Staying Power

It has been common for me over the last year of playing poker to finish in any position but first in the multi table tournaments I have entered.

In tonight's game I paid $10 to enter the qualifier for the Paddy Power Poker Irish Open Grand Final. In fact, I have tried every day since Monday to enter this final that takes place tomorrow night. I came up short in quite a few of the games but tonight was a different story.

With every $103 in the prize pool going towards entry to tomorrow's game it meant that I had to hang in until 12th place or upwards just to guarantee a seat.

2 quarters into the game I was chip leader and decided the amount of chips I had could carry me to the final table so I decided to change my game and fold every hand I had unless some decent hole cards came along.

This strategy won out as after the 13th person was knocked out I had achieved my goal for the week and won the seat.

But I didn't let up. I decided to continue playing and see how far I could go. A lot of the other players, after realising they were 'winners', decided to lose on purpose leaving me and another poker player at the table.

I thought the idea of playing latter stages of a multi table game would provide a little bit more experience for me in the hope that I could use this knowledge in future final table situations.

The result was the same as usual. I came anywhere but 1st. Second is still not too bad, though. Second in tomoorrow's game will also guarantee a ticket to the Dublin event on Easter Sunday.

But I still must strive to be number one because as the saying goes;

Second is the first loser.