{"id":188,"date":"2011-03-23T18:03:28","date_gmt":"2011-03-24T01:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/?p=188"},"modified":"2011-03-23T23:06:18","modified_gmt":"2011-03-24T06:06:18","slug":"id-like-to-thank-the-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/?p=188","title":{"rendered":"I&#8217;d Like to Thank the Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a name=\"kosng-188\"><\/a><strong>Full Tilt 90-Player Turbo KO Sit &amp; Go (3,000 chips)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>D and I were talking after the last tournament about playing on Full Tilt and he mentioned that he&#8217;s been working on some of their Academy challenges, and that doing so sort of puts you out of your comfort zone, which could be good or bad, depending on how it goes. He wanted the little hat that apparently goes on your badge at the table, too. I went to the Full Tilt Academy and looked for a Challenge for myself, finding &#8220;Tournament Checklist&#8221; by Andy Bloch.<\/p>\n<p>Basically, the Challenge is to:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>With a stack of 50 or more big blinds, <\/strong>call a raise and see a flop with no-gap or one-gap suited connectors smaller than 10 or a suited ace with a kicker of 8 or less. Do it twice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>With a stack of 25 to 50 big blinds,<\/strong> fold the same set of cards to a raise twice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>With a stack of 15 to 25 times the big blind,<\/strong> re-raise all-in (and win) with suited <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"ace of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"eight of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">8<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span><\/span> or less, pocket pair <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"eight of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">8<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"eight of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">8<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span><\/span> or less, or <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"king of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"jack of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">J<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"king of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"queen of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">Q<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span><\/span> (suited or unsuited).<\/li>\n<li><strong>With a stack of 15 big blinds or less,<\/strong> open raise all-in and win with the same set of cards.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cash in a normal tournament and a turbo tournament within 48 hours.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">All of the tasks have to be completed in real money games of 45 or more players; they can&#8217;t be Rush, On-Demand, or Multi-Entry tournaments (which makes it a bit hard as Full Tilt keeps adding those options to every tournament).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">Anyway, I made my first stab at the Challenge in a 90-player game last night.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">My first chance came eight hands in. I had 2,910 chips\u201473BB\u2014on the button with <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"five of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">5<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"ace of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span><\/span>. But nobody raised! Just three limpers ahead of me. I suppose I could have raised to see if I could provoke a re-raise that I could call before the flop. <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"six of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">6<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"eight of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">8<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"ace of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span><\/span> and action folded all the way around to me. I bet 80 and got one call. <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"queen of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">Q<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the turn game me a flush draw so I bet 200 after it was checked to me and took the pot.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Picked up <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"nine of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">9<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-c\" title=\"nine of clubs\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">9<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2663<\/span><\/span><\/span> three hands later and raised to 190 (leaving an even 3,000 behind) after one player limped in for 50. Got calls from hijack, cutoff, and the limper in UTG+2. Flop of <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"four of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">4<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-c\" title=\"seven of clubs\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">7<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2663<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-c\" title=\"king of clubs\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2663<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Limper checked and I bet 200. HJ called and the others folded. 1,235 in the pot and a <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"queen of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">Q<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the river. Limper was down to about 2,100; I had 2,800. I checked and he followed to see the <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"king of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the river. I bet another 200 and he must have been hoping his pair was good with <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"seven of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">7<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"nine of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">9<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span><\/span>. I can only with the case nine had shown up because I think he would have been all-in.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"ace of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"queen of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">Q<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span><\/span> cost me a couple hundred a few hands later but the very next hand I picked up the Mutant Jack: <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"ace of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"jack of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">J<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the button. UTG limped for 80 and I called. Small blind raised to 320, BB and UTG called, then I re-raised to 640. Everyone called and there was 2,560 (32BB) in the pot preflop. <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"four of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">4<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"nine of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">9<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"nine of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">9<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span> gave me a nut flush draw. Everyone checked to me and I went all-in for 3,075. I had SB covered; BB had 3,455; UTG was big stack at the table with 8,350.<\/p>\n<p>I had 5,415 on the BB at 60\/120 (45BB) a little later with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/?p=140\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;computer hand&#8221;<\/a> of <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"seven of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">7<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"queen of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">Q<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Not exactly something I&#8217;d play nine-handed but there was only one caller with a little larger stack than me. The flop was <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"king of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"seven of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">7<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"six of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">6<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span><\/span> and I bet 180 on my middle pair, getting a call. <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"three of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">3<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the turn, I checked and the other guy bet 120, which I called. My seven tripped up with <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-c\" title=\"seven of clubs\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">7<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2663<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the river and I bet 600, getting paid off by the <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"jack of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">J<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"king of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>My premium <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"nine of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">9<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"ace of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"king of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">K<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"queen of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">Q<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span> hands both cost me more than 1K each shortly thereafter, however, the first after I laid it down in the face of nothing connecting and a large post-flop bet, and the second on the turn after a third club appeared on the turn and my opponent went all-in. Those cut me down from over 6,600 to just under 4,300.<\/p>\n<p>And that&#8217;s where I was when my second chance for completing an Academy task came, with <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"ace of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">A<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-d\" title=\"three of diamonds\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">3<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2666<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the BB of 160. I had just over 25 big blinds. UTG raised to 560 and action folded all the way to me. I was supposed to fold to a raise here, per task 2 but I&#8217;d miscalculated the division and though I was below 25 blinds and was supposed to try to re-raise and win. I got the first part of it right, anyway. He had only 55 chips behind but <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-s\" title=\"eight of spades\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">8<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2660<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"inline-card inline-card-h\" title=\"eight of hearts\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">8<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">\u2665<\/span><\/span><\/span> in his hand. No diamonds on the board, just one <span class=\"inline-cards\"><span class=\"inline-card inline-card-x\" title=\"ten of unspecified\"><span class=\"inline-card-rank\">T<\/span><span class=\"inline-card-suit\">x<\/span><\/span><\/span> short of Broadway.<\/p>\n<p>37 minutes, 31 hands. No tasks completed. No KOs. 46th place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Full Tilt 90-Player Turbo KO Sit &amp; Go (3,000 chips) D and I were talking after the last tournament about playing on Full Tilt and he mentioned that he&#8217;s been working on some of their Academy challenges, and that doing &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/?p=188\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[7,97,9,20,18,36],"class_list":["post-188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-poker","category-tournaments","tag-full-tilt","tag-full-tilt-academy","tag-mutant-jack","tag-puffmammy","tag-strategy","tag-trips"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1t0pn-32","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=188"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":190,"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188\/revisions\/190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mutantpoker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}