I really liked my pairing with Mario - better to get a tough one under my belt early. While some of the match-ups are what I consider "squash matches", I pegged our match-up as the second toughest in the first round. This is mainly because I consider us both decent players, we have a lot of history and experience with each other, and our styles complement/counteract each other. As much as I hoped to win and wanted an easy match, I wouldn't have wagered on either of us, I really thought it would be a coin-flip. My expectation of the match was that if one of us didn't bring our A-game, the other would win, and if we both brought it, the cards would have a large part in deciding it. Ultimately, this match fulfilled and exceeded anything I expected!
We both hit long stretches of "card dead" and they were always at opposite times. I hit quad K's on the second hand, and earned a blind for it
. The lead kept swinging back and forth, but never more than about 1000 chips. The first big hand of the night came at around the 50 minute mark with the blinds at 50-100. After missing my flush and straight draws, Mario made an amazing river call with middle pair, and took a 3-to-1 chip lead. I was hurting, but we took a break at the end of the level, and I was able to compose myself. I still had 20 BB, so I wasn't dead yet.
I got pretty aggressive after break, and Mario hit another bad stretch of cards. I was able to claw back to around 5000 chips, and then our second big hand came down early in the fifth level (100/200). Very similar to before, I picked off a big river bluff, and I now had Mario on the ropes with a 3-to-1 lead of my own, but he still had 15 BB.
Mario repeated my strategy of going hyper-aggressive, and my bad cards allowed him to claw back to even, when we hit hand #3. Dead even in chips, Mario bet, I raised, Mario re-raised, and I pushed all-in. Mario thought for a little bit and folded, and I was again a 3-to-1 leader.
The fourth big hand went to Mario. Mario pushed his pocket 6's on a flop with 3 spades, and I called with Qs 10c. I knew I was behind, but not by much, since I had the flush draw, a backdoor straight draw, and 2 over's. I missed everything, and my lead evaporates, and I'm only ahead 6500 to 5500.
Mario grinds me down for a bit and gets up to around 7700 to my 4300, then we reverse roles and I take the lead plus a little bit. Our fifth and final hand occurred late halfway through the sixth level (150/300) with me leading about 8000 to 4000. Mario raised 1100 with AJo and I called with K5o. On a K-high flop with 3 clubs, I checked, Mario bet 2200 (leaving 700 back), and I raised him all-in which he obviously called. No A comes, and the match is over.
This was the most intense and enjoyable match I've ever played, and I never knew heads-up could be this much fun (or take this long). We really "played poker", with most flops and many turns seen, but showdowns only occurring about 10-15% of the time. We also raised and re-raised while but didn't really abuse the all-in, with only 4 all-ins during the entire match. Pretty surprising considering we played what we expect will be one of the longest first-round matches, finishing at the 1 hour 52 minute mark!
Mario really didn't "deserve" to lose this one, but I don't think I did either. I think we both played our "career game" tonight, and I won 3 of the 5 "big hands", and thus the match. Congratulations to Mario on a well-played game, and I pity his next opponent! (also thanks to Mark and Dave for hosting and dealing this marathon).
