Short Stacking

Wasn't able to get much going in the 1500 today. We started with 3k chips and my high point was just over 4.5k. My first table was a pretty good draw as there were 3 bad players and 2 players who were over playing their hands, especially their draws, but had a good aggressive style working for them.


Our first table broke just before the end of the third level and my new table had 4 big stacks to my left and one short stack to my right. It seemed like the 4 bigger stacks were playing pretty solid poker and the short stack was the tightest of them even after he doubled up once so my position was pretty bad.

I shoved in on the bigger stacks twice after they raised my BB and I looked down to a decent ace and they folded each time allowing me to chip up my stack to my high mark of 4.5k. After about 4 rotations there the following sequence happened.

Raised Ad4d from the CO and got called by the button and check folded on a 789r flop. Next hand I raised AQo from the HJ and got called by the button, small blind, and big blind. The flop came 743r and I wasn't able to make a continuation bet again as it was another horrible flop for my hand and I didn't have the chips to spare so the flop checked around. The turn was an offsuit 2 and the small blind fired out a half pot sized bet, everyone folded and he showed 22 for a turned set. Next hand I picked up AK UTG and fired out the same bet as the last two hands and got a good laugh from the dealer and the table as it was my third hand in a row raising the same amount. It folded to the BB who chipped in a call and we checked a A63r flop since I figured he was way behind and I wanted him to catch up a bit. The turn was a 2 that put 2 spades on the board and the BB check/folded to my bet.

Two hands later UTG raised 4x and I looked down at AKo again and moved allin figuring I was at worst a coinflip and he might even call with AQ, AJ, ATs as this was the third time in the last few rotations I had moved in on him. He called and flipped QQ though and the board bricked out knocking me out toward the end of the 4th level.

Was a little frustrating to not get any hands though. My best hands were JJ twice and AQs once at my first table and I had to fold one of my JJs after getting 3 bet preflop and then missing the flop. Most of my other hands weren't even worth seeing a flop with which was rather frustrating during the early levels. I picked up a few big aces at my second table but most of my other hands were complete rags.

I was happy with my play though considering my complete lack of cards. I made a few moves and used my tighter image well to pick up chips where I could. Back to grinding the cash games again now though for a while. Not sure what my next tournament will be.