Last Poker Tourney of 2015

On Wednesday night, Ballys hosted the final Freeroll poker tournament of 2015 and I had qualified to be in it by logging 12 hours of play during the previous week. Action started at 6 p.m. with only 41 participants. Turns out that 93 people posted enough hours to qualify, but only 41 showed up for the tourney, which pays $300 to each of the final 20 players. Just had to trim half the field to get some $$$$.

We each start with 5,000 in chips and the blinds begin at 50-100. Every 20 minutes the blinds increase to 100-200, then 200-400, 400-800, 500-1000, 1000-2000. About 45 minutes into play, I had a huge make-or-break hand. Blinds were 200-400 and I was in a late position. I looked down at Q-8, both diamonds, and decided to try to steal the blinds by going all in. There were only 2 guys to act behind me and I figured they would probably fold, rather than risk all their chips. I had 5,500 and both of them had about the same.

So when the first guy folded, I felt pretty good. But the second guy hesitated, then shoved in his stack. Hmmmm, not great. But I did have a Q and if that paired I might be OK. Also had two diamonds for a shot at a flush.

Flop comes J-10-9...I FLOPPED A STRAIGHT!!

But my excitement was tempered when the guy showed his cards A-5, both hearts. And two of the flop cards were hearts, giving him two shots at a flush, which would end my tournament in heartbreaking fashion. Turn was 4 of Spades, River was a Q of Spades! I had survived and doubled my stack to 11,000 in chips. At the time, the average stack was only 6,200, so I was in GREAT shape.

At that point, I realized I probably would not have to play another hand in order to outlast half the field. I played it VERY conservatively, even throwing away K-K because I didn't want to risk losing my stack to someone who played A-4 and hit an A on the flop. After 80 minutes they have a 10 minute break. At that point the average stack was 8,500 and I had just over 14,000. I coasted along, folding, folding, folding as the field dwindled to 28, 24, 23, then 22.

At this point, the guy on my immediate right was knocked out, leaving us with 21 players. Then the guy at my immediate left was knocked out and the tourney was over! I had survived! Turns out the guy on my left did get a share, because a player at another table went out at the same time. They were each given $150 while the rest of us got our $300, I called Helen and headed home happy!

Earlier in the day, I went to Red Rock to get some bets in for my friend Terry. He lost his fb parlay, but hit a hockey parlay that pays $333. My fb bets died when Texas A&M lost to Louisville. While at Red Rock, I won 120 in blackjack and another 17 on video blackjack.

After lunch, I drove to Mirage to get tickets for the Beatles show LOVE for Feb. when our friends the Edsons and Tunes join us in Vegas. Sad news, the show is dark for most of FEb as they revise some parts of the show. We'll be looking into a plan B. Then I drove down to Ballys where I played a little blackjack before the poker tourney. Was able to notch another $300 in blackjack, then watch some fb  while waiting for the poker to begin.

So for the day, I had a nice $737 win. Today I need to get over to Red Rock to cash T's ticket and get some more fb action. Like Houston, MSU and OK today. Have to check out the nfl action too.

LV is all abuzz about New Year's Eve on the Strip. Helen and I will be having a low-key celebration and it's a longshot bet that we make it to midnight.

Happy New Year to All as our LV adventure continues...