Well, true to form, I like to make things short and sweet on Main Event Day 2. Coming into the day with only a tad over 15k, I wanted to make Team Pokerstars proud, and chip up to give myself a shot, although I knew with that strategy, there was a good chance I’d bust rather early. My second hand of the day, it folded to me on the button, and I raised to 1400, with 10-6 off-suit, I felt the table was still not ready to play poker yet, and on a 10-A-4 flop, the BB checked, I bet 2K, and he folded. Good start, I thought, and the small pot put me almost to 17k. I made a few good, patient folds, telling myself to not panic, before my bust out hand.

I was in the BB, for 500, with 250/500 and a 50 ante. It folded to the button who made it 1,300 straight, and I looked down at 10c-9c and flat called. The flop was Tx-3s-4s, and I checked to the button, figuring he’d lead at this pot 100 percent of the time, and lead he did putting out a 2200 bet. I didn’t insta-shove, I counted out the chips for a call, shuffled, and thought for about fifteen to twenty seconds, before announcing that I was all-in. My opponent, asked for a count, and the dealer counted out that it would be 12,400 for him to make the call, and the longer he tanked, the better i felt that I might get a call from A high, or maybe a pocket pair below tens, and double through here. After about two minutes, he finally made the call, and I was a bit shocked to see pocket Jacks tabled. Unfortunately, i didn’t suck out and that was the end of my Main Event run.

As I tend to do when busting from a big tourney, i replayed the hand about a thousand times, thinking how I could have done things differently… Should I have just folded? What if I led out for 2,500 on the flop, he’d surely raise me, and maybe I get away leaving myself with 13k or so. If I flatted the flop the turn brought the 6 of spades, completely flush, and straight draws. If I shove there does, he fold? Probably not — i have to remember my stack was less than intimidating. I finally came to the conclusion, that I am OK with my bust out hand, and I think if I ran into the same spot again in the future, I might just play it the same way.

Obviously, I want to thank Pokerstars for giving me a shot, and hopefully one of these days I’ll be able to capitalize in a big way in a major event. Be sure, to check out the August issue for a full recap of my main event.