DUDE PLAYS NO LIMIT TOURNEY AT NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

There were 13 players, with a $100 buy in to receive $200 in chips. There were several rebuys at the same 2:1 ratio. There were two tables, with my table hosting seven players. I got out to a healthy chip lead early, by playing solid poker and letting my opponents make mistakes. Two hands stick out as being particularly beneficial.

I played K3c in late position. Two clubs hit the flop, and there was no betting. A club came off on fourth street and after a check, the player in front of me went all in. I joined him in the pot and showed my king flush to beat his queen flush.

This gave me a huge early stack. Not long after, I held AK in the big blind and was raised by the always-raising guy. A couple of other players joined the pot, and I called. The flop came KJ4 rainbow. I checked to the agressive bettor, and he checked as well, but the next guy made a huge bet. I came back over the top, and he chose to go all in for $220, which I called, having the luxury of the chip lead already. Turns out he was playing AQ suited and his T never showed up, so my empire grew.

After this, I played very conservatively, and made big bets anytime I didn't want to be chased. Some guys were in for $300+ and I was still coasting off my initial $100. We had started at 7PM. At 9PM, the final rebuy opportunity was offered, so from then on, anybody who busts out is out of the tourney. When we were down to nine combined players, we consolidated to a single table. I was the chip leader heading into the final table. The host was paying out all the way to 5th place, with the winner taking about $1400. Big money for a home game.

I had every intention of tightening up at the final table and outlasting at least four players. The cards I got made it easy to fold every hand. The only time I played was AJ on the button, but the Big Blind came back at me and then made a strong bet on the flop with three low cards on the board, so I got off the hand. This, combined with the ever-increasing blinds were beginning to make me vulnerable. As players were busting out, their chips were creating new chip leaders, and I was falling into the pack.

At my most vulnerable, we were down to four players and I was on the big blind. The small blind called, and we saw a flop, which came J63 rainbow. He checked to me, and I went all in with A4. He thought very hard about calling, but in the end couldn't risk it. He had A7. I thought he made a good fold, but he would repeatedly call that fold the turning point of his night. He finished 4th eventually.

The next big hand came with Albert the chip leader going heads up against Dave, who was all in with his AQ. Albert had 66, and the flop came KJ9. Albert dodged the T and guarenteed me 2nd place.

Albert had a tremendous chip lead on me going into head-to-head play. The blinds increased to $200-400 and I had only about $700. I had to get some cards, because I was forced to play at least one of the next two hands. My first hand in the Big Blind, I got Q7. Albert called and we saw a flop, which came AA3. Albert moved in for $700 forcing me to call all in. I figured he had no ace, so my main fear was that he held a K. I figured this was a good enough chance to take. If I could double up here, then one more double up, and we'd be about even, and I liked my chances if it got that far.

I show my Q7 and Albert shows TT. Yikes. The turn came Q, and the whole room was shouting for Dude the underdog. The river was a T and the tourney was over. Albert was in for $300 and took home $1400. I was in for $100 and took home $700. All in all, a great night of cards.