Last Friday's Tourney : The K10 Gamble That Changed Everything

I finally decided to take my own advice from my last blog and sat down at the table determined to stay disciplined.

The first hour was a grind. Every time I managed to build my stack slightly, I'd get pushed right back down. Nothing seemed to stick. An hour and fifteen minutes in, I was down to just 3,200 chips and clinging on.

Then came the turning point.

I picked up K10 offsuit. After already committing 1,000 chips, I was forced into an all-in situation with two other players. At that stage, I felt I had no real choice - it was either go for it or call it a night. If I was going out, I was going out fighting.

Lady luck was on my side. The board ran out beautifully, giving me a full house - KKK1010 - and I scooped the pot. One of the shovers turned over KJ, and suddenly I was right back in the game.

From that moment on, everything shifted. I tightened up, played smart, and focused on targeting the big bluffer at the table. Eventually, I managed to knock him out, which gave me even more momentum.

At the final table, things got tense. "deluded1" nearly knocked me out at one point, but after winning three crucial all-ins, I found myself back as chip leader. Then came the first hand of heads-up play. For reasons only he knows, he shoved with 6-7 offsuit. I looked down at KQ offsuit and made the call. I was ahead, but poker always keeps things interesting. He paired a 7 on the turn, but I managed to make two pair on the flop, and that was enough.

Just like that, the tournament was over. A successful win after being down to fumes earlier in the night. A reminder that patience, composure, and picking the right spots can completely change a game.

Now, I'm already looking forward to next week's tourney.