I still got it!...

Great news!... I was at the table when the bad beat hit... I had a feeling it was going to hit and the dealer and I both thought of it at the same time,... he said, "You'll write about me in your blog when I deal it, right?!" Absolutely!  It was very late, but I had blocked my calendar the next day to start late since I had worked late into the evening a few recent days to round on the night shift.  Another dealer was playing and he and the "best tournament player in the valley" were all in preflo.  One had AA the othe QQ flopped two queens and rivered an Ace.  Sweet!  Table share was over $600 and I was $100 down.  Cash me out!

The next night (Thursday) I was playing in a different card room because I was invited to play in the $200/hr high hand... I had a bad feeling, I never win on those high hand nights)... and I pretty much was cold decked and lost $500 - 

I surrender!

Now, I rested Friday (painted my nails etc.) got ready for the big Spring Classic Tournament - about 2 1/2 hours south of where I live.  I had planned on riding with three of my poker buddies that have played in the tourney a few times and cashed.  Circumstances came up and none of them were able to go.  I was committed to going, I really miss those bigger tournaments and felt like I'd been really in the zone and had a chance to do well.  I was looking forward to taking a road trip in my new "Beamer" :) One of the dealers had decided he wanted to go and asked if he could ride with me... sweet!  Now I don't have to take a road trip alone.  I told him we needed to leave about 6:30 and I'm exhausted so he should call me when he wakes up to make sure I'm up - and I laughed.  (I really didn't think it was necessary, my husband would make sure I woke up after my alarm)... I set my alarm and low and behold he called and I was sound asleep - I didn't realize I set my alarm wrong.  Damn!  I love how the universe works - Took a quick shower and we made it there by 9:15 it started at 10:15.

202 players and they were paying the top 20.  They had a stage in the middle of the convention center and the final two tables (the cash) were up on the stage - it was pretty cool.  I was more focused and patient than I've been in a longtime and I folded more than I've ever folded.  There was one hand I'd wished I played (Q7 Suited) I would have flopped a boat, and I really had a feeling I should play it when I saw it - it was a decent pot and the way my table was playing it would not have changed the action if I was in the hand.  I was in the cut off and it was early in the rounds- I decided not to because I felt like that was something to play in cash game not tourney because it leads to more bad calls. 

I did not make a single bad call the entire tournament!  I was never behind when I called until we were down to 30 players and I was getting very short stacked (my cards went really cold)... I had A2 Suited and about 15 bb's, I decided to limp - I knew I needed to push but I wanted to see what action was going to happen because I didn't want to be against multiple hands.  Everyone folded until the sb - she pushed and had me covered by a small amount.  A very big stack before me folded and I called.  She had 10's - I flopped a 2 and rivered an A.  That was my one "one time"!

After that I doubled up again, then I had AA two out of three hands, then 10's then 9s and A9 with trip 9s... enough to get me to the cash!! Weeeeee

THERE'S A LESSON AT THE END - Take it for what it's worth.

We had a 20 minute break while they broke down tables and set up the area that the business would happen for the final payouts etc.  It was really nice.  The blinds were getting huge suddenly - only 8 minutes left in the round we moved to the payouts.  Two players out within about 20 minutes - I was forced to call and All in in my bb because it was only half the bet and he won.  My small blind had connectors so I called but missed.  On my button the blinds went up and I was extremely short stacked, 6bb's.  I had A5 suited, the action folded to me and I was thinking.  Something was telling me that I was going to lose even though there is no question that I should push... my hesitation was that there are 3 players at the table that have less than I do and with the blinds they would be out most likely before me because they were all to my left - I just didn't take the time to think it through because the bb threw in a raise out of turn - (this is a player that was making mistakes frequently and had been given multiple warnings... as I reflect back on his moves, his character I almost believe he was angle shoot and was getting away with too many "warnings")  So he raised out of turn both myself and the small blind had not acted - the dealer says "time" and I thought to myself, "I know I have the best hand, I'm here to win" so I pushed, sb folded and he called.  He had suited KJ - I felt good that I was right and I was ahead. I flopped two pair, and he flopped a flush draw.  He flushed on the turn and I prayed for an A or 5 on the river, but to no avail.  

Profit .... get this $500!

After arriving, and all players were seated - I discovered there were 7 of us from our town,... six made it to the final 30 and two of us made it to the cash. (pictures below)

  

Moral of the story - Are you playing to win or to cash a little more?... I was willing to put it all in and lose rather than trying to squeak through to more money - I needed to be aggressive to go for the win and not just survive.  I made the right choice.

Cash me out!