Mike Cation's Poker Blog

Only got to play in one tournament while I was out in Las Vegas, at the Riv.  22 entrants, including my two brothers, and a friend. 

I felt that I played pretty well.  I got to the final table without the additional addon, and was up to 3rd in chips, after having value bet some people, and being more aggressive with shoving than I ever have been, which I felt great about.  Made some good reads, and some good plays.

Then the following stretch happened:

Limped to me in the button...K7 suited, standard button raise, SB shoves, its only another 2.5-3BB, so I call, and he has Jacks.  They hold.

Few hands later....EP limps, I raise 3.5BB, BB calls to put himself all in, limper folds.  My AK vs. his A4. 

Get a few chips back in a couple hands, and then....  two limpers in front of me, I shove with about 9BB from the SB with AJs, and the BB calls, other limpers fold, and BB flips over KK. 

GG.

Just disappointing in that I felt that I made good plays throughout, and I don't really feel like any of the hands above were played poorly.  The issue for me is that I don't play live ever, and so when people say "variance", yeah, sure it is, and maybe the next time, I hit two of those.  But my next time probably won't be until next year.

So I busted out 8th, 3 paid, blah.  Trying to look at it in a positive light, thinking about my good decisions, and how to improve in other areas.