The 9 Person SNG

Well last night was a blast. We had a great group of folks out for a small 9 person SNG for a $40 buy-in. We started with lots of chips with really slow blinds to leave for lots of play. I was down to 1500 early (about 2/3 starting chips) because I just could not let a monster draw go for the size of the pot. Turns out Merrit (Martin) hit runner runner straight flush and busted fishnojie who had the same straight (but not the flush part). I then kicked and clawed my way to about 4000 chips by never really having a hand but representing some great cards.

As the blinds increased it became tougher to play. Down to 6 left, there were 4 limpers on my BB and I had A8, the flop came 822 with 2 hearts. I bet pot and someone min-raised me. I was really unsure as I could not see him having anything but an 8. If he had 88, there was no reason to raise. A weak 2 may raise but logically that made no sense. I decided to call and see what happened on the turn. The turn was a 3 of diamonds. I wanted to bet out to represent the 2 but then decided the other player has to be worried I have a 2 in my hand since I was in the BB. I checked and he bet pot. He left himself no fold option as the pot size bet was half his stack. I decided that I was likely ahead as he was on some kind of heart draw and I was likely ahead but I needed to push allin at that point and he was not folding even a draw. Having learned from Dr Sparks, there was no point in pressing a small edge with a weaker player here as I was certain to find a better spot down the road. He said he had 1010 but when I flat called his flop bet, he had to be worried that I had a 2 so I think folding was the best option there.

I got a little anxious after that as my stack was once again on the shortside. I raised 3 hands in a row with absolutely nothing. I won 2 of the hands and then a dream come true on the 4th hand.

UTG - I have 2 black Aces. I raise to 350 which was my standard I garbage raise. Martin, the tightest player in the world re-raises to 1000. I don't even thik for a second and throw in the rest of my chips so it was about 950 to call. I was not sure he would call though because he is really that tight. When he started counting his chips to call, I said "darn Martin, do you have aces?". He said "no", I said well that is good because I do....he had AK so woot woot for me, I double up.

I then played tight as anything on the bubble. I raised 4 x bb with AQ 5 handed and folded to a re-raise. 4 handed I raised 4 x bb with AJ and folded to a re-raise (Jason had A2). I then got lucky and pushed allin from the button with A3 and Jason called with A8 and I hit a 3. I then just waited patiently for Jason and Perry to kill each other and limped into 2nd place.

Heads up between Jinny and I was pretty funny. It lasted 5 hands. I knew Jinny was bored and it was impossible to get him to fold. I misplayed the last hand and let him catch runner runner str8 after I hit a set on the flop. Oh well!

Another game and another cashing which makes me 5 for my last 6!