Update: For my table-mates in the opening I had A-T offsuit. Here's how I played it:
I was in the 1s, the 2s was empty, asphnxma (what the heck is your given name?) was in the 3s and had the button. Lassiter in the 4s, jdmoore99 warmed the 5s, Scott in the 6s, the 7s was empty and rounding the table out was performify and The Venetian (same for you - you have a first name? I'll call you "TV" for short) in the 9s.
It was folded around to TV who put in a minimum raise of t-20. I was next to act and was looking at the Ac-Td. Now part of my thinking here was to get a feel for the table and this hand wasn't a bad hand to test the waters with. The minimum raise made the call an easy one. If this were later in the tournament, cold-calling with A-T would have been eliminated as an option - it would be either raise or fold. I figured TV for strong over cards or a low-medium pair.
The rest of the table folded leaving me and TV vying for the pot. The flop came As-Js-2s. TV bet a little more than ¾ of the pot, which gave me pause. Now I had to reason this out. First, I thought he didn't have the flush - I figured if he did, he would have checked it or come in with a softer bet to get me to stay in. Then I thought, his bet was enough to get me off a strait draw but not so big as to lose a big chunk should I, indeed, have the flush. Now here, calling was certainly not an option. I figured we were both looking at a pair of Aces. Now it was a question of who would blink first. So I rattled my armor a bit, and raised another t-75.
I don't think this made TV very happy. He thought for a loooong time and then relinquished the pot. The first pot went to me. I'm curious, of course, as to what TV was holding. 8^)
I welcome comments, criticism, insight. I played it the way I did because I thought the circumstances were right to do so. This was a tourney that gave me some good hands for analysis. I'll be looking the history over and perhaps will post some more for discussion.
--end update--
I gave it my best. But 'twas not good enough. I was fortunate to receive some decent cards early on, but I was also able to capitalize on others mistakes. One hand in particular I'll point out, if for no other reason than to demonstrate the danger of merely limping into a pot.
One of the cardinal rules of tournament poker is if you are first in raise the blinds - don't limp!. This particular hand, I was in the Big Blind with 8-6 clubs it was limped and called around to me, so I checked. We had a family pot. The flop gave me a flush draw, a strait draw, and a strait flush draw. In other words, I had outs. There was also an overcard. I put in a bet of about a third of the pot (I think - I'm foggy on the details). And got one caller. The turn gave me my strait. I carefully extracted some chips from my opponent. On the river I put him all in - he called and was out.
I don't think I need to spell out the lesson here. Had that pot been raised preflop - I would have folded. Consequently, that pot gave me some momentum and I was able to build from there and enjoy some time with the cool kids at the top of the leader list.
But I didn't get to stay there. After a couple of table moves, I blundered a couple of hands and then finally went out on a K-J suited - another bunder. I raised pre-flop and was re-raised which was called by a third player. Instead of being a good girl and folding, I pushed. Folding would have left me with a weak stack, but I wouldn't have been dead. I lost the race and was out at #49.
TuckerKatt is now the proud owner of his very own Disney's Pixar Finding Nemo 'Dory' Squeeze Light - I know he must be proud of his accomplishment - especially since, as I write this, he has just knocked a guy out by rivering a set of ducks and now has just gone out third! I'd like to think it was my chips that gave him the magic to get as far as he did. Well, mine and few dozen others' no doubt.
One loan blogger Two bloggers - battling it out now Todd Commish - making a valiant effort as I write this. They are about even in chips - Todd has come back from near death - and he has now taken the lead. Oops now he's down a bit - and getting plenty of "expert" advice from the rail - lol.
This may be it - oops - not yet. Todd's down to 43K to Dew's 148K. Todd's not giving up - kudos! He's coming back again - arrrg - down again. He keeps getting up from the mat.
Here we go - all in - Dew folds. Now they are trading blinds. Todd is inching back - blinds at 2K-4K $200 ante. A big bet from Dew - Todd's called for time - if he calls he's all-in - he calls! Q-8 to J-8 flop - 5-6-7-8-6 - Todd takes it down!
Oh no - he gives it back - A-3 against A-K.
Here we go, this could be it, ladies and gentlemen Todd is all-in with K-9 against Dew's 7-4. Here come the cards T-7-6-3-T and it's all over! MtDewVirus takes 1st! Todd takes a very respectable and hard fought for second.
This was great fun - and what a wonderful turn-out. Mr. Wheaton was flying under the radar leaving much speculation as to which alias he was playing under. It appears most money was on "thehammer72" - will he fess up? Who knows.
Thanks, again, Iggy for organizing the tourney and getting this mish mash of folks together once more. I am looking forward to the next one.
