Romeo y Juliet Churchill Tubo Review

[BobLobLaw]

Evening FOH. After enjoying writing last weeks review while I played an online poker tournament I decided to give it another go this week. Arrived home from working 15 min ago thinking the tournament started at 8pm giving me a nice 45 min to get "prepped". Dead wrong and I was late to register. Blast.

Scrambling now to get set up. Grabbed the computer and a RyJ Churchill Tubo. Keeping with the theme this is another FOH poker cigar won probably about 2 months ago. No idea on date/code. Dinner is finishing up and once I get that done with it will be off to the balcony for pre light thoughts.

Card game started well as I picked up A,9 spades in early position called big blind of 30. One raiser behind makes it 90, one other caller to me and I call. Flop 3,6,3 2 spades. I check. OR bets 230ish. Guy behind folds, I call. Turn is Q spades giving me the nuts. check check. River is a 10 and I bet 450 into a 800 pot. Call and insta muck. He had AA. Always tough how hard to play them. Few hands later gave it all back when I got check raised on the river with my hand in the cookie jar. Bad time to bluff I guess. Folded so no idea what he had. I was on A high. Sitting at 4.5k with starting stacks at 5k. Back in a few to get onto the cigar!

[BobLobLaw]

Remove cigar from its tube and it looks Fantastic! Smooth and silky. Smells of rich tobacco at the foot. Clip with Xikar and draw has a good amount of resistance. Spicey with a hint of fruit. This looks promising.

Bounced out of the last tourney early. Lots of good pre flop hands, hit nothing. Ended up busto with KK where an eventual 4 to a straight fell on board. Knew I was beat, but it was my last 400 so I called. Blah. Started up 2 new ones. One sniper with 3k stacks and another deep stack. Will keep you updated on cards and cigar. Onto lighting!

[BobLobLaw]

Slowly toast the foot then take the initial draw. Good smoke volume, little on the light side. Flavors are more spiced fruit with a rich tobacco overlay. Pretty much exactly what I smelled at cold. Lots of body. Delish!

This is my first RyJ churchill ever and really one of my first overall. Short churchill are on the list maybe these as well now. . . we will see

Pick up K9 diamonds on the button in the deep stack. Folds around and I make it 125 to go. Both blinds call. Flop 5h, 3h kc. checks to me and I bet 225, small blind who is short stacked makes it 600. Big blind folds. I decide to see the turn. Turn is 9s. Small blind bets 2.5k. I put him on hearts, but am a bit apprehensive even with top 2 pair. Decide to put him in. Its only 400 more. He snap calls and tables kh5h. River is a brick and I knock him out. 8k right now. Phew!

[BobLobLaw]

One inch in. This is a wonderful cigar! All wood, dark tobacco, fruit with a hint of spice. Should get me some aged rum to go with this smoky spice cake! Body has either settled down or I got used to it but its just a bit lighter. Trying my best to keep the smoking slow.

Flop a set of fours in position heads up with 2 diamonds and a K on the board. Villain bets flop I raise he calls. turn he bets 650 I call. River completes the flush draw and he checks. I play it safe and check behind. He shows K10 and I take it down. Lost a few since then at 8.5k

[BobLobLaw]

Past the first third now. Cigar seems to be picking up power. Still predominantly spice cake, but now with a few chocolate chips mixed right in. Mmmmmm. Burn is a razor sharp line. Have had to relight a few times, but that is because I let the gar go out a few times. Got a lot going on here!

No real notable hands. Involved in a few pots, but nothing materialized. Just took a hit with AK. Down to 4.5k.

[BobLobLaw]

Well into second third. I really am not picking out flavors because the cigar is soooo good and I am already multitasking to the max! I am just enjoying the smooth wood with a perfect touch of spice. Blissful cigar and great night out.

After chipping down with AK I pick up 1010. Flop a set, but the board ends up with a J shy of a straight. Shove river and folds. Back up to 5k. Next hand get QQ, 3 handed. Flop comes 7,10,K all clubs. Try to re-raise, but deep stack shoves. Had to let it go. Down to 2.3k and all of a sudden the shortstack. Tread water until 8,7 diamonds. Call a 600 bet raise and flop runs out 7,7,2. OR bets out for my chips and I call. He shows AK and I get a much needed double just before the break. Right at 4.1k and still in need of another double.

In the sniper tourney I chipped up to about 10k on a few hands. Big chip leader at table. Pick up QQ in the cutoff. 1 guy opens to 450he has 5k. Re-raised before me to 1250 from a guy with 3k. I make it 2500 all day. OR calls and short stack shoves. we both just call. Heads up to flop with one all in on the side. Board runs 3,j,2, two clubs. Check check. Turn. 7d. OR shoves for his last 2.7k I snap call with only half my stack at risk. OR had 88, Shortstack AKhearts and my ladies take down a monster. Up to 20k. Too bad its the "wrong" tourney as the other one is a bigger one. Still nice though.

[BobLobLaw]

Into the final third and the cigar has picked up strength again. Its a powerhouse with wood, black coffee and spice. Burn is still fantastic and I am sipping patiently between hands. Don't want to rush and if I did the power would go right to my head!

Out of the deep stack, raised with AJ, called a three bet then folded on the missed flop. Went out with A,4 suited against A10 when noone improved. Bummer.

Still kicking around 15k in the sniper though.

[BobLobLaw]

Woooo just say a three way all in with AA vs 66 vs 99. Aces held and a huge pot to a shortstack knocking out two in the process.

Recent hand for me. Chip leader at table (21k) opens to 715. I make it 1,300 all day on button with 10dKh. I have 17k. Flop is 9,A,J rainbow, giving me the gutshot. Checks to me and I c-bet 2,650 he calls. Damm, think he has an A. Turn is the 8, giving me a double gutshot. Check check. River is a 7. Villain leads out for 4.3k. I have the second nuts and am only dead to Q10. He has me covered though. I raise to 8.6k. He tanks and folds and I take a nice 17k pot. Up to 25k. 63/251 players remain. Sitting pretty, but easily lost with lots of 5-10k "shortstacks" all trigger happy to shove. My first AA or KK of the tourney would be great with so much action.

Last few inches of the cigar and its still delivering in spades.

[BobLobLaw]

Going quick notes now:

Right off a break snap off a 5k shorty with A,9 vs A,6 pre. Holds for the knockout. Up to 30k. Relight cigar and lean back to puff. Victory tastes great, woody and smooth!

8d9d on button. Shorty shoves for 4k, shorty 2over shoves for 5k. I'm feeling it and call. 7,7 for #1 and 88 for #2. No problem as board runs out 6,10,k,7,2 for the double knockout! Up tp 40k until next hand when I play my rush on 88 right into qq on a k high board. Back to 33k. Lean back again and puff. Surprisingly defeat tastes pretty good, woody and smooth

40 players left, but everyone has 10k at my table so still dangerous.

[BobLobLaw]

Put the cigar out and man it was just amazing all the way through to the end. Just started to get a little harsh and I let it go rather then allow any bitterness to tarnish what was a fantastic smoke. Thanks to El Prez for letting me sample another cigar first. I bet one one of these with several years would be just awesome.

For the few people following the tourney. We are down to 31. Bubble bursts at 27 so pace has slowed. I am holding at 36k and trying to pick my spots to be aggressive without making any bonehead plays.

[BobLobLaw]

Massive three way all in with AK vs KK vs JJ. I was not involved. KK held for a huge triple to 33k. Only 2 to the bubble, whoops one left. Going hand for hand now.

66 holds vs AK and the bubble has burst! 3 tables to go and we are in the money. No real action for me and 33k is only 3rd at my table.

Double up a shortstack raising to 2400 pre with 10,J. Flop comes 4,Q,K and I call his shove for 4k more with the open ender. He has QJ and running K's give him a boat. Next hand I have 55, raise to 2700 same guy shoves for 13k. I decide to gamble against what I hope are two overcards. 5s hold vs AQ and I get my chips back and am up to 45k! Wooooo!! Some guy is lurking around with 88k though

Break. 22 players left. Holding steady at 40k which is currently 6th. Blinds 500/1k Still looking for my first big pair (AA or KK). Who wants to bet when I get them they will be cracked?

[BobLobLaw]

Down to 18. Short stack crippled to 7k after running 1010 into aces. I am in big blind with As,4s. Button shoves for 5k over blinds and I call. He turns K8 off. Board starts K, 8s, 10s. Turn is a J which gives me all sorts of straights, flushes and Aces for outs. River A and I knockout to move up to 41k.

Next hand I get QQ, raise to 3.6k and get a shove for 41k! Has me covered by about 400. I call and he tables 8s,5s. Wtf??? Board is a scare with 7,3,4 but the turn and river brick and I get the knockout and shoot to 84k in chips. Next hand make a small flush to finish the job. Naturally does not last and get 9h,7h. Flop kh,ks,6h. I raise a 3.6k bet and am called. Miss turn (5s) and river (4s) and get caught bluffing to the tune of 7.5k. Still at 68k

Wow lot of action, get 6h9h on the button. Folds around and I make it 3.6k. Small blind makes it 8.5k. I call and again 2 hearts flop. Check and I bet 6k into a 20k pot to take it down. Next hand Ad3d raise one called, AGAIN 2 diamonds on flop and a 3c. Check check and turn is a Q. Folds to my bet of 4k and I win another 8.5k. Up to 82k. What a flurry of action. 16 players left.

[BobLobLaw]

A,8 all in vs KJ for 10k. Flop has both an A and a K and I hold for the knockout and to move to 100k. 14 left.

Another break. just saw 88 turn trips on a 9 high flop against Q9. 11 left. 2 until the final table. Playing short handed with 5 on our table.

Wow, chip leader with 111k shoves with 33 on the button. Shortstack calls with AK. 3s hold and we are one away from the final table. Hand for hand again.

Slow slow going. 20 min later, still looking for that final knockout. 5 handed short stack at our table at 32k with 1.5k/3k blinds 250 ante

9c5c on the button. Folds around and I let it go. Blinds limp and flop runs 2,3,4. SB bets 6k, BB raises to 13k, SB re-raises to 18k and BB shoves! SB shows 8,3 and BB has 44 for a set. Turn is an A which would have given me the straight (not like I was sticking around to see it though) SB is out. Final table time! I got 114k good for 4th right now. Not playing many pots, mostly positional raises.

[BobLobLaw]

Go Bob, go!

Thanks bster. Tell ya what, if I win I will shoot you some cigars for railbirding!

Still looking for my 1st AA or KK

[BobLobLaw]

9c7c raise to 10.5k. Two callers behind. Flop J 6 k rainbow. I lead out for 20k raised all in. Fold. Grrr poor play by me. Need to check there and save the 20k.

Next hand A,Q offsuit, raise to 10.5k again 2 callers. Flop 6h3hJs. Another miss. I check, next to act bets 14.5k, I fold and there is a shove and a call! Guy who bet has 66 for flopped trips. Other guy has KhJh for a pair and flush draw. River completes the flush which sucks b/c he was the shorter stack. Either way I have been beaten down to 44k and noone has been eliminated.

JK offsuit in the cutoff, I shove for my last 36k. Phew folds around. Back to 45k. Need a double up badly.

Ouch just saw AA get cracked by 99! Brutal for a final table. Sadly the shorter stack was 99 so no elimination. Getting horrible cards and down to 35k. Its a bad sign when I am hoping others go in and get knocked out so I can move up!

Another all in! KJ holds up against K7 leaving a player crippled with 3k. Someone finish him! There it is. QQ knocks out the shortstack who has A,10. 8 players left.

[BobLobLaw]

Another shortstack doubled up and I am by far the shortest with 26k. AJ on the button. Big stack raises to 8k, I shove. Everyone else gets out of the way. He has 44. Flop runs out 2,6,5 uh oh. Turn is an 8. Damm. River comes . . . A!!! Still alive! Back up to 60k or so! I celebrate by raising K2 off to steal another blind.

I have A,8 in the big blind. Just over SB who shoves. I call and he flips K,7. Flop is K,A,6 all diamonds. My 8 is the only diamond. I am fist pumping when the turn drops a K!!! Mother&^$%&^% Taken down to 7k.

Next hand quick double when 6,4 s pairs a 4 against A,8. Still alive at 20k but blinds are 2.5/5k with a 500 ante so the end is near.

Had to fold 9,6 off under the gun. At 18k and next in the big blind. . .

Shove my last 11k in the SB with A,2 off. BB calls and has Q,10. I flop an ace and double to 27k. Again celebrate by shoving my 8,5 off suit on the button. Blinds fold and I am at 26k.

Next hand I have A,10 off in the cutoff. Guy with 70k makes it 13.5 and I figure what the heck and shove. He folds and I am back to 62k! Wonder if this can keep up. No longer the shortstack.

I have 77 and open shove. Folds around, up to 72k! Better slow down now as I am apt to get snapped off soon. Back in 4th place with 1-2 having a HUGE lead, like 200k total.

[BobLobLaw]

Woooo, shortstack with 33 gets called by #2 chip leader with AQ suited. Board has an A and 3 Jacks and I have slid into 7th! 57k after my k10 is called pre and i whiff on the flop.

24k shortstack shoves with A,8 right into BB AA! Case Ace on the flop and we are down to 6 left. Still at 58k after the blinds then raising trash in position to pick up some equity.

Nooooooooooo! I finally get AA under the gun. Min raise and its enough to take the pot! 60k after the blinds. Which of course the button shoves one hand later. Well at least my losing with AA was incorrect. Only 2 stacks over 100k and 3 around me. Still have a shot at moving up.

AJ clubs in the big blind. It gets raised, then the big stack comes over the top. He has been a bully and I shove. OR gets out of the way and he tables A,K. Q high flop with no clubs and I am toast in 6th place. Crap.

In retrospect I probably should have made a tough fold. I was no longer that short and AJ is dominated by so many hands or just a flip to any underpair. Especially with 2 others in the pot ahead of me. Funny thing is I though of this just as I clicked raise. Need to take my time more and remember that the reckless play should end after I stop being the shortstack.

Well still a pretty good night. Thanks for those who read through the ENTIRE thing. Night.

[thechenman]

Great thread and great review. Keep up the great work.