3rd in Venetian Deepstack, 1st in Having Great Friends

A few days ago, this was would have been a different blog. In fact, I’d already drafted the first line “Results wise, my summer hasn’t been going well so far.”

Fortunately, things have picked up! I took 3rd in a $600 Venetian Deepstack for $24,111. Adding to the fun, my friend Brian O’Donoghue took second. Of course, we were really hoping to be first and second, but second and third wasn’t too shabby.

I was really happy with my play in that tournament, and those leading up to it. I chipped up steadily, primarily by picking off a lot of bluffs. In one such hand, at 400/800-75, a LAG player raised UTG to 1,650, I flatted in middle position with 99, everyone else folded and the effective stack was about 75k. The flop came 665 with two diamonds. The LAG checks, I bet 2,200, he raises to 5,200, and I call. The turn comes another 6, and goes check/check. The river comes the 7 of clubs. He bets 15,700, I call and he mucks.

I’ve also been steadily increasing my live tells reading skills. In one such hand, there was a limp and a shorty shoved. I was considering a re-shove, but was slightly concerned about the limper’s range, given that I’d yet to see the player limp, the blinds were high, and I was pretty deep with the limper. So I asked for a count of the shover, even though I actually knew what his stack was, just to gauge the limper’s response. Sensing weakness, I reshoved and took down a nice pot.

Interestingly, I didn’t have an all-in flip for my stack during the entire tournament. Most of the tournaments I’ve played so far this summer ended in a spot where flipping was the best play, and it was nice to be able to avoid that. Also, after losing a huge 70/30, I was down to 8 blinds with 15 people left, so coming in 3rd felt even better.

I was really touched by the many friends that railed me, both live and online. There is no feeling in the world that can be matched by having so many kind people wish me well, and having all of the Grindettes (Jamie Kerstetter, Jennifer Shahade, and Katie Stone) there was super special. An extra special shout out to Jamie, who spent her dinner break from the WSOP railing. Thanks so much to everyone, live and online, that sent me congrats and good luck messages—it really makes me feel like I came in 1st! :)