I travelled
back to the City West Friday to play the €500 side event. What a contrast from
the previous week, the place was hopping. The Norwegian Masters itself had over
a thousand entries and there must have been nearly double that amount travelled
over from the Scandinavian country.
There were
up to 45 cash tables running at peak times, with games running round the clock.
These guys certainly came to gamble from some of the stories I was hearing,
crazy action by all account.
My table in
the €500 8-handed consisted of seven Norwegians, two decent players; the rest
weren’t up to much. I lost 90% of my chips in the 75-150 level when I hit a set
of two’s on a 932 flop. I check raised heavy into multiple players on the flop,
and put in a chunky bet on the 5 turn to one player.
I hated the
4 on the river and blocker bet 3k. The opponent shoved for 10k, it was now 7k
to win 40k. After deciding this person was capable of spazing in the spot, I
called to be shown pocket sixes. I was at least proved correct on my assumption
on the player later. A guy bet 3k on the river on an AAJ83 board from 7k and
she put him in with air, he had quads.
Anyhow,
that hand in level three left me 3k. I still felt I had a chance to get back
into it; the table was just so good. I ground a micro shortstack for the next
three levels nursing it up to 12k and then won a race, 88 v AJ.
Just as I
hit the dizzy heights of 25k into the last level of the night I got coolered
blind on blind, AQ into AK. Disappointing as I had fought very hard for the
resurrection.
JP deserves
a medal from Failte Ireland for bringing this event to these shores. It was
without doubt the busiest poker festival I have ever seen outside Vegas. The
income statement for March in the City West resort’s books must look very
healthy indeed.
