Out of EPT Main

Upon sitting down I recognized some faces, but knew no names at my starting table which is always fun at a main event with a 5 million Euro prize pool. Carlos Mortenson did end up sitting down on my left and I did come to find out who some of the players were. All that being said I love to have that table for every 10K+ I play. There was a fishes from Spain, Polland (fill in you joke here), Canada, and Sweden. I was playing extremely nitty for the first two levels to get a feel for the table. I came into level three with 31K (30K starting stack). I started to open a bit more, but nothing to crazy. I missed every flop and was down to 27K when the following hand happened. A spanish fish limped UTG and I raised to 750 with J10cc (blinds 100/200). Polish fish called from the SB and UTG folded. The flop was AK6 rainbow and no clubs. Polish fish stared me down for about 2 minutes before betting 1K. I felt pretty confident he had a medium ace (AQ-A10). So I got creative (although I would frown upon creativity against such a fish, he had shown the ability to fold in wierd spots), I raised to 2400 with the intention that he call and I bet the turn to take it down. He again stared at me for a while and called 1400 more. The turn was a 3 putting no extra draws on the board. I opted to bet 4100 to represtent AK or better to take it down. He again stared into my soul and called. I was ready to be done with the hand, but a K hit the river and he instantly checked. I figured even if he put me on a bluff the 2nd king would scare him so I had to fire another barrell. I bet 8300 and he stared at me so long I forgot what I was holding. He said call in what I can only assume to be Polish and I insta mucked my hand. He showed A10 and waited for a result. The dealer tried to explain to him that he won the hand, but he did not speak english or spanish and was anxious to find out the result. Still unclear to the result he pointed to his ace hoping his hand was good. I was done giggling at him and was mad at my one iffy play in the tourny. Down to 12K I raised the next hand with 88. Spanish fish called who had a pattern of being a calling station. The flop was AK8 with two diamonds and all I could do is think about doubling up. I bet 700 into a pot of 1200 and he called quickly. The turn was a 10d and though I didnt love it I figured betting 1400 after he checked was proper. He looked back and his holdings and called. The river was a blank and I was able to fire 3100 into the pot and get called. The pot put me up to 17Kish and I was feeling better already. A few hands later I raised in late position with J9hh, Peter Hedlund called on the button as did the BB. The flop was 10h8c2h giving me an open ended straight plus flush draw. with 1800ish in the pot I bet 1025 hoping to 3 bet jam. Peter just called and the turn was a 4d. I obviously hated checking, given the potential strength of my hand so I bet 2300. He tanked for a while and called. The turn was the 5d missing everything including the Jack which I had already decided would be good. I gave up and checked, he snap bet 3500 and I almost ripped but I remember how good my table was and folded like a good boy. He happily showed KK and I was fortunate that I did not go bust on that hand. I played super nitty including losing bare min. with 1010 vs QQ on a 8 hi flop. I was around 12K (200/400 blinds 50 ante) when Peter raised from middle position. I felt like I picked up a tell on him and decided he was weak, so when I looked down at two red aces and decided to just call from the BB. The flop was KQ9 with two clubs and already hated my play. He did his standard c-bet (1200 into 2600ish). I made it 3500 with 6700 behind. He called and I immediately loved my hand and figured I would double up as long as a blank hit. The 7h hit and I was in heaven. I calmly went all in and he beat me in the pot with KJss. I unfortunately could not fade 9 outs with one to come as the 10c hit the river. Luckily Eric is still in the tourny so "we" still have a sweat. I did sign up for the PLO tommorrow and hope to have a better showing.

Justin "robert07" Young