DUDE ON THE TOURNEY CIRCUIT

I few weeks ago, I enjoyed a $1000 day in NL ring games. I had visions of a plasma screen in my near future, before falling again into that old pattern of squandering my earnings. I'm not sure I'm squandering it exactly, as my game has improved, but still sometimes luck runs bad enough to enable me to lose a ton. As a result, I'm spending more time playing in NL tournaments, so that I can hone my game for a minimal investment.

I play exclusively at Poker Room, and there are single table tourneys starting up every few minutes. I can play for an hour in hopes of making a few bucks, but more importantly, to learn to play solid enough poker to consistently make the money.

A few nights ago, I started entering the multi-table tourneys, with payout based on the number of entrants. I first started using the theory that says risk it all early and either double up or go home. I went home on four all in draws that didn't pan out in four different tourneys within an hour. I was not long for that theory.

Next, I converted to Phil Hellmuth mode, playing super tight early and moving all in whenever I felt I had the statistical advantage. This way, I'm letting the other guy put all his money in on a draw. I didn't slow play or attempt to trap. If I liked the flop and felt vulnerable, I tried to take the pot before another card came off. I did very well my first time out with this strategy. I entered a tourney with 133 entrants and was doing very well until I isolated a preflop raiser as I held AKc.

The flop came TJJ, one club. He went all in, and I joined him with stars in my eyes, figuring he had a small pair and I had a great shot at beating him. The next two cards were both tens, but alas, he held the QJ and I was out in 35th place. I realized then that no draw is worth dying for. Hellmuth agrees. He will fold trip aces against an all in flush draw bet, because he wants the statisical guarentee that he will survive the hand.

Last night I anted $20 for a tourney with 132 entrants. I played very solid poker and was lucky enough to double up many times when my hands held up. I played a near-flawless game for three solid hours, showing only big hands, while using my tight image to steal several pots. I entered the final table with twice as many chips as the next two players.

Nothing remarkable to report from the final table. I was the stalwart while the weaker stacks atrophied away. Ultimately I lost my chip lead when it was down to four of us. My final hand of the night, I made a crying call once I was already pot committed. He had trapped me when he flopped trips, and by the time he check raised me, I could only go all in hoping me was on a draw. I finished in 3rd and took home $330 and 3.5 hours of poker bliss.