Is having as sweet as wanting? Actually, yes...aka FT 25K Final Table...aka Why the fuck didn't I request a win?

Well, I played pretty poorly at the Mookie. Called a push by lucko holding bottom pair and an OESD, figuring he MIGHT have TPTK or just be putting a move on me. Nope - top two. I river my straight. Looked like a total moron. I've said it before, but at blogger-go-rounds in particular I just don't want it if I have to donk my way there. Suckouts happen, but that was just dumb. Captain Lucksac indeed, smokkee.

On a brighter note, I fared better in the FT 25K.

Many many thanks to Don, JJ, Waffles, Jo, Weak and of course Fuel for hanging with me. Mookie and Fastpitch also hung out too, proving that if there's anything better than success, it's success with your friends watching. Even if they do get to see you at your Weak/Tighty worst occasionally. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Yes, After many, many posts promising it - the MWGB finally delivered: I final tabled the FT25K (ne: 20K) at long bloody last. And I have to say; donkament or no - it is a great feeling to wade through a field that large and get it done. Well almost. But they say sixth is where it's really at anyway. It's been a good week in this tournament with cashes the last three attempts, and I am now WAY positive for the effort.

Shoulda asked for a win. Even though I was short to start, I thought this was a good, good omen.

I'm pretty tired so I'll keep this relatively short. I have a major leak that became crystal clear to me in this MTT and I may as well post it, because that's always been my first step to improvement. I have almost zero final table skills. It's no wonder I've only won three MTTs in the entire time I've been playing - 2 of them blogger tourneys (The Not and The Mookie - I also chopped the FT 3.5K once). After playing what I consider to be a logical, occasionally brave game to get to the final table, I break down completely. I will have to grow as a player to take it to the next level. There is a qualitative difference between guys like lucko, smokkee, and Hoy compared to guys like me. I am still in that group that hasn't figured out those last few pieces of this very complicated puzzle. But I am optimistic I will. Sooner than later hopefully.

In my defense I was a microshorty, which limited my flexibility, but I still don't like my play overall. Again, that's not a bad thing - how can you improve if you're complacent? I seriously deserved to get blinded out - I folded almost three full orbits to where when I pushed I didn't even cover the big blind. Can you spell card dead? Well that, and two tactical laydowns hoping other shorties would bust before me - no luck: before I pushed there were four all-in confrontations with the pusher winning every time. I had resigned myself to an 8th place finish with a smile on my face.

This MTT being on Full Tilt however, I was given a reprieve by my poker alma mater:

Yup, FT loves me and I love FT. I can almost promise the day my boy the HammerPlayah moves MATH to its rightful place I will take her down despite my inept endgame. FT just wants good things to happen to me and so they do. Like fer example - here's me trying to get my money in ahead:
Yeesh. I had suffered three terrible beats on my way up the hill (albiet pretty early and all for relatively small pots know that I think about it), so maybe the universe felt a little guilty. Or just wanted to do me a solid. Either way, much appreciated. Does it look better to note I am pushing first in that picture? I basically think each of us did ok on that one, and the favorite son simply brought it home.

Besides, getting your money in ahead is way, way over-rated, as demonstrated by my eventual exit shown below [all money in preflop]. Yet again I go out a slight favourite preflop I think.
Whatevah...I wouldn't have even been that far unless I got ridiculously lucky with my first push. And anyway, it's all good, because as far as I'm concerned this was a mission accomplished.

Next up: rereading Harrington, maybe pick up the new volume and work on my endgame.

Then of course, I'll try to win this thing.

L A Y T A H.