Part 4- The Final Four

In our last edition of Chewey's Corner: 2007 NPT Colorado Championship- Part 3"; The final table was narrowed down to 4 players. 2 players from Colorado (Kelly W. & Dhana M) and 2 players from Nebraska "OPT" remained. Along the way, a few melees broke out and only added fuel to the already electric atmosphere at the Forntier Club in Aurora, CO. At stake, a $10,000 seat into the 2008 World Series of Poker and a chance to represent the Colorado region of Nationwide Poker Tour.

Here are the chip counts and positions with blinds at level 11: 40k-80k:

Seat 1: (Colorado) Dhana M. - 250k
Seat 5: (Colorado) Kelly W. - 240k
Seat 7: (Nebraska Player) - 300k
Seat 9: (Nebraska Player) - 210k

and now the conclusion: 2007 NPT Colorado Championship- Part 4".

Going into the final 4, the strategy was setting up to be Colorado vs Nebraska and then each player for theirself once it was down to heads-up. The actions picks up with 10 minutes remaining in Level 11 and Dhana M is calls with A,9 suited in the small blind position. Kelly raises to 160k with Q,10 from the big blind position and Dhana calls. The strategy of protecting each other for Colorado is now out the window as both Colorado players have committed huge portions of their chip stack into this pot. The flop is J,J,8 with 2 spades. Thus far Dhana has a flush draw versus Kelly's gut-shot straight draw. Dhana checks and Kelly shoves all-in for 80k. Dhana goes into the tank and thinks, thinks, and thinks. Why did Kelly decide to Shove after the flop and not pre-flop? Something is not right? The Nebraska players watch with nervous excitement as the winner of this hand would be the overwhelming chip leader and at the same time here was the chance for the tag-team Nebraska strategy to develop. Finally , Dhana decides to call and realizes that she has committed almost all of her chips to this pot and would be an ultra long shot to win if she lost this pot. The turn is of no help to either player and the river is the Queen of spades. PAA's Kelly is eliminated in 3rd place and the next 30 minutes of poker are going to be intense.

The Blinds are now at 40k/80k and the Nebraska players are double teaming Dhana through taking turns raising Dhana's blinds. With hands such as 9,3; 2,8 and J,4 there is not much defending you can do. To make matters worse, it had been a while since the last break and Dhana desperately needed a restroom break. Dealt 7,3 in the big blind position, Dhana was once again raised and in the heat of the moment, exclaimed to the Nebraska player: "this going all-in is going to bite you back". The Nebraska player replies back with a few choice words (****** *****) and the gauntlet has been thrown down. The next 10 minutes features a series of pre-flop raises and chips being traded around. Dhana M is an avid reader and supporter of Chewey's Corner and was able to use one of my experiences from the 2007 Main Event Day1, where I should have went to the restroom 30 minutes before the end of Day 1 and I would have been able to dodge two horrible beats which decimated my above average stack to short-short stack status.

Dhana asks Tournament Director John Allen, if she can go to the restroom and said the break is not for awhile and you should go before the blinds increase again. With a chip stack of 350k , Dhana would only have a hand or two at the most before blinding out. It is at this point, that Dhana switches gears and raises all-in pre-flop and manages to win a few pots and grow her stack to over 400k. Dhana is dealt A,7 and limps in. Seat 9 goes all-in for 100k more. Here is Dhana's chance to eliminate the hot headed Nebraska player. Would she do it? She calls and gets a pair of Aces. A 5 minute break is upon up for a chip color up and blinds are now at 50k/100k.

Dhana takes her much needed break and her chip stack is at 700k. Dhana runs to her husband, Danny for emotional support and a much needed pep-talk away from the felt. Danny reassures Dhana and saids "Stay calm and you can beat him!" The much anticipated heads up battle is upon us: Colorado vs Nebraska, which state will take home the title? Firdt hand into heads-up, Dhana is dealt A,8 of diamonds and goes all-in. The Nebraska player insta calls from the big blind position for his remaining 400k. Dhana has him covered by 3 chips or 150k.

What will happen now? Next time- just kidding! Dhana nearly faints and is stunned by the insta call. Does he have Kings, Aces? If either of the hands were true, then she would be an overwhelming 8 to 1 dog. much to the crowd's amazement, he flips over A,2 and the board helps neither player and Dhana takes down the title with her 8 kicker. Congrats, Dhana M., you are the 2007 NPT Colorado Champion and from all of us at PAA/Chewey's Corner, way to bring home the title.

In a post-tournament interview with Dhana, Dhana commented that she never went on tilt at any point during the tournament. She let her hands go when re-raised or in questionable situations and moved onto the next.

Chewey will be back in action from the felt April 4 in the Bally's Invitational Poker Tournament in Las Vegas. This trip could also feature action from The Venetian Deep Stack Tournament or The WPT Championship at The Bellagio. All three tournaments are occurring in a 7 day span and could be a great tune-up for my 2008 WSOP Campaign. Tournament action will be determined based on how I feel and what action I deem advantageous to my playing style.

Happy Bday, Harv! You deserve 3 in my book! Catch the thrill of tournament poker and the warm up to my 2008 WSOP Campaign at Chewey's Corner!
Chewey