Starstealer's Tournament Report: $10+1 NL HE w/rebuys

I'm starting to really enjoy playing these tournaments, even though I haven't had spectacular results yet. I'm patient though, and hopefully I'll see a big cash soon.

In hand #3, I have pocket sevens UTG and limp in. The player on my left limps and then a raise comes in to 5xBB. He is then reraised all in - and it is called once to me. I fold - and it gets called by the original raiser.

In hand #18, I have ATs (hearts) and limp from MP after 2 limpers. The player on my left comes in, as do both blinds. The flop is 7TJ rainbow and it checks to me. I bet 120 and am called twice. The turn is a queen (2nd diamond) and it checks to me again (I'm last now) - I check as well. The river is the - and I fold when the first player pushes and the 2nd player calls. The second player had the flopped straight - the pusher had Q9s (clubs).

In hand #22, I have pocket kings in the SB. It folds to a MP, who raises to 510 (about 15xBB). The button reraises all-in (to 1500), I call, as does the original raiser. The original raiser has jacks, the button has tens. The turn is a jack and I have to rebuy.

In hand #23, I'm on the button and limp after 3 others with 33. The blinds come in and the flop is 7JQ (all hearts). I fold to a bet.

In hand #37, I have T9s (clubs) and open limp from UTG+1. There's one call and then a raise to 300 (6xBB). The button and the BB call before me - I call and the other limper folds. The flop is 238 (all hearts) and it checks around. The turn is a six and I fold to a bet.

In hand #51, I have pocket kings in MP. It is folded to the player on my right, who limps. I decide to push (to look like I'm stealing) to 870. He folds.

The break came after hand #56, so I rebought and did the addon to 4520. Total investment is $41.

In hand #64, I have pocket fives in the BB. There is a raiser in MP who comes in for 4xBB (to 600) and it folds to me. He's got me covered and I've got 3825. There is 825 in the pot and 450 for me to call. I make the call (a not very good move - I'm not getting enough equity here - assuming he's got a pair higher than mine). The flop however brings 57Q. I check - he bets 1050, I raise the minimum and he calls. The turn is a king and I push my remaining 1100 in. He calls. He has pocket tens and I take the pot. I'm now up to 7765.

In hand #68, I have AQo in MP and open raise to 4xBB (to 600). The SB (1485) pushes allin for another 900 or so, I call. He has pocket sixes and I don't improve.

In hand #77, I have pocket tens and open raise to 4xBB (to 800). Everyone folds.

In hand #79, I have A2s (clubs) and limp UTG. The player to my left calls and a big stack raises to 5xBB (to 1000). The BB calls, I call, as does the other limper. The flop is 45T and it checks around. The turn is a deuce and I fold to a bet from the BB. (No - I have no clue why I called the raise preflop or even limped in the first place...)

In hand #83, I have A4o in the cutoff and open-raise to 4xBB (to 800) on a steal. Everyone folds.

In hand #86, I have KJs (spades) and open-raise to 4xBB (to 800). It folds to the BB who reraises to 1800. I push (sad attempt to push the guy off his hand) - and the other guy calls. He has pocket queens. I catch a spade on the flop and runner runner on the turn and river to double up. Lucky doesn't begin to describe this hand... I'm up to 10510.

The antes start in at hand #89.

In hand #92, I have 9Qs (diamonds) in the cutoff and call a minimum raise from a MP raiser. The BB joins us for the flop, which is AJT (no diamonds) - it is checked around. The turn is another ten and the raiser bets the minimum. I call, the BB folds. The river is a six and he checks to me. Having nothing - I check as well. He has pocket jacks (for the turned boat). Even though my calls were real bad here - I made a good play on the river by NOT betting with a bluff.

In hand #104, I have pocket queens in MP. UTG+1 limps, I raise to 4xBB (to 1600). The player on my left calls and then a big stack reraises all in (to 25k). I have 7k left and think he's just pushing me around - so I call. I'm wrong - he has pocket kings, but I flop a queen and move up to 20k.

In hand #127, I have pocket aces on the button. UTG (short stack with 305 after the 50 ante) calls all-in, it folds to me and I raise to 4xBB (to 2400). Both blinds fold. He has KJo and my aces hold up.

In hand #133, I have A2o in the BB. It folds to the SB who completes - I check. The flop is 3TQ and he bets the minimum into me. I raise to 1800. He reraises the minimum - I fold.

In hand #141, I'm UTG with pocket tens and open raise to 4xBB (to 3200). Everyone folds. I'm up to 16250.

In hand #150, I'm UTG with pocket jacks and open raise to 4xBB (to 3200). Everyone folds - I'm back up to 16250...

In hand #157, I have AQo in MP. UTG (15k) open raises to 4xBB (to 4800) and UTG+1 folds. I fold.

In hand #176, I'm down to 9600 and the blinds are 1k/2k with a 100 ante. I'm UTG+1 with ATo and push - everyone folds. I'm at 13,400.

In hand #179, I'm in the SB with J8o and complete when it folds to me. The BB checks and the flop is KTT - we both check. The turn is a deuce (checked again) and the river is a four (checked again). I take the pot. I'm at 14k.

In hand #185, I'm UTG+1 with A8o and push allin to 13400. The BB (52k) calls. He has A7o. The board comes J6692 - and we split.

In hand #189, I'm in MP with ATo. UTG+1 minimum raises (he does this often - frequently with a small ace or two broadway) and it folds to me. I push - he calls and shows A6. The final board is JJKQQ and I take the pot. I'm at 29550.

In hand #195, I'm in the SB with K9o. MP limps (same player as in 189), I complete and the BB checks. The flop is JJT and the limper bets the minimum - we both fold.

In hand #200, I'm in MP with ATs (diamonds). UTG+1 raises all-in to 22k (he has me covered by 500). I fold.

In hand #206, I have AKo in the cutoff. MP limps (same player as in 189) and I push. The button pushes behind me (covers me by 3k) and everyone else folds. The button has pocket queens and I don't improve. I'm out in 104th. 99th paid.

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All in all - I'm not disappointed with my finish. Frankly, I got quite lucky in this tournament - a fact I was truly surprised about when I was reviewing my hands. There are a bunch of mistakes that I made and plays that I think are just ill-advised.

In any case, I will probably continue to play this tournament on occasion as it has such a huge prize pool for a small investment that it is tough to pass up. However, I will have to work on my strategy in order to prevent dumping $41 into these every time. I'm much happier with a $21 investment...

/d

Well, I probably won't be doing a tournament report on my latest tournament, but you'll be happy to know brian that I managed to fold Axs 3-4 times in the one I played last night... of course I still didn't make the money - but that's another issue entirely.

I'm glad. I definitely enjoy seeing your reports and I'm often impressed with your play so keep it up. All you need is 1 big tourney to make this all worth it.