These are my final 2 hands in the Big $5 (15K). Down from about 4700 runners to about the last 180. For the last 3 months I have been getting creamed in races whenever I get deep into the money. I haven't won one a crucial one for over 3 months.

Tell me I'm not doing anything wrong and it's just bad luck... Or should I be folding the AK and not taking these races?

Penultimate hand

pokerstars Game #70910207764: Tournament #548010281, $5.00+$0.50 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level XXV (1400/2800) - 2011/11/21 13:29:09 ET
Table '548010281 229' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Boroda767 (124775 in chips)
Seat 2: John _ 66646 (104181 in chips)
Seat 3: Qarolaa (19153 in chips)
Seat 4: daughton (77734 in chips)
Seat 5: boarrder (49026 in chips)
Seat 6: ParisToMtl (84827 in chips)
Seat 7: LuizRRBrazil (27729 in chips)
Seat 8: feniuk22 (57477 in chips)
Seat 9: alextoon1 (86036 in chips)
Boroda767: posts the ante 350
John _ 66646: posts the ante 350
Qarolaa: posts the ante 350
daughton: posts the ante 350
boarrder: posts the ante 350
ParisToMtl: posts the ante 350
LuizRRBrazil: posts the ante 350
feniuk22: posts the ante 350
alextoon1: posts the ante 350
LuizRRBrazil: posts small blind 1400
feniuk22: posts big blind 2800
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to daughton [Kd As]
alextoon1: folds
Boroda767: folds
John _ 66646: folds
Qarolaa: folds
daughton: raises 5199 to 7999
boarrder: raises 40677 to 48676 and is all-in
ParisToMtl: folds
LuizRRBrazil: folds
feniuk22: folds
daughton: calls 40677
*** FLOP *** [7c Js 3h]
*** TURN *** [7c Js 3h] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [7c Js 3h 4c] [Ad]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
daughton: shows [Kd As] (a pair of Aces)
boarrder: shows [Jd Jc] (three of a kind, Jacks)
daughton said, "......sigh"
boarrder collected 104702 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 104702 | Rake 0
Board [7c Js 3h 4c Ad]
Seat 1: Boroda767 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: John _ 66646 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Qarolaa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: daughton showed [Kd As] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 5: boarrder showed [Jd Jc] and won (104702) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 6: ParisToMtl (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: LuizRRBrazil (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: feniuk22 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: alextoon1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Final Hand very next deal.

PokerStars Game #70910268277: Tournament #548010281, $5.00+$0.50 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level XXV (1400/2800) - 2011/11/21 13:30:09 ET
Table '548010281 229' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Boroda767 (124425 in chips)
Seat 2: John _ 66646 (103831 in chips)
Seat 3: Qarolaa (18803 in chips)
Seat 4: daughton (28708 in chips)
Seat 5: boarrder (104702 in chips)
Seat 6: ParisToMtl (84477 in chips)
Seat 7: LuizRRBrazil (25979 in chips)
Seat 8: feniuk22 (54327 in chips)
Seat 9: alextoon1 (85686 in chips)
Boroda767: posts the ante 350
John _ 66646: posts the ante 350
Qarolaa: posts the ante 350
daughton: posts the ante 350
boarrder: posts the ante 350
ParisToMtl: posts the ante 350
LuizRRBrazil: posts the ante 350
feniuk22: posts the ante 350
alextoon1: posts the ante 350
feniuk22: posts small blind 1400
alextoon1: posts big blind 2800
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to daughton [Jd Jc]
Boroda767: folds
John _ 66646: folds
Qarolaa: folds
daughton said, "never win a race at acrucial stage"
daughton: raises 25558 to 28358 and is all-in
boarrder: folds
ParisToMtl: folds
LuizRRBrazil: folds
feniuk22: folds
alextoon1: calls 25558
*** FLOP *** [Ks Kc 5c]
*** TURN *** [Ks Kc 5c] [Ah]
*** RIVER *** [Ks Kc 5c Ah] [9s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
alextoon1: shows [Ad Tc] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
daughton: shows [Jd Jc] (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
alextoon1 collected 61266 from pot
daughton finished the tournament in 183rd place and received $25.59.
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 61266 | Rake 0
Board [Ks Kc 5c Ah 9s]
Seat 1: Boroda767 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: John _ 66646 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Qarolaa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: daughton showed [Jd Jc] and lost with two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 5: boarrder folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: ParisToMtl folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: LuizRRBrazil (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: feniuk22 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: alextoon1 (big blind) showed [Ad Tc] and won (61266) with two pair, Aces and Kings

Both played fine these things just happen. Personally I'd suggest stop chatting in the box, to try and remain less emotionally involved in the game.

both played correctly, just ul to not win the flip and then not to hold, keep reggin up and wait for these hands to turn in ur favor, gl

 

Originally Posted by daughton

I think it's crucial as I win the first or both of these and I'm in the top 20 at this stage.

OK. If it helps.

Being 20/180 really means nothing. Being 1/45 doesn't mean much.

Thinking in this way can really be detrimental to your game because so many people sit back and think wow I'm the chipleader and don't play optimally. Like its hard to say exactly what I mean but there is still so much work that needs to be done with 180 people left in the tournament. I mean tons of situations can and will arise and you'll need to make good decisions about those spots and remain aggressive and continuing to chip up to win.

I guess what I'm saying is that having a lot chips left while there are still 180 players remaining can give you a false sense of security. Even if you had won both of those hands, it really doesn't do a lot to guarantee that you'll make it to the final table in good chip standing. If you are lucky to make it to the final 2-3 tables, then there it will be determined who has the best chance of winning.

Don't take it as criticism. But just saying that like any good player wouldn't be jumping up and down about winning those two pots. Its not a crucial spot. Its one that will come up over and over and over again if you keep playing mtts. Yeah you did nothing wrong in those spots, but I think you already knew that. Just keep seeking out those spots over and over again. And then, when you win those flips, don't celebrate. Just keep your head and immediately start thinking about how you leverage those new found chips to teh best of your ability given the table you are at.

 

Originally Posted by MakeMineGold

Dont feel bad, I loose 90% of races, ( well feels like) example yest were,i have KK late pos ,some guy goes all in K 10, i snap call, Flop 10 10, takes 75% of my 35k stack, YAY
2nd being blinds 200\400, is raised to 1k, i reraise to 2500, guy after me shoves for 6.5k, i snap call my KK again, he has 99, of course 9 on the flop. YAY once again.
I to feel like i loose every crucial flip, that stops me from making the FT,
Just accept ur not a chosen and buy an X box....

That's just bad advice... definitely go with a PS3.