March Tourney Madness!

Actually this tournament madness is probably not what everyone thinks it is. Yes it is March Madness time with lots of college basketball, but over at Bay101 when the word tournament is mentioned 90% of the time (ok thats a bit of an overestimation but whatevers) its about the upcoming WPT Shooting Stars Event this Monday (3/16).

The tournament is called Shooting Stars because many "famous poker celebs" are playing and are receiving what is called a bounty dubbing them a shooting star. If you happen to knock out a shooting star you get their bounty which I believe is worth either $5,000 or $10,000. The buy-in for the tournament is $10,000.

I figure #s about how good/bad I've been running are pointless, so I'll just say I feel I've been playing fairly well the past couple sessions. Here's an awesome hand where my opponent goes on tilt for a little after this hand, and for the oddest reason.

Oh and I've been getting pretty lucky
Villain limps UTG, I raise 55 from the CO, everyone else folds he calls.

flop: Jc6c2h
he checks, I bet, he calls
turn: Ts
he checks, I bet, he calls
river: 3h
he checks, I check

He then proceeds to stand up and almost yell, "BUT YOU NEVER CHECK THE RIVER! HOW COME YOU DIDN'T BET?!?!?!" and then he tables 33.

I am awesome.

Been great lately having a familiar face both at my games and to talk to about poker. He's a friend from highschool who has had much greater success than I have had when it comes to poker. I'd also say he probably has a greater edge than I do at the 20/40 game, but who knows. For the most part a large portion of poker strategy discussion I get is from people that I've met online through a poker forum and on AIM or what not. So its nice to be discussing hands with someone I regard to have good knowledge of the game as well as someone I know outside of the online world.

-Dan Low