Thrill Kill in 0.4

Heres was my thought process for the final hand in the PPM IV Super Satellite (see following Post for Hand History);

2 Players in MP Limp in. Im in LP and have position on them. I raise it to 3XBB (90) with KQo.
Both Call.

Flop comes 9s, Kh, 8s
I've flopped Top pair with a strong kicker, but theres 2 spades on the table.
Both MP's check to me...
Theres about 320 in the pot, so I don't want to given any flush/straight draws correct pot odds, so I bet just under 1/2 Pot (125).
Maybe I should have bet more, but I dont think this would have mattered to SlowPlaya_ (not his real screen name BTW).

Early MP who limped in pre-flop then comes wayyy over the top with a raise to 700!
Seat7 folds, and the action is now on me.
I tank. What the hell does this guy have? Limps in pre-flop, and then comes over the top with a huge raise? Theres like 435 in the pot...
I vainly attempt to put him on a hand. I should have this!
I dont think he would limp with AK or KK in MP, and just call my 3XBB raise.
And honestly, Pocket 8's or 9's Never crossed my mind (but should have).

I finally decide hes either got K with a moderate kicker, or is on the Flush or Straight draw if not a total bluff and is trying to bully buy it right there.
Now, If I call, I have a pittance of chips left, not a position I want to be in. So I decide that if Im gonna do this, do it all.
As I hit the Raise (All In) button, I actually think to msyelf for a split second...
"Do you think he would be slow playing Aces?"

I just about fell out of my chair when I see the aces turn!
Mutha F*** slow play!
Im praying for a K or a Q to come up! Please, something save this hand!
No King nor Queen comes to my rescue. Im feeling like the red-headed step prince.

But Wait! Four Spades on the board give me the Queen high Flush!
I backdoor flushed the Rocket Slow Player! I jump out of my chair cheering!

And as the chips slide to SlowPlaya_, what? SlowPlaya_! What the? His Ace high spade flush beats my Queen high.

The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat, in 0.4 seconds.

Guess it's just not meant to be

Here's my final hand history from this evening's PPM IV Super Satellite;
This one really hurt...

Table PPM IV Super Satellite(227188) Table #11 (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: BB_Seat1 ( $850 )
Seat 2: Seat2 ( $950 )
Seat 3: Seat3 ( $1040 )
Seat 4: Seat4 ( $2090 )
Seat 5: SlowPlaya_ ( $1020 )
Seat 6: Seat6 ( $3100 )
Seat 7: Seat7 ( $3100 )
Seat 8: So_M0ney ( $837 )
Seat 9: Button_Seat9 ( $910 )
Seat 10: SB_Seat10 ( $590 )
Trny:9370524 Level:3
Blinds (15/30)
SB_Seat10 posts small blind (15)
BB_Seat1 posts big blind (30)

** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to So_M0ney [ Qs Kd ]
Seat2 folds.
Seat3 folds.
Seat4 folds.
SlowPlaya_ calls [30].
Seat6 folds.
Seat7 calls [30].
So_M0ney raises [90].
Button_Seat9 folds.
SB_Seat10 folds.
BB_Seat1 folds.
SlowPlaya_ calls [60].
Seat7 calls [60].

** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, Kh, 8s ]
SlowPlaya_ checks.
Seat7 checks.
So_M0ney bets [125].
SlowPlaya_ raises [700].
Seat7 folds.
So_M0ney is all-In [622]
SlowPlaya_ calls [47].

** Dealing Turn ** [ 6s ]
** Dealing River ** [ 3s ]

SlowPlaya_ shows [ As, Ac ] a flush, ace high.
So_M0ney shows [ Qs, Kd ] a flush, queen high.

Player So_M0ney finished in 196 place
SlowPlaya_ wins 1809 chips from the main pot with a flush, ace high with ace kicker.
So_M0ney has left the table.

I took some really hard hits very early on at a very crazy table, knocking me down to just over 200. One Double up, then another put me back to just under 900, then the table change.
This was the very first hand of the new table, and I get plunked down in late position.
I got trapped, and trapped hard. Perhaps that is what is upsetting me the most.

Comments and suggestions on how I should have played this better?
Should I have folded to the 700 raise?

Day of the Hammer

Tao of Poker has declared today "St. Grubby's Day".
So, drop the hammer, and send him the hand history!
Check his site for details.

King of qualifiers

I am seriously considering changing my Poker nickname to QualKing or KingQual or something along those lines. Even Rooty jibes me about my qualifier take downs.
When I want/need to get into a big buy in tourney, I have no difficulties taking top spots in the numerous qualifiers. Either MT or SNG. Where everything falls apart is the actual tourney I parlay my way into.

Why is it I can do so well in these qualifiers?
What is missing in the big game?

I have had a great run this weekend of securing seat's into the PPM IV tournements.
Yesterday afternoons Semi Final, and last nights Super Satellite. Placing in neither.
And once again today, I take down a ST SNG Super Satellite Qualifier.
Tonight's PPM IV Super Satellite is my last shot at the boat, wish me luck...

403 - The Number that will Haunt me

403...
"HTTP Error 403 - Forbidden
The server understood the request, but is refusing to fulfill it."
That pretty much sums it up. No matter what I did, what I had, fate was just not going to fulfill my request.
The final Hand. I'm on the BB AJo with 1 Limper in middle position. I raise 4x BB, BB Calls, MP calls. Flop comes xJx. I got all in with my remaining 800 or so, to get called by the BB, MP folds.
BB Called with the Hooks, giving him the set, and giving me a heartbreak.

I can't let it affect me too much, I WONT let it affect me. I still have tonight...

And We're Off

Feb. Semi Finals Day4 for the PartyPoker Million IV!
1-26th win a trip, with 1504 players registered.

Taking a Double Shot

Well, I placed 1st in a PPM IV Super Satellite Qualifier yesterday, which gets me into tonight's PPM IV Super Satellite.
Now, here's the dilemma, this tourney starts at 23:15EST, that's 10:15 my time. Normally not a big deal, but as these have been running 4-6 hours, it's a Sunday night, and I have to work the next day.
There are currently about 160 players registered for this tourney. So maybe it won't take that long to complete.
So here is my plan, I'm going to go ahead and buy-in for the afternoon Feb. Semi-Finals Day4. This gives me 2 stabs at securing my seat on the boat. This afternoon, and later this evening.
Now, which tourney to use the bonus chips in...

Update: Apparently, I can use none of my 2500 in bonus chips for this evenings tourney. So that leaves me with using 2000 (the max) of my 2500 in this afternoon's tourney.

New Blog

Well, my original blog IM1SleekGeek was intended more as a personal resource (Google Toolbar Blog this is very handy), full of non poker related links, stuff I found interesting, etc., not to mention just sounded vain.

This new blog will be Poker related content only! My intention is to chronicle my experience as a poker newb, sharing resources, lessons learned, and trying to help others that may be new to poker.

I entitled the new Blog Follow Suit becuase that is exactly what I did. I got into poker when it started gaining massive exposure. My first real experience was when my now fiance and I spent the weekend at a local casino. That was March of 2005 2004, so I don't even have a year of poker under my belt.

I hope you find some useful information, and feel free to let me know about any resources or lessons you discovered.