Accused of LIVE Collusion

Background: The Deutsche Pokermeisterschaften take place in November. The tournament costs €800. Tonight, the Spielbank Berlin offered single table satellites into the main event. Each satellite cost €100 per person. 10 people per table make a €1000 prize pool. The winner gets the seat and 2nd place gets the remaining €200.

First qualifier: I met Rainer at the casino at 19:00. Shortly afterwards we were joined by a journalist who is doing a story on Rainer, as well as Rainer's good friend Dieter. A few minutes later, Bada (from the Poker-Tester forum) also stopped by with his girlfriend. We just had some friendly chit chat and talked about poker in general.

At 20:00 the first satellite started. Each player began with 1500 chips and blinds at 10/20. That sounds nice, and it is nice, until the blinds are raised to 20/40, 40/80, 100/200, 200/400, 400/800, and 800/1600 every 15 minutes. Obviously, that is a killer structure, so obviously playing too tight does not come into question. I lost 300 chips early on when my TT was no good against two players each holding AK. Shortly afterwards, I flopped a set with 99 and won around 1k chips back.

The players started dropping like flies and it wasn't long before we found ourselves 4-handed. The blinds were already 200/400 and I had just over 2k in chips. I had to get moving quick. I began a series of All-ins each time the action was folded to me. Some of the hands were A5o, KJ, AA, and QQ. Every time, I won the blinds. I opted to show the QQ in order to at least have some respect for future all-ins, which were basically forced upon me by the now 400/800 blind level. I had over 4k and looked down at 88. I pushed again, only to be called by the SB with A6s. Someone ordered an ace on the flop and it arrived immediately. I was left with less than 2 BBs, which I lost the very next hand to KK.

Second qualifier: Meanwhile, Olli had also arrived and decided to play the second qualifier with us. Also at the table with us was an older fellow whom I have played with a couple times in the €5/10 PL Hold'em game. We'll call this fellow Harry (I don't know his real name). Harry lost midway in the tournament when his K2o was no good against KJs.

I was dealt almost exclusively garbage and was shortstacked most of the way, but we were shorthanded after around an hour of play. This is where things get interesting:

Blinds 400/800. 4 players left at the table: myself (1800 in chips), Rainer (a lot of chips), Olli (also a lot of chips), and Tommy Hilfiger (2k). Tommy Hilfiger (I only call him that because that was the shirt he was wearing) moves all-in UTG for his 2k. I fold my rags, so does Rainer, and action is on Olli. He needs to pay 1200 more to call. By this time, Harry had consumed a few glasses of red wine. He had no chips, but was still sitting in his tournament chair.

Back to the story: Olli thinks for a couple minutes and all of a sudden Harry blurts out some jibberish to me. I asked him to repeat what he said, and then he claimed that he saw me and Olli signalling to each other. I asked him what the hell he thinks he saw, and he just responds, "Ich sehe alles (I see everything)." So he calls over the floorman and claims that he knows exactly what's going on, that we're playing dirty, etc. etc. etc. By this time I was getting really pissed, the same goes for Olli and Rainer. Rainer requested that this drunken bastard be taken away from the table, but since he is a casino regular, they treat him with special rules.

He continued to ramble on, and by this time, we were all going off on him. He said that I should come there on Sunday and "Dann gibts auf die Fresse! (Get it in the face)" Little did he know, if he didn't shut up quickly, he would be getting some fists in his face at that tournament table. Finally he left, and if I ever see the drunken bastard at the table again, I'll be sure to gun for him. Being drunk is no excuse for acting like a complete ass, especially accusing us of cheating in public like that. Good thing the floorman was watching the game and clearly saw we were playing straight-up. I have said it in the past and I'll say it again: I do not cheat. I have no need to cheat. I never will cheat. If you're jealous, or pissed, or mad that you shove all in with K2o and lose, don't take it out on me! Moving on...

Olli eventually called and lost the pot to Mr. Hilfiger. A few hands later, blinds 800/1600, I have 4k and Tommy Hilfiger has 3600. I am in BB (which takes a good portion of my stack), he is in SB and shoves all-in on me. I need to call 2k more to win 7200, and I look down at K6s. Easy call. He has T5o, and obviously makes his T on the turn, basically knocking me out of the tournament. Bummer!

The next qualifiers are on September 1st and 2nd, I definitely plan on playing them!