1500 NL and 3K NL

The 1500 started out fun. I doubled up early with a set vs an overpair. Then I played a combo draw very aggressively and was called by two pair. I hit my straight and I was up to 13K early (starting stack 4500). I splashed around a bit too much and never really could increase chips over the next few levels. Mike Watson was moved to our table into the cutoff with about 3500 in chips. I found KQss UTG and decided to try a very thin value resqueeze. I limped as did a couple others and Mike raised it up as I expected. I made a large reraise and he called the rest of his chips with 77. My play is very margainal, but I dont mind it with all the extra dead money. I lost the flip and was down to 9K. I was moved to a table where I did not recognize anyone. The very first hand a Euro raised from middle and I called in position with A9ss. The flop was 1097 with 2 diamonds. He bet 1900 into a pot of 1600. It looked like he had some kind of draw and I called, with intentions of shoving if a brick hit the turn. The turn was a 9h and he immediately ripped. I called the rest of my stack and he showed AA. My read was off, but I dont mind my play here even though I was extremely lucky. Going into dinner I had 13.5K. Two hands after dinner break a semi active guy on the button raised to 1050 (200/400 blinds). The same Euro reraised from the SB to 4500. I found JJ in the BB and decided to go all in. Though he was getting better than 2 to 1 he tanked for a while. After he didnt snap call, I was begging for a call, thinking he had a middle pair. Yet again my read was wrong as he kinda slowrolled me with AK. The board ran out Q1084A, and I was out the door.
The 3K got over 850 players making a very nice prize pool. I chiped up early and took down a nice pot with 98ss vs a set and two pair on a board of J10875. The pot pushed me over 22K (starting stack 9K). I tightened up right away with every intention of making a deep run into the night. Going into level 5 I was down to 20.5K (blinds 100/200 ante 25). Liebert raised from early and a horrible older french gentlemen 3 bet to 1500. I found two red kings in the BB and 4 bet to 4400 leaving myself 16K behind. I knew he would flat call unless he had aces and he did. I saw him do something similar with AQs so I assumed that was the bottom of his range. The flop was Q107 all hearts. I didnt love the Q, but I had the Kh making my hand very strong. I lead 6500 and he snap pushed. With under 10 left and over 30 in the pot I made the call thinking I either had 11 outs or had to dodge 11 outs. He flipped over the QQ for top set. The turn was Ad giving me a straight draw, but the river was a black 10 and I was out the door just missing out on a 3x avg stack in a soft field. Meh
I am skipping the 1500 tommorrow despite a horrible field. The line was way too long already and I was a bit tilted after getting knocked out. I will be taking care of some odds and ends and then prepare to play on Tuesday's 5K shorthanded event.
In addition my niece is coming in to visit. I will be a little busy, but I am sure we will have some fun despite her being under age.

Justin "robert07" Young

10K PLH, 1500 PLO8, and 2K Venetian

The 10K PLH was a lot of fun and very difficult. My starting table was rediculous, with Elky, Chris Moore, Nam Le, JC Tran, and "Wretchy" all there. As people got knocked out we got little break as Theo Tran, Kathy Liebert, and Vanessa Rousso all got moved in. Chris Moore owned me all day picking off bluffs and c'raising me off hands. I was lucky enough to have aces when JC squeezed all in with KQ to put me up to 30K. Then I was fortunate to hold the nuts on a J107 board against Elky's JJ. After I doubled I spewed a little bit down to 50K, but then I heard some magical words "I need your BB". I jumped up and ran to my new table, which was tough, but not near as bad. I immediately double up with KK vs QQ to put me up over 100K. Out table broke and I got moved to the easiest table in the room. With out seeing a turn I built my stack to over 120K. On day 2 it was more of the same tough players as Elky, Fish, Haxton, basebaldy, and John Kabbaj were all there. 3.5 levels in I had my starting stack. 4 hands before dinner Elky limped the cutoff and I called from the button with A6dd. Haxton checked his option from the big and the flop was 9c6c2h. Elky bet 11k into 16k and I made the standard call. The turn was a 7h which I didnt like if he had 78. We both checked and the river was the 9d. He checked and I went for a thin value bet of 23K. Elky instantly made it 63K. I tanked for about 30 seconds and pressed call. Before Elky even turned his cards over Eric yelled "attaboy". Elky showed 5c4c for a bunch of missed draws. After dinner I 4 bet Kabbaj with KK and he laid down QQ. The pot put me over 300K and safe going into the money. We redrew and I found the nut table. The very first hand I found AA in the SB. It folded to me and I raised pot against Eric Siedel's BB. He called and it came Jh10d9d for a horrible flop. I bet 40K and he called. The turn was the Jc. I decided I wasnt getting away from the hand so in order to squeeze out some draws and maybe get paid from Q10 I c'raised all in. Eric laid down his hand and I was up over 450K. I opened about 1/3 of the time over the next 3 orbitz building my stack to almost 600K. I was ripped away and sent to a new table that had Kirill, Eric, Kabbaj, Haxton, and Fish. That was the begining of the end.
The PLO8 tourny was fun as I constantly put tons of pressure on my table. I was up to 18K (starting stack 4500) when I lost a big pot with nut flush draw and nut lo draw vs top set. I was down to 8K when I called a pot raise pre. I held AQ103 single suited. The flop was 1065 and the guy bet pot again. I called and the turn was another 10. He checked and I bet pot which was enough to put me all in. He called with AA2x for an over pair and the nut lo draw. One card could scoop me and it came as the case ace fell on the river.
The 2k Venetian was horrible. The field was big and great, but I played horrible and was lucky to make it almost 6 levels.
Eric got 3rd in the 10K PLH coming amazingly close to picking up his 2nd bracelet in a week. Congrats to another incredible run.
The 1500 is today and I hear its already sold out.

Justin "robert07" Young

Recap of the Last 20 Min of 10K PLH

I will go through the entire tournament later, but I just wanted to write up the last 20 minutes of my most exciting run in the WSOP. I had about 550K (12k/24k blinds) good for a top 5-6 stack with 21 people remaining. I get moved from a cake table to the death table, that included "basebaldy", Daryll Fish, Isacc Haxton, and John Kabbaj. Kabbaj had been playing super nitty and he raised. I called from the BB with AQdd. The flop was J106 all diamonds giving me the nuts. I check and he looks back for a diamond and checks behind. The turn was the 6c. I bet 60K (2/3 pot). He called instantly. The river the the Kc. I bet 125K he raised to 300K. I called knowing he has to have KK. He did have KhKs for top boat. Not only is it sick I get coolered in such a big spot, but there is exactly one card in the deck that causes me to lose 300K, but a ton for me to get paid off (Kd gives me the royal flush and a 6 allows me to check fold). The very next hand I double thru Haxton with QQ vs 33. So Im back to 370K. Two hands later I get AQo and Haxton raises again. This time I put him in and he calls with 1010. The board KJxxx and I lose the 525K pot. I am down to 130K and we redraw. I wait till I have 109K and bet pot on the hijack with 98dd. Kabbaj puts me the rest of the way in with Q9hh. I go from a big stack with the nuts to out. Needless to say I am frustrated. Eric is still in and I will sweat him as he goes for his 2nd bracelet.

MIssed Money....Again

The day started well, despite being caught in traffic and missing a couple hands. I chipped up early including a nice scoop in Stud/8 with a flush and a 6 lo beating Tuan Le's 7 hi straight. That pot put me close to 50K going into my best games NLH and PLO. I immediately doubled Tuan up with KK vs AA for about a 30K pot. Then in PLO I have AsKdQs7d raise and get two callers. Flop was Ks7s2h, giving me top two and the nut flush draw. I bet 2/3 pot and they both called. Turn was the Jc. I bet 2/3 pot again and the button called. River was the 3c. We both checked. The button showed KJxx with a worse flush draw to take it. The pot put me down to about 11K. Coming back from dinner I had 8K going into O/8. I ended up going in with a horrible hand with 1/4 of my stack in the BB. I was dead on the flop and out the door in about 58th/412.
10K PLH is today and despite making a couple mistakes yesterday, my confidence is high.

Justin "robert07" Young

2500 Eight Game Mix

I started out Sunday with the intentions of helping Morgan set up our guest bedroom. We had to go to Target to get a couple things, but along the way I "paused" at a stop sign. Apparently the guy behind me didnt stop as well and we both got pulled over. My lack of a NV drivers liscense and registration did not make the man happy and I recieved a ticket for $574. I will have to go to the DMV for a picture by July 21st if I have any hope of getting it reduced. Though I got about 1/10 of the things done I wanted to, I felt like it was a productive day and was looking foward to the 5pm tourny at the Rio.
I started out well in the limit games, but was pressing to much in the NL and PLO portions. I was chipped down to 875 when we hit Stud/8 in level 6. I was dealt A5(5) and I put it in. I was behind going into 7th and needed an ace, 5, or spade for a scoop. I peeled the Ad and I chipped up. In the NL round I doubled up AIPF with AJo vs Q8hh. I stayed aggressive and was up to 8K going into PLO. I limped with AJ87 single suited. The button bet pot and I called. The flop was Jh8d2c and I c'raised to pot commit. He put me the rest the way in and showed 1097x for a wrap. He hit the straight on the turn, but I filled up on the river. I had chips again and focused on the limit games. I got up to as much as 26K, but a couple pots in Stud/8 and NLH put me down to 21K where I ended the day. I love this tournament, its so much fun. I really hope I make a push into the money.

Justin "robert07" Young

1500 NL and Daily Bellagio

As the case has been in my 1500 NL's thus far, I was not able to get anything going. I felt like I had a real good table, but I got caught in a tough spot with blinds 50/100. An old man who overplays his hands opens UTG to 300. I called with the AQo. The flop was Qs7s2h. He led 600 and I called. The turn was an 8h and he bet 1200. I felt like folding might be the play, but players are soooooo bad that he might be value betting KQ or even QJ not to mention the small possiblity that he had the nut flush draw. So I called and the 3d hit the river. He bet 2400 and I was sick. I made the crying call and he showed KK. With the bet sizing, there was very little I could beat and should have saved my money for a better spot. 2 hands later I got my last 1600 in the middle with AQ vs AJ, the was a jack in the door and I was out early.
I went over to the Bellagio to play their daily tourny thinking it would get a huge field (120 people) since the 1500 was going on at the Rio and it was Saturday. They allowed registration until 6pm, but I signed up right when I got there. As expected my table was full of clowns and despite playing rather poorly I was up to 14K early (starting stack 10K). I was lucky enough to flop the nuts a couple times, once doubling me up. I was up as much as 50K when I raised from the cut off with Q9cc. The BB called leaving himself 12.5K behind. The flop came 864 with two clubs and he checked. I decided to bet full pot (4200) to pot commit myself. He snap shoved and I called. He showed the A5hh for ace hi and a gutterball. It held somehow and I was down to 35K. I then attempted a limp reraise with 107hh against what looked like a very weak squeeze play. He made a wonderful call with JJ and I was down to 24K. After that I went on a tear. I made a couple well planned bluffs including a c'raise on the river with queen high. I was up to about 85K without having to show many hands down. Then I got lucky, I 4 bet UTG with 66 against one of the few stacks that could hurt me. He pushed and I was get 3.5 to 1 so I called. He had KK, but a 6 in the door gave me 150K. I won a very nice flip with AK vs 1010 to push me up to 225K. I hovered around there until there was 3 people left. I was exhausted so I asked for a deal. We did a chip chop 3 ways giving everyone about 2nd place money, 20K. I am hoping it will give me the confidence I need to do well today. Today's event might be my favorite on the schedule. It is an 8 game mix, with HORSE+NL+PLO+2-7 Triple Draw. Triple draw is by far my weakest game, but I will do my best to play super nitty during that game.

Justin "robert07" Young

2K and Eric Baldwin's 1st WSOP Bracelet

Yesterday's 2K was pretty standard as of late for NL tournies. I had a good mind set and really concentrated on playing well. But.....in a 4 way raised pot I have 64hh out of position. The flop was 974 rainbow and one heart. I checked and the original raiser bet 33% pot (275). I called as did someone else. The turn was the 3h giving me a flush draw and gut shot to go with my pair. I decided to lead 675 into a pot of 1600. The 1st guy folds and the original raiser made it 2K total. With 3K more behind I make the call with intentions of jamming if a 5 or heart hits and going with some kind of read if a 4 hits, and folding the rest of the time. A brick hit and I check folded. 1 orbit later the cutoff raised to 150 (blinds still at 25/50) and I found AQo in the SB. I make it 475 to go with about 2400 behind. He called and flop was A62 with two hearts. I decide a c'raise has the correct line, so I did. He called with the 66 and had me almost dead.
On the up side, I got to watch Eric Baldwin with a top 5 stack go for his 1st WSOP bracelet. He got a bit of luck as his JJ caught up to Mig's QQ on a AKQ10 board, but he played extremeley well. Depsite losing a pot for 70% of the chips in play, with a made flush vs a higher flush draw with one card to come, he cruised right into heads up play. Eric was on the right end of two coolers. With the chips counts close and a flop of Qs10s4d they got it in. Eric's bottom set vs the top two of his opponent. The pot gave him an 8 to 1 chip advantage. Then 20 min. later, Eric won a flip for the title 1010 vs AQ, KJ665 board. Eric is a phenomenal player that deserves all the compliments he recieves. Don't be suprised if you hear his name more and more as the years go on. To celebrate we went to O'Sheas (a classy establishment) to play beruit. I ended the night over at Turnberry with intentions of skipping the 2K limit today. I will be playing the 1500 on Saturday and the 8 game mix on Sunday.


Justin "robert07" Young

1500 NL and 5K PLO

The 1500 NL went pretty standard. I would built a stack and then get coolered, so on the third level I had about the starting stack when I raised with AQdd from early. Esfandiari (sp?) called in position and the board ran out J73 with two diamonds. I like leading with intentions of 3 bet shoving and thats exactly what happened. He had AJ, and somehow the board bricked. I was left with 8 BB. My next BB I found the JJ. The button raised, and Humberto Brenes 3 bet. I of course called all in and he showed A10hh. The board ran out AAxxx.
I immediately ran over to watch Shannon Shorr at the final table of the 1500 HORSE. Although it was a fun night of drinking Shannon went card dead and got scooped in 5 straight pots to go out 5th.
I was thinking about skipping the 5K PLO and taking a day off, but Adam, Cody, and Eric all made day 2 of the 1500 NL with chips. So I went in to play and sweat. I ran my stack up to 44K (starting stack 15K) pretty quickly due to a two barrell bluff and making the nuts every hand after that. I went an entire level without dragging a pot after that. I was down to 31K when I raised with a AK65 single suited. The board was A87 rainbow and I C-betted. The SB called and the turn was a 9. He checked and I bet with the ass end of the straight. SB called again. A blank hit and he checked. I thought there was some value to either get the same hand to fold or to get value from a set. So I bet 75% pot (7500), he tanked called with the 106 and I was down to 18K. I took top two plus a blocker vs a naked flush draw to get knocked down to 6K, but luckily made the nuts the triple up a few hands later. With 17Kish I limped with the A234 double suited. A few guys called and the button raised 75% pot. It looked like a good time to steal so I repotted it committing me to the pot. He looked like he was going to fold, but changed his mind and showed KKQQ no suits. I did not improve and I was out in level 8.
Cody and Adam both made semi deep runs in the 1500 but each got knocked out around 40th. Eric is still cruising with above average chips and only 21 remaining. If I bust from today's 2K I will be sweating him looking for our groups first bracelet.

2500 PLO, 1500 Horse, 2K NL

After an unsuccessful 1500 NL on Saturday in which I played well, but lost some key pots. I headed over to the Bellagio to play in their 1K. I promtly sat down recieved K10hh UTG and raised to 550 (blinds 100/200 ante 25). A guy with a big stack called, and the flop was 9c7h4d. I C-betted 725 and he fumbled with his chips for 20 seconds and called. The turn was the 10c and I planned on check calling two streets. Instead he rips the whole thing (about 8800 into a pot of 2800). I felt like he had 88 so I called. He turned up 8c7c for a pair, str8 draw, and flush draw. Meaning any 6,7,8,J or club gives him the winner (20 outs). The 6h fell and I was out before I ordered my 1st beer. I decided to play in a cash game that looked pretty good and had promise of getting better. Fahra was supposed to play and there were a couple other fishy players playing 100/200 PLO and 100/200 400ante NLH. I was treading water for the most part, then lost a medium sized pot with KK vs QJ on a Q hi flop.... Q on river. Then got bluffed by Aaron Katz in PLO, to put me down about 13K on the day. Then in a 5 way limped pot I held 10c10s8c7s. The flop was 10d9c3d. Katz bet pot and Lee Markholt repotted it. I was thinking I would just smooth call and take a card off, but with only 22K in front of me I went for the iso and repotted it to 11.2K. Katz folded and Lee reraised. He had the QdJdJc8h for the worst case for me. We elected to run it twice and in a blur the dealer put out 4 bricks for me to scoop the 50+K pot. I played 2 more orbits, but the fish quit, so I did too taking an extra 15K home with me.
I met Morgan, Eric, and Mary and Green Valley to watch The Hangover. I did not expect a lot, but oh wow was it good. Classic Todd Phillips gave huge laughs throughout the movie. A must see for anyone who doesnt mind some crude humor.
The next day I opted for the 2500 PLO to which I built a nice stack then lost a huge pot versus dry aces, then built it up again and lost another huge pot to single suited aces. Both times I had hands that did well in those situations. KJ109 double suited, and 6543 double suited. I ended up getting it in with single suited aces and lost.
I went on the play the 1500 HORSE which was laughable at times. The play was just awful and though I did not play very well I still had 17.6K going into day 2. I elected to play the 2K that started at noon as well in an attempt to have a wonderful day. The day started well as I almost doubled up with a set vs an over pair. From there I lost with 88 on a 865 board (76). And JJ on a 9 hi board (QQ). I was now short and shoved any two with only 5 minutes before the start of the HORSE. My 96o was called by AK and I was out.
I had a lovely seat on the left on Shannon Elizabeth, who did not dissapoint. She was talkative and nice the whole day even when her AA lost to a flopped set in a big pot. She even shared her sushi with me (we shared chopsticks, so we pretty much made out). I was playing well, but got quartered in a huge O/8 pot. I was short going into level 11 and despite doubling up early, I was ground down and ended up losing AK23 vs K975 in O/8. Out 118/770.
It is extremely frustrating to continue to make it "far" in these tournament with nothing to show for it, but there is always tommorrow. 1500 NL

Justin "robert07" Young

1500 PLH and 3K HORSE

The 1500 PL went very quick for me. I decided I would play it a bit more aggro than I normally do, because I really wanted to play in the 3K HORSE that started at 5pm on the same day. After seeing a flop and missing on my first hand I called a raise with 6d3d on the button. Scott Montgomery bet pot of a flop of Jd7d5c. I potted back with intentions of getting it in with what I hoped to be 12 outs. With Scott I had very little if any fold equity, but I wanted to push small edges. We got it in and he showed Ad5d leaving me only 6 outs to double up. Out lastish/whatever the final number was.
I spent my free time playing 75/150 HOSE to work out any kinks in my mix game. After a couple of hours I felt like I was playing good enough and walked around until 5. Unfortunately I walked a blackjack table and 3700 fell out of my pocket and into the dealers well. The HORSE tournament went well for me. I scooped some nice pots and ended the night as a top 12 stack with 43K (starting stack 9k).
I had a dentist appt and had to get some photos taken of me for a charity tournament I am doing in July, but since I didnt get home till 330am I decided to muck the dentist. I showed up at the Rio for an interview and some pics, but was done at noon. So with 2 hours to kill before day 2 started back up I played some 25/50/100 PLO. I short bought in for 5K, but it was gone in the first hand I played. I made it 300 with 7d5h4d3h and the button raised 7 more (1k even). I called with 4k behind and the flop was 7s7d2c. I c'raised him all in and he called with AAxx. Then the turn and river were both spades and one of the x's was the 10s. I went to my box to rebuy for 20K. I immediately lost 3k more and a wierd bluff and had 17K in front of me. I limped in early with AA87 single suited and an aggressive player made in 400. The button called and I repotted to 1600. Both players called. Flop was AJ5 rainbow. I bet 4K into 4800 and got 1 caller. Turn was a 10 which I hated because I figured the only hand that would call me was either 234x or KQ10x. But I knew I wouldnt fold so I just went all in for 11400. He didnt snap call and I was relieved. I assumed now he had JJxx and would now actually fold as the 10 is a bad card for him. But he made the call and we agreed to run it twice. The first river was a Jack and I almost cried. The 2nd was a 3 and I hated that too in case he had the wheel wrap. But he mucked his hand and I can only assume he had AJKx or something similar. The pot made me a 8K winner on the day.
Day 2 of the HORSE started as the Day 1 ended. I played pretty tight and scooped some nice pots. I was at 65K at the first break. The first omaha 8 game back I raised UTG with QhJs10s9h and got two callers. The flop was a dream of Qd10h7h giving me top 2, open ender, and a flush draw. The 3 of us capped it. Turn a 6c which I didnt like and we all saw the river for 1 bet. The river was a Qc which is gin for me. I checked looking to c'raise and get another 2 bets. But the guys behind me shows amazing discipline with 77xx and checks. I was drawing much thinner that I thought as the other guy had Ah2hxx. The pot pushed me to around 90K. From there nothing right happened. I wont bore you with suckouts in limit games, but I was down to 30K at the next break. In stud/8 I had a huge opportunity to win a massive pot. With for way action and a bunch of raising I had (5d2d)4dJd7d for a made flush and a draw at a 7 lo. We all bet and raised till myself and 1 other was all in. At the time no one's board was paired and I figured all three had a nice lo with wheel or a small straight. 6th gave me a 3 and a nice lo, but I was just expecting half the pot. As the hands were revealed I was shocked and dissapointed. All 3 others were rolled up on 3rd with no lo's. The first all in missed his boat, then the 2nd squeezed his and he missed. I had dreams of a 90K scoop, but Sklansky hit a 9 on 7th to boat him up. My low was locked and I got half the pot. With only a few before the money I had 3.5 big bets and a 10872 double suited in omaha/8 on the button in a unopened pot. Certainly not a great hand but I decided I would go with it if I saw and hit any part of the flop. The SB called and the flop was AJ7 with 2 diamonds. All things being said I thought that was a great flop for me. We got it all in and my opponent showed AJ23 no diamonds (top 2 and the nut lo draw). I needed a 3 for half the pot with chances to scoop if no low was made I hit my flush, str8 or trips. Some how the board ran out 8c5c and I was out. 50ish/450ish.

Justin "robert07" Young

2500 Shorthanded

Though this is one of my strongest events, I got a very poor table draw. Seat 1: Joe Tehan, Seat 2: Solid ABC unknown, Seat 3: Blake Cahill, Seat 4: Kevin Saul, Seat 5: me, Seat 6: Jeff Papola (sp?). After chiping up a good bit I doubled Tehan up on a 1098 board. I held the nuts and he had a set. Turn 8 gave him quads. I doubled up to 9k when my aces held against Kevin's 99. From there I held over Kevin. Every bluff worked or got there and I called down 3 barrells to win a nice pot. I was as high 35K well over average at the time. Then I began to make mistakes. I paid Tehan off on 3 streets, lost a flip, and continually lacked a plan in key hands. The lack of a plan was the most frustrating part. I would open with no plan of what to do when 3 betted or I would C-bet against stacks that were perfect to c'raise all in. By the time I got moved I was down to 18K with the blinds 300/600 75 ante. I raised UTG with A8dd and the button 3 bet me to 4500. For some reason I decide a 4 bet shove was correct and he snap called with JJ. Out 225th/1068.
I wish I could explain better how happy I was for the first 4 levels of play and how upset I was with the last 2, but I dont want to berate myself anymore. 1500 PLH is today and I am looking to redeem myself. And if not the 3K HORSE is at 5. So no matter what it will be a long day.

Justin "robert07" Young

5K and Rehab

My starting 5K table was a dream, there was a handful of ABC players, a couple complete fish and JCarver on my immediate right. A few orbits in I pick up red aces in the BB. All but 2 players limped and I made it 425 total. UTG (nitty fish) repops it to 975. He has to have KK or AA here so I pop it back to 3025 and awaited a shove. He called instead and we saw a flop Q65 all hearts. I got greedy and just pushed thinking he cant fold with KK especially if he had the Kh, but my read was off and he laid kings down. I could have value betted at least 1 street, but I went for the whole thing. I was around starting stack for most of the day, I would chip up only to see me give it away in a bluff or a cooler. With the blinds at 75/150 button (complete fish) raised to 300. I called from the big with K8o. The flop came Kc7d4c and we both checked. Turn was the Ks. I bet 600 and he called quickly. River was the 5c putting the flush out there and I bet 1425. He did what fishy players do, gave a speech how he thinks Im bluffing and then announced raise. After the 30 second speech I was convinced and insta mucked face up. He was shocked and turned over QQ. He actually thought I was bluffing but elected to raise for value?? He of course knocked me out right before dinner (150/300 25 ante). I raised UTG+1 with A10o and he called from the BB. The flop came QQ3 with two spades. He led pot and I thought he was super weak so I ripped for 2x pot. He snap called with the 2h3h and I was out the door. 440ish/655. Although I had a couple bad reads I still feel like I am getting in the groove.
Getting knocked out wasnt all bad. I got to go to Rehab for Shannon Shorr's B-Day. I had never been to a "pool club" before. The line was insane, thank god we had a cabana or I would have been miserable. But its pretty much what you see in pictures. A bunch of hot people drinking too much and making bad decisions. Though its not my scene I had a real good time and would definately go back with the right people.
2500 SH is today and I am finally sober and ready to go. Hopefully some good news will follow.

Justin "robert07" Young

2500 NL WSOP

I was forced to show up about 30 minutes late to the 2500 NL due to our new pest control guy. Morgan found what she called a "parade of ants" in our living room. Our exterminator was extremely nice, but I finally had to tell him I was in a rush. I showed up just in time to get KK on the button. The cutoff raised to 200, and I promptly (sp??) made it 650. He pushed in his short stack of 3500 and showed AQ. Board was AJJQQ and I was off to a bad start. I was moved shortly there after to a table that included Lilholdem and Shaun Deeb. I turned off my Ipod caused I knew we would have some fun. I doubled thru lil' fairly quickly and was on my way. With flopping a set vs AK on a ace hi board and holding top pair vs a straight draw pushed me up to over 30K in chips (starting stack 7500). Since I was showing down quality hands I decided to loosen up my opening range. I raised with 64o from middle and got 2 callers. Flop was QcQsJc, I checked and the button bet 80% pot (1500). I got the idea he was on a draw or a weakish jack so I c'raised him to 4200. He called quickly and I put him on a flush draw. Turn was the 7h and I led 8000 leaving myself 12K to push on the river if needed. He tanked forever, but eventually made the call. I now put him on a combo draw of some kind AcKc, Ac10c, Kc10c, 10c9c. So now if I got a complete blank I would feel comfortable to ship the rest, but unfortunately the Kd hit and I was frozen. So I gave up and showed down my creative (or horrible) bluff attempt. He showed the AKcc for two pair. I spewed down to 9K when I raised to 775 (blinds 150/300 ante 25) with the 76o. I got 2 callers and the flop came 6d4d3h. I bet 1500 and the button tanked for a while and pushed me all in. I felt like he had diamonds so I called. I was wrong as he was on complete air, Ah2h. My hand held and I was up to 19K at dinner break. In addition Deeb and I had been playing Lodden Thinks the whole time and I was up a cool $750. I came back and could not get anything going except for busting Deeb with QQ vs his KQdd. I still slowly widdled away and was down to 11K at 400/800. A very tight player raised from the cutoff and I saw AJo. I knew I should just fold, but I actually felt he would lay down AQ or JJ so I pushed. He called with AK and I was out the door. 230ish/1080ish
Today is the 5K and I am very excited about it. I feel I have played much better in the last 2 tournaments and think the deep starting stack (15K) will improve my chances. If I do bust I will be heading to Rehab tom. to help celebrate Shannon Shorr's B-Day. There are worse alternatives to busting.

Justin "robert07" Young

Out Day 2 1500 Shorthanded

My initial table was pretty good. We had a couple short stacks that looked like they wanted to inch up the money ladder and one bigger stack who was content to play ABC. I won 3 of the first 4 pots with no holdings, but they moved us after that. My 2nd table I played only 2 hands and won 1 of them before they broke us. So at my 3rd table I had chipped up to about 42K. But this table was no fun. 3 of the 6 were under 30 BB but they all decided to open shove when they got a hand. The only good player was 2 to my right. He opened most the pots so I opted to see flops with him in position instead of 3 betting. Due to this dynamic I wasn't opening very much, but still gaining chips. I had 58K when I raised UTG with 109dd to 6200 (blinds 1.2k/2.4k 300 ante). I recieved 3 callers and the flop was Kd8c7c. I had to decide if I was ready to go broke with an open ender or not. I opted for a pot commit and bet 16500. A very bad player who thinks he is tricky made it 50K. I kinda thought he might just have a flush draw, but then Kcxc creeped in my mind and I almost folded despite the enormous pot odds I created for myself. So I stuck with my plan and shoved. He tabled KJo, the 6c came right on the turn leaving me only a 4th club to dodge. When I did I was up to 130K. I raised with JJ in middle and the SB, who I know to be very solid, 3 bet me to 17500 total. I called in position and the flop was 10 hi with two hearts. He led 22K and I called hoping he would shut down. The turn was a small black card and he bet 40K. I elected to fold and he "assured" me it was a good lay down. A few hands later the same solid player opened, and a good tricky player 3 bet it on the button. I had seen him do this with as light as AJ and 77, so I thought if I had anything I should 4 bet pot commit. I look down at A7ss and I was ready. I made it 45500 leaving myself about 45K behind. He flashed pocket tens and mucked pretty quickly. We were being moved soon so I did not feel showing would be worth it. Right after dinner break I had 120K (about 40BB), when a young brit raised UTG. I called UTG+1 with KdQh. The flop rolled out Kc7d6d. He bet 80% pot and I called. Turn was the 9s and he hesistated, but still bet 24K. With just about 95K left I was in a tough spot. He makes this bet with AA, AK, KQ, KJ, a set, or a nut flush draw. Thinking I have some fold equity against some middle of his range I decide to push. He groans and I think im good, but 2 seconds later he calls and asks if I have a straight. He showed AA and I missed my 5 outs. 40/1450ish

Justin "robert07" Young

Day 1 1500 Shorthanded

I was really looking foward to the 6-max 1500. It plays to a lot of my strengths. All that being said I haven't really played that well as of late. I won a coin flip early with AK vs 88 to allow me to play a high percentage of pots and obtain the table image I want. Despite taking a bad beat for 8k (JJ vs 88 aipf) I still had 14K at the first break (started with 4.5k). After getting up to 20K I tried a 3 barrell bluff against a very good young player. He picked it off and I was down to 13K. UTG raised to 800 (blinds 150/300 25 ante), button called, I called with 99 in the SB, and the BB called. Flop was As9s2d. It checked around to my suprise, thinking someone had an ace or would represent one. Turn was Ad. It checked around again. River was a 4c. I led out 2600 into a pot of about 3400. BB folded and the original raiser made it 6500 total. It folded to me and I had to figure out if there was value in shipping in my last 7800. With the passive play on the flop and the turn I felt I could rule out A2 or A4. Leaving A9, 44, and AA as possible hands. I had played with my opponent in the past and know him to be a very solid player who likes to bet his hands fairly face up. I figured with the flush draw on the flop he would even led with AA. So I correctly put him on 44 and ripped the rest in there. The pot pushed me over 30k at dinner break. I worked my stack to 50ish when I got moved to my new table. I had the only other aggresive player on my right and was ready to go on a tear. I lost a big flip with QQ vs AK to knock me back down to 30K. I would continue to steal and build my stack only to see myself losing the bigger pots. Though it was frustrating I felt I would win one soon and I would be on my way. The hand never came and I limped out of day 1 with 33,300 in chips well below avg, but still 27ish BB. We are in the money with about 100 remaining from the 1450 that started.
Hopefully I will have some good news for my next blog.

Justin "robert07" Young

1500 NL WSOP

I told myself I was going to play ABC style poker for this tournament, but I couldnt even make it past the first hand. I raised with 54o from the cutoff, the button and BB called. A87r flop, I c-bet and the button called. Turn was a Q, and I decide a c'raise is the best course of action. I was wrong and he shipped, I lost 1/3 of my stack. I won a combo draw vs an over pair to get me back to 5k. From there I had the table controlled. I worked my stack up to 15k with only having to show twice. I picked an obvious line to bluff on a hand and got called to lose 3k of it. Then I lost a flip for 5k of it. Then I called a min. 3 bet with 97dd. The flop came 9 hi, but I froze and gave him the free turn Kh. I of course bet with no plan and he ripped, obv. AK. So now down to 5k and the blinds at 150/300 and a somewhat active player raised from the cutoff and I looked down at 88. I shipped my 18.5 BB and he snap called with KK. Board ran out Kxxxx. Out 1200ish/2800ish.

Im not playing very well and I dont know where to start to fix it. The shorthand tourny is tom. which is one of my stonger events, so hopefully that will snap me out of it. If not, I may just go back to the basics. Hopefully I will have the patience for it.

Justin "robert07" Young

1500 PLO

I was not very happy in my play of the 1500 PLO. I made some horrific hero calls early to knock me down to 1900. I faded a combo draw with top set to get back to starting stack, but still never found the groove. On the button I raised with KQ109 single suited. Both blinds called and the board was J99. BB led into me and I raised with no real plan. SB pushed and I felt like I had to call even though A9xx is the min. he has. More likely was that he had JJxx, and he did. Out 700ish/800ish.
I played some 50/100 PLO after the knockout. And though I showed a bit more concentration I was not playing my A or even my B game. I was extremely lucky to come out a $3600 winner. I took KJJ3 double suited into Devilfish's AAQ10 for a 60K pot. We ran the board twice and I had to go running 3's on the 2nd board's turn and river to earn a chop.
My good friends Wade and Nick are in town so I took the free night to have dinner with them over at the Bellagio. Morgan joined us as well and we eat and drank until we felt like napping.
The 1500 NL is today and should be another great field. Updates coming soon.

Justin "robert07" Young

1K WSOP

The 1k event at the WSOP lasted all of two orbits for me. I flopped the nuts twice and got no action, 2 barrelled with middle pair, and on the last hand I ripped J10hh on a Jc8h7h board. An obvious first timer tanked forever and called with middle set. Out 5900ish/6000ish.
I did an interview with Pokerroad Radio during the O/8 tourny about cash game styles vs. buy in amounts. It aired recently and I was happy with the results. I muddled through some sentences and did not always say exactly what I wanted, but all in all I am pleased for my first radio interview. If you all want to check it out it is on the CASHPLAYS segment of their show.
In addition my buddy Nick has been in town for the last few days, a good friend from LA flew in last nite, and my sister's boyfriend is staying with us becuase he has a bowling tournament this week. This will put a strain on my time, but hopefully I just wont have any time and will go deep in today's 1500 PLO.

Justin "robert07" Young