[Target] 2009 Report + QB in the WSOP
Russ Fox
rcfox at claytonservices.com
Wed Jun 17 22:43:19 EDT 2009
Congratulations and well done!
-------- Original Message --------
> From: Ken Kubey <kubey at sgi.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 5:44 PM
> To: target at conjelco.com
> Subject: [Target] 2009 Report + QB in the WSOP
>
> Hi all,
> Here it is. The official 2009 Report.
> The 15th TARGET event was held at the Mirage.
>
> I check in Thursday with the poker staff. I'm assured
> the comps will be ready. Cool.
>
> Friday, 9:45 a.m. Get Mirage Buffet folks to hold tables for us.
> No problem. Cool.
>
> Friday, 10:00 a.m. Why am I going to the poker room so
> damn early? Check with Kathleen Paculan about the comps.
> Couple phone calls. No comps. Ai-ya!
>
> Long story short, Kathleen pulled us out of the fire.
> I made a snap judgement to pull $5 out of the TARGET
> toke pool and gave it to her.
>
> About 20 of us meet for brunch.
> We are able to get several tables in the same area.
>
> Ernest Webber was the Tournament Director (TD) this year.
> Sadly, Donna Harris is no longer with the Mirage.
>
> Again we used Patrick Milligan Tournament Timer.
> Patti once again supplied the laptop.
>
> Just 24 players this year. 25 buy-ins in the pool.
> More on that later.
>
> The tables:
>
> Ming Lee - oh, sorry. Late scratch. He was busy making a
> run in a WSOP event nearly beating some guy named Phil Ivey.
>
> Len Marciano John Lloyd Dave Tahajian
> Bill Turner Rod Chavez Kevin Garrett
> Barbara Garrett Mark Trombley Dan Sammartino
> Rich Strauss Peter Secor Jeff Deitch
> Mike Chow Ken Kubey Russ Fox
> Bob Jones Steve Nissman Mark Rafn
> Patti Beadles Jim Anderson Steve Watanabe
> Aaron Lion Marc Ferguson Wendy Rafn
>
> Good to have Bill Turner back. One of the original TARGET
> players from 1994. Also back... two-time defending champ,
> Marc Ferguson.
>
> A $200 buy-in got each of us 2000 in tournament chips.
>
> Cards were in the air very close to 12:30.
>
> Kevan Garrett managed to bust on the first hand with
> AK vs. AQ on a A-Q-X flop.
>
> Kevan received a Beanie Baby fish, a $10 slot certificate and a roll
> of Lifesavers. The fish found its way into some interesting places.
> Later heard that Kevan won a tournament elsewhere for $4000. WTG!
>
> Key early hand. Hope I have this right.
> Rod Chavez calls for 100. Mark Trombley calls.
> I look down at JJ. I'm planning to raise it to about 500 or so.
> But Peter Secor raises to 650 ahead of me.
> I have Peter on a very strong hand. QQ, KK, AA or AK.
> I change my plan and fold my jacks.
> Back around to Rod who pushes all-in. Mark thinks for a bit
> and folds a pretty strong hand either AQs or AKs.
> Peter calls right away. Rod has TT (pair of 10's).
> Peter has AA (a pair of aces.)
> Rod flops a 10 to take most of Peter's chips.
>
> The key point is that Peter's raise certainly saved me from
> losing a lot of chips. If Peter doesn't raise and if I don't fold,
> I'm in bad shape.
>
> I get run over by the deck. I showed a lot of the hands.
> I had KK 3 times. QQ twice. AK 6 times. AQ a couple of times.
> And was hitting the flop too. AK? Flop the K. AQ? Flop the ace.
>
> ---
>
> Really interesting hand. Someone gets all-in. I thought it was
> Bob, but he says no. Patti can't remember either.
> Patti has a big stack and calls.
> Other guy has AA. Patti has 77.
> The flop comes down Q-Q-7. Giving Patti a full house!
> The turn is a 10.
> The river is a Q. Patti's 7's full of Q's is now Q's full of 7's.
> The AA makes his hand Q's full of A's and he wins the hand.
>
> ---
>
> Jim went out in 11th and we are down to the final table:
>
> Mark Trombley 2800
> Aaron Lion 5400
> Bob Jones 9500
> Patti Beadles 2800
> Steve Nissman 1000
> Russ Fox 5400
> Ken Kubey 5400
> Steve Watanabe 4800
> Jeff Deitch 4300
> Len Marciano 6700
>
> Russ was at the final table for the 3rd year in a row.
> Len and Patti were back for the 2nd year in a row.
>
> 1st and 2nd get $1500 entries in the WSOP.
> 3th gets $500. 4th gets $355. 5th gets $225. 6th gets $60.
> 7th gets a handshake.
>
> The tournament will end when we are down to two players.
>
> Final table notes...
>
> ---
>
> QB's QQ holds up to knock out Steve in 10th.
>
> ---
>
> Len makes a big-stack call against two short stacks.
> Mark is in the lead with A7. Jeff has T9. Len has T6.
> The huge dog becomes the top dog as the board comes
> out with a 2-3-4-5 to make Len a straight and send
> Mark and Jeff to the rail in 9th and 8th.
>
> ---
>
> Aaron goes all-in. Patti calls.
> Arron has 44. Patti has AK.
> A 4 on the flop keeps the Lion in the hunt and
> plasters Patti's chip stack.
>
> ---
>
> Len knocks Patti out with his A2 holding up over her J9.
>
> ---
>
> Russ is to my right and is folding horrible hand after
> horrible hand. He tells me some of them. T4, 64, 43, 42.
> It's kind of funny as they keep getting worse!
>
> ---
>
> My BB (big blind)
> The table folds around to Russ in the SB (small blind.)
> I expect Russ to pick up another garbage hand and fold.
> Not this time Russ pushes all-in for about 2500. I have
> about 6000, so this will really hurt if I lose.
> Russ is a tight player, so I don't think he is going with pure junk.
> I look down at ATo. An automatic call. Any expert would tell you that.
> But I give it a little thought. I decide that Russ could easily
> have a junk ace hand. A7, A2, etc. or KQ or KJ. I'm well ahead
> of his range of hands, so I make the call.
> Russ flips up TT (a pair of 10's). I can pretty much only win
> by hitting an ace. Russ is sure I will win. And he is right.
> Here comes the flop... A-9-6. Blanks on the turn and river send
> Russ is out in 6th. We had several $10 late fees allowing us
> to give the bubble spot a consolation prize of $60.
>
> ---
>
> Bob Jones pushes all-in with 66. Len Marciano calls with AK.
> The 6's hold up making Bob the chip leader and sending
> Marciano against the ropes. It will be tough to keep up
> with the Joneses now.
>
> ---
>
> Aaron pushes with KQ. Bob calls with A6.
> At the turn, the board is X-X-T-J. Aaron needs an ace,
> king, queen or 9 to win. A useless 7 falls on the river.
> Aaron is gone in 5th. A nice $225 win and good showing by a
> rookie TARGET player.
>
> ---
>
> Steve Nissman never had a decent stack at the final table.
> He is forced to call all-in with 63 in his BB. Bob has A2.
> The flop is A-5-2. Niss misses the 4. And finishes 4th.
> A well earned $350 as he just never had chips to work with.
>
> ---
>
> At this point, Bob and I have the big stacks. Len needs a double
> up to get back into the fight. Len pushes with QT. Bob calls
> from the BB with J4.
> The flop is 4-X-9 putting Bob in the lead.
> The turn is a K. Giving Len a little more hope as a J, Q or T
> will get him back in the race.
> A river 9 KO's Marciano. 3rd place and $500.
>
> ---
>
> Congratulations to Bob Jones and Ken Kubey. "Mr. Jones and me."
>
> Ken wins TARGET for the 2nd time in three years.
> Man, how bad must this field suck?
> I was drinking 7&7's the whole time. I think I had 5 in 4 hours.
>
> Ernest did a good job as the TD. He even announce several hands
> over the Mirage Poker Room speaker system. Pretty cool.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Craps run.
>
> I checked the Mirage poker room. Only saw John Lloyd playing NL.
> Headed over to the Gold Coast. Nobody?
>
> Steve Nissman shows up. We atart playing. Barbara and Kevan Garrett
> show up a few minutes later. Patti made a quick cameo.
>
> No real wild action. We made some hard 10's (55).
> I think Barbara hit the 12 once or twice.
> Steve would be on the verge of making a killing, but then the
> dumb 7 would come and spoil the party.
>
> I believe the final totals were:
> Barbara +$35
> Kubey +$6
> Kevan +$2
> Steve -$7
>
> Kinda a sedate craps run, but we had fun.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Thanks to everyone who played in TARGET and a big Thanks to all of the
> folks that sent checks in early. That really helps me a lot.
>
> I'll be sending out a survey soon.
>
> I hope everyone had a good time during the TARGET weekend.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On to the WSOP...
>
> 12 noon Saturday. Away we go. $1500 buy-in gets you 4500 in chips.
>
> My first table was pretty tough. No one was getting a walk ever.
> I had some great cards in the first two hours. AA, AA, KK and QQ.
> Actually got to bet the river with the KK and got called and won!
> Oh, I was in seat #1, left of the dealer. I hate seat 1.
>
> I limped along with some medium pairs in late position
> hoping to flop a set. 66 thru TT. No sets. Did pick up one pot.
>
> I'm drinking 7&7's. I want to pace myself. Keep the little buzz,
> but not get drunk. I was shooting for one drink every 90 minutes.
>
> I had to explain what a 7&7 was to some young guys at one table.
>
> Anyway... make it to the break after 2 hours with 5900.
> Probably a little above average. I'm feeling good.
>
> I get moved to a new table, seat 5. Guys here are laughing and
> having a good time. The guy I replaced got disqualified
> on purpose. Apparently he had a ton a of money on some
> sporting event and wanted out.
>
> One poor guy at this table called an all-in with AK.
> Other guy had A7 and hit the 7. AK guy goes all-in with JJ.
> Loses to 99. Oof.
>
> No big hands here. I stole the blinds enough to keep even.
> The 2nd break comes after 4 hours of play. Still at 5900.
>
> Moved to another table. Seat 1 again? Tight players in 3-4-5.
> Good player in 6. Big Guy in 7. Solid Kid in seat 10.
> Seat 2 is wat too tight. Played maybe one out of 35 hands.
> I stole his blind the one time I had the chance.
> When he did raise, everyone folded very quickly.
>
> I keep stealing from 3-4-5. Seat 4 notices. On the next steal,
> I show him AQ after they all fold. He nods his head in approval.
>
> Seat 6 puts in a raise. Big guy calls.
> Flop Q-8-4. Seat 6 bets near the pot. Big guy calls.
> Turn T. Jam it up. Seat 6 has KK. Big guy has QTs.
> I'm praying for a K, 8, or 4 to make the Big guy lose. Nope.
>
> Later Big guy loses a pot calling with A9o. He's not a total fish,
> but he seems to play more hands than most.
>
> Dinner break after 6 hours of play. I have 5150.
> I'm below average, but the blinds aren't killing me yet.
>
> Sandi used my $10 WSOP comp to get a really good burger.
> She is perched on the platform watching Ming Lee vs. Phil Ivey.
> along with another 40 or 50 fans.
>
> Back to the table at 7:40 p.m. or so.
> I'm doing okay. Build up over 7000, maybe 8000.
>
> Two new players in seats 2 and 3. Both from the same country, I think.
> Seat 3 has a huge number of chips.
> Seat 2 is limping along and calling too much.
> Blinds are 200-400. Folded to me two off the button.
> I raise with A9o to 1200. Seat 2 and 3 both call.
> Flop comes J-5-3. I don't think I can bluff here, so I pretend
> to think and then check. Check, check.
> Turn is another J (Jd). Okay, obviously these guys don't have
> a jack. I'm going to bet representing 99 or a slowplay AJ.
> I bet 2000. Seat 2 calls. @#$%@$#%$#. I hate calling stations.
> River is a small diamond making a flush possible.
> I check praying that seat 2 has nothing and will check.
> Nope. He fires 3000. I think he has 33, 55 or a flush.
> What ever he had, I couldn't call. This is the only time
> all weekend where I got at all mad at a player.
> I kept it to myself. I later made friends with the guy.
>
> Kid in seat 10 raises. Moron to my left calls.
> Flop Q-4-3. Moron checks, Kid bets near the pot, Moron calls.
> Turn A. Moron checks, Kid bets near the pot, Moron calls.
> River X. Moron checks, Kid bets near the pot, Moron calls.
> Before Kid can show, Moron rolls over AJ. Kid mucks.
>
> How in the world do you call with AJ on a Q-4-3 flop? Sheesh.
>
> With this idiot on my left, I have no choice now,
> but to jam with any hand I want to play.
>
> Here come the real hands...
>
> 99. No doubt. I push all-in. Good old Moron in seat 2 is sitting
> there thinking. Out of nowhere, seat 3 pushes all-in while
> seat 2 still has cards. I think 3 was trying to save 2 from
> wasting chips. Really a pretty horrible thing to do.
> The others all fold. I figure seat 3 has at least QQ.
> Yep. He has AA. I have the red 9's. We table our cards.
> Here comes the flop... "I'm thinking to myself nine, nine, five."
> Why "five"? The poker Gods are hard of hearing. Sometimes they
> hear 5 as 9 or 9 as 5. Gotta cover your bases.
>
> Flop 4-9c-3. Oh the beautiful 9 of clubs.
>
> I'm doing cartwheels inside. Outside I don't move a muscle.
> Still have to dodge two cards. Turn blank. River 3.
>
> I kinda wonder if seat 2 would have called. I could have
> really gotten back into the running. Seat 3 busted out later.
>
> We get to the next break. 8 hours in. I have 3500.
> Blinds will be going up to 400-800 with a 100 ante.
> Average stack is around 13000. I'm in bad, bad shape.
>
> I go report to Sandi that it looks bleak, but i'll give
> it everything I've got. Also see Patti, JP and Sabyl.
> Sabyl reminds me that my only play now is to push all-in.
> I've played at least 1000 1-table SNG tournaments in the last
> two years, so I know that, but it didn't hurt to be reminded.
>
> I sit down a couple of minutes before play resumes. I see
> Patti walking down the spectator aisle. She smiles and
> gets a spot at the rail to watch.
>
> Luckily, it is my button so I only have to ante/lose 100 per deal
> waiting for a hand.
>
> Seat 8 is a weak player. Suited crap and connectors.
> 4th hand after the break. I have 3100.
> Seat 8 raises to 3200. I know he has KJo. Don't know exactly
> how I know, but I know he has KJo. I look at my cards.
> KhQh. I've got him. I call all-in. Rest fold.
> He turns up his hand. KJo. Best big-money tournament read of my life.
>
> Now maybe I call here anyway hoping he has AJ or AT or JJ ot 99,
> but it was just freakin' awesome to see those cards.
>
> Flop X-Y-Z all small. "Small and red." I think to myself.
> Turn small heart. I pick up a flush draw. "Small and red."
> River Q. Okay. KQ good. I do a little fist pump under the table.
> I have a few chips to work with now.
>
> Guy raises my BB. Folded to me. AsKs! What a sweet looking hand.
> I call all-in. Raiser has KJo. Nothing bad happens. I win.
> That guy busts later. Teach you to try and steal my blind!
>
> I have a few chips now. Maybe 10,000.
>
> 99 and raise to 2000. Moron calls. Oh, here we go again.
> Flop is K-J-J. I put up the white flag. I'm checking and folding.
> I check, he checks.
> Turn X. I check, he checks.
> River Y. I check, he checks. I think my 99 must be a winner.
> I show it. He shows QQ!!
>
> BB again. The Big Guy raises from the button.
> I'd seen this guy nearly have a stroke folding A9o, so
> I think he could be raising with any ace or stuff like KQ, KT, etc.
> Let's see what I have... AsJs. Maybe I can blow him out
> of the pot right here. I jam. He snap-calls with KK.
>
> Arrgghhh. Well, I just hit a two-outter a while ago.
> Hitting one of the three aces should be a piece of cake.
> Flop x-A-x. I'm thrilled, but still brace for anything.
> The turn and river are blanks and now I really have some chips.
> Maybe 20,000.
>
> QJ in the SB. Idiot that I am, I actually raise thinking
> the Moron will fold for once in his life. He calls. Ugghh.
> Flop A-9-X. I check, he checks.
> Turn T. Good card. I have tons of outs now. K or 8 for the nuts.
> I check, he checks.
> River J. I hit a pair. This idiot could easily have me beat
> with KQ, Q8, 87, and who knows what else. I check, he checks.
> I show, I win! Up close to 30,000 now.
>
> The blinds and antes take me down to 25,700 as we finish Day 1.
>
> 1:30 a.m. I bag up my chips. Fill out a form, and leave everything there.
> Thanks goodness I will have a new table for Day 2.
>
> ================================================================
>
> I get to the tournament area 15 minutes early.
> I'll be at table 79. We start at 2:00 p.m.
> I see tables 77, 78, 80 and 81. Can't find 79!!
> I see Rich Strauss over by the rail. We talk for a couple
> of minutes. I ask him if he knows where table 79 is.
> He points up at the sign right above me. "ORANGE 79" Okay.
> Steve Nissman and Mark Trombley also come by to root me on.
>
> Here is my starting table:
>
> seat name hometown chips comments
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1 Slim Mameche Duinet, France 41,300 Solid player, friendly
> 2 Andy Achillea London, UK 2,300 Waited 12 hours to bust in 2 hands
> 3 Joshua Bylund Muskegon, MI 37,300 Solid
> 4 Jonas Klausen Odense, Denmark 40,900 Solid
> 5 Bill Carey Clearwater, FL 22,800 Too tight
> 6 Salim Zakhem Houston, TX 58,900 Action player
> 7 M Mehdi Alaei Los Angeles, CA 39,700 Danny Alaei's dad, Solid, nice guy
> 8 Ken Kubey Sunnyvale, CA 25,700 Tight
> 9 Jeff Reiter Le Claire, IA 19,700 Tight, nervous
>
> Andy is killed off in two hands and is replaced by Steve form S.D.
>
> Some highlight hands that don't involve me:
>
> Steve jams for 15 BB's with A2. Joshua calls with AQ. 2 flops.
> Someone gets all-in with AK vs. Salim's KJ. Flop J-J-X. Gross!!!!!!
> Salim gets calls an all-in on a J-X-X flop with KJ. Loses to AJ.
> All spade flop. Salim checks and calls Mehdi's bet.
> Turn 4th spade. Salim checks and calls.
> River X. Salim checks and calls 10,000.
> Mehdi flopped the nut flush. Salim turned a straight!!!! LOL.
>
> Turns out there were only 327 left going into Sunday.
> I was in the top 200 chip-wise.
>
> I try a steal raise from the button. Jeff re-raises me. Yipes.
> I know this guy has a real hand. I fold. He shows me KK.
> Nice hand sir.
>
> It is obvious Bill is folding everything trying to make the money.
> I decide I'm going to raise his BB with almost anything.
> I look at an ace. I raise 3x the BB. ATo. Everyone folds to Bill.
> He says "Can you beat 7-high?" I say "Twice." I show the ace.
>
> I try a blind steal from the button again. BB calls.
> Flop is K-X-Y. I have nothing. Slim bets it. I fold.
> He shows (what else?) KJ.
>
> I'm watching the player count like a hawk (it is displayed on TV's
> all around the room.) 315, 302, 297, 285. So close now.
> My chips are dwindling. Average is 44,000. I have 10,000.
>
> Remember chips are 3x real value. $1500 got us 4500 in chips.
>
> 282, 281, 280, 279.
>
> I get pocket jacks (JJ) and raise from under-the-gun. 3000.
> It goes around the table.. Fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold.
> Last guy with cards is the great player on my right. Mehdi Alaei.
> I'm about to say to him "If you fold, I'll show." Before I can
> say "If" he raises all-in. Oh my God!
>
> If I call and lose this hand, I'll be out with $0.
> Is he just trying to push me around? Does he really have
> better than JJ?
>
> I know in about 5 seconds that I am going to fold, but I sit there
> for a good minute pretending to really think about it. A minute
> is FOREVER at a poker table. I fold. He tells me he had KINGS!
> I absolutely believe him. He was in the final 27.
> Even if he was lying to me, I had to fold the hand.
> I could not risk going broke so close to 270th place.
>
> I'm really worried now. It is going to be very close for me
> to hold on for the money. I have to hope that several others
> will go broke before I am forced to put my last chips in
> in the blinds.
>
> The last spot out of the money is called "the bubble."
> 271st place in this case. I can't stand the idea of going
> out now so close to the bubble. It is a really scary thought.
> It has taken me 15 years to get this far. Will I be here again?
>
> Now they hold up play. Turns out the count was behind.
> We are at 271 players. I'm down to 7500. I have one of the shortest
> stacks left in the room, but there are several others in worse shape.
>
> Between hands, I walk over to my friends at the rail and tell them
> "My range is zero."
> That means I am folding EVERY hand now. Even pocket aces.
> I cannot go broke. I'm folding EVERY hand.
>
> We play hand-for-hand now meaning that all 31 tables start the hand
> at the same time. Then we must wait for all 31 tables to finish
> that hand before we go to the next one.
>
> The hand at our table might take 40 seconds. But then we have to
> wait for 5 or 6 minutes for all 31 tables to finish just one hand.
>
> No one busts out. On we go.
>
> Medhi raises. I look at my cards. TT.
> Man, I'd love to play, but I can't. I fold.
>
> Jeff is also hoping for his first WSOP cash.
> He has 20,000 in chips. He looks very nervous.
>
> Mathematically, it was almost certain that I will make the money,
> but having watched many sporting upsets, I take nothing for granted.
>
> I'm waiting for the room to erupt.
>
> Another hand. A couple of guys go all-in, but survive.
> You hear one person clap or shout.
> I'm dying to hear a whole table start clapping.
> Another hand. Nope.
>
> Now a floorman walks by and says we are at 270. But it is still quiet.
> Still no wild cheering. 3 or 4 minutes pass.
> Now they halt the clock. We are in the money!
>
> Turns out they had to wait to see if a 2nd player went bust
> on the same hand in which case #271 and #270 would split
> the prize for 270th place.
>
> Lot's of cheering. I stood up and clapped my hands over my head.
> What a thrill. I was so relieved. $2808 at least.
> Shook hands with my friends, gave Sandi a kiss.
>
> Shook hands with Jeff, Mehdi and Salim. Thumbs up to Bill
> Slim and Steve and the other guys at the table.
>
> Now I can play poker again.
>
> Sabyl joined Sandi on the rail.
>
> Ac8c. I push all-in. All fold. I show the ace.
> Dang, back to 14,000 just like that.
>
> My BB. Action folds around to Medhi. He folds giving me the pot uncontested.
> This is called a walk. We are about 15 hours into the tournament.
> This is the only walk I got.
>
> Too tight Bill busts out and is replaced by this Asian kid.
> Asian kid gets AA, AK and AK in about 10 hands and busts 3 players
> including Salim. I believe this was Jeff Chang who finished
> in 2nd place for $392,000!
>
> Blinds are now 1000-2000. I'm down to 5700. If I fold through
> the blinds, I'll be down to 1800. I'll be anted all-in a few
> hands after that!
> Total desperation mode now. Any ace, any pair, and two face cards.
>
> A2o. Looks like gold. I raise all-in. Slim thinks for a few seconds
> and calls. Folds around to the BB who folds. The pot has over 15,000
> in it. I hope slip has KQ or something. Nope. AT.
> I need a deuce or I'm done.
> Flop nothing.
> Turn nothing.
> River nothing. AT good. I'm out.
>
> I outlasted another 86 players and finished in 184th place out of 2641
> for $2988.
>
> I usually feel bad when I bust out of a tournament. Not this time.
> Making the money was Job #1. I accomplished that. Good feeling.
>
> Thanks for all the e-mails and support. Big thanks to my sweaters:
> Patti, Fich, Rich, Steve N., Mark T. and Sabyl.
>
> P.S. Two of the worst plays I ever made at TARGET and BARGE were
> both folding JJ. Sweet justice to fold JJ twice correctly.
>
> Ken Kubey kubey at sgi.com (408) 524-6939
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