Even though I've had some mild tournament success as of late (given my small volume), I couldn't get over the hump--either getting sucked out on or losing a race late in the tourney to keep me out of the big big money. I wondered a lot what it would take for me to finally get over the hump.

Last Tuesday I decided to enter a 33r PCA super turbo sat. I built a decent stack by the end of the rebuy hour, and had about 180K (only 9bbs but above average at that stage in the tourney). I woke up with 99 in mid position, the easiest shove for anyone who has ever played any of these. Unfortunately (i thought), a recurring problem that I've been having with stars over the past year happened--I lost connection. The strange thing about this problem is that it doesnt matter whether I am on wireless or connected to the wall, on my wife's comp or mine--the internet works fine on every other program i have except for my stars connection. anyways i ended up timing out, would have been up against aq and kj, wouldve lost and been crippled. instead, i went on to ship the package with little trouble. probably not the way i had hoped to get over the hump, but ill definitely take it.

i guess this post brings up two separate issues: 1) has anyone had a similar experience with the "poker gods" which ended up saving them in a situation that would have been otherwise unavoidable and 2) is there anything i can do to shore up my stars connection?

really pumped about the pca, my first big buyin live tourney. anyone have any good ideas of how to prepare? im within driving distance of foxwoods and ac and was thinking about hopping over there once or twice before i head down to the bahamas.