NAPT and LAPC

I had no success in the pre-lims at the Venetian, but was very excited about the main event. The 5K buy in got picked up by PokerStars and therefore ESPN as well. This means that not only will the Final Table be on TV, but PokerStars could run tons on satellites allowing lots of dead money in the tourny. My starting table was tough in comparison, with Adam Junglen (sp?), Mig, and Aaron Been all at my table. I ran a bluff early to chip up to 35K, but nothing worked after that. I slowly made my chips dissapear till I had less than 25bb. I 3 bet pushed with AQ, AK, and JJ without a call, and when Aaron opened the cutoff I decided to rip 23bbs with A4o. He made a good call with A10ss and I was out the door.
I went to LA the following Monday and immediately hopped in the 3K 6 max. I was crippled on the first hand as I couldnt fold KK to Matt Stout's 3 streets of betting. I ended up pushing 10bb with A8o and ran into JJ. The next event was a 1K NLH. I started off super hot as I coolered 3 people and was up to 30K in chips (starting stack is 6K). A couple well timed bluffs and two horrible ones had me down to 18K and 600/1200. My super soft table broke and sent me to a table with O'Crowe and John Phan. Phan had a handle on the table with a few fish and some awkward chips stacks. I was fortunate to chip up and then double up with KK vs AJdd, putting me a 50K. I ran a 3bet/Cbet bluff on John Phan that worked, but was ill advised as I know better than anyone that he loves to call. I dribbled down a little but finished the day with 53K.
On day 2 we started with 26 people. I played super tight and found a double thru Chris Bigler with AA vs his 66. Shortly there after I ran a squeeze and then beat a short stack with KK vs AQ. I was up to 140K when the table broke. My new table consisted of O'Crowe and 2 young compotent players. On the 2nd hand one of the youngsters opened to 6k on the button(at 1200/2400), I looked down at 88 in the SB and popped it to 16K. He tanked for 20 seconds and ripped 70k total. I called and he showed AQo. An ace in the door meant I lost a 150K flip and the chance at the chip lead. I quickly recoverd doubling with a set vs a flush draw and win a big pot from O'Crowe. I was up to around 200K when everything went wrong. I doubled up a short stack with A9 vs his Q10, I ran a unsuccessfull bluff against Owen, and I was 3 bet by fish everytime I opened light. With 11 people left and Owen opening his button for the millionth time I couldnt wait to get my 22BBs in the middle with 77. Owen woke up with QQ and I was out the door, despite the board running off K1089J. Everyone at the table thought I won and made me walk back to the table. I hate them.
The 5K NLHE went pretty fast, as I called off with 4th pair vs Victor Ramdin on a Js9c3s5h board. I was right as he turned over KQ. I felt like a genius untill the Kh hit the river.
The main event was fairly quiet. I had a great starting table with USCPhildo as the only high level thinker. I played pretty tight with only one cold 4 bet bluff. I doubled up Tommy Le when I just shoved to his open. I had JJ and thought he might call with worse and would fold hands like AQ. He called making it a 50bb pot. He somehow called off with KQo and won the fake flip. He felt bad and explained that he put me on a medium pair. How AA, KK, QQ, AK, and AQ arent in my range I dont know, but Im just bitter. Our table breaks and I get send to what looks like an even softer table. I became very active and chipped up a little bit to 23K. Button made it 1200 at (200/400) and I looked down at AKo in the SB. I made it 3K and the button made it 7K. Without much thought or reason I couldnt wait to get it in there. I can make up any excuse I want, but it was a bad play. With how soft the table was and the fact that the gentlemen was over the age of 40, AK should be an easy fold. Anyway... after I pushed he called and I quickly ask him if he has a huge hand. He shows me one ace and I am overjoyed, thinking he was bluffing or he has AQ/AK. I table my hand with pride and he reveals the 2nd ace. Always tough to take a slowroll in a big event, but this guy had no clue, so I didnt say anything. The board gave me a straight draw on the flop and a flush draw on the turn, but AA held I was out the door unable to make day 2.
The Wynn Classic is going on and NBC Heads Up starts Friday, so between sweating Eric and trying to find a live cash Ill be busy this week.

Justin "robert07" Young