Well it was certainly a fun tournament.
First day I played very tight to start with as I wanted to gain an understanding of my table and the quality of play I was up against.Further, I wasnt getting any starting hands! The most frustrating hand was when a 99 was dealt to me when I was down to about 8k. Someone had raised and I flat called it. Flop came in 4q7 all off suits. There was a bet of 1k and then a call. I felt this was to steep to play my 9 with as I felt that if I flat called it and a 9 didnt come out then any bet and I would of had to of foleded which would of left me fairly short stacked. Therefore I folded. Of course the next card that came out was a 9. The two other people carried on betting and if I had stayed in the hand I probably would of at least doubled/ if not trebled my stack. Typical poker! A few blind steals and bluffs brought my stack back up and at lunch I had around 10.2k.
Following lunch the next two levels I didnt receive any playing cards. All i could do was attempt to steal a few blinds. By the next break I was up to 14k.
In the evening session the action picked up. I had picked up a few more pots and was sitting fairly well placed at 18k. I was on the BB and was dealt KK. A lovely starting position. The person UTG bet 5k blinds were (800 and 1600). It got folded around to the person on the button who raised it up to 10k. I suspected that the person to my right had AA as he had been playing relatively tight and I knew that he would not of come over the top with AK so he was therefore on AA or at the least qq. However, I could not bring myself to fold the KK pre flop. So I pushed all in. The person UTG called and so did the button. The person UTG showed a JJ and the button of course had the AA. The flop came out 456. Not a good start. The turn came out a 3. This gives me more outs I thought. The river showed a 7. I had survived and the relief of staying in was amazing! Obviously the person with Aces was devestated!
A couple of levels later I was on the small blind and had 89 spades. The flop came out qs,
. I therfore had a flush and a straight draw. A lady then raised and I decided this was my time so pushed it all in. She decided to call. The turn brought out another spade and I hit the flush and doubled up through to around 40k, I didnt hit any more hands and finished the day at around 37k.
Through to Supper on Day 2 i received no starting hands at all. All i could do was take the blinds where i could and try to keep my stack at this level. I managed to do that and at Supper i was still around the 40k mark. We were now however down to about 28 players and I was in the money. So at least I had made a profit!
By the next break the blinds were up to 7.5k and 15k and I still had not received any quality hands. The field was now down to 13 players. However, I only had around 50k chips which meant I was the short stack of the tournament. i was dealt 99. With 6 players on my table this was an automatic all in. The big stack called and flipped over 10 8 off. I was quite happy seeing this. However, a 10 came out on the flop. no help from the rest saw me eliminated in 13th place only winning £250. This lady had been hitting her hands all night and I think she had knocked out most of the people on my table.
Even though i am disapointed in not reaching the final table I am really happy with the way i played. Throughout the second day I did not receive one premium hand (other than the early AK) or really any good drawing hand such as KQ or even J10! However, I managed to stay in the tournament and pcik up blinds where I could. I was unlucky to be eliminated in the manner that I did. I think the other players on the table acknowledged the good game that I had played. therefore I have a lot to take away from this tournament.
Ant, I have a feeling that you were on my table! Was good to meet you if it was!
