My biggest cash ever

Last Sunday, I played the £40k for the first time in two months. I played as it change and I just fancied having a go.



I had reached the final table twice before, both times coming 10th. Tonight, I would go a fair bit further!
A slow start, but I managed to chip away at adding to my stack. I made three sizeable jumps in the first hour, every time kessel1969 paid me off. Firstly with AJ against 76 on a board with an Ace and a six, the second when holding AK on a QAA board, kessel could not let go of KK, which moved me up to 5300 chips and finally when kessel called my all in reraise with K9 on a 9T45 board, I had JJ. Meaning at the end of the first hour I had progressed nicely to 7460.

Hour2, I fluctuated up and down, playing a lot more hands than usual, I lost a fair amount with QQ, but moved forwards when Robonose continued to try and bluff nothing (J9) against my AK which had hit a King. I also made great progress when Garfy move all in with AT on a Q8J flop, I had AQ and had to call for 30% of my stack. I ended Hour 2 at 17022 and in great shape.

Hour 3 I intended to slow up and consolidate, in reality I slowed up too much and played very little, my stack had dwindled to 12297.

Hour 4 I needed to play more and was helped right away by Daddy_g, who reraised me all in with AK, when I was holding AA. Immediately up to 19k. I doubled up in level 11, dolk reraised me preflop and I called with AK. The flop came JKA. I checked, he bet half the pot. I moved all in and he called with AT and I was up to almost 38k! Hour 4, ended on 36864. So far so good.

Hour 5. Blinds are now 800/1600, so we have to keep busy. I split a pot with TrustInMe when we both had KK. However 9k disappeared from my stack when my AQ lost to KJ on a 3KA flop, A Jack on river hurt! I tried to take a few pots to get back into it, but lost another 5k with KQ and another 5k with TT. I am in trouble.
As we hit level 14 I am last of 23, with just under 10k, its time to get busy.

I steal a couple of pots, before I am caught stealing with QT, claypole has AT and it looks all over. The flop is 29k, I have a gutshot Jack or a queen my only hope. The turn is an 8. The river brings the miracle Jack and whereas the Jack on the river 30 minutes earlier sent me spiralling downwards, this time it put me on a high! I am back to 30k and I decide to get busy.
Spongebob the chip leader is raising everything, so I move over the top a couple of times and gain 14k to my stack. The third time I try it, I have 77 and Spongebob calls me with AQ. My sevens hold up and my stack is 83k. 9k a few minutes earlier, I am playing like I have nothing to lose, as I thought I was out.

As we approach the final table, my AK takes out Gav1000's AQ and I hit the final table with 124k in chips.

Final Table

Seat 1: Steveh1 (138544 in chips)
Seat 2: Spongebob (189164 in chips)
Seat 3: thedingo (104959 in chips)
Seat 4: ClintonO (123780 in chips)
Seat 5: plan9 (97586 in chips)
Seat 6: Clarkiej (51244 in chips)
Seat 7: Jespe2707 (50922 in chips)
Seat 8: Luffus (149943 in chips)
Seat 9: Learna (59690 in chips)
Seat 10: Skinnyman (84168 in chips)

I am determined not to go out in 10th place this time. I am sitting 4th surely that wont happen.

Spongebob continues his bluffing and wastes 40k on the first hand to thedingo.
I get a couple of useful hands and continue to grow my stack. KK on a 4A5 was worrying, but fortunately Luffus folds. At this point I have 190k and am in first position at the end of hour 5.

Hour 6, I will never be in a better position to win this tournament.
Learna goes out first. 44 no match for Spongebobs QT, who incredibly called an all in and another call with QT. 77 was the other hand. Spongebob continues to raise and races into a lead.

With 9 left I have KK, I raise to 12000, plan9 calls and then Jespe2707 moves all in for 79k. I call he had AQ and the cowboys hold, I have 256k and am neck and neck with Spongebob.

thedingo goes next with the same hand AQ losing to KK. Luffus slow played it very well.
Looking at the stacks now and the way the prize money is allocated, anything less than 3rd will be a major dissapointment.

Seat 1: Steveh1 (62854 in chips)
Seat 2: Spongebob (265800 in chips)
Seat 4: ClintonO (255202 in chips)
Seat 5: plan9 (89586 in chips)
Seat 6: Clarkiej (65988 in chips)
Seat 8: Luffus (271402 in chips)
Seat 10: Skinnyman (39168 in chips)

Spongebob hits a miracle 2 outer against Luffus and moves further in front.
I then get QQ.
Luffus raises to 16000 and I call. The flop is 49T.
I lead out for 16000, Luffus raises to 40000, which I call.

The turn is a J, I check to see what Luffus is up to and he bets 40000. Its a big bet, but even if I am behind at that price I have out, I call.
The river is a 4. It gives me two pair, so I am only behind to a set , as he wont have KQ.
We check the river down and he has JT. This is a major pot for me taking 100k of Luffus.

Seat 1: Steveh1 (50854 in chips)
Seat 2: Spongebob (402050 in chips)
Seat 4: ClintonO (335952 in chips)
Seat 5: plan9 (69336 in chips)
Seat 6: Clarkiej (43140 in chips)
Seat 8: Luffus (74832 in chips)
Seat 10: Skinnyman (73836 in chips)

Luffus loses a few more chips to Spongebob and it is at this point, I decide that I am happy for a first or second position and rather than play to win, I will play to ensure I finish in the top 2. At £6.4k that is well worth having.

Steveh1 goes out in 7th his A3 no match for Spongebobs 52!
Plan follows he moves all in for 50k on a 8A6 board, Spongebob calls with 77 and beats Plans 33.

Right now, my aim is to just avoid Spongebob!
I come up against him with AQ and beat his AJ and take 60k more for my stack.

Spongebob continues his annihilation of the final table. Skinnyman moving all in with 82 on a 49A board, Spongebob calls again impressively with 89. He is playing most hands, but making some great calls.

Clarke is next to go. Spongebob calling all the way with QJ and hoping for a gutshot. The board is T87A. He has already called 78k at this point, when the miracle K river gives him what he needs to take Clarke out.

At the moment Spongebob had knocked out 6 and me 1 of this final table.

Moments later Luffus moves all in with A5 and is called by Spongebobs KJ. The board is TK7QA giving Spongebob a straight.

Heads up I am a mile behind. 193k to 867k. I never improve on this. I decide to fight back against another raise with Q9 and he has a hand with AT. The board misses us both and it is game over.

I could have played the heads up better, but I was a long long way behind. £6.4k though meant I was very happy indeed to settle for second this time.

ClintonO