The highs, the heartbreaks, and everything in between

Hey hey hey! It’s your girl Lexy Gavin-Mather, and I’m back from a whirlwind week in Reno—Mission RunGood style. And let me tell you, this one was a roller coaster. Think epic highs, brutal beats, last-minute magic, and yes… I bagged for Day 2. 💪

If you’re into poker tournament strategy, bad beat recovery, or just want some real-deal Lexy Gavin poker tips, buckle up. This blog’s for you.

Ring Hunting at RunGood

Bobby (my husband and partner-in-poker) and I kicked off the week with one goal: win another RunGood ring. I was going for ring number THREE, and Bobby was trying to lock down his second.

The vibe? Electric. I mean, when you’re sharing the tables with poker pros and Survivor’s Tyson Apostol, you know it’s going to be a good time.

The ambassador bounty night was wild. I almost had to give my hat away for a knockout bounty—but don’t worry, I kept my hat AND my pride. 😎

Riding the Variance: Deep in the Main Event

After a few rough bust-outs (including a savage king-queen of hearts to queen-six off), it all came down to the $600 Main Event. 150K guaranteed. And the vibes? Let’s just say I was manifesting hard.

I bagged 72K heading into Day 2 with about 12 big blinds—12 big blinds and a dream, baby. That’s still plenty of play when you know how to pick your spots.

And even better? Bobby bagged too. So yeah, Team Gavin-Mather was in full effect.

Strategy Tip: Don’t Overplay Ace-Five Suited Preflop

Let’s break down a hand real quick:

I had Ace-Five of spades on the button. A couple limpers, and the cutoff made a small raise. I figured he was isolating light, so I bumped it up to 5K.

Flop: 6♦ 3♦ 3♥
I c-bet, got called.
Turn: 7♦
He checked, and I checked back.
River: 3♣
Another check, I checked behind.

He flips over Ace-Queen of diamonds for the flopped nut flush draw. Yikes. I didn’t lose a ton, but it’s a great reminder: even when a spot looks juicy for a 3-bet, don’t go nuts with suited wheel aces unless you’ve got a plan for multiple streets.

River Reads: Trust Your Gut

Another hand I’m proud of: I raised with Ace-King of hearts, got called in two spots, and faced a check-raise on an Ace-high flop.

Long story short? I read weakness when he checked the turn and called a chunky river bet. He had Ace-Four. My kicker played. Sometimes you’ve gotta trust your instincts and your read on the betting pattern. That’s tournament Poker strategy 101.

“We’re in the Money!” (Literally)

After a long, nail-biting grind, I survived the bubble and secured a Day 2 cash. I ended up running my pocket aces into a cooler and busted, but you know what? I made a profit on one bullet, had a blast, and played some of my best poker all series.

Meanwhile, Bobby ran it up to 30th for $1,200. Not too shabby!

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Final Thoughts: Poker’s a Game of Waves 

This series reminded me that poker runs come in waves. You can go busto early in the week and still end up deep in the main. Keep your head up, stay sharp, and always play your A-game.

Thanks for sweating it out with me—your support means the world!

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Let’s crush those games—one hand at a time. 💥