Ok, so I'm at this Texas Hold 'Em tournament the other day at a local casino. Its a really big tournament, the winner of it all gets either $11,000 or a free trip and entry into this years World Series of Poker, top prize like $5 million. Theres only 10 people left in the tourney and I'm the chip leader, one more person eliminated and we are down to the final table, I'm doing very well. Everyone at the final table gets paid money.
I'm the big blind and the guy whos in third place to my left makes a decent raise before the flop. One or two call and since I already have money in I call as well with an Ace/Ten unsuited. Flop comes up Ace and two low cards. Now I'm a little worried that he had me beat badly with an Ace and higher kicker which is likely considering he raised preflop. I've also been watching this guy for awhile and am pretty sure I got him figured. I decide to check and wait to see what he does. I figure if he bets small he has an Ace and wants the rest of us to stick around so he can make more money. If he bets big he doesn't have an ace and hes trying to just scare us out.
Sure enough, the guy goes all in. The others fold and it comes to me. The big bet clues me he doesn't have an Ace so I call. Sure enough, he flips over pocket 9's, I've got him wasted and about to go into the final table with more than three times the chips of anyone else. What happens?? A *%^#&^$ nine comes on the river, only two left in the deck, 1 in 24 chance! Knocks me down to a low stack and I end up busting a couple of hands later. That guy of course went on to win the big money.
I'm not necessarily complaining about the bad beat itself, it happens, A LOT, to everyone. I've definately had my share of bad beating other people. It just sucks that it came at that point when I was so close to winning big. Ah well.
Anyways, I know I'm not the only poker player here. Anyone else have any bad beat stories or decent poker stories in general?