Oct 9, 2007

I decide to go sit an play at a slot machine near the bar at Golden Gates and witness a gentlemen buying a certificate from a satellite for $1,000. No joke, I would believe it had I not seen it with my own two eyes. This same group of gentlemen talk about buying up more certificates for the main event. Not even 5 minutes had passed and suddenly my machine goes off and makes a lot of noise. I was so focused on what was taking place in the exchange of the certs that I did not realize that I had just hit for a $1,000 on this machine. Fate and circumstance have a weird way of putting you in the right place at the right time without you even realizing it. I calmly collect my winnings from the machine. Thank goodness for paperless tickets, now I don't have to strain my muscles carrying coins. My table is called for a satellite and on my way to the poker room, I ask the group of guys "Are you looking for certs, I got certs!" "Maybe" the gentlemen exclaim in unison. I reply "What's it worth to you?". The response is 200-300 dollars, and I say "try at least 400" and the gentlemen look at each and say man, they're getting more and more expensive. Then, I make my final offer of 500, take it or leave it because they're is not a lot of these floating around. The gentlemen agree and I say come back in 1 hour and I'll have it for you. The group look at me and are stunned at my confidence. I look at them and say 1hour-don't be late.

On my way to my table, I decide to sign up for another satellite and maybe get two of these certs to sale. If my plan goes as planned, I'll win the first satellite and then have time for a quick break before the second one. I use my strategy of playing tight the fist level and decide to turn it up a notch in the second level. With blinds at 100-200, I raise from the button position to 700 and pick up the blinds and the two limpers chips. The very next hand, I'm dealt a pocket pair and raise it again. It's folded to me and in two hands I have picked up nearly 1,500 in chips. The rest of this level, I decide to lay low and to strike again when the blinds are 200-400. In mid position, I raise to 1,100 with 2,8 offsuit and get two callers. The flop is 2, 6, A and the big blind bets all-in for 1,200. I don't exactly have the best hand but it is folded to me and with over 5,000 in the pot - I'm getting great odds to call. I call and he turns over A, K for a pair of aces. Hmmmm, I still have live cards and a miracle 2 appears on the river. This suck-out or stroke of lady luck propels my stack to over 10,000 over 60% of the chips in play are in my stack. The very next hand, I'm dealt a wired pair, A,A and again I raise from under the gun for 1,600 and the button reraises all-in for 2,400 and the big blind calls with his last remaining chips. The big blind flips over K,K and so does the button, I'm siting in good shape as there are no more Kings remaining. My hand holds up and I have taken down this 1st satellite in less than 40 minutes. Ship em' to me, baby. It's time to go collect.

After receiving my cert, I go to the slot machines (same area as earlier) and the gentlemen appear and I get my $500 without much hesitation. When preparation meets opportunity, a profit exists. It is nearly 1am and I have one more satellite to play in. The gentlemen look at me and claim do you have one more, I say- maybe. Thus far, 75 to win/get 500 is a good deal to me but this second one is going to cost more. I tell the gentlemen, this one ain't going to be cheap, I have other buyers (insert your pokerface here) but give me your phone number and we'll meet up in the morning. I don't plan on letting go of this cert for less than 750. I go play in my second cert and yes, steamrolled the table again with some luck. It's nearly 2am- and I'm on my way to the room armed with another cert. Tomorrow, will be another day of opportunity for me. If the gentlemen don't return my call- that's okay, I made 425 for 50 minutes of work and can live with that.

I end up getting a lot more than 750 for the second cert that next morning and it was enough for me to not regret making the decision of scalping my cert off instead of playing in the big one. One of my poker buddies, Chuck made the main event for this Heartland stop and I will go cheer him on. I don't always have to play, I can be a good fan as well. Yes, I took the money but as Kenny Rogers claims "you gotta know when to hold'em and when to fold'em. A gambler also has to know when to put the odds in his favor and when to take them . I'm off to my third home now, Black Hawk.

Does Chewey go for the hat trick and win more certs? How much more will he add to his winnings for this stop? Find this out and how Chewey's friend Chuck does in the main of event of the Heartland Poker Tour- Colorado Part 4.

What's it worth to you?
Chewey