Winner!

so i played in yet another poker tournament last night. it's been a once a month thing at Smokes and Brews in Cool Springs. normally, i wouldn't be able to be off early enough to participate in this one, but yesterday i had to pick up my kitty, Sasha, from the vet before they closed, so i had to leave work early. i was originally thinking i would stay home with her to watch her for a bit, because i had her spayed. (yes, none to pleasant of a thing, and yes, she was none to pleased with me) after seeing that she was pretty out of it and GRUMPY from the anesthesia and pain medicine (she was hissing and growling at me, her momma!) and realizing all she wanted at that moment was to sleep and be left alone, i charged my roommate with checking in on her and headed out to check out this poker tourney.

it was $30 to buy in, and part of the proceeds were to go to the Franklin Boys' and Girls' clubs. so if nothing else, some money would go to a good cause. we also got 3 beers and 2 cigars for the tourney [yes, Kevin, i am still saving those stogies for you ;) ] and the promise of some door prizes as well, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes TBA. so Krystal and i decided we'd give it a shot and see if we could at least give poker playin gals a good name for once!

we were both a little nervous because initially, it was dealer's choice of 5 card draw or stud, 7 card stud, or Texas Hold'em. once the winner from each table moved to the final table, it would be Hold'em only. neither one of us play much else other than Hold'em. so i called my brother, the poker guru, and had him school me on how to play and bet most effectively in each of the games. after a good 30 minute tutoring session from my personal guru, i felt a little more confident. so i thought if i just played conservatively and made it to the final table, i'd be money fo sho!

fortunately for me, the guys at my table played Hold'em. the whole time! i was lovin it, cause that is my game! and who'd suspect a little ol gal like me to be part card shark, right? and they weren't playing aggressive at all, so of course i slowly jumped in there. chip, chip, chipping away at their stacks. and my oh my were the cards ever coming my way! trips, flushes, straights, pocket Cowboys and all! it was too b-e-a-utiful! so, yep. i made it to the final table. and i was playin oh so conservatively then, especially since i knew that once one of us was knocked out, the other three were gauranteed a prize. about this time, it occurred to me to ask what the prizes were. 1st place - $30 gift certificate to Wines and Spirits (next door) plus a humidor, 2nd place - $30 gift certificate to Criallo's restaurant, 3rd place - $20 gift certificate to Smokes and Brews. now, S & B has just about any kind of beer you could possibly want from around the world (if they don't they'll get it for you) and i'm a HUGE beer aficianado. so, 3rd place prize was sounding awfully yummy to me. eventually one of the other guys at the table got knocked out of the game, leaving one other gal and one guy. honestly, she really didn't know what she was doing and was just getting good cards (dumb beginner's luck i do believe), so i wasn't worried about her. the other guy, however, was probably my best challenge there, really knew how to bet even if he didn't have the cards. we all three just kept trading chips back and forth. i wasn't getting a lot of playable cards. then, i won the last door prize of the night - nice 3 pack of Belgian Beer. at this point, i had two yummy beers in my tummy, 3 to take home with me, 2 lovely cuban cigars complete with cutter and lighter to give as a present to someone (i may have to smoke one of 'em, had one at new year's last year and it was awfully good), and i was getting sleepy and wanting to check on Sasha. 3rd place prize was what i wanted anyway, and i was guaranteed it at this point. my pride was saying "stay here, beat these guys, go home much later with a prize i really don't want" but my tired body was saying "go ALL-IN with the next best hand i get, and if i lose, go home with the prize i really want (money for good expensive beer!), check on my baby, and get some sleep."

went ALL-IN with a K,10 of diamonds (cause they are a girl's best friend, ya know). no cards that came helped. dude won with some crazy low pair, which was all right by me. i figured with all the free stuff i got plus the gift certificate, i had more than won my entry fee back and had a pretty good time playing cards with some yocals and a buddy to boot. not too shabby of a night. i'll stay and win 1st place next time ;)