January Was A Success - Daniel Negreanu's Blog

Daniel Negreanu's Blog
January 27, 2007
Negreanu blogs about playing
in the WPT tournament at
Borgata in Atlantic City, New
Jersey.

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January Was a Success

January 27, 2007

I fought hard, fought as hard as I could, but I just couldn't get it going today.
We didn't arrive in Atlantic City until about 5:00am. We checked in, bought in,
and then tried to get some sleep before the day's play at 11:00am.

I had already decided to sleep as long as needed and then I'd show up when
I was fresh and ready. With 30,000 in chips, and 25-50 blinds to start, it
seemed like the best way for me to do well in the tournament. Obviously this
isn't optimal, but I didn't have much choice since the WPT didn't leave much
time in between events to be fully prepared.

When I got to my table, I was surprised, no shocked, to see Kido Phan AGAIN
at my table, along with Nam Le. There were almost 600 players in this
tournament, yest they must have done a very poor job of randomizing the
later tables. We all bought in at the same time, but that should not mean we
end up at the same table. There was another gentleman at our table that
also bought in at the same time we did.

Kido looked beat down- he didn't sleep. Nam was tired, JC was also tired as
he was at the table next to ours. Nam slept through level 3, JC slept through
the first two levels as did I.

When I got there, Kido was down to about 7,000. Nam made it 350 to go
from under the gun and I called with QQ in the next seat. Another player
called, and Kido made it 3500 to go. Nam folded, so I decided to play the
hand against Kido and put him all in. He had AK, and I won that race, busting
Kido.

After that, I was playing my standard game, although I didn't have a lot of
energy to get a solid read on my opponents which may have cost me. I laid
down AA on a board of 3-4c-5c-4s-2c in spot where I could have been
bluffed. I also lost a sizeable pot with JJ versus KK in a spot where I could
only be in bad shape if my opponent had an over pair AND one of them was
also a diamond. He did.

Down to about 12,000, I doubled up with Jh 10h on a flop of K-Q-9 against
99. After that, I played my typical cautious game, but wasn't connecting with
flops and my opponents were hitting big time.

I was back down to 10,000 with blinds at 250-500 and a 50 ante, but I still
felt comfortable. I wasn't able to pick up anything and whittled down to
about 4,000 before making my move.

The first move came in the big blind. All folded to the small blind who limped in
for 500. I had Q-7 and went all in- he folded Kh 10h!

The very next hand, the SAME guy limped on the button. I made it 2500 with
AK and he went all in with A-2. I won that pot and was back in action. Then
the final hand of the night: Guy, a player from Vegas, limped for 500, I limped
behind him with Ac Qc, and the player next to me made it 2600. Guy and I
both called.

The flop wasd 9c 3c 2s. Checked to the raiser who bet 6000. Guy called, and
I decided to play my hand now since I couldn't fold on the turn. Also, I was
hoping to either get three way action, OR, get Guy to fold a hand that may
take away some of my outs. Both called my 6150 all in raise. One with 10-10,
the other A-9. Turn and river blanked. Had I won that pot I'd be at 45,000.

I was really hoping to hit this hand as 45,000 would feel like a bazillion going
into day two. Nothing I could have really done differently here, so that's that,
the streak is dead.

I got a good night's sleep last night and am looking forward to getting home.
As it appears now, I think the next event I'll be playing won't be until the
Commerce in late February. A nice break in between which will help me get
caught up on some work that I've been neglecting while I've been busy
working at the tables.

I may not play any poker at all till the Commerce, we'll just have to see. I may
decide to play at Bellagio a little bit, but more than likely I'll just be vegging
out, watching hockey, finishing my book, etc. Originally I had planned to play
in the Poker After Dark show on Feb 1-3, but that has been postponed. Also,
I haven't heard any news lately on the upcoming Poker Superstars show.

As for bloggin', I'll probably go back to updates about 3 times a week now
that there will be little poker played. I should be fresh and ready to take over
the #1 spot in the Card Player of the Year award down the stretch. The
WSOP is a huge factor in that race, so I'm looking forward to that, although, I
much prefer playing the WPT.

Crapshoot tournaments aren't my strength, and while the WPT is a crapshoot
at it's best, the WSOP preliminary events are all short stack events, aside
from the 50,000 HORSE. I'll be forced to make significant adjustments to my
pre-flop strategy that cuts into my edge, but I know what I'm doing so I'll be
ready...

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