WNP CUPCAKE CLASSIC NO LIMIT TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER TOURNAMENT

Saturday Jan 29, 2005. 2PM.

I played my first tournament yesterday. It took place at my cousin's house and was organized by BT. He did a great job, kept close track of when the blinds were supposed to go up, who got knocked out by who and when, etc. Fagone and his dad donated a couple of nice tables for the event.

There were three tables and from what I hear from people at the other tables, my starting table was the most aggressive. Everyone started with 2000 chips and the blinds started small 10/20...then went up for the rest of the day as follows:

BLINDS: 2pm: 10/20. jump every half hour for the next four levels: 15/30; 20/40; 25/50; 50/100. jump every hour for the remaining levels: 75/150; 100/200; 150/300; 200/400; 400/800; 500/1000; 600/1200; 800/1600; 1000/2000.

My table had 9 players to begin with: my cousin, Keith, Romano, Oakie's dad Paul (a real nice guy), a girl named Bonnie, a guy named Ruben, and I can't remember the other three starters right now. Paul and Bonnie were both interesting people to play against. Paul pretty much played tight and Bonnie was the most aggressive player at the table, she stole a lot of pots, won a lot of pots, took in a lot of chips, and eventually made it to the final table along with Paul.

I played tight at the first table, I loosened up a couple of times when the position was right, but none of my moves payed off. I came up against Paul on a hand (who was sitting directly to my left), I was in the little blind, everyone else had either limped in or folded, so I raised it up $200 with 10,K suited...a was making a play at the pot. Paul raised it up $500. Everyone else folded, I layed down my hand. Later he told me he had pocket 9s.

We dropped down to 2 tables sometime after 5pm with 20 people left. Paul and Romano moved with me to the next table. There were a few other players I've played with at WNP as well. I was looking down at a short stack, not the shortest, but I was down to about 1000. I knew I needed to double up and I did on the third or fourth hand with pocket rockets (my second pocket As of the day). After this hand I was ready to change my play a little and make some moves. A couple of hands later I had pocket 7s and was in the blinds. Most people folded or limped in so I raised it up $300, making a play at the pot. Everyone folded except for a guy named Jake who I didn't know. He smooth called. I knew I might be in trouble. The flop came Q, and rags. I was first to act so I bet heavy again, and Jake raised me. This is when I should have folded and moved on to the next hand, but I thought for a couple of minutes, counted my chips, and moved all in for $1100. He called and showed trip Qs. The turn brought me a third 7 but the river was a rag. I was knocked out, 15th eliminated, I finished right in the middle. My brother had been knocked out 5th I think and my cousin was out one after me.

My brother played smart and I was proud of him. He told me he only played about 4 hands...and he stuck around for a couple of hours. He moved all-in on the flop with the nut flush draw. BT called him with the flopped flush (he held 9,7). My brother didn't make his flush, he was knocked out. I don't think it was a bad move on my brother's part, but probably a better move for a cash game where he could have bought back in. I was out of the hand at my table so I got to watch Jimmy's last hand. It hurt to see him knocked out.

The day was a lot of fun. I stuck around afterwards and played a side game for a bit. Right away I made two great hands, trip 4s and 7s. My best hands of the day, ha.

I'm ready for another tournament...and looking forward to Wednesday night.

*added monday jan 31, 2005.
I forgot to mention the buy in for the tournament was $30.
I obviously lost my buy in. I didn't play the side game for very long, a half hour or so. i bought in for $20 and cashed out for $30. So in total i was down $20 for the day...but well worth the experience.