Triple up

Well, not literally you understand, but I had the following triple whammy at the club on Wednesday night:

Firstly, I made a score in the £75 Freezeout. I finished 3rd/58 for £522 and whilst I would have preferred to come through for the outright win, I am obviously pleased to have had some pukka success there. It was really just a solid night's play - I avoided almost entirely the over-active play that usually gets me into trouble. I was lucky in the sense that I did well in the race situations, and avoided any bad beats.

It all started well in only about the 5th hand of the night. Blinds 25/50 (we started with 4,000). I was in the small blind and completed with 6h8h. The board came down Kh-7h-9c. There were three players in - one was a real maniac, then there was one straightforward player, and me. The maniac bet 500. The SP called. I have the up and down and the flush draw.

I think I could justify calling but I'm concerned someone could have a better flush draw (esp. the SP) and I don't necessarily put the maniac on any hand. I raised to 1,800. Maniac re-raised. SP reluctantly folded and I now had a decision. I called and was shown Q7 ! So I have all the 8s, Tens, 5s and hearts to win.

8 on the turn, and then a heart on the river as well. The SP actually did have a better heart draw. This doubled me up, anyway.

I was quiet after that until my next double up was with my QQ vs AK. I also won races with my KQ vs 88 and again with my 99 vs KQ. None of my races was for my tournament as I was always at the top end of chips. Once we were down to 2 tables, I was pretty cautious and so when we reacehd the final table, I had only 19,500 out of a total of 232,000.

Mind you, the chip leader had 71,000 with the next largest around 26,500 only ! So I was average of the remaining stacks.

The key hand on the final table was only the second hand. I had AsQs on the big blind. MP player raised to 6k [blinds 1k/2k no ante]. I pushed for 19,500 and he called with AhQh !!

The flop contained one heart and one spade, and then running spades doubled me up and left the other player on 6,000. He finished 9th soon afterwards. Meanwhile I moved into a clear second place.

It came to be pretty close amongst the last 4 of us. Once 4th was taken out, I lost most of my chips when pushing in the SB with 78 to be called by 66. I had one BB left (8,000) and put it in with K3 next hand. I tripled up (hit three pair). Next hand, SB pushed and I called with A3. He had Q8 and hit both.

Out in third. The remaining two did an even chop a few minutes later.

So - that was part 1 of 3 !

But I also (ii) made a few $ playing on line cash (I only played for 15 minutes or so but was practising super tight play !) and (iii) did not lose any money playing live cash. This was despite bluffing off £300 in two insane hands. Don't ask.

So, all in all I felt it was a victory for solid play although, to be fair, I don't think anyone thinks I am a rock yet !