**** Culmination of a Lifelong Dream: TJ’s First Main Event! ****

Looks like 165 at first break; Dufner up to 208 from 56

First break, on 190k.

Still feeling this table out, haven’t played any big pots. I have yet to make or face a bet involving a 25k green chip.

Table is very tight, and very aggro. If there’s a raise and a call, the next player is honor-bound to put in a big squeeze.

The most interesting hand I played was the first one I played. I open KcJc from the hijack to 5.5k, big blind calls. It comes J-6-3 all hearts, I continue to 6k, he calls. Turn is an offsuit 8, he checks again.

It’s here I think his most likely holding is some kind of pair, possibly with or without a heart, and he thinks one or the other might be good. If that’s the case, I think I need to charge for draws, so I size up a bit, to 14k. He calls again.

River is the ace of diamonds, which is a pretty terrible card for my hand. He checks, I quickly check back, and he shows Th7h, for a flopped flush that he checked three times OOP. Interesting.

I open QQ, c-bet the A-high flop, then check back twice a raggedy undercard runout, and I’m good.

Other than that, been missing and not going to showdown. I open 44, get two callers, and make a questionable decision to cbet a Q-3-3 flop. I get floated by one, and checkraised by the other, so I release.

And I’ve spent the rest of my time opening, and folding to 3bets.

So that’s how it’s going.

Still above average. No need to force anything. Focusing on observations, processing, and looking for good spots.

Sure does. My first Day 2 table in the Big Fifty had a bracelet winner and a couple-three multiple Circuit ring winners.

A wild cuserounder appears!

Cuse,

Do you still play poker or have you retired after making several million?

Always your fan,

AiMcLovin

Still grinding it out, no millions to speak of yet. Mostly playing T/20 or T/25 these days. Barely on 2p2 nowadays, but maybe I'll update my thread sometime - I keep meaning to do that. Hope you're doing well!

Second break, it was a good level for me. I have 285k, average is about 245k.

I patiently waited for and then identified a good spot. It’s funny, the hand itself was very straightforward, with no close decisions. I made a set of queens, and bet/bet/shoved the A-Q-5-9-J runout. He folded river.

There was one other very interesting hand, that I thought I played very well. I’d been playing tight, and open folded at least two buttons with just the blinds left to act. That’s obviously where my range is the widest, but the guy to my left had 3bet me once and squeezed me once, so I wasn’t just going to open rags.

Anyway, folds to me on the button, I open K9o, both blinds call. Flop is J-9-8, and it checks to me.

I think most people default to herp derp I haz pair and I raised preflop, gotta bet, right? But I thought a little longer on it, and decided I have marginal showdown value, with a wet texture, that can’t handle a semi-bluff, or a checkraise. I checked back.

Turn is a 6, SB checks, BB leads out 7.5k. Here I raised for value, to 22k. I love this because I can take a free showdown, barrel if I improve, and wield position. I also have the HARDEST time putting an opponent on a range when they take the line of check back flop, raise turn lead.

Anyway, he folded to the raise.

One minor misstep. A 45k shortstack opens to 6k from hijack, I inexplicably flat 5s4s from button. I should not be playing 5 high against an opponent when SPR is that low… but I guess I was seduced by the sooooooted connector. Blinds fold, flop comes 6-6-5, he checks to me.

I bet 7k, for value, ready to get stacks in with my pair on that flop. He thinks and calls. Turn is a Jack, he checks to me, and I check back. River is a 7, now he shoves, for 33k.

I think on it a minute, and decide that he shouldn’t be checking anything that’s beating me on the flop. I think my turn checkback may have induced spaz with all kinds of whiffed overcards… or, he caught that Jack on the run.

I call, and that’s exactly what he had, with KJo. I think he turns up air often enough for the river call to be profitable. But still, that’s a clear fold preflop.

Still feeling good and generally playing good. Let’s play one more great level, and pull into dinner strong!

go get em

weneedanupdategoddammit!!!!

Let the man focus on playing Wrath!!!!

This!
[from a non-investor]

it's dinner break!

Crazy level for us. Lots of swings. On balance, it didn’t go well for Hero.

We started the level with 285k. I have A8o in the SB. Button opens, I flat, then aggro big blind shoves, for about 90k. My spidey sense was tingling. I really contemplated a call. I think that HE thinks if I’m not strong enough to 3bet myself, I can’t call a shove.

I folded.

Two hands later, a chip leader opens, I flat Jd9d from the CO, trying to take a flop. Then the same guy 3bets, to 28k. And I admit it. I lost focus, and made a suboptimal decision.

I call the 3bet, looking to get aggro on the right flop.

It comes 8-7-6 rainbow, so that qualifies. I open rip, into the 3bettor, with open ended, and two overs. He shrugs and calls, with (of COURSE) AA. I didn’t hit on the runout.

Down to 150k. After call, calling preflop, then spewing in a 3bet pot.

Mad at myself. Then I pick up KK on the button. There’s an open to 8k, I go 26k, he calls. Flop is a less than ideal A-4-4. Stupid ace magnets. He checks.

I don’t want to announce I have a pair but not an ace by checking, so I decide to cbet 22k. Maybe a questionable decision. He thinks a moment, then clicks it back, to 44k. Well, I DEFINITELY don’t like cbetting, if I’m folding to the checkraise. I release. Down to 90k, and my head is spinning a bit.

I don’t have to wait long, just an orbit, UTG opens, the same guy 3bets, and I have the KK again. I move in, one fold, then the 3bettor calls, with AKo, and I hold. Back to about 230k.

Crazy all in carnage, even on hands I’m not involved in. Next, I find QQ from UTG+1, then a tight player 3bets me, with about another 100k behind it. I weigh my options.

I consider flatting pre, and check/shoving good flops. But I don’t want to take the chance on getting a bad flop, and not knowing where I’m at.

So I decide to 4bet shove, and see all 5 cards, because I think he can call with worse.

He snaps with AA, I don’t improve. Back to below 100k.

I sit on dinner break, with an 81k stack, coming back to 3k/5k. We’re about 500 knockouts away from the money.

So I was feeling pretty dejected, as I trudged away for dinner. But Arcdog met me for dinner, and after hearing some hilarious Vegas stories, I’m in a much better mood.

I got Subway again, mostly because it’s fast… but also because I first started my spin yesterday after dinner.

My mind is in the right place. I can play a stack this size. I get to choose how I send it in.

The break came at a needed, fantastic time. I’m reset, and ready to focus.

Let’s find the right spots.

Still enough chips to spin it back up. Stay focused. Stay positive.

start the Rocky music....here we come! Let's go

Yeah Subway is definitely the nut low sandwich shop but TJ seems to like it - while he charged his phone at the Horseshoe I had my best gambling result of the week / in 50 video poker and out 50. Action Pursuit!

“Snap back to reality, Ope! …There goes gravity”

I busted the Main Event, about 450 players from the money.

Folded for an orbit, MP opened, and I have AJs on the button, with just less than 7 bb. I get it in, up against AKo, and I didn’t win.

Not gonna lie, I’m kinda devastated right now. But I’ll be okay.

Once again, I want to sincerely thank everyone who invested.

And I want to thank everyone reading and posting here. All your support means the world to me.

I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts later. But for now, I think I want to sleep on it.

Trite as it sounds, I do think just plunking down the cash and taking your seat in this tournament represents a victory. It may not be THE victory, but it's something every player dreams of. Now you can cross that off the list and take pride in having played THE poker tournament. You didn't just play, either. You outlasted people like Mateos, Moorman, and Shorr today. Consolation prizes may not count for much in this moment, but day 3 of the Main is something most weekend warriors and home game heroes can only dream of, and you lived that reality. That's pretty cool, even if acutely bittersweet.

unlucky mate. you had a good run, you gave it your best and you certainly didn't disgrace yourself. 85% of Main Event runners leave dejected and then 99.99% leave disappointed. so you're in very good company

good on you for having a go...you were playing with house money and you tested yourself on the big stage.

you will be back. well done

Start figuring out now what it will take to play again next year. As a guy that usually figures out WSOP finances in April, I can tell you it's a lot easier if you have more time.

Congrats on a well played event.

Grats on actually playing and getting as far as you did. It sounds like you stayed focused and played well. Day 3 is a major accomplishment and in that format all kinds of crazy and difficult situations are gonna pop up along the way.

Sorry didn’t work out the way you’d hoped, but well done taking your shot! As always thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Great run and thanks for the updates. Take it down next year!

Thanks for taking us along for the ride - sounds like an amazing tournament structure. I see a deep run here in your future!