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There is something strange happening when the Decatur Poker League goes to David Kates house for a session. Well maybe nothing strange is happening in the eyes of David and his father, Pete, but to the rest of the league, there is something odd going on. In the previous two (2) sessions, Pete and David, have accounted for three (3) out of the four (4) game wins. It seems the Kates run very well on their home turf, but would this trend continue?
The new year's resolution for the DPL is to start every session on time. This continued for session two (2), so players need to get there on time. When the clock started, only one (1) registered player, Aric Lee, had not yet arrived. He did arrive during the 1st blind period. The first game at David's house had 14 players. Early action at the green table had David winning several hands. Play continued with two (2) tables until there were 10 players remaining. When everyone assembled at the final table, Aric Lee and David Kates where the two (2) players with noticable large chips stacks. Aric Lee came to the table with a large chip stack, but went card dead at the final table. Aric pointed out that the league structure is somewhat weighted to those who get cards late, so just building a large stack early is not going to dictate how you finish late. Aric went out in 4th place. The other large chip stack at the start of the final table, David, continue to get good cards and went on to take on Mike Patterson heads up. During the late stages of the 1st game, Mike stayed out of trouble and let others knock each other out even though he was becoming a short stack. When Mike and David started head's up play, David had roughly about 95% of the chips. It didn't take long and David took down Mike in heads up play for the victory. Other than David and Mike, the others in the top 5 were Krystal, Aric, and Pete.
After David's win, it brought the Kates' win total to four (4) out of the 5 games played under the Kates' roof. Anybody want to chaneg there name to Kates before the June session?
The second game had two (2) extra players and thus a total of 16 players. The second game showed me how bad some players want to win on the DPL. During the early stages (2 tables) of the 2nd game, Aric Lee called Krystal Sturgeon's pre-flop raise. After all rounds of betting were complete, Aric showed two pair Kings and Jacks. Krystal blurted out as she showed her pocket Aces. Krystal was warned for her blurt out, but it showed me that even mis-plays drive players crazy because they know that it is not easy to win in this league. When players merged to one (1) table and drew cards for seats, I noticed the stack of Britt Sturgeon. Britt had amassed the largest chip stack ever to go to the final table. The stack was 10 chips high and wrapped around a complere corner of the table. Would it help him go on to when?
I had a medium stack in front of me, but after folding to four (4) diamonds on the board and then finding out, my bottom set would have won because the betting player did not have a diamond, I was lucky to bounch back quickly. On the very next hand I get   , and rasie all in for an additional $17,000. I got two callers, Pete and Krystal. After the flop and turn the board was     , and when Pete bet into the pot, I stood up from the table figuring that Pete had a Jack or 6. After Krystal folded, Pete showed   . When I dodged an Ace, 6, and Jack on the river, I tripled up. That win helped propel me to heads up play against Terry. So to answer the question, Britt's chip stack didn't help him to go onto win, but it was good for 3rd. At the start of heads up play I had a huge chip lead over Terry. That didn't mean anything, because Terry was able to win several hands and take over the chip lead. I was upset at myself for giving up the lead, but Terry was playing a good game as well. After severals hands of heads up play, the stacks were close. Terry limped in, and I looked down at  . The flop came    . I bet the minimum amount and Terry pushed all-in. After thinking for a bit, I made the call and showed my pair of fives. Terry showed  . When Terry was unable to pair his over cards, I won the hand, and had the majority of the chips. Terry was all-in blind and was not able to cover the small blind. The cards were dealt and the board was revealed, the hole cards where flipped over and Terry won. The very next hand, Terry was all-in with enough to exactly cover the big blind and the ante. Again, the cards were dealt the and the board was revealed, the hole cards where flipped over and Terry won. When the next hand was dealt I looked down at  and was not willing to play with the worst hand in poker and double Terry up, yet again. Now Terry was back in the game, and capable of winning again. On the next hand, I looked down at the and then without looking at my 2nd card, I pushed all-in. Terry looked at his hand and called. Terry flipped over  , and I flipped over the I looked at first. Everyone realizing I only looked at one card, wanted to see what I had to go with the , it was the . My Aces held up and I was able to take down Terry in heads up play. Other than myself and Terry, the others in the top 5 were Britt, Keith, and Chad. |
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