Tunica -- play your best cash game

TUNICA, Miss. -- Today, my sole strategy for the $300+40 NLHE World Poker Open event at the Gold Strike was to take a page from Phil Gordon's Little Green Book when he says that Chris Ferguson told him to "play his best cash game" in a tournament.

And, largely, it worked.

I caught great hands at the right time -- enough so I was making great reports to Gnome -- at the first break, at the second. During those times I caught someone reraising me all in with the harbls (88) when I had AA. I caught an old-timer raising me all in with AKs when I had AA.

I slowplayed a dangerous tourney player who claimed cashes in WPT events at the Borgata and Vegas. I called with A6s in the small blind, checked my two pair on the flop, called his turn bet when his flush came for half my chips (the ace made my boat) and got a call on the river.

After the second break, I pushed all-in with KK and got a chip stack to call me with KJs. So with blinds at 200/400 and 50 ante, I'm above the waterline with 12,000 chips.

Not too many hands later, this guy who reminded me of gigolo Sham (denim visor, shirt and gold chain) raises me all in after I raise 1,400 in early with TT. I fold not wanting to have to race for half my stack.

Not too many hands later, gigolo sham pushes all in with AJs and the small blind calls with A8, catching an 8 on the flop and sending G.S. home.

Then his friend to the right raises. I push all-in with QQ, he says "Like my friend, I have to get lucky," and calls with AJs. Jack on the flop and jack on the river. Oh, well.

It was a lot of fun and I was very happy with how long I lasted (4:37). It could have gone either way.

POKER CATS NOTEBOOK: I was extremely sick on Tuesday and did not make it out of my room and missed the $500+50 shorthanded NL WSOP Circuit tourney. I may try to play in another $500 tourney before the week is up. At very worst, I'll send refunds to the backers...