Morten's WSOP Diary - Main Event Day 2B

WSOP 2008 Main Event Day 2B

Starting the day with big expectations – with 66.400. Average is approximately 39k. For a long period of time I get only cold cards and I play very patiently. The first big pot I get involved in, blinds are 300/600 and ante 75. I have got a reasonably tight image at the table, when I look down at 4-5 hearts – with a stack of about 65k. I open in middle position to 1900, and get a call from BB. Pot is approx. 5k.

Flop: 9s-3h-Kc

He checks. I pay 3900, he calls. Pot is now approx. 12.800.

Turn: 7h, giving me a gutshot straight and flush draw. My opponent decides to bet out 10k. I think about it and have a strong feeling that I can raise him out of pot, if he chooses to call, I still have outs. I re-raise to 32.500 and he has about 30-35k left. So, it’s all-in or fold for him. He thinks for a long time and choose to muck his hand. Phew! I’m now on about 80k.

The next big size pot I am in is probably the one I’ve thought the most about since. The most aggressive player of the table, a young American with sunglasses named Brandon Becker (stack circa 100k) opens to 1800 in early position. I’m in SB with approx. 75k, and I call with A9 clubs. BB calls as well and we take the flop 3 way. Flop shows 2-5-K rainbow.

Both BB and I check. Becker continuation bets to 4300, which he would probably do under all circumstances. I choose to test him with a smaller check/raise to 10k. Han thinks and calls. Pot approx. 26.500.

Turn: blanks. Here comes my expensive second barrel bluff of 20k. I’m hoping to get him off his maybe AK or KQ. He calls quickly and I have to give up my bluff. River blank. I check and he is all-in. I strongly believe that he had either AA or set. I really don’t think he would play an AK hand that hard. Now, unfortunately I’m down to 43k.

Before the break I make a successful revenge on the over aggressive young gun Brandon Becker. I get 5-3 off. I click raise to 1200 on the button. As Becker is BB, and I expect him to continue his re-raise squeeze play. If this happens I’m ready to bet at him, as he could have anything in this situation. SB calls and Becker re-raises to approx. 5k. I bet to 12.850, and both muck... ship-ship. I just could not resist showing him my 5-3 off to his face!

My exit-hand

I open in middle position to 2700 with A6. BB calls and flop shows 2-6-K with 2 spades.

He checks, I bet 4k and he calls. Turn card is tasty, A clubs, which gives me two pairs. He checks again. I shoot 11k and he goes all-in, and I make instant call for the rest of my shillings. He shows AQ spades, and the river off-course gives him a ridiculous 9 spades, which gives him a flush. Pot is 92-93k. I had 15 outs, as he uses all spades and KQ.

Goodbye – thank you very much.

But I will definately be back and I am actually much more hooked on tournament play for the future, as I sense its only a matter of time before my breakthrough is here. But daaaaamn it sucks when I had all the shillings to be 68-69% favorite.

The conclusion to the tournament overall, has to be this: I believe I played a good tournament, but if I have to be critical, I’m annoyed that I made that expensive 20k bluff on the turn with my A9. It was too expensive – but it’s always easy to say that afterwards. On the other hand, had the bluff worked, I would have been seriously high and then all would believe the hand was played fantastically.

So all in all, I played a good tournament. Not as good as it could have been, but I am pleased. Hey, there is nothing to do about it now anyway.

I’m now looking forward to the farewell party with Ladbrokes, where all players qualified through Ladbrokes are invited. I’d like to just take this opportunity to let everyone know how nicely the players are taken care of and what a good service is provided when qualifying with them. So if you see a satellite to any offline events its worth playing them with Ladbrokes.

Morten Erlandsen