David Williams' Blog

It has been a while since my last post. I just haven't felt too good about poker. The things I've experienced have been unbelievable. I didn't like how I sounded in this thing, all the whining and complaining. I will tell one hand, only because it's very bizarre. Not looking for sympathy. It pretty much sums up my 2005 WSOP so far.

I decided to play the 10k buy in Pot Limit Omaha tournament. I liked that we started with 10k in chips, and the field would be good players, which I seem to play better against. Out of nowhere, I had 55k by the dinner break. The average at this time was about 13k. There were 1.6M chips in play, so final table average (with 10) would be 160k. I was playing well, and more importantly, catching well. We return from dinner, and after picking up a few pots I am up to 65k and cruising. With the blinds at 75/150, a few people limp, and I check with TsTc4s3c. Nothing special, but it was basically free to see the flop. The flop was T84, with no flush draw. Perfect. The only hand I would maybe worry about would be something like QJ97, a giant wrap draw. Remember, you have to play 2 cards in your hand, and exactly 2. I received a few email questions about the last Omaha hand I described, they all didn't know that. I check, planning on check raising to get the pot very large. Everyone checks and the last guy bets the pot, 900, I think. I raise the pot, to 3600. Now a new guy re-raises the pot to 10800. The guy that opened now thinks and folds, and I move the 3rd bettor all in for about 25k. He grins, calls and announces that he has "top set". I look at my cards as I turn them over, and I still have TT. I am thinking great, an illegal deck, we'll have to cancel this hand. All of a sudden, he looks at my hand, frowns and turns over T996. HE MISREAD HIS HAND!!! I can't believe this; a guy just gave me 25k this early in the tournament. The turn is a 2 and the river is... a 7. He just hit a gutshot straight. As he stacked the chips, he laughed and giggled and talked with his friend. I was pretty upset; a guy just put 25k in the pot with blinds at 75/150 with just a gutshot draw. I was still in great shape after this, with about 40k, but my head and heart just weren't in it anymore. I lasted a few more levels, but just didn't play great and was out late in the day.

Well, that's history and there is nothing I can do about it now. I took a few days off, relaxed and focused on getting ready for the "Big One". I would have to say that I feel pretty good. The past 5 or 6 weeks are behind me, and I am just going to play solid poker. Whatever happens I will accept. After the main event, I am off to Hawaii for the Bodog event. I have never been so excited to go on a long trip. Don't get me wrong, I have been all over the world many times, but I just need a break from poker and Las Vegas. Don't misinterpret this though, I am going to play my heart out, and I have never wanted anything more in my life than a victory in this event. I plan on updating this each night after I finish, so stay tuned. I am going to bed now, it's getting late, and I want to make sure I am rested and sharp.