PokerStars First Tournament

Date: August 12th 2011
Buy-In: $30 + $3
Type: Freezeout
Entrants: 228
Finished: 1st (Tied)
Prize Money: $1,214.10

I got it all-in behind twice: once with JT v A9 and I flopped a Jack; and the other with A4 v AJ and I turned a straight. But I feel that this evened out two all-ins I lost when ahead: once holding QQ v JJ; and the other holding AJ v KQ. I guess I was lucky that when I was the player all-in (with the JT and the A4) I stayed alive.

The significant hands were after resuming from the break playing 5-handed: 5th, 4th & 3rd were knocked out in the first 3 hands. I knocked out the 4th place finisher holding QQ v A8, and again the 3rd place finisher this time holding AK v AJ. At heads-up I always fancy myself, especially as we had 65+BB’s each with the blinds at 2,500/5,000 and I started to grind out a 2-1 chip lead. My opponent, from Brazil, caught a run of cards to bring it back even. He offered a deal before and offered it again now that we were even again. The time meant I needed to finish so we agreed on a chop, $1,214.10 each, although I did become the tournament ‘winner’.

All in all I felt I played solid throughout, ending with a fantastic result for my first tournament played on PokerStars!