Allen Cunningham's FT Performance

[HSB]

Compare a couple hands. The trip nine hand early where Cunningham lost about five million to Gold, and the hand Lee went out on.

It's pretty clear that Lee made up his mind that Gold had AK rather than putting him on a range and since he was ahead of the one hand he risked his stack--totally ignoring the fact that he was a huge dog to all the other hands in a reasonable range.

In the trip nine hand, look at the river bet. It's a bet that a worse hand can call, that a better hand is unlikely to raise, and that won't cripple him if a better hand calls.

[jrbick]

They only avg'd what, 15-20 hands/hr.? Allen has to run avg-good to get anywhere against someone w/ a 4:1 chip lead. Jamie didn't really mess w/ Allen anyway. He kept flat-calling Allen's raises preflop and folded the flop several times. If Allen could've eliminated Binger then we might've seen something a bit different, but who knows. Gold still had a mountain for anyone who got HU w/ him to plow through.

And he was on the sickest heater of all time; just so happened that no one ever had him dominated.

[wonderwes]

Cunningham is not overrated. He is a great pro. When Ivey, Juanda, and Negreanu all think he is the best tournament player out of the 4, that all the endorsement you need. For the sheer fact he made it to the FT when he was one of the low stacks with around 40 players left was impressive. It takes cards to win and he just had very few opportunities at the FT with great hands.

[Rottersod]

AC is not overrated but playing at the FT of a 12 day tourney with 8800 people is a great equalizer, especially when there is a large stack at the table who is semi-aggressive and not just trying to make more money. He did about as well as could be expected and he made a few mistakes and he made a few good plays. Once Gold got Lee's stack the game changed for the other players and you could see it in their styles. AC was trying to win but the others were trying to move up the money except for Gold. That meant that AC would have to get lucky or catch some monsters. That meant that Gold felt he wasn't risking a whole lot by calling the all-in with KJ.

[gisb0rne]

[ QUOTE ]
He sure made a nice call with Ace high.

[/ QUOTE ]

He made a nice fold against KQd.

I think what's over rated is not AC, but the "huge" edge that pros have vs. the effect of luck.

[Ignignokt]

From what I understand, at the beginning of the FT, the deck had a little conversation with Cunningham:

DECK: Um, Allen, if you'll excuse me, I have to go hit Jamie Gold repeatedly.

CUNNINGHAM: D'oh.

[prohornblower]

This thread eats weiner.

Seriously, what a dumb idea for a thread. AC finishes single-digit out of 8000 people (on top of all his previous accomplishments) and some guy wants to ask if he's over-rated?

[MikeyPatriot]

I think Cunningham's biggest mistake was not value betting his straight against Gold's, IIRC, trips? Allen slammed his cards on the table and looked the most upset at that point all night. I think he knew he got greedy trying to c/r and should have just value bet the river.

I thought he played very well from what I saw (which was right after he called with A high until he went BUSTO).

[mlagoo]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
He sure made a nice call with Ace high.

[/ QUOTE ]

He made a nice fold against KQd.

I think what's over rated is not AC, but the "huge" edge that pros have vs. the effect of luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

i agree with this

[SuperUberBob]

The deck hit Gold harder than cocks hit Paris Hilton.

If AC's cards were even half as good as Gold's, he'd at minimum get heads up against him and would probably beat him based on sheer skill.