Poker Tournament - Gary Burnett

Gary Burnett never really had much experience gambling. One evening, staying at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut for a convention, some of Burnett's colleagues suggested that they head off to the tables. Burnett wasn't sure about hitting the tables but went along anyway.

"I had flown in from England for a medical convention and some of the guys suggested we go to the tables and play," Burnett said. "I'd played some poker online but this was the first time I was playing in an actual casino. I was a bit nervous about making a fool of myself and losing a lot of money."

These concerns should have been the last thing on his mind; Burnett played like a seasoned veteran. Sitting down at a 500 seat Texas Hold'Em No Limit poker tournament, Burnett began making all the right moves.

Entry into the poker tournament was $220, with the first place prize being $50,000.

"I was just going with my instincts and, fortunately, they were holding me in good stead," Burnett said. After the original 500 players were whittled down to 350, Burnett ranked in at an impressive 38th position. The blinds, which had started off at $1/$2, were now up to $10/20. "I was now starting to feel confident at the table and my aggression allowed me to win several pots." Burnett then received the beginning of the greatest hand he'd ever had. A pair of tens. "I had 10-10 and someone raised, which I called," Burnett said. "I didn't want to scare anyone." Then the flop: a jack of spades, a 2 of spades. And the ten of diamonds. Burnett now had three of a kind. "The first guy, who was under the gun, bet $500. That made me think that he might have the ace of spades or a jack. "I raised to $2600 to try and take the pot from him. Not only did he call but one other guy did, as well." Even though Burnett didn't know what to think now, he kept his poker face on. "I was intrigued as to what the other guy had. Did he have a flush draw? That was an obvious concern. I was a bit worried until I saw the turn was the 10 of spades!!"

Burnett now had a four of a kind.

"My hand was now virtually unbeatable and I was hoping the other guys did have a flush so they would keep betting."

The under the gun player then bet $4500. Burnett called. And so did the next guy. The river card was the ace of diamonds.

"Under the gun guy goes all in with $5000, I raise to $10,000 and the next guy calls."

What could the possibly have, Burnett wondered?

"One guy had As-Qs giving him the ace high flush and the other guy had 2d-2c giving him a full house. Truth be told, I had the nut hand before the river. But I was lucky that I had the big hand at the right time."

This monster hand took Burnett into the chip lead. From there, though, he wasn't able to sustain his luck and finished 4th place in the poker tournament.

"I made it onto the final table in third place but from there let the pressure get to me. I was intimidated by some of the raises and then was done on the river."

Burnett went all-in preflop with 9-9 and was called by the chip leader with K-J. A jack fell on the river to send Burnett home in fourth place.

He didn't walk away empty handed, though; fourth place got him $20,000 from the poker tournament prize money.

"Obviously I was disappointed that I was eliminated but fourth place was far better than I could have ever dreamed."

Since then, Burnett plays regularly both online and at real casinos and has had some successes at regular poker games and also in some poker tournaments.

Although nothing has come close to his amazing four of a kind hand.

"That hand was once in a lifetime stuff. To have quads the same time that someone has an Ace-high flush and another player has a full house is too good to be true. Sometimes you have the nuts but everyone mucks. This was a great hand and one I will never ever forget."