Bellagio $540 report

I brought my new strategy of increased aggression to the tournament, and it predictably resulted in a chip stack roller coaster before I busted in level 4 on a coin flip to gain a decent stack. Only 18 runners, which was disappointing. The regular tournaments don't seem to be attracting big fields in Vegas anymore, but at least the upcoming Caesars events have guaranteed prize pools so I imagine 100 field runners are assured.

Anyway - here is how it went down. 10k stack with 40 minute clock starting at 50-100

We start 9 handed single table as we await late entrants.

Hand1
I raise 5d6c from cutoff and BB calls. I continuation bet Ace flop and he folds.

Hand2
I raise from SB with A7 and BB calls.
Flop is Kd, 7h, 4h
I bet 400 and he calls so I assume he has KJ or some such.
Turn is blank. I check. He bets 700. I call as I think I can get a fair few chips off him if I get the 2 pair and can also win the hand if a heart falls.
River is a blank. I check, he checks back and wins with KT.

Hand3
I raise 57off to 250 from UTG+2 and BB defends.
Flop is KKx
Check, check.
Turn is T.
Check, I bet 400 and he calls.
River is a Q and I give up when he bets.

Hand3
I raise KK in the cutoff to 250. Old guy in SB min raises and BB calls. I kind of want to fold as old guys min raising OOP scares me, but I go ahead and make it 3k and both fold after long dwells.

Hand4
Old guy from Arkansas raises cutoff to 300 and I call from button with Q9.
Flop is 9AK
Check, check.
Turn is 7.
He bets 400 and I call.
River is T and he bets 500.
I raise to 1600 and he makes this weird exhalation sound (henceforth known as the straight sound).
I ask him if he is okay, and he says his day has just got a load worse before calling after a minute of pondering with the second nuts.

Hand5
Texan middle aged guy raises button to 300 and I make it 950 out of the BB with 47off. He makes it 3k straight and I fold.

Hand6
Arkansas raises to 300 in the cutoff and I call with JdTd on button.
Flop is TQ3
Arkansas checks, I bet 500 and he calls.
Turn is 9 to give me pair + open ended straight draw. However, Arkansas makes the straight sound and bets 1k. I should probably fold but call.
River is a blank and Arkansas bets 2k. I fold.
After this latest debacle I am down to 2.5k and in serious danger of having to explain to stakers how I busted in the first level from a 10k stack event without a cooler in sight.

Blinds up to 100-200

Hand7
4 limpers and I shove my 2.5k with A7 and all fold to get me to 3.5k

Hand8
1 raiser UTG and I shove AA from SB and he folds :( Up to 4k.

Hand9
1 raiser to 600 and 2 callers and I make it 2.2k from the cutoff with 8cTc. Obviously if someone shoves I have to call and look like a right windowlicker, but fortunately they pass. Up to 6k.

Hand10
Arkansas raises cutoff to 525 and I make it 1300 with 77 on the button and he folds.

Hand11
I raise AQ to 500 UTG and BB defends. Flop is A55. I bet 800 and he calls.
Turn is A and it goes check/check.
River is a T and I bet 1300 and he passes. Up to 8k.

New level 100/200 with 25 ante

Hand12
I raise JJ UTG to 500. BB defends again.
Flop is KT7.
I bet 800 and he calls.
Turn is A and he check calls 1300.
River is J. He checks, I bet 2k and he folds K5. Back above starting stack now.

Hand13
Arkasas makes it 550 in the cuttoff and I make it 1600 with 88 on button. Arkansas calls.
Flop is KQ9
Check/check.
Turn is a ringer dinger ding dong 8.
Arkansas bets 2k, and I shove for 9k and have him just covered.
He dwells a fair while and then folds.
Up to about 15k after this hand.

Hand13
Multi limpers and I make it 900 from cutoff with 7h8h and get one customer, but win it with continuation bet in position and a raggy flop. My stack hits my high point of 16k.

For 30 mins then before the break it goes wrong, as I start getting 3 bet myself and have to fold garbage hands. I also take a few flops in position and miss, and I also have to abort a checkraise when someone shoves and I have nothing.

The break arrives and I have 9k. There are 13 of the 20 runners left and top 3 spots pay and I'm below average although at 150-300 a25 my stack still has decent play in it.

I put dinner back 3 hours as I figure this might take a while.

I am eliminated within 4 hands of the restart.

I pass the first 2 hands and then:

Hand14
4 limpers and I check my option with Jh8h from BB.
Flop is pretty massive for me QdTh7h to give me inside straight flush draw.
I decide to lead for 700 and UTG makes is 1600 with 6k behind. Pot is 3kish and I am facing raise of 1k. I think my stack is pretty much perfect to bang it in so I shove and he calls with AcQs and holds. Meh. I ran the hand and I was 47% so I think this is okay with the fold equity, although AQ man didn't think very long about is so maybe my table image wasn't great for this. I would have had a good 18k stack if I win the hand and could then have had a decent shot at it.

Hand15
I shove my 1k in with 96 when it is folded round to me in the SB and AQ guy calls from BB with JQ. I hit a 9 but he rivers a Queen and I am eliminated just before final table.

Overall, I was probably too aggressive so my plan for the Caesars tournament will be to tone it down a little bit. I also imagine the Caesars field might be younger, so I'll probably play snug for a while to see the lie of the land.

The Bellagio tournament is well structured and the standard I would say was competent.