6 SNG $5 + .50 End 2nd 94 hands

Mixed play. Early on I made a bad play choice and was knocked down to 1050 chips. Hand 12 I was back in it with 2030 chips after hitting a straight on the Turn and being called by a player w/an Ace high pair.

Hand 44 I got lucky again. Five players left, blinds 40/80. I had pocket J's (Jc Jd) UTG/HJ and open-raised 3 BB (240), CO folded, BTN re-raised me all-in w/2135, SB & BB folded. I thought about it a bit. This was a player playing 4 sessions, so making that kind of raise he had to have something. I decided to call anyway, which put me all-in. They show pocket A's (As Ah). Uh Oh. I'm in big trouble!! Looks like I'm going out early. Flop Js 8d 9s. Ooooh, I hit a set. Will it hold up? Turn 3s. River Qd. indeed it did and I now have 2660 chips.

Hand 45. I'm BB w/8c 9c. CO open-raises all-in (player I beat last hand), BTN & SB fold. I decide to call hoping I have two good cards. He shows Ah 10s. Good; overcards, but I still have two good ones. Flop 7h 6h 10h. I hit a straight; one of those I always groan to when I lose to it, BUT it  also gives the CO a nut high heart flush draw. Turn Qd. River 5s. My straight holds!! That makes me feel good!! I'll need to remember this later when I take a bad beat on the River. :-)

By hand 47 we are on the bubble. Top stack has 4070, I'm 2nd w/3525, and the short stack has 1405. Blinds are 40/80. We aren't having much luck at knocking the short stack out until hand 82 where I have pocket K's to their pocket 9's. My K's hold up.

We start HU I'm big stack w/5695 to short stack w/3305 and blinds of 60/120. I take a hit in hand 91. I hit two pair on the flop 8's & 4's. BB pairs their 8. Turn 5d. I'm still good. River 5h. Rats. He now has 8's & 5's with a K kicker that beats me and I'm down to 1310 chips.

Hand 84. I'm BB w/Ah 5h. SB open-raises 4 BB (120) and I decide to re-raise them all-in w/my last 1370 chips. They call and show pocket 3's. I have two overcards. They hit a set on the Turn and I pair my Ace on the River. They win 1st, I have 2nd.