WCOAP Omaha Championship Review

I'd joked to people that the only reason I'd entered all 4 events at the APAT World Championship of Amateur Poker was to make a run at Player of the Series. In all honesty, I would be happy with a winning Series after expenses. 70 runners anted up £50 for 7,500 chips at 30 min blinds.

It didn't start too well, failing to win a pot for the first hour and seeing my stack fall to 5k. I thought the tone was set, when I raised the first pot with AKJJss, see a T92 two suit (not one of mine) board. That'll be a check-fold then.

It was slightly awkward with an aggressive and slightly vocal guy to my left, so I was planning on treading carefully. I don't believe LAG is the way to go in Omaha tournaments when so many of these players would be making post-flop mistakes. Add to that I'm just not good enough to play that style and I was intending to play like a rock. So of course an hour in I limp my button with Q992, flop bottom set and take my first pot.

Aside from those two hands, I really do not remember many hands. I didn't hit the nuts until the final table, never saw a wrap (even a 9 card semi-wrap) or a nut flush draw that I remember all tournie. How I chipped up, god knows, but I played a couple of excellent pots, getting maximum value from bottom two pair, and a 9-high flush. It was a confidence boost to know exactly where I was, and still able to bet out on the river into a turn caller with nowhere near the nuts!

It was one of those perfect tournaments. My stack gradually increased. If I did get it in behind, it was for 10% of my stack with KK65ss v AAxx, an 842Kx board sealed that deal. I didn't get all my chips over the line once until the FT, which is pretty amazing. I made moves at the right time, with the right hands, always found the right spots, check-raising pot with A-high against a recent 3rd place GUKPT finisher being a particular favourite. I guess because I failed to flop a single draw of any note I managed to avoid spunking chips all over the place...I'm sure there's a lesson in that somewhere!

People began to drop like flies, many of them on rather tenuous draws, even the players I'd marked out as good, maybe ill-timed moves, but I tried to stay clear of that temptation. I was folding many AKsT7 type hands aside from the occasional steal - have never played that nitty before! I was on the stacked table with around 12 players left, so I was glad to see a quick transition to the final table, where I drew a nice seat, to the left of Jim Lynott who had been quite aggressive once he'd obtained a large stack.

Final Table

Seat 1 - Linda Iwaniak - 130,500
Seat 2 - Rich Stevenons - 53,500
Seat 3 - Thomas Cardoso - 40,000
Seat 4 - Warren Jackman - 29,500
Seat 5 - Richard Bard - 42500
Seat 6 - Tony Ross - 26,500
Seat 7 - James Mitchell - 45,000
Seat 8 - Jim Lynott - 99,000
Seat 9 - Dave Howard - 55,000

It began quite badly, raising Tony Ross' UTG limp with KKTT no suit, to have the BB and UTG move all-in, with 20k to call for an 80-90k pot, I made the call and received no help v two loads of AAxx. Apparently I was a 30% shot to win, even with one of my Tens gone, though still not sure if I should've made the call. One of the marginal spots where a lack of real Omaha experience counted against me.

This left me with just 14k on the bubble. Now I'm not one to wait for the inevitable, so when Tony Ross raised UTG+1 to 12k, I looked down at JJ88ss and moved in for my 14k. The BB called (not sure he saw Tony's raise), as did Tony. A beautiful flop of K8x8x got me right back in it. A rollercoaster ride ensued, with me being the only player giving it a real go.

Winning is everything, second is nothing when it comes to my poker philosophy. I don't think that's a weakness, more a real strength that can give me a massive edge against some players.

I was looking to get in a position to have a shy at the title, so when Lynott limped in UTG+1 (very unusual for him, I definitely read this as weakness), I raised to 16k, with the intention of a go-and-go, with KQ55ss. I carried out my plan on a T96 board. He tanks and calls with QQxx before one of my nine outs, a beautiful Jack, lands on the river. This was definitely my only misstep in the tournament, I needed another 10k behind to really carry this out, but it put me back into a great position.

I stole my way up to around 90k when an irritating blind on blind hand ensued. Jim Lynott limped in on my BB, and I raised pot with KK95ss. The board comes A high and he check raises all in, back down to the 30k area, but at least by now we're in the money after James 'Worzel' Mitchell exits on the bubble. You'd usually feel sorry for the bubble boy, but he's just won 40 grand, so he can do with the extra 200 smackers I reckon.

After a good hour of 7-handed play - AFTER the bubble's burst - we lost the next 4 in quick succession, and I went to 3 handed play as the short stack with around 100k of the 520k in play. This was soon to change.

I raise the button with AAxx, Jim Lynott defends his BB and we see an AA6 flop. It's a bit too good for me to get paid! The flop is checked, and the turn is a 2. Lynott bets 30k, I smooth call with 76k behind. The river is another 6, Lynott value-bets his 22xx for 60k and is forced to call for the extra 17k. I am now chipleader and we are soon heads up when Lynott stakes his tournament life on a straight draw that cripples him when it fails to come in, as Linda Iwaniuk's pair of 5s hold up. He exits soon after, leaving myself heads up with Linda, approximately even in chips.

Linda has been playing her button very aggressively and often c-betting whilst the game has been shorthanded, so I'm looking for a spot to commit post flop if possible. I don't really want a £600 flip. I don't have to wait long, when my Ac4c smashes the KcTc8cXQc board against Linda's Jx clubs, giving me a 3 to 1 chip lead. I get my chance to knock her out with AK83 v 9986 but the 9s hold up to return us to even, when we agree to split the prize money equally. I do believe I had a decent edge, but I could not afford a 60-40 flip at best for £600, given her willingness to be aggressive pre-flop with medium pair holdings, so I'm still happy with this deal.

Linda ekes out a 2 to 1 chiplead, and we spin it up pre-flop with her AQT6 v my AJ98 opening up a myriad of possibilies on a QJ4 board, but the 9 on the turn puts me back in pole position. The final hand is soon after, as Linda raises to 30k again on her button, I smooth call with KQ52ss and check-raise pot against her c-bet on a Q96 2 spade board. I guess she feels priced in to call with JJ93 and the 10s falls on the turn to give me the pot, the win, and the title of World Amateur Omaha Champion!



UK Sharks Review can be found here.

APAT Live updates are here.

And my too-cockney/Essex-sounding interview!

WCOAP

Am running rather good. I think I'm on around a 60-70% final table rate in tournaments atm, including at least 5 wins (or chops) from 15 or so.

The APAT World Championship of Amateur Poker was held in London from Wed 27th Aug to Sunday 31st. Running tournies with no juice, deep-stack, Omaha, Razz and Stud one day events, and a two day NLHE Main Event.

A quick summary:

Wed 27th. Omaha. 7,500 starting stack, 30 min blinds, 70 runners.

Finish - 1st. Dealt Heads Up for £1100 each and took the gold medal. 20 Player of the Series points.

Thur 28th. Razz. 3,000 starting stack, 30 min stake increases, 48 runners.

Finish - 39th. Nearly first out. Shame really, never got above starting stack.

Fri 29th. Stud. 3,000 starting stack, 30 min stake increaes, 32 runners.

Finish - 2nd. Took £500, unlucky not to win, but a silver medal as consolation with 17 POTS points.

Sat 30th. Hold Em. 10,000 starting stack, 40 min blinds, 206 runners.

Finish - 142nd. Was in a slightly gambley move, but ended up in two spots in consecutive hands where I couldn't do much bar lose my chips.

So I decided to head back on Sunday with the guys, no watching the final for me. After 5 days in Newcastle and another 5 in London with minimal sleep, I wisely chose to play the £150 Big One at Grosvenor Southampton after just a couple of hours relaxation. 7 hours later, a four-way chop and I'm £600 richer.

Anyway, just a small blog of updateness, will have a fuller report when I can be arsed - but hopefully before I forget key hands.

World Poker Open

Boy, I'd love to play if one of these 6-max shootouts. Some of these relatively well known pros - what are they thinking?

5 handed at 5k/10k, Robin Keston raises UTG to 25k with AcJc. Mick McCool is sitting on the button with TT. Now obviously these shows are heavily edited (craply, I must add, why show a non-entity of a hand where Channing limps 78s, Tyler checks 94o. The action goes check, check, check, bet, fold - wtf?!), so there is the possibility of play we've missed which may account for the actions here.

Keston's stack is short, no more than 130k iirc. McCool has 180-190k I believe and Channing and Josh Tyler to act behind him. 5 handed without exceptional information there is no way McCool is passing his TT, but he somehow finds a smooth call here. Now it's not a great spot granted, but raising is by far and away the lesser of two evils. It is staggering to think that Keston is suddenly going to lose interest in the pot with 65k in it, with only the winner progressing. Position is irrelevant and aggression is everything here. He moves all-in dark (I like it, doesn't alter the hand dramatically, but has the chance of screwing with McCool's mind) and McCool passes on a K9x 2 club flop. How he can call pre and then fold post-flop, I don't know. What does he want to see? It's a pretty decent flop!

These tournaments are crapshoots from the sounds of things, McCool has no option but to ship it in with his TT and put the decision back on Keston. He's not passing, so it's raise or call, and it's clear to me which option is better.

The other one was one of the last hands. Blinds are stupid, 10k/20k, Channing has 260k, Tyler 340k. Tyler raises to 100k with KQ. I'm don't like this.

- If Channing folds, fine. He's taken the blinds. Fine
- If Channing holds a weak/mediocre hand. He'll pass, can't possibly make Tyler fold, it's a scared raise, it's begging for an all-in pre.
- If Channing holds a strong hand, he'll move all in. Tyler will have to call. Not terrible, if I'm up against someone better than me, I'll take a shot with KQ here.
- If Channing chooses to make a move with a stop n go, Tyler will need to hit, or he will find it near impossible to continue. There was a comment in commentary about Channing getting the upper hand, so perhaps Tyler had been sitting back a bit. If he misses and Channing shoves, he can't call with K high.

Imo, a raise to 60k opens up more possibilities. Channing could shove with a wider range, believing he has more fold equity, as stated, I'll take a shot with KQ here, so I don't mind that. He could call with a wide range and look to outplay Tyler. With a hand that plays well post-flop, I like that option too. Should Tyler miss, he's lost 40k less.

Of course Channing throws a spanner in the works and just smooth calls. I would think he's intending a stop n go with Tyler apparently clamming up during the end game - who knows, shite editing. It's a nasty spot, I don't like making a move with A9 here, but I wouldn't expect him to pass, and if he intends to bang the flop he can't really do too much else. The board is 983 and he now checks. Tyler inexplicably moves in with his K-high. Channing has smooth called 40% of his stack pre and then checked a 9-high board. Do you really think he's folding?! You check behind, pray you hit, and if you don't, scold yourself for making a rubbish, scared pre-flop raise. Channing obviously snap calls and wins.

I can only think that some of the bigger names have old habits ingrained. Like making use of position, position and position in McCool's case, and in Channing's case, not getting it all-in pre-flop in a race for your tournament life when you have an edge. Channing doesn't have much of an option. Whereas the youngster seems to have taken the aggression thing too far, and lost his cool when the going got tough.

Two pretty elementary mistakes. Pretty much leads to both being eliminated. Boy would I love a shot at one of these.

And another thing...

I've even managed to flop quads...and get paid, twice in less than 24 hours. Not even online too. The run is definitely over!

Cash, raise with KQ, several callers. Flop KKK. I get all the chips from 33...somehow.

And then in the Wednesday tournament. Am involved with 88 and see a T88 two spade board. The beautiful As peels off after the flop is checked, and the money flies in on the river against KsXs. Not something my opponent would normally do, but he was on tilt!

Wooooooo

See the date of the previous post? Early June...

That's because I have fuck all to report, apart from the coldest streak of my life.

2 months without a final table, with people doing their very best to out-do the current 'worst bad beat I've ever suffered' champion.

New entry, in 2nd place:

Wednesday £50 comp.

With 14k (one of the chipleaders) and blinds 200/400 I raise the button to 1200 with AA. Rik in the BB is well aware of my aggressive rep, and reraises to 3700. Sticking in a reraise gives the game away, so I just smooth call in position, expecting him to fire on the flop.

Flop J 6 2 rainbow

What a flop, and Rik leads out 4000, I move all-in for his last 3k or so. He comments 'I don't want to play this comp with 3000' and calls with T9o.

Turn 9

River T

Bah, argh, soapytitwankcuntbollocks.

Anyway, it's been stuff like that for 2 months, I have no problem getting a stack - just keeping it. Finding hideous spots against the worst players with my tournament life continually on the line. I'm sure I can't do anything any differently, I'm sure I'm making the correct long term decisions - I will take a +EV gamble if it puts me into a dominant position.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago, the tide began to turn. I wasn't experiencing any bad beats! The big problem is that I was either getting fuck all hands to get bad beated with, or getting hideously cold-decked when monster stacked.

£10 rebuy, 1k starting stack, 90 mins in I've built it to a massive 23k. No-one else has more than 1800. I promptly get other stacks all-in or committed against me 7 times. One is a 6 way pot where I'm racing on the side and pretty unavoidable given my chip position. The other 6 times I am significantly ahead (AQ twice and AT v A6, 6 hits twice and flush once. Q4 v AK on QJJ board, 88 v K9 etc etc) and lose 5 of them. I go to the break with 'just' 14k.

It gets built to 18k, before James Bagley raises to 1200 with blinds 200,400. He has 9k or so. A weak-tight old fella calls from the CO, he has 14k. With odds in the BB with 86o it's an easy call for me.

Flop 6c 6d 3c

I've checked dark, and I plan on betting most turns.

Turn Ah

Not that one, I check, Bagley fires 1600, old fella smooths, I repop to 7600. Bagley folds and Villain moves in. He is seriously bad enough to go broke here with AJ type hands. But he has A6 - of course. Gah. I am crippled and soon out.

Anyway, Sunday 2nd I made a final table! I did only manage 9th after isolating the short stacks shove with KQ, I make trip Ks but he hits a flush with his bare Jh. A7 is soon smashed by TT which sets up on the flop. But it's a final, the tide had been ready to turn for a couple of weeks. Was still feeling good about my game and online had kept me afloat.

Wednesday though, I finally got a slice of luck in one of my customary hideous spots (AQ cracking KK) and although I was unlucky not to win heads up, a slight deal meant I took £500 for 2nd, overturning a 10 to 1 chip deficit at one point, gaining the chip lead and getting the money in on the turn as a 2 to 1 favourite against a player who'd won 7 out of his last 9 tournaments. I'd have taken that at the start and after a rocky midgame.