Razz Champion

*cue "We Are the Champions" in the background*

I finally got a win! w00t w00t!

I've talked about a tournament just a few days before about a 2nd place finish. That was frustrating to me, because I was so close. The good thing is I learned a few tricks here and there and the mental discipline needed from that experience.

Funny enough the loss didn't really bother me except for that night. I completely forgot about it. I didn't expect to get into another final table for maybe more than a month.

[Early Tournament]
Last saturday, I casually entered another tournament. And since I had no expectations I just played loose and aggressive. The result was I became a short stacked right from the bat (lol). Oddly enough I caught two good hands in short succession that put me above my starting chips. After that, I figured to lie a little low and let the action come to me.

[Mid Tournament]
I built my stack to be one of the somewhat bigger stacks, maybe in the top 15% of the players.

[Late Tournament]
I can't believe I was still alive at this point. There was a point here where I got somewhat short stacked... I think there were were about 16 players left at this point, and I was probably around 14th place. Luckily, I got a few good hands when I caught people trying to steal the pot. Those big hands catapulted me to 2nd place around this time.

As we marched on the final table, however, I couldn't catch cards and all I could do was watch my big stack turn into a middle stack.

[Final Table]
Before the final table, I was feeling confident that I would see it again. There's still that possibility that I can be eliminated before that comes though. I've seen it happen many times. Big stacked players losing it all in 2-3 big hands that lost. I still could not make it if I'm not too careful and get trapped.

I couldn't catch cards for probably the last 15 hands dealt. (each round, you have to put in your ante, so your stack will dwindle a little bit each hand) Thankfully, I could afford to be patient as my stack was big enough.

Come final table, I was 4th out of 8 players. I was feeling uneasy. Could I do it again? In my previously final table, I even started lower--6th place I believe, and because of that, there was no pressure and I just started hacking away at people. But this time, it was different. Instead of looking to attack, I was looking to defend my position. I didn't want my stack to dwindle.

30 minutes of intense and tense play, we eliminated 2 people. We're down to 6. The thing about this tournament by the way is that only the final 4 get money. So, players are a little bit passive and want to get into the money.

A key hand came where a guy tried to steal the pot away from my bring-in. I'd have to go into specifics on this one. Basically in Razz, you're trying to form the lowest 5 card hand possible, given 7 cards dealt to you. Pairs are considered bad.
I showed a J, he was showing a 3.
4th Street:
I showed JJ, he showed 3Q

Now, at this point, most players would fold JJ. But to me, him having a Q gives me a lot of chances to outdraw him.

I don't remember the rest of the cards. I do remember I ended up with a 10-high. And it turns out it was a total steal on his part, as he showed KK on the hole, giving him a K-high. That crippled him and launched me into the chip lead.

For the first time, I was the chip leader at the final table. It was a good feeling. One thing I noticed once I become the chip leader is people stopped playing back at me. Instead, they play passively whenever I'm in the pot. It's a great position to be in.

After this, I didn't relinquish the position and pretty much mowed over the competition. There was a moment in heads up when I still had doubts if I can close this one out. I had about 65% of the chips in play, so I had him dominated 2-1. But still, anything can happen in heads up.

After the last hand, it was a relief. The doubts before were answered--I *could* close it! I have finally gotten a win!