Northern Colorado Poker Wiki

Union Plaza, November 14th, 2005

• I was sitting at a $25 shootout table with Ann. This is her first ever touranment in Vegas. We were waiting to get on a $35 sit-go table and decided to jump into the $25 shootout (25/50 initial blinds, 1000 starting chips, $200 winner take all table) just because they had 8 already on the list and we'd round the table out. Always a good idea to take these opportunities and get the pit boss to notice that you're nice people, especially if you're eyeing comps later.

  Anyway, I draw my seat and end up in the 10 position. Ann is in the 4 position so at least we didn't end up having worry about jockeying position with each other. The deal ends up starting at the number 2 position, giving Ann the initial big blind. The first 2-3 hands go round with little action, so far not an aggressive table. On the 4th hand, I pick up A-6 spades and call the big blind ($50). We get 6 other callers, so a respectable $300 pot. The flop comes down A-6-3 rainbow, playing a hand I normally wouldn't touch, nets me top two pair. Number 5 position player bets out with a $200 bet and everyone folds to me. I decide that picking up half a stack right now would be good enough, so I decide to raise at the pot instead of just calling. I push back a $300 raise at him. He's re-raises me All In. I stop to think, could he have pocket Aces, possible but very unlikely. Maybe KK and QQ, but I think it likely that he was playing A-K or A-Q. That might merit an all in re-raise if he thinks he has me out kicked. Since I can't fathom anyone re-raising with an Ace on the board without an Ace in the hand and I'm only beat by pocket Aces, I call. He turns up A-9, one pair only and a horrible kicker. You never know what you'll see at a tournament table. Anyway, I'm feeling very good about the hand. I'm looking to make a quick double up. The turn comes down Q. Initially, not a card to worry. Misses his hand completely, I think that only a 9 on the river can save him (quickly, do you agree?). I forgot about the implications of the Q hitting the turn. In and instant before the dealer turns the river, I realize that that represents 3 more outs for him. And then, bam, the river comes down a Queen. We now both have 2 pairs Aces and Queens, however, he has a 9 kicker to my 6 kicker. I'm wiped out. Actually to add a little salt to the wound, since he sat for a little and big blind in the previous 2 hands, I'm left with exactly 75 in chips with the button marching toward me. I sit for 2 hands and finally pick up KQ unsuited to go all in on. I get drawn out by an Ace on the river and it's over. On the plus side, Ann stayed at the table and eventually finished 3rd (in her first ever Vegas tournament) and I got in on the $35 sit-go a few minutes later and eventually won that tournment.