Final Tables

Wow, so since I turned 18 I've made so much progress. Everyday I feel like I'm getting better. I've consistently made a good profit at 1/2 NL live cash games up at the casino. I took down first place in a 120 player freeroll on my birthday the very first time playing.

Last night I made the final table in the 185 dollar buyin monthly deepstack tournament there as well. Placed in 8th though since I had a short stack, blinds hit me hard and I found myself desperate to make a move. However I had no fold equity and ended up getting it in far behind twice to be eliminated. I believe the first shove was a mistake, I doubled up the other short stack and lost half my stack. The second move, the one that knocked me out of the tournament is completely standard and it was unfortunate that the other guy showed up with a wired pair of threes. Coinflips are not fun when you're on the losing end lol.

I finally got half of a bankroll started on pokerstars and am in the process of moving my main bankroll around, hopefully will be able to get half of that put on pokerstars eventually so I can take over the 1/2 nl games there as well. mmm. 2/4 nl is just as soft though.. so if I can build up a 8-10k roll I'll definately be a regular in that game. I'd also like to play all the sunday majors.

I'm planning on taking out about 1k to pay for a personal trip to new york, but I'm still trying to figure out the details. I have a lot of previous commitments to consider and I really need to start planning things better as far as tournaments go. I wish I didn't live 3 hrs away from the eagle. The games are so soft up there, I'd be there every night crushing the tables if I could. Too bad the other casinos are all 21+, such a stupid rule.

It feels like Florida around here lately. Especially up in Mount Pleasant. Last night was one of the best nights of the year so far, even though I came up short of 1st place. The side action in the cash games was phenomenal. Met a couple of my new friends from a few weeks ago as well. They're good players but I think they are struggling with some of the same issues I had in my own game. Especially the over aggression. I still need to watch myself, but overall I feel like I have more discipline lately to pull longer sessions.

I want to put in even more hours and not only focus on playing well, but actually studying and preparing more mentally before sessions. I feel like if I devote too much time to improving my game, I may become dull to non poker players.. It's hard to come up with good conversation topics when my whole world revolves around this deeply intense, mentally demanding game.
Not that I don't try my best to be nice and social to people :) thats just me.

There is so much more I'd like to do, I just have to work harder to make things happen.
I really want to take a vacation. Hopefully with him. Hes treated me better in the past few weeks, I appreciate what he's done for me. I just want things to come together the way we planned. It'll take away a lot of stress once I'm there. Not many people can understand this.

Anyhow, I'm exhausted. It's amazing what 15 hr sessions do to you even with proper sleep.
Think I'm going to take a few days off. Hey, this is my job and I'm my own boss. I wouldn't have it any other way. Can't wait to relax once I make it to New York.

-Sydney

Fear

The definition of fear is being afraid, feeling anxious, and apprehensive about a possible event or situation. Being concerned about something. Another emotion that tries to take over your mind. It's a basic survival mechanism that were all born with. Wikipedia on the subject states that "Fear should be distinguished from the related emotional state of anxiety, which typically occurs without any external threat." How much more simple life would be if we were all emotionless, numb to feeling and expression, but would that make life any better?

Can we control our fears? Can we control anxiety? Can we overcome it? I don't think there is an exact answer. Everyone is different. Everyone has their own demons. I've come to realize that my fears have started to hold me back from living, from understanding. My fears are holding me back from being myself. I know what I want out of life, but I've chosen to ignore knowledge, facts, and discipline. I've always acted based on feelings. I've let my feelings control me for so long. I want to make a good solid decision for once. I have so much more to learn.

Sometimes the solid truth contradicts everything you know and anything that makes sense. You have to relearn, retrain your mind to accept certain things. I want to understand myself and others better. Everything is so confusing sometimes. I have to start with a foundation first and build up. I have to look before I leap and all that jazz. I have to focus on myself for once. People will always come and go. I have to be deeply honest with myself.

Fear and anxiety have been holding me back from standing on my own two feet. I've held on for a long time, but it's time for me to be brave and make sound, realistic and knowledgeable decisions. I can not and will not allow feelings to govern my words and actions anymore. I refuse to act based on impulse. I can't change who I am, but I can control myself. I have the drive, the passion and purpose.. but I need discipline and more patience. Patience.

All of this doesn't just apply to my life, it applies to my poker game. I need to control my impulses and act based on sound knowledge. Yes sometimes things are instinctual, but without a foundation under your feet, everything falls apart. I long for wisdom and understanding.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards"
-Soren Kierkegaard

I'm going to strive to be in accord with my complexes. To first understand myself better than anyone, then I'll be able to understand others. I'm going to overcome my anxiety and fears. I'm going to make it happen. I always make it happen. Just need to keep working harder and push myself to improve and learn. I know I'm strong enough to do this. Focus. I know I have what it takes. Patience and Discipline.

-Sydney

One Week

So, one more week and I'm finally at the true start of my poker career. I've been waiting so long for this. I've quit the game so many times before but now I'm ready to give it my everything. I realize I cannot grow attached to the people in my life, especially since this profession is such a risky one. But I know I'm meant for this. Poker is a part of me, plain and simple.

Up to this point I've made some pretty poor decisions with my life, but this is my chance to change things. I wish I had someone to rely on for everything. I have to understand though, this is the business we have chosen and for those of us following this path, all we have is ourselves. Everyday is a constant mental struggle, a battle against myself, a battle against wills.

Anyways, needless to say I'm ready, this is what I want. I wish I could show you what its like. Everything else seems so empty. People I grew close to, feel more distant. Not because of my decisions but I think its just the way the world is right now, everyone is on edge. Trust doesn't come easily. I wish he would open up to me though. I wish at the end of the day it would always be just me and him. I fear my greatest fear is slowly coming true. Again, everything just seems empty.. maybe I'm being over dramatic.

In other news, I haven't played as much this week as usual, the tournaments I've played I've come up short in every single one, although still getting a small return. My headsup game has improved tremendously and I've found I'm making better decisions in each situation, and taking the time to analyze them better. Here are a few notable hands:

Headsup 2/4 dollar NL 400 dollar buy in- vs. a very loose aggressive opponent.
Cake Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (2 handed) - Cake-Poker Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($506.50)
Villain (BB) ($396)

Preflop: Hero is SB (Button) with 4c, 5s
Hero bets $12, Big blind calls $8
He had been actively raising on the button with a very wide range, his big blind defense range was tighter, but he had reraised with his super premium hands in this spot before as well as some of his weakest hands to mix it up. I was putting him on something that wanted to see the flop, with some possible showdown value too.
Flop: ($24) Ad, 4h, Qd (2 players)
Big blind checks, Hero bets $24, Big blind calls $24
he checked here, so I immediately figured he did not have an ace, as the board is very draw heavy and if he had even mid pair or any small to medium pocket pair he would continuation bet for sure. By now I had a good guess he either had KJ, J10 or 910 of diamonds, looking to get a free card. He called my pot size bet thinking that I had hit the ace, since he hadn't seen me bluff hardly at all so far, but he also knew that I was capable of taking advantage of his weakness in checking.
Turn: ($72) 2c (2 players)
Big blind checks, Hero checks
The turn is a blank, and I was never putting him on 35 based on his play, he had been a lot more aggressive with those weaker hands in my past matches with him, so I had no reason to think otherwise. I wanted to keep the pot at a decent size so checking behind seemed appropriate, in case he did hit on the river I didn't want to have too much of my stack committed to the hand.
River: ($72) 8h (2 players)
Big blind bets $42, Hero calls $42
Here, he instantly bet out half the pot. Now I was positive he missed a draw, nothing else made sense.. I took a moment to replay the entire hand in my mind before calling.
Total pot: $156 | Rake: $0.50

Results:
Button had Kc, Jd (high card, Ace).
Hero had 4c, 5s (one pair, fours).
Outcome: Hero won $155.50

-----------------
Same match. Six uneventful hands later.

Cake Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (2 handed) - Cake-Poker Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($645.80)
Villain.( Big blind) ($366.30)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 5d, Ad
Hero bets $12, Big blind calls $8
Here he defended his blind again, I was putting him on something like Q10 J9 K9 K10. He never slowplayed anything so I figured I had the best hand preflop.
Flop: ($24) 6d, Js, 6s (2 players)
Big blind checks, Hero checks
A good flop for a steal, since he didn't bet into me I didn't really think he hit this flop, I still believed I had the best hand but I wanted to get some extra value out of it, I hoped for a good turn where he would be inclined to value bet my hand for me. I'm pretty sure he wasn't giving me credit for much here either, possibly putting me on 9 10, 9 7 or q 10.
Turn: ($24) 8d (2 players)
Big blind bets $20, Hero calls $20
Perfect! He bet out exactly what I wanted. he didn't bet the size of the pot so I was figuring the 8 did not help him. I now have a flush draw, so I figure maybe if I smooth call here and hit, the river will help him too. I wasn't ruling out the possibility that he hit the 6 on the flop from the beginning either, although I wasn't extremely worried. The pot was still reasonably small. Yes I understand a raise may have been the better play here, but I didn't want to get into an out of control pot with Ace high either.
River: ($64) Qd (2 players)
Big blind bets $48, Hero raises to $140, Button raises to $334.30 (All-In), Hero calls $146.30
Nice! the nut flush. I was certain I had this, but how much more value could I pull out of him, I still figured him for being fairly weak having hit a Queen at best...If he had air he would have slowed down on that scare card, but maybe he hit the rivered straight... hah well I was lucky he hit the second to nut flush. I got maxxxx value and stacked him.... :D
Total pot: $636.60

Results:
Button had Kd, 9d (flush, King high).
Hero had 5d, Ad (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $732.10


That was a fun match. There were a few other tournament hands that really stood out to me but I'll post them later. I feel much more confident playing headsup than I have in a long time, and I have the results to prove it. Still, I have a lot to prove and I feel pretty alone in this...in everything..

-Sydney

"This is the business we have chosen."
-Hyman Roth. The Godfather.

Its been awhile

I had planned to try to write and post at least every other day so that I could learn more about myself. Writing is such a powerful tool. I wish I could get back to where I was constantly writing, it allowed me to put my thoughts down without seeming silly or troubling anyone else. It was my own little world on paper and the possibilities were endless. To put yourself out there, to lay everything down for someone to see, it takes strength.

Anyways what does this have to do with poker? A lot. If I am constantly learning, if I am always honest and open with myself, then I can apply that to my game, information is power and once you know yourself, once you know your tendencies, your purposes, your complexes... you're able to know and understand everyone else. That's why I want to write more, observe more, so that I can continually improve. I never want to stop approaching things with a humble, willing to learn attitude. How you view yourself and others, affects the way other people view you too. That's what poker is all about. Its not the cards, its the people. Its always the people, how you react and deal with each individual, but most importantly how you react and deal with yourself.

Sigmund Freud once said "A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes but to get into accord with them: they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world"

If we could get into a rhythm with our intricacies, with ourselves, it would make finding the rhythm of other things and manipulating that so much easier. To get into someones head and predict how they will react, what they will do, wouldn't seem so hard if we could first be able to know and react to ourselves completely. This is what I want to strive for.

Then we could take this idea a step further, and take all this knowledge that we have and get creative. To use your imagination with sound logical knowledge.. I believe that is the most powerful concept that needs to be fully understood. Knowledge is limited, so putting that together with your imagination.. you can create a whole world of possibilities, you can reach so many levels that you never thought possible.

Basically its just using your right brain and left brain together. Your left brain to process information and come to logical conclusions, and your right brain to push the boundaries that your left brain has set, to think of all the outcomes, to see all the possibilities that your single action can create. To always have a purpose with your actions, by using sound principles, facts and observations ..you then take that action further by stretching it with your imagination, being able to create so many possibilities for your single purpose. Then you use the process of elimination to find the perfect action, the correct method to accomplish your purpose for the specific situation.

Poker is a combined art and science. Knowing what to do, which is the science, is part of it, but the most important part is knowing how to do it at the exact right time and that is the art. To bring two generally conflicting things together. To use both your left and right brain. Knowledge and Imagination. Logic and Intuition.

Consider this: If you're taking in everything possible versus your opponent, and considering all the variables in the current situation you must be using all the levels of thinking. Meaning, you're not only thinking of what you have and what you are doing but you're thinking of your hand in relation to other hands, you're taking into account the possibilities of what your opponent has. Then you take that information and ask yourself what do they (meaning your opponent) think that I have, what am I representing? Next comes, What does he think that I think that he has, what does he think that he is representing and making me think. What does he believe he is trying to portray for me to believe? And yes, it even goes a step further. What does he think that I think that he thinks I have? Its quite hard to explain. When you accomplish all this, you're thinking at the highest level possible. You're playing world class poker. You're getting inside your opponents mind. You know him almost better than he knows himself. That is the level I want to achieve.

But it all starts with yourself.

"Poker is so much more than a game where one set of cards is compared to another with the better hand winning. It is a game of personalities. Unless you know yourself better than anyone else does, you will be at a disadvantage."


"At the table, your worst enemy is yourself"
-Stu Ungar


I guess I just wrote my first psychology article. There is just so much to this game called Poker.

-Sydney

Goal: Making Correct Decisions

A lot has happened poker-wise in the past two weeks for me. I've made over 14k in tournament profit. 3 first place finishes, a third place finish and an eighth place finish in the daily guaranteed tournaments. I was pretty happy, I was on fire really. I was making some of the best moves I've ever made. I kept adjusting to the table conditions and stayed focused. That makes all the difference in the world.

Anyways, this past week my game has gone downhill. I started playing 1 vs 1 cash games for 400 dollar buyins. The first guy was on my level and challenged me way beyond what I'm used to. After a couple different games I went on a horrible cooler. Every hand seemed to somehow be dominated or cracked at some point. And then I found this player.. she was a maniac in every way and I knew she had no chance, her plays were horribly stupid and I made a couple heroic calls while playing her. But, it started happening again, bad beat after bad beat. I mean, thats part of poker right? This just went on for the whole time I played her. Its the most frustrating thing when you know you can beat someone and yet everytime you get your money in with the best of it, a miracle two outer hits. No, I'm not complaining because skill in the long-run wins.

I've noticed my entire game is coming undone. I've been acting on impulse rather than knowledge. I went on major tilt after that headsup match. Somehow I've managed to keep my bankroll under control but my game is not where it was. I've taken a break for about 4 days now, been reading a lot more and posting on the forums. Tonight I have to play though, I'm in the 250k guaranteed tournament, the only one of the month. I just hope I can discipline myself to make correct decisions. I'm not caring about the outcome right now, I just want to have the patience to play the correct way. Sometimes it just really destroys your confidence when you find yourself making the right plays and the other player is still being rewarded. Variance is an evil thing.

I feel like in the next month I'm going to be put to the test a lot. My love for the game has already been challenged. I'm going to have to work hard, study more and somehow acquire more stamina. I need to eat healthier too. Poker is such a complex game. Its a constant mental battle. My own toughest opponent is always going to be myself. I just read a good quote "the expert player is not someone who wins every time they sit down at the table, simply they are the ones who win more in the long run than they lose" I need to keep that in mind.

Top of the Game

So, it is 8 am on my day off. I haven't been able to sleep in for two weeks now. I feel stuck. Everything is at a standstill, I'm just waiting for April. I don't even care about my birthday really. I don't plan on doing much, hopefully I'll be able to stay home though. I want to see the world. I want to have the freedom and money to go places with the people I love, and have nothing to worry about as far as finances. I know I can make it happen. I have the results. My game is continually improving everyday and just this week I found I'm crushing the 1/2 dollar games. Yeah, I skipped two levels from the 25c/50c and moved straight to the 1/2 dollar games. This is 6 max of course. It just feels so natural.

When I'm in the zone, I feel like no one can stop me. I am spot on with every single read, every single move. I know when to change gears, pull back and wait. And I know when to put the pressure on by turning up my aggression. I haven't found a single player who has really earned my respect. They're all the same. They either play super tight and allow me to run right over them or they play loose and call me down without a hand. Somehow I always have a hand at the right time, or my luck factors in.

I think some people are just born lucky. Like certain people (Me) are much luckier than others. I've had down days, where the cards seem like they want to eat me and my bankroll alive..but they don't last very long and always are followed by a huge streak of crazy luck. Thats why a lot of people don't respect my play. And I prefer it like that, catches them off guard. Easier for me in the long run. I don't rely on my luck, I make it. Simple as that. I create spots to get lucky, and when it happens, it is such a rush. Reminds me of Doyle Brunson, he was always saying how you have to use your luck to your advantage and get creative. You can't play abc poker all the time, especially up at the higher stakes.

I was never good with abc poker to begin with, the first thing I ever got down in poker was aggression. To most players, thats the thing they struggle with, thats what they learn last. I believe I have an advantage when it comes to that, it is just finding the balance in between that I need. Once I get the balance of it all down, its pure art. There are so many skills that you need to get to the highest levels of the game, so many things that factor in. I know I'm talented, but it takes more than that. Just like any athlete who dreams of going to the olympics, you won't get there just because you know you're already good. It is the ones who constantly push themselves, who constantly strive to be better that make it.

There are days where I know I'm playing perfect poker. Where you just feel in the zone completely, you know what to do before your opponents do it, you know what they are going to do and you plan ahead, You know what they think you'll do, You're constantly thinking 3 steps ahead, you're completely aware of your image at the table and how it affects the rest of the players... thats 3rd level thinking, like an intricate game of chess. Only a few players get to that level. Even fewer hold onto that level. I'd almost say that poker on the highest levels is deeper than chess. There are just so many factors that play in and when you are at the top of your game, as I said, it is pure art.

I feel like I'm right on the edge of it. Some days its there and other days I'm so close I can feel it and yet one little mistake takes me away from it. Of course, when you're playing against really bad players (many of them are) you can't use 3rd level thinking because they are too stupid to notice you. They only play their cards. And that has always been a problem for me too. It is so much easier to play against average to good players than to play against bad players who are too stupid to make the right move, to be manipulated. With completely bad players, its just basic abc poker. You can't get creative, because they don't have the knowledge or observance to notice you at all. Patience plays a big part there. Maybe that is why it feels easier as I move up the limits, better players making it easier for me to outplay them simply because they are more aware of the game. This must sound pretty crazy to an outsider. It is hard to explain the whole concept. You have to actually play the game to really understand... and even then I doubt half the players online even get this.

You know what really bothers me? People who try to argue that poker is just all luck. That the only edge any professional has is their reading skills. Being able to fold their hands. Well, you know what, keep on thinking that people, because that just gives those of us who are serious about the game an even bigger edge. It is true that reading people is something that you need in order to be at the top. Being able to notice you're beat and fold to a better hand is also something you need to learn, but it is my understanding that people fold too much. They are too afraid. They play by the book. They make the "correct play" in every spot, rather than thinking outside the box. That is why there are so many average poker players. That is why I take your money. :P Sometimes the correct play is not the winning play. Every situation is different. Poker is a game of people, a game of incomplete information. You can't always fold KJ suited in early position. You can't always limp in with a good hand in your small blind. You have to constantly be adjusting.

And even if I sit here and tell you exactly what you need to do to improve your game, chances are it won't help you too much. You have to have a "feel" for the game. It is quite hard to explain. When you're in the moment and faced with a tough decision it comes down to your experience for one, but another thing that many people overlook is your natural intuition. It is something that you develop with experience of course, but some people have more of a feel for the game than others. Sometimes you just KNOW that the guy has pocket aces, even before you play the hand. Or that the decent hand you have is going to end up as a bad beat. Call me crazy, but its just a natural instinct. This happens to me sometimes but when I'm really playing my A game I'm absolutely on fire. I know people who have amazing instincts for the game. And as I said earlier, some people are naturally lucky. I know I've avoided many bad beats simply because of other players acting before me and changing the dynamics of the current game..hence changing my decisions. Its all about the people and situations.

Okay enough of my "insight" and rambling, I'm sure there are many people who may disagree with me on certain things I've said. That is completely fine with me. But this is only a small bit of what it takes to make it. I'm going to get there. Oh yes :)

Oh, and one last thing. It really bothers me how the moment a man finds out you're a female player, he wants to run right over you. It makes me laugh too. Goodluck with that guys, not happening here. Although, there are so many female players who really have no business playing because they are just so.. weak. Don't get me wrong, I've seen a few pro's who definately know what they are doing at the table, like, Jennifer Harmon, Evelyn Ng, Annette Obrestad, Joanne Liu, and Mimi Tran. I respect their games but that is only 5 people out of thousands. I'd like to point out that Annette is the only one who started online at an early age (like me) and made the switch over to live poker easily. I believe online players have quite an edge over the rest. There is tougher competition online, constantly a new challenge. We also see a lot more hands than live players. I'll always be partial to online play. Its just so much more convenient. I hear most of the highstakes action is moving online too.

Anyways I should end this post :P Next time I'll post more of my results. I really need to find a good statistics program for the Cake network. Please message me if you know of one. (Poker tracker doesn't support it as far as I know.. not sure about Holdem Manager)

-Sydney-

Owning.

Well, this has been a pretty awesome day. Unfortunately tomorrow I go back to work. Highlights? First of all let me start with yesterday...came in 8th place out of 244 players in the 3k Guaranteed. Only reason I didn't win that tournament was because I started the final table shortstacked (after a bad beat) and had to play push or fold with any playable hand, or the blinds would crush me. Last hand was a coinflip...pushed with 33, A9 offsuit called and hit a 9. Played a good headsup match, busted the guy after 8 hands. Hit a couple of 6 max Sit and Goes, lost a few more coinflips so had 2 second place finishes there. Which is still a good return as far as I'm concerned. (top two out of six are paid)

Took a break and played some guildwars for the first time in quite awhile. It was interesting. My character was quite behind compared to everyone in game though. I had so many quests piled up lol. Then last night I hit up two 25c/50c 6 max ring games at the same time, 30 dollar buy in each. I completely decimated both tables. I am quite convinced now that I need to play many more of those cash games. My style seems to crush every opponent at that level. Not to sound overly confident, just seems quite easy for me. I'm curious as to how things will work out at the higher levels, but I won't be trying those out anytime soon. Midstakes is good enough for now. Anyways, a total of 256 hands played within an hour and a half on those tables. Total profit: $191.05

Now today was better than yesterday in every way. From the first 25c/50c 6 max I jumped into I completely crushed the game. 30 dollar buyin as always, 45 hands this time with a 83.65 dollar profit. Even better, I actually got action on pocket aces woo.
Hand:

SB ($73.55)
BB ($50)
UTG ($14.65)
MP ($16.25)
CO ($42.95)
Hero (Button) ($59.95)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, Ac
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.25, 2 folds, MP calls $1.75

Flop: ($5.25) Qh, 8c, 5d (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $5.25, MP calls $5.25

Turn: ($15.75) 6h (2 players)
MP checks, Hero raises to $52.45 (All-In), MP calls $8.75 (All-In)

River: ($33.25) 2s (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $33.25 | Rake: $1.65

Results:
Hero had Ah, Ac (one pair, Aces).
MP had 8h, 7s (one pair, eights).
Outcome: Hero won $31.60

Don't you love calling stations? lol. I had been stealing quite a bit of pots so I got paid off nicely with quite a few of my big hands. Aggressive poker is winning poker. Plain and Simple. Later on this afternoon I was waiting for the big 10k guaranteed tournament to start, so I sat down in another 6 max ring game, same results... these are just too easy for me apparently. 77.26 profit within 30 mins.

Now the absolute best part of my day (with the exception of talking to my wonderful boyfriend earlier nothing can top that) I entered the 10k guaranteed deepstack tournament at 1:30 pm. 3000 starting chips and 15 minute blind levels. So there was plenty of time to sit and wait for hands and figure out your opponents. 214 players entered, I played quite tight in the beginning, got in some good spots and doubled up within the first hour. After that I started opening up my game and stealing some blinds. Tightened my range again and waited.

Once the second break rolled by I had a decent chipstack compared to everyone else. I had plenty of time to sit back and watch, and I played very selectively, usually only in position. My stack kind of went up and down for awhile, from 8k to 16k and back to 8k as I made a few plays with drawing hands. I stayed between 14k and 16k for atleast 40 minutes. At one point I was down to 5k chips with blinds at 300/600.

Tightened up my requirements yet again and slowly chipped back up to a commanding lead. (4th position out of 40 players remaining) Since the top 40 got paid the bubble was the perfect time for me to gain that extra edge. I stole a lot of blinds during that time. Hit some good hands around the top 20. I won almost all of my showdowns. Before the final two tables I didn't go to showdown hardly ever though, most of my wins were uncontested steals or continuation bets on the flop, even a few reraise steals.

When it got down to the final table I was the chipleader by far, I decided to play conservative and watch the other players. There were four super shortstacks, they all got knocked out pretty fast. The second person in chiplead I ended up knocking out strangely. The only reason I was even in the hand was because of being forced by the big blind.

Here is the hand:
Hero (BB) ($203,534)
UTG ($10,7308)
MP ($78,550)
CO ($54,754)
Button ($66,952)
SB ($130,902)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2d, Jd
UTG calls $5000, MP calls $5000, 2 folds, SB calls $2500, Hero checks

Flop: ($23000) Ad, 4s, 6d
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, MP bets $17777, 1 fold, Hero raises to $76331, UTG raises to $101808 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls $25477

Turn: Kd

River: 2s

Total pot: $244,393

Results:
Hero had 2d, Jd (flush, Ace high).
UTG had 4c, 4h (three of a kind, fours).
Outcome: Hero won $244393

Yeah, so I got super lucky there and that added a huge chip advantage to my already huge stack.
I had a perfect read on the MP dude, so that is the reason for my reraise on the flop, unlucky that the UTG girl had limped in with pockets and hit a set. She played it wrong to begin with though. So really I created my own luck there. After that hand I sailed through with in position steals/took out the rest of the players with superior hands.

We had a lot of rail watchers when it got 3 handed and the other guy Elkm was stealing almost every hand, he eventually took out the very predictable rock: bear2554. That guy was hilarious. He basically told us his strategy through the chat. I had a ton of notes and reads on him. Anyhow, I ran this huge bluff on Elkm because he was berating me in the chat about being a woman and how women are weak. Plus he was getting way too aggressive and needed to be put in his place. lol. I'm pretty sure the bluff pissed him off, he didn't try to play back at me anymore after that though. I didn't have to show him the bluff, but there were a lot of fans watching so I did it for them lol.

Here it is. Pretty sick.

Hero (BB) ($380,873)
Button ($56,219)
SB ($204,908)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2s, 3d
1 fold, SB raises to $10000, Hero raises to $26500, SB calls $16500

Flop: ($54500) As, 9s, Qd
SB checks, Hero bets $54500, SB calls $54500

Turn: ($163500) 10h
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($163500) Qc
SB checks, Hero raises to $299373 (All-In), (after a very long pause) 1 fold

Total pot: $163500

Results:
Hero showed 2s, 3d
Outcome: Hero won $163,500


He typed quite a bit in the chat after that and it sent him on tilt. Apparently he had folded A 8 there. I won the tournament after the first 3 hands headsup. Last hand I had a pair of kings on the flop of K62, he went all in with A 6. lol. Poor guy, I didn't get to see much of his play so I can't really say he was a bad player.. but I know he was pretty angry. 2,200 dollar profit. :D My biggest one time cash yet. I am quite happy. I knew I was going to win from the moment I sat down, such a great feeling.

Going to get to bed early, back to work tomorrow. Atleast it will be Friday. I really am thinking about quitting though. Its not worth it. I cannot wait for spring. And oh my, I had a lot to say.

-Sydney-