Bluff, Grind, Repeat: My Wild WSOP Circuit Run at Thunder Valley
Day 1: The Late Start, The Bluff, and the Bounce
Today’s blog covers my experience at the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event at Thunder Valley Casino. It was a $500,000 guaranteed tournament, and the week had already been full of ups and downs. Bobby had three final tables, I had a few deep runs, and this one was my shot at turning the series around. I started with 40,000 chips and 40-minute levels. What followed was classic tournament poker: deep strategy, bluffs gone wrong, and a bubble sweat I’ll never forget.
Let’s talk about Day 1 first. I arrived late—shocker—but hey, it’s all part of the tradition. Bobby convinced me to take a power nap, which somehow turned into a full rest reset. By the time I got into the tournament, he had already doubled up. He shared a hand strategy with me about min-clicking on the flop to freeze action and see free cards. While I don’t always recommend clicking buttons without clear purpose, I appreciated his thinking—especially when it worked.
My first entry didn’t go well. I got into a hand against a very active player who had been three-betting light. I called his four-bet preflop, and post-flop he bet super small, then checked the turn. I took a shot and shoved, hoping he’d fold a hand like Ace-King or Ace-Queen. He didn’t. I ran into it, punted my stack, and re-entered.
If you’re never bluffing off your stack, you’re probably under-bluffing. Still, pick your spots wisely. After my bust-out, I debriefed the hand with Tyler Patterson—WPT champ—and he actually approved of my line. Always a good idea to run hands past better players or plug them into solvers. Feedback matters.
Climbing Back with Queens, Folds, and a Little Luck
I grinded hard and found myself all-in with Ace-King versus Queen-Jack. The board ran clean. That double was huge because I had been completely card-dead all day. Eventually I picked up Queens under the gun, got shoved on by two opponents, and lost the flip. I was out again, but not for long.
Day 2 started with one big blind. Yes, one. But I wasn’t the shortest stack, which was wild. I had the button coming to me and used the orbit to find a spot. First hand of the day, I got it in with Ace-Four against Queen-Jack and flopped the nut straight with a flush draw just to flex. Full triple. Unreal. Then I picked up a couple more hands, fought hard, and managed to hang on through a stressful bubble. I was down to two big blinds, then got a walk, then watched the field fall. We went hand-for-hand, and with less than a single orbit left in me, someone busted. I cashed with one big blind.
A Wild Hand Breakdown: Set Mining in the Small Blind
Blinds were 1K/1.5K/1.5K. It folded to me in the small blind with pocket fours. I completed, and the big blind raised to 4,700. I called. Flop came Q♥ 8♠ 4♠—bottom set. I checked, he bet 3K, and I check-raised to 8,500. This is the kind of board where bottom set needs protection. You’re not blocking top or middle pair, so you’re getting value from all kinds of holdings. He called. Turn was clean—2♣—so I bet 13K. River was the 8♥. I bet 30K, and he tanked and folded, claiming he had KQ.
Poker Relationship Moments: Railbirds, Naps, and Needles
This trip wasn’t short on personal moments either. From Bobby filming me at inopportune times to needling me after a bluff, to literally doing my laundry between flights, this was peak poker couple life. There was a moment where he laughed at my bust-out, and I was ready to throw hands—but that’s what we do. We needle, we sweat each other, and we support each other—usually.
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The Bubble: Tension, Tanking, and Two Big Blinds
I went into the bubble with two big blinds. I stalled. I tanked. I took thirty seconds for every fold. And then it happened—I got a walk in the big blind. That single orbit made the difference. I survived the next few hands, someone busted, and I made the money. My final count: one big blind and a guaranteed cash for $3,415.
The Comeback… and the Flip That Ended It
After the bubble burst, I picked up A4 and flopped the nuts again. I was back in it. But a few hands later, I was all-in with 88 against AJ and couldn’t fade the overcards. It was a heartbreaking end, but honestly? I’m proud of that grind.
Final Thoughts
This series has been a success. I cashed three events, got through a brutal bubble with poise, and even made a couple of wild folds that saved my stack. I stayed focused, fought hard, and left it all on the felt.
Watch the full video here and don’t forget to subscribe if you enjoyed the ride. Your support means the world. Until next time.
