Scott Diamond

I stopped off at the Bicycle Casino Saturday and decided to play the $335.00 NL event at 4:15.I had just got off of work and I haven't played any live Poker for about 2 weeks. I dabbled on-line a bit just to pass some time,but I tell you I should of taken my $100.00 and given it to someone or just hung it out the window of my truck and let it go! On-line is so brutal, I guess I am just a glutton for punishment because I keep going back and playing.

Anyway, 6,000 in starting chips and Denny Williams the tournament Director gave us an extra 30 minute level at the beginning, we started out at 25-25 instead of 50-25 and within 5 minutes there were 4 people busted.

I was in seat 6 and lost a couple of hands to flushes,once with a set of 9's and the other one 2 pair. I actually lost the minimum both times but it brought me down to about 3800 in chips. It's so hard to get people off of flush draws at the Bike,they are willing to risk their tournament on draws to the river.If I had won those two hands, a mistake I made later would of never happened. I did win a decent pot when seat 8 raised to 200 when the blinds were 50-25 and 3 limpers. I had pkt 5's and called as everyone else folded. So I am heads up with the original raiser who is an aggressive player and raises out of position.

The flop was Q-5-3 rainbow. I hit my set and he bets out 700 and I raise to 1400 and he calls.The turn is another 3 and fills me up so I check and he bets 1000 and I just called him. The river is an Ace and he checks pretty fast. I thought, "damn", did he actually have pkt rockets? I bet only a 1000 and he just called me and turned over AQ and I had a sigh of relief, as I showed him my Full House.

I now have about 7900 in chips and have A5 with 6 limpers and I am one of them. The flop came out Ac-5c-4h and as it checked to me I bet out 500 chips because I hit 2 pair and another flush draw out there. Seat 3 who beat me earlier on a flush called my 500 and a lady in seat 5 raised to 1500. I re raised to 3000 and seat 3 went all in. The lady in seat 5 calls as I do.

Seat 3 4c-2c for a gut shot straight and straight flush. Seat 5 AJ and me A5...turn 3 hearts giving seat 3 a straight and the river was 9d. I am knocked down to 775 chips. I build it back up to 3500 and as the blinds go to 300-150 and a 74 ante the button raises my blind 1200 and I have pocket 3's so I push my last 2750 in and he tanks for about 3 minutes. Now he tried to steal a round earlier when I had 66 and he called my all in of 1500 with 5-4 off. I thought he was making a move again but he finally called and turned over 66. He hit a 6 on the flop and I was on my way home.

I am still not sure I should have laid my A5 down earlier. If I had won those earlier races against that player I probably would have,but my stubbornness got the best of me and even though I had the right read he had too many outs. Oh well live and learn.

I am not going to Vegas tomorrow, I am going on Sunday the 22nd as I was given a few nights of free rooms at Caesars by my good friend Ernest Bennett. I am bringing Mrs. Diamond and I am going to play the Seniors Event on Monday as the wife goes shopping with Mrs. Bennett.

Ernest won the WSOP Seniors event last year and there were over 1900 players. I hope to have a better showing than last year as I will be playing my "A" game.

Hope all is well, congratulations to the "Italian Stallion" for winning a bracelet this past weekend and also to Barry Greenstein for winning the Razz event.

Take Care...Be Safe....