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