50 players participated in the Oasis Casino's no-limit Texas hold'em tournament last night, and yours truly won first place. The small town tournament circuit has been good too me this week, as I've been in the money four straight times. Yesterday's game featured Chris Hinchcliff ( recent $444,000, 4th place finisher in Party Poker million III) and Cadalic Joe, a friend, who won a super-satellite at Binion's Horeshoe this week and a $10,000 seat into the World Series of Poker. Joe is recovering from a devastating stroke, and his courage and sense of humor are remarkable given his condition. Congratulations Joe and good luck in the WSOP. Jim C., my neighbor and new to hold'em, made the final table for the second time this week. Good job Jim! On a side note, TV Leonard, a fine poker opponent, won a $125 seat in the big upcoming May Oasis Open Tournament, when I knocked him out in 13th place. (This was a special consolation prize). He told me that his chips caused me to win the tournament. Right!:-)

As I continue in my quest for poker excellence, I realize that luck aside, patience is truly a virtue in NL tournament poker. Last night I observed player after player get busted out by ill-timed all-in moves and giving up unnecessarily with short stacks. I began the second half of the tournament with only the add-on ($4000 tournament chips) and waited patiently for premium cards in the right spot. Given that I had the lowest chip count at my table, patience was essential for survival. Sure enough, the cards came, I won a couple of nice pots, and was positioned nicely to move up, I had resisted the temptation to get my money in with marginal drawing hands and was rewarded later. Luck, perserverance and careful observation paid off and I eventually won the tournament. Patience is a quality that will give you an edge over others, less patient, and often differentiate winning from losing. As a kid, when I'd lose my patience and become demanding, my mom would yell "Keep your pants on !!" To have that winning edge "Keep yor pants on!"

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