APAT Czech Open

The next tourney that I cared anything about was the APAT Czech Open (Thursday 17th Jan 8pm) in which I got off to a flier. I managed to take down a couple of pots early on betting out in position with middle pair and then, with AK and position on scot6795 I was able to string him along with his AQo when the board came 36K. Turn was an A and river another K to make me a full house and I managed to extract the max.

Having established myself as tight, I managed to use it to steal some blinds against the scared and short players. I was fortunate enough to have cooste betting into me All-In pre-flop with 44 when I held Kings. Then with a pair of 8s I set scouse3465 All-In pre-flop and was called by his ATo - another 2.5k to the stack. Then with TT I feel it worthwhile re-raising KingKem from a late position. He shoves his 4,050 in with ATo and I call. Tens hold up and with 24k I'm now a comfortable leader by about 8k. I loosen up a bit and start raising with marginal hands (AJ, QT, KJ etc.) knowing that few will want to play against me for all their chips.

My good friend Charlie Curtis (janc59) with 14k raises a pot 3xBB from UTG. As next to act with AhKc I call. The flop comes 54J (two clubs). He min bets, I re-raise him, he calls. Turn and River are both Clubs and I call his 5,400 bet with the K high flush. He flips AcKh and takes me down to a medium stack.

I continue to play well with the stack I have and with 22k left and blinds at 1k/2k, with the precious APAT Online Ranking points only three players away, I raise to 8k on a tight 6-man table. Trademans with 23k sets me All-In and I call hoping I'm 50/50. He flips TT and I am 42/57. Board doesn't help and I'm out in 12th for $14.28.

I was a bit upset with myself for my aggression here - I think a min-raise would have given me the same info here and I would have been able to fold. If min bet was called I might have been able to bluff him off on the K high flop.

Ho hum ... it continues to be a game of If Only ...

Sat night I have been asked to a home game in Troon through APAT. Gerry has become a Dad again and he's having a swaally over the poker table to celebrate. I hope to be able to make it although not until the expected 6am finish!