9 SNG $5 + .50 End 1st 147 Hands

This was a pretty exciting session to play from about the bubble on. We hit the bubble at hand 72. Big stack had 5497, I was 2nd high w/4390, 3rd was 1778, and short stack 1435. We had two players that were playing a lot of sessions; one 6 sessions and the other 16 sessions. The 16 session player started going all-in a lot during this time and no one was calling him so there was no way to tell what he actually had. Since he was doing it so often it is doubtful that he had super cards all those times.

On hand 80 I was the SB w/5370 chips and Ac 5s. The 16 session player was on the BTN. UTG folded, BTN went all-in w/1435 chips and I decided to call since I had an Ace. Not a very good kicker but I thought I'd give it a try and at least see what this player was going all-in with. BB folds. BTN shows Kh Jc. He didn't have Ace so I had one overcard. Unfortunately for me the board played out to him: 5d Jd 9c 8c 2c, pairing his J.

Hand 92. I'm SB w/Kd 10s. 3rd in stack size, BB is 4th in stack size. Action folds to me and I open raise 3 BB (600) and BB raises with an all-in to 1478. I was hoping they would fold. I decide to call. They show Ad 3d, one overcard. This time the board plays out for me. Flop 10c 10h 2s, giving me trip 10's. Turn 2c. River Jd. I win and we are now three. I'm middle stack w/4413, short stack has 3045, and big stack 6042.

I'm left with the two players who were playing multi sessions. I did eventually check to see how many they were still playing and the 16 session player was down to 4, and the 6 session player down to 2. There was a lot of bouncing around in stack size and I wasn't sure how we were going to end up.

Hand 128 I have pocket A's (Ah As) as BB. Blinds are 150/300. BTN (big stack w/4842) open raises 3 BB (900), SB folds and I re-raise to 1800 and BTN calls. Flop Kh 4h Ad. I check and BTN bets 1200 into the 3750 pot I raise all-in w/my last 2943 chips and BTN folds. I was now chip leader w/7893 chips, BTN short stack w/1842.

It would be nice to think I held onto those chips but in hand 131 I decided to keep calling bets going for a gutshot wheel straight draw and pairing my 4 on the Turn. I lost to AJ and went back to 4659 chips.

Hand 137 I was BB w/pocket 4's (4d 4c), blinds 200/400 and 4059 chips. Big stack, BTN, had 6318 and short stack 2523. BTN open raised 3 BB (1200), SB folded and I called. Flop 3c 8s 2h. Could be worse, it only has one over card to my 4's BUT BTN's open raise could mean much better cards in their hand. I make a min bet of 400 into the 2600 pot and the BTN raises to 1600. I decide to call. Worse case I'll go out 3rd. Turn 9s. Another overcard to my 4's.  I check and BTN bets 2000 into the 5800 pot and would put me in all-in w/my last 1659 chips. I think about it, and decide, oh hell, let's do it. As I said before the worse that will happen is I end up 3rd. BTN shows As 2c, having only paired their 2 on the flop. I'M AHEAD!! That I did not expect!! One card to go, I might win this hand!! River 6d. I DO WIN!!!! I'm now chip leader w/9118 chips.

Hand 141 was not well played on my part and I give back a bunch of chips. I'm SB w/Qs 8d and open raise 2 BB (800), The BB who only has 859 chips left re-raises me by going all-in, I call. Well maybe not quite as badly played as I thought, as I my open raise was hoping to get him to fold. When he re-raised me I could have folded but it was only another 400+ chips to put into the 2059 pot giving me decent pot odds. Unfortunately for me he shows Ad Qd. The board played out 2c Qc 7d 5c 2s. He wins and I'm back to 7859 chips ... still chip leader.

Hand 144 the other two go heads up, the BB w/1918 chips and the BTN with 3723. BB has Ah Th & the BTN has pocket 6's (6s 6d). and they hold up. We are now HU. I have 7250 chips and the other player 6241. Three hands later it was over.

Hand 147 I'm SB w/Ah Jh. I open raise 2 BB (800) and the BB re-raises me going all-in w/their last 6241 chips. I think about it a bit wondering what they might have and recall an earlier time they only had  KJ on an all-in move and since I have an Ace high with a decent kicker plus they are suited, I call. They show Ad 8s. I have the overcard. The board played out Jd 5c Kc 2c 5s. It's over and I'm 1st!!