“I raise”

Ok, these are the interesting hands, or crucial hands from the big score lastnight.

Standard raise with 99 in cutoff, I'm happy to take the blinds here, but not exactly scared of seeing a flop.

*** FLOP *** [8d 9s 5h]
Andiell: bets 300
pairDboard21: calls 300

Sweet. Now this guy hasn't been out of line, so I figured I'd make a standard bet, make it look like a continuation.

*** TURN *** [8d 9s 5h] [Kh]
Andiell: checks
pairDboard21: bets 600
Andiell: raises 800 to 1400
pairDboard21: raises 760 to 2160 and is all-in
Andiell: calls 225 and is all-in

Now I check, I'm hoping he's hit the king, and I`m continuing the representation that I missed the flop and continue bet it. He bets, I raise, I raise because he could be on a flush or straight draw, so I can't let him take it for free, I expected him to fold, but was loving the push.

*** RIVER *** [8d 9s 5h Kh] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Andiell: shows [9h 9d] (a full house, Nines full of Eights)
pairDboard21: shows [Qh Kc] (two pair, Kings and Eights)
Andiell collected 4600 from pot

1st double up of the game, and crucial for getting me deep into the game.

PokerStars Game #5929244045: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2006/08/15 - 16:52:33 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Jetman4109 (5856 in chips)
Seat 2: tinze (5021 in chips)
Seat 3: KingMe05 (7215 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (2575 in chips)
Seat 5: dostrove (2535 in chips)
Seat 6: AlwaysAir (5600 in chips)
Seat 8: chuck2003 (1965 in chips)
Seat 9: Wee Stinker (5160 in chips)
KingMe05: posts small blind 200
Andiell: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [6s Ah]
5 folds
tinze: raises 800 to 1200
KingMe05: folds
Andiell: raises 1350 to 2550 and is all-in
tinze: calls 1350

This was a make or break move. We were approaching the bubble and I was a short stack, plus the blinds had just gone 200/400, so I really didn`t have any room to manouvre, I need to double or bust asap. The other guy had been very aggro in late position, so I figured I was %age wise probably ahead of his range.

*** FLOP *** [2h 7s Ad]
*** TURN *** [2h 7s Ad] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [2h 7s Ad 8h] [Jc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Andiell: shows [6s Ah] (a pair of Aces)
tinze: shows [Th Js] (a pair of Jacks)
Andiell collected 5500 from pot

It holds, and game on.

*********** # 204 **************
PokerStars Game #5929738771: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level X (400/800) - 2006/08/15 - 17:37:22 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: mrmex42 (3985 in chips)
Seat 3: KingMe05 (21247 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (4525 in chips)
Seat 5: dostrove (19576 in chips)
Seat 7: Rjskch (12780 in chips)
Seat 8: KingKong28 (28264 in chips)
Seat 9: Wee Stinker (11901 in chips)
dostrove: posts small blind 400
Rjskch: posts big blind 800
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [Ad Kd]
KingKong28: raises 1600 to 2400
3 folds
Andiell: raises 2075 to 4475 and is all-in

Wow, this was on the bubble, top 45 get paid, I`m in 42nd so passing just isn't an option. Standard hand but was crucial.

*** FLOP *** [Ts Js 9h]

*** TURN *** [Ts Js 9h] [Qh]

*** RIVER *** [Ts Js 9h Qh] [3s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
KingKong28: shows [Ah 6h] (high card Ace)
Andiell: shows [Ad Kd] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Andiell collected 10500 from pot

After winning this, I then went on a mini card rush and was able to abuse the bubble a little to build up a nice stack.

*********** # 236 **************
PokerStars Game #5930004076: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level XII (800/1600) - 2006/08/15 - 18:01:04 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: fro_dude (13852 in chips)
Seat 2: BrooDogg (41450 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (70093 in chips)
Seat 5: dostrove (22936 in chips)
Seat 6: H3nchman (38092 in chips)
Seat 7: Martnl (10417 in chips)
Seat 8: KingKong28 (27244 in chips)
Seat 9: babajoon (43272 in chips)
Martnl: posts small blind 800
KingKong28: posts big blind 1600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [7h 8s]
3 folds
Andiell: raises 3200 to 4800
2 folds
Martnl: raises 5542 to 10342 and is all-in
KingKong28: folds
Andiell: calls 5542
This is interesting, just in that it's an odds call. Fairly straightforward, I`ve made a late position steal, the short stack has pushed. There is now 18142 chips in the pot, and it's costing me 5542 to call. I`m getting over 3 to 1 on the call. Standard.

*** FLOP *** [8d 7c 4s]
Andiell said, "nh caught me"
*** TURN *** [8d 7c 4s] [Ad]
*** RIVER *** [8d 7c 4s Ad] [2s]
H3nchman said, "there u go"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Martnl: shows [Ah As] (three of a kind, Aces)
Andiell: shows [7h 8s] (two pair, Eights and Sevens)

I got a bit excited on the flop, but rightfully so the aces take it down.

*********** # 293 **************
PokerStars Game #5930506664: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level XIV (1500/3000) - 2006/08/15 - 18:42:54 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: fro_dude (36254 in chips)
Seat 2: BrooDogg (67895 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (94789 in chips)
Seat 6: H3nchman (54830 in chips)
Seat 8: skanis (48750 in chips)
Seat 9: cRRusher (72758 in chips)
BrooDogg: posts small blind 1500
Andiell: posts big blind 3000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [Qh Kc]
H3nchman: folds
skanis: folds
cRRusher: folds
fro_dude: raises 7000 to 10000
BrooDogg: folds
Andiell: raises 20000 to 30000
fro_dude: raises 6104 to 36104 and is all-in
Andiell: calls 6104

Ok, it's a button raise, his range is very wide, I figure I'm probably ahead, or at least in good shape, plus he has more than enough chips to get away from this hand. He made the push, which wasn't terrible, but certainly not a move I would have done in his postition.

*** FLOP *** [Td 8c Js]
*** TURN *** [Td 8c Js] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [Td 8c Js Ks] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Andiell: shows [Qh Kc] (a pair of Kings)
fro_dude: shows [Ac 9c] (high card Ace)
Andiell collected 74608 from pot

Lucky me! Although he really didn`t have a massive edge, which is why I would have folded his hand.

*********** # 303 **************
PokerStars Game #5930587067: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (2000/4000) - 2006/08/15 - 18:49:32 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: BrooDogg (54745 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (151143 in chips)
Seat 6: H3nchman (46430 in chips)
Seat 8: skanis (46350 in chips)
Seat 9: cRRusher (76608 in chips)
BrooDogg: posts small blind 2000
Andiell: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [Qh Jh]
H3nchman: folds
skanis: raises 8000 to 12000
cRRusher: folds
BrooDogg: folds
Andiell: calls 8000

It's not a great hand but good enough to play with the stack I have. At this stage, most of the raises are coming from naked aces, so I'm prepared to lead out on any non ace flop, also there is the chance I may hit.

*** FLOP *** [Tc 2s 4h]
Andiell: bets 20000
skanis: folds
Andiell collected 27000 from pot

Perfect flop really, unlikely he has a ten, and difficult for him to play with his stack, he can only push after my raise.

*********** # 308 **************
PokerStars Game #5930627226: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (2000/4000) - 2006/08/15 - 18:52:51 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: BrooDogg (25195 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (161143 in chips)
Seat 6: H3nchman (36430 in chips)
Seat 8: skanis (63900 in chips)
Seat 9: cRRusher (88608 in chips)
BrooDogg: posts small blind 2000
Andiell: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [5c 5h]
skanis: raises 8000 to 12000
cRRusher: folds
BrooDogg: folds
Andiell: calls 8000
*** FLOP *** [5s 9c 6h]
Andiell: checks
skanis: checks
*** TURN *** [5s 9c 6h] [Ac]
Andiell: checks
skanis: bets 16000
Andiell: raises 24000 to 40000
skanis: folds
Andiell collected 59000 from pot

This one plays itself, perfect flop, perfect turn, shame he didn't push. I really thought he had the ace and would go to the felt.

*********** # 370 **************
PokerStars Game #5931156207: Tournament #29830217, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level XVII (4000/8000) - 2006/08/15 - 19:37:25 (ET)
Table '29830217 30' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 3: janya (136196 in chips)
Seat 4: Andiell (214600 in chips)
Seat 9: cRRusher (282204 in chips)
janya: posts the ante 400
Andiell: posts the ante 400
cRRusher: posts the ante 400
Andiell: posts small blind 4000
cRRusher: posts big blind 8000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Andiell [4h 6c]
janya: folds
Andiell: calls 4000
cRRusher: checks

We had a bit of banter prior to this, where I'm pretty certain he made a re-steal off me. I pretty much decided pre-flop that I was taking this down.

*** FLOP *** [5c 2s Ad]
Andiell: checks
cRRusher: bets 8000
Andiell: raises 24000 to 32000
cRRusher said, "no respect"
cRRusher: folds
Andiell collected 33200 from pot

The limp from me in the sb was very suspect, so the A high flop was perfect to make a check raise and look like I was trying to get cute with a big Ace.

Immediately after this hand the other guy busted and we were heads up. The heads up hands are really not very interesting, I had no decent starting hand, I raised everything, and missed everything. Oh and he pushed all in every 2nd time I raised.