#414 - FTOPS Notebook - A Fitting End to My FTOPS VIII

I finished fifth in the FTOPS Main Event!

By that, I mean I was the fifth player eliminated out of 4,750. And when I tell you I’m cursed in FTOPS, this is what I mean. I’m not saying this was a bad beat -  just not atypical.

It was the second hand of the tournament and I had 7d-6d in the small blind. Mike Gracz in early position raised to 90, a late-position player called, and I called. I’m obviously looking to hit something really special and win a big pot, though I know Gracz is an extremely aggressive player so I might catch him overbetting too (assuming I make something).

The flop was one of those good tricky early-tournament flops for me: Kd-6h-9d. I have a pair and a flush draw. We’re deep here and maybe my hand is already best. Or maybe it’s not but Mike’s not going to want to go to the mattresses without a super-premium hand.

He bet 240, about what I’d expect him to bet whether he had anything or not. The other caller folded. I just called, thinking I’d get an idea based on the turn bet whether my hand was best or if he was weak enough where I could take the pot away. And frankly, I didn’t want to give him an excuse to put me to the test with a promising-but-so-far-weak hand.

The turn card was the seven of spades. Now I had two-pair along with my flush draw and I was ready to rock and roll. Mike bet 650. I raised to 1,590. He made a show of taking awhile to think (which was a dead giveaway that he had a real hand) and pushed all-in.

I didn’t make a show of taking my time to call. I figure there’s a good chance he has A-K or A-A and frankly he’s aggressive enough where he might just be pushing me around, even if it costs him the tournament. All I’m probably behind is a set and I’ve got one each of two of the four cards on the board. Even still, I still have my flush draw.

Gracz had pocket kings for top set and the river didn’t bring a spade.

Out in sixty seconds, 4,745 out of 4,750.