We were in Vegas 11/10-11/14 and has some exciting poker memories but none will exceed my 1st WSOP event, the LIPS (ladies tourney) at Bally's/Paris. This was only my second major event after playing the in WPT Ladies event at the Bike Legands of Poker. This event was much smaller (169 instead of the 560 at the Bike) and there were very few familiar faces. I am a believer that poker is more luck then skill however these three key lucky hands vaulted me to the final table.
1st- 9h8h in the big blind with 300/600 blinds with ante as well. It is me and the button in the hand, flop come K 9 x. I check, button bets $600, I raise to $1200, button goes all in for her last $1325. Being short stacked myself and my stomach a complete ball of nerves, I make the call knowing she has the K and I am beat. Sure enough, she turns over Kc10c but an 8 comes on the turn giving me 2 pair and the pot.
2nd- Shortly after, with the blinds at 400/800 and antes, my $5000 or so chip stack is vulnerable and I push with AJ. I get one caller, who turns over pocket aces. I get a jack on the flop and a jack on the turn to crack aces and double up!
3rd- The most important play of of the tournament where a valuble lesson is learned. 400/800 blinds with ante and we are on the bubble with about 23 players left with the top 19 getting paid. A short stack goes all in for about 2500. I am on the button with pocket jacks. Since the chip leader at the table (with soo many chips she was nicknamed the Statosphere) who has me 3 to 1 in chips is in the big blind, I just smooth call. The big blind calls and I think to myself, as the button, hopefully we will be checking this down as proper tournament strategy dictates. The flop comes Jh 10h 5. I have hit my set however since the big blind checks I still plan to check it down and hope the flush does not come. The turn is a blank and we both check however the river is the 5d. The Strat announces "ALL IN". I look at the board--all I have thought was "please no heart on the river", not noticing the 5 gave me the boat and not just top set, and I cannot believe my ears. I was angry for the bet into the dry side pot and my misread that we were on the same page to check the hand down (if we had verbally committed to check it down, it would be considered collusion and may have had consequences. Since I thought she was a seasoned tournament player and we were on the bubble, I felt she would check the hand down). With no possible flush, I make the call and she turns over K 5 for a set of 5's. My boat takes the entire pot and puts me in a comfortable chip lead that will take me to the final table.
Although many times I laid down the best hand during my 10 hours of play, I did not have any bad beats and luck was on my side to get me to the final table. It was an experience I will never forget!