A funny thing happened to me today…
I’ve been playing a lot of heads-up tournaments recently on Victor Chandler. I’ve grown quite fond of them; for one thing they’re quick (which makes them perfect for a sneaky game at work – the only time I can play). For another thing, well, I keep winning.
At least thats the way it started anyway. The first day I played heads-up tournaments (last Thursday I think) I won 5 out of 6. Not a bad start. It wasn’t just the wins either, I was finding it very easy as well, winning a few of the games inside two minutes.
On a roll I played another 6 heads-up tournies the next day and won them all. Now I’m only a small game player and as I was new to heads-up I was playing $10, $15 and $20 games - mostly the latter but if I was waiting a while for someone to join then I sometimes looked elsewhere.
This week the invincible run came to an end. After winning the first three games I played on Monday I finally lost when all-in with pocket nines on a board of 9-5-5. He had AQ, yep that’s right, and hit running queens for a better full house. Nice.
That sent me on a little tilt, I wasn’t playing badly but I still lost three in a row, before making a little comeback and winning three in a row after that. Since then I’ve been winning roughly 2 out of 3, which isn’t bad, but my dreams of playing in the National Heads-Up Championship have temporarily hit a brick wall (called reality).
Anyway, today, as usual, I sat down to a $20 HU game after finishing my morning work. I promptly lost (when he called a pre-flop raise with 8-5 and hit two pair on an 8 high flop. I had pocket nines – again) but was able to play a rematch immediately after. This time I dealt with him quite easily and was looking forward to a decider. One more then back to work.
I sat down at the table and was waiting for a fair while, which I thought was strange as I figured he'd want a decider as well, but he never showed and eventually someone else sat down.
We had a good game. Very good in fact and it lasted much longer than usual - we had reached $100-$200 blinds by the time it finished. I was just about on top for most of it, though it was pretty close. He made a massive comeback from 400 chips to get back to even after winning two consecutive hands with KJ against A4 suited and Q3os against JJ, but I then got back in control before he made his last stand: with AK in the SB I flat called the BB knowing there was an extremely high chance he would raise (he raisd almost every time I flat called from the SB). Sure enough he raised, this time for all his chips. I called and he turned over Q4os. Neither of us got any help till the river, when I hit an ace.
Anyway, here’s the interesting part. When the little box popped up to say “congratulations: you’ve won $x” there was an extra nought on the end. Instead of $40 dollars I’d won $400. Only then did I realise I’d been playing a $200 heads-up game.
Thinking about it afterwards (once I’d got over the initial shock) I realised it was a great example of how much the stakes affect your play. I spent the whole game thinking there was just $20 at stake, and thinking also that my opponent was a typical fairly weak $20 player. Looking back on it it did occur to me at times during the game that this guy was a little better than the usual $20 HU opponent - and the game lasted longer than usual – but on the whole I thought “I’m better than you, it’s a matter of time.”
I’d love to know what would have happened if I’d have realised in the middle of the game that I’d inadvertently joined a $200 tournie. I imagine I would have rapidly changed my opinion of his ability, pegged him as a great player, and, intimidated by the amount at stake, let him outplay me. I’d like to hope not, but I think I’d be kidding myself.
So based on what’s said above here’s an idea for a game that will never happen:
Phil Ivey or any other willing pro puts up a million dollars to play me, or any other willing amateur, for the sum total of $1,000,100. That’s right. I put up $100 to his $1 million. That way the stakes are about even. You see $100 to me is probably about the same as $1 million to Phil Ivey. And there’s plenty to play for. I’m playing to win. Ivey’s playing not to lose.
If that’s a little far fetched then how about you say how much you’d be willing to pay to have a shot at playing Phil Ivey for $1 million in a one off game – ring NL hold’em. If you earn $25K a year (with no or little savings) would you be willing to stake say $15K for the chance to play Ivey for $1 million? You’re getting great odds on your money, but it’s still a lot of money to lose. And what are your chances of beating Ivey. Really…
At least thats the way it started anyway. The first day I played heads-up tournaments (last Thursday I think) I won 5 out of 6. Not a bad start. It wasn’t just the wins either, I was finding it very easy as well, winning a few of the games inside two minutes.
On a roll I played another 6 heads-up tournies the next day and won them all. Now I’m only a small game player and as I was new to heads-up I was playing $10, $15 and $20 games - mostly the latter but if I was waiting a while for someone to join then I sometimes looked elsewhere.
This week the invincible run came to an end. After winning the first three games I played on Monday I finally lost when all-in with pocket nines on a board of 9-5-5. He had AQ, yep that’s right, and hit running queens for a better full house. Nice.
That sent me on a little tilt, I wasn’t playing badly but I still lost three in a row, before making a little comeback and winning three in a row after that. Since then I’ve been winning roughly 2 out of 3, which isn’t bad, but my dreams of playing in the National Heads-Up Championship have temporarily hit a brick wall (called reality).
Anyway, today, as usual, I sat down to a $20 HU game after finishing my morning work. I promptly lost (when he called a pre-flop raise with 8-5 and hit two pair on an 8 high flop. I had pocket nines – again) but was able to play a rematch immediately after. This time I dealt with him quite easily and was looking forward to a decider. One more then back to work.
I sat down at the table and was waiting for a fair while, which I thought was strange as I figured he'd want a decider as well, but he never showed and eventually someone else sat down.
We had a good game. Very good in fact and it lasted much longer than usual - we had reached $100-$200 blinds by the time it finished. I was just about on top for most of it, though it was pretty close. He made a massive comeback from 400 chips to get back to even after winning two consecutive hands with KJ against A4 suited and Q3os against JJ, but I then got back in control before he made his last stand: with AK in the SB I flat called the BB knowing there was an extremely high chance he would raise (he raisd almost every time I flat called from the SB). Sure enough he raised, this time for all his chips. I called and he turned over Q4os. Neither of us got any help till the river, when I hit an ace.
Anyway, here’s the interesting part. When the little box popped up to say “congratulations: you’ve won $x” there was an extra nought on the end. Instead of $40 dollars I’d won $400. Only then did I realise I’d been playing a $200 heads-up game.
Thinking about it afterwards (once I’d got over the initial shock) I realised it was a great example of how much the stakes affect your play. I spent the whole game thinking there was just $20 at stake, and thinking also that my opponent was a typical fairly weak $20 player. Looking back on it it did occur to me at times during the game that this guy was a little better than the usual $20 HU opponent - and the game lasted longer than usual – but on the whole I thought “I’m better than you, it’s a matter of time.”
I’d love to know what would have happened if I’d have realised in the middle of the game that I’d inadvertently joined a $200 tournie. I imagine I would have rapidly changed my opinion of his ability, pegged him as a great player, and, intimidated by the amount at stake, let him outplay me. I’d like to hope not, but I think I’d be kidding myself.
So based on what’s said above here’s an idea for a game that will never happen:
Phil Ivey or any other willing pro puts up a million dollars to play me, or any other willing amateur, for the sum total of $1,000,100. That’s right. I put up $100 to his $1 million. That way the stakes are about even. You see $100 to me is probably about the same as $1 million to Phil Ivey. And there’s plenty to play for. I’m playing to win. Ivey’s playing not to lose.
If that’s a little far fetched then how about you say how much you’d be willing to pay to have a shot at playing Phil Ivey for $1 million in a one off game – ring NL hold’em. If you earn $25K a year (with no or little savings) would you be willing to stake say $15K for the chance to play Ivey for $1 million? You’re getting great odds on your money, but it’s still a lot of money to lose. And what are your chances of beating Ivey. Really…
posted by Mal | 1:56 AM
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