Aussie Millions Satellite Review

NOTE: Poker content blog...could get boring! Comments will be after each hand, and hands are seperated by *****************

*********** # 3 **************
PokerStars Game #14036964711: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/12/22 - 22:01:13 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 4: billig (3000 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (2950 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (3070 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2980 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3000 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (3000 in chips) is sitting out
THESHARK222: posts small blind 10
wesleyw: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Ad Qd]
Bake 'n Rake: folds
billig: raises 80 to 100
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 80
*** FLOP *** [Jc Qh 8h]
wesleyw: checks
billig: bets 175
wesleyw: raises 375 to 550
billig: folds
wesleyw collected 560 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand

First hand I played, pretty standard against an unknown player.

*********** # 4 **************
PokerStars Game #14036980188: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/12/22 - 22:02:04 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 4: billig (2725 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (2950 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (3070 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2970 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3285 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (3000 in chips) is sitting out
wesleyw: posts small blind 10
Bake 'n Rake: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Ks Qc]
billig: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: raises 40 to 60
THESHARK222: calls 60
wesleyw: calls 50
Bake 'n Rake: folds
*** FLOP *** [9c Kh Ad]
wesleyw: checks
gloierm: checks
THESHARK222: checks
*** TURN *** [9c Kh Ad] [Th]
wesleyw: bets 120
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: calls 120
*** RIVER *** [9c Kh Ad Th] [9s]
wesleyw: checks
THESHARK222: bets 200
wesleyw: calls 200
*** SHOW DOWN ***
THESHARK222: shows [Kd 9h] (a full house, Nines full of Kings)
wesleyw: mucks hand
THESHARK222 collected 840 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 840 | Rake 0
Board [9c Kh Ad Th 9s]
Seat 4: billig folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: malone77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: gloierm folded on the Turn
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (button) showed [Kd 9h] and won (840) with a full house, Nines full of Kings
Seat 8: wesleyw (small blind) mucked [Ks Qc]
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (big blind) folded before Flop

I think this is the first mistake I made. If I wanted to play, I should've re-raised preflop. No sense of playing a marginal hand out of position. As it turns out I probably lost the minimum here.

*********** # 22 **************
PokerStars Game #14037212047: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/12/22 - 22:15:09 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2710 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2300 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (1775 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (5020 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (4330 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2120 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2785 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2910 in chips) is sitting out
billig: posts small blind 10
malone77: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [5s 5c]
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 40 to 60
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: calls 60
Zeppo72: folds
billig: folds
malone77: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ah 5d 4c]
wesleyw: bets 100
knight1688: calls 100
*** TURN *** [Ah 5d 4c] [3h]
wesleyw: bets 200
knight1688: raises 200 to 400
wesleyw: calls 200
*** RIVER *** [Ah 5d 4c 3h] [Qc]
wesleyw: checks
knight1688: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [5s 5c] (three of a kind, Fives)
knight1688: mucks hand
wesleyw collected 1150 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1150 | Rake 0
Board [Ah 5d 4c 3h Qc]
Seat 1: knight1688 mucked [Ts Ac]
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: billig (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: malone77 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: gloierm folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: wesleyw showed [5s 5c] and won (1150) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Nothing really happens for awhile. I basically just folded up until this hand. So I'm in middle position here and decides to raise with presto (aka 55). Gets a caller from knight1688 who hasn't played a hand this whole tournament. Flopping a set helped alot, especially with the A as well. knight1688 here will have an ace with a pretty good kicker for the most part. A9+ (meaning A9, A10, AJ, AQ, AK) is my guess. My mistake came on the turn. The min-raise by knight threw me off. Based on the way this hand played out so far, I can't imagine him having A2 (or a hand with any 2 in it) or 67. It turns out to be a block raise so he can see the showdown for free. But I should have just shoved over his raise on the turn, and will probably be called half the time, and I'm good almost 99% of the time. A bet on the river probably wouldn't be too bad either if for some reason he was playing AQ or something, but basically I won the minimum this hand.

*********** # 28 **************
PokerStars Game #14037313099: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:20:55 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2060 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2300 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (1585 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (5410 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (4590 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1820 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3305 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2880 in chips) is sitting out
knight1688: posts small blind 15
Zeppo72: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [6h 6s]
billig: raises 90 to 120
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 120
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
*** FLOP *** [3h Tc Jc]
billig: bets 150
wesleyw: raises 250 to 400
billig: calls 250
*** TURN *** [3h Tc Jc] [7h]
billig: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [3h Tc Jc 7h] [4d]
billig: bets 450
wesleyw: calls 450
*** SHOW DOWN ***
billig: shows [Qs Js] (a pair of Jacks)
wesleyw: mucks hand
billig collected 1985 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1985 | Rake 0
Board [3h Tc Jc 7h 4d]
Seat 1: knight1688 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: billig showed [Qs Js] and won (1985) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 5: malone77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: gloierm folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: wesleyw mucked [6h 6s]
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

A few hands later this came up. I should've just foled on the flop without hitting a set, but monkey brain just decided to raise there to see if this player had a hand. After getting called on the flop I should have just gone to check-fold, so I don't know why I called the river bet. Bad play and lost more chips than necessary

*********** # 32 **************
PokerStars Game #14037381293: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:24:51 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2015 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2255 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (3910 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (2740 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (4890 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (4970 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1865 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2335 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2880 in chips) is sitting out
gloierm: posts small blind 15
THESHARK222: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [6h 6c]
wesleyw: calls 30
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: calls 30
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: calls 30
billig: raises 130 to 160
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 130
knight1688: folds
avi23: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ac Jc 7h]
wesleyw: checks
billig: bets 350
wesleyw: folds
billig collected 425 from pot
billig: doesn't show hand

66 again, against the same guy. Not sure if I like limping in from UTG, and also cold-calling with 2 players to act behind me. Could've easily been squeezed but this time I smartly check-folded without flopping a set.

*********** # 36 **************
PokerStars Game #14037448658: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:28:46 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1595 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2255 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4315 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (3020 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3670 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (6220 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1820 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2130 in chips)
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (2835 in chips) is sitting out
knight1688: posts small blind 15
Zeppo72: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [8c Tc]
avi23: folds
billig: folds
malone77: raises 60 to 90
gloierm: calls 90
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 230 to 320
Bake 'n Rake: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
malone77: calls 230
gloierm: folds
*** FLOP *** [Kh 6c 8d]
malone77: checks
wesleyw: bets 420
malone77: calls 420
*** TURN *** [Kh 6c 8d] [9s]
malone77: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [Kh 6c 8d 9s] [7c]
malone77: bets 990
wesleyw: raises 400 to 1390 and is all-in
malone77: calls 400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [8c Tc] (a straight, Six to Ten)
malone77: shows [Th 9h] (a straight, Six to Ten)
malone77 collected 2198 from pot
wesleyw collected 2197 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4395 | Rake 0
Board [Kh 6c 8d 9s 7c]
Seat 1: knight1688 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: avi23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: billig folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: malone77 showed [Th 9h] and won (2198) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 6: gloierm folded before Flop
Seat 7: THESHARK222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: wesleyw showed [8c Tc] and won (2197) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 9: Bake 'n Rake (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

malone77 has been opening about 60% of the hands up to this point. Alot of the times raising behind limpers and in position. I randomly decide to 3-bet him light with 10-8 of clubs, just figured that this would be a hand thats pretty disguised and more importantly I would have position on him. Flop wasn't a bad flop, but his call on the flop did shut me down for the turn card as he could easily be playing some hands that would've hit. The river put a 4 card straight and I was sure that I had the best hand since I don't see him calling the flop bet with a J10 there unless he was floating which would've been really ugly. Just thought it was an interesting hand...

*********** # 51 **************
PokerStars Game #14037647266: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/12/22 - 22:39:48 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2285 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2480 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4675 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (2930 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3288 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (5950 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1115 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2347 in chips)
THESHARK222: posts small blind 15
wesleyw: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [6d 6h]
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: folds
billig: folds
malone77: raises 60 to 90
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [3c 6s Ts]
wesleyw: checks
malone77: checks
*** TURN *** [3c 6s Ts] [5c]
wesleyw: bets 120
malone77: folds
wesleyw collected 195 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand

I fold some more, and malone77 again raises like he has been for like 50%+ of the hands. I find 66..again, and decides to play for set value. Flops a set and it goes check check, and was hoping he was trapping with an overpair or something but got no action...

*********** # 53 **************
PokerStars Game #14037678492: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:41:30 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2085 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2480 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4475 in chips)
Seat 4: billig (2730 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3823 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (5950 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1100 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2427 in chips)
knight1688: posts small blind 25
Zeppo72: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [8h 8s]
avi23: folds
billig: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 100 to 150
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Jh 2d 9h]
Zeppo72: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** TURN *** [Jh 2d 9h] [7d]
Zeppo72: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [Jh 2d 9h 7d] [2s]
Zeppo72: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Zeppo72: shows [5s 5h] (two pair, Fives and Deuces)
wesleyw: shows [8h 8s] (two pair, Eights and Deuces)
wesleyw collected 325 from pot

Nothing really interesting. In a sense I didn't want to get raised off the best hand, and I did want to show this hand down to show I'm not stealing even though the blinds are still small. Maybe I could've put out a value bet on the turn or the river.

*********** # 64 **************
PokerStars Game #14037786577: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:47:35 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2060 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2180 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4400 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (3573 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9230 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1125 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2502 in chips)
malone77: posts small blind 25
gloierm: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Th Ac]
THESHARK222: calls 50
wesleyw: raises 150 to 200
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: calls 200
avi23: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
*** FLOP *** [As 7c 6s]
MfrigginL is connected
wesleyw: bets 300
Zeppo72: calls 300
*** TURN *** [As 7c 6s] [Js]
wesleyw: checks
Zeppo72: bets 550
wesleyw: calls 550
*** RIVER *** [As 7c 6s Js] [7h]
wesleyw: checks
Zeppo72: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [Th Ac] (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
Zeppo72: shows [Kh Ad] (two pair, Aces and Sevens - King kicker)
Zeppo72 collected 2225 from pot

This was another hand where I lost more chips. Shark has been playing pretty nitty and was shortstacked. In retrospect I probably could've folded to the turn bet, but I was check-folding to any river bet.

*********** # 66 **************
PokerStars Game #14037813885: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:49:07 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2210 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (3355 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (4400 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3575 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (3498 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9130 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1025 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (1452 in chips)
THESHARK222: posts small blind 25
wesleyw: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Qh Qs]
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: raises 200 to 250
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 400 to 650
avi23: raises 3750 to 4400 and is all-in
wesleyw: calls 802 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [5s 6h 9d]
*** TURN *** [5s 6h 9d] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [5s 6h 9d 9c] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [Qh Qs] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
avi23: shows [As Kd] (a pair of Nines)
wesleyw collected 2929 from pot

Got short-stacked after the last hand so pretty standard, good to win a race for once thats for sure.

*********** # 71 **************
PokerStars Game #14037892722: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/12/22 - 22:53:26 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1885 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (2980 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (2848 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3525 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (4668 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (8810 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1075 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2854 in chips)
MfrigginL: posts small blind 25
malone77: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Qd As]
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 100 to 150
knight1688: calls 150
Zeppo72: raises 300 to 450
avi23: folds
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: folds
wesleyw: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72 collected 525 from pot
Zeppo72: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

I was probably squeezed here and probably should've at least called to see a flop, but I don't hate the fold.

*********** # 85 **************
PokerStars Game #14038150657: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:07:53 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2535 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (3480 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (2123 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3425 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (4918 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (8510 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1125 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (2704 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2450 in chips) is sitting out
RomfordRobot: posts small blind 50
knight1688: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [As 9s]
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: folds
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: raises 200 to 300
gloierm has timed out
gloierm: folds
gloierm is sitting out
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 300
RomfordRobot: folds
gloierm has returned
knight1688: folds
*** FLOP *** [3c 9h 2d]
malone77: checks
wesleyw: bets 500
malone77: folds
wesleyw collected 750 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand

Pretty standard bet after malone checked.

*********** # 92 **************
PokerStars Game #14038247071: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:13:23 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (2135 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (3330 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (1373 in chips)
Seat 4: MfrigginL (3275 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: malone77 (4668 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9210 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (1075 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (3804 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2400 in chips) is sitting out
THESHARK222: posts small blind 50
wesleyw: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Th Kh]
RomfordRobot: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: raises 200 to 300
avi23: calls 300
MfrigginL: folds
malone77: calls 300
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [6c 3h Ah]
wesleyw: checks
Zeppo72: bets 1000
avi23: folds
malone77: folds
wesleyw: raises 2504 to 3504 and is all-in
Zeppo72: folds
wesleyw collected 3250 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

Only reason I decided to see a flop with this hand is that I close the action from the BB. Decent flop for me as I do flop a flush draw. Zeppo has been making continuation bets on almost all of his raises, and with a 5/6 bet, it feels like he just wants to bet players out hence I went with the check-raise semi-bluff. Even if called I would have some outs in the hand with the flush draw in this spot.


*********** # 106 **************
PokerStars Game #14038417905: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:23:20 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1885 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (1105 in chips)
Seat 3: avi23 (873 in chips)
Seat 4: Sydney St@r (1510 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (5618 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9810 in chips)
Seat 7: THESHARK222 (2250 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (5304 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2100 in chips) is sitting out
avi23: posts small blind 50
Sydney St@r: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Ah Tc]
malone77: folds
gloierm: folds
THESHARK222: folds
wesleyw: raises 200 to 300
RomfordRobot: folds
knight1688: folds
Zeppo72: folds
avi23: calls 250
Sydney St@r: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc 5c 8c]
avi23: bets 573 and is all-in
wesleyw: calls 573
*** TURN *** [Jc 5c 8c] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [Jc 5c 8c Qd] [As]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
avi23: shows [7d 7h] (a pair of Sevens)
wesleyw: shows [Ah Tc] (a pair of Aces)
wesleyw collected 1846 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***

This played felt exactly like a stop and go to me, and getting 2.4 to 1 or so, with any club and an ace being probably good, and maybe even my 10, I was willing to get chips in there to gamble. It worked out in the end but glad that my read is so far so good.

*********** # 110 **************
PokerStars Game #14038459578: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/12/22 - 23:25:48 (ET)
Table '70311069 10' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: knight1688 (1785 in chips)
Seat 2: Zeppo72 (1105 in chips)
Seat 3: floes (4550 in chips)
Seat 4: Sydney St@r (1810 in chips)
Seat 5: malone77 (7868 in chips)
Seat 6: gloierm (9660 in chips)
Seat 8: wesleyw (6227 in chips)
Seat 9: RomfordRobot (2000 in chips) is sitting out
RomfordRobot: posts small blind 50
knight1688: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [9s 9c]
Zeppo72: folds
floes: folds
Sydney St@r: folds
malone77: folds
gloierm: raises 200 to 300
wesleyw: raises 800 to 1100
RomfordRobot: folds
knight1688: folds
gloierm: folds
wesleyw collected 750 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

gloeirm has been taking advantage of his position on the sitting out player and opening alot when its folded to him, so I took a stand with 99 here preflop.

*********** # 119 **************
PokerStars Game #14038530669: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/12/22 - 23:30:02 (ET)
Table '70311069 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: malone77 (10503 in chips)
Seat 2: Electronutz (6025 in chips)
Seat 3: Bake 'n Rake (2115 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: wesleyw (6677 in chips)
Seat 5: noam (10170 in chips)
Seat 6: latinogrek (6420 in chips)
Seat 7: Diamond<>T (4200 in chips)
Seat 8: shaka 1234 (4115 in chips)
Seat 9: vouna (3905 in chips)
Diamond<>T: posts small blind 75
shaka 1234: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [As Qs]
vouna: folds
malone77: raises 300 to 450
Electronutz: folds
Bake 'n Rake: folds
wesleyw: calls 450
noam: calls 450
latinogrek: folds
Diamond<>T: folds
shaka 1234: calls 300
*** FLOP *** [Kd 7c 9d]
shaka 1234: checks
malone77: bets 900
wesleyw: folds
noam: folds
shaka 1234: folds
malone77 collected 1875 from pot

Not sure if I like my play here with AQ. Probably marginal both ways calling/folding/re-raising. Check-fold to a flop that missed...I guess its standard with malone's tendency.

*********** # 127 **************
PokerStars Game #14038622286: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/12/22 - 23:35:33 (ET)
Table '70311069 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: malone77 (11703 in chips)
Seat 2: Electronutz (5350 in chips)
Seat 3: Bake 'n Rake (1890 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: wesleyw (6227 in chips)
Seat 5: noam (14070 in chips)
Seat 6: latinogrek (6270 in chips)
Seat 8: shaka 1234 (2690 in chips)
Seat 9: vouna (5930 in chips)
latinogrek: posts small blind 75
shaka 1234: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [8d As]
vouna: folds
malone77: folds
Electronutz: folds
Bake 'n Rake: folds
wesleyw: raises 300 to 450
noam: folds
latinogrek: calls 375
shaka 1234: folds
*** FLOP *** [6c 7c 4c]
latinogrek: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** TURN *** [6c 7c 4c] [Qs]
latinogrek: checks
wesleyw: checks
*** RIVER *** [6c 7c 4c Qs] [3c]
latinogrek: bets 600
wesleyw: raises 900 to 1500
latinogrek: folds
wesleyw collected 2250 from pot
wesleyw: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***

River bet looked too much like a "you raised but not following through so I will take a stab at this pot" bet. So I decided to represent the Ac which worked.

*********** # 140 **************
PokerStars Game #14038742922: Tournament #70311069, $500+$30 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/12/22 - 23:42:50 (ET)
Table '70311069 11' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: malone77 (12003 in chips)
Seat 2: Electronutz (5800 in chips)
Seat 3: Bake 'n Rake (1515 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: wesleyw (4277 in chips)
Seat 5: noam (17370 in chips)
Seat 6: latinogrek (6570 in chips)
Seat 8: shaka 1234 (2240 in chips)
Seat 9: vouna (4355 in chips)
Bake 'n Rake: posts small blind 75
wesleyw: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to wesleyw [Qc Ad]
noam: folds
latinogrek: raises 300 to 450
shaka 1234: folds
vouna: folds
malone77: calls 450
Electronutz: folds
Bake 'n Rake: folds
wesleyw: raises 1350 to 1800
latinogrek: folds
malone77: calls 1350
*** FLOP *** [2h 5c 9h]
wesleyw: bets 2477 and is all-in
malone77: calls 2477
*** TURN *** [2h 5c 9h] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [2h 5c 9h 9c] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wesleyw: shows [Qc Ad] (a pair of Nines)
malone77: shows [6d 6h] (two pair, Nines and Sixes)
malone77 collected 9079 from pot

The hand that I played horribly. I have been 3-betting malone77 pretty light, and with my stack, the re-raise basically commited me to the pot, so I should've just shoved preflop. I won't analyzed malone's play, but it was probably a light call on his part, but my mistake was only re-raising and not shoving preflop.

So thats that. I was hoping for a Christmas gift to the Aussie Millions, but I guess I now have to wait until the WSOP.

Looking back, I did make a few glaring errors, in which one cost me my tournament life. Not sure if he would've folded to a shove preflop, but I think that would've been the right/better play. This analysis really shows me that there is still alot of holes in my tournament game even though I've been getting into the money on a regular basis lately, but really haven't had any significant scores except for a second place finish in a $33 HORSE tournament a couple of weeks ago. I really felt like I had a good shot winning a seat at this satellite because there wasn't any players I recognized who are MTT experts (multi-table tournament), and from checking a database with records, most players that are playing haven't had any major success from tournaments, so relatively speaking, it was a pretty easy field. Obviously I'm a bit disappointed from not qualifying, but there are many more opportunities in the future.