Hi Poker friends !

I’ve been accepted to play in the World Blogger Championship of Online Poker. So everyday I’m going to report about it , telling you my experiences and results. The WBCOOP holds seven different events, each time another game of poker. You can’t win any cash prizes in the WBCOOP, but you can earn tickets for the SCOOP, Spring Championship of Online Poker. There are some very big cash prizes to win, so I hope that I can win a ticket to play there.

Yesterday was the first event, playing No Limit Hold’em. There were 1740 entrants with a starting stack of 2000, without any Add-ons of Re-buys. The starting blinds were 10/20 and there were various tournament tickets to win for the first 153 players, going from a $11 Entry for number 153 to the biggest ticket for the winner of the first Event, a $1,050 Entry.

I had an early double-up when he got this hand sitting in the Big Blind…

Yes baby, Action Dan strikes again !!!! So the button limped to the blinds and we saw the flop with 3 players and I flop 2 pair. The Small Blind immediately bets out for 2/3 of the pot and I instantly decide to raise big there with two pair, as there were different straight – and flushdraws on the board. Then the Small Blind goes all-in after the button folded and left me with a big decision early on in the tournament. Normaly I have the patience to wait long enough in a tournament for the right moment and playing the small ball poker strategy.

But you have to go when you’re the favourite holding the best hand. I was pretty much sure that he had the lowest two pair (3-6) or a flush/straightdraw and with the power of Action Dan on my side, I decided to gamble and put my stack on the line. I called and saw him turning over the 9-8 suited giving him the gutshot straight flush draw and making me a 59% favourite. The turn was pretty awful for me giving him the flush, it left me with only 9% and 4 outs. But I knew the power of Action Dan and the Ten of Diamonds on the river was so hot, making me the full boat. Nice start !!!

I reached further on the event winning some small pots, but was pretty card dead throughout it. So I was waiting to move all-in when the chance was there and I could double up. Then I flopped top pair sitting in the Big Blind with K-10 on a dangerous board with all diamonds, which I hadn’t. The stackleader at the table called me with the Ace of Diamonds in his hand giving him 12 outs, 9 diamonds and 3 Aces. The turn was a blank but the river was the Ten of Diamonds, again, giving me two pair but him the nut flush. I was out in 235th place, just not into the prizes. I’m pretty sure that I would have made it when I doubled up there, but well there still are other events to come.

The final winner of the first event was ‘Devlsbnkroll ‘ from Casselberry.

See you again tomorrow for Event 2 , PLO or Pot Limit Omaha !!!  I’m really looking forward to that event, hopefully doing it better than the first Event and improving my PLO skills.

Cheers,

J.M. aka Romaric85