TODAY'S GRIND: Okada Manila Cash Game and COD Soul Poker Fest Main Event Flight D

Okada 25/50 Cash Game

I wanted to play the 1PM NLH Freezeout for PHP 5,000 at the COD Soul Poker Fest, but when I got there - there was no one registered and the clock was ticking towards the third level. 

I asked, "If I was the only one to register, would I win the trophy immediately?"

Of course not.

Anyway, the Main Event Flight C was still going, but they were 5 levels in and I'm not one to jump in with 30bbs, considering there was another flight later that I could join. So...

I drove over to Okada Manila where there was supposed to be  PHP 150K Guaranteed Deep Stack for only PHP 3,500. Only two of us registered, so it was cancelled.

I opted for the the 25/50 cash game. Bought in for 5,000 cashed out around 8,375. Had a beer at the coral lounge to unwind and then headed back to COD for the 6PM Main Event Flight D or the 8PM Turbo Double-Stack.

No one was registered for the Double-Stack. Incidentally, when I showed up, the NLH Freezeout was just announced a champion. 5 entries total. Sad.

I decided to grab a quick bite and was decided to join the Main Event Flight D - which at that time only had 13 players registered. My meal took around 30 minutes and when I got back, I think I was the 18th to register and there were 16 players remaining.

Starting stack 35,000. Built it up to around 74,000 by the break. Caught a bluffer twice. Then my stack got demolished with a two pair versus straight. Stack got reduced to around 28,000.

And then, David "Spade" Erquiaga enters the tourney and is seated to my left. Yikes!

I also got caught bluffing by Michael Bueza... I check-called the bet of 2,000 on the flop of 7c 8s Ac checked the As turn, then I bet out 3,000 on the 3d river...  Spade folded, Bueza called with 4c3c while I shyly revealed my 9dTs. 

"Really! You couldn't let me have the pot. You called with a spiked three on the river?" Smiles. "You just have a lot of chips!" 

Well, he did have a lot of chips.

Then I got hurt by a AJ v AQ situation. The kicker problem cost me to go down to 15,900. Then I managed to double up with 55 vs AK to just about 33,000. 

However, it didn't last. I four-bet on my small blind to 10,000 from a 3,600 three-bet on blinds that were just 400/800. I had pocket nines. Michael Bueza, the three-better, just called. The flop came 2h Jc 5h. I figured, he probably didn't hit the jack and was sitting on AK or something. So I shoved my last 20 something in the middle, and heard Michael say, "Call ako, may tinamaan ako." (I call. I hit something.)

He flipped over two jacks for a set, and I was sarcastically, "Ang laki naman ng tinamaan mo! Patay na ako agad." (What you hit was pretty big! I'm dead already!) 

Death

Anyway, tough grind. Try again tomorrow.