August 1 League game - Lets just say I went out early when  ran into  on a jack high flop and got someone to commit ALL their chips (4Kish, blinds 50/100).  Just when I thought things had turned around from the previous week, we go right back to this.  Well, I came home and didn't dwell on it.  What can I do about it really?  I keep on having to ask myself the same question week after week "Did I make the right decision and get my money in good?" and the answer seems to be overwhelmingly yes so thats the best I can do. 

August 9 Wild Card main event qualifier - I went in with 18K in chips, 3rd lowest in chips.  We had 14 total in the qualifier but we sat 12 handed (which I HATE) because of people showing up late.  Reason I hate sitting more than 10?  Pefect example last night, we completed 1 orbit in 2 LEVELS of play.  Ridiculous.  Anyhow, I knew going in that there would be plenty of play with blinds starting at 25/50.  It was odd to me how people thought they were shortstacked at points throughout the tournament when blinds would be something like 100/200 and they still have close to 10K, but because everybody seemed as if they were over 20K.  Whatev.  I knew if I played my game, I would have a great shot of going in the backdoor of this main event. 

Perfect example of how the play usally is.  Someone opens with a standard raise, someone RR, and you get 6 to the flop.  The way holdem should be played right .  First hand of the night:  25/50 blinds and we are all DEEPSTACKED.  MP opens to 250, another person RR to 12K, next person AI for 25K.  Sure the hand was KK vs AA but you really don't have to go BROKE in this deep of a tournament there.  Maybe lose something at most 5 - 10K and still have 15K left! 

I played fairly conservative in the first few levels, trying not to do anything crazy.  I made the nut straight on one and flopped a set another time but didn't get much action on them.  I did manage to chip up close to 30K at one point rather subtly, without much showdown or confrontation.  At that point, I started ramping up the aggression a little, never entering a pot without a raise. 

There was a point late in the tourney where I thought my bad luck had returned.  1000/2000:  behind 2 limpers I raise to 12K with the mighty .  LP pushes for 20K and I call obv.  She tables  and the door card on the flop is .  I close my eyes for a split second when I saw that card and then I heard the table do the double ooh-aah and I opened my eyes in time to see the 3rd card be !  FINALLY, one time!  LOL.  The hand wouldn't have knocked me out or anything but I definitely could use the chips.  1500/3000:  UTG limps, I raise to 12K with .  Folded back to him and he reluctantly calls.  (Today's history:  UTG hasn't shown many hands, rarely limps with big hands and we haven't had a confrontation yet today).  Flop .  UTG pushes for 36K.  Ah yes, the reason I play.  The DECISION.  I couldn't see a hand that would push in this spot that I DON'T beat.  AK, AQ would most likely raise prefop.  ANY 2 pair or broadway would def check raise.  I concluded either a jack or AT BEST 10h with another heart.  I called and he tabled .  Cards brick out and now I have a decent chip lead and feel very good about my chances.  4 handed now and 2 didn't last too much longer.  Key lay down:  At one point at 3 handed, (3rd person was WAY SHORT, maybe 4 B  I laid down 88 to my eventual heads up opponent.  I felt like I had the best hand and we were in a race situation but I didn't want to race at that point for my tournament life because I felt I could outplay her heads up.  Plus, there was a slight chance that I was wrong and had me dominated but I doubt it.

Going into heads up pretty much dead even against my nemesis.  Same person that knocked me out the last two weeks when I stuck it in GOOD (see previous post).  There was no way I was going to lose again.  My ego wouldn't be able to handle it.  Things have to go my way sooner or later.  In typical heads up fashion, we exchanged small pots back and forth with me winning a few more.  Then this hand 2.5K/5K blinds:  holding  Flop  and we both check.  Turn , I check and she bets 15K.  I call.  River .  Again, I check and she bets 20K.  Feeling like she had nada, I called and my hand is GOOOOODD!  Now I ramped up the agression.  For the next few hands, I raised coming in and raised if she limped.  I could see it was getting on her nerves so she began pushing.  I didn't mind the sequence at all because I could see it coming.  I didn't over extend myself and do anything foolish.  Then when she started limping and wanted to see flops, I would just raise.  Then it happened,:  3K/6K I limp on the button with .  I felt like she would raise because of the way things hand gone lately.  SURE ENOUGH, she pushes AI and I SNAP call!  She tables  (Obv frustation move)  and I flop QUADS!  DRAWING COMPLETELY DEAD!  Oh how sweet it is.  A lot of things going through my mind at that point and it just felt SO GOOD to win.  I knocked out 7 players on my way to victory!  Of course I still have to make noise in the main event but the first leg is done.  All I wanted was the opportunity.  I hope its the turning point.  I hope its signs of good things to come for me. 

After the cash game last night, someone made the comment of "Have you ever ran as bad as you have these last 12 weeks in the league?  I always see you take some of the worst beats and you get in good"  Kinda made me chuckle a little bit because I thought I was the only one that took notice.   

Wish me luck in the main event! Coming through the backdoor baby!