as now I have to report back my results.
-Steve/Doom
Yes, I am a procrastinator!
So I had decided to play event 2 and maybe 3 of the Borgata Poker Open. Event 2 was a 500+60 buyin taking place on Thur Sept 4th, and the Borgata comped me a room for Thur night.
I rode down with an aunt of mine, cousin, and his girlfriend. They were planning to play cash and basically check out the Borg. Got a bad nights sleep the night before and we left early that morning to get down there before the 11am tourney start, I tried to nap in the car unsuccessfully.
Hit some accident traffic on the Parkway and ended up making it down there around 10:45, pulled in the outdoor lot and they dropped me off so I could run right in the poker room, which is where I thought I had to register, but they directed me across the casino to the big meeting rooms up the steps on the parking garage side, oops!
I register, get my slip and they direct me to the conference room doors and off I go. Walking into the tournament area was a pretty neat feeling, huge room with 50 foot high ceilings, wall to wall tables, some huge projection screens showing sports and WPT logos projection splashed all over the walls. Alot of people already in there since I was getting there a little late with that undercurrent of chatter dominating the soundscape.
And that was where the good feelings ended that day.
Plenty of chips, 45 minutes levels, and I was out of the tournament before level 3. I didn't take any bad beats, just played poorly, got in a few pots I shouldnt have, gave chips away, and just before the first break at the end of level 2 made a stand with AQ suited in late position and was called in the BB by QQ and was done.
Friday Sept 5th, event 3, a 1000+90 buyin and a renewed focus on playing well. I did play better but the poker gods decided to punish me anyway. 2nd level I pick up AA in middle position, 2 early position limpers in front of me so I raise about 5x the BB. One caller, flop was a nice 3,7,9 rainbow. Except that the limp caller had flopped a set with 33 in his hand. I overplayed the aces, doubled him up and was crippled, soon after busting out AGAIN just before the end of level 2. I lost about another 500 playing 2/5 cash and headed home a little discouraged and a little mad.
But, the tale is not yet at an end.
Over the next few days I did alot of thinking about how I played, what I should have done differently, and how deep down I knew I was a much better player than I displayed over those two days. This allowed me to pretty much make peace with myself, but I was also hungry to do better.
Early Saturday morning Sept 13th I drive myself, alone, back down to the Borg intent on playing a satellite for the WPT main event. I get there around 7 am, but as it turned out all of the early satellites were small buyin 1 out of 50 make it type deals, and I was not looking to play long
odds like that. A 2k buyin, 1 in 5 sat was starting at 1pm and the choice was made. I bought in, headed down to the Bread and Butter to get a coffee and muffin, and right off the bat see Eric Seidel sitting alone reading a paper and having a little breakfast.
Went over to the poker room and played some 2/5 while I waited for the Sat start time, and was up 700 over a couple of hours, which eased the pain of the 2k buyin somewhat.
1pm rolls around and the satellite starts up, 10k starting chips, 40 minute levels. I play fairly TAG and end up with about 20k when level 3 starts. A little later we find out that 65 seats are getting awarded, over 300 entries. Long story short I make the final 65 and earn a seat to the main event! I'll finish this up soon in this thread, thanks for reading this far.
-Steve/Doom