You're a Bunch of Factors

Casino 2/3 NL about 1 hour into the new year. (Yes, i played on New year's eve...)

I bought in for $100, was sitting on $397 before the hand started.

I'm behind the button. Look down at [8c 7d]. I limp.

Button raises to $10. Blinds fold. UTG calls. So do I.

Flop comes:
[9c 8s 7h]

UTG bets $20. As I'm considering my next move, I hear a voice from the rail. "Oi! Caleb!"

It's our very own Big Pete. He is quite drunk and very eager to wish me Happy New Year. He looks at my stack and says:
"You are the most awesome poker player ever. You're nearly as good as me!" (Or something to that effect...)

I re-raise to $75 saying to Pete as I do. "Yeah, but watch me lose because you're here now!"

He smiles at me, points forcefully and says: "NO! You're going to win!"

I believed him.

Button calls. UTG calls too.

Turn:
[9c 8s 7h] [kh]

UTG checks. I push for $312. (I read button as high pockets Q's or J's, I read UTG as top pair, she was that type of player)

Button calls instantly and has me covered. UTG also calls instantly and has just under my stack.

Oh shit.

River:
[9c 8s 7h] [kh] [7c]

Very happy, I table my full boat.
Button has [ac ad]
UTG has [6c 5d] (WOW)

Hello massive win. At this stage I'm able to get up and wish Big Pete happy new year. I couldn'y leave the table before that. I then spent the next 10 minutes making a pretty fort out of my chips.

Moose, Lincoln and Glyn's reactions when they stumbled in and saw my $1300 stack at 3am was pure gold too.

Glad I could help mate

With Big Pete cheering you on, how could you go wrong... He is the man!
Well done Caleb, how did you finish up?

I cashed out for $1262 from my single $100 buy in.

Not all that money made it home since I stopped by the strath on the way home...

Nice hand and a good read M8. Glad to see you started off well and made some cash.

Caleb, my 2009 started same as yours.

We had a new years eve cashy and had 24 players when we started around 8pm. We played a re-buy tourny with $930 being the final prize pool. I didn't make the cash but only did the 1 rebuy and add on($30)

Whilst final table was going on the skittles games had started and i bought in for $20 as no-one else at the table had much in front of them.

10 mins later i had $60, then 10 mins later $150
By midnight i had around $350

WE FINISHED AT 4:00 PM!!!!

I finished with $1220 plus the No.1 player in the riverland owes me $300 - (he is WAAAY good for it - he had already probably dropped over $400)

So iis gonna be a great year for us mate. I was impressed at your stlye when we played at Butlers place that time. Keep it up man.

Todd, i think you win mate. $1500 from $20???

Yep, you definately win. Top work.

Don't these riverland players realise just what a shark you are?

Yours was wind assisted Caleb