1500 NL and Daily Bellagio

As the case has been in my 1500 NL's thus far, I was not able to get anything going. I felt like I had a real good table, but I got caught in a tough spot with blinds 50/100. An old man who overplays his hands opens UTG to 300. I called with the AQo. The flop was Qs7s2h. He led 600 and I called. The turn was an 8h and he bet 1200. I felt like folding might be the play, but players are soooooo bad that he might be value betting KQ or even QJ not to mention the small possiblity that he had the nut flush draw. So I called and the 3d hit the river. He bet 2400 and I was sick. I made the crying call and he showed KK. With the bet sizing, there was very little I could beat and should have saved my money for a better spot. 2 hands later I got my last 1600 in the middle with AQ vs AJ, the was a jack in the door and I was out early.
I went over to the Bellagio to play their daily tourny thinking it would get a huge field (120 people) since the 1500 was going on at the Rio and it was Saturday. They allowed registration until 6pm, but I signed up right when I got there. As expected my table was full of clowns and despite playing rather poorly I was up to 14K early (starting stack 10K). I was lucky enough to flop the nuts a couple times, once doubling me up. I was up as much as 50K when I raised from the cut off with Q9cc. The BB called leaving himself 12.5K behind. The flop came 864 with two clubs and he checked. I decided to bet full pot (4200) to pot commit myself. He snap shoved and I called. He showed the A5hh for ace hi and a gutterball. It held somehow and I was down to 35K. I then attempted a limp reraise with 107hh against what looked like a very weak squeeze play. He made a wonderful call with JJ and I was down to 24K. After that I went on a tear. I made a couple well planned bluffs including a c'raise on the river with queen high. I was up to about 85K without having to show many hands down. Then I got lucky, I 4 bet UTG with 66 against one of the few stacks that could hurt me. He pushed and I was get 3.5 to 1 so I called. He had KK, but a 6 in the door gave me 150K. I won a very nice flip with AK vs 1010 to push me up to 225K. I hovered around there until there was 3 people left. I was exhausted so I asked for a deal. We did a chip chop 3 ways giving everyone about 2nd place money, 20K. I am hoping it will give me the confidence I need to do well today. Today's event might be my favorite on the schedule. It is an 8 game mix, with HORSE+NL+PLO+2-7 Triple Draw. Triple draw is by far my weakest game, but I will do my best to play super nitty during that game.

Justin "robert07" Young