Friday, December 05, 2008

Poker: Home Tournament - December 2008

It is the last game of the season ....  even though the top spot is already wrapped up, it is a big game for many people and everyone wants to win!

My table started off pretty tight and reasonably quiet with few huge lunges at the pot.   Of course it didn't last all that long with Sean on the table and chips were soon moving around a bit....    I had a flush draw and top pair on the flop with KQc but Derek was betting into it.   I reluctantly called as felt I had to improve to win.... unfortunately I missed my flush draw and Derek had hit trips on the flop, luckily I had only put in half my stack so still in with a chance !

Later on I was up against Bill and Derek, with a draw to a straight this time... luckily for me an A came on the turn to give me the nuts and started betting out, and was surprised when both called my all-in.   My straight held up and so I had tripled up and was now well over the starting stacks.

Sean and Bill seemed to keep running into each other, neither of them necessarily having a great hand... and even splitting the pot between them at least twice during the evening !

After the break things and with the blinds getting significant, the action got more frantic.   Derek hit trip 4's on the flop with A-4 and went all in.  Sean called with a 7 (hitting 2 pair)  so only a 7 could save him.... sure enough it came on the river... (luckily I had folded my K-4 pre-flop!)

We were soon on the final table, and Lee had maintained his impressive 100% record of points finishes so well done to Lee.... lets hope you don't keep it up next season ! :-)

On the final table, I was down to around 2500 chips and in the small blind.    With everyone folding and Bill on the Big Blind decided to lump it all in and (hopefully) at least get my money in ahead.... as it happens Bill made a rare fold so I had some breathing space to build up some chips.   Luckily I had a run of reasonable cards so did manage to accumulate chips.... unlike Darren who called Andy all-in and lost, then split a pot with Sean when they both had A-K (after Andy had lumped all-in with JJ)  then gave a load of chips to Bill when he needed an A or 3 on the river... and a 3 came !

With time running out and action all the way, people were down to the felt.... Lee was all-in twice on the BB but managed to double up both times so was clinging on....

By the last hand, Bill was way in front, I had around 9000 chips, Darren had around 6000 and Lee had around 2100.   Darren went all-in, I had A-3 and felt vulnerable so decided to go all-in... Bill dipped out as he could win by folding and Lee went all-in for his last 100.  Although I was ahead pre-flop, Lee won the lower pot and Darren beat me for the 2nd pot... leaving me in 4th place... !   oh well, that's Poker

So Bill takes his first win of the season, Darren takes another 2nd place and Lee finishes in the money for the 2nd time from 5 tries... well done to all

The end of season league table sees me 18 points ahead of Andy and Alex equal on 49 points, but Andy is given 2nd place on a count back of Wins... you can't get much closer that that !

Well done to all during 2008.... Merry Christmas to all and lets make 2009 another great year of Poker

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