Playing in a live MTT tonight

[PShabi]

Only the second time, the first being over a year ago in this same tournament.

Local dogtrack runs a $45, 100 man NLHE tourney. Starts at 6:30 PM est.

I'm pretty excited to be playing. The last time I busted out with AA vs KQ all in to take 50th. Even though I don't play alot of NLHE, I know I'm better now. Lots of WPT and ESPN fans at these things. It won't be that tough of a field.

Anyway, quick question about live tourneys?

Is it proper, or even legal, to ask the dealer to count the size of the pot during a hand?

[Talking Poker]

Funny you should mention that, as this came up in Aruba. Based on the mixed responses there, I believe this varies from tourney to tourney (in Aruba, it WAS allowed, according to the TD).

Some rules state that the dealer can not count the pot, but can only spread it for you. Other times, it's perfectly find for the dealer to give you an exact count. So, just ask if it's allowed ahead of time and then you'll know.

[GeoffM]

That certainely seems to be a grey area in poker rules that should be addressed across the board.

[Reel Deal]

How'd you do shabi?

[PShabi]

Yeah, meant to type the results last night, but after a full day of poker, I spent it with the lady.

Anyway, I found out the tourney had grown since I last played. There was actually 130 contestants. I liked my table a lot. Lots of terrible players. Limping QJo UTG and thinking for three minutes before folding to my big raise on the button with AK.

You only got 1200 chips, which was rubbish. The blinds started at 25/50 and the rounds were 20 minutes.

The dealers were slow, the players were slower and the rounds flew by.

Next levels were: 50/100 then 75/150. Following that there was a twenty minute break.

The first hand I played was 88 utg. Standard raise. Took the blinds.

I made two or three more steals preflop. Then I had it folded to me on the button. I look at 67s and make a steal raise. BB calls. flop is K8K. He checks, I think and make a pot-size bet. I'm looking at my chips thinking, if he calls, you're in trouble. He folded. The heart was a thumping.

I didn't showdown at all. I limped k10s in late position after a few limpers. Flop came 10 high, all diamonds. Took it down there. The table was seriously fearing my "large" (by their shitty standards) bets and I was running the table. I can't tell you how good my focus was compared to online. I see why TP loves this shit so much.

Anyway, the big hand was this:

Decent raise in LP by a semi-short stack. I've got him covered twice and I look down at AJ. I really thought he could be on steal so I put him in for the rest of his chips. He calls and flips over AQ. Ugh.

We go to the river unimproved and I call for the Jack and the dealer delivers. First break and I'm at 2900 chips. Just over the avg stack. Felt good.

I come back from the break to blinds of 100/200, 200/400, 300/600.

The table gets crazy cards and I hit a cold deck. I could NOT find a spot. At all. If I had a decent hand to push with. I'd have a limper and a raiser in front of me and had to muck.

I went to the 300/600 round without seeing a fucking flop and had 2k. 3BBs!

I finally push in the SB vs the BB with Q3s. He calls with 106s. He flushed on the river to beat my queen high and that was that.

Finished 40/130.

I really enjoyed the game, but I just didn't feel the structure suited a good player. I wish I could've seen some hands in the later rounds. Enjoyed the game a lot, just don't know if I'll play again.

[eddo31]

unfortunately i would assume that this type of tournament structure will become more and more common as the interest grows. logistically the longer an event runs, the more difficult it is to make happen.

plus, the short stacks turn the game into an all-in fest, which is probably what most of the recreational players want it to be anyways.

[PShabi]

You're right eddo.

I was at the second to final table (makes sense?) so a lot of people were getting moved to my table.

Late in the game, a guy moves to my right and sits down and the dealer says, "Hey Mr. Vegas."

I made a wise crack about "wow, last thing you want to hear is a dealer call the guy to your right Mr. Vegas as soon as he sits down."lol

Anyway, his first hand he calls two players who were both all in in front of him.

He literally could not get his chips in fast enough. Has to have AA, KK at worst.

First guy (short stack) shows AJ. The guy who came over the top of him has a modest KQ. Mr Vegas?

He overcalls all of his chips with A4 of diamonds!

See ya later Mr. Vegas! Nice playing with you.

[Talking Poker]

Wow... gotta love Mr. Vegas!

I don't really like these fast round all in fests myself. They take away a lot of the skill and increase the necessary amount of luck required. And that's not good at all for a player like me.

Still though - there's something about playing live. If only I could convince myself to concentrate at the same level when I play online.

[eejit101]

Maybe his surname was vegas and it was a private joke?

[Reel Deal]

You see crap like that all the time at the B&M I play at... most of them are just there to gamble, playing solid poker doesn't even enter their mind.

Thanks for the report shabi.

[eddo31]

most of the times that i have played at a casino the players are total retards, willing to gamble with any two. the textures of the games have changed, from extremely loose passive where i was the only player willing to raise preflop to wild aggressive capped six ways preflop games, but the one constant has been the donkey plays that abounded.

most people who play at low limit b&m tables walked in from the casino and are there to gamble. they saw it on tv, thought they would give it a shot, and they consider the loss to be entertainment just like their gambling would have been.

mr. vegas is a donkey, but i dont think that he is all that exceptional in that regard.