Airball

After playing so well in the first two events I entered here in Barcelona, I think I was a little to cocky going into the 1,000 euro NL event that we played last night. We started with 5,000 chips and my table was very tight so I was playing a lot of pots and winning most of the smaller ones that nobody wanted early. I quickly built my stack up to 6,000 when I think I made a play that was an unnecessary risk at the time. It was right at the end of the first level and a very good young Swedish player made in 260 (big blind 40) after five of us limped. I was in late position with A3 off suit and when the first 3 limpers called I decided to also take the flop and try to hit a big hand. My first mistake was probably playing such a weak hand, you really cannot flop a very powerful hand with A3 unless it comes 245, of 33X, or maybe A3X but that is even very susceptible. So we all take the flop and there is about 1,300 chips in the pot and it comes QJ8 all clubs. I have the Ace of cubs for the nut flush draw and check it when it comes to me. It checks around to Little Molly (the Swedish raiser) and he bets 1,200 into the pot. That's when I make my second mistake by not realizing the strength of this bet. He bet about 1/4 of his remaining chips into the pot and is much less likely to fold now then if he had bet smaller. The action folds around to me and I think for a minute then raise it to 5,000. There was my third mistake because making a play like that tells him that I can only have a couple different hands: 1) the nut flush draw with the Ace of clubs (most likely), or 2) a already made lower flush (like 7 high or something. Molly really doesn't think that long before sticking his stack in the middle and flipping over 9 10 of diamonds for the nut straight. I still have 9 outs in the deck but the 2 of spades hits the turn and the 2 of hearts on the river means that I am crippled and down to under 1,000 chips. This "semi-bluff" would be an okay play under slightly different circumstances but given all the information I had it was not the right play at this time. I failed to successfully evaluate the situation and paid the price. Another lesson that I pick up at a costly price.

Shannon played well but bubbled in 22nd place and didn't get paid. He flys out today and Adam and I have to find a different hotel because this one is sold out for tonight. There is satellite tournament tonight to the 2,000 euro buy in tomorrow and we will probably play in that at 6:00. Spain is still awesome.