Top 40 Hit

I always say that tournaments are the very definition of frustration. My record in online MTTs isn't too bad, but right now I just can't seem to nail one really big result.

Yesterday was a typical example. I entered 3 low/medium level tournaments. In one my KK was busted by QJo at the midway stage. In another, I unwisely called with AQs when the Big blind pushed on my raise. He showed KK.

In the 3rd - $11 on pokerstars - I avoided any death by outdraw for a long time, and I myself won a couple of 60/40s and 40/60s so that I cruised into the money places. I continued to play very solidly, and was in the top10 at one point.

However, I once again was not able to convert 5 hours of play into a really good finish.

2,241 played. 324 places paid. I eventually finished 40th (for $40). 300% ROI, of course, but less than minimum wage as a financial return ! 1st place was over $3k . I finished in the top 2% of players (and far, far into the money places). But all the reward is at the sharp end.

I played very tight so I rarely was in bad shape when the money went in. In the final hand, I was of course pushing the envelope a bit. I was down to about 14BB and pushed Ks7s from the button. I thought I was rather unlucky to find A8 and AK behind me - both called.

I actually wasn't in terrible shape - about 1 in 4 to scoop a huge pot. I was better off after the flop brought an Ace, but also two spades. If another spade had arrived then I would have been top 10 again, but it wasn't to be.

The conventional wisdom is that if you keep plugging away playing a solid tournament style, then the big break will come along. By definition, almost everyone in the tourney has to fail to make the big money places but it still is a potential fist-through-screen moment each time the mission fails !