Fighting for my Championship life

Tonight was probably my best, and worst, night at the SPO.

(For those of you unfamiliar with Seattle-area poker leagues, the Seattle Poker Open is the premiere poker league in the Seattle area. Players play for points in multiple divisions, and compete for seats in the season championship at the end of each season. It's a great place for anybody, regardless of skill level, age, gender, ethnicity, or whatever, to come out and enjoy some free poker, good food, and make new friends.)

I took my seat in the Ring Game (the cash-style game: the blinds don't go up, and there's no antes) at 5:30, ready to kick some serious ass and guarantee my seat in the Winter Championship. The tournament director, Trevor, (I think of him as the Godfather. He knows all.) had encouraged me last week to sit in the Ring Game as opposed to Sit and Gos, rack up like 200 points, and I may have a shot. I was determined...no, I was freaking GOING TO DO IT. Come hell or high water.

I took my seat, and we started playing.

There are always two Ring tables on Tuesday nights-- one is an oval felt table, which seats 10 players (I think. Don't hold me to that,) and a second table that seats eight. Tonight was the last night for the Ring and Sit and Gos for the season, so the oval table was playing a higher stakes game. Usually the best, or more skillful, players sit at the Oval-- I am generally afraid of anyone who sits there, and I cower in fear whenever they reach for chips.

I sat at the smaller table, along with some familiar faces. I started out the night slow and conservatively-- making calls and minimum raises to get a feel for the table. And that's when I started hitting cards.


Going into tonight's game, I had accumulated 15 points in a previous Ring Game night. I started with a chip stack of 4,000-- so, 40 points. And then I started hitting flushes, trips, and straights.

After Tony busted, I started hitting more and more hands. I raised with high cards, and played suited connectors. In other words, I played pretty standard poker. But, I was impressed with my post-flop abilities.  I won at least three huge pots with flushes, so a ton of chips came my way.

As a poker player, (and a female one to boot) I rely heavily on my instincts. I have almost no skill when it comes to online poker. I suck at it. I need to have a living, breathing, real person at a table with me. I need to see their actions, hear their voice. I need to see their body language, I need to see their facial expressions and nuances. I watch how players play certain hands, and how they react to a card that either destroys their hand or completely makes it. I rely on my ability to read people.

Tonight was no exception. After making some ridiculously good (and extremely lucky) calls and bets and raises, I was sitting with the largest chip stack I've ever had in front of me. But then, three hours after taking my seat, disaster struck.

Keep in mind this was probably the only way I was going to make it to the Season Championship.

Also, keep in mind I've only been playing poker since November of 2008-- I'm still a relative newbie.

I've played in one season championship, and that was the Winter Championship of 2009. I want to win one. I want the trophy, the picture on the website, I want it all. I want to win. And being 22 years old, I still have a lot of time to get there and achieve my goal.

The problem with that, however, is that I'm still learning. I'm still learning the game. I'm still learning how to read people, and knowing when to say goodbye to a hand. I feel like my skill level is practically 'Beginner', while everyone else is at 'Ridiculously good, and could possibly be playing for keeps.'


I've been playing in the SPO since January 8, 2009. I keep coming back so I can learn, improve, and get better. My goal in life is to win a championship. Everytime I am denied the chance to compete for the ultimate prize, I'm devestated. The top 7 from 5 divisions earn seats in the championship, along with those who win special events or have wild-card seats through other means. This season, I've been nowhere close. Had I gone each night and played solid poker, I might be up there. But this was my last shot.



Disaster struck in the form of a king-high diamond flush, roughly at 8:43pm. I had called bets by Dave and Randeep. I had pocket jacks, with a jack coming out on the flop. I thought I was safe. I thought I had the high hand, at a table where people had been winning with two pairs, and even single high cards.

I lost at least 2,000 in chips in that hand.

I never recovered.

I had over 19,000 in chips going into the hand.

I tried multiple times to recover, but when you're dealt ridiculous hands like 10-2, you realize there is no recovering. When you're at a table where people are raising with premium hands, you have no shot with a garbage hand and a min raise. No chance.

I was fighting for my championship life at that point. When I realized the possibility of not making it, I lost it. I started crying. I couldn't help it.

When Trevor counted my chips at the end of the night, I ended between 17,000 and 18,000. Not bad for a night's work, especially from a rookie like myself. I wanted to crawl under a table and cry. I failed. I didn't get the points I needed.

But, there is some happiness in this tale. Depsite not making my goal of 200 or so points, I may be able to qualify. If people qualify in multiple divisions, they will be bumped into that division-- which frees up spots.

If I place well in the Bounty Tournament tomorrow and earn more points (potentially winning the week with the most points earned) I could gain more points and potentially make it to the Championship.


In the car on the way home, I made peace with myself. I did some amazing, kick-ass work. I had dominated the table. I played hands well, I read the other players well. I had played better than I've ever played poker before. I was high on an adrenaline rush, the pace and energy of winning. Tonight was the best night I've ever had at the SPO.

Unless I win more points tomorrow and win the week. And somehow, miraculously make it into the season championship. Then, I think tomorrow will take the cake. It can have the cake, I'll just take the chips. And maybe some cake for dessert.

If I make it, I'm buying myself a cake.