Nick is a cash game player, content creator and part of 888poker’s Stream Team. Each week he shares his thoughts and experiences as a player dedicated to the daily grind. This week, fresh off a cash in a live event, Nick's looking to keep the ball rolling (without getting crushed)...
When I started writing these articles, my main gripe was with a distinct lack of cashes or deep runs in the many events I’d entered over the last 3 years. It was definitely weighing on my mind that I’d managed to convert precisely zero of the opportunities that had presented themselves to me, particularly recently. And while it was certainly a struggle, I’ve recently had to begin coming to terms with a new type of pain, one born of clear improvement that also leaves me more tilted than I ever was before.
Heading into Reading a month ago, it had been the best part of six months since my last cash in an 888 event in Edinburgh. While this was definitely an unenjoyable stretch of poor form, I had at least steered clear of the sheer misery of busting in the late stages of a tournament.
Reading gave me the opportunity to experience that suffering in the most acute manner possible (or so I thought), as I bust in 11th place after my A-Q could not overcome the J-T of my opponent. Still, a £2,000 payday was most welcome, but it’s utterly impossible to think of anything other than what could have been, especially with a cool £30,000 up top and within reach.
Since it had been so long since a cash, I was barely able to process the sting of defeat and see the positives coming into the next event this week in Coventry. As I mentioned last week, it’s an extended series with both the UKPL and 888LIVE back to back, with the UKPL up first. I entered the £560 Main Event fresh off my first ‘score’ in forever, and at the very least I was feeling confident about my chances.
Another shot at glory
A day of hard graft and battling left me with another chance at reaching Day 2 and the money. I even managed to win a flip along the way, something that is most unlike me. And unlike in Reading, I only continued to accumulate chips as the day went on, eventually bagging a very respectable 159,000 from a 30,000 starting stack to leave myself with 40bb and a real shot at glory once more.
It also afforded me a day off grinding the following day since I’d already bagged up for Day 2, and I was feeling in peak condition heading into the tournament climax. I picked up aces early on and knocked off an opponent, steering myself amongst the tournament leaders with around 25 players left and the small matter of £23,000 for first.
But there was one, rather large, speed bump I was going to have to overcome if I was going to convert my position this time around.
Hero to zero
I picked up kings in early position and made a standard raise to just over 2 big blinds. A recreational player 3-bet me, before a cold 4-bet shove quickly followed from another of the larger stacks at the table. I covered by a small amount, and shoved in my remaining chips as well, before the recreational player called.
A three-way all-in for the chip lead in the tournament was the result, and my kings were ahead of the A-K offsuit of the 3-bettor, and the Q-Q of my other opponent. To win the main pot and add chips to my stack I’d only have to fade a queen, as the player with A-K was much shorter, so when an ace hit the flop it was annoying but we still had hope. A turn brick followed, before an utterly gut-wrenching queen on the river left me with only 7 big blinds remaining.
Another cash, but what might have been?
I’m not ashamed to say this one really hurt, but I had to get my head back in the game and attempt a recovery. But after an early position open, I shoved my puny remaining stack with A-K offsuit and got called by 
. A double to nearly 20bb was on the cards, but I was left with next to no hope on the 
board. Just like that, it was over.
I’m glad to say that I barely remember what it feels like to go so long without cashing now, but I can say with a fair degree of confidence it doesn’t feel worse than this. Another cash of £1,030 goes on the board, but given I’d already gotten that monkey off my back, there were no redeeming features to this one. I sulked back to my hotel room to order unhealthy food and feel sorry for myself, which I did a great job of.
To rub it in, the player who rivered that queen went on to win the tournament, and it’s nigh-on impossible to think of anything other than what might have been. Nevertheless, we will go again this week in the 888LIVE Main Event in search of more glory, and less pain.
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Featured image courtesy of 888poker/Gema Cristobal
