9 SNG $2 + .25 End 3rd 95 hands

Mixed play but I made it to the money. Hand 93 I went for the flush draw and the other player made large bets I called. When the flush didn't hit I was down to 1100 chips. He just had an Ace with a better kicker than mine, but that was all it took to beat me.

Hand 93. Three players left, blinds 100/200. I'm SB w/Ad 9d and 3300 chips (3rd). BTN open raises to 500 and I call as does the BB. Flop 8d 4s 3d. Ah, so near yet so far from the nut diamond flush!! I check and the BB bets 800 into the 1500 pot; BTN folds and I call. Turn 2h. I now have a straight draw as well. I check and BB bets 1000 into the 3100 pot. I call. I doubt if I went all in it at this point, it would have made any difference to his calling me. That might have worked if I went all-in on the flop to his 800 raise. A bit late now to think of that. In any event I'd have been in no worse shape. River 8s. I miss my nut flush and straight. I check and so does the BB showing As Jh; an Ace with a higher kicker. I'm down to 1100 chips.

Hand 95. I didn't have to end here. I'm BB w/Ah 3c and 900 chips. BB limps in w/200 and I check. Flop 3s Js 2c. I hit middle pair and bet 200 into the 500 pot. BB raises me to 400 and I decide to go all-in w/my last 700 chips. They had a bigger hand than I expected from their pre-flop open bet. They call and show pocket K's (Kd Kh). I have outs but none hit and I'm done in 3rd place. At least I made the money this time, BUT I could have played my end hands better.