1st in 6.5k!

I just finished first in the 11am $6.5k gtd. tourney on UB for $1,690. I am extremely excited about this and it was good to finally score a win instead of continuing the string of 2nd place finishes.

I'm not going to do a complete tourney recap, but I will say that I played quite knitty throughout the entire team and got hit with the deck a couple times early to get up to 18k at 75/150. I arrived at the FT like 4th of 9 and lost a big race with AK vs. QQ to dribble down to 30k at 1500/3000. I eventually shoved the button with AJ and got called by the SB's A2 and held to get above 100k 4-handed.

When we got down to 3, I had around 200k of the total 500k-ish chips in play. The other two were playing extremely aggressive which took me a little while to adjust appropriately. With the blinds at 4k/8k and the BB having like 50k in chips, I was dealt AJss in the SB. The button potted to 30k, and I started asking Grant what he thought. I had the button covered slightly but not by much. I didn't really want to call, so it was fold or jam. I opted to jam, and the button snap-called with AKdd, and the board ran out QQ8Jx to knock him out.

In retrospect, I think it was probably a fold, albeit a tight one. The button hadn't opened that many buttons, and I don't think he is stealing with air very much with the BB being so short and the pay jumps, etc. Grant wanted a fold, and I probably should have just folded, but idk I run good.

When we got HU, I had around 380k to my opponent's 60k. He doubled up with K3 vs. my 55, which I really didn't want to do. I feel confident in my HU game, but it is really tricky maneuvering when your opponent has between 10-15bb's. I never know what hands I should be shoving, raise/folding, raise/calling, etc. I should really look into this.

Anyway the HU match lasted a long time. At his peak, he had me down to about 150k, and I was just trying to slow the action down. But with the blinds at 6k/12k with 500k total chips in play, it wasn't that easy. I eventually doubled up when I min-raised AJo from the button, and he defended with 76o, and we got AI on a AA7 flop.

He then fought back and we were even again, and he even took the chiplead. I eventually went on a mini heater and grinded him down to 100k. He then shoved the button with A4, and I called with AQs and held for the win.

I feel very good about this, and every time during the tournament that I got slightly discouraged, I would just say positive things to myself and it seemed to help.

I am not quite sure what my plans are as far as online moneys goes. I know that for spring break, I am taking a trip to Arizona and Las Vegas, so this will definitely help.

This week won't be too bad. I have a debate on Tuesday and a presentation on Thursday but no other tests or quizzes.

That is all.

God bless,

JG

LOL

http://www.pokerhand.org/?3895797

Life Update/ EDIT: Crew Members Coming to BHAM This Weekend!

It's been well over a week since I last posted. I am regretful that I didn't do a recap of CWOF but it definitely did not disappoint. As it turns out, just Paul, Bubs and Pete ended up coming up on Friday. We had one of the best dinners of my life when we went to Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse. We were definitely rowdy.



That night we ended up at the Pitch and we didn't get too out of line afaik (AS FAR AS I KNOW).



The next day Paul and Bubs left early, and Pete, Grant, and I went golfing. It was a terrible, terrible round. I lost 7 balls in the first 3 holes and ended up getting the dredded shanks. It was absolutely miserable, but I had as much fun as I could have all things considered. That night we went over to the Pitch where we met "sober" Derek. We played for a bit then took a break to see the movie Taken which was very good imo.



We went back to the Pitch where we all binge drank until Derek got kicked out for calling this guy a fat (explitive). We ended up downtown at the Up and Up where Derek again got kicked out and continued to try and get back in using whatever sort of disguises he could find. He even offered to pay one of my lady friends $100 to walk in and flash everyon, yelling "I LOVE HOT WINGS" which would allow him to sneak in past security. This did not happen.



Derek somehow made it home, and we retired for the night. The next day was the Superbowl which was rather uneventful. The worst situation possible happened to me as I had $40 on Steelers (-7) against Derek and (-5) against Grant (FISH!!!). The Steelers won but didn't cover to put me on extreme tilt. Other than that we devoured a Port of Subs party platter which was delicious.



All in all it was a very memorable weekend and one that will hopefully happen again very very soon.



This last week was pretty cool. I worked out 4 of the 5 week days and had a very difficult test on Friday which i studied for like 15 hours for and I am pretty sure I did very well on it. Then the weekend happened and I went home and hung out with Derek on Friday and didn't do much on Saturday and went out to dinner for my Dad's birthday on Sunday at Mizu (sp?) Japanese Steakhouse which is always delish.



On Sunday I went to Barnes and Noble to get my dad a book. On one of the tables, I saw a book called The Power of Positive Thinking

I decided to purchase it and read a chapter last night and this morning. I got a really weird feeling when I bought the book like it was something I was supposed to have. I have heard people talk about the book before and have mentioned that it is quite moving, and I just kinda shrugged it off. It is not that I am a super negative person, but it's just that I feel like I could benefit from being more positive and optimistic about various areas in my life and in my demeanor in general. Anyways, after reading the first two chapters, I have found myself thinking more positively about even very small things. Today I was waiting in line for the bus and a couple people cut and I missed the bus. Normally I would let this small occurrence put me on a mini life tilt for a few minutes. But today I just didn't let it affect me. It was a very weird thing.

Anyways, it has been a very good day. I woke up at 7:30 and ran 2.5 miles around Lake Padden which surprisingly made me feel very good. The goal is to do this on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and hopefully be able to run a half marathon in June which shouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

Other than that, I feel like a complete degen because I have been in the AIC building on campus since 1:30 and it is 6 now. I just completed a 4 hour session where I ended up losing a pretty small figure. Here are two hands that I decided to copy and paste to discuss:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?3837671 - This guy was a shark. I obv don't have stats on him because I'm on campus and didn't have PT running. I had seen him iso raise a guy with 65s, and I am trying to play a ton of hands on the button, so I decided to flat call. Flop is pretty standard, and I was planning on betting a ton of turns if checked to. When he led 11.25 on the turn, I felt like he could easily show up with a J, KQ, or random air. I decided to flat again. On the river, he didn't waste too much time and potted it. I feel like this is a marginal spot at best. I just don't see what he can be potting here that doesn't have me beat. Nut FD is one possible hand, but I honestly see players like this leading a little bit less on this board. I think he has KJ or JT a ton. That being said, I'm really not sure what I beat so I just decided to muck.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?3837568 - I was pretty proud of this one. This guy was playing extremely loose, so I had a standard 3bet with the 99. When it went check, check on the flop and the turn paired the board, I decided to check again as I can't rep much and not sure I'm getting called by worse much or folding out better. On the river, I typed in 13 but then decided that my line doesn't make sense and he might look me up pretty light. So I went for 2/3 pot and when he tank/called, I knew I was good. VALUE TOWWWWWWWNNNNNNN

My left hand has been asleep for at least an hour and a half which concerns me. I am going to go lift some weights then head home for the evening. 24 tonight! OHOHOHOHO

God Bless,

JG

EDIT: Buffman, Nate, and John Finn will be in Bellingham this weekend. It will be epic. We will try to get kicked out of any establishment we drink in as per usual.