Switching to MTTs for the weekend, for no reason other than why not.
So far played entered 4; 18, 27, 45 man SNGs and a scheduled MTT that had 362 players.
The big MTT I entered late, and worked my way up through half the field and then died away (it’s still going as I write this – need to put aside plenty of time for these).
The SNG’s I reached the final table on all of them, but only cashed in one 
The cash was 3rd place which was also annoying since I was second in chips with 3rd place less than 2 blinds. I got AA and went to the flop against the chip leader – flop was Qxx, and opponent stacks off with KQ. I call to see a Q on the turn.
Next final table I went out with AJs against 99. My M was about 10 and there were still 2 more players to go out before the bubble – I limped in early position, BTN shoved and I called. I have absolutely no idea if that was a bad call or not – I’ve got the Kill Everyone
The last final table I just needed to cash to break even. We were on the bubble and the chip counts were pretty much even between all seven of us. I then did this;
7 Players
$1 + $0.10 Sit & Go
Stacks:
UTG (11,870)
UTG+1 (7,535)
Hero (6,185)
CO (7,635)
BTN (6,360)
SB (11,825)
BB (16,090)
Blinds: 300/600
Pre-Flop: (900, 7 players) Hero is MP 5
6
2 folds, Hero calls 600, 1 fold, BTN calls 600, SB calls 300, BB checks
Flop: 7 5
J (2,400, 4 players)
SB bets 1,800, 1 fold, Hero calls 1,800, BTN goes all-in 5,760, SB calls 3,960, Hero goes all-in 3,785
Turn: 4
(19,505, 3 players, 2 all-in)
River: 7 (19,505, 3 players, 2 all-in)
Final Pot: 19,505
BTN shows two pair, Jacks and Sevens
J A
SB shows two pair, Jacks and Sevens
K J
Hero shows two pair, Sevens and Fives
5 6
BTN wins 19,505 (net +13,145)
SB lost 6,360
BB lost 600
Hero lost 6,185
and that was that. On the flop I was actually favourite, but only just. If I’d folded to the BTN’s shove I’d be in poor shape, but calling against two other players who clearly like their hand? I dunno, tourney’s seem to be full of this coinflip crap, so what can you do…
Update: Started raining, so carried on playing.
Played 6 more – first four tournies fell apart, but then got to the final table on the last two. One was an 18 man SNG, the other 45 man. The 18 man I was chip leader for ages, but then the 2nd stack (who was unfortunately on my immediate left) hit several lucky breaks and rapidly shot ahead. It end up with him dominating while me and a 2nd player were running on gas – we flipped for it and I ended up with third.
The 45 man was more interesting – throughout the whole thing I rarely was in the upper half of the field, but then on the final table I struggled to pick up some cards and hovered with a 5k stack. However by the time the blinds had reached 1000, I was still there and it was down to the last 3! It had become shove or die time (actually well past that point really) – I pushed QTo in the blinds and the button called. He called with 54o – wtf?! Anyway, I doubled up. The chip leader then sucked out on the other guy and rivered a straight leaving us heads up. I was 12k, against his 55k, and didn’t last that long, finishing 2nd.
Those two wins put me in the black 
9 tournies, ROI 53% – final profit $6.72. A lot of work for a NL5 buy in! Still, it’s been a lot of fun, which was the point of today really…
Update II:
More multitables SNGs – a bunch of 45s, 90s, and a 180 man. I got into the final table in a couple of 45s, but not in the money, but I don’t care since I crushed the 180!!!
I became the chip leader early on and maintained it all the way to the final table (occasionally swapping down to 2nd or 3rd, but always bouncing back). On the final table we were down to 7 players and then this happened;
7 Players
$2 + $0.25 Sit & Go
Stacks:
UTG (19,460)
UTG+1 (15,668)
Hero (59,813)
CO (45,609)
BTN (53,288)
SB (56,053)
BB (20,109)
Blinds: 500/1,000 Ante 125
Pre-Flop: (2,375, 7 players) Hero is MP Q Q
1 fold, UTG+1 calls 1,000, Hero raises to 4,000, 1 fold, BTN raises to 12,000, 2 folds, UTG+1 folds, Hero calls 8,000
Flop: 7 7
7 (27,375, 2 players)
Hero goes all-in 47,688, BTN goes all-in 41,163
Turn: 8 (116,226, 2 players, 2 all-in)
River: 10 (116,226, 2 players, 2 all-in)
Final Pot: 116,226
Hero shows a full house, Sevens full of Queens
Q Q
BTN shows a full house, Sevens full of Kings
K K
BTN wins 109,701 (net +56,413)
Hero collects 6,525 (net -53,288)
UTG+1 lost 1,125
I shoved since I was scared he had AK, and would draw out on me, and also he might possibly even call with a lower PP. Didn’t really think about the possibility of a higher pair!
That crippled me with 6 blinds left (less really with the antes). All I could do was fold or shove. I stole a few blinds, doubled up on a fellow shortie, got KK & doubled again, and was then back in contention more or less (still small stacked, but M was back over 10). I then got away with this hand;
3 Players
$2 + $0.25 Sit & Go
Stacks:
Hero (42,050)
BTN (165,028)
BB (62,922)
Blinds: 600/1,200 Ante 150
Pre-Flop: (1,650, 3 players) Hero is CO 6 Q
Hero raises to 2,400, BTN folds, BB calls 1,200
Flop: 4 2 Q (5,250, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets 4,800, BB raises to 14,400, Hero calls 9,600
Turn: 10 (34,050, 2 players)
BB bets 13,200, Hero goes all-in 25,100, BB folds
Final Pot: 72,350
Hero wins 72,350 (net +30,300)
BB lost 30,150
He told me he folded because his kicker was weak – he said he had Q8o! I figured that if I wanted the main prize, I needed to push hard catch up with the big stack. This hand was the best chance I had, and if he had called then I’d still be happy with the 3rd place. As it was he backed down crippling himself in the process, and a little later I called his final push with JQ to his J9 and that was that. This meant I’d drawn even (almost) with the chip leader in probably what was a terrifying crushing of everyone at the table (chipleader had barely played a hand at the final table), and he instantly asked for a deal. I was more than happy since I was just stoked to have got there…
Best of all is that my prize ($73) has put my roll over $250, launching me into NL10 territory, at last! Maybe though I’m a tournament player really
Nice one Meteoric, What was the BI for the 180 runner? How long it take? You musta been stoked with the deal.
check out the ICM trainer light on pokerstrategy.com.
thats a pretty damn fine result…. Poker has just been playing you for the last month
ridiculous isn’t it – it seems like I can’t increase my roll through playing regular cash, only by rakeback, bonuses and lucky tourney wins!
Nah I reckon your just over thinking NL5. You only need to stray slightly from whats been working for you to be in a world of pain.
Personally I’m straying away from looking at other peoples hands and anaylsying everything as that just seems to get me in trouble. People say I should be playing xyz and that the way I’m playing is not optimal. So I try to deviate to emulate suggestions and then I’m 3BI down and pissed off with the whole thing.
I’ll get to NL10 when I’m good and ready. It’ll probably involve not being able to cope. Going off and trying something else then coming back. It’s a pattern that I am learning to accept.
I know you can Pwn NL5, I’ve seen you play some pretty good poker!!
/end team talk