I think the process of coaching others and explaining concepts that I accept as being the truth pushes me to open my mind to new ways of working through old problems. As I have begun coaching others in the basics of poker, it really has forced upon me a new level of thinking into my game.
Why I do what I do in certain hands against different types of opponents was revealed in my sleep and meandering. I was doing things without really knowing why. Luckily I was taught by people who were profitable and thinking. If I wasn't, my learning process would have been much longer. So many people were very patient and answered questions that seemed very basic to them in ways that I could understand.
At times I get frustrated thinking over how I played hands even just 12 months ago. It makes me realise now that things take time. Concepts sink in over time with consistent practice. After having a one week break in Hamilton Island I think that one key concept dropped into my mind that took me probably the longest to learn. Opening up opponents ranges and allowing them to bluff in certain spots was repeated to me several times and each time I thought I understood it. I worried so much about missing value in certain spots but in reality there was very little chance I would be paid off by worse hands and only make them fold worse hands and call with better.
On Monday I had my 2nd biggest win lifetime and biggest online win in a $109 re-buy tournament with 748 entrants. I think I was in for 3 lots of $109 US dollars. With about 60 runners left I raised with AK and won Vs 77, this was when I realised that I was a good chance in the tournament and should begin to really focus on this particular tournament. The next significant hand was with about 28 players left. I got maximum value with my set of 8's to almost double my stack again.
From 18 out I was card dead and stealing enough to stay above average. A very active opponent was making it hard for me to accumulate chips at this key stage. He raised when I wanted to steal and and re-raised me when I had nothing. We got down to 15 players and there was a quick fire elimination of 4 players leaving me sitting at 10/11. I had 20 big blinds when I flatted behind an early position raise with aces and flopped top set. I was wondering how I would get paid when he proceeded to bet into me 3 times.
I then doubled through this same player which put me into the chip lead going into the final table. 3rd hand into the final table I cold 4 bet bluffed the guy who I had developed some dynamic with to which he responded with an all in move which I could not call. The same guy then eliminated another player with AA beating AK. I then continued to re-raise the chip leader and float in position as we battled on a hand where I re-raised him, got cold 4 bet by another player and I shipped it in with 10's and won a race against AK.
From this stage on I don't want to get into details but I really played well and anticipated opponents moves in advance pretty well. A couple of players were out and for the first time in the tournament I got it in bad with 88 vs the very active players JJ, I was fortunate enough to river a straight. I felt this player ' Vinkyy' played really well and he walked away in 4th when my AK > his AQ with $19,327.50 USD.
We played a few hands with 3 left before 'utreg' from the Netherlands was persistent is his request to look at numbers which is to do a deal. We all agreed to look at the numbers based on chips. I had a chip lead and 'nikov' from Sweden was almost even with utreg. When Pokerstars came back with the numbers they were offered approximately 31k each and 41k was set aside for myself if I agreed. I asked each player for 1k more but they instantly declined. Rather than negotiating further I felt comfortable playing out the tournament with first being worth $48,318.75, 2nd $34,789.50 and 3rd $25,770.00.
After almost 9 hours of play the stacks were as follows;
Nikov (Sweden) 1.5M
On The Mac (Australia) 2.4M
Utreg (Netherlands) 1.6M
Shortly after they declined the deal the stacks were;
Blinds 25k/50K (5K ante)
Nikov (Sweden) 1.15M
On The Mac (Australia) 3.04M
Utreg (Netherlands) 1.56M
Going into Heads Up;
Nikov 2.024M OTM 3.481M
Then this happened...
Matthew Moate covered it quite nicely;
What a sweat Final hand... Nikov min opens 160K, OTM re pops to 380,567. Nikov shoves, OTM Snaps to show down AKo vs As9s... Board runs out Qc 3s 6s binging a flush draw
then he hits his 9c
and the river brings the wine with Kc... WP GG!
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