Round 8 (300-600 blinds, 75 ante; average chip stack 18,000+, 600 players left, tourney pays the top 297) I’m on the button and pick up two black jacks. Folded around to me and I raise to 1,600 which is fairly standard at this point. I’ve not been perceived as getting out of line at all at this table; I’ve been a fairly tight player (perceived anyway).
Big blind who has about 60,000 in chips, makes it 5,100. I now have a decision. I could fold my JJ to the table captain, and have about 16K. However, there’s now about 7,700 in the pot, costing me 3,500 (or about 20% of my remaining stack. I really believe I’ve got the best hand. I mean, only QQ, KK, and AA beats me and AK, AQ is a coin flip. Five hands. I decide quickly I’m not laying it down, and then even quicker that I cannot just call. Blinds are going up to 400-800 (100) in 10 minutes. I shove. I’m saying, hey “I’ve got the goods 10’s or higher”…..”…. There’s fold equity (I believe) as it’d cost him 13K (about 25% of his stack. He thinks about 10 seconds and calls. I’m praying he’s got AK, AQ, but moreso 10,10. He’s got 9,9. Ok….now it’s just to just hold up. 81% favorite. Flop looks good initially….Q,5,4….however three hearts (are you kidding me????)….turn a black blank, and river……….a King….a red…..HEART. C’mon!!!!!!!!!!!! You’ve got to be kidding me.
Perfect poker for eight hours…gone, done! Sick, sick to my stomache. Eight rounds, eight hours of play, lasting 10 hours (including breaks). I win that pot and I have about 39K or so in chips, more than 60 big blinds, and average chip stack, 18-20K. I’d have been 3rd in chips at our table. Table captain, would have been knocked down to about 40K.
All for naught…. In hind-site, I played one of my best sessions of poker ever actually. I don’t regret in the least shoving my JJ. Luck,…bad luck got in the way, this time. Unlike last year when nerves probably played a little role in my undoing…this year, I felt confident; I felt as if I was one of the top three players at every table I played.
Next year!!!
