SE Double Chance - €150 8/4/2006

After a very late and hardcore night out on the town on Friday, I was completely unable to face another night out so decided to wander into the SE to chance my arm at a STT or two for their monthly €300+20 game. I played one 7-handed STT (€45 buyin) but was knocked out in 5th - should just forget about these STTs, there is no value for me in the structure. Went downstairs to the casino floor and proceeded to throw away €50 on blackjack (I'm up a bit on blackjack for the year after a +€200 night in the SE before, but rarely stake €50 in a single session), then headed out the door at 9pm as I didn't fancy buying-in for €300. However, half way up the road towards my car I ran into someone who mentioned the management had changed the game to a €150 double chance due to lack of interest in the monthly game...I continued towards my car, thinking I wasn't in the mood and still had a bit of a hangover to deal with...but then decided that I was running too well to miss this game on a night when I had nothing else to do and the ability to sleep in the next morning. That's the spirit, right?!

I was the final entry to the tournament, two full tables, either 18 or 19 players. Many of the usual regulars were playing, ocallagh (Niall) was on my immediate right on table 1. Starting stack was 2.5k, with your top up available after the first hand. I played the first two levels without calling for it, but decided to take it after a few players had doubled up. Our table was relatively quiet and passive, while the table 2 seemed the opposite, full of speech play and big pots. I was very quiet for the first few levels and couldn't seem to get moving at all. During level 3, I had KJo on the SB and, along with 3 limpes, saw a flop of JJx rainbow. I checked, hoping for a bet, checked around to a player in LP, who made it 300. I called, the other two folded. Turn was another rag, this time I bet 500 and he quickly folded. By the time the break rolled around, I had a little less than my starting stack, around 4,700 or so.

Soon after the break I was moved to table 2, which had all the big stacks. Alex came around to announce there would be 4 paid, so it was imperative to get moving at this point. I took down a nice big pot when I was dealt QQ on the BB, a raise and a call came in that were snapped off by my all in. It is always pleasing to win a nice sized pot without going to showdown! I doubled up soon after, and made it to the final table with almost 8k.

One thing I have noticed in the SE recently is that there has been a lot of play on the final table - maybe this is only because I have been getting there when there are less than 40 runners! In any case, this was true again, lots of play to be had. I was in seat 6, which was a great position, as both players to my immediate left were quite weak, particularly the player two to my left. He had built up a decent sized stack by being paid off on his strong hands, and now seemed content to try to limp into the money. This just wasn't going to work, but in the meantime I was happy to be in a position to steal his blinds whenever possible!

Unfortunately, I went card dead for the next 90 minutes, and barely played any hands at all. When we were down to 6 players I was in bad shape and in push or fold territory. Ocallagh was in great shape, having been involved in some major pots and coming out trumps. Down to 5 and on the bubble, I found a 33 and had to pushed. The player immediately to my left (the other two had been knocked out), a very good regular who I have tangled with many times before, thought about it for a minute or so and then called. It was 33 vs 55 (good call, he actually had me on Ax for a race, but he had the chip stack to risk it with a fairly weak pair), I was up and had my jacket on - this brings good karma, as I hit a 3 on the river. A few minutes later we were down to 4 and all in the money. The payouts were as follows, 4th €200, 3rd €440, 2nd €800 and 1st €1260.

I was still in push or fold mode, the other three (including ocallagh, who was 2nd chip leader after the lad on my left) were in fine shape but I had less than 5k with blinds of 800/1.5k. I pushed on the button with K7d, two callers, flop had two diamonds, turn was Ad, river was another diamond. There was a straight flush draw out there, but my second nuts was good to triple me up. The same chap on my left had called with K8 this time, again had me dominated but I managed to escape again! A few hands later he knocked ocallagh out, which was a pity as Niall had played a blinder and got unlucky at the end. I was the opposite, playing poorly and being card dead, but getting lucky at the end! I again survived against the odds three-handed, as I got it all in there with AJo vs AQs and spiked a J to stay in it. The other two were shaking their head at my outdrawing skills, as I started to move into chip lead territory and the ability to play cards again. I went on a bit of a run, pressurizing the both of them and really getting back into the game.

The chap to my left was then knocked out by the younger lad to my right, and we were heads up. I had a little over 30k, while he looked to have almost 60k. He immediately asked Alex to get the info on the final two payouts again, saying he wanted to talk about a split. Not sure what I would have accepted here...anyhow, in the meantime the dealer kept going, and I looked down at QQ in the SB. Here we go! I limped in for 3k, he immediately goes over the top and pushes all in...MAGIC. This is what dreams are made of, right? He must have Ax, Kx or a little pair. I insta-call, his face drops when he sees the ladies (yes, I'm a sneaky bollix HU), he flips A9o...and hits his A on the flop to take it down.

I really wasn't disappointed with 2nd, considering the outdraws that got me there! Swings and roundabouts, I deserved a suckout to call my own at the end of the night! That said, I probably just don't have the killer instinct that is really needed to be a great tournament player...others would be raging over missing out on 1st and an additional €460.

The SE rules, BTW...:)