Playing poker in someones parents house is not something I thought, at my age, I would ever be doing, but that said, G's parents were lovely and welcomed us all with open arms! And I, for one, welcomed the change in venue and the addition of a new player, G's dad, Dale.

The game started at rather a slow pace, at least for me, as I did not go all-in for at least 5 hands. During the first couple rounds of blinds, I can't remember any particular hand of note, though do remember Lindsey taking all my chips twice, and if I remember rightly, it was a close call on both sides! And as for Dale, well, he went into a commanding chip lead, on marginal actually no, that's too kind on really BAD starting hands! One hand he called Adam all-in with 58o. Adam hit two top pairs if I remember rightly, but on the river, Dale somehow managed to pull a straight! Unbelievable!

The first casualty of the night was poor Adam, having never got over the bad beat, as he went out before the freezeout. Pete was next, also before the freezeout, though he did go out in storming fashion. The hand played with Dale raising the blinds, with G then going all-in. I had very few chips, I think 2,000 in total, holding Ah10h, and I was already in for 600, so went all-in. Pete to my left had 1,900 chips and also called. Dale matched G's all-in, for around 6,000 chips. Cards flipped over with Dale having Ace something, G with, I think, KQo and Pete with a potential straight draw. The flop comes with Pete hitting the straight. However, the cards contained two hearts, so I was still in with a hope. Praying to the poker gods, I willed a heart on both the turn and the river. The turn proved to be another Ace, putting Dale in a good position to take all of G's chips. The river, thank god, was a heart, and I took Pete out. Dale did take all of G's chips, forcing him to be-buy.

After the freezeout, I was 3^rd in chips, with Lindsey in 2nd, G low-stack and Dale way ahead of the rest of us.

My luck had turned considerably, and I found myself with JJ soon after the game restarted. Having JUST had a conversation regarding the pitfalls of pocket Js, I thought sod it and put in my remaining 4,000 chips. Dale called me. Now, I am not one to be overawed by the cards, but I think my first ever 4 of a kind, in a competitive game, deserves a big WOO HOO!!

I never looked back after my 4J's. I took Lindsey out with J9o, hitting the straight on the river. I think I also took G out, though I cannot remember what with, nor am I 100% sure it was me and not Dale!! Sorry!

Anyway, it was down to me and Dale. Dale had not played heads-up for a long time, and I am told folded a couple of monsters. I held at least 5x his chips, and I began slowly to chip (pardon the pun) away at his stack. It all ended with me slow playing pocket Ks. Having just called the big blind, the flop came QQ8. Dale bet 2,000 chips, which I then doubled to put him all-in. He showed an Ace if I remember rightly, but no help came to him on the turn or the river, and hurrah, I had won!

I would just like to give my thanks to G, who rashly commented on my 3^rd, and last, rebuy of the evening ,oh dear, Emily's rebought for a fourth time, she'll now win. Thanks mate!

I would also like to say a big thank-you to G's parents for putting up with us for the evening.

Adios!

Emily