. I had 37o. I check and the flop comes 774. He checked and I checked. I think there another limper as well. The turn was an A. he checked and I bet 400 which was minimum. The limper folded and the SB called. At this point I knew he was "trapping me" with his ace. The river was a 7. He came out firing for an over pot size bet. I went into the tank for about 3 minutes. I then said I don't think you have an ace, I raise about 3/4 of my stack which another potsize bet. He didn't even think about and instacalled. I showed my hand and he folded and said "I had an ace". I said "I know" and he was on permatilt.

I then starting to try to build a stack and had some good reads going. I raised with 5C3C to 1900 with the blinds 300/600. Another player pushed allin and it was 2100 to call. The pot was big because there was a limper. I was getting more than 2/1 and I was pretty sure it was a race with 2 high cards. I called and he showed AJ. The players at the table were in shock. I lost the race on the river after hitting the flop. Then it got really ugly. Some of the players were calling me a donkey etc. I said look I had to call and hope it was a race after my raise. They said how can you raise with 53? I said "how else can you play 53?" They did not get it....

I then hit everyone's favourite hand...AA. With the blinds still 300/600 I raised to 3000 from early position. I thought I was not going to get a caller when the SB called. He had me slightly covered. The flop came K24 and he bet 5000. I only had 8200 left and I went allin QUICKLY. I told the guy he had to call. Marco was behind me and he said "do you have aces"? I said what do you think I have? Of course.... The guy called with KQ and I held up. That was all I needed and I built my stack up to 20000. Then it was battle time with the same player I had battled with my quads with. He raised my BB nearly every orbit. I let it go every time but of course at a table like that with my image the perception is that I am loose and am in every hand. People are not advanced enough to realize I never call from the blinds. Blinds were 600/1200 and he raised to 6000. He and I had the same chips stacks and I pushed allin for about 17000 more with AQ hearts. He agonized for awhile and finally called with 99. I was shocked.....the first card on the flop was an Ace and he never improved. I won a huge pot and was well over 40k. That was about as high as I got.

The final table started and I had exactly 40,500. Blinds were 1500/300 and I felt great. I drew the ace and started on the button. I went exactly 5 orbits without playing a hand. That took about an hour and 20 mins. I was down to 25000 with blinds going to 2000/4000 and we were 6 handed. I pushed from the button and stole the blinds and was up to 32000. Th en I hit my BB without a hand to push with and I had to fold. From the SB with 28000 left I was dealt K8o. There was a limper in front of me and this player had limped folded several times at the final table. I decided it was time to push and I did. Even though I was very short, noone could afford to limp at this table. This player could not call 1/3 of his chips off with a hand he was not willing to raise with. So I pushed. The BB then instacalled. I thought I was dead but he turned over A10??WTF. LOL. It was all his chips. I lost the race and busted 6th. After the player starting trashing me for pushing with K8 it got a little ugly.

I will say this...I stand by my playing record against anyone. I do not feel I need to justify my play after the tourney is over. So I do not like getting trashed for plays I made during the tourney. If you do not like how I play, show up where I am playing and try to beat me, if you do finish ahead of me a lot congrats your quite a player. Just do not sit there and trash my play when you have no concept of what you are talking about.

So 2 nights of poker for nearly 14 hours and I come out ahead $270...well that is brutal and I am wicked tired today but it was fun!

UPDATED PLAYING STATS:

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