Heartland Poker Tour Trip Report

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Heartland Poker Tour Trip Report

I spent 4 days in St. Louis to participate in the Heartland Poker Tour's first visit to the area. I played in ten tournaments with a total buy-in of $1795. I cashed four times for a total of $1783 for a net loss of $12.

The main poker room at the Ameristar is on the first floor where they held the single table Sit-N-Go satellites, and they had another area set up for the HPT qualifiers and the main event on the second floor at the opposite end of the casino.

The $85 SNG's played down to the final 2, with both advancing to a $360 qualifier. The $120 SNG's advanced the final 3 players.

20% of the entrants in the $360 qualifiers advanced to the $1650 Main Event.


Ameristar - Thursday 11/12/09:

Arrived at the Ameristar just before the 11:00am $360 qualifier was ready to begin. I decided to skip the $85 & $120 single table satellites and jump right in and play.

There were about 65 entrants and I was busted out about 1-1/2 hours into it.

Lost about half my stack when my pocket aces were cracked on the very first hand. Treaded water for the rest of the tournament and busted out with Ace/King suited. Flopped the nut flush draw and bet every street but could not complete my flush.

Went downstairs to the poker room and promptly signed up for an $85 SNG. I won and received a $360 voucher into a qualifier. I immediately signed up for a $120 SNG and won another voucher.

The vouchers were transferable so I went to the tournament area and sold one. I used the other one to play in the 7pm qualifier.

This qualifier had 118 entrants and again I busted out uneventfully about halfway through.

Decided to call it a night and return the next day for another go at it.

Bankroll: -$205

Ameristar - Friday 11/13/09

I played a $120 SNG and lost. Played an $85 SNG and lost. At 5:30 I played in the final $120 SNG of the night for the last qualifier of the tournament which was to begin at 7:00pm.

I won and used the voucher to play it. There were 188 entrants so the tournament would award 37 seats into the main event. I lasted into the final 70 or so but took a horrendous beat that crippled me and was soon eliminated.

No main event for me this year.

Bankroll: -$530

Harrah's - Saturday 11/14/09

Played in their $125 tournament and did not cash.

Bankroll: -$655

Harrah's - Sunday 11/15/09

Woke up Sunday and debated going home or playing one more time in Harrah's $60 noon tournament. Decided to give it one more shot.

There were 55 entrants and I made it to the final two. He had a slight chip advantage with 1st place paying $849 and 2nd place paying $558. I proposed an even money split and he agreed. He got the extra dollar and I took $703.

Final bankroll: -$12

By ending up in the final three, I received an invitation to play in next month's Tournament Of Champions. This tournament is for all the top-3 finishers in Harrah's daily tournaments in the previous month.

It will pay the top 10 finishers with first place receiving $10,000.

Thanks to my co-investors and sorry we didn't post a big win, but I'll be back December 13th to attempt getting the bankroll into the black.

Summary:

Paid 360, won 0
Paid 85, won 360
Paid 120, won 360
Paid 360, won 0
Paid 120, won 0
Paid 85, won 0
Paid 120, won 360
Paid 360, won 0
Paid 125, won 0
Paid 60, won 703

Total:

Paid 1795, won 1783