The previous article expressed some frustration I was feeling when playing in tournament satellites. The primary complaint was despite the advantage of gaining entry into a tourney inexpensively by winning a satellite; most players’ still retain the “any-two-cards-can-win” mentality. Thus, frustrations rose when donkeys defended their blinds with garbage (and got there), or played hands because a particular card combination was meaningful to them in some way, or thinking they could transport themselves to the final table through a rip in the time-space continuum by playing certain magical, mystical hand combination.
I had, for all intents and purposes, given up on qualifying for a major local tournament through the satellite process. But then a weird thing occurred; my wife and I went shopping and while checking out, the clerk mentioned that this was her Friday. I said something to the effect that it was fortunate her Friday was on Friday; looking at me with a puzzled expression she said “No, today’s Thursday.” Now I was the one lost in the time-space continuum! I could almost hear the old Star Trek sound effect “Weee-ooooo” in the background. It took my wife the entire trip home to convince me that indeed, I had lost a day somewhere and it was 24 hours earlier than I thought it was – and I still checked the calendar when arriving home. Talk about a “Groundhog Day” moment!
So what does all this metaphysical mumbo-jumbo have to do with poker, you ask? It meant I had one last opportunity to -*gasp*- play a satellite in order to qualify for this major local tournament. “Okay” I told my sweetie as I left for the Pokertorium, “Tonight’s the night!” I felt like Mel Fisher – who discovered the Spanish treasure galleon Atocha and all its millions in gold, silver and jewels – who used the phrase “Today’s the day!” every day for twenty years before he found the wreck and all its riches. So once more I girded my loins for poker combat (and if you’ve never girded your loins, be careful the first time or two) and drove down to the coliseum where the other gladiators awaited their fate.
Now, before I detail the evenings’ events, I must let you in on a little secret: The poker gods have a wicked sense of humor and they like to, ahhh…”mess” with your mind from time to time. Whereas in the last few times I tried qualifying nothing went right, nothing hit (or if it did, it was always second best) and I was eliminated early on in every attempt; now everything went right. Cards hit, other players went all-in against my nut hands and I made accurate reads on players enticing them into playing their hands incorrectly, to my profit.
After winning two all-in confrontations with A-A and K-K respectively – and don’t think that’s a sure thing, because the last couple of satellite experiences certainly proved otherwise – I had the table wary of my action. When a flop of A-K-J came to my A-Q after calling an opponent’s raise, he began tentatively probing with bets perhaps 20 percent of the pot, which I of course called. A ten on the river insured my nut straight; as I dragged the pot he morosely mentioned I was second-best until the river. I chose not enlightening him that a little more aggression on his part would likely have encouraged a fold from me as at the time, I was unsure I held the best hand. His hesitancy allowed me to catch up. Hmmm, there might be a lesson here…
Anyway, long story short, I caught cards when I needed to. I picked off bluffs and successfully made a few as well. I had accurate reads on players and was able to entice mistakes from my opponents. And I qualified for the tournament! So tonight is the first ‘flight’ of three to gain entry to the completion round and where the money, the big money, is…at the final table. The poker gods, even with their wicked ways and unfathomable sense of ‘humor’, have reassured me that I am worthy; I can make it happen and can do what needs to be done. That’s the feeling every gladiator must have before they march into the arena; that they will fight, they will overcome, they will win. Defeat is for the other guy. It’s the mindset of every soldier going into battle, the conviction of every fighter pilot entering a dogfight. It’s the attitude of a champion.
More next issue…
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Drew Chitiea is a semi-pro poker player living in Colorado. His tournament wins amount to over $500,000 with 4th place at a WPT event and a 2nd place at Binion’s WPC in Las Vegas, NV.
