The reason for this dead of the night finish? I made day three of the GUPKT, with just 12 players left. Holding only 112,000 in chips, however, I would still need some luck to make the final table.

I’m not going to lie; I was desperate to make the final table. I’ve had a rough time in live poker recently, and knew how sweet it would be to make my first ever GUKPT Final table, especially after being knocked down to 2,100 in chips on the first day. I had to be sure to put these emotions on hold, as there was only one way for me to play as the day began- dangerously. With blinds starting at 6,000-12,000 (1000), there was alot of equity in moving in with a lot of hands, and so I did four times. My timing was very lucky, as I dodged a call each time, before looking down at AKo on the button. I shipped it in, and the big stack David La Ronde made a specualtive call in the small blind with K10. An ace on the second card was a massive relief, and I had the final table in my sights.

We were down to 11 players, and I have to admit I was willing to keep my head down and hang on. On my big blind, a short stack moved all-in for 115,000, and I looked down at my cards to realise this would not be an option. I had two red kings! I made the call, and the player on the button blushed, and turned over Q5 of hearts.
The flop rolled out a diastotours Q65, and a dagger struck my heart. An eight on the turn made no difference, but a beautiful 6 on the river paired the board, and one of the sweetest cards I have ever had in poker.

We were down to 10, but I had a little room to breathe with about 335,000. La Ronde raised my big blind as the short stack on the other table was all-in, and I smelt a rat. I held only Q2 of clubs, but took the opportunity to re-raise the action to 95,000. La Ronde had a good think, but eventually passed, and I was happy not only for the chips, but to have set up a possible value spot for later on.

The good news was all rushing in at once, as our 10th place finsiher had been eliminated, and I had made my first major final table of the year. I would go in holding 406,000, almost exactly the average stack. Wohoo!

I drew possibly the worst possible seat. James Mitchell seemed a very talented and daring young player, and was sat on my immiedate left. The player on his left was playing poker on fire; Sam Trickett went into the final table with a chip lead of about 700,000. Despite my position, I knew it was right to start aggressviely, and hope to benefit from any early nerves.

I had decided to raise the first hand irrespective of my cards (I think I held Q9o), but unfortuantely the player in the SB had the perfect stack to move in, and after I had passed, showed the perfect hand, AK of hearts. The next pot I would enter was a blind on blind confrontation against the dangerous James Mitchell. I held Q2o, and watched the flop come out Qc10d6c. There were alot of draws out there, and so I knew a lead out would leave me in a tough position if James re-raised. Instead, I checked, and called his 15,000 bet. The 3h on the turn was a blank, and again I check-called 30,000. The river was another good card, an offsuit 4, and I checked again.

Mitchell thought for a few seconds, before betting a further 50,000. It was a really tough spot, as I knew I could only beat a bluff. My big problem of course in this spot was that I had represented a drawing hand by calling two streets, and so if James had nothing, he would know he had a sure-fire winning bluff on the end. I also had decided that it would be very difficult for James to pull out a vlaue bet with a one pair hand like Q9 or Q7, top pair and a very weak kicker. I evenutally made the call, and it turned out to be an awful one. James HAD made a great value bet with Q7.

It was an ugly pot, but I knew I had to keep my head in the game, still holding 255,000 and a decent chance. James had knocked out our 9th place finisher and taken the chip lead on the previous hand, as I looked down at AQ offsuit in middle position. I raised to 30,000, and the action passed round the table before reaching Martin Green in the big blind. He immiedately pushed his whole stack of 220,000 into the middle, and left me in a really tough spot.

This may have been a standard pass against most players, but my read on Martin was that he was the player most likely to pull this move against me with junk. He had no fear of putting his whole stack in, and I feared he had picked up on the most exploitable part of my game- I am not someone to likes to race for a massive pot. I decided that my AQ was probably slightly ahead of his range, but made the decision to stick with my style, and not to get almost my entire stack in on either a 60-40% or 50-50%.

It was a pot that would leave me agonising afterwards (and I would love to hear your thoughts about it). The reason it left me so pensive, was that from this point, the tournament unfortunately turned against me. I raised KJo the very next hand for the same bet (a move I believe looks strong after you have been caught as most players would shut down). A weak player called on the button, and cruelly Martin Green put his entire stack in again. I knew this time Martin must have a strong hand, and we both got out the way, as he showed queens.

It had me reeling down to 165,000, and the action would soon be passed round to me on the button with blinds of 10,000-20,000 (2000). Q9 of clubs was a perfect hand to move in with. Perfect until Sam woke up with AK in the big blind. He made a quick call, and I would need to win a 40% shot to stay alive. It would be a massive pot, and I was desperate to win it. The board came a sad eight high, and the dream was over.

It is one of the tough things about poker that coming 8th in such a big field was in the main part a gutting finish. I have felt more satisfied with my performance over the next couple of days, but still rue the Q2 pot against James Mitchell. I can’t wait, though, for the next installment of the GUKPT. Roll on Bolton!