I named the subject matter of this text, folding with the nuts, because 99% of the time I will never do it.

Sunday may 16th I arrived at the Borgota casino in Atlantic City, eagerly awaiting the start of another great deep stack tournament.
75 minute levels, and 30,000. in starting chips, and with a slow structure, is my kind of a tournament. It allows the better players ample opportunity to overcome the more aggressive I want to push all-in mentality that many new age players believe is the means to succeed.

I went to registration ponied up $1650. chose to start day 1B on monday, and used Sunday to relax, catch up with some old friends that I hadn't seen for awhile. I love the borgota poker room it is big comfortable, and player friendly.

Monday morning starting time was 11am I had drawn table 19 seat 5
As i prepared to settle in for what I hoped would be a very long day, I always try to make a quick assessment of my tables make up.
I liked what I was seeing, three young guns complete with hats, and phil hellmouth shades, four business men types, and two older gentlemen.

My primary goal at the start of any tournament is to not get involved, watch, and learn, then proceed with a plan of attack.
I placed my order for a cup of coffee, and listened to the tournament director say shuffle up and deal.
I had drawn the big blind, and posted the 50. and said good luck to all the players.

Then the following hand took place.
As you often see at the entry level two players limped, and a player on the button who was obviously not tournament savvy, placed a 100. chip over the line, without declaring a raise.  He was instructed that although his intent had been to raise, he must declare his intentions, so the floor ruled that it was only a call, now the small blind called the other 25. I peeked in at my Q/9 and checked. 
The flop was Qh 9s Qc I had flopped the nuts. I rarely ever slow play my hands, (although in this case it wouldn't have mattered) the small blind checked, and i made a pot sized bet of 250. the two limpers folded, and the player who had wanted to raise, to my amazement declared all-in.

I knew that I was probably facing either A/Q or AA , but with the best hand in this situation it is a must call. I called he held AA and an Ace on the turn eliminated me from the tournament, before I could even get my coffee.
The lesson to be learned here is any time you enter tournament play, be prepared for the possibility of elimination, that has resulted from a mistake by your opponent. This was a situation that ten years ago, probably could never have happened, but with the influx of so many new players entering in today's tournament arena it is rather commonplace for this type of elimination. Players make many mistakes now, but often time they get rewarded when if fact they should have lost. By winning a particular hand they may never understand that the play was incorrect.
My opponent was oblivious to the fact that I could be holding a queen, and certainly his inexperience showed with his decision to go all-in, but did he learn from his mistake. I will never know, but any veteran player will tell you, to expect the unexpected, and there are no virgins.

I teach my students to be disciplined in their decision making, but you must also incorporate the element of risk when the situation dictates it. This does not give you license to enter into every coin flip, but when you are a large favorite, get the chips in the middle.
Coach,
Bill Seymour