Welcome home.

I felt like I was at home on Tuesday.

My friend Mike and I went to the Westside night of the SPO on Tuesday, at Jillian's. I refuse to call it the World Sports Grille. I should, but I won't. I haven't been in there since before the remodel-- it looks AMAZING. They've definitely classed it up. The bar area is huge, and I was so happy to see Ariah, who has been the Tuesday night bartender for as long as I can remember. I was sad to see he had cut his hair, so he no longer has a topknot. Now he's just Ariah, not Samuraiah.

Anyway, I digress.

I had two goals for Tuesday night: 1) Do NOT be the first to bust out! and 2) Do NOT let Mike knock me out of the tournament. And Mike's two goals: 1) Do NOT be the first to bust out! and 2) Do NOT let Katie knock me out of the tournament!

Well, guess who went 2 for 2? Spoiler Alert: It's not Mike. (Sorry, Mike!)

I walked in, and I was nervous right away. I was worried about who I would see, who would remember me, and naturally, I was nervous for actually playing poker. We got there early, which was great because it gave me lots of time to talk to Kirk, catch up with other peeps, and have a beer and some amazing street tacos and calm my nerves. (Jillian's has updated the food menu-- it's all AMAZING.)

I saw a handful of familiar faces: Ben, Will, Dennis, and Jason, amongst others. For those of you regulars who weren't there, please go! I'd love to see you! (I'm looking at you, Armijo and Mizuta!)

Then it was time to get down to business.

I was at a smaller table early in the night with Dennis, Mike, Ian, Will, and someone else whose name I don't remember. I annoyed everyone by taking tedious notes on the hands, and rest assured I will be bringing pen and paper next time so it will be faster.

Anyway, the old Kamikaze me would have seen it as a sign from the universe that Queen-2 off suit needed to be played. Why, you ask? Because I got that hand FOUR times!  That's crazy. The old me would've played that after getting it the second time, but as I've matured in life, I've matured in poker. I folded that hand each time, and it paid off. Had I stayed in, I would've lost chips. I would've been displeased. I'm proud to say I played smart poker on Tuesday. Which is strange. Well, maybe not so much now. I still confuse Will Yeung, and since that's the main goal, I'm happy. :)

I won a few hands with aggressive, heavy-handed betting. I won't say if I was bluffing or if I had the nuts or close to it. However, Goal #1 was achieved because I was not the first to bust out!

Will has this saying that if it's not suited pocket aces, he's not playing it. Yeah, okay Will!

Jillian's really needs better house music. I'm sorry, is this 2002? Why did we hear Nickelback? TWICE?! Gross. Awful. I made a joke that the music made me want to slit my wrists, and then I was getting all sorts of advice on whether or not to drink alcohol to clot the blood, which medicines will speed up bleeding, etc. Well, there's never a dull moment when I'm at a poker table! :)

Poor Mike. Poor, poor Mike. After awhile, he was short stacked. I decided to raise with my pocket 3s, and someone was silly enough to call me. In all fairness, he had Ace-King off suit. All he needed was one card better than me and  for me to get nothing on the board to win. I don't memorize odds, but I'm pretty sure they were stacked against me. Hahahahaha.... nope. I ended up winning that hand, and knocking Mike out of the tournament. In all fairness, I did warn him ahead of time that I would do that. I'm ruthless. Cut throat, if you would. But I did feel bad when I rivered a full house, 8s full of 3s. (Or is it 3s full of 8s? I don't know. I had more 8s than 3s.)

Mike went over to play the free/for fun ring game with others who had busted out. So, neither one of us were knocked out first, and I achieved Goal #2 of not being knocked out of the tourney by Mike. Woohoo!

Before the break, I cracked Will's Aces. I had 10-8 of diamonds, looking for a flush or an inside straight draw. I won that hand with 2 pair, 10s and 8s. Will re-bought into the tournament, so he had a second chance. At the break, I discovered that Ben had less in chips than me. A chip count revealed I had 5700 in chips! Holy cow, that's amazing.

Sadly, one of the next few hands would contribute to a loss. I called Ian's all in, only to lose to a Spade flush from Ian. That's what I get for playing King-6. But I called one time! It didn't happen! Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

But wait, this isn't the end! I would later go on to river a straight over trip Jacks from Ian. With 6500 in chips, I made my way over to the FINAL TABLE. Yes, you read that right: FINAL TABLE. FIRST NIGHT BACK, AND A FINAL TABLE FINISH! WOOOO!!!!


Ok, final table. Roger would go out first, followed by Dennis. Joseph, Jason, Will, Laura, and I are the last ones standing. Then, we lost Jason. I was the short stack at this point, and there were 4 left including myself. The blinds escalate in tournament play rather quickly, so decisions have to be made quickly, especially when short stacked.

I went all in for 1800. I doubled up with a Queen-high flush. One time!

After accumulating some chips, I called Will's all-in for 5400 and won with trip deuces. I knooooow. How did that happen? Why did I make that call? I had a good feeling about it, and the gamble paid off. That's how it happens in poker. It's not all about playing the best cards all of the time. You've got to take risks in order to reap a higher payout. And it was worth it. Why? Will was now gone from the final table.

Sadly, this is where my night ends. I busted out of the tournament in 3rd place. 3rd place!!!! Nice.

I survived halfway through the 3000/1500 blind round. It was super intense. I lasted longer than most SPO regulars. Laura would eventually lose to Joseph, heads-up. I was one of three outstanding ladies at the SPO on Tuesday: there was me, Annie, and Laura. Way to go, ladies!



Well, I was happy and tired when I headed home after the tourney. I didn't stay for the second one, as homework and sleep were fast approaching. It was amazing. I credit it to smart play, good instincts, Jason Cortese's AMAZING dealing skill, and sitting in my chair at the final table like Trevor does. I had to channel the poker gods for my first night back, and I have to say I am very grateful they chose to bless me, just a little bit.

So, the Queen has returned. I'm so pleased with a 3rd place finish and I look forward to winning tournaments in the near future. Now, off to class and then work. But I'm still remembering the rush of Tuesday night. Only 4 days until the next tournament! :)