Well, 4th isn't that bad, right?

Hey everybody, good news! I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by swicthing to Geico. LOL! Just kidding, but I do have good news. For the first time since the early summer, I got points. Not many, mind you. It also wasn't a win, but I did make the money, though. Although in the beginning, it looked like it was going to be another bad night.

The first game was kind of weird. Bill wasn't there like he usually is, even though he had a good reason, being in Florida. There was no Marc and Niki, which I was relieved about, since I'll be battling them just to stay in the top 25 over the next few weeks. Finally, Henry wasn't there either. So there were two of the usual suspects and quite a few good players not there. I figured that last night was as good as any to shoot for a win.

In the first game, the table I was at was a blend of a whole bunch of different styles. There was Steve, a strong solid player, Ryan a strong aggressive player who is reckless at times. There was George and Dave to players well known for their questionable play. There was Scott and I, who are tight yet aggressive players almost to a fault. But there was also an unknown player at the table who only lasted a couple of rounds last week when I played with him, Andy. From what I saw of Andy, he was a classic newbie. Calls with weak hands into big pots, doesn't define a hand when he raises, if he raises at all. He was sitting to my left and I have to admit he wasn't one of the players I was concerned with at the table.

The game started out well for me. I stole a couple blinds at times and I took a big pot away from Steve with a big raise when I had top pair and the nut flush draw. I was doing well for the most part until I ran into Scott who ended up river-ing a straight. I lost about 1/4 of my stack that hand, but I wasn't short stacked at that point. The very next hand, I pick up pocket 9's on the button. everyone folded to me and I raised about three and a half times the blind, a hefty raise. and Andy wasted no time in calling me. Steve had a little tougher time thinking and ended up folding. So heading to the flop it was just Andy and I. The flop came 7c - 5h - 2s, no flush draw, but there was a possibilty of straight draw, but nothing scared me on that board so I led out and bet $400. A huge bet which in my mind was telling Andy that I had a made hand. Guess it didn't work because Andy called with pretty much no hesitation. The turn came up Kc, which slowed me down a little. Andy checked and I did as well. The river came up an 8s, and the board read 7c - 5h - 2s - Kc - 8s. This time Andy led out and bet $300. I put him on A - 8 or some mediocre hand at best, certainly not a king. So I called and low and behold he had K - J offsuit. I was stunned, I mean the call preflop was questionable but still not that bad of a call, but the call on the flop?! That was very bad, awful at best. I mean I probably should have put him on the king, but come one, unless you have pocket K's, or big slick, there was no reason to call that hand on the flop. I got up and took a walk after that, which was probably the smart thing to do. I tried doubling a couple more times, but kept splitting pots against weaker hands. I finally ended up going out somewhere between 13th or 16th, not sure when exactly.

The second game started out a little worse. Dave, who seems to be my nemesis, was sitting to my right. The first hand I was in the big blind and I picked up Ah - Jh. There were two or three limpers so I bumped it to $80 to go. Sure enough, Dave calls me, everyone else did the smart thing and folded. The flop came up Jc - 10d - 7d, giving me top pair so I bet out after Dave checked it to me. I bet about $180 and Dave called me. The turn was Kh, and Dave led out and bet $200. I had mid pair and a gut shot so I called. The river came up 8h and Dave once again bet out $200. I should have folded but instead I wanted to see what Dave called me with, so I called. Dave turned over Kc - 10c, and once again, I was short stacked. I got most of my stack back a few hands later against Dave, but I still didn't have a lot of chips. We made it to the table merge after Jim and Paul got busted by Dave who made a terrible call, what a shock, with an alright hand. I ended up being sandwiched in between Mark and John, not the most favorable position to be in. The second hand I got dealt was Pocket K's. The blinds were now $40 - $80, and was second to act, I raised it to $260, and I got two calls, George and Elaine. The flop came up 2c - 5c - 7c, I was first to act and I didn't want to take any chances, so I went all in for my remaining $990. George called and so did Elaine. I figured I was toast and I started to pack up my stuff. The turn came 5h, and both George and Elaine checked. It was obvious that they were both on flush and / or staright draws, but no one had hit anything yet. So needless to say I was relieved, but still very nervous going to the river. The river was 3s, and once again both George and Elaine checked. I turned over my K's, and George mucked and so did Elaine, and I won a huge pot. That set me up for the rest of the tournament and I ended up finishing in 4th place, not a win, but hell, after the past few weeks, I ain't gonna complain. I didn't get much seperation from Marc and Niki, but it was still enough to at least let me breathe, at least for a little while.

In the end, I was pleased with the way I played, even in the face of some really weak play. I did everything right with the exception of a few hands and I got points which was absolutely great. I guess these last 7 weeks aren't going to be a total loss. Let's see if I can repeat this performance with another good showing in two weeks. Until next time everybody, later!

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