Legends Main Event and Mexican Poker

Eric and I drove down to LA on Friday to play in the Legends main event at the Bicycle. On the drive down we decided we were going to watch the Dodger/Cub game that night. Shannon had just arrived as well and got us nice seats to the game. An old friend of mine from college, Wade, joined us as well. The game itself was exciting as the Dodger pitchers combined for a one hitter. LA ended up with the close victory 2-1. Afterwards we were treated with fireworks as we got to go out onto the field.
The tournament didnt start till 3pm, so we had plenty of time to sleep off the night before. I was feeling anxious to get back to playing a live tournament. My table wasnt too bad considering the field. Fatal Error, Todd Terry, Taleebi, and Randallin highlighted my table. In addition there was 4 complete marks who did not understand the game very well. Despite all the dead chips at the table I was continually owned by FatalError and Todd Terry for most the day. They both held position and cards over me, but there was little reason for me to make the moves I did. Going into the last level of the day I had about 18K (starting stack 30K). I was fortunate to have two pair when Taleebi moved all in on the turn with just middle pair. In addition I was able to get multiple streets of value with KK against Randallin. Before I knew it I was up to 50K and beginning to open up my game. I was able to finish the day with 67K only having to show down one hand in the last hour.
Day two was a bit tougher as I doubled up two short stacks the very first two hands of the day. I was under 40K before I knew it. The table itself wasnt too bad with David Sands, snowman, and a short stacked Lee Markholt at my table. I was opening a lot, but was never able to get much going. Everytime I won a big pot I lost 4 small ones right after. I raised UTG+1 with 76hh and the BB, a component player, called. The board was 7s4s3c. He checked and I bet half the pot. He called and the turn was 10h. He checked and I bet half pot again looking for him to check most rivers to me. The river was the Ac. He paused for a second and bet 5K (about 20%pot). In my mind I was beat, but did not think he had a good ace. It looked like a blocker bet with a middle pair like 88 or 99 or maybe a smallish ace rag of spades. I decided a raise was my best option so I made it 17.5K. He mucked pretty quickly confirming my read. I busted a very small stack with KK vs A7o to put me around 70K again when I decided to play awful. Let me preface this by saying I think I played every street incorrect. Snowman ( who had started to open a lot from late) raised to 2200 (blinds 400/800) from the cutoff. I called from the big with A6hh. The flop was Kd6s3d. I checked and he c-bet 2800. I called. The turn was a Js, I checked and he bet 6400. I somehow found a call with third pair out of position. The river was a 2s making the back door flush and completing a possible straight. I checked and he bet 11.5k leaving himslelf 20K. I almost salvaged some poker knowledge by raising all in or folding, but somehow found the worst decision. I call. He quickly showed K10o for a sick river value bet. I few orbits later I was down to my last 18bb when I found KK. David raised UTG and I had a no brainer. He found the aces though and I was out the door.
Despite Eric being knocked out as we decided to do some drinking a try a new poker game they spread at the Bike. "Mexican Poker" is pretty much a no limt, 5 card stud, with a short deck and a wild card. The two of us and Stephen O'Dwyer wanted to play so we got them to start a game for us. It was full and there was a must move inside of 15 minutes after seeing the "drunk idiots" wanting to learn the game. There was high drama as one of our opponents shorted the pot on purpose. I called him out and the rest of the night had some tension to it. Due to a drink called a John Brown (all I know is it has lots of liquor, milk, and pepsi) and the angles that were pulled against him, Eric was not to happy. We were told numerous times by the floor that "you guys really need to be careful and leave". We ignored their warning and got into many verbal arguements. At one point Jose (a local) pulled back a 100 dollar chip after he saw he was behind in a hand against Eric. Jose tried to say it was no big deal, then Eric replies "If I go to your work and order 5 burgers and only get 4 its not ok!" We left with our lives and most of the money we sat with. I have a feeling mexican poker will catch on at Maderia Canyon.

Justin "robert07" Young

FTOPS

With the FTOPS winding down, I decided to put in some real time online. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I played all day. Without having any major success, I was able to have a very good 3 days. I was able to manage a bunch of small cashes in bigger events including the FTOPS 2500 and the FTOPS main. I final tabled the UB 500 as well as a $10 event. I also made the deepest run in the Sunday Million I have ever made. I was knocked out 22nd. The structure was so fast at that point that catching cards became very important. I won a massive pot with QQ vs AJ to put me in the chiplead for a second. One orbit later I ran KK into a medium stack and 1010 the board was xxxx10. I managed to build my stack up a bit to 3M with blinds at 65K/130K. I found Q3o in the SB and the BB had 1M. It seemed like a no brainer push with the blinds so high. The BB found Q7o and held. I ended up getting it all in with KQ vs JJ for over 4M, but lost the fake flip.
Congrats to Cody who was on fire pulling in a 2nd and a 10th in FTOP events. Also congrats to Eric who officially regained 1st place in the Cardplayer POY race with a 3rd in LA yesterday. I will be heading to LA this weekend for the Legends main event and maybe a baseball game. If anyone is looking for someone else to cheer for may I suggest Eric Baldwin who if victorious will have to sport a lovely molester moustache for the remainder of the year.

Justin "robert07" Young

FTOPS

FTOPS started late last week, which I was excited about, considering I have never done well in any event. I played on Friday, Sunday, and Monday. Had some good runs, but never got a nice score. I was heads up for a small belt on FT. I had a nice 8 to 1 chip lead and couldnt close the door. I had him all in with: J2 vs AJ, 65 vs A9, 22 vs AK, AQ vs AJ, AK vs AQ and lost them all. I know I got it in bad a couple times, but the chances that I lose all the hands are about 2%. On Sunday I made the final two tables in the 150R and 75K grtd, but fizzled out before any real money. Monday saw me get to the final table of the 80K grtd, but I went out 8th for a small cash. I still think I am playing well and hope to put one of those FTOPS jerseys on my back.

I have been feeling a bit under the weather as of late, so my small workout program has gone to a no workout program. I hope to have the motivation to get back into it once I kick the cold.

Week in Online and one Live Session

I have been attempting to get in a groove this week. Work out in the morning, do atleast one thing on my to do list and then play online at night. Despite noticing myself getting less motivated as the week is going on I have stuck to it pretty well. Our scale is out of batteries, which may be a good thing, because I dont think I am dropping any weight this quickly and I dont want to be discouraged. So of course "get scale batteries" is at the bottom of my to do list.
Online has been quiet this week with a couple very shallow cashes. I was chip leader for a good hour in the UB 1K, only to lose 1 coinflip and 2 40/60's to go out 27th.
After getting up early to wait for the GE repairman, I decided to go in to the Bellagio to put in some time. Despite it being a slow time the game was pretty good, and a handful of them were talking about some insane 25/50 from the night before. I am sure it went again last night, but I was looking foward to coming home and hanging out with Morgan. Unfortunately/fortunately I got to talk to my brother. We have been playing phone tag for over a month, so I didnt even get much time with Morgan.
O'Neil was in the game and he was squeezing every chance he got which is fine, but I'm assuming he was on a heater because he had 10K+ in front of him opposed to his usual 1K. We played a couple big pots, but he picked off 2 bluffs to put me right a even despite the table. I straddled to 40 and UTG called, then UTG +1 made it 160. There was one caller and I looked down at 107hh. The raiser was pretty tight, but loosened way up after seeing how the table was playing, so I repoped to 600. UTG immediately announce raise and threw in 2K more. He had about 14K behind and I had him covered. If I was in position I would not even hesitate to call, but out made it much closer. His hand is so polarized (AA or KK) I decided to call and check raise all in a number of flops. I know he will put me QQ or JJ or AK in that spot so I represent those hands if needed in addition to hopefully picking up a pair or a draw. The flop was QQJ and I was already gitty about the opportunity to bluff, but he checked behind. The turn was another Q and I was handcuffed. I couldn't represent anything and checked. He checked again. The river was blank and I almost fired thinking he might have AK, but I stuck to my original range and gave up. He gave a speech and showed KK assuming for some reason they werent good. I clawed back a little bit to be a small loser in the game.

Justin "robert07" Young

1K on UB and the Jellison Wedding in NC

I dont remember much from the 1K on UB, but I know I won a handful of coin flips to get the final table. I also know I got in my 15bb with JJ vs QJhh to get knocked out 7th. Outside of that I have know idea if I played well or not. A final table for a 1K online is always nice though given the strength of the fields.
Morgan and I went to Greensboro, NC from Thursday to Sunday for a wedding. One of Morgan's best friends from high school/college (Jane-Marie) was taking the plunge and marrying Brandon Ellison. I actually lived with Jane-Marie for 6 months after I graduated from college. She is an incredibely cool girl that deserves the best. In came Brandon and I was immediately impressed. He is a guy's guy that everyone likes being around. He seemed to be a perfect fit for Jane-Marie. Somehow he pulls of being a yoga enthusiest and has the capability to drink any bar out of beer (tough combo).
The weekend itself was a blast. The rehersal dinner was on the third floor of a bar complete with a pool table, darts and all the alcohol you could drink. Morgan ended the night by talking a guy and a girl to do a push up contest and then hopping on the back of the guy to make it fair. She of course fell twice, but managed not to flash anybody, because she is classy like that. Brandon's family was a treat. They joined the festivities and were very outgoing in meeting everyone. His mom was probably my fav. as she was upbeat the entire time, also she was phenominal dancer. The ceramony was just how I like em, short and sweet and even included the bride giggling through the line "till death parts us" in the vowels. The reception was at a contry club complete with wonderful food and a great band. I of course drank so much I convinced myself I was a good, make that great dancer. All the guests were into it as most of us made it past 1am in celebration. I was paying for it a little bit the next day, but it was a tremendous event. Congrats guys.

Justin "robert07" Young