Almost...

Hi, all. Big apologies for the lack of updates last month. I hardly played at all due to the return of exam season. All I will say for now - the poker cards matched the winter weather! BURRRR! Terrible beats abound. However after this tournament I rebounded from most of it, I think. February zapped my confidence but I think I got it back.

First, note that this tournament is independent of my challenge. I was staked for it, so all winnings were withdrawn.

I went (sorta) deep in a tough field and was oh, so close to making it big. I was the average stack, 18/37 people and was in the SB with A K. It came to the dealer who had just been going CRAZY for the past three or four hands. He snapped a shove on our blinds. And what could I do here, fold AK? Well, let me tell you - I was close. Instincts that were hardened by February were very negative here. I thought for a good 30 seconds. His stack was the same as mine, so losing this ends all hope; winning makes me a chip leader with some promising chances at my first big pay day. Folding leaves me where I am - in it. I put him at best on a pocket pair but began to believe I had him seriously dominated and decided to call. I knew he wouldn't snap an all in THAT fast with AA or KK. He flipped A 10 and, let's keep it non-dramatic, the turn brought him a 10 (as I half-expected after a terrible month of bad beats) and out the door I go. Damn! I am still feeling it's the right call to make..but if I fold, can I still make a run at shipping it? I still don't know. Might try it next time but in the long run, I'm a big winner today.

Regardless, it was pretty well played. This field had many sharks in it so I was happy with even making the money.

Anyways, I'll enjoy this small tourney success & I'll post the frigid Feb. update later this week.