We're at 11 trying to get down to 9 for the final table. The table has been together for a while and is pretty decent. Player to the right of me is the tightest at the table. There's been a lot of good natured chatting going on at the table the past few minutes. My plays are below. Agree/disagree? Hand 2 is really interesting from my opponent's perspective.

Hand 1 -
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 3 - CO ($18530 in chips)
Seat 4 - Hero ($30527.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - SB ($55660 in chips)
Seat 6 - BB ($41340 in chips)
Seat 8 - UTG ($32760 in chips)
Blinds 1200/2400 Antes 150 - Pot is $4350 after posting.

Folded to Hero w/ [5c]. Hero steals or folds???


Hand 2 -
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #8 is the dealer
Seat 3 - SB ($20030 in chips)
Seat 4 - HERO ($34427.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - UTG ($54010 in chips)
Seat 6 - CO ($32490 in chips)
Seat 8 - BUT ($37860 in chips)
Blinds 1200/2400 Antes 150 - Pot is $4350 after posting.

The table had been busting SB's chops (he's the ultra-tight one remember) everytime it looked like he was gonna push. They were all saying things like, "Don't do it!" and he would usually fold. I'm actually going to tell you what he has instead of what I have because I think this hand is more interesting that way.
This time it is folded around to SB w/ pocket 7's. Even before everyone folds I type in to SB "Don't do it! I'm paired and I'm going to call you."
It gets around to SB as I keep prodding him "You don't want to do it." He eventually calls.
I type, "What are you doing. I just told you I was paired." and raise $7200 to $9600.
He finally types back "Me too."
I say, "Oh. Well, I guess you have a decision then."
You know his hand, but not mine. I have told you that I am paired before-hand.
A- Do you believe me?
B- What do you do?


Hand 3 -
Same players, blinds have gone up.
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #5 is the dealer
Seat 3 - UTG ($17080 in chips)
Seat 4 - HERO ($30027.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - BUT ($59960 in chips)
Seat 6 - SB ($34440 in chips)
Seat 8 - BB ($37310 in chips)
Blinds are 1500/3000 Antes 200 - Pot is $5500 after posting.

Folded to hero in CO w/ [Tc]. Hero raises to $9000. BB calls.
BB has shown to be the trickiest player at the table. Very capable of slowplaying and check-raising.
Flop comes [3h][Jd] Pot is $20,500
BB checks, Hero ?????


Hand 4 -
Very next hand. Same blinds and antes. We are now down to 10 players at 2 tables now. Pay scale moves up after one more elimination. I am now 3rd lowest stacked out of 10.
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 3 - BB ($16880 in chips)
Seat 4 - HERO ($17827.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - CO ($59760 in chips)
Seat 6 - BUT ($32740 in chips)
Seat 8 - SB ($51610 in chips)

Hero is dealt [Qh]. Blinds are 1500/3000 and I'm BB next hand. Auto-push or try to wait out a smaller stack and get to the FT?































































































Hand 1 -
Hand 1 -
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 3 - CO ($18530 in chips)
Seat 4 - Hero ($30527.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - SB ($55660 in chips)
Seat 6 - BB ($41340 in chips)
Seat 8 - UTG ($32760 in chips)
Blinds 1200/2400 Antes 150 - Pot is $4350 after posting.

Folded to Hero w/ [5c]. Hero raises to $7200. SB folds, BB takes almost all his time up before folding.
Says "I didn't like my kicker. A5."
I reply, "I didn't like your kicker either."
He replies, "Son of a B*#$#!"
I lied and told him I was suited though. Don't know why, but that seemed to make him feel better.


Hand 2 -
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #8 is the dealer
Seat 3 - SB ($20030 in chips)
Seat 4 - HERO ($34427.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - UTG ($54010 in chips)
Seat 6 - CO ($32490 in chips)
Seat 8 - BUT ($37860 in chips)
Blinds 1200/2400 Antes 150 - Pot is $4350 after posting.

The table had been busting SB's chops (he's the ultra-tight one remember) everytime it looked like he was gonna push. They were all saying things like, "Don't do it!" and he would usually fold. I'm actually going to tell you what he has instead of what I have because I think this hand is more interesting that way.
This time it is folded around to SB w/ pocket 7's. Even before everyone folds I type in to SB "Don't do it! I'm paired and I'm going to call you."
It gets around to SB as I keep prodding him "You don't want to do it." He eventually calls.
I type, "What are you doing. I just told you I was paired." and raise $7200 to $9600.
He finally types back "Me too."
I say, "Oh. Well, I guess you have a decision then."
You know his hand, but not mine. I have told you that I am paired before-hand.

SB took a lot of time and then folded. He asked and I told him the truth. [6s]. Very tough decision, even knowing my hand.


Hand 3 -
Same players, blinds have gone up.
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #5 is the dealer
Seat 3 - UTG ($17080 in chips)
Seat 4 - HERO ($30027.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - BUT ($59960 in chips)
Seat 6 - SB ($34440 in chips)
Seat 8 - BB ($37310 in chips)
Blinds are 1500/3000 Antes 200 - Pot is $5500 after posting.

Folded to hero in CO w/ [Tc]. Hero raises to $9000. BB calls.
BB has shown to be the trickiest player at the table. Very capable of slowplaying and check-raising.
Flop comes [3h][Jd] Pot is $20,500
BB checks, Hero checks
I c-bet over 90% of the time, but here I checked and was ready to give up for 2 reasons
My opponent is tricky AND any c-bet pretty much pot commits me here.
Turn is
BB bets $3,000 which I call thinking that it is a weak bet and I may have him outkicked with an Ace.
River is and gets checked down.
Opponent shows [Qs] for top pair on turn. Of course in hind-sight my failure to c-bet looks bad, but at the time it felt the best course of action.
He actually said that he bet $3000 on the turn because we were all getting along so well and he didn't want to bust me. Actually if he had bet more I would have folded so his well intended bet cost me more money.


Hand 4 -
Very next hand. Same blinds and antes. We are now down to 10 players at 2 tables now. Pay scale moves up after one more elimination. I am now 3rd lowest stacked out of 10.
Table: 24 (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 3 - BB ($16880 in chips)
Seat 4 - HERO ($17827.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - CO ($59760 in chips)
Seat 6 - BUT ($32740 in chips)
Seat 8 - SB ($51610 in chips)

Hero is dealt [Qh]. Blinds are 1500/3000 and I'm BB next hand. Auto-push or try to wait out a smaller stack and get to the FT?
Hero pushes. Folded to BB who has finally found his hand and calls w/ [Qs] and hits his Ace on the flop. To add insult, I hit a K on the river.

I am now all-in in the BB for my last $948 w/ [5h]. Button actually apologizes before open-raising. I told him it's ok as I actually have a hand. He shows [Th] and I actually have a chance, until he flops the damn flush. Quick and painful.