First Poker Game of the Year

Well… the year started out just like the last one ended. Rough! The poker gods were not smiling upon me the other night. No they are just giving me that little “devilish” smile. You know the one; the one that says, “Just wait, the night isn’t over” The game was Texas Hold’em the buy-in was $50 for 10,000 in chips and there was also a high hand jackpot buy-in for $5. Twenty-four people were seated at three tables for a prize pool of $2400. First prize was going to be just under $550. Not bad for a few hours of work. It wasn’t going to be easy. I have played with some of the players in the room; there was some talent there. The night started off slow, the cards were not coming my way and the pots that I did win; I had to fight for. The pots were not given up lightly. By the break I was down to under 4000 in chips and I was looking at the clock not wanting to be home by ten and sure didn’t want to be the first player out! In the next round I found myself in the big blind with K A. Not a hand that you would hang on to. Most of the players folded around and just limped in. I got to come into the pot for free. Just the way I like it with a hand like this. When the flop came there were only three of us in the hand, the dealer and the small and big blind. The flop came 3 K 7. The small blind let out with a small bet and I came over the top with a raise; the dealer mucked his had very quickly. The small blind came over the top of me and went all in. I had top pair with top kicker and my chip stack at that time was low. So I put the remainder of my chips in the pot. The small blind turned over his cards and I turned over mine. The small blind had K J. I was leading the hand at this point. The turn and the river cards came and went with no improvement to either of us. I took the pot and took out the small blind as my Kings held up with the Ace kicker. I played tight for the rest of the night and made it to the final table and was taken out in 7th place. 7th out of 24 with the level of players at this game, I think was good. I gave a guy a free card and tried to bluff at the wrong time. It was a mistake that I will remember and not do again. All in all, a good night, no money was won but it was a good game with good players.