02 Jun 2004

My British Open...

Since I wrote my last article, 'The Tournament Roller Coaster', I am happy to say that things have improved! After splitting the £500 No Limit Hold'em in Dundee in November my next trip was to Paris to play in the E500 No Limit Hold'em in December (I had been the winning bidder of the entry ticket generously put up by the Aviation Club in the North East Charity Shield's auction). At the dinner break I had 130 chips out of 29250, then the blinds recommenced at 50/100 and somehow I managed to go on and win the event!

But then I decided that unlike previous years where I had invested my winnings in the next tournament, this time I would be more selective. In January I played only 2 tournaments at Luton, making the final of the £750 No Limit Hold'em but finishing 9th. Then in February I tried a super satellite for the main event in Paris but lost so I didn't play there. Then in March I played the two No Limit events at the British Open held at the Victoria Casino, London.

In the first event, the £750 No Limit Hold'em, I was surviving having never had over average chips when short stacked I moved in first position with KK to be called by Keith Hawkins on the button with QQ. And when the dust cleared I had finished 26th.

Then early into the second day of the £1250 No Limit Hold'em main event exactly the same hand occurred against Ian Dobson with him in first position and me on the big blind! But this time my KK held up and I increased my stack from an average 28,000 for that point to a healthy 41,000. On my table was the Devilfish, who had started the day chip leader with 75,000 and was looking very relaxed and confident - I knew he was playing his 'A' game.

I was on his table most of the day and he never lost the chip lead. What I found interesting to watch was not only the way he varied his bets and positional play but how other players tried to outplay him and in doing so murdered their chips. Dave is dangerous enough and never looked like losing, but with his talent as a world class player he is the last person you should be attacking, especially as in the examples I am going to share! All the players who took him on not only had good chips but also attacked the one person on the table who could break them - a common mistake in tournament play.

On the first hand Devilfish limped in with 88 and the big blind checked with J 9. On a flop of J 8 3, the blind bet small, Devilfish made a small raise to 5000 and the blind moved all in for 48,000! On the second hand player A was all in with 55 for 11,000, then Devilfish flat called (he was up to 200,000) and player B moved all in for 48,000 with 44!, Devilfish called with AQs and made a flush on the river to win the 74,000 side pot while the 55 made a house. Then an aggressive player with 65,000 raised Devilfish's big blind to 5,000 for the 3rd time. Dave reraised to 15,000, then the other player moved all in with KTs and Dave called turning over AA!

After this hand I got moved. When it got down to 2 tables we'd been playing 7 hours and I had never had more than 45,000. With the average at 95,000 I got moved back between Valerie with 300,000 and Devilfish with 450,000 and at this time I was down to 37,000 which soon went all-in, so I was happy with my 11th finish. I didn't stay to watch the final as I was certain Devilfish would win it and he did.

One of the interesting aspects of the event was the number of new faces (mostly internet players) and as this was probably their first live event they were trying to decide on their table image. One I saw had the glasses and headphones and kept gesturing to me during a hand to show him my chips. The first two times I moved my hands, but when five minutes later he gestured again I said "if you were concentrating you would remember!". He then took off his headphones and said "Sorry I can't hear you!". This gave the table a laugh which he saw the funny side of and he actually played a good game. Another new player would make a bet then hide his face behind his hands! I think the influx of new players is great for the game and these internetters should not be underestimated - they have some obvious tells but generally play well and I hope they enjoyed the experience.

I would like to thank all those who were complimentary about my 'Rollercoaster' article and I hope it helps prevent any of you from making the same mistakes.

I would like to thank all those who were complimentary about my 'Rollercoaster' article and I hope it helps prevent any of you from making the same mistakes.