I have been playing well lately and have hit a few final tables, but I have ended up on the wrong side of the coin flip several times deep in tourneys lately, where if won would put me at the top of the tourney board. I recently placed 3rd in a 100 rebuy and would like to share some of the important hands of that tourney. <READMORE>

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this was the first big hand. Up to this point. This was a good bluff. My opponents would give me allot of credit for a good hand here as I was up against 2 opponents and check called the flop then lead out on the turn which is generally done with a huge hand.

Level III (25/50) Table '10400721 9' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: KookieMonstr (4080 in chips)
Seat 3: elfleader (4050 in chips)
Seat 9: duckless (2725 in chips)
Swear12: posts small blind 25
elfleader: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [5h 7h]
duckless: calls 50
KookieMonstr: raises 100 to 150
Swear12: folds
elfleader: calls 100
duckless: calls 100
*** FLOP *** [2c Ts 6s]
elfleader: checks
duckless: checks
KookieMonstr: bets 350
elfleader: calls 350
duckless: calls 350
*** TURN *** [2c Ts 6s] [Jh]
elfleader: bets 1050
duckless: folds
KookieMonstr: folds
elfleader collected 1525 from pot
elfleader: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1525 | Rake 0
Board [2c Ts 6s Jh]

This was the next hand...straight forward play

Level III (25/50) -Table '10400721 9' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 3: elfleader (5075 in chips)
Seat 6: Petter Smart (1105 in chips)
elfleader: posts small blind 25
Crazyhug: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [As Ac]
Petter Smart: raises 350 to 400
elfleader: raises 550 to 950
Petter Smart: raises 155 to 1105 and is all-in
elfleader: calls 155
*** FLOP *** [3s 8h 4d]
*** TURN *** [3s 8h 4d] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [3s 8h 4d Ts] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
elfleader: shows [As Ac] (two pair, Aces and Tens)
Petter Smart: shows [6d 6h] (two pair, Tens and Sixes)
elfleader collected 2260 from pot
Assassin8tor said, "gh"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2260 | Rake 0
Board [3s 8h 4d Ts Tc]

With this hand I played it like a small pair like 9s or 4s to induce a bluff which I accomplished on the river.

Level III (25/50) Table '10400721 9' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: KookieMonstr (2205 in chips)
Seat 2: Swear12 (10820 in chips)
Seat 3: elfleader (6030 in chips)
Swear12: posts small blind 25
elfleader: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [8h Kd]
Assassin8tor: calls 50
duckless: calls 50
KookieMonstr: calls 50
Swear12: calls 25
elfleader: checks
*** FLOP *** [Ks 3s 9c]
Swear12: checks
elfleader: bets 150
KookieMonstr: calls 150
Swear12: calls 150
*** TURN *** [Ks 3s 9c] [4c]
Swear12: checks
elfleader: checks
KookieMonstr: checks
*** RIVER *** [Ks 3s 9c 4c] [7d]
Swear12: bets 700
elfleader: calls 700
KookieMonstr: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Swear12: shows [Ah 9d] (a pair of Nines)
elfleader: shows [8h Kd] (a pair of Kings)
elfleader collected 2100 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2100 | Rake 0
Board [Ks 3s 9c 4c 7d]

this hand happened soon after the last one and I did the bet the flop check the turn in good position to again induce a bluff which again worked.
Level IV (50/100)
Table '10400721 9' Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Peckle (2015 in chips)
Seat 2: Swear12 (13570 in chips)
Seat 3: elfleader (7330 in chips)
Seat 4: Crazyhug (5560 in chips)
Seat 5: Assassin8tor (5650 in chips)
Seat 6: kalkiyali (5705 in chips)
Seat 7: JohnnyBax (3110 in chips)
Seat 8: MrSmokey1 (5425 in chips)
MrSmokey1: posts small blind 50
Peckle: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [9h 9c]
Swear12: calls 100
elfleader: raises 200 to 300
Swear12: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [6d 8c 3s]
Swear12: checks
elfleader: bets 400
Swear12: calls 400
*** TURN *** [6d 8c 3s] [Jd]
Swear12: checks
elfleader: checks
*** RIVER *** [6d 8c 3s Jd] [Ts]
Swear12: bets 1500
elfleader: calls 1500
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Swear12: shows [As 9s] (high card Ace)
elfleader: shows [9h 9c] (a pair of Nines)
elfleader collected 4550 from pot
elfleader said, "cmon"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4550 | Rake 0
Board [6d 8c 3s Jd Ts]

this next hand I somewhat slow played the 10s. I bet out the turn which many would do with any 2 cards and Johnny bax reraised me knowing I would bet with any 2 card there but I raised him right back knowing he’d also raise me with any 2 cards.

Level VI (100/200)
Table '10400721 9' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 3: elfleader (12055 in chips)
Seat 7: JohnnyBax (11970 in chips)
elfleader: posts small blind 100
Assassin8tor: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [Tc Ts]
JohnnyBax: raises 200 to 400
elfleader: calls 300
*** FLOP *** [3d 9h 5s]
elfleader: checks
JohnnyBax: checks
*** TURN *** [3d 9h 5s] [2c]
elfleader: bets 800
JohnnyBax: raises 1400 to 2200
elfleader: raises 9455 to 11655 and is all-in
JohnnyBax: folds
elfleader collected 5400 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5400 | Rake 0
Board [3d 9h 5s 2c]

this was a tough move by me and I almost folded but there but the original raise was in late and the call was in the small blind which easily could of been a steal then a call with a hand like aj and if i won the hand i would have a giant amount of chips.
Level VII (100/200)
Table '10400721 9' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 3: elfleader (14530 in chips)
Seat 9: Mr Swatch (5780 in chips)
elfleader: posts small blind 100
cleggwatts: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [Ks Ah]
Assassin8tor: folds
kalkiyali: raises 3855 to 4055 and is all-in
Mr Swatch: raises 1700 to 5755 and is all-in
elfleader: raises 8750 to 14505 and is all-in
cleggwatts: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qc 8h 4d]
*** TURN *** [Qc 8h 4d] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [Qc 8h 4d Tc] [2h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
elfleader: shows [Ks Ah] (high card Ace)
Mr Swatch: shows [Jc Jh] (a pair of Jacks)
elfleader said, "dam"
Mr Swatch collected 3400 from side pot
kalkiyali: shows [Th Td] (three of a kind, Tens)
kalkiyali collected 12590 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 15990 Main pot 12590. Side pot 3400. | Rake 0
Board [Qc 8h 4d Tc 2h]

this hand really helped me. I made a steal with a pair as i was low and needed to make a stand and was called in 2 places and thought i was in big trouble but i ended up being way ahead

PokerStars Game #2216097098: Tournament #10400721, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/07/29 - 16:30:45 (ET)
Table '10400721 11' Seat #6 is the button
Seat 3: elfleader (6405 in chips)
Seat 4: Riverloser (7001 in chips)
Seat 5: C.K. (26590 in chips)
MisterMOTOWN: posts small blind 300
MazeOrBowie: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [2c 2s]
5755 to 6355 and is all-in
Riverloser: raises 596 to 6951 and is all-in
C.K.: raises 19589 to 26540 and is all-in
mirageboy: folds
MisterMOTOWN: folds
MazeOrBowie: folds
*** FLOP *** [5d 7h 5c]
elfleader said, "sweet"
elfleader said, "no 7"
MrSmokey1 said, "ya"
MrSmokey1 said, "for real"
*** TURN *** [5d 7h 5c] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [5d 7h 5c 8h] [4c]
elfleader said, "yaaa"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Riverloser: shows [Ad Ks] (a pair of Fives)
C.K.: shows [Kh Ah] (a pair of Fives)
Riverloser collected 596 from side pot
C.K. collected 596 from side pot
elfleader: shows [2c 2s] (two pair, Fives and Deuces)
elfleader collected 20415 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 21607 Main pot 20415. Side pot 1192. | Rake 0
Board [5d 7h 5c 8h 4c]

This next hand i was able to see a cheap flop in the SB and it hit me big time and i played it very aggresivly and i was lucky my opponent did not hit any of his outs.

Level IX (300/600)
Table '10400721 11' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 3: elfleader (18465 in chips)
Seat 6: mirageboy (15684 in chips)
elfleader: posts small blind 300
C.K.: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [2s Td]
UHA GAMBLER said, "lmao"
mirageboy: calls 600
MazeOrBowie: folds
UHA GAMBLER: calls 600
MrSmokey1: folds
gank: folds
elfleader: calls 300
C.K.: checks
*** FLOP *** [2c Tc 6h]
elfleader: checks
C.K.: checks
mirageboy: bets 1800
UHA GAMBLER: folds
BIG J ALLDAY [observer] said, "hey maze do u play in the city"
elfleader: raises 3000 to 4800
C.K.: folds
mirageboy: calls 3000
*** TURN *** [2c Tc 6h] [3s]
elfleader: bets 13015 and is all-in
mirageboy: calls 10234 and is all-in
MazeOrBowie said, "sometimes yea"
*** RIVER *** [2c Tc 6h 3s] [Jh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
elfleader: shows [2s Td] (two pair, Tens and Deuces)
mirageboy: shows [Ac 6c] (a pair of Sixes)
elfleader collected 32818 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 32818 | Rake 0
Board [2c Tc 6h 3s Jh]

this next hand was another bluff by me i missed one of many outs on the turn and river and felt weakness and he could easily give me credit for a big hand with the way i played it

Level IX (300/600)
Table '10400721 6' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 4: Bolikk (23170 in chips)
Seat 5: elfleader (34649 in chips)
elfleader: posts small blind 300
O3PEH: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [Qs Jd]
Bolikk: calls 600
elfleader: calls 300
O3PEH: checks
*** FLOP *** [9c 9s Ts]
elfleader: checks
O3PEH: checks
Bolikk: bets 1800
elfleader: calls 1800
O3PEH: folds
*** TURN *** [9c 9s Ts] [6s]
elfleader: checks
Bolikk: checks
*** RIVER *** [9c 9s Ts 6s] [7c]
elfleader: bets 4600
Bolikk said, "2pair"
Bolikk: folds
elfleader collected 5850 from pot
elfleader: shows [Qs Jd] (a pair of Nines)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5850 | Rake 0
Board [9c 9s Ts 6s 7c]

this hand i was doing my standard bet in late position and was raised by the small blind. As i had been doing this a lot his range for raising me here would be huge and could also be a rebluff and i put him to the test and assumed he would fold a weak ace or a small pair which i felt like he had with my big reraise.

Level XI (600/1200)
Table '10400721 6' Seat #6 is the button
Seat 5: elfleader (38899 in chips)
Seat 8: Lefort (41459 in chips)
Lefort: posts small blind 600
UHA GAMBLER: posts big blind 1200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [Qh Jd]
elfleader: raises 2000 to 3200
Lefort: raises 5200 to 8400
UHA GAMBLER: folds
elfleader: raises 30424 to 38824 and is all-in
Lefort: folds
elfleader collected 18525 from pot
elfleader: shows [Qh Jd] (high card Queen)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 18525 | Rake 0
Seat 2: xxSAMMYxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)

this was a tricky hand as my opponent raised alotpreflop. She had not shown a bluff at that point but was in a position to steal and it easily could of been a steal and thus was not sure what to give her credit for. I ended up moving in as my hand was to big and was willing to take a coin flip to have a nice stack going into the final table.

Level XIII (1500/3000)
Table '10400721 6' Seat #7 is the button
Seat 3: lauraj (31150 in chips)
Seat 5: elfleader (37127 in chips)
Lefort: posts small blind 1500
UHA GAMBLER: posts big blind 3000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [9h 9d]
Assassin8tor: folds
lauraj: raises 9000 to 12000
PJWGUNIT [observer] said, "rip off"
elfleader: raises 24977 to 36977 and is all-in
lauraj: folds
Pet Monster [observer] said, "o"
elfleader collected 29400 from pot
Lefort said, "wow..."
elfleader: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 29400 | Rake 0

this next hand was an obvious move and was just lucky someone moved in when i had such a big hand.

Level XIV (2000/4000)
Table '10400721 6' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 5: elfleader (43177 in chips)
Seat 8: Lefort (23305 in chips)
lauraj: posts small blind 2000
elfleader: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [Ah Ac]
Lefort: raises 19105 to 23105 and is all-in
elfleader: calls 19105
*** FLOP *** [6h 5s 8d]
UHA GAMBLER said, "nh"
Lefort said, "gg"
UHA GAMBLER said, "gg"
*** TURN *** [6h 5s 8d] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [6h 5s 8d 9s] [Th]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
elfleader: shows [Ah Ac] (a pair of Aces)
Lefort: shows [Kd Js] (high card King)
elfleader collected 49410 from pot
polarole said, "gg"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 49410 | Rake 0
Board [6h 5s 8d 9s Th]

this was again a straight forward move and was the next hand after my AA

PokerStars Game #2216630063: Tournament #10400721, Hold'em No Limit - Level XIV (2000/4000) - 2005/07/29 - 17:50:03 (ET)
Table '10400721 6' Seat #3 is the button
Seat 3: lauraj (38200 in chips)
Seat 5: elfleader (69282 in chips)
elfleader: posts small blind 2000
polarole: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [Kc Ac]
UHA GAMBLER: folds
lauraj: raises 8000 to 12000
elfleader: raises 57082 to 69082 and is all-in
lauraj: folds
elfleader collected 29000 from pot
elfleader: shows [Kc Ac] (high card Ace)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 29000 | Rake 0

this was the last hand before the final table and was a easy call as it was a small blind-big blind confrontation and my opponent would likely move in with any 2 cards.

Level XIV (2000/4000) Table '10400721 6' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 3: lauraj (14400 in chips)
Seat 5: elfleader (82530 in chips)

lauraj: posts small blind 2000
elfleader: posts big blind 4000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to elfleader [5s 5c]
UHA GAMBLER said, "and we go on"
polarole: folds
metzman1215 [observer] said, "jokeee"
UHA GAMBLER: folds
Assassin8tor: folds
elfleader said, "dont\"
lauraj: raises 10200 to 14200 and is all-in
elfleader: calls 10200
UHA GAMBLER said, "lol"
*** FLOP *** [2c 6h As]
UHA GAMBLER said, "HOLD"
tshock43 [observer] said, "hold"
*** TURN *** [2c 6h As] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [2c 6h As 4h] [Jh]
UHA GAMBLER said, "gg"
elfleader said, "yes"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
lauraj: shows [Kc 7d] (high card Ace)
elfleader: shows [5s 5c] (a pair of Fives)
UHA GAMBLER said, "gl guys"
elfleader said, "yehaw"
elfleader collected 29400 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 29400 | Rake 0
Board [2c 6h As 4h Jh]

the final table really had no big hands for me i just stole preflop a lot when the time was right and stayed afloat until the final 3 where i was somewhat short stack and got out on a bluff with q5 preflop against k9

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