Steve Burt: Every Hand Revealed

Ok this is going to be a long post, so make sure your sitting comfortably/make a cup of tea before you read ha.

Last night I wrote down every hand I played (and my thoughts) in the Ceasers Palace 160$ deepstack. It was actually quite hard work doing so and I think I made 3 or 4 mistakes (at least) I wouldn't usually make because of it....not to mention any information I missed on the table.

Anyway so I actually had a pretty bad game (in fact I think I made more mistakes in this game, than the last 10 games put together)...but anyway here goes:

160$ buy in
10000 starting chips
30 minute blinds
70 entrants
top 9 paid

Blinds 25-50, my stack 10k - 7 players at table
1. AK offsuit
Someone raises to 175 from mid position and I call on the button, everyone else folds.
Flop brings A42 and he bets 200, I just call
Turn brings 6 and he bets 500, I just call
River brings 7 and he checks, I figure him for a weaker ace here and would probably call a value bet - but seeing as it is the first hand and I have no info on him I just check behind. I show AK and he mucks

2. 67 off suit
2 players limp before me and i limp one before the button, I could raise here to narrow the field / oppenants holdings but seeing as we are so early on I just limp. The small blind completes and big blind checks.
Flop brings 779, but with 2 hearts. It checks round to me and bet out 300 which is bigger than the pot - my 67 not that strong here and I want ot charge out draws. The 2 limpers call, I assume they have either flush draw/straight draw or a pair in hand.
Turn brings 2 offsuit. It checks round to me and I bet again, half pot - everyone folds.

3. J7
Someone raises to 125 and I call
Flop brings 356 and the initial raiser makes a large overbet (500 into a 275 pot) so I fold assuming he has overpair.

4. J6
I limp after 1 limper with J6, a couple of players limp behind me.
Flop brings QJ6, and the first limper bets 125 and another limper calls behind - I raise to 450 and they both call....worrying I assume they have either straight draws (KT, T9) or a queen or some sort (QT, QJ, QK). Unlikely they have 666 as I already have a 6 and one on the board, and unlikely AQ as no raise preflop.
Turn brings 8 and everyone checks, I could bet here but I'm worried about them both calling my flop raise, and the 8 completes one of the hands I was worried about (T9) for a straight - best to keep the pot small and see what happens on the river. I have position also. I check.
River brings a K and the first limper checks, the second bets 1500 so I fold. My hand doesn't beat many holdings anymore, not with the king on the board, and 1500 is a pretty big bet, people only generally bluff if they have missed a draw (e.g. a flush or straight draw) and there isn't any draws that he could have missed here so I don't think he is bluffing. The other limper also folds so we will never know what he had.

5. J6
I fold preflop, someone goes out on the table flush vs straight

6.95 (spades)
I call in middle position and a few players limp.
Flop brings 77T with 2 spades, the first limper raises to 125 and another player calls. I also call behind. At this point I'm not sure of my oppenants holdings, I'm a little bit worried that I might be drawing to a weaker flush draw than the other caller, or that the original raiser might have a monster on BB (7T)
Turn brings an offsuit 2 and the original raiser bets 300, me and the other limper fold....I could call here but I don't think a spade will pay me off much and I could even be drawing to the second best hand

7. 9T
UTG raises to 150 and I call in the next position, she is very tight and hasn't played a hand yet so I figure my 9T can smash up her AK or overpair. Kinda risky because someone might raise behind but the table is very tight so the chances are low, everyone folds behind.
Flop brings 376 and we both check, not much to play with here - I think she would call with AK also if I bet, woman can't help but call every hand...its like playing Knighty.
Turn brings K and she bets 300 I have to fold

8. AQ suited
I limp with AQ suited under the gun, I could raise here but it isn't a made hand and I don't like the position. the blinds are pretty small still also so I think I'll see what happens on the flop.
A few players limp behind.
Flop brings 3K5, the big blind bets so I fold - rubbish

9. Big Blind: 23 suited
A tight mid position player raises to 175, I fold

10. Small Blind: 87
The person limps and I call, the big blind checks.
The flop brings 865 and i bet 125 to build a pot, both players fold

11. Q7
2 players limp and I limp on the button, there's not much pre flop raising going on and the flop play is pretty weak from what I've seen so far so worth getting involved here.
Flop brings 89T, and everyone checks. I'm open ended but I'll wait until I hit before I bet this early in the game.
Turn brings 6 and everyone checks , I bet out 200 and 1 limper calls, I figure him for a jack at this point (e.g. KJ) and fishing for a straight) - he limped in middle position.
River brings A, he checks and I bet half pot - he folds, don't think he would have called any river value bet unfortunately.

12. 57
The lady to my right raises to 125, its so cheap I can't resist - especially with position. I figure at this point she has a small pair or 2 pretty cards (e.g. KJ suited). This is consistent with a beginner / woman play, they think they should raise but don't know how much, so do a min raise.
Flop brings Q74 and she bets 200, I call - noone else is in the hand...not an amazing flop, but I could be ahead or get lucky with a disguised 2 pair/trips. If she bets the turn then I'm probably behind to a queen or pair in hand, if not then I'm probably ahead to a small pair in hand.
Turn brings J and we both check, no point betting here, it won't achieve anything.
River brings 6 and we both check again, she shows 33 and I take the pot

13. 37 off suit
I fold preflop

14. A8
A loose player raises to 125, I figure he is weak, and the lady calls. I'm sure they are both weak/medium strength and re-raise to 400 to execute an early squeeze play.
Everyone else folds and they both call, not too worrying: I still think they have weak holdings, I'm representing a big hand, and the pot isn't too big at this point.
Flop brings A87, they both check and I bet 400, the first guy folds and the donkey woman calls (she looks a little bit like a donkey). The flop made this hand 10x easier for me, I'm sure I have the best hand now against a weak ace or a pair in hand...for some reason woman just cannot lay down pairs in hand!!!
Turn is K, she checks and I bet 800 figuring I still have the best hand and am going to get paid off vs a weaker ace. she calls.
River is a 4, she checks and I bet 1200 for the same reason as above, I also want to bet here to disguise what I was raising with (remember I raised after a raiser/caller pre flop, then raised every street). She calls and shows 99, what a donkey. I take down the pot.

15. AQ
I raise in an early position to 225, someone re-raises me to 500 (he did it by mistake, he hadn't seen that I had raised but said the word "raise" so had to), another guy re-re-raises to 1300, he is tight and has only played 1 hand so far, so its a pretty easy fold. The other guy folds also so we dont get to see what he had.

16. 46
I fold pre flop

17. Q5 suited
I fold pre under the gun

18. BB, blinds are up to 50-100 (always goes up on me...) T3
Someone raises to 200, another 500 so I fold my T3

19. SB, K4
Two people limp so I complete with K4.
Flop brings Q73, and someone raises to 400 - not worth doing anything tricky here so I fold, not very exciting

20. K7
I limp on the button after two limpers (one under the gun, suspect)
Flop brings AQ8 and the under the gun limper raises to 700 so I fold

21. J8
It folds round to me and I raise to 325 to try and make it 1v1, expecting to just continuation bet a nice flop and take down the pot if noone shows any strength.
The player behind me calls, he hasn't played many hands so either has a pair in hand or 2 high cards (e.g. KQ AQ). everyone else folds
Flop brings 662 and I bet 400, he calls - ok I'm done with the hand unless I hit now, there's nothing I can represent on the board and he doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
Turn brings 7, I check and he bets 1000, I fold

22. T2
I fold T2

23. A7
I call in mid position with a7 and a couple others limp.
Flop brings 52K and a tight player raises to 200, I fold. Feel like I should have raised pre flop there and not just limped, but doesnt matter.

24. J9
It folds round to me and I raise to 350 and the big blind calls. He is a tight player and I'm unsure of what he would call with in big blind, maybe a strong ace - 2 high cards or a pair in hand.
Flop brings 7KK and we both check.
Turn brings T, he checks and I bet 400 (Q or 8 gives me a straight), he raises to 1025....I call. I'm unsure of his holding here and wasn't paying much attention because I was writing notes grrrrrrrrrr
River brings a 3 and he checks, the only way I can win the pot is by betting and he is only going to call with a K which seems unlikely like at this point, I bet 1500 to represent a value bet with AK. He calls and shows AK....d'oh.
I think because I was taking notes I missed out on a few tricks in that hand and would have usually checked the turn to take the free card and try and hit a disguised straight, although saying that the hand wasn't played too badly - it was pretty unfortunate he hit the trip kings.

*He was a pretty good player and was at the final table with me at the end.
----
Quick chip count, I started with 10000 and have 10800 now, after losing just over 2k on the last hand

25. 26
I fold

26.76
I fold

27. Big Blind K8
Everyone folds round to the small blind who calls, I check - not worth doing anything tricky here vs donkey woman
Flop brings QQ2 and we both check
Turn brings an 8,she checks and I bet 100 and she folds

28. SB K5
Someone raises to 400 so I fold

29. A6
1 person (who limps every hand) limps so I raise to 450 on the button, the big blind calls which is worrying. He hasn't played many hands. The limper folds.
Flop brings AK7 with 2 spades, I have no spades. He bets 600 and I call
Turn brings 6 (another spade), he checks and I bet 800 and he folds. I definately can't slow play my 2 pair here as there are so many dangerous cards that the river can bring, any spade, any card higher than a 6, best to end the pot right there and then. Not sure of his holding, probably a King by the way he played it (e.g. KQ).

30. A2
I limp after a few other limps, I've been raising a lot so figure I would just limp with this hand.
Flop brings K53 and we all check
Turn brings T and one of the limpers bet 325 - I fold, too expensive to persue the crazy straght draw or a ragged ace

Chip count 11850
31. 7T
I fold, a new guy has just joined the table - we're 10 handed, this changes the dynamics of the table (basically hand strength decreases)

32. J9
A tight player raises to 250 and I call with position, another player calls behind
Flop brings A72 - horrible flop for me, the original raiser puts in 500 and he gets re-raised to 1500. There's nothing for me here, so I fold. They both end up all in (AK vs AJ)....terrible play

33. KJ
3 players who limp a lot...limp. I raise to 450, pretty big raise for 100 blinds but my objective is to make it 1v1 and then take the pot down post flop if nothing dangerous appears - I probably have the best hand right now anyway. 2 players call, I figure them for medium straight hands, pair/suited connectors, weak ace, etc.
Flop brings K73, lovely flop. they both check I bet 650, one calls and the other folds. Just a call makes me think he has a 7, like 78 or A7, I've seem this same guy call a flop and tun bet with just middle pair in an earlier hand.
Turn brings 2 and he checks, I bet 1100 and he calls. The 2 couldn't have helped him, but the second call for 1100 means he must be pretty happy with his hand, so I add a weak king (like KT) to his holdings - it doesn't feel like he is slow playing a monster.
River brings another 2 and he checks, I could value bet here (in fact I should value bet here) but I just check behind. I think again, because I was taking notes it made me act quicker than I usually would and not think about his possible holdings/if he would call a value bet. Anyway I check and show KJ and he mucks, I take the pot.

----
Blinds gone up 75/150
34. Q9
I fold, this gives me a chance to count my chips - 14500

35. Q4
I fold

36. J4 UTG
I fold

37. Big blind KK
4 players limpes and I have KK on big blind, I raise up to a total of 875. This is a massive raise, and after I put the chips in I thought (ohhh..too big) - the other bad factor about betting so big is it gives away your holding - its easy to put me now on a big pair like AA KK QQ or JJ, or AK.
Anyway the bet obviously wasn't too big because the loose limper calls and the donkey woman call.

Flop brings 697, the woman checks and I bet out 1600, the button calls and donkey woman folds. This is a very worrying call, I'm basically done with the hand now unless a King hits, he has invested a lot of chips in this pot and although he plays a lot of hands, he isn't an amazingly bad player, he looks pretty excited and interested in the hand also - I think now he has 2 pair or trips - he figures me for a big overpair (its kinda obviously) and is slow playing a monster of some sort. Only a king will help me now!

Turn brings an 8, I check and he bets 2000, I fold and show KK. He shows 58 and says "the 8 ruined me". It didn't really because I had already figured it out by the flop call....geez calls 6x big blind raise pre flop with 85?!?!! then flops a straight!!!! haha oh well didn't cost me too many chips fortunately...i guess he had position

38 Small Blind 46
Someone raises to 450 so I fold

Chip count 11950
39 J9
Tight guy raises to 700 so I fold

40 AJ (suited)
A tight guy raises to 450, I'm a little bit worried but have position so I call
Flop brings 789 rainbow, he bets 650 so I call. There's not much information we can decypher from this raise, it is just a standard continuation bet - I've played a lot of hands and in different styles so my call behind also gives away little information. At this point I'm unsure of his holding, the only information available is that he didn't massively overbet so doesn't have a hand like AA or KK.
Turn brings J and he bets 1200. I call, I'm not convinced that he has a ten here (the straight), in fact my read on him is that he has nothing and is making a poor bluff. No point raising though as he may re-raise me which would be very tricky and the pot is already pretty big (and also my read could be wrong)
The turn brings J and he checks, I also check. I dont think it is worth value betting here as there are not many hands that would call a river bet (maybe an overpair, but we already decided he doesn't have that). I dont think he would raise with A9 or A8 or A7 so none of those hands will call. I show my AJ and he mucks, I'm sure he had AQ or AK

41. T4
I fold

42. 94
I fold

43.Q8
I fold...exciting

44. 98
One person limps and I raise to 475, another guy goes all in for an additional 1000....I decide it is just about too much and also don't want to show the rubbish I'm raising with and fold

45. J6
I fold

46. 67 UTG
I fold

---------Made the first break woohoo-----
Blinds 100-200, anti 25

47. Big blind (I'm sure blinds always go up on me!) Q2
Loose guy on button (58 vs my KK guy) raises to 900 after a person limps (the person who limped only had 1000 behind....super suspect), I fold and limper goes all in, button raiser calls.
The loose guy shows 46 and the limper 44, the 44 holds up

48. Small blind 85
It folds round to me and I call, the big blind is a pretty sensible player and he checks
Flop A85, I bet 225 and he folds

49. T2 suited
Lots of people limp and it comes round to me on the button, I'm about to call but then I notice that the big blind can't wait to raise...lol! So I fold, the big blind did raise and UTG called. The flop came AKJ and they both went all in, the Big Blind had AA and the UTG limper AJ, whooooooooops. River was a queen so I would have won with a straight...lol

50. KJ
The big blind was crippled from last hand and I'm sure he is gong to all in this hand, the loose guy raises to 900 (big raise) and I fold my KJ as I don't like the scenario I know I would have to hit or be very brave to win a pot vs this guy, and with a dead pot (I think the bb is going to go all in it mades things a lot more complicated, even with position....so I elect to fold
The big blind did go all in, and the raiser called with J9 (bah) vs Q3, the queen hit though so all good.

51. A3
I fold to a preflop raiser

52. A8
I fold to a tight preflop raiser and tight caller behind (JJ vs AK, nice fold)

53. 25
I fold

54. 7T
I fold, the loose guy goes out when he pushed all in with 44 on a T733 board, the blind called with 32

Chip count: 14025
55. Q2 UTG
I fold

56. Big blind T5
Button raises to 600 I fold (sure he is stealing)

57. Small blind 28
I fold to a preflop raiser

58. Q3
I fold to a preflop raiser

59. K9
It folds round to me and I raise with K9 to 725 after one guy has limped....the small blind calls which is worrying and the limper folds
Flop AK2, he bets 900 and I call, I'm unsure of his holding at this point but I played a pot with him before and he bet out a similiar flop then folded to the turn bet i made (it was hand 29 when I had A6)...so I figure he has a medium holding like KJ or KQ
Turn brings an 8, he checks and I check aswell, I should have bet here - I would have won the pot outright or found out if he had an ace.
River brings a 2 which is good because it nulls my 9 kicker (KK22A now) so I'll split any pot vs a king with higher kicker. He bets 900 again and after a while of thinking about it, I go with my initial read that he has KQ or KJ, as it aligns with the betting also. So I call and he shows KJ, we split the pot.

53 players left, 13775 chips

60. BB 8T
Someone raises and another all in, I fold. The all in goes out and we're 7 handed

61. SB 28
Someone raises I fold

62. 69 UTG
I fold

63. BB Q3
1 Limper and everyone else folds, the small blind completes and I check
Flop brings 496 check, check, the limper bets and I fold. No point doing anything crazy here

64. SB Q9
Same limper and everyone else fold, i complete on small blind (could raise here) and bb checks
Flop brings 3TJ, I could bet out here but elect to check - i'm worried if I bet the limper will go all in, he seems on edge and is playing a lot of hands. The BB checks and the limper raises to 1000, he only has another 5k behind so it isn't worth fishing for the straight, also there is 2 hearts on the board and my straight isn't even a nut straight (he could have QK). So I fold

65. 12725 chips 38
Someone raises to 1200 so I fold

66. T5...full table again
Someone raises I fold

67. K3
Folds round to me, I could open but decide to fold

68. 86
As above

69. KK
A tight player raises to 1200, I've got 7 players to act behind me, so if I raise its look so obvious I have KK or AA and everyone will fold. So I just call, the pot is already getting big the table is pretty tight so I don't think we will get more than 1v1 (which is the objective) and my hand is disguised with just a call. 2 Other players call aswell, this is worrying - I don't have much info on these guys as I've been writing notes also.
flop brings 2T5 rainbow, this is an awesome flop for my KK. No flush or straight draws, no overcards, highly unlikely someone has 2 pair - the only thing I need to worry about is if someone has trips.
The tight raise bets 1200, this is quite a small bet into a big pot but there isn't much people can call with. I'm not sure of his holdings at this point, maybe AT? or 99...I think he would have bet more with an overpair. I just call, I figure by his raise that he isn't willing to commit any more chips to the pot unless he puts them in first, I also don't know what the 2 players behind are going to do. Technically I should probably raise here and take the pot down.
The player behind me calls also (what could he had???) and the other caller raises to 3200!!
The original raiser folds, and its 2000 extra to me, I take a while to think of the oppenants possible holdings - it's highly unlikly that the person who raised has trips as this would be a perfect flop to slow play, and I don't think he would have slow played AA pre flop (especially not 4 handed). So I think he has a hand here like AT or TJ or maybe even JJ and is attempting to take the pot down/find out where he is. I just call, figuring I have the best hand and maybe able to extract more chips from this guy on a later street, the guy behind me just calls again!!! Now online I would figure the guy behind me to definately have trips at this point, as there is nothing on the flop that he could be chasing or have hit (no straight, no flush, no two pair), however when I look at him I'm just not convinced that he has a strong hand. Also he took a lot of time to think about his play and was reluctant at calling every bet. Now I think HE has AT (OK I think everyone has AT lol..) and keeps calling cos he is can't let it go.
Turn brings 6, this puts 2 spades on the board and a straight draw (256T), I only have around 8k chips left now and the pot is around 14k...time to end this hand, I push all in and everyone folds. Any bet is commiting all my chips and anything less than all in (e.g. 3k) gives my oppenants opportunity to draw out if they had a hand like AT spades.
This was a really big hand, chip size wise and afterwards I felt kinda lucky that I didn't get caught out as I slow played it so much. I never really knew where I stood at any stage of the hand and I think because of writing all these notes I've missed out on a lot of reads and information at my table! But can't complain, up to 24k odd.

70 42
I just fold

71 24575 chips A6
I fold

72 KT UTG
I fold

73 BB AJ
Button raises to 1200..he has around 7k behind
I'm sure he is stealing, but haven't got enough information to back it up. I dont want to waste 7k chips I just got on a mis-read, and playing AJ out of position is tricky business.
I just fold, and show AJ - he shows AQ

74. SB JJ
The same guy raies to 1600 and I re-raise to 4000 on the SB, this is enough so that I can call his all-in if he pushes. If I was on the button I would just call here and play the hand with position, but can't do that in small blind, wouldn't know where I was on the flop - best just to get them in preflop and not worry about it, I have him way covered anyway. He folds

75. 58
I fold

Blinds gone up to 300 600, 75 anti
76. 27625 chips 45
1 person limps and I call with 45 offsuit in a late position, the small blind and big blind check
Flop brings J75 with 2 diamonds and eeryone checks, I could bet here..kinda gutted I didn't, people are only going to call with a flush draw, or raise if they have a Jack (because they are scared of the flush draw)....in fact I should have raised pre flop to narrow the field/holdings.
Turn brings 3d and the small blind bets out, everyone folds

77. K8
I fold to a preflop raiser

78. 29
I fold

79. 89
It folds round to me, I'm not going to make the same mistake before and just limp, I raise to 2k and everyone folds (note the big blind was a tight player)

80. 28300 chips 26
I fold

45 people left, we're around 2:15 hours in.
81. J7
I fold

82. 27 UTG
I fold

83. BB T7
Someone raises and I fold

84. SB 4j
Someone raises and I fold

85. 72
I fold

86. TJ
It folds round to me and I raise to 1800, everyone folds

87. A8
Folds round to me and I raise to 1800, everyone folds

88. A5
UTG moves all in for 6.5k so I fold

89. 29875 chips J2
I fold

90. 46
I fold

91. 36
I fold

Blinds go up to 400-800, anti 100

92.BB 26
I fold to a raiser

93. SB 76
It founds round to me and I just call, the big blind checks
Flop brings 38J and we both check
turn 4 we both check
River 2 we both check, he wins with 92...should have bet the turn?

94. 27900 chips 89
It folds round to me and I raise to 2500, everyone folds

95. KK
A tight player in middle position raises to 2500, I elect to not slow play my kings this time and raise to 7000, everyone folds. This would have been a good time to just call and slow play my kings because I know the guy was tight (and hence a top 10 holding), the pot was already big and I had position. Nothing wrong with winning the pot right there though.

96. TJ
It folds round to me and I just call (silly I should have raised), the big blind pushes all in and I have to fold

97. Q9
I fold

31 people remaining

98. KJ
It folds round to me and I raise to 1800, the button calls which is worrying because he has position on me and I don't have a very strong holding with KJ - he is also quite deep so can damage my stack. The small blind moves all in for 4600 and despite the good pot odds I can't call as I'm worried about the guy behind me, and I can't raise for the same reason (don't want to be in a big pot with a mediocre hand!)
The button calls and shows AT, the small blind had TT and the TT holds up.

99. 29400 chips 73
I fold

100. QK UTG
I raise to 2000 and the small blind calls
Flop brings 663 and he bets 4k so I fold...no point doing anything wreckless here I don't have a very good read on the small blind and my holding isn't very strong

101. BB 66
The button raises to 2500, he has more chips than me (we are both deep) so I elect to call and hope to flop a set for a potential big payoff. If he was a smaller stack I might re-raise him all in here or just fold and avoid the situation, especially seeing as I'm out of position on the flop (with 66 I won't have a clue if I'm ahead or not on a flop like JT3)
Flop brings 46K with 2 diamonds, awesome flop - the flush draw is a little bit worrying, but 1v1 I'm not to concerned about it. I check to try and induce a bet, hopefully he has a hand like AK or KQ and is willing to commit a lot of chips. He bets 3k and I just call
Turn brings A offsuit, another awesome card - if he has an ace of any sort I'm going to get a good payoff here, Im only worried if he has a hand like KQ and is scared by the card. I check again to try and let him bet into the pot, he checks behind.
River 2 Diamonds, not a great card as it completes the flush draw which might scare him off - I'm quite confident he doesn't have the flush but I can't check again in case he checks behind with a hand like AT or KQ, so I have to value bet. I bet 7000 which is a bit of an overbet but I think he will call with an ace. He calls and when I show the trip 6's he mucks his hand.

102. SB KT
Someone raises to 3200 so I fold

103. 46000 chips and 25 people left 9J
Someone raises to 2200 and another person calls, I could call her with positon (the button) but neither of the players have many chips in the hand so I figure the implied odds can't justify a call withmy weakish holding. I fold

104. 89
Someone raise so I fold

105. 58
I fold

106. AJ
It folds round to me and I open for 2500 and everyone folds

107. J3 UTG
I fold

108. BB 3T
I fold to a raiser

Blinds up 600-1200 with 100 anti
109. SB T3
Everyone folds to the button who limps and I call, the big blind checks
flop brings Q78 and everyone checks
Turn brings 8 and the big bets 4000, everyone folds

110. 69
I fold

111. 49400 chips Q3
I fold

112. 95
I fold

113. K8
I fold

114. 75 UTg
I fold

115. BB 3T
The small blind raises to 3600 after everyone else folds, I fold and he shows AJ

116. SB KQ
A tight player raises UTG to 4200 so I fold, no need to play out of position with a weakish hand vs a strong raiser - even if I hit a Q or a K on the flop I won't know if I'm ahead

117. K7
I fold

22 Left

118. 2J
I fold

119. 46700 chips Q8
I fold

120. 58
I fold

121. 52
I fold

122.BB JQ
Someone raises to 4000 so I fold

123. SB K8
It folds round to me so I call on the small blind and the big blind checks
flop brings KJ9 and I bet out 1200 to try and end the hand there, I've been quite passive on my small blind so I'm not expecting him to call with a weak holding - the BB calls
Turn brings 7, I check and he bets 3300, I'm a bit worried he has some sort of crazy 2 pair but he doesn't seem very confident with his hand and my top pair vs Big Blind is quite a strong holding - no point raising because I don't want the pot to get too big (and it can get big quick at this stage of the game!)
River brings 6 and I check again, hopefully this will either induce a bluff or I might have to pay off a value bet - either way I'm trying to keep the pot small, he checks behind and I win the pot (he doesn't show)

124. 25
I fold

125. 51300 Chips AJ
One person raises to 3200 and another calls
With position and big stack I could easily call here and play the flop...however I choose to fold. i think they are raising /calling with bigger aces than because they are quite tight players and could find myself paying off value bets. There's nothing wrong with calling AJ is a good hand and position/big stack definately makes it worth while.
The big blind called also and the flop was J76, one player bet another all in....will never know if AJ was the best holding

126. 76
I fold

Blinds 800 1600 200 anti
51000 chips
127. 8T
i raise to 3400 and a tight player goes all in...so I fold, there was no pot odds for a call despite most likely having 2 live cards

128. 7T
i fold

129. 45600 Chips BB K8
folds round to the small blind who completes, and i check
Flop brings 43Q and he checks, I bet out 1600 figuring my king high might be the best hand and he calls
Turn brings a K, he checks again, I'm sure he has some of the flop (otherwise only 25 or 56 are his holdings) and figure to value bet my king - it's very unlikely he will put me on a king here if I bet again, although obviously a check makes it look like I'm scared of the king. Unfortunately he folds

130. 38 SB
someone goes all in and I fold

Last 2 tables, 20 left

131. 5T
I fold my button - online or vs weak players it is good to raise your button with any 2 cards, but vs good players its actually better to save your button raises for premium hands as your most likely to get paid...everyone suspects the button raise

132. 50500 Chips J7
I fold

133. 96
I fold

134. K8
I fold

135. Q7
I fold

Foldings so boring..but so crucial at this late stage of the game - one mistake could cost me my game or a large portion of my chips. You just can't make mistakes this late in a tournament (especially not v good players and especially not if your as unlucky as me lol)

136. 49600 Chips QQ
I raise to 4k in an early position and get 2 deepstack callers from solid players, this is worrying.
flop brings A84 and i make an EPIC mistake....I check. I should always continuation bet here, if I have any 2 cards, any Ace included, only a set can be checked here (and 88 or 44 I should prob bet also as there is a high chance someone has the ace). By betting I know exactly where I am, and leave my oppenants with the hard decision.
Check-folding is not a bad play if you think there is a high chance your oppenants will hold an ace, but I think betting is the ultimate play - you know instantly if you are beat or not.

Everyone checks behind
Turn 6 I check again, and one big stack bets 3k, the other folds and I call in no-mans land...3k is a strange bet, either a cheap shot at the pot or a pot builder for a monster - again I could have re-raised to 9k and found out exactly where I was but I just call..urgh I'm sure writing notes made me do these mistakes lol:p

River 7 and I'm still clueless with my holding, I check and the big stack bets 10k...I take some time to think of the possible holdings and I'm sure an ace would have bet the flop and/or checked the river here, which means they either have a monster or it is a bluff. There was a flush draw on the board so a hand like KQ suited may have missed the flush but bet the river in hope that I have a big pair but will fold. I call and show my QQ, he shows 66 for trip 666. I played that hand so bad, and so fustrating that literally the hand before I had written about how crucial it is to not make mistakes. aaaaaaaaggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh

137. KT
Despite being a prime opportunity to raise, I fold and walk away from the table to regain some composure after playing the previous hand bad. Made a mistake but gotta forget about it and move on, no point doing anything stupid.

138. AQ UTG
I raise to 3600 and someone re-raises me to 10k
He is a very good player who I have played with in the past and rarely makes moves with weak holdings, I fold and he shows KK

139. BB (1600) TT New table
Someone raises to 6k and I call with TT
What a stupid call...out of position with a mid pair - this is either an all in push or fold, and seeing as I just moved table and have no information on the players it should be a fold - i've enough chips to wait for a better opportunity. unfortunately I was writing down notes from the last hand and didn't concentrate as hard as I would and just looked at my cards then said call...so silly I didn't even realise the bet was so big (6k for 1600 bb)

Flop brings A88 and I bet out 8k figuring he can only call/raise with an ace - he shoves all in and I fold, he shows AK....not too upset about how I played this hand in heinsight, kinda unlucky flop but still expensive either way and not using my strengths/ reads to my advantage like I normally do

140. 14000 Chips SB 2Q
Urgh can't believe I'm down to 14000, I've had pretty harsh flops (2x Ace when I had pair in hand) but would have been very big if I had played the hands better....but not too worry I'm still good and have a chance, a few pushes here and there and one double will make me in a great position to win again - in my notes I've put don't be stupid but don't be scared either, make sure you take the right opportunities!! which basically refers to attacking the right blinds and taking my chances with weaking holdings if the odd's are going to be in my favour
Someone raises pre flop and I fold

141. JT
I could have pushed here but after losing quite a few of the last few hands I thought it would look tilty and there was a loose big stack on BB

142. 83
I fold

143. Q8
I fold

Blinds 1000-2000 300 anti
Ok I haven't got much time left at all now and need to push very soon!

144. 7T
I fold

145. 6T
I fold

146. J6
I fold

147. BB K9
A short guy pushes all in on my big blind, he just about has me covered.
I know he could be pushing with any 2 cards here as there is a very high chance I will fold with mediocre holdings and I have quite a tight image (folded last 4 hands where I could have pushed first in the pot). If I win also it shows I will protect my big blind with mediocre holdings and make people hestitate when pushing or raising my bb in the future, which could be key at final table.
I call with K9 and he shows AJ...bit strong than I hoped but 2 live cards about 2-1 underdog I figure
6Kt55 and I river a flush although my top pair was strong enough...phew

148. SB K9
Someone goes all in and I fold (funny same hand as last hand but I fold this time)

149. 22100 AJ
I raise to 4500 on the button and the small blind goes all in - he has me covered and is quite a tight player...I think I have the best hand but fold, marginal - 5k less I would definately call. I show my AJ and announce I probably have the best hand, he doesnt show

150. 17300 TJ
I fold...could have pushed here but I just folded last hand and 2 big stacks on SB and BB...might look tilty?

151. K5
I fold

152. 62
I fold

153. 57 UTG
I fold...starting to wish I pushed with the TJ now

154. 56 BB
Someone raises all in so I fold

155. SB QT 12800
Someone goes all in so I fold

156. 93
I fold to an earlier raiser

157. 7T I fold

158. 11900 chips 95
I fold...super desperate now under 6 BBs - should have definately pushed the TJ lol

159. 11600 AQ
I go all in and everyone folds

160. A3 UTG
I fold...tempting but I'd rather push with 78 than A3 as it is likely someone will call with a big ace rather than 79

161. BB A4
Someone raises all in I fold

162. 12800 Chips 32
Everyone folds to me on SB and I've noticed the BB isn't interested in the hand / shuffling the cards so I push all in and he sighs/folds

163. 17600 Chips 79
I fold to a raise

blinds up 1500/3000 anti 400
Still desperate and in push all in/fold mode

164. 67
someone raises all in I fold

165. 89
UTG raises all in and I fold

166. Q8
I raise all in UTG and everyone folds, the big blinds stack size was perfect for me to steal - i figure it was my best chance

167 20000 chips AJ BB
Big stack goes all in...and I fold, marginal fold but I figure there is a lot of people that will fold to my all in so I won't risk it on a showdown vs a big stack who has no need to push...i probably had the best hand

168. J7 SB
Raiser all in so I fold...someone goes all in every hand

169. 17600 Chips QQ
Someone Raises all in and I call
He has AK....3rd worst case scenario (after AA or KK) but there's no way I can fold here, that would just be epic negative equity as I'd be dominating or good favourite against so many hands

Flop brings QT456 and I double up...phew 2 showdowns I won (wow!)

170. 41700 Chips KT
someone goes all in I fold

171. K9
it folds round to me but with the additional chips and extra time I decide to just fold

172. 40900 A8
Someone goes all in So i Fold

173. BB J6
Someone goes all in So i fold...at this point (and with me donking away such a large portion of my stack earlier on) most of the poker play has gone out of the window for the middle/short stacks and its all about getting ur chips in first and hoping u get lucky with the showdowns.

174. SB 78
Someone goes all in and I fold. the person goes out so we are final table woo.

I think about how I played my QQ earlier vs the 666 with the ace on the flop, and how I would have had a much nicer trip to final table if I had not made that mistake.

But who cares I'm here now

I have a look and see no famaliar faces at the final table which is good as I've played this tournament and finished late many times, I see two of the poor players who have made it this far and am suprised, although they are both short (I bet they haven't been aggressive enough and were hanging out for the cash, clasic amatuer mistake). Theres a couple of big stacks and a solid player who I had on my table at the beginning, I wish him good luck...but I don't really mean it ha!

175. 35600 Q7
Someone raises I fold

176. 99
I raise to 8k and everyone folds

177. 42900 chips J3
Someone raises and I fold

178. 93
I fold

179. K9 UTG
I fold

180. BB KJ
Someone limps (suspect?!?!) and the small blind completes, with KJ I could just push all in and be done with it but decide to check as I am suspect about the limper and have no info on him. People will find it harder to know my holding with a hand like KJ also post flop if I do hit, as I checked preflop
Flop brings A72, check check bet and I fold (worst flop ever?!?! lol)

181. 36800 Chips SB K9
Someone raises all in and I fold

182. J5
Someone raises I fold
I love folding me

Blinds 2000-4000 anti 500
183. 35900 88
It folds round to me and I raise to 10000 in a late position, I could push all in and close my eyes/hope for the best but 10000 leaves me 26000 if I do end up folding and is enough to be push/fold mode with the 4k bb. Everyone folds anyway so I take the pot

184. QQ
A tight player raises to 9k and I re-raise all in.
He folds, and I show the QQ. I show because I figure later I'm gonna be re-raising all in with weaker holdings (when we are short handed), and want to add this QQ to their databank of my possible holdings. Although I had position, theres a 50/50 chance a King or Ace will come on the flop so I don't want to slow play, I'm happy with the pot as it is already big enough to compliment my stack (AA all day long slow play)

185. 64900 Chips JJ
I raise to 12k and all fold, back to back pocket pair at final table!??! rare treat

186. 69
UTG folds and I fold

187 74900 Chips A8 UTG
I raise to 10k and all fold...an under the gun raise looks so strong at the final table and there are no players good enough at the table to see any further past that and realise they should be pushing with weak holdings (e.g. any pocket pair or even suited connectors). I have been raising a lot but also I've been showing premium hands so noone has any evidence to not believe me here also. The table is very tight.
The pots are pretty big at this pot, in fact 10k a hand

188 BB 2J
Someone raises UTG and I fold (same play as I just did maybe...lol)

189. SB 2J
someone raises and I fold

190. 77400 2Q
Someone raises and I fold (every hand comes with a 2?!?!)

191. J4
Someone raises and I fold

192. K7
someone raises and I fold

75900 Chips - I'm 3rd at the table there is one massive stack at about 200k and another at 100k, the rest are pretty short (below 50k)

193. A5
Someone goes all in and I fold

194. KT
Someone goes all in and I fold (won't be tempted by the mediocre hands!!)

195. AT UTG
I fold...this doesn't really make sense as I raised last round with A8 UTG but I felt less confident this time round as the table has got a lot looser in the last few hands (there has been a raiser in the last 7 hands straight?). The table has obviously realised how important it is to be aggressive at this stage of the game and become very loose accordingly.

196. BB 70400 Chips K9
UTG raises and I fold

197. SB J7
Button raises to 12000 and I fold....my mentor would say push with any 2 cards here (tempting but he look pretty confident with his raise)

198. 67400 9Q
An early position raises and I fold

199. A5
Same player raises and I fold

200. 66400 A4
Someone raises and I fold...the table has become very loose

201. J9
I love the last hand before the break, noone ever wants to go out before the break unless it is the first break (where for some reason people love going out then!!?!?)
Before I check my cards I watch to see if anyone is interested in playing, and there seems to be little interest, so I raise to 11000 and everyone folds

BREAK
3000 6000 Blinds 5000 anti, 8 Left. although the table is very loose not many people are going out and there are not many showdowns happening

202. JQ suited
UTG raises so I fold, shame its look pretty ;)

203. 75000 Q4 UTG
I fold

204. BB K7
UTG raises to 30000 so I fold (massive raise!?)

205. SB 47
Someone raises all in I fold

206. 67
Someone raises I fold

64000 Chips, the blinds are so big that one pot can be the difference between chip leader or out - need to stay aggresive here and not get blinded down to a difficult position

207. 47
Someone raises I fold

208. 28
Someone raises I fold

209. 23
Someone raises I fold

210. 85
Someone raises I fold

So much for staying aggresive with no card higher than an 8 in the last 4 hands! I must be getting a tight image at the table after folding so much, made a note to use this to my advantage

211. 62000 Chips, 8T
I fold UTG

212. BB 86
The button limps and small blind completes... I elect to check as I'm suspicious of the limper (first person to limp in last 30 hands or so?!?! on the button?!?!)
Flop brings 2K7, check check Bet and I fold. He shows AK suited, terrible limp - he got lucky that he still had the best hand after the free flop.

213. SB J2
The button raises to 12k and I figure I'm gonna re-raise him here with any 2 semi-good cards as I wasn't convinced by his raise and his stack size is a good amount (60k after raise) for him to fold to my all-in. However I look down to see J2 and elect to fold

214. 33
The monster stack limps in middle position and I limp on the button with 33 for 6k.
This is a terrible limp by me. I haven't enough chips to fish for a 3 and there's nothing else I can hope for (it is very unlikely my 33 will be the best hand by the river, if I get lucky enough to make it that far).
There is also a risk that someone might raise behind me which would mean I would have to fold. A raise here is reasonable, but the best play I'm sure is to fold - no point getting mixed up with the big stack limper with less than a mediocre holding, even if I have the button.
Small blind completes and the BB checks
Flop is 89Q and everyone checks (horrible flop for 33)
Turn is 7 and everyone checks
River is Q and the monster stack bets 10k, the pot is around 45k including his bet so I need a 1 in 4.5 chance to win to make the call profitable...which I figure in my head is about 22.2%?
So is there a 22% chance he has nothing here and betting is the only way he can win the pot?

If he has an ace or king he would probably check the river as there is a chance he could win with ace or king high, so he probably wouldn't bet those.

I'm not beating any holding that has a 9, 8 or 7 or any pair 66, 55 or 44, and he would probably check these hands down also. I'm also losing to TJ and any holding that has a Q (e.g. QK)
If I'm to consider all of the hands he may have, that I CAN beat, it basically includes:
AK, KJ, KT, AJ, AT - however he probably would have raised with these preflop, or any A with a rag lower than a 6, and 54 or 43

I've no physical read on the guy, but my general feeling is that he either has a monster or is on a complete bluff - the only monster I think he can have is TJ or Q9 and he has slow played all the way from the flop (I think he would have bet out if he had just hit a bit of the flop, e.g. QJ and hit the Q) to protect his hand.

So now I have assumed 70% of the time he has a monster, like Q9 or TJ, and 30% of the time he has nothing and can only win the pot by betting. Seeing as 30% is more than the 22.2% I calculated the pot odds for calling were earlier, I elect to call. It also doesn't do too much damage to my stack if I call and lose (35k), but can make me very big if I call and win (90k)

I call and he shows TJ, bah - 70% of the time he has a monster....but thats only 100% of the time (lol)

The river call was a minor mistake that could potentially be profitable in the long run -the major mistake was the preflop call, which led me to the (unnecessary) tricky decision later on in the hand.

215. 35k J5
someone raises and I fold

216. A2
It folds round to me and I push all in, I havent got much time left with the blinds so high so any ace will have to do. Everyone folds

217. 47
I fold

4000 8000 Blinds antis 1000
218. A5
I fold UTG, although this is a stronger holding than 2 hands ago my position is a lot worse, under the gun means I till have everyone to act behind me so there is more chance someone will wake up with a hand. So I fold

219. BB 46
The button raises so I fold

220. 31500 chips after SB (4000) T4
Someone pushes all in and I fold, another person goes out - last 6

221. T7
UTG Raises I fold

222. 76
folds round to me so I push all in and everyone folds

223. 46500 chips 53
I fold

224. 42
I fold

225. BB Q6
The button and small blind limp so I check - I should be a lot more aggresive here, in fact I should have been a lot more aggresive for a long time and not let myself get so low.
flop brings K42, check check bet and fold

225. SB KQ
Someone who has the same size stack as me pushes all in and I call, he has been pushing a lot and I figure there is a good chance my KQ will be ahead and I need to get chips soon or I will be blinded away. The next 2 blinds are both big stacks and will probably call my all in, although I think I should have folded and waited until I got my chips in first.
He shows A7 and flops a flush so I go out in 5th for 710

Didn't play that game amazingly well, in fact probably the worst I've played since I have been here...i'm sure this was because I was taking notes - i missed so much information and took a lot less time than I usually do to think about my hands and plays. Can't complain though, 5th was a good finish I guess

Hope u enjoyed (was hard work for me lol)