Big tourney score (detailed)

I had a lot of success in poker tournaments yesterday. My biggest score was a 2nd place in the $3 rebuy on stars. I was in for $9 total. I didn’t have to add on because I had 30,000 chips after the rebuy period was over and adding on for 1500 chips was obviously pointless. I do not remember much about the early stages in the tournament as I was playing 8 tourneys at once during the first 3 hours or so of it. I played really tight throughout the early stages. I am finding that I am making it closer to the money in a lot more tourneys if, believe it or not, I play a lot at once. I just play solid poker based on my chip stack and position. I am more effective early on when I don’t try to get too tricky and not take many risks. Anyway, I remember using a lot of my time bank trying to get into the money as I had only 10bbs on the bubble. I remember that people at my table were actually stalling for me lol. The people at my table kept saying that they will help me make the money even though I never asked for it obviously. So I got into the money (675 people get paid out of the 4600 entrants) with about 10 bbs. From there, I just grinded. There was a period in time where I was getting really good cards and there was no action. I went a whole 3 hours stretch without showing down a hand. Finally, we got down to the final 27 and I started copy/pasting the important hands. Here they are with brief explanations:

27 left:

PokerStars Game #28288160801: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XXXVII (20000/40000) - 2009/05/17 2:37:05 ET
Table '162034192 233' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Beppejoe (1540278 in chips)
Seat 2: sharktales1 (1734948 in chips)
Seat 3: leH1ens (765946 in chips)
Seat 4: GILTADRA (1160578 in chips)
Seat 5: johnmer (1615607 in chips)
Seat 6: guy river (1851966 in chips)
Seat 7: BckDoorFlux (640477 in chips)
Seat 8: 01Dave01 (389875 in chips)
Seat 9: CU_bball (862311 in chips)
Beppejoe: posts the ante 5000
sharktales1: posts the ante 5000
leH1ens: posts the ante 5000
GILTADRA: posts the ante 5000
johnmer: posts the ante 5000
guy river: posts the ante 5000
BckDoorFlux: posts the ante 5000
01Dave01: posts the ante 5000
CU_bball: posts the ante 5000
01Dave01: posts small blind 20000
CU_bball: posts big blind 40000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [As Ac]
Beppejoe: folds
sharktales1: folds
leH1ens: folds
GILTADRA: folds
johnmer: folds
guy river: raises 80000 to 120000
BckDoorFlux: folds
01Dave01: folds
CU_bball: raises 180000 to 300000
guy river: calls 180000
*** FLOP *** [6d 4h 7s]
CU_bball: bets 300000
guy river: raises 300000 to 600000
CU_bball: calls 257311 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (42689) returned to guy river
*** TURN *** [6d 4h 7s] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [6d 4h 7s 2h] [Qd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CU_bball: shows [As Ac] (a pair of Aces)
guy river: shows [Kd Tc] (high card King)
CU_bball collected 1779622 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1779622 Rake 0
Board [6d 4h 7s 2h Qd]
Seat 1: Beppejoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: sharktales1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: leH1ens folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: GILTADRA folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: johnmer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: guy river showed [Kd Tc] and lost with high card King
Seat 7: BckDoorFlux (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 01Dave01 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: CU_bball (big blind) showed [As Ac] and won (1779622) with a pair of Aces

I don’t know what this guy was thinking, but FINALLY I got action on a big hand. I’m so glad that I didn’t play this differently. I usually wouldn’t make AA look so much like AA, but this guy must not have believed me. Thank you for the minimal sweat sir!

26 left:

PokerStars Game #28288271886: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XXXVIII (25000/50000) - 2009/05/17 2:44:27 ET
Table '162034192 233' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Beppejoe (1021207 in chips)
Seat 2: sharktales1 (1667448 in chips)
Seat 3: leH1ens (1586142 in chips)
Seat 4: GILTADRA (1143078 in chips)
Seat 5: johnmer (711577 in chips)
Seat 6: guy river (2035560 in chips)
Seat 7: BckDoorFlux (491727 in chips)
Seat 8: 01Dave01 (221125 in chips)
Seat 9: CU_bball (1684122 in chips)
Beppejoe: posts the ante 6250
sharktales1: posts the ante 6250
leH1ens: posts the ante 6250
GILTADRA: posts the ante 6250
johnmer: posts the ante 6250
guy river: posts the ante 6250
BckDoorFlux: posts the ante 6250
01Dave01: posts the ante 6250
CU_bball: posts the ante 6250
sharktales1: posts small blind 25000
leH1ens: posts big blind 50000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Ah Ks]
GILTADRA: folds
johnmer: folds
guy river: folds
BckDoorFlux: folds
01Dave01: raises 164875 to 214875 and is all-in
CU_bball: raises 185125 to 400000
Beppejoe: folds
sharktales1: folds
leH1ens: folds
Uncalled bet (185125) returned to CU_bball
*** FLOP *** [9d 9c 8s]
*** TURN *** [9d 9c 8s] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [9d 9c 8s Td] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
01Dave01: shows [Ts 9h] (a full house, Nines full of Tens)
CU_bball: shows [Ah Ks] (a pair of Nines)
01Dave01 collected 561000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 561000 Rake 0
Board [9d 9c 8s Td Js]
Seat 1: Beppejoe (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: sharktales1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: leH1ens (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: GILTADRA folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: johnmer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: guy river folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: BckDoorFlux folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 01Dave01 showed [Ts 9h] and won (561000) with a full house, Nines full of Tens
Seat 9: CU_bball showed [Ah Ks] and lost with a pair of Nines

Took a hit here, but I was still okay.

21 left:

PokerStars Game #28288412501: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XXXIX (30000/60000) - 2009/05/17 2:53:56 ET
Table '162034192 233' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: wingmanf5 (2750903 in chips) out of hand (moved from another table into small blind)
Seat 3: leH1ens (1872392 in chips)
Seat 4: GILTADRA (2516003 in chips)
Seat 5: johnmer (2024404 in chips)
Seat 6: guy river (2364310 in chips)
Seat 8: 01Dave01 (213500 in chips)
Seat 9: CU_bball (1130497 in chips)
leH1ens: posts the ante 7500
GILTADRA: posts the ante 7500
johnmer: posts the ante 7500
guy river: posts the ante 7500
01Dave01: posts the ante 7500
CU_bball: posts the ante 7500
leH1ens: posts small blind 30000
GILTADRA: posts big blind 60000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [7h 7c]
johnmer: folds
guy river: folds
01Dave01: raises 146000 to 206000 and is all-in
CU_bball: raises 916997 to 1122997 and is all-in
leH1ens: folds
GILTADRA: folds
Uncalled bet (916997) returned to CU_bball
*** FLOP *** [As 5s 8c]
*** TURN *** [As 5s 8c] [7d]
*** RIVER *** [As 5s 8c 7d] [6d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
01Dave01: shows [Ad Jd] (a pair of Aces)
CU_bball: shows [7h 7c] (three of a kind, Sevens)
CU_bball collected 547000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 547000 Rake 0
Board [As 5s 8c 7d 6d]
Seat 3: leH1ens (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: GILTADRA (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: johnmer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: guy river folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 01Dave01 showed [Ad Jd] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 9: CU_bball (button) showed [7h 7c] and won (547000) with three of a kind, Sevens

I know this happens rarely to anyone, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I did this to someone. I guess it doesn’t matter the order that the cards come out. A coin flip is a coin flip.

I went completely card dead and just blinded away down to 12 bbs until this hand came up with 13 left:

PokerStars Game #28288656367: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLI (50000/100000) - 2009/05/17 3:11:02 ET
Table '162034192 233' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 3: leH1ens (2224841 in chips)
Seat 4: GILTADRA (3103503 in chips)
Seat 5: johnmer (3851904 in chips)
Seat 6: guy river (102574 in chips)
Seat 7: Just4Omaha (1814258 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (2945972 in chips)
Seat 9: CU_bball (1203997 in chips)
leH1ens: posts the ante 12500
GILTADRA: posts the ante 12500
johnmer: posts the ante 12500
guy river: posts the ante 12500
Just4Omaha: posts the ante 12500
82die4: posts the ante 12500
CU_bball: posts the ante 12500
leH1ens: posts small blind 50000
GILTADRA: posts big blind 100000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Qd Qc]
johnmer: folds
guy river: calls 90074 and is all-in
Just4Omaha: folds
82die4: calls 100000
CU_bball: raises 1091497 to 1191497 and is all-in
leH1ens: folds
GILTADRA: folds
82die4: folds
Uncalled bet (1091497) returned to CU_bball
*** FLOP *** [Ah 5c 2s]
*** TURN *** [Ah 5c 2s] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [Ah 5c 2s 8h] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CU_bball: shows [Qd Qc] (a pair of Queens)
CU_bball collected 29778 from side pot
guy river: shows [Kd Qh] (high card Ace)
CU_bball collected 497796 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 527574 Main pot 497796. Side pot 29778. Rake 0
Board [Ah 5c 2s 8h 4c]
Seat 3: leH1ens (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: GILTADRA (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: johnmer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: guy river showed [Kd Qh] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 7: Just4Omaha folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 82die4 folded before Flop
Seat 9: CU_bball (button) showed [Qd Qc] and won (527574) with a pair of Queens

That was nice for QQ to hold up and ship me the 527K pot risking only 100K. Then a few hands later with 12 left this hand came up:

PokerStars Game #28288839641: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLII (62500/125000) - 2009/05/17 3:23:56 ET
Table '162034192 233' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 3: leH1ens (909216 in chips)
Seat 4: GILTADRA (5851628 in chips)
Seat 5: johnmer (2442529 in chips)
Seat 7: Just4Omaha (1473633 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (2574097 in chips)
Seat 9: CU_bball (1995946 in chips)
leH1ens: posts the ante 15625
GILTADRA: posts the ante 15625
johnmer: posts the ante 15625
Just4Omaha: posts the ante 15625
82die4: posts the ante 15625
CU_bball: posts the ante 15625
leH1ens: posts small blind 62500
GILTADRA: posts big blind 125000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Kd As]
johnmer: folds
Just4Omaha: folds
82die4: folds
CU_bball: raises 165000 to 290000
leH1ens: raises 603591 to 893591 and is all-in
GILTADRA: folds
CU_bball: calls 603591
*** FLOP *** [6h 2h 6c]
*** TURN *** [6h 2h 6c] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [6h 2h 6c Qc] [3h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
leH1ens: shows [5s Ad] (a pair of Sixes)
CU_bball: shows [Kd As] (a pair of Sixes - Ace+King kicker)
CU_bball collected 2005932 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2005932 Rake 0
Board [6h 2h 6c Qc 3h]
Seat 3: leH1ens (small blind) showed [5s Ad] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 4: GILTADRA (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: johnmer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Just4Omaha folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 82die4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: CU_bball (button) showed [Kd As] and won (2005932) with a pair of Sixes

It was nice to find AK on the button and looking like a steal situation. Thank you for holding up! Two hands later this hand:

PokerStars Game #28288855994: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLII (62500/125000) - 2009/05/17 3:25:02 ET
Table '162034192 233' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 4: GILTADRA (5961003 in chips)
Seat 5: johnmer (2348779 in chips)
Seat 7: Just4Omaha (1317383 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (2542847 in chips)
Seat 9: CU_bball (3077037 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 15625
johnmer: posts the ante 15625
Just4Omaha: posts the ante 15625
82die4: posts the ante 15625
CU_bball: posts the ante 15625
Just4Omaha: posts small blind 62500
82die4: posts big blind 125000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Tc Td]
CU_bball: raises 165000 to 290000
GILTADRA: raises 335000 to 625000
johnmer: folds
Just4Omaha: folds
82die4: folds
CU_bball: calls 335000
*** FLOP *** [4c 2h 5s]
CU_bball: checks
GILTADRA: bets 5320378 and is all-in
CU_bball: folds
Uncalled bet (5320378) returned to GILTADRA
GILTADRA collected 1515625 from pot
GILTADRA: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1515625 Rake 0
Board [4c 2h 5s]
Seat 4: GILTADRA collected (1515625)
Seat 5: johnmer (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Just4Omaha (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: 82die4 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: CU_bball folded on the Flop

This guy is capable of making a play here as he was very aggressive with his chip lead. He knew that people were trying to get to the final table. I was one of them. I just didn’t want to end my tourney here. I could have very easily been good. If this was any earlier in the tourney, I would have gone with it, but we were getting so close to the big money jumps. I just didn’t want to make a bad call, or make a good call and get sucked out on. So I let it go.

I made the final table and about the 4th hand there, this hand came up:

PokerStars Game #28288978503: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLIII (75000/150000) - 2009/05/17 3:33:28 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: GILTADRA (9931657 in chips)
Seat 2: CU_bball (2942662 in chips)
Seat 3: RunIt2wice (2002987 in chips)
Seat 4: Beppejoe (3922956 in chips)
Seat 5: Just4Omaha (926758 in chips)
Seat 6: bigrabclark (2812954 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (3966570 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (1933472 in chips)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (1772984 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 18750
CU_bball: posts the ante 18750
RunIt2wice: posts the ante 18750
Beppejoe: posts the ante 18750
Just4Omaha: posts the ante 18750
bigrabclark: posts the ante 18750
Lushed: posts the ante 18750
82die4: posts the ante 18750
Backflowjoe: posts the ante 18750
Lushed: posts small blind 75000
82die4: posts big blind 150000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [As Ks]
Backflowjoe said, "K J sooted"
Backflowjoe: folds
GILTADRA: folds
CU_bball: raises 175000 to 325000
RunIt2wice: folds
Beppejoe: folds
Just4Omaha: folds
bigrabclark: raises 425000 to 750000
Lushed: folds
82die4: folds
CU_bball: raises 2173912 to 2923912 and is all-in
bigrabclark: folds
Uncalled bet (2173912) returned to CU_bball
CU_bball collected 1893750 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1893750 Rake 0
Seat 1: GILTADRA folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: CU_bball collected (1893750)
Seat 3: RunIt2wice folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Beppejoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Just4Omaha folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: bigrabclark (button) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Lushed (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: 82die4 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: Backflowjoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)

You hardly ever see somebody make a play like this putting in a quarter of their chips and then folding, but sure enough he made a good lay down.

We finally got down to 6. I felt like every time two people got it all in, the smaller stack would win. It was frustrating, but I kept on playing smart. This play may not have been smart though.

PokerStars Game #28289438032: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLVI (150000/300000) - 2009/05/17 4:05:43 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: GILTADRA (2125309 in chips)
Seat 2: CU_bball (3742662 in chips)
Seat 4: Beppejoe (4452959 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (10588608 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (5111526 in chips)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (4191936 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 37500
CU_bball: posts the ante 37500
Beppejoe: posts the ante 37500
Lushed: posts the ante 37500
82die4: posts the ante 37500
Backflowjoe: posts the ante 37500
GILTADRA: posts small blind 150000
CU_bball: posts big blind 300000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Ah 5c]
Beppejoe: folds
Lushed: folds
82die4: folds
Backflowjoe: folds
GILTADRA: raises 1787809 to 2087809 and is all-in
CU_bball: calls 1787809
*** FLOP *** [Kh 6d 8s]
*** TURN *** [Kh 6d 8s] [3s]
*** RIVER *** [Kh 6d 8s 3s] [Qh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GILTADRA: shows [Ad 9c] (high card Ace)
CU_bball: shows [Ah 5c] (high card Ace - lower kicker)
GILTADRA collected 4400618 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4400618 Rake 0
Board [Kh 6d 8s 3s Qh]
Seat 1: GILTADRA (small blind) showed [Ad 9c] and won (4400618) with high card Ace
Seat 2: CU_bball (big blind) showed [Ah 5c] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 4: Beppejoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lushed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 82die4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

GILTADRA is pushing all in here with any two. He was the most aggressive guy at the table. So I made a loose call with A5 crippling me down to 5 bbs. I then stole blinds once then this miracle hand came up when I was utg with 6.5 bbs.

PokerStars Game #28289472599: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLVI (150000/300000) - 2009/05/17 4:08:02 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: GILTADRA (5825618 in chips)
Seat 2: CU_bball (1992353 in chips)
Seat 4: Beppejoe (3065459 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (11376108 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (4474026 in chips)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (3479436 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 37500
CU_bball: posts the ante 37500
Beppejoe: posts the ante 37500
Lushed: posts the ante 37500
82die4: posts the ante 37500
Backflowjoe: posts the ante 37500
Backflowjoe: posts small blind 150000
GILTADRA: posts big blind 300000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Qd Td]
CU_bball: raises 1654853 to 1954853 and is all-in
Beppejoe: folds
Lushed: calls 1954853
82die4: folds
Backflowjoe: folds
GILTADRA: folds
*** FLOP *** [9d Jh 8c]
*** TURN *** [9d Jh 8c] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [9d Jh 8c 2d] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CU_bball: shows [Qd Td] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
Lushed: shows [Qh Ac] (high card Ace)
CU_bball collected 4584706 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4584706 Rake 0
Board [9d Jh 8c 2d 7c]
Seat 1: GILTADRA (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: CU_bball showed [Qd Td] and won (4584706) with a straight, Eight to Queen
Seat 4: Beppejoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lushed showed [Qh Ac] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 8: 82die4 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (small blind) folded before Flop

After he called, I remembered how much I hate pushing with QJ and Q10. Every time I get called, I’m dominated. The flop came and I stared motionless. I was now on a freeroll. Unbelievable! I stole a million more chips when this hand came up:

PokerStars Game #28289551001: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLVI (150000/300000) - 2009/05/17 4:13:21 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: GILTADRA (5150618 in chips)
Seat 2: CU_bball (5522206 in chips)
Seat 4: Beppejoe (3740459 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (7121255 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (4474026 in chips)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (4204436 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 37500
CU_bball: posts the ante 37500
Beppejoe: posts the ante 37500
Lushed: posts the ante 37500
82die4: posts the ante 37500
Backflowjoe: posts the ante 37500
Backflowjoe: posts small blind 150000
GILTADRA: posts big blind 300000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [8d 8c]
CU_bball: raises 500000 to 800000
Beppejoe: folds
Lushed: folds
82die4: folds
Backflowjoe: folds
GILTADRA: calls 500000
*** FLOP *** [Kc 5h 6c]
GILTADRA: checks
CU_bball: bets 950000
GILTADRA: calls 950000
*** TURN *** [Kc 5h 6c] [9c]
GILTADRA: checks
CU_bball: checks
*** RIVER *** [Kc 5h 6c 9c] [4s]
GILTADRA: bets 300000
CU_bball: calls 300000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GILTADRA: shows [Ah 6d] (a pair of Sixes)
CU_bball: shows [8d 8c] (a pair of Eights)
CU_bball collected 4475000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4475000 Rake 0
Board [Kc 5h 6c 9c 4s]
Seat 1: GILTADRA (big blind) showed [Ah 6d] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 2: CU_bball showed [8d 8c] and won (4475000) with a pair of Eights
Seat 4: Beppejoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lushed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 82die4 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (small blind) folded before Flop

I am so glad he bet a little amount on the river. I don’t know if I could have made a big call. However, the easy river call vaulted me into the chip lead! Time to dominate. Two hands later, the roller coaster continues.

PokerStars Game #28289609376: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLVII (200000/400000) - 2009/05/17 4:17:22 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: GILTADRA (2363118 in chips)
Seat 2: CU_bball (9259706 in chips)
Seat 4: Beppejoe (4552959 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (7483755 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (3486526 in chips)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (3066936 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 50000
CU_bball: posts the ante 50000
Beppejoe: posts the ante 50000
Lushed: posts the ante 50000
82die4: posts the ante 50000
Backflowjoe: posts the ante 50000
CU_bball: posts small blind 200000
Beppejoe: posts big blind 400000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [As Ts]
Lushed: folds
82die4: folds
Backflowjoe: folds
GILTADRA: raises 1913118 to 2313118 and is all-in
CU_bball: raises 6896588 to 9209706 and is all-in
Beppejoe: folds
Uncalled bet (6896588) returned to CU_bball
*** FLOP *** [7s 8c Kh]
*** TURN *** [7s 8c Kh] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [7s 8c Kh Js] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CU_bball: shows [As Ts] (a pair of Sevens)
GILTADRA: shows [Jd 3d] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
GILTADRA collected 5326236 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5326236 Rake 0
Board [7s 8c Kh Js 7c]
Seat 1: GILTADRA (button) showed [Jd 3d] and won (5326236) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Seat 2: CU_bball (small blind) showed [As Ts] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 4: Beppejoe (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Lushed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 82die4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Ouch. I’m fine though. A few hands later:

PokerStars Game #28289633357: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLVII (200000/400000) - 2009/05/17 4:19:01 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: GILTADRA (5226236 in chips)
Seat 2: CU_bball (7696588 in chips)
Seat 4: Beppejoe (3802959 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (7633755 in chips)
Seat 8: 82die4 (2936526 in chips)
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (2916936 in chips)
GILTADRA: posts the ante 50000
CU_bball: posts the ante 50000
Beppejoe: posts the ante 50000
Lushed: posts the ante 50000
82die4: posts the ante 50000
Backflowjoe: posts the ante 50000
82die4: posts small blind 200000
Backflowjoe: posts big blind 400000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Kd Kh]
GILTADRA: folds
CU_bball: raises 600000 to 1000000
Beppejoe: folds
Lushed: folds
82die4: raises 1886526 to 2886526 and is all-in
Backflowjoe: folds
CU_bball: calls 1886526
*** FLOP *** [9s 7d 4s]
*** TURN *** [9s 7d 4s] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [9s 7d 4s 7c] [3h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
82die4: shows [Js Jc] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
CU_bball: shows [Kd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Sevens)
CU_bball collected 6473052 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6473052 Rake 0
Board [9s 7d 4s 7c 3h]
Seat 1: GILTADRA folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: CU_bball showed [Kd Kh] and won (6473052) with two pair, Kings and Sevens
Seat 4: Beppejoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lushed (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 82die4 (small blind) showed [Js Jc] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Seat 9: Backflowjoe (big blind) folded before Flop

This was huge!!! I was then able to play tight and watch Lushed take down the next two guys and we were heads up with him having a 2:1 advantage. We were heads up for $2,000. 9 hours into the tournament at 5 am, my adrenaline was flowing. HU there were 3 significant hands of our 8 total and they were actually the last 3 we played:

PokerStars Game #28289842970: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLVIII (250000/500000) - 2009/05/17 4:33:36 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: CU_bball (10145614 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (20067386 in chips)
CU_bball: posts the ante 62500
Lushed: posts the ante 62500
Lushed: posts small blind 250000
CU_bball: posts big blind 500000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [2d 5c]
Lushed: calls 250000
CU_bball: checks
*** FLOP *** [3h 7s Qs]
CU_bball: checks
Lushed: checks
*** TURN *** [3h 7s Qs] [Th]
CU_bball: bets 650000
Lushed: calls 650000
*** RIVER *** [3h 7s Qs Th] [Ac]
CU_bball: bets 1600000
Lushed: folds
Uncalled bet (1600000) returned to CU_bball
CU_bball collected 2425000 from pot
CU_bball: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2425000 Rake 0
Board [3h 7s Qs Th Ac]
Seat 2: CU_bball (big blind) collected (2425000)
Seat 7: Lushed (button) (small blind) folded on the River

I thought for sure that he was on a draw. Then the next hand:

PokerStars Game #28289855237: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLIX (300000/600000) - 2009/05/17 4:34:27 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: CU_bball (11358114 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (18854886 in chips)
CU_bball: posts the ante 75000
Lushed: posts the ante 75000
CU_bball: posts small blind 300000
Lushed: posts big blind 600000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Kd 5h]
CU_bball: raises 600000 to 1200000
Lushed: calls 600000
*** FLOP *** [8h Jc 2h]
Lushed: checks
CU_bball: bets 1500000
Lushed: calls 1500000
*** TURN *** [8h Jc 2h] [8c]
Lushed: checks
CU_bball: checks
*** RIVER *** [8h Jc 2h 8c] [Jd]
Lushed: bets 2400000
CU_bball: calls 2400000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Lushed: shows [8s Js] (a full house, Jacks full of Eights)
CU_bball: mucks hand
Lushed collected 10350000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 10350000 Rake 0
Board [8h Jc 2h 8c Jd]
Seat 2: CU_bball (button) (small blind) mucked [Kd 5h]
Seat 7: Lushed (big blind) showed [8s Js] and won (10350000) with a full house, Jacks full of Eights

I thought he could have been huge but most likely on a draw. When he bet the river, I was planning on folding, then I looked at all the draws he could have been on. I thought he would have raised with a J or an 8 on the flop. I thought to myself, what would Dave Anderson do? He would have made the hero call. I call! Ouch…

The next hand was the end of me.

PokerStars Game #28289872689: Tournament #162034192, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level XLIX (300000/600000) - 2009/05/17 4:35:40 ET
Table '162034192 280' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: CU_bball (6183114 in chips)
Seat 7: Lushed (24029886 in chips)
CU_bball: posts the ante 75000
Lushed: posts the ante 75000
Lushed: posts small blind 300000
CU_bball: posts big blind 600000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CU_bball [Ah 4c]
Lushed: raises 1200000 to 1800000
CU_bball: raises 4308114 to 6108114 and is all-in
Lushed: calls 4308114
*** FLOP *** [5d 8s Kd]
*** TURN *** [5d 8s Kd] [6c]
*** RIVER *** [5d 8s Kd 6c] [Qc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CU_bball: shows [Ah 4c] (high card Ace)
Lushed: shows [4h 4d] (a pair of Fours)
Lushed collected 12366228 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12366228 Rake 0
Board [5d 8s Kd 6c Qc]
Seat 2: CU_bball (big blind) showed [Ah 4c] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 7: Lushed (button) (small blind) showed [4h 4d] and won (12366228) with a pair of Fours


Lushed played very well throughout. I can’t be disappointed one bit. I’ll take the $4800 for sure.

I had other success in the night cashing in a $7 turbo and $2 2K guaranteed on stars as well as a $2 rebuy on full tilt. I also made it really deep in the daily dollar tourney on full tilt finishing 59th out of 8300 people for $15. Weee. I had a good poker day to say the least. I have now cashed in my last 4 out of 5 rebuy tournaments on stars. I guess that is my best game right now.

In other news, I had an interview at the Catholic high school in Lincoln on Friday. I thought it went really well. My perfectionist mind though is second guessing things since then and wishing I would have said other things. I thought the superintendent, principal, and vice principal really liked me. Am I the best candidate though? I’ll find out toward the end of the week. I auto-accept the job if offered to me. Updates to come on that.