9 SNG $5 + .50 End 2nd 164 Hands

My how Hand one can change. I had pocket A's (Ad Ah) as BB, 3 players limped to the CO who raised to 6 1/2 BB (195), folded to me, and I figured he likely had a big pocket pair too so I re-raised him all-in w/my 1500 chips, UTG+1 called as did the CO. CO had pocket J's (Jd Jh) and UTG+1 had pocket K's (Kh Kd). Phew. Glad I have A's but one of us could get a set and if they do my A's are cracked. The board played out:  9s Qd 8c 9h 2s. Phew again, no sets and no straights. I start  off w/4575 chips.

After that I played ok but it was iffy if I was going to make it to the money, as my play was up & down once we got to the bubble.

Hand 85 was interesting. Six players left, blinds 80/160. I wasn't in it. I was UTG and folded, UTG+1, who was short stack open raised all-in w/760 chips. The BTN re-raised all-in for 1350 chips, and the BB called. UTG+1 had Kd Qd, BTN had pocket A's (As Ah), and BB also had pocket A's (Ad Ac). That KQs was looking awfully sad. Flop Qc 8d 7c. UTG+1 has paired his Q. Turn Qh. Oh my. UTG+1 now has trip Q's. Pocket A's have been cracked twice in one hand!!

Hand 80 we finally reached the bubble. Big stack had 4180 chips, 2nd high had 4133 chips, 3rd high, me, had 3337 chips, and the short stack had 1850. The starting big stack managed to add to their stack while the rest of us went up and down.  By hand 137 we were three. Big stack had 7100, middle stack 4363, and short stack, me, 2037. Hand 143 we were two. I was big stack w/8976 to 4524. Blinds were 250/500.

I probably didn't play this the best I could, nor did I get any super cards. The other player had a tendency to go all-in a lot and I didn't have any cards I felt worth challenging him with. I found I needed to limp in when I was SB, as if I made any bet he would raise me all-in. I was hoping for some real decent cards where I could take him on, but that didn't happen.

Last hand I went for the open-ended straight draw and missed. Hand 164. I have 9c 8s w/5426 chips, as SB. I limp in for 600 & BB calls. Flop 7d 10s Kd. I have an open-ended straight draw, I'm hopeful. BB bets the pot of 1200 and I call. Turn 2c. BB decided to go all-in and I call, hoping for the best on the River. BB shows 4c 7s, having paired his 7 on the Flop. So beside the open-ended straight draw I have two overcards as well. River 4s. BB hits both of his undercards and I hit nothing. Session over.