My 1st Stars 180 win

I have played quite a number of the Stars $4 180 man SNGs previously. Although having made several final tables, I had best places of 2nd & 3rd, not quite managing to take one down. On Friday, I finally went one better.

I have pretty much avoided them lately as the last few times I’ve played them, I’ve just lost to horrendous beats by bad players who will call with anything and flop their 2 pair to crack your aces, or whatever. Whilst most will argue that I should be seeking out these players, not avoiding them, I just found the beats too depressing, especially when you’ve had a few in a row.

Anyway for some reason I decided to play one, despite trying to avoid them lately, and I’m glad I did. Here’s a summary of some key moments in the tournament:

I had been pretty card dead for the 1st few levels, although I was able to maintain a stack of around 10 big blinds with standard short stack play (i.e push or fold), but was mostly only winning the blinds. My first double up came when my 66 held up against AJ at the 100/200 level, then a few hands later I knocked someone out with QQ>88. I now had nearly 6k in chips and had a bit more breathing space.

At 150/300 I had AK. Raised to 900 and the Big Blind called. Flop was 757 rainbow. BB checked and I made a continuation bet of 1000. He called. Turn was a Q. It went check/check. River was a lovely King. BB went all-in. I was confident I was ahead. If he had KQ, he’d have bet the Turn. He certainly wouldn’t have called with K7 or K5. The only other hands that were possible, were that he was slow-playing 55 or 77. If that was the case, then so-be-it. I called and he showed 43s for the bluff. He was obviously chasing his gutshot. I’m now up to $11k.

At 200/400, we were approaching the bubble, and I took a big hit. I was in the Big Blind with Q2. UTG player limped as did a player in Mid Position. I duly checked. Flop was a glorious 23Q. I checked to induce a bet, and UTG duly obliged with a 1200 bet. I was hoping that he’d hit his Queen and so pushed. He called showing KQ. Unfortunately a 3 on the turn gave us both 2 pair Queens & Threes, but he had a better kicker. I hate it when that happens, but I do get on the right side of one of those later. I’m back down to $3.2k and in trouble.

However, very next hand I get some those chips back against the same player. I have 97s in the Small Blind. All fold to me, easy push. Big blind wakes up with AQ. Oops! Fortunately the board comes down J796K and my 2 pair wins. A few more pushes with KQ, AJ & 22 in a short space of time wins me the blinds to take my stack back up over $10k. I am also fortunate to have a very passive guy on my right who keeps giving up his small blind to me without trying to steal. He did this quite a lot as the blinds got higher, and it really saved me a lot of chips overall.

Still on the bubble, with blinds at 300/600, I once again get QQ. A short-stack guy pushes and I’m relieved to see he has TT. I’m now up to $17k and we’re now down to the last 18 and have made the money. I think I’m lying around 3rd or 4th at this stage.

At 400/800, I’m down to $13k after my AQ misses the flop and my continuation bet fails to shrug off my opponent.

I kick myself later when I fold 66 to a limp and a raise before me. I’d have made a set and knocked a player out if I played it. I had also folded AJ earlier to an obvious blind steal. I’m kicking myself for playing too passively.

Shortly after this, I knock out another player when my AK holds up against A6. Back up to $25k.

At 600/1200, we are approaching the final table with about 11 players left. Then I had another turning point hand. I have AQs (both clubs) in early position and raise to 3000. The small blind reraises me to 6000. The SB was the chip leader and seems a decent player. He had not made this move before. I decide to call and re-asses on the flop. In retrospect, I believe this is a bad call by me as there’s not a lot I’m beating at this stage. However flop is T87 with 2 clubs. SB makes a small bet of 4800 which is under half the pot. I call and am pleased to see the 6 of clubs on the turn for the nut flush. Once again SB bets 4800. I simply call. River is 8 of hearts. He bets, I push and he calls showing AK hearts. I double up and am big chip leader now with almost $65k. Whilst I certainly made a suspect call at the start, SB really overplayed that hand.

At this stage, I log onto IRC and am pleased to have the support of a few ITHers railing me.

We are now down to final 5 players. It’s very difficult to win a tournament without getting a bit lucky from time to time. Throughout this match, I get 2 such moments to stay in. I’m not including the 97 v AQ or AQ v AK here as in the first, I wasn’t that much of an underdog, and the 2nd, my opponent misplayed the hand (more than I did). However here is the first break – a short stack pushes his last $13k. I have 77 but he shows QQ. eek! Luckily a 7 on the flop keeps me alive and knocks my unfortunate opponent out. Whilst I wouldn’t have got knocked out if I lost, it still would have been a dent in my stack and made me one of the short stacks.

Two hands later I knock another short stack out when my 88 holds up against my opponent’s KJ. I now have $96k and we’re down to 3. 8s are good for me as I get them a few hands later to knock out against my opponent’s 66. We are now heads up. I’m against the AK guy from earlier.

After a couple of exchanges, my opponent has a slender chip lead against me. I am delighted to see KK. I slow play them by simply calling the small blind and my opponent checks. Flop is a harmless 258. We both check. Turn is a 6. I bet 4000, my opponent raises to 8000. Now I’ve seen this guy overplay middle pair several times, and I think he’s doing it again. A couple of reraises and we’re both all-in.
He shows 65 for 2 pair. Uh-oh. I’ve blown it! Now comes the 2nd bit of luck that I was talking about. The river is another 2 which gives me a better 2 pair.

I now have a massive lead of $241k to just $28k. At this stage, I’m reminded the last time I got heads up in one of these and threw away a 2:1 chip lead. I’m determined not to be so reckless this time. However things aren’t going to plan as I get completely card dead and fail to hit any flops. My opponent is slowing creeping back up to me until we finally end it on this hand:

I have QT in the Big Blind. SB raises and I call. Flop is 3T3. I bet, opponent raises and I push. He shows A6 and my hand holds up to great relief, and a lot of cheering on the rail. At last I’ve finally won one of these! I’m over the moon.

So a nice $216 win from just a $4 entry. After over 4 hours of play, I was shattered. It was also 2.10am and I had to get up at 7.30am. But I’d worry about that later as it was definitely worth it.