wombat

Lauhaus Heads-Up Classic

The setup was an 8-player double elimation bracket, with a randomized placing for each player. The winners bracket matches each consisted of three games (best of three), and the losers bracket were one. We started with 2k in chips at 25/50 blinds. Rounds increased every 10 hands. And of course since we're all trendy faggots, we played no-limit Texas Holdem.

I had been knocked into the losers bracket by Greg during the second round of the winners bracket.

What follows is my match verses Rachel, my second match in the losers bracket. Rachel is a very tight player with sporadic aggression, almost arbitrary. And quite often it works to her advantage. We went back and forth for a while, chip trading, and stacks pumping up and down, but, still remaining pretty much even.

That is, until...

At the 100/200 blinds, I'm in BB. Rachel limps, I check, and I hit a two on a 9 5 2 rainbow flop. She's down to her last 300, and I put her all in. After some consideration, she calls.

She flips over J 4. I flip my 2 4.

Turn comes 3. River comes Ace.

Why she chose to call this, I have no idea, but, we end up chopping. Perhaps she already felt beat, and didn't feel like putting the time in to come back? Who knows. But, luck was on her side.

At 200/400 level, again on BB, I'm dealt pocket Qs. So, I raise to 600 after she limps. She gives me a disgruntled stare, then calls.

Flop: A 3 5, rainbow.

Now, considering her preflop call (not that it was a particularly huge raise, but like I said, she's usually a very tight player) I had to put her on an Ace. So, I check, and she goes all in for her last 400 or so. Clearly, I don't figure her for a straight, or a flush draw (though, she is known to put it all on the line with a flush draw), so I fold my Qs and show her.

She quickly flips over 9Tos. Nothin.' In retrospect, had I looked at her a bit more and noticed her staring at me (as she later told me she was doing) I would have caught the bluff -- staring down your opponent is a classic tell of "I ain't got shit." But, I was so caught off-guard by the Ace and her call that I was too busy wallowing in the pity of possibly losing with Q's in heads-up, that I barely looked at her. I could have gone all in preflop, but, I figured I had the odds to set somewhat of a trap for her. I suppose I should have, and would have at the very least won the blinds -- I really doubt she would have called an all in with 9Tos. Then again, she did with J4 AFTER the flop, knowing she had nothing. So, who knows?

"You can’t read women. Men are really dumb when it comes to reading body language in comparison to women. Women are so much more in touch with their intuitive side than men are. I generally have more trouble playing against women. One woman in particular, a Finnish lady that I’ve played in tournaments with for the past 10 years absolutely owns me. I may as well play my cards face up because she always knows what I have anyway." -- Daniel Negreanu, from a cardschat.com interivew.

See? Even Negreanu can't read broads, and he's the best player on Earth, in my opinion. Personally, I disagree with Mr. Negreanu and that nonsense about women being more in touch with their inutive side, and instead attribute a woman's poker game to their inate talent for deceit and calousness. But, I'm bitter. So, shut up.

Then again, whenever I play against one of my other female friends, we'll call her "Amanda," I always know when she has a hand -- her eyes trace the board when she's checking for a straight, (betting small and quickly when she's got it) stares at the cards she hits, etc. -- also, she picks up her hole cards and holds them a few inches from her face when she's checking them, and clearly reacts, either negatively or positively. Though, admittedly, this is nothing more than an example of someone who plays daily vs someone who plays only when there's a game and there's nothing better to do. So, whatever. Broads. Pfft. Card catching whores.

Anyway, back to the heads-up match between Rachel and I...

I'm down to my last 700 or so at 200/400 blinds. In BB, I'm dealt pocket 2's. Rachel limps and I come over the top, all in (it was only 300 more to me, and rather than risk getting crap the next hand and being all in anyway, I figured now was my best chance). She calls.

She flips over A8c.

Flop comes with no help to her, and my 2's are still good. Only a single club on the flop.

Turn comes 10c. River, Kc.

And that's how it happened. Lost to the nut flush.

I wouldn't say I tilted after the Q's, but, out of nowhere it was like I was playing someone else. I dunno who it was, but, it wasn't Rachel. This person was able to read my (obvious) weakness when that Ace hit, and was willing to put their balls out there with absolutely nothing. She mixed up her play and put the decision on me (as I should have done to her in the first place), and she took down a big pot putting us practically even, and me (okay, fine) on tilt.

She's still got a ways to go in the tournament, having to win every match from here on out to become champion, but, she plays consistantly well, and I think she has a shot if she doesn't let Greg rattle her (he is known for being really annoying at a poker table.) Of course, that's assuming Nick doesn't take him down first. Either way, she's going to play one of them in the last round of the losers bracket.

The finale soon to come!

Posted by wombat at December 10, 2006 02:49 PM