Last night was Poker night in North Hollywood. These guys have been playing for a while and they run a good tournament. Jon played with them first, brought in Toby, and Toby got me in. So I played last night.

They started a new point system, so no one wants to be the first one out and get the worst points. It was ruff. At the mid break, we still had nine players and I had about $$800 in chips. After the blinds were raised and an ante was added, people started dropping. I got knocked out in 5th place (6 points).

We started the second game and I felt that I had to get aggressive. I started shooting at the pot, to knock weaker hands out. It started working. I had decent cards and I was getting some action. But I could never get a good flop (not good for me at least). I quickly lost half my stack. I tightened up. One guy fell, then another. We colored up our chips and the second round began. I was in a considerable disadvantage on the short stack. My hole cards were 6, jack suited. I shot at the pot again (I wanted to go all in, but I was first to act with 6 people behind me). I got one caller and the flop came down 7, 2, 6. I checked. He bet $200, after much thought, I called. Fourth Street – another 6. I checked again. He bet $100, I raised all in. He called. We turned over our cards, three sixes against a pair of sevens. The river was no help and I doubled up. After that, I tightened up a bit.

It came down to three players, me included. I was short stacked by a lot. I need to take some risk, steal some blinds, and get lucky. All three happened. I was playing like a pro and the luck didn’t hurt. I doubled up once when I had K, Q suited against the chip leader who also had K, Q suited. My flush came on the river. Then I doubled up again with J, 3 suited against J, 10. Again, I hit my flush. I took the chip lead. The knockout came when I got Q, 10 against A, 8. The queen came down and I knocked out Dennis. Now it was heads up against Brian, but he didn’t have enough to cover the blind so the cards were dealt up. 3, 5 (my two lucky numbers) against 3, 4. The flop reveled a 5 and the game was over. $350 and 10 points.

Damn, that felt good.