European Open V

PARTY POKER EUROPEAN OPEN V
HEAT 2

Seat 1 Paul Zimbler
Seat 2 Andrew Feldman
Seat 3 Marcus Bebb-Jones
Seat 4 Peter Smyth
Seat 5 Nick Ferro
Seat 6 Andy Ward

So this was the line up and seat order of the heat.
What do I know about my opponents?

Well I have played with Andrew Feldman and Andy ward in a semi final from the 888 open and Nick Ferro is a friend I meet a few years ago but I had never seen him play poker. Marcus and Peter were complete unknowns to me so should I a) do my homework on them and study as much as I can before the game or b) wait till the day and asses the situation?
If you said A you might be right but we don’t think the same.
B is defiantly the way forward for me. I like to know a little about them if I can speak to someone reliable who can tell me the truth or I like to get a feel myself either from a drink in the bar before hand or actually at the table playing.

I was in luck, the night before the game I was in the hotel bar having dinner with Nick and I meet Marcus and Peter in the bar and had a good chat.
There are NO FRIENDS at the table. Its winner takes all and I was confident that I was the winner.

I had told Andrew and Nick who were both pleased to tell me that they were in my heat that they should have tried to get into a different game as they no that I was the favorite and that I would kick ass over them and since only the winner went through they should try some other way of qualifying!
Andy Ward. A good solid poker player understands the game and also my game. Knows what needs to be done to win these heats and I was not happy he was on my right!
Thinking about it I should have swapped a share with him as I thought it may come down to him and me if I got a good start. Maybe I had a slight confidence edge or advantage as I won the semi final we were in last time but I didn’t want to get to involved to much in pots with him for some reason.

The heat started and it was interesting to watch the other 3 play early on. It seemed like they were all playing tight but now I have seen the blog post for the heat the game started with fireworks from both Marcus and Nick with good reads and bets.
First hand Marcus calls UTG so does nick and then Andy on the button raises it up to 8K I looked down in the SB and saw 44. I thought I could move in here and win 17K but did I need to? No so I folded. Then Andrew in the BB called. So first hand there is a pot brewing and there was 33K in the middle. The flop was AQ6 they all checked to Andy who fired a continuation bet of 14K and he won the pot.

So the game was set. The very next hand Nick and Andrew get involved in a pot which starts to look interesting. Nick played it very well and with Balls and took it down after floating the flop and a bet on the turn.
I then make a few raises and win the blinds.
So I was talking in the bar the night before to Peter who was telling us all about his last experience on TV where he lasted 6 hands and he didn’t play 5 of them.
Interesting I thought so I found out more. KK v TT on a Ten high flop. OK so he was prepared to get it all in with a big pair so my thought on calling pre flop is good as I know I will get paid if I hit.
He now enters a pot UTG raising to 6K Everyone folds to me on the button and I see TT. I chuckled to myself and remembered his story from last night n the bar. Maybe this could be his curse and I would win a big pot. So how do I get information about his hand I thought to myself? Should I re-raise and see what happens but then if he re-raises I have to fold! So peel of a flop hope to see a Ten and if not proceed with caution. I looked over at him and he was glowing, what information did I need? He had either KK or AA this was 100%. 6K I said ok I call but be careful!
I reminded him of the story he told me the night before but I used QQ in my story not TT. I asked for a Q on the flop as I knew I was behind and my wish was granted.
9s Qh 2s was the flop he looked at me and with a racing heart beat he bet 10K into the pot. I guess I should be careful what I wish for as I might not have too many wishes left and I should use them for what I really need. I could have seen his smile from the car park, his eyes were lit up like a Christmas tree so I showed him my cards as he thought I was the loosest player at the table and I would give him some chips. I also showed so the other players might try to bluff me later but this was clear that he had a hand and he was I think in a little shock I didn’t at least call the flop bet. He didn’t show me at the time but said he had AA and after seeing the blog he was not lying. I managed to escape for 6K.

The heat continued and I was in full control and building to my chip stack bit by bit.
Then my friend Nick whose blinds I was steeling a lot with ok cards raised my BB, Andy folded his SB and I looked down at AsTs. It was 4K to call. A few things went through my mind here. Was he just raising cause it was my blind and his button? Do I need to raise here so early in the game and get a big pot started? There are good arguments for both but I chose the later as I wanted to get some information about what he had in his hand.
I raised it to 22K Why? Well he could have folded and I would have won the pot there and then.
He could have re-raised me and I would have folded but he would have had to move all in not knowing anything about my hand so not easy for him to do.
My thought was if I only call and the flop is A high I have no idea what hand he has and how best to play it.
He called and the flop was 4h4cJh I checked to see what he did BUT I KNEW AFTER I CHECKED IT WAS A MISTAKE. He checked behind me and now I thought he may have AJ/AQ as a small pair would have to make a bet there. The turn was 2d and I bet out thinking that this was a safe card, he flat called 16K and the river was a blank3d. I bet out again this time 22K into a pot of 78K. He thought for ages and ages and now I think he may have had a small pair and he might call me. He knows how I play and that 22K looks like a value bet that wants to get called but also may be a weak attempt to steel the pot. _He decided he wanted to look me up and I showed my AT and he punched the air as he took down the pot with A2………………….MARVELLOUS……SO SICK.
This was an interesting hand as it could have been played a lot different.
If I bet the flop I am 99% sure I win it right there, I could have checked the river and beat a few hands in his range for only calling my re-raise.
He could have re-raised or folded pre flop to my re-raise if he thought about it.
What hand did he think I had that he can call me with pre flop and beat or get value on? Maybe he was going to bet the flop? He didn’t bet the flop though so why the call pre???
If I knew all these answers I would be a multi millionaire. I just wish the flop was Ace high as he would have had to pay me on all 3 streets!
I was down to like 45K and not in a good way. The heat started at like 10am and we had to be at the studio by 9 so it was an early start which I’m not used to and I am not really a good morning person.
I found Ad8s and decided to make a big raise as I didn’t want to make a small raise and fold to a re-raise. I thought I was showing that I was committed and that I was prepared to make this my last hand. Everyone folded to the Marcus in the BB who moved all in over the top of me. I said this is probably not good but I committed myself with my raise so I call.
He turned over KcQs and I was in shock! Did he think I was on a complete steel????? I was amazes and got my answer later. He thought he had the best of it so he moved in on me. He knew I had to call but thought he was ahead.
So the flop 6cTc2C now I only had 6 outs. The turn was worse Kh so now it was a 2 outer or I was gone and with no chance to outplay and show the world my talents hehehehehe..
BRING ON THE TRUMPRTS I roared and the river was kind to me as the Ace from space hits me. PHEWWWWWWWW, Now I was back in the game. I was back to near the 100K starting stack and the whole table knew that they were in trouble. I was the biggest threat and I managed to escape, even though I had the best hand going in!
From there I went from strength to strength and build my stack to a comfortable level around the 185,000 mark.
An interesting hand came up when I raised on the button to 9K with 9T, Andrew in the SB re-raised me to 30K and the BB folded. I thought for a minute while working out how to play this pot. What could he have making this raise as he was out off position? It was 21K more to call into a pot of 41K. I decided to peel of a flop and see his body language and also his next move. If I raised and he re-raised and I called he now has to put me on a hand. The flop was Qd6s2c I was looking at his and he gave me a sign I knew was 100% accurate. He then checked to me and I counted his stack. He had 90K left and I knew he was capable of moving his chips in if I bet too small and also if I checked I was kinda giving up on the pot. I thought for a while as I didn’t want to bet and fold so what was the right amount to bet? I bet 30K to ask a question. He now has to think I have AQ or maybe a pair in my hand that could have also connected! I told him earlier that when I bet with my A8 that I was telling the players I was pot committed and I knew this would have stuck in his head. We had been avoiding each other most of the heat. He thought for a while and I was as still as could be, he tried to get me to talk, to laugh, anything but I was silent. He commented how quiet I was and that I must have a hand. Finally the clock was called and after 60 seconds his hand was dead. I since found out he had 55 which was weird for me as what other flop did he want to hit apart from one with a 5 in it!
I was happy to take the pot down and he insisted that I showed him which I did.
I was moving all in a lot after the first raise pre flop and wining a lot of uncontested pots. I grew my stack to 260,000 with ease and felt I had this one in the bag. There was still a lot to get through but I was feeling great.
I then get into a hand which I think was posted wrong on the blog, I will have to wait and see if it made the TV cut. I believed I raised a little and Nick moved all in. It was 65K more for me to call and I was holding K8. Nick did himself up from head to toe so I could not get a read. To be honest I wasn’t looking for a read I was trying to do the math!
If I call and win I would have like 350K in chips. If I called and lost I would still be the chip leader. Was this my free shot at trying to win the heat?
I decided to call as the plus side was to good and I was facing A9. The flop bought him 2 pair and he doubled up. The message to the table was clear though. I was here to play and gamble and that if they wanted to re-raise me with filth I will call so do so at your own risk!
Down to 180K but still the chip leader. I started a few more all ins to get some chips back which worked out well.
Then I wake up with AK and make a big raise hoping any Ace calls me. Maybe a mistake as if I limped then They would be on auto all in and I could call but I didn’t want to give them a chance as AK is not so great a hand except against a weaker Ace. Andrew managed to get away from A6 there and I could have played that hand differently.
I found K8 again 3 handed with big blinds, I make it 32K and Nick moves all in again on me. Again I take the advice from STT pro Thomas Bihl who says K3 is the minimum requirement. I was looking at a race 77 for nick and the flop helped him a little 4Q7. The sick part is the turn was a K and the river bought a second K but I was still in and fighting.
OK I lost 2 big coin flips basically against the same player with the same hand WTF. I only wanted to win 1 of them………..
I carried on moving all in a few times and also folding at the right times. I was still in the game and only 3 hands away from wining this.
Chip counts. Paul Zimbler 125K, Andy Ward 187K and Nick Ferro 288K.
I also new Nick was not going to be calling those chips off bad and they were not easy to take away and with the blinds now at 10K/20K all in was the only poker left.
I was in the Small blind when Andy Ward raised me all in. I looked at Ac7s and though I got a bad feeling I had to call. Interesting I say had to call. If I were in the commentary box which IU was and I saw a player muck this hand I would criticize but I do a lot of work with my inner self and feelings and I always seem to know when bad or good is going to happen. I did call though and was expecting to see Andy live with 2 random cards. Good news for me was he had A5 and I was in great shape to get right back into the game.
Kc5c3c was the flop. I went from a 75% favorite to having 12 outs. Any club or any 7. This made me a slight underdog but there was not much in it. The turn bought 5s and I was in need of help. Only a club would do. 2s on the river sealed my deal and I was gone in 3rd place.

1 hand of heads up and it was over and what seemed to be the Marbella Kid show came to an early demise and I wished both players good luck in the next heat they played.

I spoke to Andy in the green room later and we agreed on a lot of the same things. He was as weary of me as I was of him and though it looked like he had position on both Andrew and me he didn’t play his position in that way as he knew it could have backfired. He was my biggest fear in the heat as I was to him. I proceeded to leave sharky my card protector in the pot and was not taking it back. I gave it to Andy for good luck as it has treated me well over the 3 years and it was time for him to go.

Everything happens for a reason! This is what I believe. Though I don’t know what the reason is at the time I have to believe in this or I will go mad.
This was my heat to win and I had it all in my grasp. I lost 2 coin flips then a 75/25. WHY?
I proceeded to do the commentary for the next heat in which I saw some great poker as well as some huge brave calls from Flushy and kept my composure before returning home and spending the night in with a friend who helped me through my pain.
The day of the semi final I was busy dong other things again as was I on the day of the final. This was in fact my 31st birthday and I was expecting a $200,000 cheque for it.
So the time I was supposed to be playing I was doing other things which actually bought me more joy and happiness. There are other events to win and maybe I had found my reason!
I had 4 friends in the final and out of Marc Goodwin, Neil Channing, Andy Ward and Roberto Romanello I was routing for my good friend Roberto. If anyone deserved it then he did and watching the final and seeing the result I was a very happy man.