My start at the Bellagio has been slow. Although its my favorite place to play I consistently find when I’m not free and cleared in my brain I don’t do my best and -especially – I don’t run my best. Was freerolling due to my good friend Lynn Kenney who spotted me as a Christmas present but coudn’t outrun the following hand. Here’s how it went down: I had KK’s. Raise and get three callers, which was a little strange as I’d shown no speed. Two of them were pretty loose so I figured I had a couple of weak aces in the field. Flop comes 4 9 8 with two spades. I fire, two fold (probably the weak aces as no ace hit) and I put this guy on a spade draw. When a blank red 3 hits the turn I move all in. He calls me, no kidding, with K 4 offsuit. No spade, no draw, just a four .. but damn if he doesn’t catch the last one on the river. It happens I know but it stung …

Lynn too was knocked out and was playing the 5 pm rebuy tournament so I got in there with him. Had a couple of great hands there which made me laugh and managed to build my stack up impressively without any rebuys. There was a goofball at the table – the epitomy of what I hate about smaller tournaments – who raised everything then folded or checked. So when I got into a hand with him I shoved on the flop but unfortunately for me he had actually, for once, hit the flop so it took me out. Made the final table but out 10th. Had a good day though as learned a bit and enjoyed.

After I was knocked out of the tournament I went to play cash for a little bit. There was a young kid who came to the table who I had played with before. I said “Hi”. He said “I don’t know why I don’t just go ahead and move now as you always bust my chops.” Someone said “you two have a history?” and he said “yeah she busts me with hands like 5 7 and stuff.” I just smiled.

An hour passed. I had A 10 of diamonds. Flop is A(h) Q 4 of diamonds. Top pair, fair kicker and a four flusher. Four people in the pot. I check, a bet of $40, the kid calls the $40 and I move in for $180 more. I was more worried about the original raiser who was solid, than the kid. Kid just couldn’t stand it. He finally flashed A J offsuit, better hand at that time but I liked my chances. He finally folded but not without a lot of moaning and groaning. I didn’t show of course and he was grumbling about my having A K or flopping two pair.

An hour or so later, unraised pot, I have 5 7 off in the big blind. If anyone had raised the pot I would have been out .. but they didn’t. Flop comes 6 4 2. I check, three more people check, kid moves all in for $122. I insta-call, everyone else folds. I turn over my 5 7 – the hand he already remembered me for, he has a weak 6 – and an 8 hits the turn giving me a straight. He was NOT happy. What can I say, it was only $100, had he done that with $800 it would have been another story, but I wasn’t folding there, nor would he. Only thing which was funny it was the 5 7 he rememberd me for from prior sessions. I’m going to end up with that nickname from him I can see it now, no Queen of Diamonds, just Ms. 5-7 off. Ha.

The big Bellagio Classic starts today and I feel good about it. Won’t be in this first tournament, however. I’ve been going through a bad streak, which clearly hasn’t ended. My Jacks run into Queens. Then later my Kings failed to outrun Aces. Two bad hands and that’s all it takes to end your tournament life. Will be glad when this little streak ends.

As I posted last week, Panama was great. Always so nice to see so many good friends. A dear friend (smart too) Eva Rundkvist from Sweden is a poker player also. We got to talking, of course, and she has written the following on her own blog. Its interesting, like her.

http://evarundkvist.blogspot.com/2009/11/story-about-nancy-todd-tyner-queen-of.html

For those of you who read my blog for upliftment and inspiration, today may not be the day. It’s a rough day for me, as are Christmas morning and February 6th (Hayden’s birthday) as this is the day I had to let my baby boy go.

This grief thing is a learning curve. I believe I do incredibly well and have managed to put together some pretty shattered pieces of my soul in the last four years, but the anniversary brings you back to that dark place and having to say goodbye …

Hayden is the best thing that ever happened to me. I learned a lot from him, I treasured our time together. I never looked at him without smiling, from the inside, as deep as I could. For 14 beautiful years he did that to me.

His life was too short, that is true, but I continue to be amazed at how many lives he touched – and continues to touch. I hope I can say I’ve had that kind of influence when my time comes. You’re still my hero and my heart Hayden and I miss you …Love, Mom

Venetian was a bust so went to play cash at Bellagio. My goal these days is to double my initial buy in at cash. I like goals! Had the most interesting of hands. Had A 5 and flop comes 5 3 2 rainbow. Unraised pot. Bet of $40 to my right, I make it $140, guy to my left goes all in for $180, a call of $180 and another call of $l80, original bettor puts their chips in and I’m priced in like crazy .. but knew I had to be behind with all that action. Sure enough original raiser had bottom two pair but all three guys had A 4 and had flopped the nuts. Unblievable. They said “what did you have?” I said “At the end of the hand gentlemen, the best thing I had was pot odds!” Finally got the funds back, doubled up and headed home.