DUDE IN SADDLE

My poker has been nothing to brag about until now. I took a break to go to Europe, then it was about a week after returning home that I had the desire to play. I have always done very well after a layoff, but this time I just couldn't win. I was dribbling my profits away for weeks until last night. I played into the night at a $10-20 limit table, where I've had some luck in the past. I was able to make off with a cool grand, playing until 3AM.

This morning, I sat down at a $30 single table and played well. I died an ignoble death when I hit an unlikely straight on the turn, which gave my opponent two pair. He check-raised me all-in, which was fine with me until he filled up on the river. Suddenly out of the game, and within two minutes of 9AM, I signed up for the tourney about to begin, without knowing fully what it is. Cost me $45 to sit with 12 others (two tables) with a promised $420 ticket to a bigger tourney for the winner and $84 for runner up.

I made a bad call with second pair on my first hand when the big blind flopped a straight and set about extracting half my chips. So, I played catch up for awhile and at the final table, players kept disappearing until I was in the hunt. Three-way action, I began a distant third, but schmo was having terrible luck and I had a nice run to take most of his chips. Now, I just had to wait him out and collect my $140, as the chip leader was way out in front.

I kept folding my Ax and other delicassies when I wasn't in a blind, to give every chance for schmo to go up against the behemoth instead of me. Finally, I raised in the small blind with A3d and schmo played back at me. I was hesitant to do battle with him, but I had chips in the pot and I had him covered, so I played it. He had me beat preflop, but the flop came all small and all diamonds, giving me a straight flush! It was glorious.

I decided not to lay down against the behemoth, and I battled him until I pulled to within half of his stack, then I kept challenging him with all in offers. I got him to bite when I had him beat and suddenly I was the chip leader. Our final hand was his A3 vs my 44 and I dodged the bullet for the victory and the $420 entry into a tourney this weekend, winner of which goes to Monaco with $10,000 stake and $8,000 room and board.