Spielbank Berlin Tournament

32 players showed up to play the €400 + rebuys tournament at the Spielbank Berlin. It was a two-day event, but as fate would have it, I did not even make it to Day 2.

I was originally drawn to Table #4, but since the tables were unevenly balanced, I was relocated to Table #3. My table certainly had some interesting characters. Two players opted for the fully reflective sunglasses (interesting) but I really couldn't take either of them seriously. The play was up to par with online play at Bossmedia, meaning ridiculously poor. I knew that if I could catch some lucky breaks, this could definitely turn into something nice. Onto the game:

Starting chips: 4000
Blinds: 20/40

1st hand of the tournament I am dealt AK in MP. One limper in front of me, I raise to 200, everyone folds.

Approximately two orbits later I am dealt QQ in MP. The blinds have been doubled to 40/80 by this point. Two limpers in front of me, I raise it to 420. One of the limpers calls and we see a flop of K J 9. He immediately leads out for 200. This is one of the reflective glasses wearers who had been seeing a lot of flops. I did not regard him as a great player is what I am trying to say. Anyway, I raised to 600 in hopes to get some information on where I stand in the hand. He calls without hesitation. The turn comes down and it is a 6. He bets out 1k and after a few moments of thought I lay my queens down.

Fast forward two orbits later, blinds are now at 100/200. My stack is not in very healthy shape at only 2300 chips. I am in the BB and am dealt AJo. Both glasses wearers (we'll call them Phil Ivey I and II) limp, as they have been doing quite often. Since I still had two rebuys I could make, I opt to just push my chips in right off the bat. Phil Ivey I goes into Hollywood Mode and thinks for about a minute before calling me with none other than AA. He gets all giggly and happy go lucky as he rakes in the pot, I wanted to wipe that smile off his face so bad.

I rebought 2k chips for €200 and was small stacked again for a few minutes before the 30 minute break. The buffet during break was very tasty, I must say. I used my final rebuy and got 3k chips for another €200 (you got 3k chips instead of 2k if you rebought after the break) and so my stack was 4400 when play resumed.

The blinds were already at 200/400 now. The structure was much too fast, all players agreed on that. Spielbank Berlin is still learning how to run tournaments, so I got to give them credit for at least trying to put something playable together.

The blinds hit 300/600 and I had yet to play a hand after break. My stack was right around 3400 when the I posted the big blind. It was folded around to Phil Ivey I (happy go lucky no more), who had donked off all his chips in several hands. He went all in for 1800 something and I looked down at A2o. I had to pay 1200 to win 2700 against this guy, who had already pushed with 56o, 53o, and K7o. In my mind it was a clear call for me. To make a long story short, he had A5 and it was all looking like a chop. The flop came 366. The only cards that would not not split the hand were a 4 or 5. Of course the 4 came on the turn, the river was a K and he scooped the pot.

Now I was crippled but doubled up when my A3o met Phil Ivey I's QTo. Still shortstacked, I was on the button with K7s and 2800 in chips. Everyone folded to me and I pushed all in, only to get called with 99 from the SB. I failed to improve and was left with only 500 chips.

Ding ding ding! Blinds go up to 500/1k! I wait for the BB to hit me before declaring "ALLLLL IN," which got a few chuckles from around the table. I didn't look at my cards until it was time for showdown. Everyone folded so the SB was automatically in the pot with me. He showed J4o. I flipped my first card: A! My second card: K! AK baby! The flop comes down 4Q5, not exactly what I was looking for. Luckily an ace came on the turn! But wait, one more card! Just no Jack or Four, please! River: J! You gotta be kidding me. Oh well.

While talking to the Poker Manager after the tournament, I found out that the Deutsche Meisterschaften are being held in Berlin this year. Last year they were in Schenefeld. I would find a link but I'm too tired. Anyway, I begged him to add some new blind levels, he said they will definitely look into it. The Meisterschaften are in November and they are planning on having 10 full tables. I can't wait!