1 of 86 European Daily

I began taking notes midway into this one so that I'd have a detailed account rather than just a bragging session should I win.

I thought I had a free ticket, but I guess those are all used up. Since both kids are out of the house on play dates, I decided to throw $54 cash at this tourney

I suffered a bad beat that reduced my stack to $450. I waited for a chance to double up, which never came, then, in the big blind, I took a stand with 98c against two players. To my delight, I scored trips on the flop and beat KK and 99. Suddenly, I had a respectable $1350. Soon after, I was rewarded with AA, which held up, enabling me to triple up again. Before long, my stack sat at $10,800 and I was 2 of 24.

The chip leader had $16K and I had $11K when this disaster occurred: flop = T34 two clubs. Three-way action. I check with 44. Next guy bets large and the third guy raises. I want that pot more than I want to get cute, so I go all in. I held a club, which decreased the odds of seeing a flush beat me. The original bettor went all in with his QQ and the third guy folded. A win here would put me in first place by far with $27K, but a Q hits on fourth street, and I am reduced to $3100. Back in the pack in time for the hour break, while the Queens guy resides in first place.

Early in the second hour, I get AA, and see my opportunity to double up, which I do, pulling back into 7th place of 16 remaining. I lose a few, then double up again with KK, which brings my stack to $8963/6 of 15.

I play against an all-in short stack with my AQ. He shows AKs, but my Q flops as part of a lovely rainbow. Two spades follow and I lose to the back door flush. $5628/11 of 14.

The A3 goes all in. I play him with my AQ. The board comes 3xxQ3. Ouch.

I play AQ versus AT. The board comes perfectly AQT. I bet, he goes all in, I take him out. I take another guy out on the very next hand to climb into first place with 11 remaining. Top ten spots pay, but only the top two get $320 tickets to the monthly Main Draw tourney.

The aces keep coming, and the run is welcomed. I match an all in AJ with my AK and I take him out, which brings us to the final table. I am in first place with $30K.

I have lots of cash, so I play J7h in the big blind despite a raise. The flop comes 7J5. I check, there is a big bet, and I take him all in. He puts all his money in with KJ, but my top two pair holds up. I now have $41K.

A short stack goes all in under the gun. I am in the big blind, so I join him with my A7. He has A2, but flops a deuce and doubles up.

At the two hour point, I am in first with 69.9K, against 25.6, 22.1, and 11.4.

I play 96 and 887 flops. I check/call. Fourth street is a T. I check, and the AT goes all in. I take him out. With three players remaining, I have 101K versus 15 and 8.

The third place player goes all in preflop. I join him. I have A5, but he shows A6. The board insults me: Ax6A5. He doubles up, but proves short-lived.

Heads up, I have a tremendous chip advantage. I made him go all in, but he beat me to double up and pull rather too close for comfort. The last hand looked like this:

I hold J8d. The flop comes 689 w/two diamonds. I check, he bets, I go all in. He goes all in with J7. Dummy is on a draw. I win the tourney and the $320 ticket and $1100 cash.