Japanese Roadworks

My Japanese friend used to often confess his amazement at how the UK road system was constantly riddled with roadworks in the rush hour, bringing the traffic to a standstill. Whilst in England night and weekend work is often deemed too expensive, our oriental brothers commence work at 8pm, and often have it finished by 6am the next morning.

Last night’s £50 freezeout at the Gutshot became trappy quite quickly, and thus favoured Japanese workman tactics. Shovel the chips into the pot at every opportunity, pick up blinds as quickly as possible, and hopefully leave with the job done at the end of the night.

The tournament had plenty of play in the first 3 levels - 5k starting stack and 20 minute blind levels. I played 3 hands in the opening hour before changing into Japanese workman mode.

Hand1
I raise a couple of limpers to 500 with 88, and the BB shoves for 3k. I pass and he shows Aces.

Hand2
I limp on the button with A4 and take the pot down on the turn when no-one shows interest.

Hand3
I limp in with J9 and see a Jack high flop. However I have to let the hand go without betting, after heavy action before me - winner has a set.

As you can see - not much to get excited about in the first hour - no premium hands and my stack is down to 3.6k. Blinds are 200-400 next so it’s time to get busy.

It’s clear this is going to turn into a crapshoot so I go into uber aggressive mode.

Hand4
I shove with 78 offsuit and the big blind scratches his chin and says “I put you on Jacks” and folds. I tell him he has made a good read, but I wonder how long it will take for me to totally trash my rock solid table image.

Hand5
3 hands later I shove an unopened pot with 5♦7♦ and someone comments that I am getting a good run of cards. Up to 4.5k.

Hand6
There is a shove and a call in front of me, and I look down at my one premium hand of the night A♥K♥. I call and win against JJ and A5 and triple up to 13k. The Japanese roadworks are progressing well.

Hand7
I raise to 2k with A7 and get shoved on for 7k total. I pass. Down to 10k.

25 players remain from the 40 - blinds are 400-800 and my stack, which is about average, only has about 12 big blinds in it. I decide to change gears up to maniac agresssive.

Hand8
Button raises on my big blind to 2k and I shove for 12k total with Q♥9♥. He surprisingly snap calls with 88 (I guess this is evidence of my table image being now shot) and he wins. He only has 8k total though so I am left with 4k.

Hand9
I am UTG and shove with Q10 and get called in mid position by 77 - I win the race and bust him to move up to 7k.

Hand10
One orbit later I shove in mid position with 82offsuit and get called by short stacked AQ and big stack AK. AQ wins, but a 2 on the flop gives me the side pot. Not wanting a repeat of the Empire side pot debacle, I start fiddling with the pot,which earns me a rebuke from the tournament director. Side pot is calculated successfully and I am left on 6k.

15 players left - 6 get paid.

Hand11
Folded to me in mid position and I shovel the chips in with 9Tsuited. Big blind umms and arrs and eventually calls with KQ to bust me and I am out. 2 bounties won, which I tip to the dealers.

Much chip shovelling, and pretty good fun.

I also registered for the Gutshot Festival Main Event last night, which takes place at the end of August. With a 20k starting stack and 90 minute clock, I would like the think that the Japanese shovel will stay firmly in the work tent for that one.