Carson's Live 04/21/06

Last night I played in my first monthly venue championship for the APL. Basically if you win, you get a certificate, a trophy and a seat to the regional championship. There were 5 tables and I started out good with pocket kings my second hand. Then a few blind levels later I get pocket 10's and raise to 3x the blinds. I get two callers and the flop comes AKQ which doesn't look good unless I get a J on the turn or river. Everybody checks to me and I bet 300, get one caller and the turn is a 7. Opponent checks and I bet 500 which he calls after some thought. River is a 3 and I bet 1000 after he checks. He thinks and throws away his Q and I take the pot exposing my 10's. Later when the blinds are beginning to take their toll on my stack I get pocket aces and go all in 4x the blind. I get a caller and double up when his KQ doesn't hit. Soon we are down to the final 16 and I get the pocket aces again!! so I raise to double the blind and one player puts me all in which I happily call. He has K10 and my aces hold up again. Soon we are at the final table and the blinds are 2000-4000 and I have 14,000 in chips. I get pocket kings and go all in. Everyone folds to the small blind who thinks for about 3 minutes and calls with A10. Flop has an ACE and I get no help and I am out in 8th.

Sadly the past 3 nights I have gone out on good hands... Monday I went out with AK against KK and A7, the A7 WON with a straight.... Tuesday I have A10 at a 4 handed table, go all in against JJ and A3, the A3 wins with 2 pair.