Entering Day 2 of the 2007 Borgata Winter Open main event, I was extremely pleased with my $71,600 chip stack. For once, I was not short-stacked going into Day 2. With approximately 320 players remaining, I actually started the day near the top 10 percent of the leaderboard in 35th place. With 54 players cashing, I was in great position to keep both my "cashing" streaks alive (cash for the fourth straight month, and cash in the year's first tournament for a third straight year).
However, after finding my assigned table, I realized that making it through all seven levels during Day 2 would be no easy task. Surveying the table, I bemoaned my extremely tough draw. Why does this always happen to me on Day 2 during the Borgata tournaments?
The last time I played here (September 2005), my Day 2 table draw had the following players: Layne Flack (Seat 1), Clonie Gowan (2), Tim Phan (4), Erik Seidel (6), and Michael Gracz (9) with me in Seat 10.
Today's draw was not much better. I would be facing Burt Boutin (No. 2), Men (the Master) Nguyen (3), Brad Booth (4), John Pham (7) and Tony Cousineau (8) with me in Seat 5. Ugh!! If that was not bad enough, later in the day Vanessa Rousso (Seat 10) and Erik Siedel (1) would join the fray. Our table was quickly labeled the toughest draw of the day by Cardplayer.
Nevertheless, if I could get some cards to fall in my direction, I just may be able to accumulate some chips and build my chip stack. Unfortunately, this strategy never materialized because my recent case of card dead-itis reoccurred. Overall, I only played 17 hands during the seven levels in Day 2.
Since there were not many memorable moments to Day 2, let me share my top five:
(1) During the first level (Level 8 -- blinds $300/$600, $75 antes) of the day, I pretty much maintained by chip stack, ending with $69,200. In Level 9 ($400/$800, $75), I got off to a nice start. I collected a nice pot with my Qh-Qd, as it outraced my opponent's Ah-Kh when the flop came all rags (5s-3h-2d). About 50 minutes later (each level was 75 minutes long), I looked down to see Ks-Kd. I was sitting in mid-position, and an early-position player raised to $2,500, so I confidently reraised to $12,500. After everyone else folded, the original raiser counted out the rest of his chips. Finally, he decided to push his remaining stack of approximately $30,000 into the pot. Making the call, I realized my worst fear as he flipped over Ad-Ac. After the board provided no help (Jc-6d-3d-Qh-7d), I ended the level shortly thereafter with only $43,000.
(2) In the three years of playing in live poker tournaments, I have definitely developed a tight-aggressive reputation. There have been levels where I have played very few hands. At the very least, I would check my big blind option and see a flop. However, I had never played an entire level without playing a single hand. Well, this is no longer the case. I started Level 11 ($600/$12,000, $100) with $22,000. After 75 minutes of zip, zero, nada, I ended the level with $13,600, having actually not even considered playing a single hand. This is a dubious record, which I hope to never match.
(3) Entering Level 12 ($800/$1,600, $100), I knew I had to make a move soon. A few hands later, I was sitting on the button and saw 8h-8d. After everyone folded to the cutoff seat, he raised to $5,000. With about $13,000 left, I decided to make my final stand by pushing all-in. Since the cutoff had a decent chip stack, he felt he had to call, flipping over Qd-10s. Once again, the race was on. Fortunately, I hit a set of eights, especially since the flop also revealed the Qh. The rest of the board (Qh-8s-3s-6d-7h) was inconsequential and I had my first double-up of the day. I survived Level 12, ending with $21,800.
(4) I began Level 13 ($1,000/$2,000, $200) by knocking out a shorter stack when my opponent moved all-in with his final $10,000, holding Js-Ts. Called with my Ah-Kh, I survived and won the pot when the board (Qs-8d-8c-Ac-6c) provided no help to my opponent. Shortly thereafter, I looked down in mid-position to see 10h-10d. After I raised to $5,500, a player in late position reraised me to $17,500. As I contemplated whether I would make another final stand, the big blind pushed all-in. Now, I was sure that I was beat and quickly mucked my 10s. Sure enough, the players had Kd-Kc vs As-Qd, respectively, and the dealer did not reveal a 10 on the board.
5) Finally, entering Level 14 (the last level of Day 2), I knew that I was 75 minutes away from making it through the day. One more double-up should be enough to make it to Day 3. About 10 minutes into the level, I made another final stand. After John Pham limped from early position, I looked down to see 9h-9c, sitting in the small blind. After everyone else folded, I decided to push all-in. Pham instantly called. Uh-oh! I must be behind.
However, Pham flipped over As-7c. Although fairly surprised with his call, I was pleased with the 70:30 advantage going to the flop. Survive this hand and I would have gotten the double up I was hoping for.
Here was the play by play:
Flop: Js-8s-4d (That's a pretty good flop for me. Need an ace to stay away.)
Turn: 5h (Still need to avoid an ace; however, Pham calls out for a 6.)
River: 6d (No ace, but it's the 6 that Pham requests. Why? Then, it suddenly hits me that the 6 completes the straight.)
Unfortunately, Pham's prophetic river card sent me to the rail in about 130th place.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with the way I played throughout the tournament. I am also proud to have lasted so long in the tournament with so few cards and such a difficult table draw. Unfortunately, both my "cashing" streaks have come to an end. Nevertheless, it is off to the Foxwoods Poker Classic. Hopefully, I will be able to start another winning streak there
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Bernard Lee is a contributing writer for the ESPN Poker Club and is the weekly poker columnist for the Boston Herald. E-mail Bernard Lee at BernardLeePoker@hotmail.com with any questions or comments.