Bellagio Prelims

In between friends and family in town I played a handful of Bellagio Prelim events. The fields were pretty small for the most part, but its still one of my favorite places to play. I would like to tell you some interesting stories about how I got ousted from each one, but too much time has gone by to remember each dissapointment. I'll do some highlights.
After getting burned in each of the other rebuy events I played, I decided to show up late and just pay 4K so I would do a immediate rebuy and 2 add ons. I chiped up early as I got action on almost all of my big starting hands including busting 3 people the first 3 times I got aces. I accumulated a nice pile when I got to pop my cherry in a poker feat I had never done. Alex Gomes was playing good and aggressive and for the third consecutive time he raised a tight players BB. I looked down at J2cc and 3 bet him to 15K (blinds at 1k/2k). He eyeballed my stack and made it 40K. I thought he might be full of shit so I made sure I had enough to make him fold. I barely did with 155K total, but still pulled the trigger. He snap folded and I got to enjoy my first 5 bet with air. That being said there was a good chance that Jack hi was good. I went card dead after that which is not a good thing after you show J2 in a massive pot. I ended up squeaking into the final table and then got knocked out 7th when I shoved 9.5bbs with J10o and was looked up by Alex with A9dd. The flop gave me hope when KQ8 rolled off, but blanks hit and I was out.
Now for an embarrassing story. In the 5K I built up a decent stack coming back from dinner. I lost a big pot to Justin Bonomo when we both flopped top pair. Then I won a smallish pot where I had to show down 103hh. With my image where I thought it was I was excited when I got AKdd. I opened thinking I would get 3 bet. I did and I decided to 4 bet pot commit. So I made it 19.5k of my 46K total. Without earphones in and without a cocktail in my system I swore he said "all in". I already told myself I was calling so I turned over my hand and pushed my chips foward. As it turns out he said call and now I had to play the flop with my hand face up. The flop came J83 rainbow and he shoved from the SB. Despite not getting the odds if he had a pair I almost called cause I felt like he had AQ or the same hand. I chickened out and watched 40% of my chips dissapear. I played nitty for a while and got in 14 BBs with A6o vs 55. I lost the flip and was out the door.
The 25K main event starts today and I am pumped. I woke up at 630 this morning with excitement. I did finally go back to bed for another 2 hours so now I am well rested. I will have an update of day 1 soon.

Justin "robert07" Young