[NobleTruths]

Every month, DR holds a bounty tourney where Mr. Brunson, Mike Caro and one or more guests will have bounties on their head. Yesterday (4-2-08), Hoyt Corkins joined in. Buy-in is $27, but first time players of The Bounty get the buy-in refunded (but you have to have the funds to be able to buy-in initially).

For those who dont know, I have a strict "no deposit" policy. Since DR has limited options for freerolls without deposits, it made it hard to get started on the site. Fortunately, I won two of their very few freerolls eligible for "no depositors." From there, i built my BR (bankroll) on micro-SNG's and their current SharpShooter KO tournies. Finally, I reached the point to buy into The Bounty yesterday (mind you, i would NEVER play in it at my low BR if it wernt for the refund).

178 players were enrolled. Prize pool close to $4500, first place takes $1330. At my first table, Mr. Corkins is seated! I found him to be a very aggressive, and probably a bit loose. He was willing to see a lot of flops, even with preflop raises and him out of position. Fortunately, I was getting incredibly powerful hands, and quickly became table (and almost tourney) chip leader in the early part of the tourney. Meanwhile, his stack was dropping.....fast!! In the first decisive hand, I had 98suited UTG+2 and limped (40 chips). Two other callers to Mr Corkins in BB, who all-in with 630 chips. I have 3700, and call for the opportunity to collect a bounty. Next player behind me goes all-in for 1700. I call the extra 1100. Mr. Corkins shows AK and the other shows AQ. Flop pairs my 9, and holds up. I win a $500 bounty!! Now i am tourney leader!

Unfortunately, i am never seated with Mr. Bunson or Caro, so i could not collect bounties from them (two bounties = $5000, three = $25000!!!). Bummer.

However, i maintain chip leader or very near all the way to the money. Pay starts at 20 players left. My arch-rival for leader is chickenneddle, at a different table. I take a severe blow to my chip stack at around 16-15 players, but make it to the final table (20-11 pays $44, 10th pays $58). Things continue to struggle, and I am short stack with 6 left. Poker gods continue to smile on me, however, and i make it to final 3!!! Around and around things go for a while until i have AA in bb. Other player pushes on the button, i reraise all-in, he calls, i win. Shortly after, he is out....now i am HU with chickenneddle!

We both have equal stacks, we both play VERY similar styles. HU last 15-20 minutes, back and forth with calls, raises, folds, etc. Blinds are now 10,000/20,000 with stacks close to 180,000 each. Soon to be 15,000/30,000. He raises to 40,000 preflop, I have QJ suited and reraise to 110,000. He moves all-in, and i'm committed, so i call. He has me covered by 4000 (only! talk about a close battle). He shows............Q-10!

I win!!!! but its not over. He still has 4000 chips, with the blinds at 15,000/30,000. The next 4 forced all-ins he win! OMG!!! I might still lose!

Finally, I get 10-10 to his A-?.........AND I WIN THE TOURNEY!!!!!!!

Final payout of $1330 for the win, $500 for the bounty and a refund of my $27 buy-in.