Where does one start? I began the day with 117,000 but was soon down to 80,000 - thanks mainly to no hands for the first hour or so. But with such a good structure in the event, I never felt under any pressure. But in order to have a chance of winning this - I had to get busy.

With blinds of 1,500 - 3,000 and a running ante of 500 - there was 9,000 of dead money to be picked up every hand. Well, I managed to get pick it up three hands in a row and then won a couple of small pots. I was up to 150,000 and in good shape. Suddenly, dream situation. David Chiu raised and Barny Boatman declares all-in for about 96,000. Holding K-K, I obviously call. Bob Stupack - ponders an all-in move (he has a stack of 150,000) with his A-K. He eventually mucks and I am up against Barny who was almost drawing dead after the flop with his Kd-Qd. For the first time in the event, I have a fair size stack.

We then see the hand of the day on our table.

David Chiu was playing great poker - he is also one of the real nice guys in the game. He was cruising with about 300,000 when with blinds of 3K - 6k, he raised it 24,000 from the button - holding Q-Q. Isabelle Mercier on the SB with A-Q, moved all-in for a total of around 140,000. Alan Goehring on the BB calls the bet with 8-8. David Chiu now moves all-in for an extra 163,000 - Alan, who won this event two years ago - feels pot committed and calls. They all miss the flop and David is looking good. The turn card came a third diamond - Isabelle has the Qd and Alan the 8d - the river came the fourth diamond and David was gone.

This was must have really tough to take. You play great and then find yourself one card away from joining the chip leaders…sick really! But the truth is, he was not alone. There were so many bad beats today - it really is a very fine line between hero and zero.

Anyway, a new player takes David’s seat. He is not at the table long when he makes an UTG raise. On the SB blind with J-J, I decide to just call. He has about 160,000 chips. The flop was A - A - 7 rainbow. I checked and he decides to bet 30,000 - the exact amount of his initial raise. I wont go into detail here as to why I re-raised to set him all-in (can’t give too much info in these articles). My main concern here was that he was holding K-K or Q-Q. He pondered for a very long time before deciding to call with 9-9. As it happens, another Jack hit and I was safe. I am now coasting with about 470,000.

All through this event, apart from my gamble with the Ah-Qh when short-stacked on the second day - I have not gambled at all. But that was about to change…

Looking at those around me - I was surprised at the gambling that was taking place. Perhaps I should try it once….

Two small stacks of 145,000 get involved in a raise and re-raise. Holding Ad-Kd on the BB, I decide to go against my instinct and have a good old gamble. The initial raiser- having seen me playing selectively, decides to not to call the re-raise because of my call. He was holding 9-9. The problem was, the re-raiser had A-A. Stupid boy! I know better than that!

Funny thing was that a nine hit on the flop and Aces would have been busted. I felt bad really. The player with 9-9 deserved some luck as he had lost twice with A-A. Worse still for him, after building back up to 200,000 - he lost with them again when Jo Beevers (one of the Hendon Mob) made a runner straight with his pair of fives after the flop came Q-3-4. Yes, bad beats galore. Just glad that I didn’t get called when dealt Aces a couple of times.

Anyhow, I begin the fifth day with a less-than-average stack of 366,000. But as usual, just happy to be there with a chance.

Until next time- play well, get lucky and DON’T GAMBLE WITH A-K, even when suited!

Peter “The Poet” Costa