$50,000 GUARANTEED

I have never had much luck with these huge field rebuy tournaments, but I gave this one a go on Saturday. I bought in for $30 and immediately rebought for another $30. At the add-on I contributed another $30 so I was in for $90 total. There were 762 entrants and $12,000 went to the winner. I consistantly raised my chip count and was in the top 40 at the add-on. I was in 6th place when I stumbled by making a big raise from the big blind with 88 after four callers. The action was initiated by a limp under the gun, which can indicate aces, and in this case it was as indicated. He reraised me, but I was priced in with my 4:1 odds.

I built back up but made a huge error when I came over the top of a raiser, going all-in with AQh. He had AK and my night should have been over. The flop came KJJ making queens no good, but I got my miracle ten on the river to double up. I guess I was rewarded for my aggression, but I've got to stop playing AQ like it is AK because it is not an all-in hand at a full table.

I was able to use my second life to propel me all the way into the money. I wound up at a table with the chip leader to my right when I was 21st of 50 remaining. He called in middle position and I came over the top with 55. He called, which made me sad. The flop came JT6 favoring diamonds. He checked to me and I made a big bet to take it down. He called. The turn was a 7 and he bet enough to put me all in. I put him on KQ but I was in a tight spot. There were nothing but overcards on the board, and even if he was on a draw, it was sure to be a good one. He went all-in because he was going to call my bet anyway and by leading he gained the extra equity that I might lay down my hand. Everything suggested my pair was good, but I laid it down in the interest of guaranteed survival. I wish I had not tangled with the chip leader. Maybe I should have let go of the fivers in that situation, or just called and hoped for a favorable flop. The odds tell me I figure to have the best hand preflop, and I am much better going heads up than letting the big blind in for free since it is very unlikely my hand will improve. Small pairs are very tough to play post-flop however, and this hand cost me a ton of chips.

I was down but not out. I stole the blinds a few times which were paying several thousand. When it folded around to my pocket eights, I decided it was a good enough hand to die with. I raised three and a half times the big blind and the big stack called me from the small blind. The flop came ten-high and he bet to put me all-in. I knew he was just figuring I missed the flop with two overcards, so I quickly called and found my 88 against his KQc with two cards to come. The turn was the J of clubs, giving him A, K, Q, 9, or any club for outs. He caught the king of spades and I was done.

41 of 762
cost = $90
payout = $185
time = 4:08