The Final Table
I entered the tournament on Saturday June 17. There were 78 players with 74 re-buys. Total tournament chips in play was $152,000.
I started the tournament and won a small hand in level one. When we started level two I made a re-buy giving me another $1000 in chips. I had the worst luck as I have had in any previous tournament. I raised with pocket jack only to get beaten out by Kings. The next hand I had pocket sevens and lost that one. I also raised with pocket Queens and had those beaten. At the end of level two I had only $700 left. I thought I would be lucky to make it to the first break.
I did nothing in level three but came back with a big hand before the break. I had 2,175 in chips at the break. I was moved to two different tables after the first break, I held my own in levels 5 and 6 and 7. My last move was to table one where I had $8,000 right before the second break. At the second break there were 12 players left. Nine would make it to the final table. The blinds were $1,000 and $1,500. I stole the small blind. Two players were knocked out the next hand and the final table was set. We drew numbers for seats. I drew the five seat. I had $9,000 starting the final table. I was number seven out of nine for chip position. The chip leader was a woman who had stacks of thousand dollar chips. I honestly thought she had a lock on the number one spot. I remember thinking I would play tight and hope the two players with fewer chips would get out before me. A funny thing happened.
One of the players with fewer chips was named Phil. He had $3,000 and drew the number one seat making him the small blind. He has to post $1.500. He folded the first hand and I did the same. The next hand I looked at my cards and found Pocket Rockets staring at me. I thought to myself, this is it. I'm either going out with a blaze of glory, or taking it to the bank. The player under the Gun called all in and I raised. Everyone folded to Phil who went all in. The Small Blind called and John the big blind re-raised me. I capped it all in. The flop was Ah 7c 8c. The Turn was Jh. The river brought a Th. John turned over pocket kings. I had three Aces to take the side pot. Phil turned KQh for a Royal Flush. He won the smaller original pot and got a free Foxwoods jacket for having a Royal Flush. This was the turning point of the game for me.
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