The Frustrating World of PokerI don't know what triggered it but something made me want to get into poker again. I go on and off but this latest one has been the longest due to the discovery of Poker Stars. Every hour or so you can play in these massive tournaments ranging from a 100ish to 5000, 9000 and 10000, all of this for ONE OF 72 SEATS! It's insane! It's all freeroll so everyone tries and bets like a lunatic! I try to keep a level head and play with smart hands but even with decent hand like JT will not win most of the time because someone will bet a massive amount that will get you out if it doesn't go your way. It sucks but you go with the flow and if you do it right you can last.

Today I competed in a "PokerSchool Open Skill League" tourney with 9534 people, normally 10,000. Here the thing, only top 90 get money it's only a penny but it's the principle that I could win something from paying nothing. The game is No Limit Texas Hold'em, we start with 1500 chips and blinds go up every 8 min, pretty standard. I'm doing pretty well win a couple hands and win a few big hands that put me up to 20k. At this point I'm on a cloud and get another big win to put me up to 30k. I'm in the top 300 with 7000 left. At this point I'm going up and down between 20-30k.
Here comes the heart breaker. The blinds are up 2k/4k + 400 ante, theres only 100 players left, I just need to beat 10 people to earn a penny for my troubles. I'm right beside the BB so it's go all in now or risk getting a bad hand with the no choice on the hand. I have pocket Jacks and I feel it. In a cash game, this would be solid, I could play it right but in this game it's all or nothing with no real risk of penalty. I go all in, the highest card on the board is a queen and no one has one, I'm great!...or so it would seem...
From my high cloud I get the rug pulled beneath me as someone turned over Aces...Pocket Rockets... The best pocket hand you can have....

GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! klnaef!b;j#$%k ad^*%xv bl bsf......... The pop-up comes "You have finished the tournament in 98th. Thank you for playing."

I played well, I have no regrets, but to be so close to winning something from nothing is very frustrating. I take a few breaths and calm down. Thus ends the tale of how I came close to winning in a poker tournament. I will win eventually....eventually.

The Frustrating World of PokerI don't know what triggered it but something made me want to get into poker again. I go on and off but this latest one has been the longest due to the discovery of Poker Stars. Every hour or so you can play in these massive tournaments ranging from a 100ish to 5000, 9000 and 10000, all of this for ONE OF 72 SEATS! It's insane! It's all freeroll so everyone tries and bets like a lunatic! I try to keep a level head and play with smart hands but even with decent hand like JT will not win most of the time because someone will bet a massive amount that will get you out if it doesn't go your way. It sucks but you go with the flow and if you do it right you can last.

Today I competed in a "PokerSchool Open Skill League" tourney with 9534 people, normally 10,000. Here the thing, only top 90 get money it's only a penny but it's the principle that I could win something from paying nothing. The game is No Limit Texas Hold'em, we start with 1500 chips and blinds go up every 8 min, pretty standard. I'm doing pretty well win a couple hands and win a few big hands that put me up to 20k. At this point I'm on a cloud and get another big win to put me up to 30k. I'm in the top 300 with 7000 left. At this point I'm going up and down between 20-30k.
Here comes the heart breaker. The blinds are up 2k/4k + 400 ante, theres only 100 players left, I just need to beat 10 people to earn a penny for my troubles. I'm right beside the BB so it's go all in now or risk getting a bad hand with the no choice on the hand. I have pocket Jacks and I feel it. In a cash game, this would be solid, I could play it right but in this game it's all or nothing with no real risk of penalty. I go all in, the highest card on the board is a queen and no one has one, I'm great!...or so it would seem...
From my high cloud I get the rug pulled beneath me as someone turned over Aces...Pocket Rockets... The best pocket hand you can have....

GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! klnaef!b;j#$%k ad^*%xv bl bsf......... The pop-up comes "You have finished the tournament in 98th. Thank you for playing."

I played well, I have no regrets, but to be so close to winning something from nothing is very frustrating. I take a few breaths and calm down. Thus ends the tale of how I came close to winning in a poker tournament. I will win eventually....eventually.