DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT!

Was surprised to find a $10 razz SNG tournament today with Chris "Jesus" Ferguson sitting at the table over at Full Tilt Poker this morning. Was even more suprised to find seats open.

So I sat down, with my sole focus, my sole intention to get to heads-up with him and then beat him.

I accomplished the first objective, but I came up short on the second. At one point, I had him against the ropes, but I got caught being a bit too aggressive and handed the game to him.

It was a very fun tournament, for the most part. Jesus and I both got a bit short-stacked early when we tackled a self-professed "first time razz player" in one hand. And, later on, we both got back our chips and more from the same player. Then, after about the third or fourth level, I took command of the table and built a huge lead. I squandered some of it trying to knock out a couple of short stacks, and when we got to heads-up, Jesus and I were fairly close in chips, with me holding a very small advantage.

Early on in heads-up play, I tried to play too cute and allowed him to build a 5-to-1 chip lead. From there, I buckled down and slowly chipped away, then caught him in a big pot that gave me a 2-to-1 lead. At that point, I started bullying him, but he was patient and finally reversed our fortunes once again in a very close hand that came down to the last card for both of us. From there, I kept losing until he once again had the 5-to-1 lead, but closed to within 3-to-1 when we came down to the final hand and once again played a close one that came down to the last card for both of us. Advantage, Jesus.

I was so focused on trying to beat Jesus that when it was all over and the little box popped up telling me that the second-place prize had been credited to my account, I was a little confused, thinking, "But I lost! Why am I getting money?"

I guess I have to be somewhat happy with how I played. I was able to get to heads-up with one of the smartest, best players on the planet, I didn't crumble when he took an early lead, and I fought back and put myself in position to win. The heads-up game lasted a good half-hour before I finally caved in. On the negative side, though, I doubt that a $10 SNG brought out his best game. Obviously, he is the better player. That's why he's on TV and sitting on gargantuan piles of money, while I'm slaving away at a job I hate and throwing money away at the poker table.

Still, if we were to sit down and play 10 matches, I bet I could win four of them.

Lots of fun, to be sure, but I'm biding my time now, waiting for my chance at a rematch. You're on notice, Mr. Ferguson.