Live Blogging a $30+3 DS

We're down to 27 players. I'm in 22nd place. I'm feeling nervous because I haven't played a hand in forever, but I need to chillax. Compared to where I've been, I'm doing spectacularly.
Just play poker.

Well there's a hand that could've been my last. I was in the SB with AKo and three limpers. I pushed 20xBB. Everyone folded.

And then I played AK like I was afraid of not making the money and I lost a few thousand chips.

RESET

It's 6:11 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Another break, and I'm still alive.
That was a really slow patch for me though. I stole blinds from MP with KJo on the second-to-last hand before the break, and I'm at 14K.

Since my last post, only one player has been eliminated. The blinds will jump now of course, but I don't think that players are going to fall by the wayside at a quick pace.
Not yet, and not for awhile.

It's 5:37 a.m.

*******************************************************************

By my nonsensical reckoning, we are now half-way to the money.
What that means is, half the remaining players get paid. There are 36 left; 18 places pay.

It's 5:19 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Fear of DeOhGee, a desire to win a hand off him and a fortuitous flop just won me a nice little hand.

The fear came first. I had J8o when it folded to me in the SB. I wanted to just raise, but I've done that to him before and I was afraid he'd play back at me. I wasn't going to fold, partially because I wanted to play him in a HU hand and make an effort to restore some of the dignity he stole from me.
I flopped top pair. He flopped second pair. What can you do? We both played it "right," I think.

PokerStars Game #16499170843: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2008/04/05 - 06:11:54 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (59428 in chips)
Seat 2: snakey814 (17045 in chips)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE (16160 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (14060 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (27606 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (27945 in chips)
Seat 8: Dbelgiumboy (11835 in chips)
fnriverrat: posts the ante 25
snakey814: posts the ante 25
Nevr2LTE: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts the ante 25
DeOhGee: posts the ante 25
Nestor-CR: posts the ante 25
Dbelgiumboy: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 200
DeOhGee: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Jc 8h]
Nestor-CR: folds
Dbelgiumboy: folds
fnriverrat: folds
snakey814: folds
Nevr2LTE: folds
BurntOrnge: calls 200
DeOhGee: checks
*** FLOP *** [Js 7c 3s]
BurntOrnge: bets 600
DeOhGee: calls 600
*** TURN *** [Js 7c 3s] [3d]
BurntOrnge: bets 1200
DeOhGee: calls 1200
*** RIVER *** [Js 7c 3s 3d] [4h]
BurntOrnge: checks
DeOhGee: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [Jc 8h] (two pair, Jacks and Threes)
DeOhGee: mucks hand
BurntOrnge collected 4575 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4575 | Rake 0
Board [Js 7c 3s 3d 4h]
Seat 1: fnriverrat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: snakey814 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (small blind) showed [Jc 8h] and won (4575) with two pair, Jacks and Threes
Seat 6: DeOhGee (big blind) mucked [Qd 7s]
Seat 7: Nestor-CR folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Dbelgiumboy folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I should point out though that he has shown himself to be quite the player, so to speak. Having him on my left has not been a blessing.

It is 5:16 a.m.

*******************************************************************

I won a rare hand postflop without seeing a showdown, and it was a doozy.
I was tempted to fold my TT pre-flop, cuz I'm weak like that, but I decided to call. Then the guy on my right called, so I was even more ok with calling.
As long as I flopped a set.

PokerStars Game #16499003753: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (150/300) - 2008/04/05 - 05:55:00 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (44243 in chips)
Seat 2: snakey814 (13770 in chips)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE (13860 in chips)
Seat 4: ptitevoix (9915 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (13685 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (33156 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (19970 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (7595 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (4950 in chips)
fnriverrat: posts the ante 25
snakey814: posts the ante 25
Nevr2LTE: posts the ante 25
ptitevoix: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts the ante 25
DeOhGee: posts the ante 25
Nestor-CR: posts the ante 25
Big Nucka: posts the ante 25
ethansky: posts the ante 25
Nestor-CR: posts small blind 150
Big Nucka: posts big blind 300
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Tc Th]
ethansky: folds
fnriverrat: folds
snakey814: folds
Nevr2LTE: raises 900 to 1200
ptitevoix: calls 1200
BurntOrnge: calls 1200
DeOhGee: folds
Nestor-CR: folds
Big Nucka: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ah As 8s]
Nevr2LTE: checks
ptitevoix: checks
BurntOrnge: bets 2275
Nevr2LTE: folds
ptitevoix: folds
BurntOrnge collected 4275 from pot
BurntOrnge: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4275 | Rake 0
Board [Ah As 8s]
Seat 1: fnriverrat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: snakey814 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE folded on the Flop
Seat 4: ptitevoix folded on the Flop
Seat 5: BurntOrnge collected (4275)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Big Nucka (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: ethansky folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Obviously, I didn't get the flop I wanted but as soon as I saw those aces, I was interested. If it checked to me... surely they won't slowplay an ace with a flush draw out, three-way action and an already sizeable pot.
Surely not. I had to bet at it.

Apparently, TT was good.

It's 5:00 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Let's play some poker.
I played another hand beautifully (by finding KK on the button with a raise and re-raise in front) and I'm up to 14K.
Of course, I'm still below average, but you won't hear me complain.

PokerStars Game #16498896672: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (150/300) - 2008/04/05 - 05:44:04 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (50823 in chips)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE (15385 in chips)
Seat 4: ptitevoix (13615 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (6580 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (28181 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (17395 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (8295 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (8050 in chips)
fnriverrat: posts the ante 25
Nevr2LTE: posts the ante 25
ptitevoix: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts the ante 25
DeOhGee: posts the ante 25
Nestor-CR: posts the ante 25
Big Nucka: posts the ante 25
ethansky: posts the ante 25
DeOhGee: posts small blind 150
Nestor-CR: posts big blind 300
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ks Kh]
Big Nucka: folds
ethansky: raises 600 to 900
fnriverrat: raises 900 to 1800
Nevr2LTE: folds
ptitevoix: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 4755 to 6555 and is all-in
DeOhGee: folds
Nestor-CR: folds
ethansky: folds
fnriverrat: calls 4755
*** FLOP *** [2h 5d 8h]
*** TURN *** [2h 5d 8h] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [2h 5d 8h 3c] [2c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
fnriverrat: shows [Ah Kd] (a pair of Deuces)
BurntOrnge: shows [Ks Kh] (two pair, Kings and Deuces)
BurntOrnge collected 14660 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 14660 | Rake 0
Board [2h 5d 8h 3c 2c]
Seat 1: fnriverrat showed [Ah Kd] and lost with a pair of Deuces
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ptitevoix folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (button) showed [Ks Kh] and won (14660) with two pair, Kings and Deuces
Seat 6: DeOhGee (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Big Nucka folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ethansky folded before Flop

For a second I thought the guy to act before me was going to push. I might have folded.

It's 4:47 a.m.

*******************************************************************

I made the third break, but I've bled some more.


I just can't win small pots. I saw a couple flops in a row, neither of them out of line, but I lost chips for it.
Then I had this hand.

PokerStars Game #16498722636: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/05 - 05:25:46 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (44970 in chips)
Seat 2: pikecreek (5828 in chips)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE (12810 in chips)
Seat 4: flubsky (12470 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (6680 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (20546 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (17570 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (4535 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (9975 in chips)
Nestor-CR: posts small blind 100
Big Nucka: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ks Qd]
ethansky: folds
fnriverrat: folds
pikecreek: calls 200
Nevr2LTE: folds
flubsky: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 600 to 800
DeOhGee: folds
Nestor-CR: folds
Big Nucka: folds
pikecreek: raises 600 to 1400
BurntOrnge said, "wow, can't say I like the look of that"
BurntOrnge said, "strange"
BurntOrnge: folds
pikecreek collected 1900 from pot
pikecreek: shows [Qh Qs] (a pair of Queens)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1900 | Rake 0
Seat 1: fnriverrat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: pikecreek collected (1900)
Seat 3: Nevr2LTE folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: flubsky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge folded before Flop
Seat 6: DeOhGee (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Big Nucka (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: ethansky folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Do we hate the raise?
I was trying to be aggro... Eff that today.
The fold is a no-brainer, not because we know he has the goods but because we're in a "WTF, What range of hands does that?! Obviously it should be a monster, and if it's not I'll still hate every flop because I think it is. FUCK THIS!!" mode.
So I just folded.

*******************************************************************

The adrenaline is pumping and my heart is pounding.
I just won a race, and I've got just about as many chips as I ever did.
When I pushed from LP after two early limpers (both who I was sure didn't hold monsters) I pushed in my chips with AQo.
When the action got to Big Nucka, I thought, "he might call me with a questionable hand."
He did, and the race was on.
I outflopped him, he turned an open-ender, and I faded the 10 outs to double through.

PokerStars Game #16498626807: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/05 - 05:15:39 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: jakesomethin (1955 in chips)
Seat 2: anakarenina (7291 in chips)
Seat 3: chek - raise (8105 in chips)
Seat 4: flubsky (9470 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (3640 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (15600 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (19170 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (7275 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (8775 in chips)
DeOhGee: posts small blind 100
Nestor-CR: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Qs Ad]
Big Nucka: calls 200
ethansky: calls 200
jakesomethin: folds
anakarenina: folds
chek - raise: folds
flubsky: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 3440 to 3640 and is all-in
DeOhGee: folds
Nestor-CR: folds
Big Nucka: calls 3440
ethansky: folds
*** FLOP *** [9s 7s Qc]
*** TURN *** [9s 7s Qc] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [9s 7s Qc 8h] [Kc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Big Nucka: shows [6h 6s] (a pair of Sixes)
BurntOrnge: shows [Qs Ad] (a pair of Queens)
BurntOrnge collected 7780 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7780 | Rake 0
Board [9s 7s Qc 8h Kc]
Seat 1: jakesomethin folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: anakarenina folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: chek - raise folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: flubsky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (button) showed [Qs Ad] and won (7780) with a pair of Queens
Seat 6: DeOhGee (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Big Nucka showed [6h 6s] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 9: ethansky folded before Flop

Meanwhile, DeOhGee just won a 21K pot with KK. He's a monster. (I did steal his BB with CBL though. PWNED!)

It's 4:21 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Well this gets a little interesting.
I've got a former online world champ on my left. And he just crippled me.
DeOhGee won the WCOOP in 2003.
His biggest accomplishment was yet to come.

PokerStars Game #16498529542: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/05 - 05:05:23 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: jakesomethin (2555 in chips)
Seat 3: chek - raise (12690 in chips)
Seat 4: flubsky (5885 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (3845 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (6525 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (18670 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (8020 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (15500 in chips)
ethansky: posts small blind 100
jakesomethin: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Jh Ad]
chek - raise: folds
flubsky: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 400 to 600
DeOhGee: calls 600
Nestor-CR: folds
Nestor-CR is sitting out
Big Nucka: folds
ethansky: folds
jakesomethin: folds
*** FLOP *** [5h 5d Tc]
BurntOrnge: checks
DeOhGee: checks
*** TURN *** [5h 5d Tc] [6c]
BurntOrnge: bets 750
DeOhGee: calls 750
*** RIVER *** [5h 5d Tc 6c] [7h]
BurntOrnge: checks
DeOhGee: bets 800
BurntOrnge: calls 800
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DeOhGee: shows [9d 9h] (two pair, Nines and Fives)
Nestor-CR has returned
BurntOrnge: mucks hand
DeOhGee collected 4600 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4600 | Rake 0
Board [5h 5d Tc 6c 7h]
Seat 1: jakesomethin (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: chek - raise folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: flubsky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge mucked [Jh Ad]
Seat 6: DeOhGee showed [9d 9h] and won (4600) with two pair, Nines and Fives
Seat 7: Nestor-CR folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ethansky (small blind) folded before Flop

Pretty horrible, eh?
On the flop, I thought I'd show weakness by checking, then check-raise all-in. He didn't take the bait, and things went downhill from there.
I'd lost a chunk of chips on the hand before.

PokerStars Game #16498520576: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/05 - 05:04:26 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: jakesomethin (2555 in chips)
Seat 3: chek - raise (12690 in chips)
Seat 4: flubsky (5885 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (5195 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (6525 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (18670 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (8120 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (14050 in chips)
Big Nucka: posts small blind 100
ethansky: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ts Jc]
jakesomethin: folds
chek - raise: folds
flubsky: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 400 to 600
DeOhGee: folds
Nestor-CR: folds
Big Nucka: folds
Nestor-CR is sitting out
ethansky: calls 400
*** FLOP *** [3c Kh Kc]
Nestor-CR has returned
ethansky: checks
BurntOrnge: bets 750
ethansky: calls 750
*** TURN *** [3c Kh Kc] [8s]
ethansky: checks
BurntOrnge: checks
*** RIVER *** [3c Kh Kc 8s] [9c]
ethansky: bets 1000
BurntOrnge: folds
ethansky collected 2800 from pot
ethansky: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2800 | Rake 0
Board [3c Kh Kc 8s 9c]
Seat 1: jakesomethin folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: chek - raise folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: flubsky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge folded on the River
Seat 6: DeOhGee folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: ethansky (big blind) collected (2800)

...

Should've stayed patient. Nothing wrong with patience.

On the bright side, I just doubled up while writing this.

PokerStars Game #16498566197: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/05 - 05:09:16 (ET)
Table '83434420 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: jakesomethin (2255 in chips)
Seat 2: anakarenina (7591 in chips)
Seat 3: chek - raise (13190 in chips)
Seat 4: flubsky (5385 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (1695 in chips)
Seat 6: DeOhGee (8675 in chips)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (19270 in chips)
Seat 8: Big Nucka (8320 in chips)
Seat 9: ethansky (14900 in chips)
Nestor-CR: posts small blind 100
Big Nucka: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [As Ts]
ethansky: folds
jakesomethin: folds
anakarenina: folds
chek - raise: folds
flubsky: raises 400 to 600
BurntOrnge: raises 1095 to 1695 and is all-in
DeOhGee: folds
Nestor-CR: folds
Big Nucka: calls 1495
flubsky: folds
*** FLOP *** [7c 6c 3c]
*** TURN *** [7c 6c 3c] [5c]
*** RIVER *** [7c 6c 3c 5c] [2d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Big Nucka: shows [Ah 8h] (high card Ace)
BurntOrnge: shows [As Ts] (high card Ace - Ten kicker)
BurntOrnge collected 4090 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4090 | Rake 0
Board [7c 6c 3c 5c 2d]
Seat 1: jakesomethin folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: anakarenina folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: chek - raise folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: flubsky folded before Flop
Seat 5: BurntOrnge showed [As Ts] and won (4090) with high card Ace
Seat 6: DeOhGee (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Nestor-CR (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Big Nucka (big blind) showed [Ah 8h] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 9: ethansky folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I'm scrappin'.

It's 4:10 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Still truckin'.
I've played a couple hands, nothing big. Finally won a couple pots without showdown, but I've been largely stagnant. Only legit hand was AK, and a preflop raise yielded only the blinds.

70 players remain. 18 get paid.

It's 3:55 a.m.

*******************************************************************

I've made the second break, and I'm just about right at the starting point in chips with 5,015. Compared to where I was earlier, I'm a high roller.The stats still look alright. That new showdown that I lost was a check-down from the big blind.
Winning a pot without a showdown would be nice, but the kids aren't playing like this is a Deep Stacks tournament, so things get out of hand quick.
I've tried to steer clear of all that.
Really, I haven't had many tough decisions. When I fired up iTunes, I had to figure out which song to start with. I went with "Stereo" by Clearviewkills. Now I'm listening to some Sweeney Todd tunes. But I just flipped it to shuffle, so the RNG will be deciding what I listen to from here on out.
Just as the RNG decides my poker fate.
SEGUE!!!
No actually I don't have much to say about the poker. I'm going to need to play a hand eventually, but people underestimate their stack sizes when playing this format and freak out too soon.
I don't aim to do that.

It's 3:29 a.m.

*******************************************************************

BOOM!
As the kids would say.
I just doubled up again and I'm back over 5K in chips. That's the starting level to be sure, but I'm feeling pretty alive right now.

PokerStars Game #16497813475: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/04/05 - 03:49:44 (ET)
Table '83434420 17' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (13875 in chips)
Seat 2: tarheels454 (10205 in chips)
Seat 3: subadmiral (5735 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (2795 in chips)
Seat 6: snakey814 (12035 in chips)
Seat 7: ardy_speed (11770 in chips)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (12675 in chips)
Seat 9: lehighlax (4835 in chips)
lehighlax: posts small blind 25
fnriverrat: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ah As]
tarheels454: raises 200 to 250
subadmiral: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 2545 to 2795 and is all-in
snakey814: folds
ardy_speed: folds
Tomek.G.1986: folds
lehighlax: folds
fnriverrat: folds
tarheels454: calls 2545
*** FLOP *** [Ad Jh Kh]
*** TURN *** [Ad Jh Kh] [4d]
*** RIVER *** [Ad Jh Kh 4d] [Th]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tarheels454: shows [Kd Ac] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
BurntOrnge: shows [Ah As] (three of a kind, Aces)
BurntOrnge collected 5665 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5665 | Rake 0
Board [Ad Jh Kh 4d Th]
Seat 1: fnriverrat (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: tarheels454 showed [Kd Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 3: subadmiral folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge showed [Ah As] and won (5665) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 6: snakey814 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: ardy_speed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: lehighlax (small blind) folded before Flop

That might look like an overpush. Probably because it is.
tarheels454 played a lot of hands, and he liked to mix it up. He liked to bully, and I didn't think he'd like the idea of someone trying to push him off a hand preflop. Especially a dinky stack like me.
So I tried.
In hindsight, I'm probably just lucky he had AK and couldn't fold it.

It's 2:54 a.m.

*******************************************************************

I won a two-stage race and tripled up. I call it two-staged because of the way it played out.
With AJcc in the SB, I figured everyone would fold when I pushed for 20xBB after everyone limped. But no, I got two callers.
After a rag turn, a solid bet from the healthier stack led to a fold, and I got to see that I was racing — and behind.
Ace on the turn, and I stay alive.

PokerStars Game #16497700157: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/04/05 - 03:37:59 (ET)
Table '83434420 17' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (13500 in chips)
Seat 2: tarheels454 (11270 in chips)
Seat 3: subadmiral (6910 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin (6485 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (940 in chips)
Seat 6: snakey814 (4600 in chips)
Seat 7: ardy_speed (11245 in chips)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (12900 in chips)
Seat 9: lehighlax (6075 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 25
snakey814: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ac Jc]
ardy_speed: folds
Tomek.G.1986: folds
lehighlax: calls 50
fnriverrat: folds
tarheels454: calls 50
subadmiral: folds
Dr.Lavin: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 890 to 940 and is all-in
snakey814: folds
lehighlax: calls 890
tarheels454: calls 890
*** FLOP *** [4c 2s 6d]
lehighlax: checks
tarheels454: bets 1200
lehighlax: folds
*** TURN *** [4c 2s 6d] [Ah]
*** RIVER *** [4c 2s 6d Ah] [Kh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [Ac Jc] (a pair of Aces)
tarheels454: shows [7c 7h] (a pair of Sevens)
BurntOrnge collected 2870 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2870 | Rake 0
Board [4c 2s 6d Ah Kh]
Seat 1: fnriverrat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: tarheels454 showed [7c 7h] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 3: subadmiral folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (small blind) showed [Ac Jc] and won (2870) with a pair of Aces
Seat 6: snakey814 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: ardy_speed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: lehighlax folded on the Flop

Oh, and here's a fold I just made. Easy enough right?
I don't think there would be any reason for calling, unless "I was embracing my TILT" is an excuse for calling.

PokerStars Game #16497762615: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/04/05 - 03:44:26 (ET)
Table '83434420 17' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (13800 in chips)
Seat 2: tarheels454 (10230 in chips)
Seat 3: subadmiral (5960 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin (635 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (2870 in chips)
Seat 6: snakey814 (11775 in chips)
Seat 7: ardy_speed (11370 in chips)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (12675 in chips)
Seat 9: lehighlax (4610 in chips)
tarheels454: posts small blind 25
subadmiral: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Jh Ad]
Dr.Lavin: raises 585 to 635 and is all-in
BurntOrnge: folds
snakey814: raises 865 to 1500
ardy_speed: folds
Tomek.G.1986: folds
lehighlax: folds
fnriverrat: folds
tarheels454: folds
subadmiral: folds
*** FLOP *** [2h Qd 5c]
*** TURN *** [2h Qd 5c] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [2h Qd 5c 9d] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dr.Lavin: shows [6c Qc] (a pair of Queens)
snakey814: shows [Kh Kd] (a pair of Kings)
snakey814 collected 1345 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1345 | Rake 0
Board [2h Qd 5c 9d 8s]
Seat 1: fnriverrat (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: tarheels454 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: subadmiral (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin showed [6c Qc] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 5: BurntOrnge folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: snakey814 showed [Kh Kd] and won (1345) with a pair of Kings
Seat 7: ardy_speed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: lehighlax folded before Flop (didn't bet)

It's 2:46 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Well I've made the break.
All I've seen since that last hand are folding hands. So I've folded.
The stats don't look so bad, but that's prett deceiving.
Damn AK.

I'm in 117th of 118.

It's 2:23 a.m.

*******************************************************************

I've doubled up once.
To be sure, I played the hand wrong (probably playing the hand in the first place was wrong). But standing in 152nd place of 153, I think we'll all agree that a gamble or two ain't out of the line.
So I called a min-raise with 9Thh, and saw a 9-hi flop. Fuggit, I'll get them all in here. But once it checked to me, instead of pushing (which I should have done because A. a legit bet commits me to the pot anyway and B. we're 4-way so drawing hands might justifiably call without the proper pot odds.)
At least that's the way I see it.
But I'm greedy and wanted to take away a few hundred measly chips at the risk of my tournament.
It worked out.

PokerStars Game #16497170896: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/04/05 - 02:46:17 (ET)
Table '83434420 17' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (10320 in chips)
Seat 2: SNGWizard (4980 in chips)
Seat 3: subadmiral (9310 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin (2190 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (570 in chips)
Seat 6: Surf_Pup (5420 in chips)
Seat 7: ardy_speed (11470 in chips)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (16120 in chips)
Seat 9: lehighlax (3950 in chips)
Tomek.G.1986: posts small blind 15
lehighlax: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [9h Th]
fnriverrat: folds
SNGWizard: folds
subadmiral: raises 30 to 60
Dr.Lavin: folds
BurntOrnge: calls 60
Surf_Pup: folds
ardy_speed: folds
Tomek.G.1986: calls 45
lehighlax: calls 30
*** FLOP *** [2s 9d 8s]
Tomek.G.1986: checks
lehighlax: checks
subadmiral: checks
BurntOrnge: bets 180
Tomek.G.1986: calls 180
lehighlax: folds
subadmiral: folds
*** TURN *** [2s 9d 8s] [Kd]
Tomek.G.1986: bets 360
BurntOrnge: calls 330 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [2s 9d 8s Kd] [Ac]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Tomek.G.1986: shows [Jd Td] (high card Ace)
BurntOrnge: shows [9h Th] (a pair of Nines)
BurntOrnge collected 1260 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1260 | Rake 0
Board [2s 9d 8s Kd Ac]
Seat 1: fnriverrat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: SNGWizard folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: subadmiral folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge showed [9h Th] and won (1260) with a pair of Nines
Seat 6: Surf_Pup folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: ardy_speed (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (small blind) showed [Jd Td] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 9: lehighlax (big blind) folded on the Flop

It's 1:54 a.m.

*******************************************************************

This might take up my night after all.
UTG+2 had just revealed himself to be a massive dumbass on the hand before and lost most of his chips in the process. He pushed for his last 800 or so and a player in middle position re-raised the min. Whatever he had didn't feel like aces or kings. It felt like he also identified the dumbass, and he was re-raising to isolate.
I had AK and should have folded.
Instead I saw how many chips he had left behind him, did some bad math and wasn't all that impressed. I thought I could survive doubling him up.
I doubt I can.
On the bright side, at least my read was right.
My logic — it's early, go big or go home — didn't look so smart after I lost pretty much all my chips with AK-NOTHING after getting them all in the middle PRE-FLOP!!!!!

PokerStars Game #16497027131: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/04/05 - 02:33:23 (ET)
Table '83434420 17' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: fnriverrat (9950 in chips)
Seat 2: SNGWizard (4940 in chips)
Seat 3: subadmiral (4590 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin (2430 in chips)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (5230 in chips)
Seat 6: Surf_Pup (4960 in chips)
Seat 7: ardy_speed (9740 in chips)
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 (17990 in chips)
Seat 9: eddieseggs (870 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 10
Surf_Pup: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ad Kh]
Tomek.G.1986 said, "you play like an idiot"
ardy_speed: calls 20
Tomek.G.1986: folds
eddieseggs: raises 850 to 870 and is all-in
fnriverrat: folds
SNGWizard: folds
subadmiral: raises 850 to 1720
Dr.Lavin: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 3510 to 5230 and is all-in
Surf_Pup: folds
ardy_speed: folds
subadmiral: calls 2870 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [3d 2c Qc]
*** TURN *** [3d 2c Qc] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [3d 2c Qc 8c] [Jc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [Ad Kh] (high card Ace)
subadmiral: shows [Kd Ac] (a flush, Ace high)
subadmiral collected 7440 from side pot
eddieseggs: shows [3c Js] (a flush, Queen high)
subadmiral collected 2650 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 10090 Main pot 2650. Side pot 7440. | Rake 0
Board [3d 2c Qc 8c Jc]
Seat 1: fnriverrat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: SNGWizard folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: subadmiral showed [Kd Ac] and won (10090) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 4: Dr.Lavin (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: BurntOrnge (small blind) showed [Ad Kh] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 6: Surf_Pup (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: ardy_speed folded before Flop
Seat 8: Tomek.G.1986 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: eddieseggs showed [3c Js] and lost with a flush, Queen high

FUCK ME.
And this one's on me, not poker.

It is 1:42 a.m.

*******************************************************************

Well I fired up Poker Stars to see what tourneys might be coming up, and lo and behold, it's a Deep Stacks tournament. So, I threw caution (and BR management rules) to the wind and registered. So now I'm locked in to like 8 unrewarding hours of poker and a bubble finish.
Why wouldn't I be excited?
Though Blogger lacks the proper software (as far as I know) I've decided to live blog my experience.

Of course, I was dealt AA on the first hand. I decided to try that old second-hand low gag, and it worked out ok.

PokerStars Game #16496810807: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/04/05 - 02:15:00 (ET)
Table '83434420 8' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: flubsky (5000 in chips)
Seat 2: ITS ME FOO (5000 in chips)
Seat 3: remispjr (5000 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (5000 in chips)
Seat 5: Kirk_Stromgr (5000 in chips)
Seat 6: alkimtg (5000 in chips)
Seat 7: WilEKoyotee (5000 in chips)
Seat 8: pikecreek (5000 in chips)
Seat 9: coolspaz (5000 in chips)
ITS ME FOO: posts small blind 10
remispjr: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ah Ac]
BurntOrnge: calls 20
Kirk_Stromgr: calls 20
alkimtg: folds
WilEKoyotee: folds
pikecreek: folds
coolspaz: folds
flubsky: folds
ITS ME FOO: raises 80 to 100
remispjr: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 220 to 320
Kirk_Stromgr: folds
ITS ME FOO: calls 220
*** FLOP *** [Kc Jc Th]
ITS ME FOO: checks
BurntOrnge: bets 500
ITS ME FOO: calls 500
*** TURN *** [Kc Jc Th] [Ts]
ITS ME FOO: checks
BurntOrnge: checks
*** RIVER *** [Kc Jc Th Ts] [5c]
ITS ME FOO: checks
BurntOrnge: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ITS ME FOO: shows [Qs Js] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
BurntOrnge: shows [Ah Ac] (two pair, Aces and Tens)
BurntOrnge collected 1680 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1680 | Rake 0
Board [Kc Jc Th Ts 5c]
Seat 1: flubsky (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: ITS ME FOO (small blind) showed [Qs Js] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 3: remispjr (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: BurntOrnge showed [Ah Ac] and won (1680) with two pair, Aces and Tens
Seat 5: Kirk_Stromgr folded before Flop
Seat 6: alkimtg folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: WilEKoyotee folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: pikecreek folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: coolspaz folded before Flop (didn't bet)

But now I've lost the bulk of those chips, but check out this great fold.

PokerStars Game #16496869200: Tournament #83434420, $30+$3 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/04/05 - 02:19:49 (ET)
Table '83434420 8' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: flubsky (5000 in chips)
Seat 2: ITS ME FOO (5370 in chips)
Seat 3: remispjr (4710 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (5820 in chips)
Seat 5: Kirk_Stromgr (4380 in chips)
Seat 6: alkimtg (5000 in chips)
Seat 7: WilEKoyotee (4860 in chips)
Seat 8: pikecreek (5000 in chips)
Seat 9: coolspaz (4860 in chips)
Kirk_Stromgr: posts small blind 10
alkimtg: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Kh Kd]
WilEKoyotee: calls 20
pikecreek: folds
coolspaz: folds
flubsky: folds
ITS ME FOO: calls 20
remispjr: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 150 to 170
Kirk_Stromgr: folds
alkimtg: folds
WilEKoyotee: calls 150
ITS ME FOO: calls 150
*** FLOP *** [5c Th 8c]
WilEKoyotee: checks
ITS ME FOO: checks
BurntOrnge: bets 400
WilEKoyotee: calls 400
ITS ME FOO: calls 400
*** TURN *** [5c Th 8c] [6c]
WilEKoyotee: checks
ITS ME FOO: bets 580
BurntOrnge: folds
WilEKoyotee: calls 580
*** RIVER *** [5c Th 8c 6c] [Ad]
WilEKoyotee: checks
ITS ME FOO: bets 2120
WilEKoyotee: raises 1590 to 3710 and is all-in
ITS ME FOO: calls 1590
*** SHOW DOWN ***
WilEKoyotee: shows [7d 9d] (a straight, Six to Ten)
ITS ME FOO: shows [Ac 8h] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
WilEKoyotee collected 10320 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 10320 | Rake 0
Board [5c Th 8c 6c Ad]
Seat 1: flubsky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: ITS ME FOO showed [Ac 8h] and lost with two pair, Aces and Eights
Seat 3: remispjr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: Kirk_Stromgr (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: alkimtg (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: WilEKoyotee showed [7d 9d] and won (10320) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 8: pikecreek folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: coolspaz folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Technically, that might be a weak fold. But I was thinking, early in a deep stacks, high pocket pair ain't worth a big pot. Maybe I'm wrong, or maybe I'm learning how to play poker again.

It is now 1:24 a.m.