I have played 11 televised one table satellites making the top 2 seven times. So although I was disappointed after losing an even money shot to Surinder Sunar at the World Poker Tour event in Paris last weekend only to see him go all the way and win £468,000, I put that behind me and was ready to play. A great performance in the final from second lowest stack, congratulations.

Unfortunately I saw so few hands during the first three levels the only way I maintained my stack was by three stone cold bluffs. I prefer to do that sort of thing at the business end of an event.

The structure had been devised by Jon Shoreman and was excellent. It allowed for a lot of play and clearly favoured the better players. My heat was won by John Kabbaj, while both Ram Vaswani and Joe Beevers won their respective heats. I was knocked out in 4th spot during the 7th level - starting chips were 10,000 and at the time I was eliminated were 400 800. I understand the heads up between John and Mad Yank Ron Fanelli lasted all of four hours.

I was drawn in seat 3. Seat 1 trebled his stack early when his 22 cracked Tony G's AA costing him 80% of his stack, finishing him off when his A8 beat Tony’s AK. Tony, although known to be vociferous at the table, was tonight a complete gentleman. The same player then picked up AA twice and KK once before losing most of his stack to the second chip leader on my left who had raised pre-flop with KK and been called by him with the A9 of spades. The flop was Q high with 2 spades and all the chips went in . In the meantime Bruce Corman raised one off the button and Ron, who had limped with KJ thinking he was stealing, moved in. Bruce quickly called with KK. Ron now steaming re-raised a raise from the SB, and this time KT beat 88. John, who had been pretty quiet, got it all in with Bruce AK against AQ and was now in contention. We were down to 4, average was 25,000.

On my left was the chip leader with approx 45,000, John had 28,000, Ron 20,000 and yours truly 6700.

In the first 6 levels I had 4 pairs 33 55 99 and JJ. The 55 I limped for 50 and passed on the flop. The 99 I raised on the button - no callers. The JJ I raised from first position - again no callers. Other than that I had AK twice. Once I limped as I wanted to play from a flop not just trying to win the even money shots I seem to keep losing. The first I missed the flop and passed to a bet, the second I flat called a pre flop raise and passed to a big bet on an 8 high flop.

The 33 were funny. The previous chip leader was down to 900 and in the SB for 300. I was in the BB for 600. John raised to 2000, the SB called for his last 600 as you would expect and could of had anything. I fancied my 33 and that John probably had a strong A and just wanted to get it heads up with the all-in. I decided to call knowing John would probably check it out with an all-in player unless he hit. He knew I was capable of slow playing a big hand here and wouldn't of wanted to waste chips bluffing to win a small side pot. The flop came 6 6 5. Not bad for 33. I checked as did John. The turn was a K. I checked and John bet 1,000 into the 2200 side pot. I knew he would check AK here so I thought it was a steal and called. River was an ugly Q and John bet another 2000. Now I passed trying to put him on a hand.

He had flopped quads!

The good news is that apart from having to bluff to stay alive and the fact that while all around me were picking up premium pairs, when I did go all in for the first time during the 300 600 level it was with A9 against 77 and I actually hit 3 Aces! So hopefully that voodoo is broken. This gave me 11,600 chips but sadly that was the most I ever had. Believe it or not until the hand I went out with 50 minutes later when down to 6700 - 4 minutes before the blinds were to increase to 500 1000 - the best hand I held was in the SB and was A2.

I was forced to steal the blinds when unraised by the other 2 when in the SB. And twice in a row I had bet 5000 showing I was pot committed. The first time the BB who had over 40,000 laid down an A saying he had a weak kicker, the second time laid down a K and I showed him my A (but not the 2) and the very next round I held K 2. I knew we were about to go to 500 1000 and needed to pick up the blinds but felt that this time he would take a stand so I decided to play it differently and flat call. If I missed the flop and felt he had too I would fire out a bluff. If I hit the flop I would check raise. So much for great plans! He checked. Good start. Flop was K 7 2. Wonderful! I checked, he bet 2000. As I hadn't raised I thought he could be bluffing or betting with a 7. If he had a K I thought he would have taken advantage of his chip position and raised pre flop. I moved in for my last 5900 and he quickly called with K 2! He flopped 2 pair. I needed a 3 to win or the 7 to pair for a chance of a split pot. The turn brought a killer 2. I will never know if I had raised for the third time in a row if he would have taken a stand with the K 2 and then got lucky. I chose to play it this way and it backfired.

I never felt uncomfortable even when I had only a quarter the average chips four handed. I have been in this situation many times and gone on to win but it does help if you get any sort of hand to double up with. All three players were strong and when they made a raise, steal or otherwise, I had neither the cards or chips to move them off a hand .

Good luck to all those who have made the final. This is an event which was well run with a very player friendly structure. There was a players buffet with waitresses serving drinks at the tables and spectators allowed in the studio which made for a better atmosphere. I would certainly be happy to play it again and look forward to doing so.

My next event is in Luton from August 9-15. I will be playing the Stud and three No Limit events. So far my best recent finish is 5th. I confidently predict I will better that in Luton. Come back then and see if I'm right!

All the best

ACES