Back from Hiatus - But Not Such a Good Showing

Well, life and reality sure have a way of interrupting one's visions of grandeur. Since I don't exactly have the bankroll to quit my day job, I have been putting in some grueling hours at the office. As such, I have not had extra time on my hands to chase my dream. In addition, I am currently the primary bread winner for my family of five, so taking risks has had to take a back seat to maintaining security.

Well on Saturday, May 16, 2009, I decided to play Day 1b of Event #16 of the California State Poker Championship. I believe I played well, paced myself, and caught some good hands - most of which held up. At the beginning of the tournament, I initially sat downstairs in Commerce Casino's high stakes poker room. My first table was cold-decked. Flop after flop, nothing but coolers. In one hand, three-players who each held pocket pairs split the pot when the board rivered Broadway - ha, ha, ha, I had pocket 2's. In the middle of level 3, the table was moved upstairs, but after only three or four hands the table was collapsed and we were all sent off in different directions.

I was sent to another table and sat across from notable poker professional, Mimi Tran. Unfortunately, as I was settling into my chair, she lost a big pot and was left with just 700 in chips. Mrs. Master was knocked out just a few hands later so, I did not get the opportunity to watch her play. I doubled up once and picked up a few additional small pots right before the level ended and the first break of the tournament began. After the break, people started dropping like flies and the table was broken down just a few minutes into level 4. It took only 4 hours of play to get down to 300 players from the initial field of 850 contenders, and the blinds had just gone up to 300/150+25 at level 6. There were two dominating chip leaders at my table (Table 14), and a few short stacks - - but otherwise, I had about the same amount of chips as 6 other players. However, with the blinds going up and players going out, I felt it was time to make some moves. I had been sitting at my table for over an hour and my table presence was well established.

At Table 14, in Seat-9 was a gentleman who was clearly sitting on a heater, he was the table chip leader and top 10 in chips for the remaining field. Round after round he caught hands that held up or cracked his opponents' hands; several times he knocked out two seats for the price of one. I personally witnessed Mr. Horseshoe (as I have affectionately named him) bust 5 of the 7 knockouts during the hour hand a half I sat at table 14.

Just a few hands later, and about 10 minutes into level 6, I pick up A/Q in mid-position. Mr. Horseshoe had limped under the gun and I took note...he had to have a small or mid-pair because every time he limped, he turned over pocket pairs under 9s at the showdown. The action folded around to me and I had a decision to make. I had excellent table presence by that time, so I shove out of Seat-4. I know Mr. Horseshoe was the man to double through (he had me covered 10 to 1) and I needed to isolate him.

Action folded back around to Mr. Horseshoe, and after about 5 minutes of thought, counting and recounting his chips, and peeping at his hole cards, he called. We turned our hands over and Mr. Horseshoe showed pocket 7s. The flop went 2-3-4 with 2 clubs on board. I had the Ace of clubs, so even if I had limped pre-flop, Mr. Horseshoe had an over-pair and we all know he would have put me all-in on that flop - - and since I had over cards, I calculated I had about ten outs plus a runner-runner club draw...yeah - this was an all-in hand no matter how you sliced it. A red Queen hit on the turn - yeah buddy! The table cheered. I was ahead and a HUGE favorite! He was drawing to two outs by the time that turn hit the felt. I had the entire deck working for me, the river could be any card - - any card but a seven. In fact, not only had I beat his 7s, but it appeared that my hand could only improved while he was a 4% underdog and was drawing all but dead. Again, I'm only afraid of two 7s (did anybody fold a seven?).

Well, I may have been a huge favorite to double up and be 3rd in chips at that table, but I did not christen him Mr. Horseshoe for nothing. While many have told me that I generally run well and have some luck on my side, that guy had a horseshoe firmly lodged up his butt! Yup, you guessed it, he caught his 7 on the river - - I was outta-there.

I felt good though. I had been running bad earlier in the year...I mean completely card-dead and cold decked. But I actually caught hands, survived a cold deck table, and made some great plays. I made great decisions, used my table presence for some well timed aggressive plays, my reads were good, and my gut felt finely tuned to what to hold and what to fold. Even with the bad beat...I know I am back on my game. Mr. Horseshoe almost folded -- he picked up his cards with this knuckles and tapped them on the table a few times with his right hand before he finally threw in his chips with his left. Most players in his position, with his chips against my meager stack would say it was an easy call, but his indecision made it clear to me that my presence was strong. He almost had the clock called him. I wonder if his horseshoe ran out of juice after that hand.

In addition, I got some mad love and support from my friends who had missed seeing me at the casinos. Moreover, I got some unexpected support from my on-line friends. Thank you for everything. I am feeling motivated and most likely will be playing Sunday's Event #17, 7-Card Stud.

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