Marconi Palace Event 3 Winner: Doctor Straight

[Doctor Straight]

Last night I won a $110 No Limit Holdem Tournament at the Marconi Poker Palace,
beating a field of 80 players to take down Event 3 of the Marconi Poker
Showdown.

This was the first time I'd touched poker chips in about 4 weeks, having
taken some time off the game after the Chip Chop closure of June. I wasn't
sure what shape my tournament game would be in, but I was happy with the result.

I took my friend Simon with me, catching a train home to Flemington then
driving to Bossley Park from 7pm. We were seated at 7:40, the game had
started on time and we were 10 minutes into the first level. Simon and I didn't
recognize any players in the tournament. Marconi run their own game and aren't
APL or NPL affiliated. They've been very successful in nurturing a group
of regular players, there was a good cameraderie between the players
last night, many of whom knew each other by name.

The game had a second chance format in the first four levels (one rebuy only,
but no add-on) but players played sensibly and I didn't see anyone playing
wildly or exercising this option. I busted one player just before the break,
but he simply left.

There were still many people in the game after the half hour dinner break.
Normally such a long dinner break would annoy me, but the food bars
at Marconi club are excellent and Simon and I enjoyed a freshly made pizza
and a couple of Peronis.

It can actually be tricky to get a drink at the Marconi club, they have 3 pizza
bars, 4 coffee and gelato bars and one drinks bar. These numbers might not
be accurate, I didn't have time to walk around the entire club and I
probably missed some gelato bars.

I ran well in the game, getting better and better hands as the night
progressed. I had a nice early suckout with AT beating AQ, and only one
bad beat of the night close to the final table when my 99 was outdrawn
by 55. The key hand of the tournament for me was when my nothing K6
just got better and better on a board of A3457. A player with A2 had no
choice but to call my huge raise on the river and I was set for the final
table after winning that massive pot.

There was some nice disciplined hand-for-hand play enforced by the TDs
before the final table. Another impressive feature of the game
was that we were able to keep playing past the 2am official club
closing time. And right at the end some chips were raced into 25,000 value
plaques, I enjoy using plaques at the big end of a tournament. As a final
nicety my first place included a trophy.

The Marconi Poker Showdown series continues tonight with a $220 PLO
tournament, dealers provided. There's a 15k start stack and a second
chance format. The main event has a $1,100 buyin with a Friday day1A
and Saturday day1B and Sunday final day 2. I can recommend without
reservation these games.

[4Fingers]

Congrats Doctor well played. We hope to see you down there tonight.

[TheAthiest]

Can I get a pup out of those green pants you were wearing?