Campeonato de España de Poker - 2010 Blog

Read Jose's ECPokerTour Malta November 2009 Blog

Read Jose's Gran Canary Island Spanish Poker Tour November 2009 Blog

Read Jose's Madrid Final of the Series España December 2009 Blog

Read Jose's EPT Berlin March 2010 Blog

Read Jose's Irish Open April 2010 Blog

January 2010

Jose Manuel Gomez Rebenaque reports on his December and January experiences at the Campeonato de España de Poker (Spanish Poker Championship at the Alicante Casino).

Hello to everyone and Happy New Year 2010.

I would like to tell you about how 2009 ended for me and how 2010 has started with regards to poker.

Between December 11th and 13th I went to play the final of the "Championship of Spain" in Casino de Alicante.

Some friends and I arranged to meet that same day, on the 11th, the plan being to watch a capea. A “capea” is a where a young bull or small heifer fight in a small bullring.

Here you can see one of them trying to fight the heifer.

After a meal which we really enjoyed. In this picture you can see me impersonating a colleague hehehe.

The championship began that evening, and despite drinking a little more than I should have, I managed to get through day 2 without problems, but I felt that my performance was a little below average.

On the 2nd day I was seated at a very aggressive table, and again the player on my right was the aggressive Spanish player who knocked me out in Madrid, at the Full Tilt Series. This time it was I who eliminated him with some good reads. From the beginning I played very well, being always above average, until my elimination.

With blinds at 800/1600, I'm UTG and AA. I raised x2, 5 bb and got paid by the worst player at the table, when the others choose to fold. The flop drew KcJh5s, and sure that my opponent would call, I bet ¾ of the pot. He made the call with Ac4c and only a 5% chance of winning. What was he looking for, calling with A4? Straight? Flush? runner-runner?. The norm in this situation is to fold, or perhaps raise to try to test me.

Like I said, this was the worst player at the table, but he still had more chips than me. The Turn brought Qc, and again I bet ¾ of the pot, fearing that he’s chasing a straight or a flush. After a lot of thinking time, I call the clock on him and he subsequently calls. The River was the 8c and I decided that I would call him regardless of whether he made the flush or tried to bluff.

I decide to check, he goes all-in, I pay I lose and I’m out We shake hands, and I tell him that with such luck he’ll win the tournament – which he eventually does! I finish in 28th position.

For the rest of December I dedicated myself to cash-game play on the internet, and spending time with the family.

On January 7 I went to play a tournament in Madrid organized by the same Casino, which occurs on the first Thursday of each month. Luck seemed to be against me, and I was unable to make a good hand all night.

Finally, on Sunday the 10th, I planned to play the Million Guaranteed tournament but was unaware that the start time was brought forward by one hour, so I decided to play the Super Satellite for the Irish Open. 4 places for 135 players and I was one of the 4 to win a package. My family and I will now travel to Dublin over Easter, to see if we have more luck in live tournaments and manage to finish in the money.

A greeting to all. José Manuel

Read Jose's ECPokerTour Malta November 2009 Blog

Read Jose's Gran Canary Island Spanish Poker Tour November 2009 Blog

Read Jose's Madrid Final of the Series España December 2009 Blog

Read Jose's EPT Berlin March 2010 Blog

Read Jose's Irish Open April 2010 Blog