I got a decent stack in this tourney because everyone was playing like a maniac, as it was a rebuy... though actually, I got a little lucky to do so. There was one huge donk at my table who kept open pushing any two broadway cards, so when I picked up AQ and someone limped in front of me, I flatted, hoping to get him in... a shorty went all-in behind me, then he pushed as expected, the original limper folded, and I called, only to find that the donk had KK for once. Shorty had QTs and picked up a flush draw on the flop, but in the end, it was my A on the river that took the whole thing down.

Later, I stacked another shorty with JJ vs. like K8o or some crap.

Now I'm doing pretty well, after having taken down this pot. Smart play, or just a little lucky? When he called my flop raise I put him on an overpair, so I figured the A on the turn was a perfect excuse to shove... of course, if I was wrong and he had the NFD, I was screwed... but he'd probably push the flop with that, no?

Anyway, I'm currently in 70th place of an original 328, 201 remaining... top 36 paid, $7372.50 for first.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em Tournament, 50/100 Blinds (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t13504)
BB (t9320)
UTG (t3805)
UTG+1 (t18348)
MP1 (t4590)
MP2 (t11958)
Xopods (MP3) (t6573)
CO (t9335)
Button (t13265)

Xopods's M: 43.82

Preflop: Xopods is MP3 with 10, 9
3 folds, MP2 calls t100, Xopods calls t100, CO bets t400, 4 folds, Xopods calls t300

Flop: (t1050) 8, 6, 2 (2 players)
Xopods checks, CO bets t500, Xopods raises to t2000, CO calls t1500

Turn: (t5050) A (2 players)
Xopods bets t4173 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: t5050

Results:
Xopods didn't show 10, 9 (nothing).
Outcome: Xopods won t5050

I like.

So that this isn't just a boast thread, here's one, three or four hands later, that I'm ashamed of. Obviously I would have led the flop or turn if I'd known he was the kind of donk who raises T9o into two early position limpers, but as usual, I was figuring pocket pair or Ax accounted for most of his range... I wanted to C/R the flop as I figured that was the surest way of finding out if my hand was good or not... a weak donklead didn't seem like a good idea, since he was deep and thus likely to bully. When he checked behind, I figured I was good, until I saw the turn, which meant that most of the hands I beat had just got there... I checked, planning on giving it up, or taking one last shot at my 6-outer if he checked behind, which he did... but it was his 6-outer that got there.

Anyway, at least now I have player notes saying "raises with crap as deep stack."

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em Tournament, 50/100 Blinds (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP3 (t13454)
CO (t9170)
Button (t3405)
SB (t18648)
BB (t4590)
UTG (t11858)
Hero (UTG+1) (t9223)
MP1 (t8060)
MP2 (t12290)

Hero's M: 61.49

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 8, 8
UTG calls t100, Hero calls t100, 1 fold, MP2 bets t400, 6 folds, Hero calls t300

Flop: (t1050) 7, 4, 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

Turn: (t1050) A (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

River: (t1050) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

Total pot: t1050

Results:
Hero had 8, 8 (one pair, eights).
MP2 had 10, 9 (one pair, nines).
Outcome: MP2 won t1050

Make it 400 PF and bet the flop imo.

Alright what about this one? Good fold? MP2 is the T9o donk from the previous hand, MP1 is the guy I semi-bluffed the one before that.

Update: Now in 145th after letting this hand go. 168 remaining. Have 20xBB in my stack, at least, so not desperate yet.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em Tournament, 80/160 Blinds (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP3 (t15244)
CO (t9035)
Button (t4790)
SB (t23078)
BB (t4170)
UTG (t11008)
Hero (UTG+1) (t6448)
MP1 (t6105)
MP2 (t10820)

Hero's M: 26.87

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A, K
1 fold, Hero bets t560, MP1 calls t560, MP2 calls t560, 5 folds

Flop: (t1920) K, Q, 10 (3 players)
Hero bets t1280, MP1 calls t1280, MP2 raises to t10260 (All-In), Hero folds, MP1 calls t4265 (All-In)

Turn: (t14290) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: (t14290) Q (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: t14290

Originally Posted by MJPerry

Make it 400 PF and bet the flop imo.

You're probably right, but there were a lot of people left to act, and the play is SO bad at this thing, I thought my best bet was to limp and play for set value. Wasn't expecting to get such a nice - but non-set - flop.

Really, though... the play is SO bad. It essentially costs you $63 to play, as you should definitely buy a $30 add-on. However, the level of donkery is astounding. Not quite as much now that we're under 100 players remaining and most of the morons are out... but there were only 328 players to begin with, yet 477 rebuys and 178 add-ons... so the prize pool is very well-padded, especially since the rebuyers are basically giving their chips away for the first five blind levels. High variance to play these things, of course, but given how I'm doing, I'll definitely give it another try soon. Don't have to make final table very often to come out very +ROI.

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Update:

At least I'm in good company



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Update again:

Doubled up when a donk with A8o called my push with KJs and I got there. Now in 62nd with 102 remaining. Ahead of both those pros.

Update: Just doubled through a guy who called my AT all-in with 99... T on the river, very tense moment. Then stacked him for the rest of his chips the next hand. You can tell he was a shark because he was very polite about the whole thing.

Now in 29th place, 62 remaining. May actually make the money!

How much are you in for?

I'm now in 27th with 30 remaining. 21,474 chips. Leader has 147,105. I'm guaranteed at least $132.70 now... good, since I didn't rebuy, just got an add-on, so my investment was $63. If I can outlast two more people I'll get $162... and of course, I've still got "chip and a seat" for the $7,372.50 for first.

Edit: Now 30k chips and 22nd place with 28 remaining. On break for the next 5 minutes. Kataklysmos is railing me... feel free to join.