Leading up to the WSOP

Leading up to the WSOP we have welcomed Morgan's parents, her sister and fiancee, and then a bacholorette weekend for her friend Amanda. Its been exciting and a bit hectic. Then unfortunatley last Wednesday Morgan's aunt passed away. We flew to Indianapolis and then rented a car to go to Bedford, Indiana to attend the services. I had only met her a half dozen times or so, but what I know of her is that she was full of energy and love and wore them both on her sleeve for everyone to see. Though I was sad for her passing I told myself I was going to support the family. To be honest I was a bit worried about how the weekend would go, but yet again Morgan's family impressed me. They celebrated her life and spent more time laughing than crying. The most important thing to them is family and nothing was more apparent this weekend. I consider myself very lucky to have people like them in my life. And even though this is not the ideal circumstances I always look foward to spending time with time.

We will miss you Linda Lee Montgomery

Poker has not gone well for me this month. The scoops were a bit of a bust with a few minor cashes. On the upside though I went with Cody and Eric to Casers to earn our diamond card for the series. The diamond card allows you to skip all the painful lines of the WSOP. We played optimal video poker for about 3 hours. We managed to turn a profit and had a few cocktails. Also I did a interview for Cardplayer TV. The show is called "Under the Gun" and is hosted by Jon Friedberg. Brandon Cantu joined me and we covered some interesting topics in poker.
One other piece of exciting news for me is that I was drafted in a WSOP draft. Basically 12 writers and players had 8 rounds to draft the players they thought would do the best in this years WSOP. Even though my buddy Eric was the one who drafted me I went with the 63rd pick. It is extremely flattering and motivating to know people respect my game. I obviously want Eric's team to win and for me to pull my weight, but if you want to follow here is a list of Eric's team:
Scott Clements, Matt Hawrilenko, Justin Bonomo, James Mackey, Shannon Shorr, Justin Young, James VanAlstyne, and Mike Katz.
So everyone pull for everyone on the list, but mainly me.

Justin "robert07" Young

In-Laws and SCOOP

My in laws came to town this past weekend. They drove in from San Diego on Friday and we caught up and grilled out for dinner. The next day we had tickets to go see the Lion King. We showed up early so we could watch the Derby in the sports book. It was super crowded and a fun atmosphere. We all just drafted horses and put in $7 into a kitty. That way we had a sweat and did not have to fight the lines at the casinos. Morgan and I did not do very well as none of our horses got in the top 5. Lion King was really good. The costumes and set production were amazing. After the show we went to the M for a steak. It was a beautiful night so we ate way to much outside. We were all pretty tired when we got home, but we jumped in hot tub first before calling it a night. The next morning we had brunch before they left.
I hopped in the Sunday tournaments at noon, which means I only missed 2 big tournys. My slate was kinda bare when I first jumped in so I decided to add a couple early tournies to the list. One was a $5 turbo. There was 20K grtd so I jumped in. I managed to win the thing in a total crap shoot. I got just over 5K for my effort. The score allowed me to break about even on the expensive day. I also played on Monday and Tuesday becasue of pokerstars SCOOP events. I did not have any real success in those, but I did manage a 2nd in the short handed $100rebuy and a first in the short handed $100. The scores gave me some much needed confidence and funds for the rest of the SCOOPs.

Justin "robert07" Young

Day 2 of Caesars 5K

I came into the day with 65.5K good for above average. My table was horrible as Devo, JC, Sam Stien, Doug Lee, Steve O'Dwyer and a name that escapes me were at my table. The action was pretty aggressive causing me to play a bit tighter. I 3 bet with AQo from the SB only to get 4 bet. I was close to jamming, but doubted he had enough room to fold medium pairs. I was down to 47K when I raised from late position with 76hh. I was called in two spots (button and BB). The flop was Kh10c3h giving me a flush draw. I lead about 60% pot 5500 and Sam Stien made it 17K. It was very close to a fold. I knew he was calling any reraise so I somehow found a call. My plan was to shove any 4,5,6,7 or heart. I actually thought I had fold equity against some hands like bigger hearts, QJ, KJ, and maybe KQ. Plus if I do get called I give myself some extra outs. Either way the 4s hit and I shove for 27K. He snapped with AhKc and I had 11 outs. The river was a black 8 and 1 hour into day 2 I was out.

Justin "robert07" Young

WPT Championship and Caesars 5K

The next best thing to being at a final table is to watch a friend make it there. Shocking enough, Eric Baldwin made the WPT Championship final table. It was a final table with David Bennyamine, Billy Baxter, David Williams, and Sean Buchanan all joining him. Eric played really well and earned himselft a spot heads up for 1.5 million. David Williams had him at a 3 to 1 lead, and early on Eric 3 bet shoved for 23bbs with A5hh. Somehow David made the call with 22 and it was close to a flip going to the flop. The flop was A76 giving Eric a 8 to 1 advantage, but a 2 hit the turn and Eric was drawing dead. 2nd was good for 1 million and Eric's largest pay date. Congrats! With some of Eric's friend from back home and the drunken fools already here it should make for one of the best WPT episodes ever.

I played the 5K at Caesars yesterday. The field was pretty soft and I was fortunate to find some soft tables. I chiped up to 52K by dinner break (starting stack 25K). Then I got in a huge pot with Cantu when I held QQ vs his 88 all in pre flop. Board was QJ5....9.....10 giving him a straight. It was a 58K pot and I was devastated. I managed to work my stack up to as high as 90K before losing a wierd pot at the end of the night with 2nd pair. I ended the day with 65.5K. Day 2 starts in a hour.

Justin "robert07" Young

WPT Championship Day 3

I went into day 3 with almost 300K and a ton of confidence. I woke up to take a look at my table draw and I was amazed. The only 2 names I recognized were Emiline Boich and Matt Stout. I began to look up databases of the other players and only 2 of them had a live cash. I showed up pumped and ready to go. When everyone starting taking their seats I recognized two of them from my day 1 starting table. One was a station and the other was a super nit. I folded for about 1.5 orbits when I attacked the nits BB with Js7h. A guy on the button called and the flop was 9s8s3s giving me a gutter ball and a jack hi flush draw. I bet about have pot and he called. The turn was the 10c giving me a straight. I bet about half pot again and he rips in a 1.5x pot sized raise. I tanked forever obviously scared he had a flush, but I did not think he would make that big of a bet with the nuts. So I called hoping to see a set....and he did. I faded the river and I was up to 440K. I chiped up to about 500K when I got the bad news that the table was breaking. I was sent to a table that included Justin Bonomo, Brandon Cantu, and Ben Fineman. I treaded water for a long time before I got in a big pot with Ben Fineman. He raised the button and I called with 8c6c. The flop was K97 with two spades. He bet 75% pot and I called with my open ender. The turn was a 7c. I checked and he bet about 25% pot. Normally I would be scared he has already filled up, but with the big bet on the flop I was thinking he had AK, AA, or a 7. I called the small bet with intentions of shoving the river (he had about pot behind) if any 10, 5, or spade hit. The 2s hit the river and I represented the spades by pushing all in. He tanked for about 1 minute before calling with K9hh good for top two. The pot pushed me down to 350K. We changed tables and I was moved with Cantu over to a table that had Jaka, Randal Flowers and Yivgeni. I won a small pot early against Jaka to get me to about 375K, then I was handcuffed. I was card dead at a table where I needed cards. I tried some light 3 betting and it was always 4 bet. I tried some light opening and it was always 3 bet. I opened with 22 when Jaka 3 bet me to 32K. I put in the extra 20K and we saw a flop. It was 9c5c2h giving me bottom set. I checked and he bet 42K I just called, becuase I have seen him get stubborn with hands and try to barrell thru. The turn was the 7c putting 3 clubs on board. I checked looking to c'raise all in, but he checked behind. The river was a Kc putting 4 clubs on board and I did not have one. So I attempted a blocker bluff and bet 77K. He tanked for 10 seconds and pushed me all in. I was down to 180K at 3k/6k when I picked up AK. I was hoping to get a three bet from Jaka, but instead the tightest player at the table made it 42K total. I was close to folding, but was a little frustrated and pushed it in. She made the call with 1010 and I bricked out.
On the upside my buddy Eric has made the final table. I am going down to watch him win 1.5 million today.

Justin "robert07" Young

WPT Day 2

I came into the day with only 28K which was still good for 35bbs. My table was pretty decent considering. I had Charder, Bax, Josh Arieh, and a wildly aggressive Hungarian on my left. I found a spot early to limp push from the SB with AKhh. The Hungarian looked me up with A8dd. Shortly after that I raised with AK and got 3 callers. The flop came K52 with two hearts and I attempted to check raise. Arieh ended up betting and then calling my push with KJ. My hand held and I was up to 90K. Shortly after that I was in the BB and it folded around to the SB he completed and I raised it up with A8cc. He called and the flop was Ah7c2c. He led out 1.5x pot and I raised full pot to pot commit him. He beat me in the pot and showed A7o. I still had 12 outs twice and the Kc hit the turn to bust the SB. We were pretty close on chips and the pot pushed me near 190K. After that Phil Hellmuth moved into his spot. He immediatley lost 3/4 of his chips and was pretty active. I doubled him up with JJ vs KK all in pre and then AJ vs AA all in pre. Those pots and a few others put me down around 20K again. I raised with A10o and the Hungarian called. The flop was 992 and decided to check raise all in for value. A scary move, but one that worked out as the Hungarian bet 2x pot and then called my push with Q6o. My hand held and one orbit later I took QQ against the Hungarians AK. The board bricked out and I was up to 85K. I became a bit more active and was able to chip up to 180K with out having to show down to many hands. Then late in the day I found AA for the first time all tournament. I raised Brandon Cantu's BB and he called. Cantu is a very good and creative player so all I could think about was pot contol. Then the flop came down AJ7 rainbow relieving all my worries. He checked and I bet 7K in to 12ish. He made it 17500 and I was in heavan. I was pretty sure he didnt have much, but I threw in another smallish raise to entice more action. I made it 42.5K total and called quickly. The call told me he had a hand, but not AJ or a set. I put him on AQ and was looking for one big value bet, so when the 2 hit the turn I checked behind him to set up a big bet or raise on the river. The river was a K and he checked. I fired 68K and he snapped with AKo. Looking back I coulda/shoulda doubled up, but the way the hand played out I still think my plan of one big value street was correct. The pot pushed me to about 280K and I ended the night with 296K.
Day 3 coming soon.

Justin "robert07" Young

WPT Main Day 1

On day 1 of the 25K WPT Championship I was pumped and ready to go. As the people were filing in I began to root silently for certain people to pass my table. After it was all filled in I was thrilled. I had Carlos Mortenson, Chris Moore, and Eric Siedel all on my right. Nancy Todd Tyler and Jim Bectel were also at my table but did not see any real problems with them. One hand ONE I find KK. Eric opened to 550 (100/200 blinds) and I elected to be tricky and just call. Jim 3 bet huge to 4500 and Eric folded. I know a lot of peoples strategy in deep tournys is to over bet AA so I was a little weary, but just called. The board was Q88 with two clubs. I checked and he over bet the pot to 10K. I called hoping he would slow down and I could control a bet on the river. The turn was a 6d and I checked. He bet out 40K basically committing himself to the hand. AA, KK, QQ, and AQ were all possible, but I was sure he had AA and I folded. The rest of the day went like that for me. I got a lot of good hands (never AA) and was always up against slightly better. I folded QQ preflop twice (I was right both times), I had JJ vs KK on a 1098 board. I rivered a king hi flush and took it against an ace high flush. Then I had 2 pair on a J10752 board against 98. Needless to say I was short at the end of the night. At 300/600 Carlos opened and Eric called. I had about 18K (30 BBs) and thought it was a good spot to squeeze so I shoved with K7ss. Carlos folded and Eric called with 1010. As I was out the door the table errupted. I looked back and the flop was Js6s2s giving me the flush. I ended the day with 28K.
More is coming about the rest of the tourny. Still a little painful.
Justin "robert07" Young

Bellagio Prelims

In between friends and family in town I played a handful of Bellagio Prelim events. The fields were pretty small for the most part, but its still one of my favorite places to play. I would like to tell you some interesting stories about how I got ousted from each one, but too much time has gone by to remember each dissapointment. I'll do some highlights.
After getting burned in each of the other rebuy events I played, I decided to show up late and just pay 4K so I would do a immediate rebuy and 2 add ons. I chiped up early as I got action on almost all of my big starting hands including busting 3 people the first 3 times I got aces. I accumulated a nice pile when I got to pop my cherry in a poker feat I had never done. Alex Gomes was playing good and aggressive and for the third consecutive time he raised a tight players BB. I looked down at J2cc and 3 bet him to 15K (blinds at 1k/2k). He eyeballed my stack and made it 40K. I thought he might be full of shit so I made sure I had enough to make him fold. I barely did with 155K total, but still pulled the trigger. He snap folded and I got to enjoy my first 5 bet with air. That being said there was a good chance that Jack hi was good. I went card dead after that which is not a good thing after you show J2 in a massive pot. I ended up squeaking into the final table and then got knocked out 7th when I shoved 9.5bbs with J10o and was looked up by Alex with A9dd. The flop gave me hope when KQ8 rolled off, but blanks hit and I was out.
Now for an embarrassing story. In the 5K I built up a decent stack coming back from dinner. I lost a big pot to Justin Bonomo when we both flopped top pair. Then I won a smallish pot where I had to show down 103hh. With my image where I thought it was I was excited when I got AKdd. I opened thinking I would get 3 bet. I did and I decided to 4 bet pot commit. So I made it 19.5k of my 46K total. Without earphones in and without a cocktail in my system I swore he said "all in". I already told myself I was calling so I turned over my hand and pushed my chips foward. As it turns out he said call and now I had to play the flop with my hand face up. The flop came J83 rainbow and he shoved from the SB. Despite not getting the odds if he had a pair I almost called cause I felt like he had AQ or the same hand. I chickened out and watched 40% of my chips dissapear. I played nitty for a while and got in 14 BBs with A6o vs 55. I lost the flip and was out the door.
The 25K main event starts today and I am pumped. I woke up at 630 this morning with excitement. I did finally go back to bed for another 2 hours so now I am well rested. I will have an update of day 1 soon.

Justin "robert07" Young

Matt and Andy

I had a couple high school friends in town this past weekend. They are two of my favorite people in the world and on a very short list of people I keep up with from high school. I didnt have any stress to show them a good time despite one being a first timer to vegas and the other hasnt been here since he hit puberty. They are laid back and easy to entertain.
After I picked them up from the airport we grabbed food and caught up a bit. After a short rest we went out to Red Rocks which is my favorite place in Vegas (craps table is a close second). After a long hike we loaded up on meat and grilled out. The next day the memory of good meat clouded out minds and we needed more so we grilled out again for lunch. I took them to the strip just as my buddy was getting heads up in a Bellagio tournament. They were nice enough to walk around by themselves and let me play a short session. On the way back we hit up Veloce which is a good sushi restaraunt on top of the M casino. A few rolls and a bunch of drinks later we were ready for bed.
We woke up and drove to the Grand Canyon because its something that everyone needs to see. We hike around for a little bit and called it a day. We woke up early to go hiking all morning. We found a sweet little trail along the wall. There was no one else in sight and we took in some great views. We drove back hitting up In-N-Out for lunch (another must do). After we got back and relaxed we decided to eat more meat. Morgan, Cody, and Renee joined us at the steak joint in the M. After a terrific meal and some drinks we headed back to my place and played pool till we couldnt stand up.
We took it easy on their last day and headed to the strip for dinner and so the boys could walk around Vegas at night. It was a fantastic visit and cant wait for me to go visit them in Raleigh.

I have been playing poker and will get to some recaps on the next blog, but I am running late for Bellagio's 5K today.

Justin "robert07" Young

April Tournies + Friends in Town

A few days before April 1st my sister called me up and said that she and my niece wanted to come visit for a day. I was ready to call her bluff, but sure enough at 8am on April 1st they were waiting at the airport. We caught up, hung out on the strip, and went to a hockey game for Shelley's birthday. They left the next day to pick up a car, but we had a lot of fun for 24 hours.
I have played a handful of tournys this month with nothing to show for it. I am going with reads a lot more with mixed results. Case in point: to get knocked out of today's 1K tourny at the Bellagio I called all in with King hi, because I was convinced he had a straight draw. Thats a bit extreme and I need to realize how weak most of these fields are. There is no reason to risk all of my chips in a marginal spot like that one. With the 25K main event coming up I need to be in the right mind set. So the next 2 weeks it will be important to play well. On a side note I made a bet against Ben Fineman today getting 3 to 2 that the main will get 300 contestants. I maybe a fish, but I am a hopeful fish.
I did have a sweat for a final table last night in the Venetian 1K. We were down to 16 players with me at or near the chip lead when the following hand went down. I raised the cutoff with 98dd and the small blind (who has a bunch of chips too) called as well. I had no previous history with him and my only read was that he liked to splash around. The flop was Qd10c6s giving me a double gutter. He checked and I bet 3500 (pot was about 8K). He called and the turn was a Qh. He checked and I checked for fear he could c'raise me off my hand. The turn was a beautiful 7d giving me the nut straight. He quickly bet 13500. My first instinct was to just call, due to the size of the bet. But I convinced myselft he would do that with AQ and KQ as well, so I made a raise to 52K. He tanked forever and counted out his chips and the longer he took the more I tried to look weak. It worked and he called, but the also has 66 for a boat. Another instinct play that went wrong, but thats a huge cooler for that stage of the tourny. I ended up going out 12th and out of the money.
My high school buddies Matt and Andy and coming out on Thursday. We will be going to the Grand Canyon and some other Vegas activities. Cant wait.

Justin "robert07" Young

Wynn Main Event

I came into the Wynn main event with a lot of confidence and was very excited to see almost 250 people in the 5K event. My table was ok, as Scott Seiver, Cody Slaubaugh, and Evan McNiff were all on my left. But every other spot at the table looked like a mark, so I was hoping to stay out of the way and just pick up pots against the marks. But before I knew it Scott was out after a bit of a spew and then Cody got 5 outed to get eliminated. And to top it off Evan was short stacked and playing tight. I stepped on the gas a bit and chipped down to 18K. Evan doubled up to put us at around the same in chips when the following hand occured. Dan Alspach raised the button to 600 at 100/200 25 ante. I had Q9dd and called from the small. Evan pops it from the big to 2100. Dan folded and I had a tough spot. I know Evan is probably messing around, but I also know he is very capable of calling off here with a very marginal hand if I 4 bet. I decide to call looking for a good spot to c'raise all in. The flop was Q65 rainbow with one diamond. I check with intentions of ripping, but he checked behind. The turn was a 6h putting a full rainbow on board. I checked again with intentions of check calling two streets. He bet 3100 and I called as planned. The river was 4d and I checked, this time Evan went all in. It was about 1.2x pot, but my plan changed the longer I thought about it. He looked confident and I had shown that I wanted to call him down light earlier in the tourny. So....I folded. I managed to chip up to 35K when the following hand happened against Dan Alspach. He raised to 1K at 150/300 25 ante and I found J7hh on the button. I called, cause I felt I knew how to outplay him post flop. The flop was nice QsJc7c giving me bottom two pair. He bet 3K and I made it 11K of his remaining 19K. He quickly pushed and showed KcQh for top pair. The turn killed me as the Qc hit causing me to draw dead. The pot pushed me down to 11K. The very next hand I found AJhh. After a limper I raised to 1100. Button, SB, BB and the limper all called putting 5500 in the pot and about 10k behind for me. The flop was Qh10c8s giving me a double gutter. They checked to me and I bet 4200 to pot committ myself. The SB minraised and I knew I was in trouble, but I pushed in my remaining stack. He called with KQo leaving me 10 outs for a win. I bricked out and left the tournament not happy.
On the up side I have taken some time off lately. I was able to hang out with a family I used to work for back in college. Ben had just turned 21 last year and had never been to Vegas. I haven't seen him or his Mom since my wedding. Also I got to watch a lot of basketball. All my brackets are terrible and to top it off I made a bunch of sports bets that all went the way of brackets.
We have some friends coming in from NC on Thursday. We have a bunch of stuff planned and cant wait to show them around.

Justin "robert07" Young

1K Wynn Classic

I came into day 2 with about 110K which was good for just under average. Of the 13 players remaining there was still some soft spots. I took advantage of the short handed play early and was very active including my KK holding against JJ. The pot pushed me over 225K which was good for a top 4 stack going into the final 10. I busted a shortish stack when he slowplayed aces against my set of 8's. The pot pushed me over 300K, but I quickly dripped down to 200K. A guy with 18BBs opened from early and the SB (Matt "hazards" Gianatti sp?) called with 15BBs. I found AQo in the BB and ripped. The original raiser called quickly and Matt tank folded a pair. The raiser showed A6ss and the board bricked out giving me the nice pot. I hovered between 300 and 400K as we were whittled down by Shawn Glines winning every pot. We got down to 3 handed and I was a distant 2nd place with 300K. A nice italian man was sitting in third with 175K. He had only been playing for a few months and was super nitty. He min raised from the SB and I called with 104o from the big. His bet sizing usually dictated the strength of his hand, so instead of trying to 3 bet him off of something marginal I decided to see a flop and out play him from there. The flop was Jd10d4d giving me bottom two. He checked and I bet half pot. He looked back at his cards and called. I put him on a big diamond so I did not think I could lose a big pot. The turn was the Qc. He checked and I put him in for 1.5x pot. I thought he may call with worse, but due to his nittiness I expected a fold. He tanked for 3.5minutes before announcing call. I proudly said 2 pair and he showed Kd9h for a straight and a redraw. The pot put me down to about 125K. I found a spot to push my 12BB with K10hh and was called by 66. I was fortunate to win the race and was back in the game with 25bb. I opened from the button with KsJc and Shawn 3 bet to 50K total. I am never getting called by worse and I felt he would gamble with some marginally better hands, so I elected to call. It puts him in a awkward spot with me having 1.5x pot behind. He will have to rip almost any flop meaing all I have to do is find a flop I like. The flop was Kc4c2s and Shawn ripped. I beat him in the pot and he showed A10dd for ace high and a back door str8 draw. But....the turn was the Ac giving him a pair, but giving me a flush draw. River bricked me out in 3rd place. As always I am dissapointed about not winning and receiving a bad beat, but 3rd is a great showing and helps my dismal tournament showing this year.
I will write a blog about the 2k and the 5k events at the Wynn soon as I was dispatched early from both.

Justin "robert07" Young

500 HORSE

Well, last blog I was complaining about how I was running at the Wynn. Well I can't say anything now. I ran pretty hot to get a lot of chips early and then pretty cold in the middle stages of the tourny. After we hit the money I got my money in with AK during the holdem portion. Another short stack was in with A8o and a big stack called off with QJ. The board ran out A2938 giving me the side pot, but giving the majority to the other short stack. I had 12k playing 2k/4k. I was allin the very next hand with 43ss and somehow managed to triple up. I made it to the final table as the short stack with 94k playing 8k/16k. I scooped in razz and stud 8 to give plenty of breathing room. With the structure playing fast the people were dropping like flys. We ended up making a deal 3 handed leaving some money and the cool ass Wynn trophy to play for. After the deal was made I won every big hand. I ended up putting Frank all in with Ac9d5d3c in Omaha 8. He held AQ108. The board ran out giving me nut low and a diamond flush. I havent won a tourny in a while and I have never won a HORSE tourny before so this was satisfying on multiple levels.
I am playing the 1K Wynn today and I hope to continue this new hot streak.

Justin "robert07" Young

Wynn Classic

I have played 3 events of the Wynn Classic so far. My history there has been pretty good. The past two years I have cashed 6 times with 4 final tables. I don't have any titles, so I was plenty motivated for the classic. The first two events I played were $500 NLHE. The first I was knocked out in level 5 when my 77 got it in against 54o and 103dd on a 9764 rainbow board. The pot would have put me about 4 times starting stack, but the 8h hit and I was out. The 2nd $500 I built a huge stack by playing very aggressive. My cover was blown when I had to call a short stacks all in with 54o. I tightened up and my next 3 hands I played big pots with KQhh, JJ, and AKhh. AKhh was the biggest one as a player cold 4 bet all in with 55. The board ran out blanks and I was crippled. I ended up getting it in blind for my last 4bbs with K6cc vs Q9o.
The last event I played was a 1500 NLHE this past Saturday. I chipped up early and then won two massive pots with 34o and 63dd. Both times I flopped monsters and got paid maximum value on all three streets. I had about 50K early (starting stack 12.5K). My table broke and on the first hand at a new table a young kid (who is very good and very aggressive) raised from middle on my BB. I found QQ and 3 bet to 4500 (blinds 300/600 ante 50). He called with about 31K behind. The board was 10s8h4s and I lead 5500, he quickly made it 13K. Though a set or aces are possible there was just too good a chance he was bluffing, semi-bluffing, or value betting a worse hand.....so I pushed all in for his last 17.5k. He called pretty quickly and showed Q9o for a gut shot. Even though a underpair would have been the best, I was thrilled to see how few outs he has for such a large pot. But, the turn was a Js and the 75K pot was shipped to him. I ended up getting in my last 13K in with 7h7c on a Jh6h5h board against Chuck Kelley's two black aces. I had 11 pure outs, but bricked and was out the door.
I dont know how many more events I will play due to friends and family coming into town, but the first few have me a bit discouraged.

Justin "robert07" Young

NAPT and LAPC

I had no success in the pre-lims at the Venetian, but was very excited about the main event. The 5K buy in got picked up by PokerStars and therefore ESPN as well. This means that not only will the Final Table be on TV, but PokerStars could run tons on satellites allowing lots of dead money in the tourny. My starting table was tough in comparison, with Adam Junglen (sp?), Mig, and Aaron Been all at my table. I ran a bluff early to chip up to 35K, but nothing worked after that. I slowly made my chips dissapear till I had less than 25bb. I 3 bet pushed with AQ, AK, and JJ without a call, and when Aaron opened the cutoff I decided to rip 23bbs with A4o. He made a good call with A10ss and I was out the door.
I went to LA the following Monday and immediately hopped in the 3K 6 max. I was crippled on the first hand as I couldnt fold KK to Matt Stout's 3 streets of betting. I ended up pushing 10bb with A8o and ran into JJ. The next event was a 1K NLH. I started off super hot as I coolered 3 people and was up to 30K in chips (starting stack is 6K). A couple well timed bluffs and two horrible ones had me down to 18K and 600/1200. My super soft table broke and sent me to a table with O'Crowe and John Phan. Phan had a handle on the table with a few fish and some awkward chips stacks. I was fortunate to chip up and then double up with KK vs AJdd, putting me a 50K. I ran a 3bet/Cbet bluff on John Phan that worked, but was ill advised as I know better than anyone that he loves to call. I dribbled down a little but finished the day with 53K.
On day 2 we started with 26 people. I played super tight and found a double thru Chris Bigler with AA vs his 66. Shortly there after I ran a squeeze and then beat a short stack with KK vs AQ. I was up to 140K when the table broke. My new table consisted of O'Crowe and 2 young compotent players. On the 2nd hand one of the youngsters opened to 6k on the button(at 1200/2400), I looked down at 88 in the SB and popped it to 16K. He tanked for 20 seconds and ripped 70k total. I called and he showed AQo. An ace in the door meant I lost a 150K flip and the chance at the chip lead. I quickly recoverd doubling with a set vs a flush draw and win a big pot from O'Crowe. I was up to around 200K when everything went wrong. I doubled up a short stack with A9 vs his Q10, I ran a unsuccessfull bluff against Owen, and I was 3 bet by fish everytime I opened light. With 11 people left and Owen opening his button for the millionth time I couldnt wait to get my 22BBs in the middle with 77. Owen woke up with QQ and I was out the door, despite the board running off K1089J. Everyone at the table thought I won and made me walk back to the table. I hate them.
The 5K NLHE went pretty fast, as I called off with 4th pair vs Victor Ramdin on a Js9c3s5h board. I was right as he turned over KQ. I felt like a genius untill the Kh hit the river.
The main event was fairly quiet. I had a great starting table with USCPhildo as the only high level thinker. I played pretty tight with only one cold 4 bet bluff. I doubled up Tommy Le when I just shoved to his open. I had JJ and thought he might call with worse and would fold hands like AQ. He called making it a 50bb pot. He somehow called off with KQo and won the fake flip. He felt bad and explained that he put me on a medium pair. How AA, KK, QQ, AK, and AQ arent in my range I dont know, but Im just bitter. Our table breaks and I get send to what looks like an even softer table. I became very active and chipped up a little bit to 23K. Button made it 1200 at (200/400) and I looked down at AKo in the SB. I made it 3K and the button made it 7K. Without much thought or reason I couldnt wait to get it in there. I can make up any excuse I want, but it was a bad play. With how soft the table was and the fact that the gentlemen was over the age of 40, AK should be an easy fold. Anyway... after I pushed he called and I quickly ask him if he has a huge hand. He shows me one ace and I am overjoyed, thinking he was bluffing or he has AQ/AK. I table my hand with pride and he reveals the 2nd ace. Always tough to take a slowroll in a big event, but this guy had no clue, so I didnt say anything. The board gave me a straight draw on the flop and a flush draw on the turn, but AA held I was out the door unable to make day 2.
The Wynn Classic is going on and NBC Heads Up starts Friday, so between sweating Eric and trying to find a live cash Ill be busy this week.

Justin "robert07" Young

1K at Venetian

My starting table was pretty tough, as it consisted of Eric Baldwin, Ben Fineman, and one other guy I can not remember. I splashed around alot as usual with mixed results. I was up as much as 21k (15K starting stack), but left the table at 12K. As soon as I got to my new table I doubled up with 62ss vs KK on a Jh6h2c board. Shortly after that I held with KK vs Kh10h on a 9h8s7h board. The pot pushed me to over 40K and I thought I would try some light 3 bets against a couple of the younger players at the table. I 3 bet with Q9o from the SB and got flatted by the original raiser. The board came 10h8c2s and I checked with intentions of folding, but he led so small that I changed my mind and ripped leaving 1.5x pot to call. He found a call with AA, but a Jack on the river put me up to 55K. I got as high up as 70K, but found myself with 35K at 500/1000 blinds. I was the 2nd limper in with AK with the hopes that one of the 2 aggressive short stacks would push. One did from the button, but a larger stack pushed over the top. I coulda let it go, but felt the short stack could have anything and that the big stack to push with AQ and certainly 1010. So I called off with my AsKh and was against the short stacks AdKc and the big stacks QsQc. The flop was good with the 1084 all spades, but bricks hit to send me out the door around 30th.

Justin "robert07" Young

Birthday Weekend

I am not going to lie, for the first time in my life I was dreeding a birthday. 30 is a nice big round number that does not really signify (sp?) anything, except for the feeling of being old. I am sure it does not help that in my profession everyone is 22 years old. I feel like Jimmy Connors trying to hold on to the glory days and show those "young punks" that I still have it.
I picked up Adam, Cody, and Shannon from the airport and met up with Mary, Morgan, Renee, and Eric for some pregame before we went to a nice steak dinner at the M. From there we played 1/2 NL where I proceeded to get drunk and lose 2200. The last hand of the night for me was taking 77 into Shannon's A10o for 1800. Board came QQJ4K, and after the necassary slowroll I looked at my phone and saw it wasnt my birthday anymore so I gave up and went to the craps table. Eric was already there and we fought to get back what we lost. I got within a few hundred and knew I needed to get home in order for us to do it all over again for Eric's suprise 2009 POY party. Eric was tough to convince becuase "we dont have shit to do, so lets play till dawn you little ******"
The next day I was in rough shape, but still had stuff to do for Eric's party. I stumbled thru the day and the party was a success. He was suprised and everyone had a good time. We got a shuttle to take us to the strip. We ate at The Hard Rock Cafe and proceeded to Blondies for some beriut (not beer pong in my book). We couldnt take over 2 tables so we just played flip cup and got smashed. Some how we ended up in some club with a table. I had to go outside to arrange the pick up point for our shuttle. I tried and go back in and am stopped by a bouncer. I show him my stamp and tell him we just bought a table. He looks me up and down and tells me I cant go in and I should not have been allowed in the first place. I know Vegas is a superficial society and for me to hope otherwise is a bit nieve, but I was drunk and yelled some things a 22 year old would yell. Once we got to the shuttle, the driver request that we pay up front, I told her we did not have to on the way there, but she insisted. I flashed her a wad of 5K and asked if that would be enough to cover it. She was not pleased and insisted some more. I gave her a bill and proceeded to rant for half of the trip home.
The next day I woke up in bad shape, but ready to play. This Sunday is in the top 10 Sunday's to play all year. I missed a few of the earlier events, but went on to have a good day as I got 4th in the 150r on FTP for 42K. Though I am/was dissapointed to go out 4th with KK vs QQ aipf, I knew I got lucky twice during the final table to stay alive. Once with A10 vs AK and once with 108 vs Ace-rag.
I will be recovering and attempting to decide when to go to LA this week. With "Lost" starting its last season tonite and the Super Bowl on Sunday I may have to wait till next week.

Justin "robert07" Young

Week of Online and the Heartland Poker Tour

With the amount of traveling I have done lately I was looking foward to putting in some hours online. I consistantly fell short of real money scores as I made a handful of final 2/3 tables and one third place finish in the daily 50r. The scores were enough to start my year off in the positive direction, but not the kind of results you like after getting deep in a bunch of tournies. As a was sweating Mike Katz deep in the late 100r on PS I decided to play a bit of 8 game mix. I jumped in at PLO (one of my better games). I folded the first few hands and recieved 7d5c3c3d on the cutoff. I raised it to $60 ($10/20$ blinds), and the BB called. The flop was a dream 8c6d4c giving me the nuts with a flush redraw. Through a series of quick raises we got it all in. With the quickness of the BB raises I thought he might have a top wrap and flush draw or a set with a flush draw, or even worse the nuts with a big flush draw, but instead he turned over AsJs7s5h for just the nuts and no apparent redraw. After I saw that I was freerolling 35% of the time I minimized the screen to sweat Katz. A few seconds later a window popped up saying that I had insufficient funds at my table. I looked back at the board and it ran out 10s9d giving him a Jack hi straight. He had to hit exactly 10,9 and one of them could not be a club......and both of them could not be a diamond, because both scenarios would give me a flush. Im not recapping the hand because its a bad beat (well maybe 25% is), but because to illustrate how average some players are at higher stakes PLO. Now im not saying getting it in with the nuts is bad, but his hand selection for 100bb deep table is awful. And if it were a deeper table then fast playing the nuts on that board is very marginal at best. Ok maybe 50% is for me telling the bad beat, but im seriously happy about the play of PLO cash games online. I have been a winner playing them, but I did not see too many instances where people make blantant mistakes. It instills confidence.
Eric and I played the Heartland Poker Tour event at The Red Rock Casino. It was a 1k main event that was split up into 2 flights. We hopped in the second flight that started at 6pm. This may have been the softest field I have ever played in for 1K. The players were super weak and str8 foward. I built my stack from 15K to 60K without ever showing a hand. I would just raise small pre, if someone called I would c-bet. 80% of the time thats all it took. And if they ever played back at me I would fold or hope to have the nuts. After getting lucky against Jon Freidberg to push me to 85K I stepped on the gas and ran it up to 100K quickly. Then in one orbit I was out. I guy that had a bet sizing tell opened for 4x (meant he had a weak hand), I looked down at K4cc and 3 bet to 12K (blinds 500/1000). He himmed and hawed and went all in for 21K (9K more). I had to call and he announced it was a good call and he was bluffing, but it was with the best hand, A5ss. Despite flopping an open ender his ace hi held. I raised, c bet a couple times that didnt work and I was down to 68K. UTG who was a decent player raised to 4K (blinds now at 700/1400) and looked down at AA on the button. I just called looking to double up. The flop was a dream with 662 rainbow. UTG bet half pot so I just called on that non threatening board. The turn was a 5 and he bet full pot, 15Kish. I was sure he had about JJ so I ripped it all expecting a snap call. He did snap call, but he held 22 instead. I went from chipleader to out in one orbit in classic Justin style.
Oh, I watched "Drag me to Hell" last night because I like scary movies and while I was flipping thru shows a while ago a stumbled upon the "Scream Awards". No clue what it was but that movie won a bunch of awards. So I figured that if people who like scary movies like this movie than I would like it. Hahahahahahahhaahhahaah, not true as it turns out. I would have turned it off, but parts were too funny. No, but seriously, dont see this move. Its terrible.

Justin "robert07" Young

PCA

Despite a red eye with a 3.5 hour lay over in Philadelphia the trip out to the Bahamas went pretty smooth. I was upgraded to 1st class on both legs which made it easier to sleep/drink. The complex of Atlantis was impressive. It had absolutely everything you could want in a destination hotel: lazy river, water slides, basketball court, the beach and plenty of wildlife. Unfortunately the weather was a bit cold and windy to do much outside. I sucked it up the last day just to say I did some of the stuff. It was 65 and gusty, but I shivered around the complex.
The poker did not go much better, I was out of the main event by level 5. I do not think I played very well, but not many things went correctly for me. I ended up playing quite a few tournaments with the weather the way it was with no success. A played pretty well in the post-lims but only sniffed the money in 2 of them.
I dont plan on traveling the rest of the month, but February will be busy with the LAPC, Venetian, Valentines Day, and my buddy Nick is coming for few days. Untill then I will be playing a good bit online with a couple live sessions sprinkled in.

Justin "robert07" Young

2009 Year in Review

My poker started fairly slow. I skipped all of the January events and mainly just played online and searched for a house. I had a couple smallish scores online to keep my accounts floating plus Morgan and I found our perfect house. I went to LA in February for some events including the main event. I bricked all of them and somehow broke even on cash games. In March I managed to make three final tables at the Wynn, but zero first places. In April I took a terrible beat at a Five Star prelim to go out 8th, but I managed to find a deep run into the main event. I was a massive chipleader with 14ish people left, but I found a way to go out in 8th, leaving me just short of another WPT final TV table. It was a major opportunity that I let slip thru my fingers and one of the few tournaments I question my play in, long after the fact. A bunch of my buddies and I went on a boat trip the week prior to the WSOP. One of the best weeks of the year. The series was rough, as I only cashed twice in twenty some events. A 17th in the 10K PLH event was my deepest run. I lost a huge hand with AdQd vs KhKs on a Jd7d6d board and then a flip against Isaac to cripple me. This was another professional opportunity that I just missed out on. On the up side I watched a lot of my friends make final tables, including Eric winning his first bracelet. After the series I played mainly online. I was able to pull of a 1st in the Sunday Brawl and a 2nd in the Mulligan in consecutive weeks. These were my biggest two online tournament scores up to this point. I went to LA for the Legends main event and busted on day 2. Eric convinced me to go to Barcelona with him for an EPT. I made a final table in a post lim, but bricked everything else. It was my first time in Europe and I loved it. When I got back to the states I won my first WCOOP bracelet in heads up PLO. This was the high point of my year financially and confidence wise. The rest of the year included a trip to Aruba and plenty of tournaments here in Vegas. I did not produce any real scores the rest of the year. I did have lots of fun as I spent some time with family and got to watch Eric on his strectch run to the 2009 Cardplayer POY.
If I were ranking this year I would make it a 8.5. I did a lot of firsts that included buying a house in Vegas, going to the Grand Canyon, going to Europe, going to Aruba, and even snowmobiling. Poker was a bit of a drag, but its tough to ignore all the fun I've had this year. I feel I will be more focused and more selective in my live tournaments this year. Either way I am looking foward to whats next.

Justin "robert07" Young