Internet Donks Rule No Limit Holdem

WSOP blog

by ‘Hollywood’ Dave Stann

Ugh. I feel so dirty right now. After doing so well (for the most part, anyway) with mixed games over the past 2 weeks, I returned this weekend to the cold embrace of no limit holdem, playing the $1500 event yesterday & the $3000 event today. One word: annoying.

First off, the $1500 events here are a total crapshoot. 3000 starting chips is already a challenge, but going from 25/50, 50/100 and then 100/200 blinds (skipping 75/150) makes it that much harder. Bottom line is, you need cards early, and you need those cards to hold up. My big problem yesterday was that the 3 big hands I actually had (AK suited, KJ suited, and 99) all ran into AA, AA, and a flush, respectively. Obviously I got away from them as cheaply as possible, but with only 3000 chips to play with, its awful hard to define your hand while not crippling yourself in the process.

Anyway, the big struggle came today in the $3000 buy in. Starting with 6000 chips was definately nice, and I quickly realized the optimal strategy to use at my table. Since about half of the other players were hyperaggressive internet donks (for whom the term ‘folding equity’ is a way of life), all i had to do was sit back, check big hands & let them pay me off. Which happened beautifully for nearly 6 hours…

It was sick, watching these guys 4bet each other with A9 and TQ in a bizarre attempt to re-re-steal pots from one another. Hevad Khan was at my table and fluctuated between 3000 and 13000 chips about 4 times, not to mention the 3 or 4 other players for whom it seemed letting a hand go by without raising was a sin greater than life itself. The funny thing is, these guys kept trying to bluff me off hands despite the fact that I was one of the more solid players at the table — i can’t tell you how many times I called a raise, then checkraised the flop on these guys (their hands almost always instamucked). Obviously I started loosening up a bit as the blinds got larger, but for the most part I more than doubled my stack on simply getting paid off by the wild tendencies of my tablemates.

That is, until I got fucking crippled by some old man. Khan raised from mid-position, targeting my big blind (as usual) and everyone folded to the old dude in the small blind, who made the call (about 1000 at 150/300 blinds and a 25 ante). I looked down at AQ, and with 2500 already in the pot, I pushed for about 7500. It was an overbet, but with Khan at about 9000, I didn’t want to give him a chance to try to push me off the hand like he was fond to do. He instamucked, but then the old guy to my right, who had started the hand with 6000 and only had 1000 invested in the pot, somehow found a way to call off his entire stack with 44!!

Well, you know what happened next, I blanked and dude who made just about the worst call I’ve seen all series doubles through with fours to cripple me to 2500 in 150/300 blinds and about 14k chip average. Needless to say I maintained for as long as I could, but with the blinds going up again to 200/400, I pushed in late position with A8 and got called by JQ to find a Q on the flop. Do not pass go, do not collect a bracelet.

So…that was my fun weekend. I think next up is more no limit torture, but then later this week is (thank god) some stud and then some more omaha hi-lo. I love no limit, but the swings can seriously suck! Rock on –

-hd.

badboy of blackjack online!

www.HollywoodDave.com

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