I'll take the fifth

I played in the Delta Gold Poker Tournament Saturday at the Gold Strike Casino. This was Event #16 and 195 runners signed up to play. We started with 8000 in chips with 40-minute blind levels.

I made the final table, and, when the smoke had cleared, I finished 5th. Several readers have been supportive in previous comments (Wolynski, Crash, bastin, Luchpher, Thane.) writing that I'd eventually win one of these things. I really thought this would be it. I had a slightly above average stack when we were down to 10 and felt confident.

An interesting thing happened that I don't believe I've seen. At the final table, almost everyone had the same stack size. Normally, there are two or three that are just hanging on, and two or three large stacks. Because we all had about the same, everyone was playing super-tight. Finally someone suggested a chop: All 10 of us would get $3000. Then we would play and first place would get an extra $4200 and the trophy (which was a very nice crystal thing - see photo below).

All agreed on the chop, and this loosened things up. One by one they dropped. When we were five-handed, it slowed down like before. Again, we all had about the same amount of chips. Unfortunately, I went card dead -- 9-2, 7-3, J-4, etc. and my stack dribbled down. Finally, I was all in with Q-10 (10 on the board), but the villain had A-J and an ace came, too.

I'm too tired to recap the deals, but needless to say, it was exciting.


Above is what the shot clock looked like when I busted out.


This is the trophy I was playing for.

Images by MOJO and taken with my P&S.