September Quest - Day #2

Okay, day 1 went very badly. Maybe I can salvage some pride. A win and another top 3 place should put me back on track.

Game #6: This is one of the tightest turbo tables I have ever seen. I am raising almost every other hand and getting no callers. I am quickly building my stack with the blinds. My image as a loose player is great as I knock out someone who's timing is real bad. He pushes as I'm holding AA. However, after being a big chip leader, I take a couple of hits. First I call a short-stack's push with AQ. He shows TJ, but makes a straight on the turn. Next I go up against the 2nd big stack on my left. I raise pre-flop with KQ and he calls. Flop is all low cards. I decide on a continuation bet, but immediately get reraised. I fold having lost a load of chips. Down to 4, I push with K8 and get called by A8. Frustratingly, I go out 1 place off the money after playing really well for the most-part.

Game #7: A much looser game and I struggle to find a hand. I get lucky for pretty much the first time this week when I push with A3 and get called by QQ. I double up with an ace on the river. This could be my tournament at last! Wrong! Down to 4 again and I hold JJ in the big blind. At the moment everyone is just in push fold mode. The Mr QQ pushes and I have an easy call. He has AA and gets his revenge. Arghhh! 4th again!

Game #8: Bad start in the first 3 hands as both JJ and QQ go against K high flops. First guy luckily plays his AK passively so I get off cheaply. 2nd guy bets big on the turn and I have to fold. Down to 825 chips, I get AA. I raise, everyone folds. Sigh!
I take down another small pot in a blind v blind battle, then I crash out again. I have AT and raise. I get one caller (Mr AK from earlier). He check/calls flop, we both check the turn and he puts me all in on the river. As it's all low cards, I'm trying to work out what he could have called with as he's been very tight. He's also showed a lot of weakness beforehand. Despite only having Ace high, I think there's a good chance I'm ahead. Also I'm down to 650 so I'm almost committed. I call and once again he shows AK. Out in 7th. I call it another night.

Okay, I probably played that last hand badly, but overall I feel I'm not getting my fair share of luck so far. My strong hands are running into stronger hands, or they're getting sucked out on when I'm a big favourite. Luck like this can make you change your game. I'm trying not to, and I'm hoping results will start coming my way soon. I still have 3 more weeks to go!