Subject: WSOP Trip Report
From: jmlwonder@home.com (Kid Wonder)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker
Date: Fri, May 24, 2002 6:11 PM
Message-ID: <931d742e.0205241711.777c480c@posting.google.com>

I would like to first and foremost thank everyone for the tremendous
support that I received in making the money in this event.  After
playing in the event seemed like it would be a dream, and then to make
the money was a tremendous feeling.  Two weeks ago I would have said
there would be no way my first WSOP event would be the championship,
but after winning a tournament at Gila River I decided to go up to
Vegas and take my shot.  I entered the crapshoot super satellite, and
with no rebuys won my seat.

Day 1:
I went into the WSOP knowing that the most important part of this
tournament is not in getting a chip lead, but hanging around.  A
crucial hand that I had was 88 on the button as I called a raise, 2
1/2 times the big blind, and flopped a set.  After Day 1 I was at
19,700 in chips, average.

Day 2:
This day is still kind of blurry.  The great benefit, I never was in a
position were I could be knocked out of the tournament by getting a
call with all my chips in the pot.  Until I was down to about 16,000
in chips and I picked up JJ in the small blind.  A raise was made
about 3 times the blind, and I went all in and got called for the
first time by 77.  I doubled up on this hand.

Day 3:
Started the day a bit below average at 31,100 in chips.  I increased
my stack size marginally after every round.  Then in the 2nd to last
round of the day while we're getting into the money I pick up KK
against an excellent player, blinds I believer were 1000-2000 I had
approximately 40,000 in chips I made a raise to 5500 and got called by
the big blind.  Flop came KJ3, giving me a set to which the blind
checked.  Against just about anyone else I would have checked, but the
correct move was in betting 5500.  The BB then raised me 14,000 to
which I went all in having the BB covered by about 10,000.  The BB
stated he made a mistake and was now pot committed turning over QT,
not exactly the hand I was hoping he would turn over, but it comes out
QT on the turn and river so I move my stack up to 100,000.

After I lose some blinds and antes I pick up AKs and over play them by
betting a 39T flop to the big blind by betting 8,000 only to have to
fold when he bets the J on the turn.

Hand of the tournament come up in the last round of the day with about
an 1 1/2 left to play I pick up KK.  Greg Hopkins, an excellent
tournament player I played against before in CA is to my right blinds
are 1500-3000 with a 500 ante.  I have 67,000 in chips he has 120,000
he raises 11,000 to which I push in my entire stack.  Everybody folds
except Greg who calls immediately with AK.  No ace comes and I an huge
in chips with 140,000.  Then later in the BB I pick up QK to which we
have one smooth call and Greg calls as well.  I consider raising, but
then think that this is a good time to hit a Q or K and get action. 
Flop comes out Q84 to which Greg checks, and I bet 10,000 thinking
that they would believe me to be betting the 8.  Early limper folds,
and Greg goes all in for about 45,000 I call.  He turns over Q3, and
with no help on the turn or river I knock out an excellent player.  We
make it into the money!

Day 4:
I have 218,000 in chips starting the day putting me in 9th position. 
I am chip leader at the table, and let myself down.  I made strong
moves, but the fact still remained I didn't even need to get involved
in hands at that point.  Hand of my tournaemnt.  I pick up QK in
middle position and make a bet of 12,000 to which I get a call behind
me from Ron Bartman who played great.  I felt I had a good read on him
since we played the day before at the same table.  Flop come out Q83
to which I check and he bets 12,000.  I immediately push all in going
for the roughly 50,000 pot.  He thinks about it for a while, and then
makes a great call with KK.  I say this as a great call, because since
he did not raise before the flop I could have had any number of hands.
 I also felt the only hand he would call me with is AA.  Yes, I agree
I should have laid the hand down, but I really thought he would lay
down the hand, and everyone would be saying what a play I made.  He
did not and I am down to 64,000 in chips.  One thing that I should
have done differently is if I put him on JJ like I was thinking, then
I should have just doubled his bet, and he would have had to lay down
JJ if he had it.  Problem is I have never been in a situation in a no
limit tournament where you had 100 times the big blind in chips.  So
the story concludes when I pick up Q7 off in the SB everyone folds so
I call to see a flop with that much in antes in the pot.  Flop comes
KQ8 to which I move all in again with Ron Barton who calls and turns
over K5.

Would I have done things differently looking back now, of course.  It
was a hell of a ride though, I know I did not deserve to win it this
year, and my play was worth the $20,000 that I picked up, but everyone
I will be hanging in there again sometime soon.  Hope to see everyone
in a tournament in the future, and good luck to all.  Thank you again
for all of the support I truly appreciated the comaraderie.