Tournament Talk

Thursday, December 8th., 2005 (By the PokerStrategyKing)

I recently played in a $100 buy in tournament at a local card game up in Rockland county, New York. There were 47 players with a $4,700 prize pool. In this article, as I do once a month, I will provide you with a recap of a tournament with some key hands. This hand was chock full of big hand after big hand. The quality of hands I had were just incredible. You’ll see what I mean

Hand #1
My Hand – Ad-Ah
Blinds – 25/50
Early on in the tournament, I picked up the rockets in the Big Blind. Generally, in the first couple rounds, I only like to play big hands and this definitely fit that criteria. A middle position player made it $150 to go and the button and I both called. Why didn’t I raise? Well, to be honest, I just wanted to try to trap my opponents who probably wouldn’t put me on a big hand.

Flop –As-Qd-7d
What a great flop for me. I flopped top set as well as a backdoor diamond flush draw. I checked and incredibly, with $550 in the pot, it was checked around and we all got a free card.

Turn – 4d
Ok, Now this card was a bit scary as it put 3 diamonds on board. I do have a solid redraw to the nuts though so I’m not overly concerned. Again I checked with the intent of check-raising. I was prepared to re-raise all in if I had to. There was jus no way I would fold top set with the nut flush draw. The middle position player bet out $500 and the button player re-raised all in for his remaining $1200. I called as did the other player and there was $4,075 in the pot. The cards were flipped over. The early player had pocket Queens and flopped a set of Queens and the button player had pocket 7’s and flopped a set of 7’s. Unless one of them hit quads, this hand and huge pot was mine.

River - 2d
What a lovely card. It gave me my nut flush though I didn’t need it and I know had the tournament chip lead. A lead I might add, I would never relinquish.

Hand #2
My Hand – Kh-Qh
Blinds – 100/200

In this particular hand, I picked up these big suited connectors on the button. The Under theGun player led out with a raise to $600. The small Blind and I both call. There is $2000 and 3 players.

Flop - Jh-10h-4d
What a nice flop this was for me in position. I flopped n open-ended straight flush draw. Not bad at all. The under the gun player is checked to and bets out $700. Both I and the small blind called. There is now $4100 in the pot.

Turn – 9h
If I thought the flop was nice, the Turn was just crazy. I hit my straight flush. I was now unbeatable for this hand no matter what happened. Then it got strange. It was checked to me. There was no way I was betting this and scaring players off. So I checked too and hoped someone would make a big hand on the river.
River – 4d

Ok, now there was an obvious flush and full house on board. And here I am in late position holding the stone cold nuts. The small blind goes all in for $1200 and then the under the gun player raised all-in for $3000. What a gift for me. I calmly call, turn over the nuts and take the pot of $13,000+. The small blind had Ah-3h for and Ace high flush and The under the Gun player had pocket 10’s for a full house. Tough break for these two. They ran into a juggernaut.

Hand #3
My Hand – 7c-8c
Blinds – 200/400
In this hand I was in middle position and I opened with a raise to $800. The button was the only player to make the call as both Blinds folded. There was $2200 in the pot and 2 players.
Flop – 5c-6s-4h
Can you believe my luck? I flopped the nut straight and this guy probably has me on overcards or a big pair. I’m checking this one. My opponent check behind me. I’m wondering what he has.

Turn - Kd
There is no way I can check this out of fear of not making any money. That would be a crime. So I made a bet of $1600 and my opponent smooth calls. I am so confused now. Not worried, just confused. After all you remember, I have the nuts here.
River - Ah
Ok, this card must have hit my opponent right? That’s what I’m thinking as I decide to fake weakness and check. The ace may seem like a scare card for me, but it doesn’t change the fact that my hand is unbeatable. So I check and my opponent goes all in for $5000. How many gifts am I going to get today? I call and take another huge pot. By the way, he had pocket Aces and hit a set on the River. The lesson as always, don’t slowplay kids.

Hand #4
My Hand – Kh-9h
Blinds – 800/1600
The final hand of the tournament seems almost anticlimactic when you look at these other wild hands I’ve described above. I had a 3-1 chip lead on my opponent. My opponent raised the minimum to $3200 and I make the call with what is, heads up, a very playable hand.

Flop – 10-Q-Q
This flop gives me an inside straight draw. No way am I bluffing here, at least not yet. I check and my opponent checks behind me.
Turn - Jh
The miracle Jack gives me a straight and I can hardly believe it. I check and my opponent moves all in. I really hope he doesn’t have AK. I call and he shows AQ. He flopped trips and I’m hoping to survive the last card.
River – 2d
And victory is mine. How about that. Did I get some great cards or what?

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing’s website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )

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