I'm happy to report my fears were unfounded. We had a big crowd of ten people, including two new players, and it could have been two more if not for CJ (alternate plans) and Ray (had to work at the last minute) not making it.
Everyone seemed like they had a good time, and the new guys (Amanda's boyfriend and his friend) seamlessly integrated themselves into the proceedings, laughing and joking along with everyone. Always good to see.
And get this - I pretty much nailed the predictions! First time for everything. I had predicted a fourth place finished and actually finished fifth, pretty close there. Add-Ons was exactly $20, and not only was there a scratch-off winner, there were several, for a total of $60, an SFPT record. Furthermore, three of my season-long predictions made in the recap file already came to fruition: Amanda returned, her boyfriend and friend constituted the "new players", and to no one's surprise, Vinnie sent me a text a couple hours before the tournament saying he wouldn't be coming. Based on his previous comment of this being his "last chance", there's a good chance he's played his last SFPT tournament ever.
As for my play: I explained to Amanda after correctly reading a hand I played with Tina my theory that I know when I've played poorly because I can physically feel the anger (and conversely, the absence of same even when I lose, telling me I did the right thing). The lack of anger surfaced three times during this tournament.
The first was a heads-up hand with Tina, and play saw us alternately raise and call through the river, with the board showing jh/4h/8s/10s/ks. I knew there were a ton of ways she could have me beat, and thus checked back when she checked after the river. I was right - she missed the flush draws I had feared, but the king paired one in her hand and beat my queens under.
The details of the second are lost to time, but I do remember I folded a decent hand feeling I was beat by more than one person remaining in the hand, and I was correct.
The third example was my last hand of the night. In a rare smart move, I did a chip count and calculated my remaining big blinds. With only four, it was just about a no-brainer to shove UTG with K/J off suit. Corrye caught a straight on the flop but I still had a chance going to the river when a ten would have given me a higher straight, but I bricked and that was it.
Upon reflection, I realize there was one other factor aiding my lack of anger - prior to my knockout, I was all-in and at risk three times and stayed alive. Having won some, it's not fair to consider myself a loser.
So to recap, I played okay, though not great, but had a good time - recipe for success.
Race to 10k: 3 home game hours, 159.75 total home game hours, 271.25 total hours
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