Posted by Junelli 10:19 AM
Great tournament yesterday! It was very well run on all counts. Thanks also to Kim & David for graciously opening their home to everyone.

I was very pleased with my play and was happy to be able to cash for the 3rd straight year (6th in 2002; 5th in 2004; and 6th in 2005). I won $480.

My table was very tight early and there were very few showdowns. The pots weren't big and everyone was playing pretty standard poker. It was a good table: Michael Marx, Lee, Chris DeLeon, Raj, Byron, Jason.

I was able to grind my chip stack up throughout the majority of the day. 20 minutes before the break, I was faced with my first tough decision. Raj raised all-in preflop after several people had limped. I was on the button with JJ. I had seen Raj move-in preflop 3 or 4 separate times over the past hour, and felt confident I had him beat. I called and he turned over TT. My jacks held up and I took down a nice pot and eliminated the 1st player in the tournament.

Several hands later I was dealt KK in the BB. After 3 people limped, I raised 4x the BB. Chris DeLeon was the only caller. The flop was 885 rainbow. I decided to slowplay since the board was pretty harmless. I checked and smooth called when he bet approx. 1/2 the pot. The turn brought a second diamond, and I checked again (waiting to trap). He made a pretty good sized bet, and I decided to put the hand to bed by raising all-in. I had him covered at least 3x, so it wasn't too risky on my part. He ultimately decides to call with a flush draw. The river is a 3rd diamond, but it's the King. My full house beats his flush and I take down another nice pot.

Those two hands, combined with some other good decisions allowed me to go into the break with a pretty sizable chip stack: $5,420. I decided not to purchase the add-on since it only gives me 1,000TC (about 20%). In my opinion, the add-on is not worth it unless it represents at least 25%-30% of your chip stack.

In my case, I was still the chip leader at my table (even after everyone did the add-on). And because I had everyone covered, there wasn't much sense in donating another $60 to the prize pool for, what would likely be, an insignificant chip increase.

Shortly after the break I ran my stack up to $7,500 and sat at that point for the next several hours.

I was able to bust Canonico out (and collect a bounty) when we were down to 4 tables. He moved all-in in middle position. I held AJs and barely had him covered. I would be left with 2,500 if I called and lost. I had a strong feeling it was a race at worst, and I could possibly be way ahead if he held Ax or Kx. I called and he turned over 77. It was a race. My AJ hit a Jack on the flop, and to rub salt in the wound, I rivered a straight to win the hand.

When we were down to 2 tables, I was forced to move tables for the first time. I was still in pretty good shape with about $14,000 in chips, but the blinds were absolutely racing up. The last hour of the tournament was a move in game for everyone.

My crippling hand (bad beat) occurred with about 13 people left. I had folded for 2 rounds and found myself with $10,000 with the blinds at $1,000-$2,000. I was dealt AKs in the BB. One middle position player limped and the small blind moved all-in for $8,600. I immediately moved all-in over the top. The middle position player folded and the small blind turned over KQo. Great news. I have him dominated and am a 3:1 favorite to win the hand. I flop an Ace, but he then catches a Jack and a Ten to make a straight. Absolutely sick.

I'm crippled and cannot even afford the next BB. The very next hand I'm dealt 55 and I move all-in. My hand holds up and I'm still alive. I fold the next few hands as players are dropping like flies.

Somehow I'm able to slide into the final table. We draw for seats and high card for the button. It was a very bad draw for me because I'm under the gun with $5,500 with blinds of $2,000-$4,000. I have 3 hands left.

I fold under the gun, but am dealt 22 in the BB. I am able to limp along with 2 players. The flop is AAK, and it's not looking good for me. Somehow everyone checks the flop and we get a free card. The turn is a 2 and I immediately move all-in. Both players call, and my full house holds up to win. I triple up and can last another round or two.

I am dealt garbage for the 2 rounds, and the blinds are eating me alive. However, during that time, 4 players are eliminated. I'm essentially blinded off when I have to pay the big blind of $4,000, leaving me with only $1,500. Pinion moves all-in under the gun, and I have to call with 63o. His AJ holds up and I'm eliminated in 6th place.

All in all I'm very pleased with my performance. If my AK had held up against the KQ I would've been in a very good position to make a run for the victory. Oh well, there's always next year...

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