June Senior Championship: Summer Evaporation

"Lots of seniors play here," someone commented tonight during the National League of Poker monthly senior championship. In fact, 930 players competed -- but only one could win the $100 top prize. Was it us? Let's find out....

:02 IN: We have A-8, in the second hand of the night. A big loser in the first hand goes all-in with 10-10. We call, and three 8's develop. We win $750.

:03 IN: We have K-4 of clubs. An uninspiring flop of A-9-9 comes, but everyone checks. The turn and river are 4-4, and our bet with a full house makes everyone fold. We win $320.

:05 IN: We have Q-10 of hearts. The flop is J-Q-5, and our minimum bet chases the table away.

:10 IN: We have A-Q offsuit. The flop is 9-7-9, and players check. The turn is a 3, and we make a misleading minimum bet of 60. It works, as everyone folds. We win $270 -- and eventually reach the first break at $1,605, in 129th place.

:30 IN: We have 6-3 in the Big Blind. The flop is Q-K-3, but we don't bet with bottom pair. The table checks, then the turn is K. We probably should have bet there, but we checked again. The river is a Q, putting two high pair on the board and counterfeiting our pair of 3's. A minimum bet by another player forces us to fold.

:31 IN: Next hand is much better -- A-K in the small blind. A player goes all in for $395, and we're happy to call. Everyone else folds. Our opponent has A-Q.

ON THE FLOP: Q-5-5

"Ouch," we say to that.

ON THE TURN: K

"Wait," we now declare with a better pair.

ON THE RIVER: 3

"(Whew)" is our response to a come-from-behind $1,090 win!

At the second break, we're at $1,975. But no real good hands come our way in the third period, and rising blinds drop us to $1,350.

:57 IN: We fold 4-2 of clubs -- and miss our big moment to make a comeback. The flop is 4-2-9, and a 4 on the river would have given us a full house.

1:09 IN: With only 525 left and the blinds at 200/400/50, we go all-in with As-8c. But the board doesn't pair for us, while giving someone else a pair of Kings. We stuck around awhile, but only gained 123rd place.