$30 +3 Sit N Go - FTP and $300+30

Been running pretty good recently which I am happy about. Mainly focusing on not making mistakes and taking opportunities when they come.

A few days ago, to kill time, I played a single table $30+3 sit-n-go on FTP. I think this is a good amount game for me to play. The lower $ tables have too much randomness with players making ridiculous moves (granted I have about a 40% in the money percentage) and while I play some higher tables, I feel like the $30 is a perfect time killer for me. I also play 1 or 2 a day when I have the free time, so if I run on a bad streak, it wont break me. Anyway, this was a good game. The think I liked best about it was my patience. I had one hand towards the beginning where I trapped with a set and got the player to my right to commit all his chips, but he ended up catching runner runner to make a straight. This left me with 560 chips from about 2000. The main thing I said to myself was to avoid tilt as the blinds were still low enough that I could see a lot of hands and take opportunities. I did get lucky when I went all in with K-10 suited on the button and was called by the SB with pocket Queens. 2 10s came on the flop giving me trips and they held up. Other than that hand, I just played solid and made moves when I could and started to get a workable stack and I used it. 30 minutes later I have over 9k in chips and put the final player to bed with my 8s-4s against his 10c-Jd when he pushed on the flop and I had hit the 4 and a flush draw. I am learning how much patience and position have helped me recently.

I played the $300+30 last night. I cashed for 2nd last week and was looking forward to a good game. I was card dead for a long time, only chopping one pot in the first hour and not winning any. I saw my starting stack start at 6k and finish at 5k after those first 2 rounds. Finally the cards started coming and with about 18 players left (30 to start), I started getting chips. Back to back pocket Js helped. Pocket Ks a little later on added to the stack and got me to about 17k in chips. 1 hand that annoyed me happened with about 14 players left. John, who is a solid player limped in (blinds 300-600) and something told me that he had as strong hand. I looked down with Ad-Jd and instead of limping in mid-position, I raised to 1800. Everyone folds to John, who calls (btw/he is shortstacked with about 7k). Flop Kh-9s-4d, he checks and I put in 2200 for a continuation bet. He goes all-in, over the top and I just could not call. I gave about 25% of my stack on that one, and I had the sense he had something and should have limped in or checked on the flop. I need to pay attention to my instincts more.

I was patient, picking up a pot here and there. 10 of us got to the final table, but I was down to about 9k in chips after a run of bad cards and I was not feeling too good about my chances. There were a few guys with about 40k in chips. Joe, who made about 70k playing in vegas during the WSOP was to my right with a big stack, Ray, with the chip lead to my left. But I told myself to wait and see if I could pick up some cards. Finally, I come all-in with Jacks on the button and Ray folds, but another player ends up calling with K-9. He does not improve and I have about 19k. 9 players left.

The next crucial moment is with 7 players left. One all-in already and Joe calls. It would have cost me the rest of my chips. I already have 2k in for the big blind and I am thinking on this one. I have Ad-Jd again. I put them both on pairs and think that if the A hits, I may be good. Joe looks at me and says, "you know how I play". I take the hint and go out. Player one turns Kings, Joe turns Queens. I joke with him if the A comes, I will be pissed and it does not, so I am still in it. I get caught in those dilemmas where if I were to hit I would triple up, and it is a decent hand, but i remind myself with an all-in and a call behind me, I have to be the underdog. We chip away here and there and it gets down to five. I am the small stack with 14k, Ray is the big stack with 60k. $9000 in the prize pool, top 4 places paid, I am fifth. We end up chopping and I take $700. I guess, I could have played to move up into bigger money, and I was 2 double up's from the lead, but with blinds about to be 2k-4k, it would not have allowed for much room and I have played with most of these guys before and would do the same with them. It ends up a winning session and I did place in the money 2 weeks in a row, so I am glad with that.

Sit-n-go
+130 (less buy-in)

Tournament
+700 (less buy-in/tips)