Today's Shootout

Yesterdays six handed event went bad early for me. I had two pairs, sixes and fives, no big aces and every time I raised with position I was re-raised or called. I never hit a flop and was unable to win a single pot. I did survive through three levels, but it was miserable. I then went and played some one table 1k satellites. I played two and chopped both which was at least something. Even in the satellites I never got a big pair, and never had better than one pair on the river. No straights, flushes or sets. This is not a good time to go card dead. In general I don't need great cards to win, but it sure doesn't hurt to look down at AA once in a while. It is amazing to me how often it seems that some players keep getting big hands. Okay I'll stop whining.

I am looking forward to today's 5k shootout. It is just like a single table satellite to start with and then becomes a regular tournament with the remaining players. I play a lot of these both live and online and feel single table satellites are one of my strengths. I start out relatively tight and wait for players to make mistakes. The shootout format also forces you to adjust your game as the table becomes short. The fact that your table doesn't break and you must defeat all the players at your table presents a good challenge. This should be a tough field but perhaps today will be my break through day.

For more information on Roy Winston, you can visit his website: www.oraclepoker.net or send him an email: [email protected]