Tourney time!

  
Session Two, Game Three

I made my first league final table last week, finishing in eighth, and scoring my first point of the season. My goal for this game was not just to make the final table again, but to come in with enough chips to be able to play. Last week I was handicapped, limping in to the final table with only enough chips to pick two cards and hope to double up a few times to survive.

In preparation for better league play, I started playing higher limits and six-handed on Full Tilt over the weekend. My win rate skyrocketed from a typical 13% to 36%, and I was cleaning up. It wasn’t just getting good cards – it was taking advantage of perceived weakness, being aggressive, taking more time to think before acting, and making good decisions. I decided to use the same approach with league play this week.

I was dealt ladies the very first hand and took it down without much resistance, despite an ace flopping. I proceeded to bet and raise my good hands, even pulled off a bluff or two, and built a decent stack.

Then things changed. I had a run of bad beats that crippled me. I was down to one $500 chip. Fortunately, I tripled up and then pentupled up before the rebuy period ended, and I saved myself some cash. The second catch put me in great shape, and I was chip leader at the table heading in to the break.

Table chip leader at the break

After the break, we were down to 13 players from the original 20. Blinds were getting bigger, and play was tightening up as we approached the final table bubble. Points are only awarded at the final table – 11 for first, down to one for eighth and ninth places.

After a few more bust outs, we were down to the final nine. We moved to the fina table, drew for seats, and sat down to play. There were a couple short stacks who had eked their way in, and at least three others with comparable stacks to mine.

Play got more aggressive as the short stacks busted out, and soon the blinds were 1500/3000. I had Q-10 in the cutoff, made a standard raise, and was only called by the big bling. The flop came K-J-3 and the BB checks. Normally I would have made a continuation bet, as I had been successfully doing all night, but I had a strong draw and opted to take a free card. The turn comes a nine, making my straight, and the BB goes all-in in front of me for 14k. I check my cards to make sure I have the straight, call, and knock him out. Now I am definitely the big stack at the table, and were down to five players.

My big chip lead allowed me to sit back and wait for premium hands as the others battled it out. I called two all-ins, won the hands, and eliminated players from the table. When we got down to three, I sat back and let the two short stacks battle it out, until only one remained.

All the chips!

Wow! Not only did I make it further than ever before in league play, but now I’m heads-up for the game. My opponent showed that he was looking to double up or go out quickly, going all-in in the first three hands, regardless of whether I called or raised him first. Fourth hand, I get A-9, and he is first to act, changing it up and making a standard raise. I shove all-in over his raise, and he calls with two undercards. The flop comes J-4-4 missing him, and then I turn a 9 – securing the win and scooping all the chips! 😀

Not only did I play well, I got good cards, and got lucky a few times. However, I was only ever all-in when I was down to my last $500, I wasn’t at risk of busting the whole night. I started strong, kept playing well, making smart decisions, and dragging many pots. A great night!