It seems we have been waiting for the final for an age, but at last the evening we have all been waiting for has arrived!
Bill and Mick were eager and waiting at the club when I turned up , Bill in his suit and tie "to distract the opposition" :-) Bill's pre-game prediction is me and him heads up, but him taking the title.... yeah right ;-)
Karen, Sean, "Andy x" and Alex completed the 7 seat final table (Bill and Sean bought in for £50 but no-one else was available to fill the final available buy-in seat)
My recollections are probably vaguer than normal as I got dropped off and was drinking ! From my recollections, the first level was a tense affair with a not much action and only small pots being played. I wasn't getting much in the way of cards, so was playing pretty tight. Second level was much the same, even Bill was playing tight and was paranoid about Karen, often folding whenever she bet out. Karen was doing nicely when she played a hand, betting a small amount on each round and taking the pot uncontested, although three or four times Sean called her down on the River, but believe Karen won all these confrontations!
The third level was key for me, when on the button there were 5 callers of the 75 BB so with A-Q os raised another 500. Sean called and everyone else folded. The flop came a nice A-6-5 but had two spades so wanted to make Sean pay for any draw he was on.... so put in 1000 bet. Sean quickly went all-in for another 2000.. My tournament was ruined if Sean had A-K or trips, but had to call... and was actually quite shocked to see I was way ahead as Sean had 9-8 hearts. My A held up and Sean was the first casualty of the night.
With a large chip lead I played more passively to the break where the chip counts were (roughly)
Me 6500, Mick and Andy 5500, Alex 4000, Bill and Karen 3500
As the blinds went up I got some good starting hands and was often taking the blinds, so managed to get up to around 8000 chips, but then in a few hands it all went horribly wrong. Bill was short stacked and went all-in. Can't remember the details but I must've had a hand as I called and am pretty sure I was ahead pre-flop... but Bill hit on the River and doubled up. A hand or two later and I was BB and checked when Mick made up the SB. We both checked the 8 high flop and I bet out 1000 into a 600 pot when a J came on the turn (complete bluff) but Mick went all-in (dammit....) As I had absolutely nothing I couldn't call the extra 2000. A hand or two later I was up against Andy. I thought my A-x was ahead on the low flop and turn but we were both checking. On the River a K came and Andy came out betting, so had to fold that one as well. I was now down to around 2800 chips in one round !!
Things went a bit quiet for me, but there was plenty of action for the other players. Andy busted out Karen then Mick got busted by Alex (I don't remember the details now, for those in the know feel free to add a comment) Despite my low chip count and desperate times, Bill is adamant the last two will be him and me, with him taking the win
With the blinds going up all the time and now 1000/500, I finally get a hand I feel has a chance to win something when under the gun, although it was only A-T os went all-in for around 2500 . I was dismayed when Andy and Bill called.... seemed like I would be in trouble. The flop gave me an A but with Andy going all in for another 3000 or so made me think I was out-kickered.... Bill thought for a long time and then called. Andy's K-8 was in deep trouble and Bill had 2nd pair or something like that, so I was ahead ! Andy didn't improve so Bill took the side pot, but my A held up to triple me up and I was right back in the game with three players left ! I had around 9000 chips in total which was just under average... Bill was chip leader and Alex had around 7500 (?)
The action didn't stop and somehow I took out Alex and had a large chip lead over Bill playing heads up.
Unfortunately my chip lead didn't last long when I put Bill all-in pre-flop with A-J and he called with Q-T He hit Q on the flop, and another Q on the turn and we now have pretty much exact chip counts (14000 each with blinds 2000-1000)
We then have a couple of hands where its folded pre-flop or just called down and small pots, then the last hand of the night starts with me getting J-T and raised to 6000. Bill goes all-in and although I have a feeling I am behind, have to call for my last 6000. Sure enough Bill has A-T and the A on the flop seals my fate.
Spookily enough we have our Winner!!
Bill takes the trophy and title of CamberleyBoyz Annual Satellite Tournament 2008 WINNER !
What can I say, I was up and down like a yo-yo and thought I was out first, out in 5th, then winning it... but can cope with 2nd place finish (for this year anyway :-) )
Bill played his normal way and managed to amass enough chips to survive when things went against him, so fair dues - a well earned victory. I think he was pleased with the win as he carried the trophy around with him the rest of the night !
Someone remind me in JANUARY next year that I need to get the 2009 tournament underway!!
Footnote : there was a cash game after with Sean, Karen, Alex, Bill, Mick and myself. It was a hectic and frankly bizarre game (Bill could hardly see his cards by now and Mick wasn't much better ;-) ) with Sean ending up with all the chips and winning the entire £75 fund.... at least that paid for his nights entertainment :-)
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