ARAG Merchants - Gutshot Monday
I decided to expand my horizons and take in the £100 40-man tournament at the Gutshot on Monday. A generous 5,000 in chips and 25 minute clock allowed for plenty of play. Having not been to the Farringdon venue for 18 months I was slightly worried that I’d be faced with an army of hoodie and iPod wearing youngsters, calling a ruling every 15 mins.
I was pleasantly surprised however - my table was friendly and had plenty of banter. Perhaps the fact it was dealer-dealt led to less of the usual disagreements. I was also surprised at the standard of play, which was, on average, significantly below the standard of Loose Cannon. There were a few strong players for sure and one tournament is too small a sample, but I think this could be a tournament worth playing on a weekly basis going forward. I have put in some hands below to illustrate this, but bear in mind I saw numerous other incidents of people playing Ace rag for a LOT of chips:
HAND1
Early position limper for 50, guy to my right raise to 225.
I flat call with red Kings. One other caller
Flop Q, J, 4 rainbow
Raiser bets 450, I re-raise to 1500. The other guy in the pot calls. However, he wasn’t happy to do this, because he acted out of turn in calling the 450, and then thought he was obliged to call my re-raise which he wasn’t.
Turn bricks, I push and take the huge early pot down.
HAND2
5 limpers at 100 - I call with KJ spades on the button
Flop J, 10, 7 rainbow
Early position limper bets 400, I re-raise to 1200 to see where I am. (We both have 10k in chips)
First raiser insta-folds AJ face up saying I must have the straight. OK - lets think this one through
- If I had the straight I’d flat call on a rainbow board.
- If I had a big pair I’d raise the limpers out acting on the button
The only hand he can be worried about is J10 or 77 I think. Surprised he didn’t give this more thought.
HAND3
I am on 15k now and cruising after picking up a few more pots by stabbing at the pot with middle pair. First setback arrives. Small stack pushes for 1,500. I look down at JJ. I am worried only about the 6k stack small blind, because the big blind is short as well. I push, as he can only call me with 3 hands and of course he has QQ. Cold decked there - down to 9k.
HAND4
Early position raiser to 700 (blinds 100-200). I ask him how much he has behind (3.5k). I flat call with QQ.
Flop J, 2, 4
He pushes - its a huge overbet. I am concerned, because he knew I was strong pre-flop after my question and still pushed. I call after 2 mins and he shows AJ. I win, and am then accused of slow-rolling. What?? Yep - QQ is always the stone cold nuts on that flop right?
HAND5
I wasn’t in this hand but badly played by 2 players. 7 limpers.
Flop 10h, 7x, 2h. 2400 in the pot perhaps.
First guy bets 3600. Second guy shoves 6k. 3rd guy all-in for 7k. First guy calls 1st guy . 2nd guy . 3rd guy 10s for a set (didn’t raise with 6 limpers - very passive but paid off)
The set holds
HAND6
I am back up to 11k in chips. I raise in early position with black Kings to 1800. Guy in middle position pushes for 9k.
I call and he has A3 offsuit.
Ace on the river of course and I exit soon afterwards.
Sitting on a 9k stack and push it all in with Arag is pretty nonsensical, but I guess you want people to make these plays and you should be up in the long run.
Next: Aiming for more league points on LC Thursday.