Running with Spades

Reviewing the Path to the Top

Published on 2008-12-27 01:19:00

Current Bankroll: $2 - 133K Play ChipsJust going over the rules again to determine exactly where the changes in buy-ins take place in regards to bankroll.The goal is to hit 2M play chips so I can start buying into the 500K $40 Play Chip daily freeroll.Rule #2 states: "Only buy-in to cash games for 1/5th or less of my total bankroll (buy-in is 100 times BB), and tournaments for %5 or less." This means I am stuck in the 2k tournaments until I hit 200k play chips and can start buying into the 10k t

Back in Action

Published on 2008-12-27 00:36:00

Current Bankroll: $2 - 155K Play ChipsI'm back in action at the play chip tables after nearly a year off for personal reasons. Just basically trying to get back in the swing of things in the 2K play chip tourneys. I actually picked up $2 in one of the 2700 player freerolls some time during the summer, but have driven my play chip bankroll dangerously low with some occasional unfocused play so it's probably going to be a little while until I build my play chip bankroll back up high enough to star

Another Quick Defeat

Published on 2008-01-05 06:26:00

Current Bankroll: $0 - 300K Play ChipsFor low buy-in tournaments Full Tilt only has two options. Either the $2 + $0.25 180-Player multi-table tournaments or the nightly $1 Chris Ferguson Tournament. The latter sounds like the logical choice for someone trying to build up a small bankroll with the least amount of risk, but I decided to take a shot at the $2 tourney instead because I would be able to play 4 of them back-to-back as opposed to having to wait an entire day between tournaments with th

Game Recap - Full Tilt US Freeroll

Published on 2008-01-03 21:07:00

Current Bankroll: $9 - 300k Play ChipsWoot! First multi-table freeroll cash-out ever! Definitely a well-played tournament, and that is what counts most of all.The first hour was a bit tough as I missed every single flop when I had a good starting hand and despite making a bit back here and there on small bluffs I was soon missing a third of my starting stack and at the 10BB limit. Finally ATs more than doubled me up when I flopped a straight. Then some pocket queens and a set of 9s later and I

A Quick Bust

Published on 2007-12-29 01:00:00

Current Bankroll: $0 - 600K Play ChipsTook another shot at "The Ferguson" $1 tourney on Full Tilt tonight, but busted out quite quickly. Folded almost every hand for the first half hour until I finally picked up queens in late position. One raiser in front and it folded around to me so naturally I reraised it. It folded back around to the original raiser who raised me up again so I pushed over the top all-in. These are the kind of hands you wait for in these over-aggressive low-buy-in tourneys a

Game Recap - The Ferguson $1 Tournament

Published on 2007-12-28 01:05:00

Started off with some ups and downs as the donks made for some crazy play early on, but I managed to survive it and settle in for some decent poker after about half the field was out and I was back at about my starting stack with the blinds only doubled.50 minutes into the game sitting at 239 of 572 after I picked up a nice double-up plus some with AKo on the button when a guy in front of me pushed all-in and I got another caller after I came over the top all-in. Don't like this all-in poker, bu

A Long Month

Published on 2007-12-28 00:43:00

Current Bankroll: $2 - 600K Play ChipsIt's been a very long month with finals at school and then preparing for the holidays. I'm just now hitting the tables for the first time in almost 4 weeks, and it feels like it's been forever. I just fired up a $1 "Chris Ferguson" tournament at Full Tilt Poker but sitting down a bit already at 723 of 834. 1357 started and top 216 cash so we'll see if I can hang on.Hopefully I'll have plenty of time for poker now that winter break has started and Christmas i

I Got Hammered!

Published on 2007-12-02 16:41:00

Wow, I was just playing in one of Full Tilt's $100 Freerolls and had worked my way into the top 300, sitting at just over 20xBB when I looked down at QJo in late position and one limper in front of me. Blinds were 200/400 with a 50 chip ante so I raised it up to 2000. One caller.Flop comes down 257 rainbow and he checks to me. I figure there is no way he hit that flop after calling a 2000 chip raise preflop so I raise the pot nearly putting myself all-in. He immediately comes over the top forcin

Game Recap - Full Tilt $1 Turbo MTT

Published on 2007-12-01 16:01:00

I took another shot at the $1 Turbo MTT over at Full Tilt tonight, this time with 998 entrants and cash going to the top 90 finishers.Plan was to start out a bit slower than last night and really wait for some good hands to push. Even though it's a turbo tourney and you have to take some chances, I wanted to see if I could wait a bit longer than I did last night to start risking things.5PM - 998 Players, first hand. Called the first hand with A8s, but folded to a raise pre-flop. I think I'll hav

Game Recap - Full Tilt $1 Turbo MTT

Published on 2007-11-30 16:13:00

Current Bankroll: $1 - 600K Play ChipsI played a $1 Turbo MTT (868 players, top 81 cash) over at Full Tilt tonight. Couldn't catch a hand and busted out pretty quickly in 560th. Here's a recap of the game if anyone's interested. Comments would be greatly appreciated.A few hands in, ATo on the button, 1 limper so I raise it up to 3xBB, 1 caller. Board comes down 882 rainbow, and we both check it. Ten on the turn sets me up nicely and he checks it to me so I raise 400 (pot size). He comes over the