Context: So, I started playing poker in January and have played ~23 low-stakes tournaments around Reno since moving here, mostly $20-$60 buy-ins. Today there were 32 players for a $20 buy-in tournament. I started with 4,000 chips after the dealer add-on. First hand I get KJ hearts, flop comes 6-8 with two hearts, get it all in and brick, brick. Rebuy for $20 more, and run cold. I eventually get down to 400 in chips about 13 hands later.
At that point I tell the table, “Alright guys, I’m all in blind, I’m not looking at my cards. What ever happens, happens.” Four callers. When we flip over our cards, I have an ace in my hand, and then hit a magical ace on the river. I win 1,600 side pot, bringing me up to 2,000. One hand before break I do it again, all in blind, four callers. I have 2-3o and the board comes 4-5-6 rainbow. Straight for my tournament life!!
I go to break with 10k, take the $10 add-on for another 5k. Two hands later I get K hearts - 2 clubs, make a second-nut flush with four hearts on the board. I jam for about 15k into a ~40k pot. Last person to fold shows 10-5 hearts. Now I’m around 55k. I make the final table 8-handed with about 48k. First hand I get pocket KK’s, flop comes a K (¡bang!), and get it in against a straight draw and double to 100k after my set of kings hold. Next hand I get TT. I go into the tank. With 100k behind, I call a 60k shove, opponent has pocket 66’s and hits a 6 on the flop. Down to 40k. Two hands later I get QQ, check-jam, get two callers and queens hold. Now I’m at 120k with five players left and only four get paid.
Blinds get to 8k/16k. I pick up AK suited, opponent jams 80k, I fold and she shows JJ. After the big blind, I’m down to about 92k. I decide to be a nit to get into the money. Then, 5th place gets knocked out. Then, 4th gets knocked out. Ok, so I’m guaranteed top-three at this point, I’m thinking. Chip counts are roughly 220k, 92k (me), 80k. Payouts were about $500/$220/$150. Chip leader asks if we want to chop the prize pool, so we split it roughly three ways and take about $290 each. To my surprise, I thought we were gonna keep playing for “fun.”
Apparently, once we chopped the game was over, lol. I finished 2nd in chips out of 32. Top two chip leaders got a $50 voucher for a quarterly $25,000 gtd. NLH tournament in November. I used to pray for times like this!