If I didn’t know I was doing it—and it was happening to someone I didn’t like—it would be almost funny.
Wins with 8♦ 8♥ and Q♣ Q♠ had doubled me up fifteen minutes into the game, putting me well into the lead at my table. Then an attempt to close the action when I made top pair on a 7♣ 4♦ 4♣ board by pushing the smaller stack all-in to call backfired when he called with a far-behind K♠ A♥ but paired on the turn. Down to 650 chips.
But because I’m good, I managed to battle back up over 3K (including 1,100 won with A♥ J♥ flushing) as other players were eliminated. I’d even made it to the edge of the Step 3 ticket barrier, going in and out as stacks changed on both tables. I lost a little on one call that I backed off of but I was still over 2,600 when I got J♦ A♠ on the big blind at 60/120. UTG went all-in and everyone else folded. I didn’t need to call. He had 1K less than I did. I could get the chips on a less-dodgy hand. But I called and he flipped over Q♦ A♣. I got two pair but the board was A♥ K♠ 3♥ J♥ T♠ and he got the straight.
Fine. I was down to 1,256. Ten big blinds. I went all-in from the small blind with 1,076 and K♦ J♣. The button called with 9♦ 9♠. The board was 7♦ A♦ 4♥ 3♦ T♠, leaving me short a queen for the straight and a diamond for the higher flush.
Out in 11th place with no ticket.
Saw The Jim-Jams last night. My puffmammy nemesis D is playing the Encore Club‘s $5K Tournament of Champions Freeroll tonight because he won a tournament there last month. I wish him luck but hope to crush home come our next game (which is going to make me miss Stan Ridgway‘s show next week).