syndicate #3

busted 7th out of 26 or so. considering i was 1 for 3 with KK, doubling people up twice, i think 7th was a pretty good showing.

the first time i held KK vs KJ. you would think i'm a slight favorite against that hand, yes? well he flopped a flush draw and came over the top all in on my flop bet and hit clubs on the turn and river to double through.

really the only sizable pot i won was when i was in the big blind with Q-4 in an unraised pot. i checked the two 4s on the flop and got a bettor and an all-in raiser. i pushed over the top and the AA limper had to fold! [thanks for limping mark!]. my trip 4s held up over top pair.

later i was a mild underdog when i raised in late position with 6-7 and the short stacked big blind pushed. he held AK. i felt like the guy from pechanga the other night who called my all in with 8c9c, except that i still would have had some chips left if i lost this hand. i hit a 7 and knocked him out.

the 2nd time i held KK, we were down to 7 players. i limped under the gun, UTG + 1 limped as well, then there was a nice raise from middle position. i of course, pushed all in, and the raiser called with AK. the other limper who had folded preflop said he held A-10. that left two Aces in the deck. i was about an 80% favorite to more than double and take the chip lead....until the ace on the turn left me with 1 out.

i never limp / re-raise from early position as i just think it makes my hole cards transparent. if i had raised from UTG, then called a re-raise, i could have pushed all in on the flop when he missed. oh well. of course if the KK had held up, i look like a genius as the chip leader.

i'll get em next time.