You can view December's scheduled tournaments at Running Aces Card Room here.
For you OH8 fans, it looks like they've shifted back to the first Sunday of the month.
Also, for you Pai Gow fans - there is No Ante/No Commission play until November 30.
Showing posts with label OH8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OH8. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Karaoke Phil's Report: Fall Poker Classic Event #6, OH8
This is the 2nd year I’ve played the Fall Poker Classic’s OH8 event. Last year (2007) there were 213 entrants for this $200 + $30 event. At the time I was intrigued with OH8, but hadn’t really played much more than a handful of low buy-in tournaments. I thought I did “okay” and busted out at around 100th. The highlight of that day was then going to play some 2/4 Limit Hold ‘em, getting my first ever live straight flush and, thereby, winning a Canterbury Park baseball cap (winning the hand was nice too).
This year saw 199 entrants. Over the past year and, particularly the last 6 months, I have been working on both my HORSE and OH8 games. So, I entered the tournament feeling pretty good about my play and my chances. The tourney structure starts with 3000 chips, 30-minute blind levels and blinds at 25/50 (with betting at 50/100).
I held steady during Level 1 ending with 2950 in chips. Level 2 saw the first elimination from the tournament and I ended with 3600 chips. Level 3 was flat for me and had 3500 chips going into Level 4.
It was in Level that I made some strong moves (and got some good cards). My peak for the level was at about 6500 chips, but I took a hit on the last hand of the level (just before break) and ended with 4800. At break I counted 108 players left (the tourney clock listed 125 but they were consistently slow in recording the knock outs).
Level 5 was flat for me and I finished with 4400 chips. Level 6 was a break out level for me that carried into Level 7. I finished Level 6 with 14800 chips and Level 7 with 16000.
Level 8 nearly saw my demise. With blinds at 1000/1500 and betting at 1500/3000 I was dealt A/3/4/6 in early position with 7800 left in chips (I had taken some hits earlier). I’m first in and decide to try and trap – so I limp in. I had a fairly aggressive (and good) player immediately to my left. He raises to 3000. Only the big blind calls and were three handed (10000 in the pot). The flop comes 3/5/T with the 5/T suited in something I didn’t have. The BB checks. I didn’t want to bet out yet (knew my opponent on the left would do it). Plus, I hadn’t quite hit what I wanted yet with only two pair, a flush and possible straight draws against me and my having only 4 cards to a non-nut low. The UTG bets 1500, which was called by the big blind and myself (14500 in the pot). The turn brought a 4 (3/5/T/4 on the board) – I felt that my opponent on the left had an A/2 within his 4 cards. I figured the big blind for something less than the nuts and/or maybe a flush draw. The BB checked and I opted to check and the UTG player immediately bet out 3000. The button smooth called. I thought long and hard about whether to call or not with 3 pair and a low of A/3/4/5/6. Again, I felt he had an A/2 (now giving him the nut low and a wheel). I went through my outs – An A, 3 or 4 give me strong boats (6 of those left), and a 2 gives me a 6 high straight and a nut low chop (4 of those left). All in all that’s 10 outs. Then there is the possibility that just maybe I’m ahead (though I don’t think so). Then there’s the big blind – a loose player who could have anything but was probably chasing that flush draw. With 20500 in the pot – I called and added 3000 more – leaving me 300 chips left. The river bricked me completely when a K came out. UTG bets out 3000 again and the button calls. There are now 29500 chips in the pot (I can play for 24100 of it). I stop. I think. I think some more. I think long enough (probably 35 or 40 seconds that I’m sure everyone else at the table is thinking, “It’s 300 into a pot of 30K – CALL”). I know I’m beat – I fold and keep my 300. So, what did they have? UTG turns over A/A/2/5 for the nut low and a wheel. The Button shows 2/7/K/K – he was chasing a K-high flush that didn’t hit (and rivered a set that wasn’t good enough).
Two hands later I’m forced all-in in the big blind. I triple up to 900. I’m forced all-in the next hand in the SB and quadruple up to 3600. I sit out the next two hands (I would’ve scooped them both). A few hands after that I make a stand and more than double up and end Level 8 with 8500 in chips.
We go to break with 34 players remaining. I’m sitting in about 25th. The top 18 will get paid.
Level 9 begins with blinds at 1K/2K. I lay down both blinds to preflop raises leaving me 5500 in chips. I finally get 2/2/3/8 double suited and decide to make my stand – all the money gets in preflop with me and another player all-in versus my nemesis to the left. I lose and bust out in 27th place – 15 minutes into Level 9. I’m relatively pleased with my finish. I saw great improvement over the previous year and know I can compete. I thought overall I played a “B” grade game that would’ve been a “B+” without that Level 8 hand (had I folded on the turn and saved 3K in chips). Just a little better play and I make the money.
I go to the buffet and use my tourney comp ticket for dinner – a nice meal of mashed potatoes and gravy, great roast beef au jus, and warm cherry cobbler. It’s a good dinner, but not worth $230.
This year saw 199 entrants. Over the past year and, particularly the last 6 months, I have been working on both my HORSE and OH8 games. So, I entered the tournament feeling pretty good about my play and my chances. The tourney structure starts with 3000 chips, 30-minute blind levels and blinds at 25/50 (with betting at 50/100).
I held steady during Level 1 ending with 2950 in chips. Level 2 saw the first elimination from the tournament and I ended with 3600 chips. Level 3 was flat for me and had 3500 chips going into Level 4.
It was in Level that I made some strong moves (and got some good cards). My peak for the level was at about 6500 chips, but I took a hit on the last hand of the level (just before break) and ended with 4800. At break I counted 108 players left (the tourney clock listed 125 but they were consistently slow in recording the knock outs).
Level 5 was flat for me and I finished with 4400 chips. Level 6 was a break out level for me that carried into Level 7. I finished Level 6 with 14800 chips and Level 7 with 16000.
Level 8 nearly saw my demise. With blinds at 1000/1500 and betting at 1500/3000 I was dealt A/3/4/6 in early position with 7800 left in chips (I had taken some hits earlier). I’m first in and decide to try and trap – so I limp in. I had a fairly aggressive (and good) player immediately to my left. He raises to 3000. Only the big blind calls and were three handed (10000 in the pot). The flop comes 3/5/T with the 5/T suited in something I didn’t have. The BB checks. I didn’t want to bet out yet (knew my opponent on the left would do it). Plus, I hadn’t quite hit what I wanted yet with only two pair, a flush and possible straight draws against me and my having only 4 cards to a non-nut low. The UTG bets 1500, which was called by the big blind and myself (14500 in the pot). The turn brought a 4 (3/5/T/4 on the board) – I felt that my opponent on the left had an A/2 within his 4 cards. I figured the big blind for something less than the nuts and/or maybe a flush draw. The BB checked and I opted to check and the UTG player immediately bet out 3000. The button smooth called. I thought long and hard about whether to call or not with 3 pair and a low of A/3/4/5/6. Again, I felt he had an A/2 (now giving him the nut low and a wheel). I went through my outs – An A, 3 or 4 give me strong boats (6 of those left), and a 2 gives me a 6 high straight and a nut low chop (4 of those left). All in all that’s 10 outs. Then there is the possibility that just maybe I’m ahead (though I don’t think so). Then there’s the big blind – a loose player who could have anything but was probably chasing that flush draw. With 20500 in the pot – I called and added 3000 more – leaving me 300 chips left. The river bricked me completely when a K came out. UTG bets out 3000 again and the button calls. There are now 29500 chips in the pot (I can play for 24100 of it). I stop. I think. I think some more. I think long enough (probably 35 or 40 seconds that I’m sure everyone else at the table is thinking, “It’s 300 into a pot of 30K – CALL”). I know I’m beat – I fold and keep my 300. So, what did they have? UTG turns over A/A/2/5 for the nut low and a wheel. The Button shows 2/7/K/K – he was chasing a K-high flush that didn’t hit (and rivered a set that wasn’t good enough).
Two hands later I’m forced all-in in the big blind. I triple up to 900. I’m forced all-in the next hand in the SB and quadruple up to 3600. I sit out the next two hands (I would’ve scooped them both). A few hands after that I make a stand and more than double up and end Level 8 with 8500 in chips.
We go to break with 34 players remaining. I’m sitting in about 25th. The top 18 will get paid.
Level 9 begins with blinds at 1K/2K. I lay down both blinds to preflop raises leaving me 5500 in chips. I finally get 2/2/3/8 double suited and decide to make my stand – all the money gets in preflop with me and another player all-in versus my nemesis to the left. I lose and bust out in 27th place – 15 minutes into Level 9. I’m relatively pleased with my finish. I saw great improvement over the previous year and know I can compete. I thought overall I played a “B” grade game that would’ve been a “B+” without that Level 8 hand (had I folded on the turn and saved 3K in chips). Just a little better play and I make the money.
I go to the buffet and use my tourney comp ticket for dinner – a nice meal of mashed potatoes and gravy, great roast beef au jus, and warm cherry cobbler. It’s a good dinner, but not worth $230.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Report from Jeff "Matusow": OH8 Tournament results from Running Aces Card Room
There were 38 starters on four tables. Pay out was to 7 places which surprised me given the low number of entries. The play was pretty bad early on and several players were playing every hand until they either had massive stacks or got knocked out (usually the former than the latter) ANDd I was fairly card dead. At the end of the 1st break I had won just two 1/4 pots (splitting the low both times) and lost another one when I had every out in the world for a scoop or at least 1/2. I think in all three pots I had at least one nut flush draw and straight draw after the turn with the nut low already locked up but couldn't hit. On only one hand did I get in trouble by donking off about 400 chips when I should never have called the flop bet.We returned from break and I had only 2500 chips with blinds of 200/400. I tripled up shortly after that when I flopped a boat out of the big blind and there was no low. I slowly lost chips again but hung around through level six and made the second break. There were only 11 left and we were coming back to blinds of 800/1600 and I only had 4800 left. I work to build my stack up to around 10,000 but then doubled up a short-stack up when he hit a two outer on the river. When we broke for the final table I was down to 7200 (avg. stack was around 18k.) I paid a round of blinds, someone got knocked out, and when I was UTG and the blinds about to reach 1k/2k I picked up A244 with suited A. I raised to 3200 and an awful player called in LP. The blinds folded. I went all-in blind for my last 1600 and he called. I don't remember the exact flop but I know that after the turn I needed a 7 or 8 for a low and half the pot and an A, 4, 5 or diamond for a scoop of the 12,000 chip pot. The river was a ten of clubs and I was out in 9th place -- losing to nothing more than the donkey's 88xx with now low possibility.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Oh boy - Running Aces 10,000 Lakes Poker Tourney more than just the HPT
Oh yeah! This is hot! The 10,000 Lakes Poker Tournament is more than a Heartland Poker Tour event - though that is the capstone. This is Running Aces' counterpart to Canterbury Park's Fall Poker Classic and another example of the benefit to Twin Cities area poker players.
The 10K LPT starts on Nov. 5th with a $200 +$30 NLHE event. All-in-all there will be 10 events plus the HPT Main Event. Events include a "Celebrity" tourney, Ladies-only, Deep Stack, Add-ons, Shorthanded, and...wait for it.....an OH8 tourney - something for everyone. Buy-ins obviously include the popular $200+$30 and $300+$40 but you can also get in for $125+$25, $50+$20 and $50+$15 depending on the tourney (a price range for everyone).
You can check out the full schedule for the 10K LPT at: http://www.runningacesharness.com/gaming/tournament_flyers/HEARTLAND.pdf
The 10K LPT starts on Nov. 5th with a $200 +$30 NLHE event. All-in-all there will be 10 events plus the HPT Main Event. Events include a "Celebrity" tourney, Ladies-only, Deep Stack, Add-ons, Shorthanded, and...wait for it.....an OH8 tourney - something for everyone. Buy-ins obviously include the popular $200+$30 and $300+$40 but you can also get in for $125+$25, $50+$20 and $50+$15 depending on the tourney (a price range for everyone).
You can check out the full schedule for the 10K LPT at: http://www.runningacesharness.com/gaming/tournament_flyers/HEARTLAND.pdf
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Running Aces October Tourney Schedule Up - OH8 Tourney on 10/5
Running Aces has posted their October Calendar for the various poker tournaments. View it here:
http://www.runningacesharness.com/gaming/tournament_calendar_102008.pdf
And, there's some consistency - the monthly OH8 tourney is still on the first Sunday - this time Oct. 5th . Show up and you may see a couple of CPL members playing it this month. CPL Co-Director "Karaoke" Phil Fuehrer has played in the first two and is looking to get in another "practice" session before Canterbury's Fall Poker Classic Event #6 (OH Hi-Lo) on Oct. 15 (though he has a dinner he's supposed to attend which might preclude him from making the 5th). It also looks as if Jeff "Matusow" Matson is planning on being Runnig Aces - and, who knows, there may be others in attendance as well.
http://www.runningacesharness.com/gaming/tournament_calendar_102008.pdf
And, there's some consistency - the monthly OH8 tourney is still on the first Sunday - this time Oct. 5th . Show up and you may see a couple of CPL members playing it this month. CPL Co-Director "Karaoke" Phil Fuehrer has played in the first two and is looking to get in another "practice" session before Canterbury's Fall Poker Classic Event #6 (OH Hi-Lo) on Oct. 15 (though he has a dinner he's supposed to attend which might preclude him from making the 5th). It also looks as if Jeff "Matusow" Matson is planning on being Runnig Aces - and, who knows, there may be others in attendance as well.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Running Aces OH8 tourney day switched
Okay, it's certainly part of the growing pains and getting into a rhythm thing that is occurring over at Running Aces. This time it's the Monthly OH8 (Omaha High Low Split) tourney that started in August. As reported here then this tourney was to be held on the third Sunday of each month.
That lasted the first month. Now, it appears that the OH8 tourney will be the FIRST Sunday of each month. Meaning that it will be offered this Sunday, Sept. 7. Some other tweaks look to be an added 10 minutes per blind level (to 30 minutes each) - at least that's what the web has, but as we've noted previously this is one other area that still has kinks to be worked out. However, if true, it will be a good tweak offering players more play for their entry fee.
That lasted the first month. Now, it appears that the OH8 tourney will be the FIRST Sunday of each month. Meaning that it will be offered this Sunday, Sept. 7. Some other tweaks look to be an added 10 minutes per blind level (to 30 minutes each) - at least that's what the web has, but as we've noted previously this is one other area that still has kinks to be worked out. However, if true, it will be a good tweak offering players more play for their entry fee.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
New CPL podcast discloses that Andy Bloch interview took place
This week's podcast wraps up the CPL 2008 Summer Session, talks about the TOC and the tournament at Running Aces (including Karaoke Phil's Heartland Poker Super Satellite and Omaha H/L tournies.
But, the big news is that CPL Co-Director Mark Cardenas scored a 20-minute inteview with FullTilt Poker pro Andy Bloch. Yes, Andy Bloch. But, you'll need to tune in to next week's podcast to hear the full interview - a little teaser for you.
But, the big news is that CPL Co-Director Mark Cardenas scored a 20-minute inteview with FullTilt Poker pro Andy Bloch. Yes, Andy Bloch. But, you'll need to tune in to next week's podcast to hear the full interview - a little teaser for you.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Fall Poker Classic schedule now up
Even though we're now sweet on Running Aces, Canterbury Park continues to be a player in the Twin Cities poker scene. Their signature event is probably the Fall Poker Classic, a series of 15 events taking place each October. Canterbury has just released the schedule for this year which you can view here: http://www.canterburypark.com/Poker/FallPokerClassic/tabid/146/Default.aspx
Karaoke Phil is especially jazzed up for the OH8 tourney on Wednesday, October 15. That, and yet another indication that Running Aces is generating competition in the area which directly benefits players. For the Fall Poker Classic it is added chips (Canterbury is calling it "Deeper Stacks" and "More Chips!!") - meaning more play for your dollar and a greater advantage to skill (versus luck) per tournament.
Karaoke Phil is especially jazzed up for the OH8 tourney on Wednesday, October 15. That, and yet another indication that Running Aces is generating competition in the area which directly benefits players. For the Fall Poker Classic it is added chips (Canterbury is calling it "Deeper Stacks" and "More Chips!!") - meaning more play for your dollar and a greater advantage to skill (versus luck) per tournament.
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