My First Poker Tournament Win

July 11, 2005 - I won my first online poker tournament. It was in Doyle's Room. They had a No-Limit Hold'em Tournament with an $8.00 buy-in. There were a 102 player and we started with $2,000 in chips each.

The Strategy

I had a basic strategy going in. Tight-agressiveness. After listening to Phil Gordon's podcast, he told a young player to playing extremely tight during the first three rounds. I did that. In fact, I was only in one hand in the first three rounds and I folded it because I couldn't hit the board. By the time I had a hand I was down to $1200 in chips.

I was never really in a hand until the 6th round. I had pocket Aces on the big blind. It was checked to the small blind who raised. I raised all-in and double up to $2400.

Because hand move so fast on internet games, I don't remember alot of actual hands. I'll just highlight some big moments. For most of the tournament I was hovering around $25,000 to $35,000 in chips. Again, my goal was to play tight and make the most of any hand I was in.

When I was in a hand, I wasn't afraid to raise to see where I was (probe betting). When I felt weakness in the other hands, I moved in.

Stealing blinds

When card dead, I like to try and steal blinds, but only problem was the chip leader was to my left and he was not letting me steal anything. I knew I had to have a hand. Also, we was a tight passive player, so when I did have a hand and then saw the flop, if he didn't bet, I knew he had nothing. I stole a few pots from him.

Stalling for the Money

When it finally got to the final four tables (36 players), I was at a table where the player to my left was stalling for time. He wanted to stall, so that players at the other table would drop out before him. This tactic is used to increase your chances of making it to the money. I didn't mind too much. I wanted to make the money too. Shoot it was $15 for 18th place. For the most part his strategy worked. Although he didn't need it. That same player placed 3rd in the tourney.

I had about $30,000 in chips at this point. My goal was not to lose. Again, I only played premium hands and stole if I had the chance. My feeling was that there were plenty of player with lower chip stacks than me and I would allow others to do my dirty work.

This strategy mostly worked. I was still hovering around $30,000 but the blinds were increasing, especially to the point of being short stacked. If I got to close to going down, I was able to win and steal a few hands.

Play of the Match

Again, I don't remember many hands but I do remember this one. I'm in 6th position. 3rd seat moves all in. 4th seat moves all in. 5th seat moves in. I look at my cards and I have K-K. In my mind the only good hand is A-A. That's what I'm worried about. Otherwise I have the second best hand. I can't throw away this hand so I call. I have the 3rd and 4th seat covered, the 5th seat has me covered.

Here's the preflop break down:

3rd Seat: A-Q
4th Seat: A-Q
5th Seat: Q-Q
Me: K-K

Oh my gosh, I have the best hand. 5th seat is drawing dead. He can not improve, unless a miracle flush hits the board. The only thing that will save 3rd and 4th is an Ace and there are only two in the balance of the deck. The board helps no one and I quadruple up and knock out two players.

The Final Three

I'm moving to the final three, because I can't remember anything else. At the final three I was at $30,000, second place was at $2000, and the chip leader was at $170,000 in chips.

Second place was basically about to be blinded out. I called his final bet with ace high to his 8-3 offsuit only to have an 8 hit the board without any help for me.

The next hand, he came in with pocket 5's against the chip leaders pockets A's. The board came with 5's for quads.

Long story short, I was soon in third place. I got pocket 4's and decided that I need to go all-in for a race. The chip leader calls me and he shows pocket tens. Like that last guy, I his 4's on the board for quads to save my life.

The chip leader goes on tilt and through another miracle hand is able to take out the third place guy.

Head to Head

My head to head strategy is also simple. I always raise with every hand. If I'm called I see if the board helps me and the other person. If I can descern that the other guy is weak, I move it. If I have a hand and the board helps it. I play weak, hoping to get the guy to bet into me.

During head to head, I moved up and down between $70,000 and $24,000 about three times. Finally my hand came. I got A-4 suited. The board hits A-9-6. I check and I get a weak bet. My guess is that he paired the 9 or 6. I go all-in and I was right, he hit the 9. I double up to $200,000 vs $2,000.

The blind forces my opponent all-in. I, of course, call with A-6. He has K-T and wins the hand. I then get T-7 suited. My oppenent goes all-in, and I decide that I don't want to double him up, so he takes my blinds.

Next hand, I get A-T. I go all-in againsthis K-J. I hit an Ace to win it.

It feels good to win my first tournament. It made up for the $200 I lost over the weekend.