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This was a couple of days ago. It was a nice showing, but netted me only $150 or so. I wanted that top prize of three grand. I played several tourneys over Thanksgiving weekend, and I found that I play much better the more money I have at stake. When I enter a $10 tourney just for some action, I often don't play my best. However, if I pony up $30 and there is a four digit prize at stake, I will mirror TJ.

In other news, I had won a single table tourney for a free shot at the daily, which I played on Friday. When it folded around to me, I raised with K9 clubs, hoping to steal some blinds. If I was truly TJ, I suppose I should have folded. The small blind thought good and long before deciding to call. This usually means a big hand, because he's wondering how to play it. If he folds after deliberation, then it was a borderline call, but if he calls, then it usually spells trouble, since deliberation is almost always between folding and raising, but rarely calling.

So, the flop comes 368 with two clubs and he goes all in. I understand that he most likely has a big pair. If he hit a set, he would have checked to me. It's possible he has A8 and wants to win now. I decide that even if he has aces, I still have a shot, and I have a really good shot if he has a flush draw or a pair of eights. I know, I know, never put all your chips at stake on a draw. Still, I made the call. He had a pair of queens, which wasn't a huge surprise, and was a much better sight than aces. He had a club which gave me eleven outs and a backdoor straight draw. With all his chips in the middle, the lure was strong. If I'm gonna win this thing, it's hands like this that I am going to win to get there. I made the call, but got no magic.

Looking back, I'm not so distressed at the desperate call as I am at the original preflop raise. Better just to wait for a more promising preflop hand. I lost all my chips trying to steal $90 in blinds.