It's one of my favorites every year. And this year didn't disappoint.
We had 12 people show for the grub, and everyone stayed for the big game. The food was awesome as we had the Turkey, Ham, Mashed Potato's, Stuffing, and cranberry's. It was delicious.
The game got going at around 7 or so with Myself, Traci, Tim, Tay, Jordan, Jamie, Jeff, Amber, Chris, Becky, Jasen, and a miraculous arrival by Andrew. It had been so long since he'd attended a game at pablosplace, that we let him have it. And in turn, he showed us that he's still got game.
12 players meant that we had two table action, and re-introduced the poker timer to get the action rolling. We played 20 minute levels to move the action along, and we weren't 20 minutes in before our first elimination.
Tim and Tay were heads up after taking a flop of 4-8-5. Small betting went to the turn, where Tim announced blind that he was checking the turn, and an Ace proceeded to fall. Tim checked, and Tay checked behind. The river fell another 5, and Tim led out about the size of the pot. Tay insta-raised the bet All in, and Tim insta-called turning over A-5 for the made full house. But Tay, clapped and giggled as she turned pocket rockets (AA) for the better full house. That left Tim crippled with only 19 chips remaining. He would exit a few hands later getting them all in with K-9, and had two callers (myself and Jamie). I bet the flop when a Q hit, and Jamie made the laydown. I turned my KQ, and Tim was drawing almost dead. The turn and river were no help, and Tim was the first exit of the night.
Jordan got involved in a couple of really tough pots as well, and was crippled when Jamie made a flush and hung around till the end. He finally got the last of his chips in the middle and was called by Jeff, ending his night just after the blinds had gone to 2-4.
Jasen then joined our table to balance the tables, and play continued until the 4-8 level, and then people began to fall out. I didn't pay too close of attention to the other table, other than to see a few people with very low stacks, and Andrew with one very large one.
I had two swing hands which took my night in opposite directions. Thankfully, the wrong one happened first. First to act was Tay, who called the big blind of 8. Jasen folded, and I popped it to 24 with A-Kos. Jeff got out of the way from the small blind, and Jamie and Tay made the calls. On a flop of 6h-6c-5c, Jamie and Tay checked, and I led out with 24. Jamie made the call, and Tay got out of the way. The turn was the Qc, and Jamie led out with 12, and I came along. The river was the 7c, and we both checked. Jamie turned over the Kc-3c for the turned flush, and I was hurting as I was down to about 50 or so chips.
But I'd rebound by doubling through Jamie later as I flopped two pair from the big blind just as action was ready to consolidate to one table. Holding 10-8os from the big blind, I checked to see a flop of 10-8-7. I led out for 24, and Jamie followed. The turn was another 8, and I moved all in for my last 29, and Jamie made the call with a 8-3, and drawing dead to the river. That one gave me some life.
We moved to a final table with 8 people, and Andrew holding a significant chip advantage. I picked up the first hand making a pre-flop raise and collecting only one caller, Jasen, from the big blind. We took a flop that didn't help either of us, but I bet another 13 to move him all in, and he made the call with a weak Ace. I turned over my suited K-Q, and was behind. The turned didn't help either of us, but the river was a K, and gave me a good sized pot.
The next hand was something of a historic hand as we saw 3 people eliminated, and another go to a single chip remaining. It was a giant pot, maybe the biggest at pablosplace if you don't count heads up action. After Andrew min-raised to 16, everyone (all 7 remaining players) took a flop of Js-6s-5h. Surprisingly, the flop caught a little bit of all of us. Traci was the first to act and checked, and I did the same. Jamie led the fray by betting 8, Tay called it, and so did Jeff. Andrew used some of his chip power and popped it to 24. Becky moved all in for the rest of her chips (she was covered by the 24), and Traci followed suit (she was also covered by the 24). Action aback on me as I held 8s-7s. With both an up and down straight draw, and a flush draw, I moved over the top All in. Jamie made the call, Tay got out of the way, and then Jeff (who had me covered by 1 chip as it turned out) also made the call. Andrew folded, and the cards were flipped over. Jamie was ahead with top pair, but only a 4 kicker. She went ahead all the more when the 3h hit the turn, and still had the lead. But the river was the 3s, giving me a flush, and scooping the pot. I had enough to cover the All In's by Traci, Becky, and Jamie, and the three ladies went out at the same time. After counting up Jeff's chips, he had 162 remaining, and I had 161.
This gave me the chip lead, and took us down to 4 players. Jeff would go out on the next hand putting his last chip in, and Tay would take the pot.
The chip lead swung back into Andrew's favor after several hands during three handed play. Pre-flop, all the money went in after Andrew raised, and I called, Tay moved, and was insta-called by Andrew. I got out of the way (laying down Qs-Js) figuring that I was beat, and I was right. Andrew tabled J-J, and Tay flipped K-10. The board didn't help Tay any, and Andrew busted Tay in 3rd place.
Andrew and I played heads up for only a short time (maybe a dozen hands) and the one that did me in was a doozy. After a bet of 40 was called by both of us, we took a flop of K-Q-2. I flopped two pair with Q-2. And I bet 40, Andrew called. The turn was an Ace, and Andrew led for 40 more, and I moved all in. He thought about it for a while and made the call with A-9. But a K on the river made it a better 2 pair for Andrew, and he scooped the pot and the remainder of my chips for the win.
I am so very thankful for everyone that came, and for the opportunity to call you all my family of friends.
Next Friday it's the home game as usual at pablosplace. Thanks again for everyone who came to enjoy the dinner and the poker. It was a blast. Until next Friday, cheers!
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