High Pressure SNG: Feel Good Win

So, with the addition of a poker room on FullContactPoker, everyone around Negreanu's camp's been abuzz.

Well, this afternoon, I got off the phone with my mom to pull up the forums and see that Daniel had set up a private sit-n-go for all comers. Unfortunately, I was a few minutes too late, and only got to watch. Oh well, he's supposedly gonna be on tomorrow, so I get my chance to bust him soon.

Well, after I watched that one, a few guys from FCP forums wanted another private SNG. So, one got set up, and we played.

Granted, this was only a $5+.50 SNG, so it wasn't a huge dent on any of us really. But I hadn't played any of these guys (knowingly).

So here was the set up

1. Some guy I didn't know
2. Suited_Up
3. Me!
4. BetterBo
5. Governator
6. Zimmer4141

Now I know the 411 on the guys I'm playing against. Zimm's a red hot player, and just won the SNG with Daniel. I also have a lot of respect for Suited and Gov. Bo, I don't know too much about.

Barring the players I didn't know, or didn't know much about, I felt like I was probably the weak link at the table.

So all-in-all, I felt like I had a small shot here. But, playing solid, and keeping my confidence, I felt like I could accomplish all.

I started off low stacked, after my pockets 6's ran up against what I think was Zimmer's KQ. I can't tell you for certain whether or not it was KQ. But that was my read, and it was a scary flop of AK5. After I bet and he check/called the flop, that's what I felt. His bet on the river pushed me out.

Later on, Zimm and I were at it again. I catch a King on the flop with K8 (as most know, my lucky hand), bet 300 out and he calls. turn comes a Jack, and I move all-in, feeling as I was ahead. I had no read to go on here, I just felt it. And all of a sudden he says in chat, "I have to call this." I feel so screwed right now. He had to have me outkicked with a king on the flop. He then says, "I know I'm behind, but I can't lay this down." Ok, I may have a shot.

He calls, and turns up KRABLAR! Oh man, I was ecstatic. No 3 materialized, and I double up, and leave Zimm crippled. No pinch pinch for you.

A couple of knockouts later, we're now 3 handed, 2 cash. I have maintained second or third steadily since doubling up through Zimmer. And I get J8 in the big blind, and it's just me and Suited, where he limps.

Flop comes QJ3. I bet out, he raised, and I moved all-in. He turns up KRABLAR! WTF?! I was laughing, and as no king or 3 turned up, I knocked him out, giving me about 4:1 chip lead against Governator, who had been sitting out for most of the game due to his dog. Well, he's back and ready to play.

Only a few hands into this, I get A5, and catch middle pair on a flip of 538 (I think it was, but I know it was middle pair). I bet enough to put him all-in (1930), and he calls, and turns up two hearts. No hearts fall, and I emerge victorious!

All I could say was wow. That was a win that gave me a lot of confidence. These were some of the more respected members of FCP. And definitely better respected than me. And I felt like I handled them well. I was catching, and was reading pretty good here. Definitely the most exciting SNG I've played, even if it was only 5.50 to play.