A first time for everyone

Seems to me I have not played too bad this trip - but just the one tournament cash on the first day. Other than my "two chips and a chair" run, I have been losing the "races" consistently. When I have the pair against their "paint", they connect and I lose the pot. But if I have a suited Big Slick against their pair (even deuces like yesterday) I fail to connect.

The game is hard enough, but when lady luck is smiling elsewhere, it's damn near impossible. You need your share of those hands to work, and the odd suck out in your favour does not hurt either.

Speaking of suck outs, on the very first hand of today's tournament = with the blinds $50-100, I was on the button with AK suited in hearts.

The guy two to my right raised to $325 and I smooth called. The big blind came along for the ride.

The flop was a very pleasing QD JH 10H - giving me a flopped Broadway straight; a draw to the Royal Flush, and a draw to the nut flush.

Of course, the texture of this board is dangerous, since it is the type of board that connects with other players too.

Still, I led out for $1200 after two checks to me. The big blind raised to $2400 and I called, as my RHO got out of the way.

The next card (the turn) was the five of hearts - giving me the nut flush, and presumably not helping the Big Blind's hand - unless it gave him a lesser flush - which is good for me.

There was about $3,400 in the pot at this point. The big blind led out for $1,700 - I could fold, call, or raise all-in.

Looking for a chance to double my starting stack I raised and put us both all-in. He called after much agony and tabled the Q9 or hearts. He had the queen high flush, and was looking for either the HK or H8 to make the straight flush.

As I had already tabled the HK, he was down to one single out - the heart 8 - which fell on the table as the dealer dealt the river card.

What could I do but groan and grin, and get up and make "the walk" out of the room - the first player busted of over 100 participants.

As I reflect back on the trip, I do feel it was worthwhile, albeit not money making. I picked up a few moves from some good players - I plugged a couple of leaks in my own game, and above all else, I enjoyed myself.