MATH Recap

I played in my first MATH tournament last night, and all did not go so well. I started at a table where I did not know anyone. The chit-chat was quiet. The play was tight.



I also started tight but used this as an opportunity to steal. I make a successful blind steal in the first 10 hands, and again in the second 10 hands, and again in the third 10 hands. Not once did I get a decent starting hand, and not once did the flop hit me, but my bets and raises won the pot, and my bankroll was slowly growing. On hand 35, I was one off the button when everyone folded to me. Perfect steal op again. I raise with Q9o. Fold, fold, reraise. Reraise? Uh-oh. But it was a minimum raise, so I called, putting him on AK or AQs. The flop was 93J rainbow. I felt my middle pair was good and bet out after he checked. He called. Another J on the turn and I bet out again after his check. He called. After this second check-call, I put him on a jack or TQ. A jack was crushing me, but if he was on a straight draw, I was still ahead. The river brought another 9. I had a boat, but he could have a bigger boat if he held the jack. He checked again, and I was a little suspicious, so I checked also. He showed A7s and I won the hand.


I had a decent stack when I made a big mistake. I was kicking myself after this next hand. We were 7 handed and I was dealt ducks UTG. I limp hoping to see a cheap flop, which I was able to do. The flop comes T2T, giving me a beautiful boat. The blinds check, I check, hoping the next card gives one of them something. The turn was an 8, suited with one of the tens. The SB bet, and I was happy. The BB folded, and I only call, hoping for a bigger bet on the river, and a raise by me to capitalize on my nice hand. Unfortunately, another 8 came on the river. Anthing but a ten or an eight and I was golden. This card stung, and before I knew it, the SB bet big. I thought for a while, and then some more, trying to find a way to call, but I knew me boat was beaten by a bigger boat, and I laid down the hand. At least I didn't lose much, but man, did this hand suck. I am not sure if I would have played this hand any different if it happened again, but I need to analyze it some more before I stick to that conclusion.


The hand I went out on was ugly as well, but at least I lost with the worst hand when I moved allin. I had 56o in the BB and everyone folded to the SB who limped. The flop came K56. I thought my two pair was the best hand and raised his bet. He reraised me and I had enough chips to reraise allin or fold. I put him on a K, so I went allin. He called and showed his K and his 5. Ugh, a higher two pair. There were no sixes on the turn or river, and I was knocked out of my first MATH tournament.


Thinking back on the last hand, I probably should have folded after he reraised me. These were not donk FT players. These were bloggers and I should have given a little more respect to his reraise. Oh well. Next time.