It's taken me a few days to put finger to keyboard after last week's final in Cardiff. I was disappointed to get knocked out sixth. But looking back I don't think I would have done anything differently. It was just one of those days.
 
I was surprised by the "razzamatazz" before the final started. I like to arrive at the casino only a few minutes before the off so I don’t have to hang around waiting to start. But when I got there (at 1.58 for the 2pm start), there were interviews and photoshoots and introductions and all sorts. Cards were finally in the air around 3pm. I raised the first hand ... I was out by the dinner break. It was a series of disasters.

First I was dealt QQ in middle position. We’d hardly seen a flop in three rounds. I raised and the very tight Ladbrokes internet qualifier called in the big blind. My antennae were up. I knew he had a big hand but the raggedy flop looked innocuous enough and he checked. I bet the pot and he called. For some reason the 10 on the turn screamed at me. He checked again. I should have bet again but I checked and another 10 came on the river. This time he confidently bet out 25k. I knew I was beaten but I couldn't fold for 25k. He flipped over his 1010 for quad tens. Ouch. But I could have lost a lot more chips in the pot so I should have been thanking my lucky stars.

Having started second in chips with 175k, I was down to 130k without blinking. I was determined to remain aggressive at what was a surprisingly quiet final table. I raised with A10 on the button and Scally (Jon Kalmar) called in the BB. Scally is a well known UK pro from Manchester who made the final table of the World Series two years ago scooping $1.25million. He was also now huge chip leader having doubled through Karl Marhenholz. He seemed to have been sitting behind me for three days and called a lot in the BB when I raised. He could have anything! The flop came AAx. He checked and I bet about half the pot trying to make out that I would have done this whatever came. He made a loose looking call. Another low card on the turn and he checked again. This time I tried to get tricky. I checked behind him to try and make him bluff the river. A blank looking card came and this time he bet out. Perfect. My trap had worked. I re-raised all in. He mulled it over for a few seconds. I must be winning. Please call! He did and flipped over.....A10. Split pot.

A few rounds later it was folded round to my button and I looked down at 33. A blind stealing hand if ever there was one. I raised and Karl went all-in for around 50k from the small blind. It was around 38k to me after I’d already put in 11k for the original raise. Karl could have pulled that move with a wide range of hands and the only thing I’m really worried about is a pair (other than 22). I think it's an easy call. If I win the 50/50 "race" then I’m back second in chips. If I lose I still have a short stack to play. His A9 paired the turn and I was in trouble.

I went all-in a few times and got up to 60k when my last hand played itself out. The Norwegian raider, Andeas Hoivold raised in first position and I called on the button with KJ. I was looking to go all-in on any non-Ace flop, a strategy known as "stop'n'go". The flop came KK5. A lifeline! Andreas bet out and I gave it a bit of Hollywood before pushing all-in. He called immediately and flipped KQ. I was "kickered".

Maybe next time.

 

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