HPL Cashes Again At WSOP Tunica and Guest Post
Hello all. David Mansfield cashed for a 2nd time last week at the WSOP Circuit Event in Tunica. I asked him to write up a tournament report so I could post it here. It is below. Congrats to David and Kathy McKay on their great showings in Tunica.
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The 2008-2009 WSOP Circuit Event is at Harrah’s Tunica from 01/20/09 to 02/04/09. I think this is my fourth time to go to Tunica for a circuit event. I got there barely in time to enter Monday’s Event #7 which started at noon. It was a $230 buy-in with 621 entries.
I’m not very good at remembering specific hands, but I can tell you that I played an average or just above average stack most of the time. I do remember thinking that I played pretty well and couldn’t remember any major mistakes. That doesn’t mean I didn’t make any, just that I can’t remember them! Anyway, they paid 63 players. I finished 43rd. Exciting stuff!
It was pretty late, but I was too hyped to go to bed, so entered a $65 single table satellite. For those who don’t know, they run those constantly, so if you want to go but don’t have enough money to play in very many main events you can always play the single tables. Anyway, it got down to two of us and I was short stacked so the other guy said something to the effect that he’d offer to split if I had more chips, but since I didn’t, oh well. It really didn’t matter to me because I wasn’t thinking of a split anyway. Guess what his offer was when I pulled about even? You guessed it. He was a nice guy so I decided to split even though I knew I had him. How’d I know? He was a big talker; very friendly. He told me early on that he doesn’t go all in pre-flop! WAY too much info there buddy. Anyway, I agreed to split with him.
Funny thing is on the bus back to the hotel I sat down next to the dealer. The first thing he said was that I should have played it out. He agreed that I probably would have taken it all. Still, at the end of the first day I’d cashed in both tourneys I entered. Pretty exciting. Finishing 43rd out of 621 was definitely the best part of day one.
Here is a link to the Event #7 results. That’s me at #43.
Day two I entered Event #8, another noon event with the same buy-in. This time there were 470 entered. Again I played a good average stack game, never really getting enough chips to do much. Thankfully the best player at the table for most of my day, who had a huge stack when I was first moved there, was just to my right.
When it came to the end of level 18 at about 2:00 a.m. I was still sitting there! We didn’t get down to the final table; we had 11 remaining. So we had to come back the next day at 2:00 to play for the final table, which would then move upstairs. If you haven’t been to Harrah’s lately they moved the circuit event downstairs to the “theater” area. The main tournament area is on the floor but they have the final table on a platform.
Anyway, I started with $321,000 chips with antes at $4000 and blinds at $15,000 and $30,000. So I know I don’t have much room for error. But what else is new; that’s about how I had to play the whole way anyway. Our table had 6 players and I guess we were on the second or third hand and the guy under the gun limped. I thought that was pretty odd; it didn’t seem to fit with the way he’d been playing. I’m either the button or just right of the button (I don’t remember which) and look down at AK off suit. I had pretty much decided that with the antes, both blinds and the limper in I had just one move, so went all in.
Everybody folded to the limper and he called. When he turned over A9 of hearts I was feeling pretty good; I’m supposed to be about a 70% favorite at that point. Then the flop came 2 hearts and you guessed it; the river came another heart. The guy called off almost half his chips with A9 suited, which I think was a questionable decision. But I never say anything at the table. It’s funny how often the loser tries to “school” the winner, and I just always try to avoid that. So, I finished 11th. The only consolation there is that he used my chips to win the tournament.
Here’s a link to the Event #8 results. You’ll find me at a disappointed #11.
So after walking around and trying to cool down a little, I went to buy an entry into the 7:00 “Second Chance” tourney ($125 buy-in), which had about 160 entries. I didn’t get any cards when I needed them and went out about 90th. Both before and after that one I played several single table satellites at either a $65, $125 or $230 buy-in. I have an awful memory but think I cashed in three out of six or four out of seven. I do remember the three-way split at the only $230 table I played, so left with a little over $700 on that one. Every single-table game I cashed in decided on a 2-way split, except for the $230 which split three ways.
I would have gladly played any of them out, but the other guy always mentioned splitting the winnings and I don’t want to be a jerk. I guess I’m too nice to play poker.
I think I would have played a $550 single table if there was one. The winner there would have his entry into the Main Tournament!
So now it’s Thursday, the day I’m supposed to come home. But man I don’t want to. So I decided to enter one more noon tournament, this one with a $440 buy-in. I wish I could say I did well, but out of about 316 players I went out about 110. Just in time to drive home and get in before it got too late. I did see Chris Moneymaker that day. There was talk that most of the big names probably won’t be there on Monday for the Main Event, because they’ve been in Australia and will probably go to California for a big event out there.
So, that’s about it. I feel like I did pretty well but of course not as well as I’d hoped. I’m not disappointed in the way I played. I made a few tight folds pre-flop which in retrospect might have been questionable, but those decisions were almost always based on my position. I pretty much didn’t enter a pot unless I could raise it, unless I happened to be on a table where I knew there were good players who were also limping.
I raised WAY more pots than I limped. And I made one call of a $1400 raise into my $600 big blind with pocket 8s that I probably should have folded with only $10,000 in chips. I was hoping for a miracle which of course didn’t come, with 20% of my chips. And what made that decision even worse was my position. I deserve to lose playing that way.
I came away this year realizing more than ever that I have a lot to learn. I knew I was making a bad decision on that hand, before I made it, and still did it anyway. But watching the other good players made me realize, more this year than ever, how far I have to go to play competitively against that kind of competition.
Miscellaneous observations:
Be careful at the cash tables. I had about 90 minutes to kill before the conclusion of the Tuesday event on Wednesday. I went to the poker room (which is now downstairs on the left side of the building) and found out the only seat they had was at a 2-5 no limit table. So I buy $400 in chips and sit down. I look across the table at chips flying everywhere with what looked like at least $8,000 in $100 bills backing one guy and at least $3000 behind his buddy’s chips.
I was careful and got up a couple of hundred and then back down about $150. I sure was glad I had somewhere else to go! I relay this story to show that I don’t know what I’m doing plus to warn others. I should have definitely waited for a lower stakes table because I don’t have $5,000 that I’m o.k. with losing in just a few minutes. If I did though, I could have tripled up on one hand. I didn’t have the guts to call the guy who threw out every hundred he had except for one on the turn card, with me holding a J high flush draw. It really looked like it could have been $10,000. A guy with about $1000 called him though, with nothing but a pair of 4s and 3 over cards on the board! Neither showed at that point but the caller hit his 6 on the river.
He called with nothing but a 4-6!!! Wow. I don’t know what deep pockets had except for most of his money back because he didn’t show. He stayed upset for a pretty good while after that one. I would have hit my flush on the river, but woulda coulda shoulda doesn’t make a good poker player. I still made the right play though. All my chips on a Jack high flush draw?
Other things I noticed:
If you call for reservations make sure you find out which hotel you’re in. I assumed I’d be in the one they’ve put me in every time I’ve gone. So on the dinner break instead of eating I go to check in, only to find out I’m at the wrong hotel. So much for getting anything to eat that day.
But for $40 bucks per night on weekdays, it’s a pretty good deal.
They’ve changed the buffet area up and it is really nice. I thought just about everything I ate was very good. When you go to Paula Dean’s Buffet definitely do not miss the Hoe Cakes.
Don’t pay $11 for two aspirin. I went in the gift shop to get aspirin, which cost about $0.79 for a pack of two. She gives me change for a $10. I’m sure I gave her a $20, because I don’t think I had a ten dollar bill on me the whole week. She got irate right away, so I let it go. Next time I’ll hold the bill, make her yank it out of my hand, and ask if she agrees that it is a $20!
Every time I go I leave amazed at the number of people who seem to follow the circuit around full time. I wish I could do that!
Good providence at the tables!
David
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The 2008-2009 WSOP Circuit Event is at Harrah’s Tunica from 01/20/09 to 02/04/09. I think this is my fourth time to go to Tunica for a circuit event. I got there barely in time to enter Monday’s Event #7 which started at noon. It was a $230 buy-in with 621 entries.
I’m not very good at remembering specific hands, but I can tell you that I played an average or just above average stack most of the time. I do remember thinking that I played pretty well and couldn’t remember any major mistakes. That doesn’t mean I didn’t make any, just that I can’t remember them! Anyway, they paid 63 players. I finished 43rd. Exciting stuff!
It was pretty late, but I was too hyped to go to bed, so entered a $65 single table satellite. For those who don’t know, they run those constantly, so if you want to go but don’t have enough money to play in very many main events you can always play the single tables. Anyway, it got down to two of us and I was short stacked so the other guy said something to the effect that he’d offer to split if I had more chips, but since I didn’t, oh well. It really didn’t matter to me because I wasn’t thinking of a split anyway. Guess what his offer was when I pulled about even? You guessed it. He was a nice guy so I decided to split even though I knew I had him. How’d I know? He was a big talker; very friendly. He told me early on that he doesn’t go all in pre-flop! WAY too much info there buddy. Anyway, I agreed to split with him.
Funny thing is on the bus back to the hotel I sat down next to the dealer. The first thing he said was that I should have played it out. He agreed that I probably would have taken it all. Still, at the end of the first day I’d cashed in both tourneys I entered. Pretty exciting. Finishing 43rd out of 621 was definitely the best part of day one.
Here is a link to the Event #7 results. That’s me at #43.
Day two I entered Event #8, another noon event with the same buy-in. This time there were 470 entered. Again I played a good average stack game, never really getting enough chips to do much. Thankfully the best player at the table for most of my day, who had a huge stack when I was first moved there, was just to my right.
When it came to the end of level 18 at about 2:00 a.m. I was still sitting there! We didn’t get down to the final table; we had 11 remaining. So we had to come back the next day at 2:00 to play for the final table, which would then move upstairs. If you haven’t been to Harrah’s lately they moved the circuit event downstairs to the “theater” area. The main tournament area is on the floor but they have the final table on a platform.
Anyway, I started with $321,000 chips with antes at $4000 and blinds at $15,000 and $30,000. So I know I don’t have much room for error. But what else is new; that’s about how I had to play the whole way anyway. Our table had 6 players and I guess we were on the second or third hand and the guy under the gun limped. I thought that was pretty odd; it didn’t seem to fit with the way he’d been playing. I’m either the button or just right of the button (I don’t remember which) and look down at AK off suit. I had pretty much decided that with the antes, both blinds and the limper in I had just one move, so went all in.
Everybody folded to the limper and he called. When he turned over A9 of hearts I was feeling pretty good; I’m supposed to be about a 70% favorite at that point. Then the flop came 2 hearts and you guessed it; the river came another heart. The guy called off almost half his chips with A9 suited, which I think was a questionable decision. But I never say anything at the table. It’s funny how often the loser tries to “school” the winner, and I just always try to avoid that. So, I finished 11th. The only consolation there is that he used my chips to win the tournament.
Here’s a link to the Event #8 results. You’ll find me at a disappointed #11.
So after walking around and trying to cool down a little, I went to buy an entry into the 7:00 “Second Chance” tourney ($125 buy-in), which had about 160 entries. I didn’t get any cards when I needed them and went out about 90th. Both before and after that one I played several single table satellites at either a $65, $125 or $230 buy-in. I have an awful memory but think I cashed in three out of six or four out of seven. I do remember the three-way split at the only $230 table I played, so left with a little over $700 on that one. Every single-table game I cashed in decided on a 2-way split, except for the $230 which split three ways.
I would have gladly played any of them out, but the other guy always mentioned splitting the winnings and I don’t want to be a jerk. I guess I’m too nice to play poker.
I think I would have played a $550 single table if there was one. The winner there would have his entry into the Main Tournament!
So now it’s Thursday, the day I’m supposed to come home. But man I don’t want to. So I decided to enter one more noon tournament, this one with a $440 buy-in. I wish I could say I did well, but out of about 316 players I went out about 110. Just in time to drive home and get in before it got too late. I did see Chris Moneymaker that day. There was talk that most of the big names probably won’t be there on Monday for the Main Event, because they’ve been in Australia and will probably go to California for a big event out there.
So, that’s about it. I feel like I did pretty well but of course not as well as I’d hoped. I’m not disappointed in the way I played. I made a few tight folds pre-flop which in retrospect might have been questionable, but those decisions were almost always based on my position. I pretty much didn’t enter a pot unless I could raise it, unless I happened to be on a table where I knew there were good players who were also limping.
I raised WAY more pots than I limped. And I made one call of a $1400 raise into my $600 big blind with pocket 8s that I probably should have folded with only $10,000 in chips. I was hoping for a miracle which of course didn’t come, with 20% of my chips. And what made that decision even worse was my position. I deserve to lose playing that way.
I came away this year realizing more than ever that I have a lot to learn. I knew I was making a bad decision on that hand, before I made it, and still did it anyway. But watching the other good players made me realize, more this year than ever, how far I have to go to play competitively against that kind of competition.
Miscellaneous observations:
Be careful at the cash tables. I had about 90 minutes to kill before the conclusion of the Tuesday event on Wednesday. I went to the poker room (which is now downstairs on the left side of the building) and found out the only seat they had was at a 2-5 no limit table. So I buy $400 in chips and sit down. I look across the table at chips flying everywhere with what looked like at least $8,000 in $100 bills backing one guy and at least $3000 behind his buddy’s chips.
I was careful and got up a couple of hundred and then back down about $150. I sure was glad I had somewhere else to go! I relay this story to show that I don’t know what I’m doing plus to warn others. I should have definitely waited for a lower stakes table because I don’t have $5,000 that I’m o.k. with losing in just a few minutes. If I did though, I could have tripled up on one hand. I didn’t have the guts to call the guy who threw out every hundred he had except for one on the turn card, with me holding a J high flush draw. It really looked like it could have been $10,000. A guy with about $1000 called him though, with nothing but a pair of 4s and 3 over cards on the board! Neither showed at that point but the caller hit his 6 on the river.
He called with nothing but a 4-6!!! Wow. I don’t know what deep pockets had except for most of his money back because he didn’t show. He stayed upset for a pretty good while after that one. I would have hit my flush on the river, but woulda coulda shoulda doesn’t make a good poker player. I still made the right play though. All my chips on a Jack high flush draw?
Other things I noticed:
If you call for reservations make sure you find out which hotel you’re in. I assumed I’d be in the one they’ve put me in every time I’ve gone. So on the dinner break instead of eating I go to check in, only to find out I’m at the wrong hotel. So much for getting anything to eat that day.
But for $40 bucks per night on weekdays, it’s a pretty good deal.
They’ve changed the buffet area up and it is really nice. I thought just about everything I ate was very good. When you go to Paula Dean’s Buffet definitely do not miss the Hoe Cakes.
Don’t pay $11 for two aspirin. I went in the gift shop to get aspirin, which cost about $0.79 for a pack of two. She gives me change for a $10. I’m sure I gave her a $20, because I don’t think I had a ten dollar bill on me the whole week. She got irate right away, so I let it go. Next time I’ll hold the bill, make her yank it out of my hand, and ask if she agrees that it is a $20!
Every time I go I leave amazed at the number of people who seem to follow the circuit around full time. I wish I could do that!
Good providence at the tables!
David
posted by Huntsvegas Poker at
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