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After just missing the final table 2 weeks back with my first in the money finish, I made it to the final table today and breaking my best finish till now. Who would have known this after the poor start I made today.

I had to fold hand after hand and the few hands I was playing I lost. After 20 hands or so my chip count went down from 1500 to 880. I had to do something pretty soon. Then I got pocket Queens and sat in late position. My mind was up for a big raise to get into a head-to-head situation which makes my Queens stronger than playing 4 players. But before it was my turn a loose player went all in for 2700 chips. Everybody started folding and it was up to me. Call or not? Could it be possible that he had AA, KK or AK? I made the call and I got my head-to-head situation I wanted. My QQ against A6o. I’m in the lead as long there’s no A drawn. Flop was 8 10 8, which was also good for me for a Full House draw. Turn was a K and only an A could beat me now. River sealed my win with a 9 and I was back in business.

After this I started winning some small pot’s and doubled up my chips again. Then I got very lucky not thrown out of the tournament. With QJo in my hands I re-raised a 280 raise with an all-in after the flop 6 8 J gave me a pair of Jacks. Everybody folds except the player who raised the first time. He called me and shows 2 pair with 6 and 8. I was in trouble, another jack or Queen saves me. Turn gave me a 4 which gave another 3 extra outs if it paired on the board. And the river paired this 4, letting me win with the higher set of the two pairs (JJ). I got very lucky here and apologized to the other player for his bad beat.  After a few more hands I made up to him not pushing him all in when I got 4 of a kind with 7. He immediately thanked me for this as he had the Full House with the Aces and Sevens and would have called anything I’ve raised.

My second lucky shot I got on the same table with A9s in my hands in late position. On my turn I raised to 640. 1 player called and the flop paired my Ace (3 5 A). I re-raised to 1200 and got called. Turn paired the board, also giving me 2 two pairs. My opponent raised, I re-raised and got re-raised to an all-in. I called hoping he didn’t have a 2 and a 4 in his hands, giving him the straight. He showed AK suited and was in the lead with the higher kicker, damn. Only a 3, an Ace (split pot) or a 9 could save me. River gave me the win with the 9 and the two higher pairs. I was in the top 20 now.

From this hand on I kept winning, only losing small amounts and steadily climbed higher into the top 10.
After only 27 players were left, they started going all in again as they ended up in the money anyhow. My goal was to reach the final table now. I played around the 3rd for about 40 minutes and then it happened. The table layout changed, to a picture with audience around the table.  I’ve made it!!!
9 Players left. I managed to knock out the first player at this table leaving us with eight. After some bad calls I got 27o (deuce seven) in my hands, the worst hands you can get in poker, but I took the risk and started a bluff. With the small blind/big blind being 1500/3000 I raised to 9000 to see what my opponents would do. Only the Big Blind called my raise. Flop draw: 4 5 7, I had the highest pair on the board right know. BB checked, I raised again with 9000 to get re-raised to 27000. But because he doubted a bit before re-raising I immediately re-raised him to 45000. Now he started to think about my hand, what would I have? He called and the turn draw an 8 and I had a small chance for a straight draw now. BB checked again and I went all in, another 70000 chips on the table. Before I started this bluff I told myself to let the others see my deuce seven. BB called and the pot total was 253000, the biggest pot I’ve played so far. I got the chance to show my deuce seven and he showed 89o giving him a top pair. If the river wasn’t a 2 or a 7 I was out. A 3 turned up and I finished on the 8th place.
My opponent won the tournament about 30 minutes later.

What a tournament it was, a bad start, 2 really lucky shots and overall really good playing. I was pretty happy over today’s tournament and the $3 I’ve earned
When will I end up in the Top 3?

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