#TeamPokerJoker and the Optimum at Running Aces

Although this was already announced via Twitter last Saturday, I'm proud to say that I have joined #TeamPokerJoker! As an active member of the Minnesota poker community as well as the virtual community on Twitter, I've been familiar with the #TeamPokerJoker team and brand since its' inception earlier in the year.  It's been pretty awesome seeing the team grow from its stages of infancy to where it is today, as Marc has done a fantastic job branding and marketing the team. Considering the strong core of players we have, I know our team has a bright future in the Minnesota Poker Community and hopefully will continue to expand and succeed in many ways. I consider myself very fortunate to be a member of the team and am excited to prove myself to my new teammates on the felt. You can find the Team Poker Joker website here if you're interested in learning more about the team: #TeamPokerJoker

It's me! Playing some 2-5 PLO @ Aria in August

In addition to joining #TeamPokerJoker, I was able to play two MTT's this week. I managed to sneak into the Optimum up at Running Aces yesterday afternoon around 4:30 PM, right when registration closed!  When I arrived at the table the blinds were 400/800/100 ante and I was sitting on 9.8K from 15K starting, good for 12 BB's and a dream!  As much as I don't enjoy being short stacked like that, I feel like I play a short stack in a very calculated mathematical manner.  I'm not afraid to ship it all in with marginal hands from late position or the blinds to try and pick up free chips.  Fortunately in this tournament, I found some great spots.  I shipped 88 from the BB when two players limped to me, and promptly received two folds, then picked up AQ in the SB the next hand and shipped it on the BB and received another fold.  I then proceeded to bust my friend Burke with A6dd vs QJo all in on a KQ2dd flop, catching an ace to bring my stack up to 22K for the final table. 

Once we reached the final table I was pretty comfortable with my chip position.  Two of the stronger players at the table had mountains of chips, and I was only one double up away from having a chance.  I figured I could wait to pick my spots, as a few players were < 15BB.  Unfortunately, in the first orbit I faced a really awkward spot that I would love to hear feedback on.  UTG+1 raised to 2200 at 500/100 9 handed, I reraised with QQ in MP to 5600, starting the hand with 22K effective, HJ and CO fold, and the B insta-raises to 15K, effectively putting UTG+1 and me all in.  UTG+1 folded, and I was faced with a tough decision.  I had committed about 25% of my chips with a premium hand, but was faced with a 4-bet from a player I had limited information on.  Online this is a snap call, as I'm most likely up against AK, but the 4-better had shown a lot of strength in his bet sizing and seemed very confident in his hand.  I narrowed his perceived range down to JJ, KK, AK, and AA.  After pondering my decision for a minute or so I decided to fold. I would still have 16 BB 9 handed, and was comfortable with how the table was playing.  After the hand I told the 4-better that "I folded a pair" and he told me "good fold." Was it a good fold? I'm not sure. Anyone think folding QQ to a 4-bet 9 handed with 20BB is bad in a live MTT? Would love to hear your thoughts.

After that hand I was able to pick up a little bit of traction.  I shipped 99 and was called by the same player with AK, the board ran out clean and I was back up to 25K in chips.  However, several hands later I busted. Here is my bustout hand: folded to me in the SB with eff. 27K (won the blinds hand before) at 500/1000/100 ante, I pick up AhKh and raised to 3000, same player flats the BB for 2000 more.  We head to a flop of Qh6s2s.  This is a decent texture for me, as it's difficult to put the BB on a Q.  Realistically he's 3-betting me with AQ and maybe KQ, and flatting with QJ, maybe KQ, and maybe Q10 and Q9 if he thinks he can outplay me post flop.  I figure his range is pairs 22-88, suited connectors 87 and higher, and broadway hands like J10, KJ, etc.  I continued for 3500 on the Q62hss flop with my AhKh, and the BB raised me to 11K, effectively half my chips.  This raise surprised me, as I couldn't figure out what he was trying to represent.  If he had a hand like 66,22, KQ or Qxss wouldn't he flat and let me keep barreling my hand? I can understand this bet if he has a hand like 33-55, 77, 88, a flush draw, or QJ and Q10 as he would be put to a tough decision if a K or A came on the turn and I fired a second barrel. However, this is a great texture to semi-bluff or bluff on, as it's tough for me to commit all my chips on this board unless I have a Q or better, or a flush draw. Is going all in here the best play or is folding?  If I fold I'm back to 20K in chips and sitting with a decent but not preferable stack, but if I 3-bet all in for 13K more I could get the BB to fold a hand like 33-55, and maybe even a hand like 77 or 88 if he thinks he is drawing to two outs.  Would you shove all in here or would you fold?

I decided to shove all in and the BB called pretty quickly.  He tabled his hand pretty quickly, and he had a hand that made a lot of sense in this spot: 109ss for a flush draw and two live cards.  I really like his bet here, as he can get me to fold a lot of hands that are better than 10 high. Even if I do have a big hand like AA, KK, AQ, KQ, he still has 35% equity against my hand.  He clearly put me on hand that couldn't beat a Q and he was absolutely right, and I put him on a hand that couldn't beat a Q and was right too! Unfortunately for me a spade spiked on the turn and I was drawing dead.  Regardless I am happy with how I played the hand, putting in 21K more all in to win 55K and 48% equity.  I truly think the BB folds a small pair in this spot most the time. 

Really interested to hear your feedback on these two hands.  Both these spots were pretty awkward and I am happy with my play, but I am always interested in hearing what others have to say in these situations.  Thanks to Running Aces for hosting a great tournament with a great structure, as both Running Aces and Canterbury have put a decent effort into improving their tournament structures in the past year.  I will definitely be back to play the Optimum sometime in the near future!

Thanks for reading and I will update again soon in a post about local tournament structures!

- Rob @robbrereton