A Tens Finale

I waited 10 months for the forum league final. In fact, I had been waiting the longest of any of the runners as I qualified first. I was guaranteed my seat, more or less, just 8 days into the campaign. I had won the first MTT (28 runners) and finished 2nd in the next game (30 runners) so my lead was essentially insurmountable already.

I actually won the next month as well and again in June (so I would have qualified then if I had not already - but the rules sensibly called for the runner up to qualify instead).

Eventually, the final came around. I was very much hoping that the karma would be with me.

It seemed it might me.

Early on, I opened for 200 (blinds 25/50) with 5-2o (the Gutshot powerhouse) and received one caller. I was rewarded with an A-2-2 flop !

I decided to play it very cautiously. Check/check on the flop. I bet 325 when the turn came a Ten (called) and then checked the river, hoping to pick up a bet. My opponent bet about half the pot and I decided that it was best to just call on the basis that the only hand that gives me action on this paired board is a house of 9s or Tens.

That was probably too cautious. My opponent showed JJ so I probably did not miss much. It's also important to realise that my hand wasn't all that disguised. In the forum game, you have to assume that 5-2 is always a major part of any player's range !

After playing very tight for the first 2 or 3 levels, I undoubtedly got too busy out of position and then compounded the error by not being prepared to back up my aggression. For example, in the big blind I called an EP min-raise with 7-6. Probably should have just folded right there.

The flop (K-7-2) was checked around. I now check-raised the turn (a nine) hoping to take it down, but the pre-flop raiser called. An Ace came on the river and I gave up. My remaining stack was about the size of the pot and I was covered. I checked, and the other player checked behind with QQ.

If I push on the river, then he may have some doubts that the Ace really helped me but for nearly all his chips, will he really call ? Actually, in many MTTs online I will push here and then be shocked when I get called by 88. But this player, I know, was pretty tight and I am all but certain that the move will work.

This aborted steal moved me from the chip lead down to 8th, and now I had to lay down twice after raising with suited AQ and AJ and being re-raised (both times the re-raiser had KK and showed). This put me on <10BB, and onto life support.

However, I got a double up when I re-raised all-in with 88 and was called by AK. The board ran out J-3-3-J-Q. I thought for a moment that the double pair had counterfeited my hand, but this pot took me back up into 2nd place !

It seemed like I was going to get a second chance, but in tournaments you are only ever one hand away from disaster.

pokemon opened from UTG+1 for 1,800 (blinds 300/600). I held red Tens on the button, with my newly doubled stack of 12,000. pokemon, a very solid player who had taken a player out with AA vs AK, had 22k and the chip lead.

Part of me said "don't tussle with the chip-leader. respect the early position raise. give him credit for a tight range" but more of me said "he can't call 12k. TT is the 5th best hand in hold'em. gotta be in it to win it".

Usually in these cases, I reason that there is no point in a potentially committing raise, so I pushed all in.

Of course he snap-calls with KK and it's all over. I am livid with myself !

Actually, I nearly got away with it when I turned the open-ended straight, but the best hand won and pokemon went on to dominate the event until he did eventually lose out to CarpeDiemD who seized the big pay-day in the end.

I am still slightly in two minds about my move. 20BB deep, I do find a hand as good as TT hard to get away from, but in hindsight I think I need to give a tight player in early position credit for a very narrow range. Depending on how he's feeling, he's probably only laying down AQ !

In reality, I probably should simply open-fold the hand. Afterwards, I can't believe I have waited so long only to get so impatient. I feel really quite upset at losing out.

However, CarpeDiemD (Dru from the forum - actually this is him) is a very good player who deserved the win. He's already cashed in WSOP events, so there's a decent chance that he will turn this package into something big. I have 2% of his action, so I'm not completely out of it !