Starting off the day, I drew a great table. I only recognized two or three people. More importantly, I drew a fantastic spot at the table. As the game got underway, I realized I had tight players to my left and loose ones to my right. I was sitting pretty.

 

Throughout the day, I played a few hands but never really doubled up. Although I heard I was the chip leader for five minutes or so, I never played a monster pot. I just gradually built a stack. Here are some of the more interesting hands:

 

Blinds 100/200:

It folded around to the hijack (one from the cutoff) who made it $600. The cutoff called and the small blind made it $2,600. I decided to fold A, K in the big blind. Most people probably wouldn’t have done this but I didn’t want to call and play A,K against two other players. I also didn’t want to reraise and put a ton of chips in without a made hand. There are definitely times when you have to gamble (like at a WPT final table crapshoot) but early on in the tournament, it didn’t feel right. These guys didn’t look to be that great so I decided to pick a different spot.

 

I did pick up $10,000 with a few value bets but there really wasn’t much to report.

 

Blinds 100/200 with a 25 ante:

 

 

A little later, under the gun made it $750. Second position and the button called and I called with A, Q. The flop was a gorgeous Q, Q, 7 rainbow. It checked around and the button made it $3,500. I called and everyone else folded. The turn brought a nine of clubs, the second club. I bet $4,000 and he quickly called. The river was a disgusting jack of clubs. I checked and he bet $5k, which I immediately called. He showed the Ace high flush. Even though this pot was truly disgusting, I think he played it well. This brought me back to $70k.

 

Blinds 200/400 with a 50 ante:

 

Middle position limped. I raised to $1,500 with K, J in the cutoff. The small blind & the limper called. Flop came J, 7, 4 rainbow. Check Check. I bet $3,500. The small blind made it $7k. Fold. I called. The turn was a 10. Check check. River was a 9. He went all in for $34k and I called. He had Q, J and the table couldn’t believe that I had called.

 

If he had bet the turn I would have gone all-in. Honestly I thought he had nothing. The reason I called him is because I thought that he thought that I had what I had and he figured there was no way I could call. His move would have worked against many players but my reads were dead on today so I made the call. DNFWK!

 

Later on, I raised in middle position to $1,200 with A, 9. The button called and everyone else folded. The flop came 6, 6, 3. I bet $1,500 and he called. The turn was a K. I bet $3,000 and he called. At this point I had him on a pocket pair. When the river brought a deuce, I bet $6k and he folded.

Current stack: $127,000.

 

Blinds 300/600 with a 75 ante:

 

I didn’t play a single pot this whole level. Truly not one. I never really saw a hand, which was pretty unfortunate because someone who had just been moved to my table was in the following hand:

 

 

The whole day went really well for me. There were a few hands that didn’t go my way but my reads were 100% accurate. When I thought I had the best hand, I had it. When I didn’t, I knew it and acted accordingly. After paying the blinds for an entire level, I ended the day with $116,700.