Atlantic City

I'm currently in AC for the Borgata Poker Open. My last trip to Turning Stone wasn't very successful so I'm trying really hard this time to show a decent profit. I've played 3 tournaments so far, a 500, an 800, and a 1600.

In the 500 I didnt make it out of the first level, as some old guy felt like toruring my soul. In 2 hands we both flopped top pair and by the end he had paired his kicker both time. The last hand I limped UTG for 50 with KQ off, it folded to him on the button and he made it 100, the blinds folded and I called. It came down Q96 with 2 hearts. I bet 150, he made it 350, and I popped it back to 1100. The turn came on offsuit 8 and I shoved in for 1400ish. He called with Q8 and that was that.

In the 800, I played decently, staying really patient and doubling up with KK vs TT all in pre in the 3rd or 4th level. One big hand took place with the blinds at 400/800. I raised to 2500 UTG with Ad Qd the button called and the blinds folded. The flop came down 9d 3d 2c. I bet 3500, he gave me the " I don't think you have anything" speech and shoved his stack in for about 10k more. I sat there for a minute or so wondering if I wasnt trying to draw against a set but eventually I called and he showed me Ac Qs??? A complete freeroll which hit with the Kd on the river.

After we got into the money and condensed into 4 tables, I had a decent stack after shoving in from the small blinds with AA after 4 limpers and getting the UTG limper to call his stack off with AJ. They moved a big stack to my direct right who I obviously had no reads on. With the blinds at 1500/3000, he limped UTG. I look down at AQ and cant decide whether to raise, call, or fold. I dont want to raise because I only have about 70k in my stack and if he reraises I have to fold. I don't want to fold because AQ is still a strong starting hand. I thought about folding but decided to call. It folds to the BB who checks. The flop comes QJ6 rainbow. The BB shoves in for 16k and UTG smooth calls. It took me like 3 minutes at least. Does he have AA, QJ, 66? Why is he just calling? KQ, KT, QT is pretty much all I can beat. My hands marginal at best so I don't want to risk my stack with it. I figure if hes on a draw he'll check the turn and if he has a set or AA hes gonna have to protect it if I just flat call figuring me for a draw, so I called. The turn pairs the Q, I scream yahztee in my head, now hoping he has AA. He checks and I push hoping to get KT out and to charge KQ the max. He folds and the BB is drawing dead with J3.

With 2 tables left I am card dead and am forced to muck AK preflop to an UTG raise and a big stack re-raise for about 2/3 my stack. 12 people left, I go after the blinds with the 34h making it 24000, the cutoff calls, button calls and blinds fold. The flop comes Kh 4s 8h and with the pot at 100k, I shove for 115ish getting called by AA in the cutoff. The board bricks out and I'm left on the FT bubble.

I just busted out of the 1600 having to lay down AA on a Q75K board, he showed a set of 7s. Early on I was trying to play tight but lost with 44 on a Q54 flop to 55. I finally got my stack back up getting it in preflop with AA vs QQ but was chipped away at missing flops. My last hand I called a smallish raise in the BB with K8c, the flop was 567 and I pushed into 2 people. The raiser had 65s and it bricked out on me.

The next 2 days I just plan on grinding out the 40/80 game down stairs which I've already smashed for 4900 in 2 sessions.