The $10 SNG’s on PP are an addiction I continue to feed on a regular basis. I played in a couple of the tournaments late yesterday and finished one out of the money in both. I could probably have coasted into the money in at least one if I had listened to that small voice telling me to not gamble my seat on ‘Big Slick.’ Did I pay heed to this good advice? Hell no! I came to dance and what better cards than A-K to risk it all on? I have been quoting from T.J. Cloutier and Tom McEvoy’s “Championship No-Limit & Pot-limit Hold’em” book a lot recently and this post is no exception. They list the three hands that knock more people out of hold’em tournaments as: “A pair of Queens, a Pair of Jacks or Ace-King.” I knew that, I had just finished my tenth reading of the book and there I am going all-in with my Ac-Kc after the flop shows Ks-2c-7c. I have top pair with top kicker and a four flush. I’m last and the betting puts me all-in if I call. The little voice is telling me that T.J. would probably fold and not risk finishing out of the money. Of course, being the consume tournament expert that I am, I don’t even consider folding and shove it all-in. The turn is a blank and the river appears to help no one. I lose to a set of deuces and am out of the action and trying to deal with that empty, brainless feeling. The second tournament I am in the seat to the right of the button when I get pocket Queens. We are four handed with about equal stacks; I raise 4xBB, the button folds and both the small and big blind calls. The flop is Qc-7s-8h. The small blind bets, the big blind folds and I raise. The small blind goes all in and I call all-in. The turn is the 5s and the river is Kh. My trip Queens lose to the 6s-9s making the nine high straight and I am out of the tournament. I should have folded the A-K in the first tournament and waited for the money; but, I will probably play the pair of Queens in a similar situation no differently, win or lose. I have a very hard time laying down trips with no over cards, made straights or flush draws.

The point of all of this whining is getting knocked out of two tournaments with two hands that Tom and T.J. list as most likely to get you eliminated. Ironically, I am knocked out of both tournaments playing two of the hands listed and I can’t find much fault with my play, especially the second time with the Queens. During the final $10,000 championship event of the WSOP I was taking a break outside of Benny’s Bullpin when Antonio Esfandiari walked out after he was eliminated from the tournament when his A-K all-in lost. He was kind enough to autograph our copy of All In magazine. I totally agree with Antonio’s comment about A-K.