We start 8 handed with the 5 and 10 seats empty and waiting to fill from late entries.  I scowl when i see the table set up 10 handed but i should probably have expected it in ahuge field event.  10 hand will be soporific to a large extent (assuming i tighten my ranges to drop a lot of the marginal hands as I should) but 8 handed to start at least lets me play a few hands in 1st half hour and build a crazy loose image – although this isnt something i often struggle with anyway :-)

Humberto Brenes sits down in the big blind as we start and 1st hand I get JTo in mp.  I make it 125.  We start with 4k at 25/50 so 80 big blinds – while tournament players view this a big stack it really really isn’t.  So the plan is to play like a cash game, if anything a little looser because once i get a stack i can play a lot of hands against people who are going to be scared of going broke and having to put in chips worth more than mine to match my bets – a sexy combination.  I’m not that pleased to see Humberto in the big blind as a lot of tourney pros are willing to gamble very wide early to get a stack.  He’s an older player tho and I’m assured by friends who have played with him extensively that he’s “horrible”. (although they tend to be elitist jerks and “horrible” is a generic term applied to any live pro, and while fair in some sense it doesn’t tell a complete story – they are usually good in specific areas but simply math retarded)  So I almost certainly have the required fold equity post flop on 3 bet all ins to be able to play for stacks when i flop a draw.

Button (late 30s) cold calls.  Don’t love it but its not unexpected.  Humberto throws in the extra chips.

Flop 983 rainbow.

Booyah.  Humberto checks, I bet 225 and the button cold calls after a moments thought.  Humberto shows his cards to his neighbour and folds.  I was hoping for a raise from someone so i could three bet all in, but this is ok.  the cold callers range is likely a weaker draw than mine or a pair (T9, T8 type of hand) it could also be a monster set obviously but you can;t be scared of these situations and its equally likely he has some random overcard/underpair float.

Turn Td putting a flush draw on board.  I shuffle for a couple seconds while i absorb the feeling that im going home this hand.  I consider check-calling for control but the stacks are too short.  I bet 400.  He raises to 1200 pretty quickly.  I insta-shove.  He thinks for a few seconds, sighs and calls.  I flip my cards, say “gg”, stand up and tuck my chair in.  He flips 33, clearly relieved.  Dealer burns and turns another 9.  Humberto gives me a what-can-you-do shrug and smile which i’mfeeling sangune enough to return as I stroll out of the room and back to the cab stand.

While people’s first reaction is often “wow – u lost ur $2k buyin on the 1st hand – that sucks” I disagree.  Busting 1st hand is the most awesome thing in the world, closely follwed by busting on the 2nd hand.  Busting early ups your hourly rate – assuming u dont alter your play to reduce your ev.  And while tourney players are often preoccupied with roi, hourly rate should be the guiding light.

Next tourney $1500 LHe shootout on 1st July