Poker Sucks - Bubble Boy

Played a 145 person, $30k tourney tonight and placed #19 with top 18 cashing. What a joke!

Took 2k chip stack up to 15k with very solid play, winning all 5 show-downs and getting the money in with the best hand every time. I was playing small-ball, raising 2x to 2.5x the BB, forcing a lot of action and re-raising pre-flop with position and forcing lay downs when I had playable hands.

I doubled up early when I raised 3x BB UTG with AK suited and got 2 callers, the BB and SB, so I had position. Pot was 2.4k and flop came a rainbow K72. SB leads-out for 1.5k and BB folds. I flat call. Turn was a blank 6. SB pushes all-in with TT. Nice slow play, I think.

I also won a big hand with JJ vs. TT all-in pre-flop and the board comes 23T...J...A. Was sweating that one.

My exit hand was so frustrating. I find QQ UTG and I checked the leader board, noticing there are only 20 people left and 18 spots cashing. My stack was a healthy 16k and I was in 6th place overall. I was focused on winning the $8k top spot, rather than just making the money, which started at $400. So, I raise 3x the BB to 2.4k with my QQ. It folds around to the big stack, who was only 1k more than me, and he pushes all-in for 17k. It's a huge overbet and I am pretty sure I know what I'm up against, AK. Little chance he pushes with AA or KK. Was hoping it was a "move" rather than a race, but my instincts were right. Flop quickly squashed my hopes with a K. Blimey.