The 40 guns
was a rather novelty name for an innovative tournament run in Tramore last
week. €1,000 buy in, limited to 40 players and run over one day. I liked the
idea a lot and loved the fact it was on my doorstep. The only drawback for me
was a clash with the Masters that I was prepared to sacrifice for such a good
tournament.
The field
was a mix of players from the region and a few shrewdies who had travelled to
the event. There had been many satellites run in Clonmel, Waterford,
Dungarvan so for a lot of the field it was a buy in outside their usual range.
Looking at
the four starting tables I’d say I got the short straw but ran well in the seat
draw, having direct position on Padraig O Neill and Liam O Donoghue.
With 30,000
starting stack and 45 minute clock there was heaps of play and I did my usual
party piece of spewing half my starting stack over the first two levels. Having
knuckled down I picked up a few hands and played a few pots well to be among
the chip leaders after level four on 60,000.
After a
very nice three-course dinner, it became obvious from the low attrition rate
that this was going to be a long grind. First place was €16,000 and ultimate
pain was guaranteed for one player with the bubble being €4,000 for fourth.
My VPIP
definitely dropped a chunk when the full Masters coverage started on TV. I have
UPC at home so was grateful to Chris Dowling for his iPhone with skygo and it
wasn’t even tactical generosity as he was on another table.
The game
had become very slow and the blinds definitely caught up with the structure
with 20 BB average and two tables left. I lost a big race 77 v AK with 12
remaining for which would have given me 16% of total chips. I shoved a lot to
get those chips back and had a little under average when the final table
started. The table draw ran against me this time with a decent stacked Padraig
and big-stacked Liam now having direct position on me.
I had a
clear strategy in my head at this stage. With such a big bubble under no
circumstances be short stacked playing it.
Basically, take a punt if possible to get chips. For the first two
rounds of the FT I had no spot and we lost two players.
The first
time it was folded to me on the cut off I had 12 BB’s and the blinds were going
up in a couple on minutes. I felt it was an ATC shove as the BB seemed tight
and was shorter then me. Liam woke up with a hand and I was lucky to be in a
40/60 but not lucky enough to win it.
Well done
to Liam on the victory and commiseration to Padraig who was the unfortunate 5th.
The Masters
didn’t go great, I got a few quid out of Westwood top Englishman which would of
covered my pre tournament bets. I had kind of avoided Tiger pre tournament but when he
stiffed his drop on the 15th on day two after unfortunately hitting
the flag and water the previous shot; I decided this was a ‘pivotal’ moment and
ploughed in. How right I was!
