9 SNG $5 + .50 End 2nd 157 Hands

Mixed play but I managed to make it to the money. We had a long HU section and I could have played that better I think.

Hand 50 I took a hit pushing AJo. I was the BTN and limped in w/two others for 120, the short stack, 925 to my 1650 chips, raised all-in. Rest folded and I decided to call. They showed pocket 7's (7c 7s). I had two overcards. Flop 9d 6s 6h. Turn Qc. River 4s. I'm down to 785.

Hand 53 it looked like I was done in but I sucked out on the River. Five players left, blinds 80/160. I'm BB w/10h 9c and 1025 chips. BTN open raises 360, SB & I call. Flop 5d 10d Qh. I have middle pair, pairing my 10. We all check. Hmm, what does that mean? Turn 4h. SB checks and I decide to go all-in and hopefully take the pot here and put off any flush draws, though the BTN has 3490 chips and SB 4335 chips, so they could afford to call me and lose and not be too badly hurt. BTN calls and SB folds. BTN shows As 10s, a much better kicker for his 10. River 9d. PHEW. I pair my 9 as well, have two pair and win!!! I now have 2730 chips and am back in the game!! The BTN player was very unhappy with "Full Tilt!"

Hand 55 we hit the bubble. Big stack has 6095 chips, 2nd 2665, 3rd (me) 2570, and short stack 2170. As you can see the bottom three of us have about the same amount of chips and it's anyone's game.

Hand 75 we are three. Big stack has 9500, I have 3370 and short stack has 630. Looks pretty good for me making at least 2nd. Hand 82 we are two. Big stack has 11,030 and I have 2,170.

During HU I actually do make it up to even with the big stack and even get ahead a few chips, but with the blinds getting so big it's real easy to switch back and forth. I probably needed to be more aggressive, particularly once I got even with him. The amount of aggression I did use did keep in there with him for quite some time.

Hand 153 was the start of my final downfall. I'm SB w/Kh 9d and 7070 chips; blinds 300/600. I open raised 1500 (2 1/2 BB) and the BB called. Flop Js Qc Kc. Interesting but not the best for my K w/a weak kicker. BB checks and I bet 1500 into the 3000 pot, BB calls. Does he have AT, K's with a better kicker? No clue except that he didn't fold to my bet. Turn Qs. That I like even less as he might have had AQ. BB bets 3130 into the 6000 pot. I sure would like to call him and see if he actually has me beat, however, he has shown no indication of betting with a bluff, has had the cards in other hands, and folded to bets. I reluctantly fold. I still have 4370 chips. Four hands later it's over and I come out 2nd. Nothing great for me in any of those hands.

Last hand I had 34o and limped in, Flop 8 K 4. BB checked and I went all-in w/my last 1370 chips. BB showed 58s having paired his 8 on the flop. Turn 6, River 9.