The ALternate's Bracelet Run

WSOP Event #22 - $2000 NLHE

- Al's Recap

Whatup guys, back in LA after a frenzied day of cards.  The six hours of play feels like 15 minutes when I look back on it...

It helped that some big boppers like Doyle, Ivey, Reese, Cloutier and Tomko were finishing up the 50K H.O.R.S.E tournament this morning, so it was nice to know I could go ahead and lop them off as possibilities on my left. I did however, get Hall of Famer Berry Johnston to my left, and that guy happened to have won the 1986 Main Event and four other bracelets. "Miami" John Cernuto was two to my right, but he was a non-factor as he was bounced in the first hour. His bullets were a massive dog to a set of fours by the time he pushed the last of his chips.

The rest of the guys at the table differed in skill. I had a radar on each of them by the second hour and figured out who was more likely to make a savvy play on me and who could be pushed around. Unfortunately it didn't seem to matter how comfortable I was with the table after that first break, because the cards went dead in that third and fourth hour- a pivotal time to start amassing chips, not let them get grinded away. Nothing came, and when I showed strength with a medium holding I was popped back preflop.

I fought for extra time on the felt. I was down to 800 on the button with 10 7 off when it folded around to me. What's that you say? You're damn right I'm moving them in. Guy with A2h calls and flop came 10 10 7. Now that was cool. One catch of an ace with Slick suited vs 77 and I was back in business, sitting about 3,500. Still half of the average stack, but that's never prevented someone from winning a poker tournament.

*On a side note, I was at table 48 and Chan was at 49, right by the rail. Poor bastard had to play by the rail with like 50 people staring at him. I'm sure he would have appreciated a seat among the sea of middle tables, but that's the draw he got. Price you pay for being a poker god, I guess. Other notable sightings included Seif, Negraneau (pissed after being sent to the rail), Haveson, Ng, Greenstein, and about 40 people who tried to pass themselves off as Jesus Ferguson*

Our table broke, and I was sent to a table of guys that I didn't recognize. I went against my typical strategy and raised first hand I got in late position. I missed the flop but bluffed big and took the big blind off his hand. Got half-stacked to about 2,400 when I made another move with 55, was called preflop, and then subsequently raised over the top when I was caught betting into a scary flop.

My last hand came when I was in the small blind with that same 2,400. Everyone folded to the button, who raised up to a grand (blinds were 150/300 with a 25 ante). The bullshit alarm was sounding off in my head because hell, that's the same move I always make. I liked my pair of sixes and moved with them. I think I'd make the same play ten times out of ten. He reluctantly called with KJ and was greeted with an almost impenitrable flop of AJJ. No help on 4th or 5th and I'm back on a plane. I was told there were about 400 or so players left, so I took solace in the fact that I lasted longer than 2/3 of the field.

Anyway, thanks as always for the support, and hopefully either Von or myself makes some actual noise in the big one. It really is grueling, but I don't think getting deep in these things too far out of reach for myself, not to mention a majority of you guys as well.

- Reports from Sir Pick

The ride is over... for now.

Details are still coming in from the ALternate's final hands but the reports so far look like this.

ALternate doubled up. Then decided to make some moves and he ended up bluffing his way back to $3500.

Until, hero raises with 66 gets called by villian in the sb who had KJ. Villian hits trips and hero is out of the tournament.

Stayed tuned, hopefully we can get some first person anaylsis/perspective on this event. And then in 2 weeks the ALternate hits the felt again as he starts on Day 1b (Sat. July 29th) for the Main Event. He will be joined by Von Sandman who will be making his second appearance in a row at the WSOP Main Event and he will be starting on Day 1d (Mon. July 31st).

 

Second Break Update

Our hero is getting a bit frustrated with the deck. Hero raises with 55. Villian reraises huge. Hero fold. Villian shows KK.

Hero raises with JJ villian calls. Flop comes Q high. Villian bets and hero folds.

Players are on another break and blinds will be 100/200 when they resume. The ALternate is sitting on about $1,000 in chips so he plans to make a move in the next orbit.

Of the 1,600 players who started the event THIS afternoon, 1,000 have already been eliminated.

Al says it feels like playing at Hollywood Park as he really hasn't had to face any "notables."

First Break Update

After 20mins of not playing a hand because of being cold decked, the ALternate began to make some moves. Woke up to AA and raised it up preflop, flop came down J high to which Al led out. Villian then reraised all-in and Al promptly called. Villian shows QQ and ALternate takes it down.

Getting up to about $5600, AL got involved in three way action that would've put him up to about $8500 had he hit a diamond but it wasn't meant to be. Soon after and right before the break Al's AK was outrun by AQ dropping him back to $3200.

Players are on a break and all reports are that the ALternate sounded very confident and not intimdated whatsoever. Sounds like 4th Street is in very good hands.

*starting stacks were 2,000

Comments

[dr. dilih]

Is the pick on site today or relaying messages via some phone calls?

[Slim]

via phone

[justin]

ALternate no more, I say his nickname be changed to "Permanent" or "Big Perm"

[Richie Rich]

Well done, Al. No matter how good you are, the cards need to cooperate. Hopefully you and Von can avoid going card dead at such a critical juncture in the tourney. I should be there cheering you two one from the rail in between hands at the side games!

[will]

Sounds like you aquitted yourseld nicely regardles of the final results, think of it as saving the best for the main event.