Poker: Reading Casino Trip

Went to Reading Casino for the £50+5 No Limit Freezeout tournament yesterday.    The first problem was getting in as due to the Reading Festival, there were people everywhere and was temporary railings blocking access all along the road.  Of course the Casino was open and had a couple of people on the gate to let people in!

I was the first to buy-in and also went for the optional extra 1000 chips for an additional £5, so will be starting with 6000 chips in total.    Whilst waiting for the tourney to start, went on the Roulette.  Had a pleasant half hour with my funds going up and down (well, down then up actually) but in the end decided to cash in when I had got back to my starting level.   Then tried my luck at Blackjack, which went down then up again... so only played around 20 minutes and left the table £10 up !   Then had a final bet on Roulette to try and break even for the night, but lost £50 instead... of well, that's gambling for you :-)

At last it was time for the Poker to start.  There were a total of 20 runners in the end, although several were late comers,  so was never more than 9 players on each table at any one time.  My table was playing mainly tight, with a one chap looking like a novice and one other who was a bit of a chance taker.   I had "Granny" to my immediate left who seemed to call with two high cards and raise with any pair over 8, so seemed easy to read.

As the game progressed I was playing mainly tight but limping in cheap when I could.   My first real hand was poker jacks in early position, so played them fast.  I got one caller and was very happy to see another Jack it the table, but there was a flush draw possibility so bet out again and got called.    The turn paired the board so had the nuts and checked, hoping for some action but it got checked for the river.  The river brought a Q and completed the flush draw, but my bet didn't get any action, bit of a shame but was happy enough to take reasonable pot.

By the first break I was around 8000 chips, slightly over average.   The restart saw me build up my chips a little bit, but then I raised with KJ clubs and had Granny re-raise all-in.    I presumed I was behind but was only another 2500 to call, and sure enough she had AT     She hit T on the flop but a Q came on the turn to give me more outs, but none of them came and I was down to around 4500 chips.

I struggled after that and the next break came when we got down to the final table, and I was around 4000 chips with the average now around 11'000.    Luckily I drew seat 8 so had some time before the blinds came round.   With 10 players there was a reasonable amount of action so didn't get any opportunity to make a move.   

Another player went down when Granny got pocket 8's and went all-in.   Pocket 8's had been the pair of the night, having seen them showdown (and win!) at least 3 times before, and sure enough Granny took the pot and we're down to 9 players

With the blinds now 800/400 and approaching me fast, I look down at A-Q offsuit.  With the UTG player limping in and the next two players folding, I stick my chips into the middle and only get called by the UTG player... but he has got the dreaded pocket 8's !   Sure enough I don't improve (he actually made a straight on the river as well) and I am out in 9th.   (only the top 3 places paid out)

After a quick consolation go on Roulette, I end up having played in the Casino for over 4 hours at a total cost on the night of £50... which isn't bad in my view. 

On reflection, I think I played OK and didn't make any huge mistakes.   Had a couple of chances to get chips and would have played the final hand the same way with the cards face up.... so not a bad nights poker either.