A Lousy Weekend

I had another losing session on Sunday afternoon. I was dealt some amazing cards but still ended up losing $14.75. I was dealt aces four times in the first 100 hands and only won one pot with them. The other three times I lost to straights. I was also dealt kings during those first 100 hands and only raked in a single pot with them. I guess I used up all my luck during the first half of the session, because I didn't get anything worth playing during the second half. Hopefully I will have better luck this weekend.

Current Bankroll: $284.71

Limit Mistakes

Wednesday night I played about 3 hours of $0.50/1.00 Limit Hold'em on Party Poker and ended up losing $13.63. I think I was making pretty good decisions early in the session but later in the session, I began making some costly mistakes. I think I was focusing too much on how much I was down, instead of making good decisions.

Current Bankroll: $298.76

Time to Focus On Limit Hold'em

I am going to take a break from playing SNG tournaments for a while. I just am not that good at them. So far I have played in 90 $0.75+0.25 tournaments and have not been able to make the money consistently enough to make playing any more of these profitable or enjoyable. I have missed the money in four of the last six tournaments I have entered. It is time now to start focusing on playing and improving at limit hold'em. I think playing in the NL SNGs will help me become a better limit player.

Current Bankroll: $312.39
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

Kicked In The Teeth

I didn't play any Limit Hold'em on Party Poker this weekend since they did the huge upgrade last Thursday. I've decided to wait until the upcoming weekend to play there again so some of the minor bugs that I've read about can be fixed. I think I will like most of the improvements they have made.

I played in eleven SNG tournaments on Royal Vegas this weekend and only made the money in two of them. In the first two tournaments I played terribly and deserved the lousy tenth and fifth place finishes I had. As for the other nine tournaments, I don't think I took any unnecessary risks. I just couldn't seem to win any hands in the early stages and when I was short stacked during the late stages I was not able to get lucky and stick around longer.

Finally, after missing the money in eight straight tournaments, I managed to pull of a second place finish after I pushed with T5o against K9o. I played two more after that and busted out fifth with ATo vs. QQ and then finished 3rd in the last one when I pushed with aces. We had just made it down to three-handed when I was dealt the aces. I immediatlely pushed all-in and was called by KJo, who had me covered. My opponent caught a king on the flop and another king on the turn to eliminate me.

I will play a couple more SNGs tonight and see if my luck has turned around. It sure would be nice to start making the money on a consistent basis or I will never be able to get ahead.

Current Bankroll: $315.39
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

Back to Back SNG Victories

Last night I played in two SNGs and finished both of them in first place. During the early stages I will try to see the flop with pocket pairs as cheaply as possible and play very tightly on the flop if I don't make a set. During the later stages, when the blinds are bigger and 4 people have busted out I switch to pushing all-in preflop with a few more different hands. I think playing this way in the early stages helps me to win more pots during the later stages, when I start to get more aggressive.

During the first hand, I won my first big pot during the third level after reraising with AKs from the SB. I then pushed all-in on the flop of 8Q9 and was called by one player with QTs. I caught a king on the turn and moved into second place. It was a very risky push but it paid off.

** Happy Stream [Hold 'em] (80.00160.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- ronstarr sitting in seat 1 with $1480.00
- arktileman sitting in seat 2 with $800.00 [Dealer]
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 3 with $960.00
- joe2001 sitting in seat 5 with $3900.00
- battleaxe32 sitting in seat 6 with $540.00
- wardcband sitting in seat 8 with $720.00
- billoz sitting in seat 9 with $1480.00
MrBigStuff25 posted the small blind - $40.00
joe2001 posted the big blind - $80.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: King of Spades, Ace of Spades
battleaxe32 folded
wardcband folded
billoz folded
ronstarr raised - $160.00
arktileman called - $160.00
MrBigStuff25 raised - $240.00
joe2001 folded
ronstarr called - $240.00
arktileman called - $240.00

** Dealing the flop: 8 of Diamonds, Queen of Clubs, 9 of Spades
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $760.00
ronstarr called - $760.00
arktileman folded
ronstarr shows: Queen of Diamonds, 10 of Diamonds

** Dealing the turn: King of Clubs

** Dealing the river: 9 of Clubs
MrBigStuff25 wins $2320.00 from the main pot

I folded most of the rest of my hands until I picked up aces and pushed all of my chips in and only had one caller with KTo and moved back into second place again with four players left.

** Happy Stream [Hold 'em] (320.00640.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 3 with $1080.00
- joe2001 sitting in seat 5 with $5260.00 [Dealer]
- wardcband sitting in seat 8 with $1240.00
- billoz sitting in seat 9 with $1940.00
wardcband posted the small blind - $160.00
billoz posted the big blind - $320.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $1080.00
joe2001 folded
wardcband folded
billoz called - $1080.00
billoz shows: 10 of Spades, King of Clubs

** Dealing the flop: 9 of Diamonds, Queen of Diamonds, 8 of Spades

** Dealing the turn: Queen of Hearts
** Dealing the river: 2 of Spades
MrBigStuff25 wins $2320.00 from the main pot

A few hands later, when we were three-handed, I called the short stacks all-in with KJ of diamonds. The SS had AQ of spade and was eliminated after I made a flush on the turn.


** Happy Stream [Hold 'em] (320.00640.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 3 with $1680.00
- joe2001 sitting in seat 5 with $7080.00 [Dealer]
- wardcband sitting in seat 8 with $760.00
wardcband posted the small blind - $160.00
MrBigStuff25 posted the big blind - $320.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: Jack of Diamonds, King of Diamonds
joe2001 folded
wardcband went all-in - $760.00
MrBigStuff25 called - $920.00
wardcband shows: Ace of Spades, Queen of Spades

** Dealing the flop: 8 of Diamonds, Queen of Clubs, 7 of Diamonds
** Dealing the turn: 10 of Diamonds
** Dealing the river: 7 of Hearts
MrBigStuff25 wins $1840.00 from the main pot

We only played two hands heads up. On the first one I checked after my opponent called my BB holding 86o. The flop was 456 and I pushed. My opponent called and showed T5o and I won the hand after making a straight when a seven fell on the turn. On the second hand I pushed with 84o and my opponent called with T8o. The flop did not improve either of our hands, but I caught a miracle four on the turn and won the tournament. I was the underdog going in to the flop on each of the last three hands, but I was very fortunate to catch the cards I needed to win.

During the second tournament I played the same way during the early stages and waited until the a few players had busted out to get aggressive. The blinds were 80/160 when I pushed my remaining 720 chips in with A7o. I was hoping I would not get called but the BB pushed in his remaining 615 chips in and showed A7 of spades. He didn't get any spades and we ended up splitting the pot.

A few hands later I was in the BB and checked with 76o. I made a pot sized bet on the flop after pairing my seven and both of my opponents folded.

I moved into third when I pushed in 900 chips with T8 of diamonds, the SB called and showed Q8 of spades. The flop was 329, all hearts. I thought I was leaving in sixth place but the turn and river was a jack and a queen, making my hand a straight.

I took the chip lead when I pushed with AQo and was called the the short stack with A3s. The flop came 33J and I thought for sure I would be leaving in third place, but the turn and river brought queens and we were down to heads-up.

I didn't push with every hand I was dealt when we were down to heads up, but I did push with most of them. The tournament finally ended after I went all-in with JJ and my opponent called and show 44.

I know I was very lucky to catch the cards I needed to win both of those tournaments, but I feel like being patient and picking my battles also helped me to win them.

Current Bankroll: $322.64
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

A Couple of Monday Night SNGs

I played in two $0.75+0.25 SNGs on Royal Vegas Monday night. In the first one I decided not to used the Kill Phil strategy in the early portion of the tournament and then switch to it when we got down to 4-6 handed. I did pretty well playing that way. Early in the tournament I raised 3x the BB after being dealt a pair of tens and only one person called. I checked the flop after another ten hit, hoping my opponent would bet behind me but he also checked. I made a pot sized bet on the turn and my opponent folded. I was dealt some more nice hands during the early stages and was playing very well. I knew that once we were down to about 5 handed that barring any really bad beats, I would make the money. When we made it down to heads-up I had the chip lead with almost two-thirds of the chips. I was dealt AK of clubs and I pushed all-in and was called by QJo. A queen and two clubs fell on the flop, a jack came on the turn and after missing the nut flush on the river I was left with less than a quarter of the chips. I pushed a few hands later with KJo and found myself up again K6o, but my opponent made two pair on the turn and I finished in 2nd.

In the second tournament I tried to play the same way, but ended up pushing all-in very wrecklessly early and busted out in seventh. I was dealt AKo and raised 3x the BB and only the BB called. We both checked the flop of 7T8 and the turn card was a three. I the pushed on the turn after he checked, hoping he would fold, but he called and show a pair of eights. The smart thing to do would have been to check to the river and then fold after he eventually bet. I will have to remember to proceed cautiously the next time I find myself in a similar situation.

Current Bankroll: $317.14
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

Weekend Update

I focused on playing Limit Hold'em over the weekend. I only played in three SNGs over the weekend and my best finish was third.

Friday night, I played two SNGs and finished 6th and 7th. In the first one I pushed my small stack in with 55 and was called by KQo and was out after my opponent caught a king on the flop. In the second one I pushed with AKo and was called by JJ and 77 and did not get any help from the board.

After losing $2.00 on those SNGs, I was down to $0.94 in my Royal Vegas account and did not have enough to enter another SNG, so I decided to take what I had left and play some $.05/.10 limit. I was dealt some very good cards and was able to win $4.11. Twice I flopped straights and won some huge pots.

Saturday morning, I played some $.50/1 limit on Party Poker. I made several mistakes throughout the session but still ended up winning $8.17. The biggest pot I won was $11.75 after calling with AJo. Five of us saw the flop which was AA8 and it was check around to me. I decided to check as well and hope someone would decide to bet on the turn. The turn was a king, the SB checked, the BB bet and UTG called. I quickly raised and two players called. They both checked to me again on the river, I bet and they both called. One of them was holding KJs and the other had KQo. If I had bet the flop, I am pretty sure everyone would have folded and I would have won a smaller pot.

The Saturday afternoon session on Party did not go very well at all. In fact it went south in a hurry on the very first hand. I sat down at a pretty loose table with an average pot size of about $7-$8. I posted the BB and was dealt T9o. I checked after two players and the SB called. The flop was 99A. I bet after the SB checked and the other two called. The turn was a queen and I bet out again, one player called and the other raised. I figured I was still ahead and reraised and then called the cap bet. The river was another ten, I bet, then it was raised and reraised before it got back to me. I capped the river and the other two players called. One player held KJo for an ace high straight and the other had a pair of aces for a full house. The thought that he might have had aces did cross my mind when he started getting aggressive on the turn, but I quickly dismissed it since he didn't raise pre-flop.

I only won one hand during that afternoon session, but it wasn't enough to offset my losses on that first hand. I left the table after playing only 69 hands and had lost over $20.00. I then decided to play a SNG on Royal Vegas and managed to make the money and finished third.

The Sunday morning session looked like it was going to go the same way as the previous session, but ended up being a pretty nice session. For about the first 140 hands it was very swingy. I made a few good plays and won some nice pots, I made some poor decisions and cost myself some bets and I was unlucky on a few hands. Over the next 100 hands things started moving in the right direction and I began to hit some nice flops and win some good sized pots. I left the table up $9.50.

Current Bankroll: $316.89
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

Kill Phil Basic

I used the Kill Phil Basic strategy in two SNGs last night and finished one of them in the money. I thought I was going to make an early exit from the first tournament. I had a small stack and pushed in with TdJh vs. a pair. I ended up making a flush on the river and sticking around a bit longer. I eventually busted out in fourth when I pushed with A8o vs. AJ and did not get any help. In the second tournmanent I managed to get the chip lead with three players left, but ended up finishing second.

Current Bankroll: $318.86
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

2 More ITM Finishes

I manged to finish in the money in two of the four SNG tournaments I played in last night. In the first tournament I pushed in early with AQo and found myself up against a pair of tens. I figured I was on my way out, but then an ace fell on the river and I had the chip lead. I ended up busting out in a tie for third and split the prize money. I posted the small blind and was dealt AKs with three other player left. UTG raised and the button pushed. I seriously considered folding, but decided to push as well and was called by UTG. UTG had JJ and the button had A6o. The final board was J9T43.

I finished 4th in the second tournament after pushing the K6 of hearts and found myself up against J7 of clubs. Two more clubs came on the flop and one more on the river sealed my fate. In the third tournament, I pushed in early with QQ and found myself up against KK and left in eighth place. In the last tournament, I placed second after pushing with Q4o and lost to KK.

Current Bankroll: $318.61
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

Playing Some Poker

I played in 3 SNG tournaments on Royal Vegas Poker last night but I only made the money in one of them. In the first tournament I played pretty well and was dealt some good cards. I ended up finishing first in that one after pushing with K3o against J7s and won the hand after flopping bottom pair.

In the second tournament I did not play very well. I made a mistake early in the tournament and called a raise with a pair of sevens. I made two pair on the flop but, was pretty sure someone else had made three of a kind. I called all the way to the river until one of my opponent's made a big bet then folded it. After that hand, I didn't really have much of a chip stack. With six players left I pushed all-in with AQo and was called by AA. Another ace landed on the flop and I was out in sixth.

In the third tournament, I wasn't able to get any good hands and folded my way to fourth. I was finally forced all-in by the small blind with 54o. The BB showed 87o. The flop was 433 and it looked like I might be able to stay around a little longer. Another 3 fell on the turn and I thought I would definately be able to see the next hand. The river 8 however busted me out.

I think I might try and play a $5+1 over on Party Poker tonight and see how I do.

Current Bankroll: $319.61
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

More SNG Fun

In the thirteen SNGs I played this weekend, I managed to finish in the top three six times with 3 second and 3 third place finishes. I had one ninth place finish, where I moved in with QQ early in the tournament and found myself up against AKo. The final board was AJJ7A. I have been using the Kill Phil Online strategy. I think I will tighten up and start using the Kill Phil Basic Strategy and see if I can make the money in more of these things.

Current Bankroll: $318.86
Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

Blog Of The Month

I found out this morning that, Missing Flops has been selected as February's Blog of the Month by Best Poker Blogs. I really appreciate the award. Thank you.

3 ITM Finishes

I played in 4 tournaments last night and finished in the money in three of them. I had two third place finishes, one second and one fifth. I am still playing the Kill Phil Rookie strategy. I have done some more reading about the basic strategy and will probably start using that in my next tournament.

In the first tournament, I stole a few blinds during the early rounds. Then I was dealt kings on the button during the third level and made a 300 chip raise and I was all set to move in on the flop if someone called. The chip leader in the SB and the cutoff both called my raise. The flop was 2h 4s 5h. The chip leader and the CO both pushed. I folded my kings and found out the CO had JJ and chip leader had 44.

** Crusty Clam [Hold 'em] (40.0080.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 2 with $990.00 [Dealer]
- bonniville12 sitting in seat 5 with $3790.00
- Gerbrand sitting in seat 6 with $1210.00
- chunks20 sitting in seat 7 with $1500.00
- Tuscawilla sitting in seat 8 with $1420.00
- karen351970 sitting in seat 10 with $1030.00
bonniville12 posted the small blind - $20.00
Gerbrand posted the big blind - $40.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: King of Hearts, King of Spades
chunks20 folded
Tuscawilla folded
karen351970 called - $40.00
MrBigStuff25 raised - $300.00
bonniville12 called - $300.00
Gerbrand folded
karen351970 called - $300.00

** Dealing the flop: 2 of Hearts, 5 of Hearts, 4 of Spades
bonniville12 went all-in - $3510.00
karen351970 went all-in - $730.00
MrBigStuff25 folded
bonniville12 shows: 4 of Diamonds, 4 of Hearts
karen351970 shows: Jack of Clubs, Jack of Diamonds
** Dealing the turn: 10 of Diamonds
** Dealing the river: Queen of Hearts
bonniville12 wins $2400.00 from the main pot

Several hands later I pushed my remaining 630 chip in with KTo and was called by the chip leader with A8s and doubled up after flopping two pair. I stole the blinds a couple of times when we got down to 3-handed and managed to work my up to second place. Then I pushed with K8o and chip chip leader called with 22 and flopped a 2, to bust me.

During the second tournament I busted out in 5th after raising to 120 with a pair of kings under the gun. The second chip leader called and the the chip leader pushed all-in. I quickly pushed in my remaining 910 chips and the second chip leader pushed in also. The chip leader hand AQo and the other one had ATo. The flop came down A25 and then the final ace came on the turn. It was pretty funny.

** J9 Supreme [Hold 'em] (40.0080.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 1 with $910.00
- Gianni2times sitting in seat 2 with $1190.00
- Pratice2Win sitting in seat 5 with $1590.00
- peggy406 sitting in seat 6 with $2420.00 [Dealer]
- Magichand9 sitting in seat 8 with $950.00
- Galambo sitting in seat 9 with $2880.00
Magichand9 posted the small blind - $20.00
Galambo posted the big blind - $40.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: King of Clubs, King of Spades
MrBigStuff25 raised - $120.00
Gianni2times folded
Pratice2Win folded
peggy406 called - $120.00
Magichand9 folded
Galambo went all-in - $2880.00
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $790.00
peggy406 went all-in - $2300.00
peggy406 shows: 10 of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts
Galambo shows: Queen of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds

** Dealing the flop: Ace of Spades, 2 of Hearts, 5 of Clubs

** Dealing the turn: Ace of Clubs
** Dealing the river: 6 of Hearts
Galambo wins $2750.00 from the main pot
Galambo wins $5770.00 from side pot 1

I took a big chance in the third tournament with I called a raise with a pair of fours. I hit the set on the flop and eliminated the pre-flop raiser who called my all-in with ace high.

** Somewhere Rainbow [Hold 'em] (80.00160.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 1 with $1090.00
- eole13 sitting in seat 3 with $3470.00
- toochill sitting in seat 5 with $1110.00 [Dealer]
- Bheaslip33 sitting in seat 6 with $910.00
- alex2284 sitting in seat 7 with $980.00
- peli777 sitting in seat 9 with $1080.00
- Toldea sitting in seat 10 with $1240.00
Bheaslip33 posted the small blind - $40.00
alex2284 posted the big blind - $80.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: 4 of Hearts, 4 of Spades
peli777 folded
Toldea folded
MrBigStuff25 called - $80.00
eole13 folded
toochill folded
Bheaslip33 raised - $240.00
alex2284 folded
MrBigStuff25 called - $240.00

** Dealing the flop: 2 of Clubs, 4 of Diamonds, 8 of Diamonds
Bheaslip33 bet - $320.00
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $850.00
Bheaslip33 went all-in - $390.00
Bheaslip33 shows: 10 of Spades, Ace of Diamonds

** Dealing the turn: Jack of Clubs

** Dealing the river: 7 of Clubs
MrBigStuff25 wins $1980.00 from the main pot

I managed to push my way to heads up and took second when I pushed with K5 of clubs and found myself up against Q3 of clubs. The flop was 432 and the tournament was over.

In the last tournament of the evening I took the chip lead late in the tournament when I flopped a set with a pair of sevens.

** Crusty Clam [Hold 'em] (320.00640.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- GomerPyle10 sitting in seat 2 with $1945.00
- marvvid sitting in seat 3 with $810.00
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 5 with $1670.00
- mugmug1 sitting in seat 7 with $2005.00
- ryedin2 sitting in seat 9 with $1830.00
- Toldea sitting in seat 10 with $1260.00 [Dealer]
GomerPyle10 posted the small blind - $160.00
marvvid posted the big blind - $320.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: 7 of Hearts, 7 of Spades
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $1670.00
mugmug1 folded
ryedin2 went all-in - $1830.00
Toldea folded
GomerPyle10 folded
marvvid went all-in - $810.00
marvvid shows: 6 of Spades, Ace of Diamonds
ryedin2 shows: 10 of Hearts, 10 of Clubs

** Dealing the flop: 7 of Clubs, 2 of Clubs, 8 of Clubs

** Dealing the turn: King of Hearts

** Dealing the river: 4 of Diamonds
MrBigStuff25 wins $3550.00 from the main pot
MrBigStuff25 wins $4630.00 from side pot 1

On the next hand I pushed with 75o and was called by KTs and dropped down to second when a king flopped. I then dropped to third after pushing with 98s and was called by A2s.

I was the short stack with four players left when I pushed with a pair of eights vs. AKo. The AK never improved and I picked up another 8 on the turn.

I was eliminated in third a few hands later when I pushed with QQ and was called by the chip leader with A9s and an ace came on the river.

** Crusty Clam [Hold 'em] (640.001280.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- GomerPyle10 sitting in seat 2 with $2530.00 [Dealer]
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 5 with $3120.00
- mugmug1 sitting in seat 7 with $3390.00
MrBigStuff25 posted the small blind - $320.00
mugmug1 posted the big blind - $640.00
** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: Queen of Diamonds, Queen of Spades
GomerPyle10 called - $640.00
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $3120.00
mugmug1 called - $3440.00
GomerPyle10 folded
mugmug1 shows: Ace of Clubs, 9 of Clubs

** Dealing the flop: King of Diamonds, 10 of Clubs, 10 of Spades

** Dealing the turn: 7 of Clubs

** Dealing the river: Ace of Diamonds
mugmug1 wins $7520.00 from the main pot

Current Bankroll: $320.61

Tags: Poker; Texas Hold'em; Texas Hold Em; Online Poker; SNG; Limit Hold'em

2 SNGs & a Little Limit

I played two more SNGs on Royal Vegas last night. I had a 2nd place finish, then I busted out in 8th early in the second tournament. Going in, I decided that I would play regular poker during the first few levels and then play the Kill Phil in the later stages.

During the second level with 780 chips left, I was dealt 98s in the BB and checked after the chip leader and the button limped in. The flop was 957, and I pushed in 50 chips. Only the chip leader called me. The turn was another 5 and I bet 140 chips and was again called by the chip leader. I checked the river after another 5 and the chip leader raised me all-in. I seriously consider folding my had, because I didn't think it was strong enough. I called and found my opponent had K7o and I was now the chip leader.

** Wager Crest [Hold 'em] (20.0040.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 1 with $780.00
- SUNDOG sitting in seat 2 with $1580.00
- fbo1984 sitting in seat 3 with $960.00
- rosebud-54 sitting in seat 4 with $910.00
- TheNip sitting in seat 5 with $1240.00 [Sitting out]
- stumur sitting in seat 6 with $360.00
- sneakabout sitting in seat 7 with $940.00
- funky_nuts sitting in seat 8 with $1340.00
- cymro23 sitting in seat 9 with $890.00 [Dealer]
- sparkie58 sitting in seat 10 with $970.00
sparkie58 posted the small blind - $10.00
MrBigStuff25 posted the big blind - $20.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: 9 of Diamonds, 8 of Diamonds
SUNDOG called - $20.00
fbo1984 folded
rosebud-54 folded
TheNip folded
stumur folded
sneakabout folded
funky_nuts folded
cymro23 called - $20.00
sparkie58 folded
MrBigStuff25 checked

** Dealing the flop: 7 of Clubs, 5 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts
MrBigStuff25 bet - $50.00
SUNDOG called - $50.00
cymro23 folded

** Dealing the turn: 5 of Spades
MrBigStuff25 bet - $140.00
SUNDOG called - $140.00

** Dealing the river: 5 of Diamonds
MrBigStuff25 checked
SUNDOG bet - $600.00
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $590.00
SUNDOG shows: 7 of Hearts, King of Spades
MrBigStuff25 wins $1630.00 from the main pot

I folded the rest of my hands until there were 5 other player left and the blinds got up to 160/320. I was dealt a pair of nines with about 1500 chips left. I raised to 480 from early position and the button pushed his remaining 980 chip in. I called and he show A8s and I won the hand and took the chip lead again.

From then I used the Kill Phil strategy and pushed when I got the cards. With 3 other players left, I pushed ATo against a pair of eights and won the pot when an ace flopped. Two hands later I pushed with 88 from early position and stole the blinds. I took the chip lead again when I pushed with TT from the SB and the BB folded. Another player was eliminated when I pushed with QQ and was called by AQs.

When we got down to heads up I moved all-in with every hand and won most of the match ups. Then I lost the chip lead after being dealt J7o vs. KTo. I took the lead on the flop when a seven came, but a king fell on the river. The tournament finally ended after I was dealt Q7s and my opponent called with K7s.

This was the hand that busted me out in 8th place in the second tournament. I was totally pwned on this hand. After doing some more reading, I realized I should have just folded this hand pre-flop and waited for something else.

** Rocky Ridge [Hold 'em] (80.00160.00 No Limit - STT) Real Money
- ANITA8080 sitting in seat 1 with $860.00
- supair sitting in seat 2 with $1300.00
- MrBigStuff25 sitting in seat 3 with $850.00
- 60969 sitting in seat 4 with $1560.00
- elmoT sitting in seat 5 with $1040.00 [Dealer]
- Bubbachap sitting in seat 6 with $1020.00
- Toby2bse sitting in seat 8 with $2230.00
- scorpian62 sitting in seat 10 with $1020.00
Bubbachap posted the small blind - $40.00
Toby2bse posted the big blind - $80.00

** Dealing card to MrBigStuff25: Queen of Spades, King of Diamonds
scorpian62 folded
ANITA8080 called - $80.00
supair folded
MrBigStuff25 raised - $240.00
60969 folded
elmoT folded
Bubbachap folded
Toby2bse folded
ANITA8080 called - $240.00

** Dealing the flop: King of Clubs, 5 of Clubs, 2 of Spades
ANITA8080 bet - $160.00
MrBigStuff25 raised - $320.00
ANITA8080 went all-in - $460.00
MrBigStuff25 went all-in - $290.00
ANITA8080 shows: Ace of Spades, Ace of Clubs

** Dealing the turn: 2 of Diamonds

** Dealing the river: 2 of Hearts
ANITA8080 wins $1820.00 from the main pot

I then played about 20 hands of .05/.10 limit and lost $0.44. The table was full for about half of the hands and then quickly became short-handed and I played too many hands and lost.

Current Bankroll: $319.36