I had an interesting day at a tournament at Thunder Valley last weekend. Here are a couple hands I remember....
On the VERY FIRST hand of the tournament, I flopped a Queen-high diamond flush (with Ace of diamonds on the board). I decided to slow play it, so I just called the opening bettor. The jack of diamonds came on the turn and everyone checked. The river was a blank and then I faced an opening bet of 800 (blinds started at 25-50).
I should have seen this as an alarm bell, but I knew that only one card could beat me: The King of Diamonds. So I go all in, and I'm called. She turns over the King and I'm knocked out, on the VERY FIRST HAND.
I re-enter.
At my new seat, I do pretty well, and I make it all the way to the final table and past the bubble. Very happy that I'm going to be getting my two entry fees back at least. Now lets see how much more I can get out of this.
At one point, I folded Ace King when faced with an All-in ahead of me. These are the kinds of things you have to do at the final table. Be conservative and wait for others to self-destruct.
Then came one of the prettiest hands of all time....
I had Ace Queen, and I limp in along with three others including the blinds. Four limpers with the blinds at 6000. The flop comes out A-A-Q and I have a full house.
I'm thinking....please, somebody bet!....as I check.
The turn is a blank, and I'm still waiting for a bettor to trap. Nothing.
The river comes another Ace! I have quad Aces!
Still no betters, so I shrug coyly and say "ok, I'll take a stab", hoping that someone will think its a bluff and call me. I bet out 12000, but much to my dismay everyone folds.
I flip over my beautiful hand to enjoy my moment of glory.
In the end, we chopped the pot at the final 7 and I took home about six times the entry fee.
