Live @ Hawaiian/ Tourney Update

Ok, So I got off to a slow start here..
Hopefully, gradually this will become routine to the point where I'm posting everyday...

For now this is just a quick update on Tournament Progress over the last few days.

1. Friday Night -- I entered what was actually my first Live buy-in event for 100$+. This was @ Hawaiian Gardens Casino (LA area). 100$ + 25(juice) + 1 optional 100$ Rebuy.

Buy-in: 100/25 + 1 optional rebuy.
Field: 98 People
Placed: 9th.

I thought I played this tournament pretty solid, especially for not playing live in so long. I made it to the final table and ended up finishing just 9th and only doubling my buy-in + rebuy w/450$.

I was a little disapointed with how I played Kings one hand early on. I was in seat 8, and got into a confrontation with seat 2 across the table. He was chipleader at our table, and I believe I was 2nd... He raised a standard table raise at that time which was 350, (7x BB) I miniraised him back the same amount. (I thought this was fine.. maybe could have raised a bit more.. I wanted action...) He asked me how many chips I had .. I put out the chips actually kinda fumbling a little somewhat intentionally.. and at this point I was pretty positive he had something very close to if not Queens. I was positive by how long he was taking and his actions that he did not have aces, but a strong hand and was seriously considering putting me all-in. I counted out my chips and he elected to call.. Flop was 10 high rainbow and he bet 500 into me, I Raised all-in here w/the remaining 3k or so chips I had ...

That last part is what I Didn't like... I was 95% sure he had QQ, JJ, or a less likely AK.. If I thought about this a little longer - by how anxious he was to put me in preflop, If I called this, I Imagine he would have pushed the turn w/o the presence of any Ace, King, or Queen. He could only hit one of the 2 jacks for the win, and the Ace was the only marginal scare card for me putting him on Queen's as a more likely hand. Thus, the implied odds were much better if I would have just called in this situation and set him up for the trap. Oh wells. Aside from that it was pretty solid.. I lost w/2nd to lowest stack and an M of only about 3.5 at the final table with KQ offsuit in MP+2 .. I haden't played any hands yet, and raised 2k.. with 300/600 blinds and 75 ante's. I had around 5.5k in chips. I'm not sure why I didn't just push this w/that M as I had been w/any hands I had been playing prior in this zone... Anyways.. Button Raises ALL-IN, and he's one of the two chip-leaders.. I thought about it for a bit .. and called.. too much odds there, and I figured he really didn't need to go all-in if He had Aces.. But I was worried about being dominated by AK, AQ, and was just hoping for a coinflip in which I was a slight underdog but still had good odds to call considering pot size... He flips AJ which i'm happy to see although I'm an underdog, but his hand hold's up and i take my 450 and am done for the day.. .


Quick side:
yesterday I played a 1441 entrant 10+1$ buy-in NL on stars.. (first I played down to this level again in awhile)

With 30 people left I was up to 2nd in chips..

Top 3/4 places were in the thousands (4th slightly under..)

I donked off my chips when I dropped down a bit w/12 people left, and the guy to my right had been raising my BB everytime it came around the last 3 rotations that nobody else reraised prior.. This time i Had K10s and was sick of it and called his all-in.. he'd been pushing each time it got down to the two of us and he acted before me.. I suppose I grew a bit impatient and could have picked a better spot.. he flipped A10 and I was dominated : / .. and left in 12th w/only 120$ meh.

One great hand that stuck out w/5 tables left... I had just built up a better stack, and the chip leader at our table and third overall in chips was directly to my right. He was in CO, and I was on Button.. I had 67diamonds... He raised a standard 3x raise, and I mini-raised him back.. yes.. I just felt he was stealing the blinds as he had been doing,... I flop the nuts.. 458 (with two diamonds on top of that)... I make a small -- 2x min bet, and he calls... I hesitate and check the Js turn(didn't help to improve any flush..), he checks behind and an Ace hits river... I make a 3x BB bet hoping he did actually have an ace and will raise me or call me down with what seems like a river steal... To my delight he pushes all-in... I gladdly call, and he flips 2-3o .. yep 2-3o.. he hit the lower straight on the river, and I take it .. GG : )

ok .. gotta get going.