Been playing for under a year now, mostly 1-2 cash games and doing fairly well. I learn quickly and am always hungry for more knowledge.
Decided to try my first tournament this weekend at my local club. Around 80 entrants, 120$ buy in, no rebuys. 25k starting stacks.
I made it through the first few rounds, getting lucky a few times and playing tight and aggressive. Had built up an okay size stack (around 70 BBs).
Made it to the final table, final 9 players.
Pay was 1st place ($3000) down to 8th place ($600).
I thought I had played pretty well and was almost to the money, so I resolved to fold everything and let everyone else battle it out until the bubble burst.
After a few hands on the final table, I was in the big blind. the blinds were very high ($6000 BB with $6000 ante) and I was one of the shorter stacks at the table.
I wake up with aces (of course) it folds around to the button who raises 3x, small blind 3 bets to 50,000. After some consideration I think to myself, I could just fold and be in the money, then the poker player in me woke up and said NO, You can’t fold aces pre flop.
So I shoved. Button and small blind both call. They both have me covered.
The button turns over KK and the small blind turns over (wait for it…. AA) after a long pause I turn over my aces as well and the table predictably goes nuts…
Flop comes….. K, 2, 9, 3, 10…
Since I was the shortest stack I got knocked out in 9th just short of the money.
Being my first tournament I felt good about my playing and making the final table… What do you guys think? Should I have folded the Aces?
I’ve read so many comments about people saying the only acceptable time to fold aces is on the bubble in a tournament. That thought was definitely in my mind, but I couldn’t do it.. Great experience either way and I plan on doing more tournaments.
That’s my first tournament bad beat story.
Here is that final hand for the proof..