Welcome  

Instructors

  Lessons  

  FAQ 

  Testimonials 

  Resources 

  Articles 

  Book Reviews 

Special Offers

  Affiliations 

  Contact 

Tournament Strategy:  Redemption or Revenge
By Al Spath 

It was a clear, crisp, sunny typical 66 degree winter day in Southern California. Recent rains had washed away the lingering effects of a long drought and smog sometimes as thick as mushroom cloud. I was upbeat and excited, focusing on only two things: winning money in the monthly San Manual Indian Bingo Poker Tournament, and if presented an opportunity, delivering a payback to a player who got final table money in the previous tournament instead of me. 

I arrived early, game face beginning to show, emotions running high. I sat down at a 2-4 stud table and played for an hour while I had lunch, picking up a quick $150. Good start, everything positive. After registering for the tournament, I cashed out and relaxed for ten minutes. Everyone must have quirks about tournaments, and I suspect I'm no different. Being that I've only entered three poker tournaments (one hold 'em), I don't know if mine are considered rituals, superstitions or just plain childish. 

The first thing I do is make sure I've eaten and secured the extra seat cushions for comfortable play that day. Then I waited and registered when I saw a large number of hold 'em players signing in. Yes, hold 'em. I prefer hold 'em players at my beginning table, and when you sign in for this tournament, they fill tables in a sequential numerical order. So, lining up with them usually puts most of them at my table. I also have my small fan to keep the cigarette smoke out of my face and of course, a lucky medallion to place on the table near my chips. This time I'm using an old charm that depicts two adults engaged in the art of getting properly introduced. One atop another. Great distracter, and always seems to take the other player's mind off cards and down memory lane. 

As table seven (my lucky number), was assembling, I picked seat two, my favorite seat, and waited for the final seat selection. This is done by selecting a card with a seat number assigned. All cards are put face down and each player selects their card. Bingo, seat two -- the second thing that went well. I looked over the table and analyzed my competition. It was similar to a first day in high school or college. You know what I mean. The teacher or professor opens their mouth, tells you what they expect and you sit there and always figure out your eventual grade and how much you really have to do to pass. Well, I see five hold 'em players, two regular stud players and a newbie in seat one with rail guest. I guess mamma was there to root him on and make sure she got her share of his winnings. 

The tournament started five minutes late after a brief rundown of the rules of engagement. I like to take down pots early with big cards, so I was upset getting the low card bring-in, and three of the first four hands. Seat seven won the first four pots, beating me with a river card twice. I was playing to many hands, and the $300 in chips we all were given were down to $120. I became a bit more selective and slowed my play until I and caught jack/queen diamonds down to begin what would be my eventual run for the final table. 

The bring-in caught a 2 of spades and I caught the king of hearts. An ace completed the bet and I called, along with the 2 of spades. Since I noticed another 2 on the table who folded, I put the stud player in seat 8 on spades early. The next round came 7 of hearts to me, a blank to the ace and another 2, in diamonds, to seat 8. He bet the minimum, and I raised, the ace and spades both called. The 4th card came jack of hearts to me, another blank to the ace, and a spade to seat 8. He checks to me as the previous raiser, and I bet the maximum. The ace, who was selling stink, folds, and the spades call. Next card comes the 6 of hearts to me and a no help club to the spade holder. His deuces check and I bet again. He delays momentarily and calls. I catch a fourth heart on the board, a 3 on the turn, and he catches a ratty diamond. Again he calls with his probable 4 spades and I bet hoping to fold him right now. He decides to go fishing and calls. He definitely must have the spade ace in the hole for a higher flush draw. He predictably checks blind on the river and I bet, card also unseen as I stare intently at his body language. Seeing him show seat seven his final card I know he missed, I prepare eagerly to stack new chips! Having me catch the 4 of clubs on the river didn't matter to anyone but me. Turns out the only fish caught was him. 

I then slowly begin amassing more chips and seat one and his bride were history in minutes. After a chip limit increase, and several of the 144 players were eliminated, a new player was seated in seat one. What do you know? My pal, the greedy sucker I was praying for. We played and he won some big pots and lost a few bigger ones. I was hoping to take him down. His loose play was great for me but the card gods thought different. He did beat me on the river on one hand and I was letting my emotions get stirred too much. Calm down, it'll come, this is not the table for bravery. I settled in and won more chips. The table broke and we went to separate corners, I mean tables. 

With four tables left I slowed play and won only the pots I entered. Others gambled and were sent to showers after complaining they thought they were still the best players at the table. Down to three tables and then to the final two tables. I had played well enough to be with the final 16. My chip count was medium compared to others at my table. It was time to remember the lessons taught in the books I had recently read. You can bluff at the beginning tables when players are protecting chips and again at the last tables, when high cards are very threatening to anyone trying to survive. It worked; I won a few easy pots and scored a major win eliminating two more players. I was going to advance, I knew it. Then it happened. Just like that, I lost a dynamite hand and was barley hanging on. 20. 

Then I make the play of tournament for me. I get jack, queen, king (a two flush), to start and an 8 of hearts brings it in for a raise. I hesitate, remember the cards that were on the table and without looking at my chip stack, pitch the hand. You don't know how hard it was for me to pitch that hand. A hand I imagine a lot of poker players love to start with: a straight draw, a two flush and overcards. Seat eight, a tight player shows off his rolled up 8's. Whew! 

The chip minimums and maximums had grown appreciably including the $500 bring-in, and I knew I needed good cards to remain alive. We were down to nine players between the two tables, and I was on the bubble, having the least amount of chips. The tables alternated hands to see if anyone would get eliminated. I held my breath, it didn't help. Here come the cards, a three, and I had to spend precious chips bringing in a crappy hand. Four straight hands, the bring-in was my pleasure having the low card. My final stand was here and I'd need as much luck as possible. 

Oh, I forgot to mention my pal was sent back to my table in seat eight, and I'm in seat one. His chip count is huge, and this pisses me off. I'm forced to bring in the next hand with a 3 (low) and everyone folds but seat eight. Him with his bright and shinny ace. He raises and I make a crucial decision. He is so loose that he bets representing the big pair. I have two 3s and a queen. I go all in. He hesitates slightly and calls. We both turn over our cards. He has nothing. I catch the third 3 and I win the pot. Now it's tense, with players from the other table standing after each hand watching to see if I get eliminated. Everyone else seemed to have more chips than me and could "wait" out the antes. 

I keeping playing tough, catching cards, as I'm all-in against only one player in each subsequent hand. I survive and build my chip count slightly. Then comes the final hand. I catch 6 of hearts up and a king and an ace bring it in for a raise and reraise. I calmly go all-in and establish a side pot as we all turn over our cards. The king has three spades and an open straight draw. The ace has another big fellow and an eight, all off suit. His aces look huge and the crowd senses the kill. I turn over my down cards as a crowd inches closer. It's a 6 of diamonds and a 6 of spades, I'm rolled up, and knew it before the third 6 hit the board. Had this gamblers' instinct when I peeked at my first two cards, and Bam, the third 6 falls making me low. I never do catch the cards for a full house and the straight player catches the ten on the river for his straight and wins the main pot. The aces do nothing, I take the side pot and the last player is out. I'm in! Sierra Hotel... 

Eight players make the final table with close to equal chips. We deliberate and quickly decide to chop the $15,000. To establish the tournament champion we play a final hand for the trophy and I need to tell you that it looks mighty good in the sports room at my house.