Scott Diamond

Last night I played the The $335.00 rebuy tournament at the Bicycle Casino.We started with 2500 chips and in the first 3 hands I had KK,AA and only picked up a few chips.

Later in level 2 while I was in the BB I had 8-5 and the SB limped..Everyone else had folded and the SB had just come to the table,

The flop was 9-7-6...pretty good.. I checked and the turn was a K..The SB checked again after I saw him reach for his chips. The river was another K and the SB put his whole stack of 1500 in. I thought I let him catch up but I called any way and he turned over K-10 for a set but lost.

As usual I was card dead and I finally looked down at JJ, I made a raise after this Asian gentleman under the gun raised the pot to 300 when the blinds were 100-50. I re raised to 700 and he called...an ace hit the flop and it slowed me down but when he checked I fired in 1500,he called with 2 spades on the board and of course he hit his flush on the river with a KQ of spades in his hand, I now had 1700 chips left as we went to the break.

Level four started and I won a pot with 77 and know was back up to 4500 chips, I was in the cutoff with 4 limpers and I had 9-10 and called. The flop was 7-8-6 with 2 spades and it checked to me and I put 4300 chips in the middle because I did not want anyone chasing the flush. The re buys were over and we were at 200-100- with a 25 ante.

An aggressive player in the BB called me with 8-5clubs for top pair. He must of thought I was chasing the flush and called my all in. He was shocked to see I had flopped a straight again and he just got up and left.I am at 8700 chips now and feeling better about the night.

About a half hour later I look down at Ah-Kd and I raise with 4 limpers and get called by 2. I put 1200 into the pot in the cutoff again ,and still had 2 callers. I thought maybe some one was slow playing KK or AA. Here is where I made a mistake.

The flop was Ad-Qd-8c....One guy went all in for 4200 chips and I didn't look at the lucky Asian guy and called the 4300. I should of layed down because I thought the guy may have hit a set of 8's and was afraid of the flush draw. But he had gone all in his SB and BB earlier and I thought he was trying to steal. The Lucky Asian guy called me and the turn was a Js.. I checked here and the Asian goes all in and he turns over AQ, the first all in turns over J9 diamonds....How does he call a 1200 raise with J9d I do not know, Anyway the river was a 7d and he hit his flush and I busted to the arrogant Lucky guy who beat me earlier with KQ spades.

It's my fault for calling the 4200 raise I could of gotten out cheap and still had chips to play.

I never put the Lucky guy on an Ace,I didn't look at him before I called the all in by J9. I hate when I get greedy and I hate when I do not listen to the voice in my head that told me I should fold because the guy hit his set. Even though I was wrong,I should of listened because he ended up winning a huge pot and I was on my way home after 3/12 hours of play.

I know you have to gamble to win,but I need to pick better spots. The initial raise in my position was correct,but as you all know there is a lot of luck involved and its amazing Mr. Lucky flopped 2 pair AQ...more so for the J9 guy hitting his flush,either way If I was heads up against Lucky I still lose.

Maybe I was feeling lucky because I hit 2 straights and I told myself BE PATIENT do not get stupid, this is a good table with quality players. Oh well theres another tournament Thursday,but its at 7:15 and I work Friday morning so I am not sure I am going to play. I may just wait till Sundays fan appreciation $100.00 Nl event that starts at 4:15. There will be a lot of people I am sure, but I have not been getting enough rest lately and Heavenly Holdem starts next week at Commerce.

There were 172 players last night and the field busted very fast. When I left there were only about 80 players at the beginning of level 7.

I hope you all have a good week and Best of Luck to Mike Grazc, Bryan Devonshire and J.C. Tran who are still left in the Bellagio event. Gus Hansen has a sick amount of chips,but easy come, easy Go......

Take Care...Be Safe