BRUTAL LOSS

$20 NL tourney 116 entrants.

At the hour mark, I had over $11,000 in chips, a tremendous chip lead.

Maintained for a half an hour, then started suffering some miseries.

Down to the final two tables, I played A5 on the button and flop came 7AK. The blinds checked, and the remaining guy went all in for $2800. I recognized this inordinate bet amount to be indicative of a K and not an A. I called the bet, then saw a harmless 8 on fourth street. When the K hit the river, I knew I was beat. He raked with K6.

That was definitely a chink in the armor. The next hand I played was KQ in first position. I called the $600 blind. There was a raise from late position, which I called for head to head action.

The flop came 58Q rainbow. I checked and he made the steal attempt. I raised all in, and for reasons known only to his priest, he called with J6c. Only after he raked did I realize that he made the back door flush to end my night at #18, out of the money.