The VIP league held on Sundays has the most points up for grabs of any of the events, so it is a particularly valuable one to do well in. I made some really good plays early today and caught some cards, but I think I blew up at the final table to some degree. I got caught in a blind steal with KTs when a short stack found JJ. I had to call because he couldn’t raise very much, but it didn’t end well. I then basically donked off my remaining chips, betting hands that couldn’t stand up to raises. I decided to call a raise when we were four handed with the mighty 53o, with a plan to check-raise the flop. The initial raiser had been getting a bit frisky and I really thought he would lay down anything but a monster. The flop came AT9r and he bet nearly the pot. I was hoping for a smaller bet, but I still stuck to my plan. I pushed, but the size of his flop bet meant that he was still getting better than 4:1 to call. I still thought I had pretty much fold equity, but I misjudged because he called with KT. I think I would have been better off to make the standard pre-flop re-raise instead or to just push the flop before he already dropped a pot size bet into the mix. I honestly never thought he would call with middle pair, so I clearly misplayed the hand.
I guess I could also have just let it go and waited for a better spot. That would also have been smart. If I fold, I’m the short stack, but I still have enough chips to make a difference. I have to stop coming up with these clever plans that are too cute for their own good.
All in all, it was still a great result. I cashed for $46.40, bringing my total take to $109.03 on $50 in entrance fees and a $59 profit.. Considering I have yet to win one and the competition is mostly better at tourneys than I am, I’m pleased with that result. I’ve also jumped up to 5th on the overall leader board, while Suited also moved up to 9th.
I even played some ring games (and dwarfed my profit in tourneys in about 2 hours) and got in an arb on the Pro Bowl and a college basketball game. It was a pretty good weekend of gambling, all in all. I’m sitting by a fire staring at my wife over the laptop screen. Life is good.
