As I have said before I take seriously, no matter how trivial, everything I do. And I do well at everything I invest myself in. Yet last night some seemed intent on describing my prowess at the poker table as 'luck.' Well, let me tell you how it went down.
Already on the small stack, not buying in for the 'last man standing' prize for 5000 in extra chips, I played the first hand with a K, 10 suited, hearts. J, Q came on the flop, two diamonds. The betting was high. Another diamond came on the turn and I bet big, representing a flush I didn't hold, and was called by the two others in the hand. I made my straight on the river and checked. Check, check and I lost big to the nuts flush.
So now I am seriously small stacked right from the get go. And I hadn't eaten, had a headache and the music at this Badger Poker tournament was deafening. The guy next to me was obnoxious, but I didn't let it bother me and learned to enjoy it.
I don't remember all the hands exactly but won many all-ins. Three to get to the final table and took out more than one in their all-ins there, even collecting a bounty for taking out Al. My all-ins were well chosen after long waits, paying out many blinds that cut deep. Snowmen held early on the opening table.
On the final table I was again seriously small stacked with a J, Q off and I raised pre-flop, if I remember correctly, to make others think twice before making large bets that would push me off the hand. J on the flop with something like a 7, 5 rainbow. I went all-in. The pot was big. I had one caller. Pocket A's shown with a glee. Another J on the turn and a 5 on the river and it was I who was celebrating. Luck? Yes. A bad push or poor poker playing? No way.
Three left and again my stack growing small I had a Q, 7 on the BB. Three spades, including and A, on the flop and me with a 7 of spades. Heads up I went all-in. Called since my opponent had the large stack and could easily afford it. He had the 8 of spades with a 9 so I owned the hand with high card. J of spades on the turn ended it, his 8 beating my 7 for the flush, and I finished third out of 21.
Now I should be on the cusp if not already in Badger Poker's quarterly tournament by points. Coming in in the middle of the session I quickly got to the top 120. I have only missed one final table so far at Badger Poker.
And by the way I spent the whole evening with the Badger Poker points leader at the same table.
ReplyDeleteI recently made a few pennies doing a personality survey and they gave me the results. Copied below. I think a couple are off (my own notes added), but if you think the knowledge will give you an advantage over me at the table read on.
Leadership (Only because I've never been given the chance)
2
Openness
2
Spontaneity
3
Creativity (I think higher)
2
Optimism (I think higher)
2
Se
Self Esteem
1
Self-Doubters
You have an intrinsically low opinion of yourself and your abilities, even though you may in fact be excelling. You are afraid to let others see you fail.
Su
Superiority
1
Everymen
You value humility and see no need to lord your achievements over others. After all, nobody likes a braggart.
Dynamism
2
Extroversion
2
Modesty (not as simple as a number from my perspective)
2
Al
Altruism
1
Egotists
You may be a giving person inside, but you do not define yourself as generous or courteous or take any steps to make others believe you are. You may actually like to be seen as a little distant and self-focused.
Bravado (Bravado??? ME?)
4
Do
Dogmatism
5
Social Conservatives
This is a black and white world: you're either principled or you're not. You honor tradition, accept authority, and are generally conservative in all things.
Assertiveness (depends on what's at stake)
2
Responsibility
4
Compliance
3
Carefulness
3
Pe
Perfectionism
5
Perfectionists
You want everything to be just so, not only because it pleases you that way, but because the people put so much pressure on you not to make mistakes. Imperfections seem to glare at you, and even if others don't see them, just knowing about them stresses you out.
Pragmatism
3
Diligence
3
Pugnaciousness
2
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