Played in the Absolute Poker VIP Invitational tonight, which is a $1500 freeroll. Normally, I don't really bother with freerolls, but this is limited to the top VIP's from the week prior and typically only has 100 or so entrants. Top 18 paid, and first is $450. There were 88 entrants tonight, so it's a $17 value even for just an average player.
I held the chip lead for a little while. I really didn't get great cards, I had KK once and it was folded to my raise. AA one other time, which I slow played into a really nice pot.
That hand was worth commenting on: AA on the button, and someone in mid position raises to 3x the BB. I think for a second ... the table has been tight, and a reraise potentially runs everyone off. If I call, I give the blinds odds to call with what I am hoping to be eventual second best hands, plus ... I have everyone but the initial raiser, easily covered. As such, I smooth call, hoping the blinds will come in.
The BB does in fact call and the flop is Q33. BB leads out a bet of about 3/4 of the pot, which basically leaves him pot committed. The initial raiser folds. I decide to wait for the turn to put the BB all in, just to portray a bit more weakness in case he doesn't understand "pot committed". He does in fact push on the turn, I call, he flips QT and I drag a pot that ended up being much larger than it would have been had I reraised preflop.
I ended up in the final 3, shortest stack of the bunch with 99 on the button. I had around 6K in chips and the blinds were 600/1200 with 100 antes (maybe 150). Anyway, it's a push or fold situation and you can't ask for better than pocket 9s 3 way. I push, the SB sits back, waits a while, calls, the BB folds and the SB flips AA on me ... sayonara.
A fun tourney, and some free mone; plus my first final table in a while, even if it was only a freeroll. I thought I played really well, stealing some pots that I had no business in, and slow playing some other hands well.
