I finished 9th or 10th last weekend in a $50 buy-in tourney in my hometown. I was taken out after several hours of play by a hand that is haunting me! Please let me know what you think about this. Early on in the tourney I realized I was playing with people that knew nothing about texas holdem. In Fact, only one other player at my table was experienced. He was sitting right next to me on my right. I started losing chips right away by being outdrawn by people that were riding high cards and flushes to the very end. During our first break, I re-evaluated my play and came up with a solution. I realized that these were people that were getting to see 4th and 5th st for cheap, so they remained in and were getting their cards. From that point on I started betting BIG. I was takin down every other pot for the next 1/2 hour. Betting big kept these people out and allowed only decent hands to stay in...which benefitted me. Before long I was 2nd in chips, but not by much, to the guy on my right. The only reason he was ahead of me is cause he took someone out a hand or two before this.... Here is how I got taken out of the tourney. I get k 10 suited. I make a pretty large bet, and two people call. The flop comes K,10,J no matching suits. I make a really large bet, one guy folds and the guy to my right calls. Next card is a 6, still no threat to a flush so that worry is gone. I bet another large bet and he calls. Now I have been playin with him all night and figured out how he plays...I KNEW the best he had was K high. 5th st. comes delivering a Queen. I looked at him, he looked at me, and I could see he did not have the ace for the straight...I go all in with my two pair K's and 10's. He sits there for a long time and says..oh well, I'm gonna regret this, but I'll call ya. He flips up K Q...and takes me out of the tournament with his higher two pair. I'm wondering if any of you would have done things differently? Keep in mind that I really needed chips to compete at the final table with the big stacks that I could see at the other tables. If I would have won this hand I would have been there, ever since I've been sick to my stomach.
