How I Won My Gold Bracelet,
Three Trophies and
the Best All-Around Player Award
By Debbie Burkhead

I left for Reno a day later than originally planned but as the saying goes, "everything happens for a reason." I was scheduled to leave on Thursday, February 26 but my editorial duties at Poker Digest caused a slight delay in my departure.

I arrived at the Peppermill on Friday evening and the following day I signed up for the $220 Championship Limit Hold'em event.

To be honest I don't remember any one significant hand but I do recall having to rebuy before the break, which means I wasn't burning up the felt.

After the rebuy period things changed and my stacks began to grow. It was a gradual growth but when we broke for dinner I had managed to accumulate enough ammo to be a contender.

We were down to three tables when we broke for dinner and my first goal was to make the money. When we got to two tables I set my sights a little higher and was aiming for a fourth place finish or better. Things were obviously going my way because my chips were multiplying quite rapidly. I had gained the chip lead at three tables and when we went to the final table I was still the chip leader. Now my goal was nothing less than a first place finish.

Having the chip lead at the final table is a powerful tool and knowing how to use that tool makes all the difference in the world. It's a lot easier to bully the table when you have a healthy chip lead and I used it to my advantage as often as possible.

It wasn't long before we were three-handed. I still had the chip lead with $81,500, Nick Koliartasis was in second with $39,500 and Don Vines was trailing with $18,500. Vines suggested a deal and after much consideration we all agreed and play resumed. A few hands later Vines was eliminated by Koliartasis.

After a few more hands of play I made Koliartasis an offer he couldn't refuse and play ended. That's how I won my gold bracelet, one of three trophies and 10 points toward the Best All-around player award.

The following day I entered the $120 No-limit event and once again I found myself focusing on a final table finish at the dinner break. Making the final table was not just about the money anymore, it was also important to earn those points.

The good news is I made the final table but the bad news is I was eliminated in eighth place. I did earn three more points and took the lead with 13 points.

On Monday I entered the $220 Limit Hold'em event and found myself down to $225 after only two hours of play. At this point it didn't look like it was going to be my day but there's always hope if you have a chip.

I was on the button and after looking at my cards two thoughts went through my head. My first thought was, "this could be my last hand." because I knew I was going all-in. My second thought was, "just in time." You guessed it, I was looking at pocket aces and praying they'd hold up. They not only held up, I tripled through.

On the very next hand I was pleasantly surprised when I looked down and found A-K of hearts. It was capped before the flop and the flop brought two hearts but no kings or aces. The player in seat four was playing his hand with extreme aggression and I was sure he had pocket aces. It was too late to muck the hand, most of my chips were in the pot.

The turn card wasn't a heart, a king or an ace and I knew the pot was mine if the river came a heart. I was all-in on the turn and I wasn't just praying for a heart, I was begging. I was thrilled when the dealer turned the four of hearts. Yes, he had pocket aces. I tripled through again and that was the turning point. I went on to win my second tournament in three days and took a commanding lead with 23 points.

I now had a gold bracelet, two trophies, a healthy bankroll and was 13 points ahead of the field for the Best All-around player award.

Believe it or not I had to return to Vegas once again to fulfill those editorial duties I spoke of earlier. But as Arnold Schwarzenegger so eloquently put it, "I'll be back."

I returned on Thursday evening and Friday was the big day, another championship event with a $520 buy-in and another gold bracelet going to the winner. It was a no-limit event with no rebuys.

I was still in the lead for the Best All-around player with 23 points but there were three players within reach. My closest competition was Bruce Peck with 17 points followed by Jane Paquette with 16 points and Nick Koliastasis with 15.

Here's the good part - Eaquette and Koliastasis didn't show up for the last event. My only threat was Bruce Peck and I was keeping a close eye on him. We were at four tables when Peck was eliminated and it was announced I had won the Best All-around player award.

OK, now the pressure was off and I could concentrate on another win. I wasn't the chip leader but I had about $5,000 before we broke for dinner.

Within an hour of play we went to two tables and I still had some chips but the cards weren't coming my way. I was eliminated in 17th place, but how could I be disappointed?

I'd won a gold bracelet, three trophies and a pocket full of dough. Oh, if you're wondering, the Best All-around award came with $1,795 cash.