Tough Tournament Decision

Playing in the final last night for the 10 day Wildhorse Poker Roundup package I got on an early heater. Beginning the final with 35,000 in chips with 500/1000 blinds I was in average or slightly above chip count. I had decided early on to play aggressively and took down the first pot with pocket 4's against the tournament leader. I then went on a heater, getting pocket 7's (lost), pocket 10's (won), pocket queens (won) and AK (won). I had almost doubled up in the first 1/2 hour and was now around 4th in the tournament with about 60,000. That is when my trouble hit.

In middle position I look down at AQ of diamonds. I raise to 3500 and get two callers ....both big stacks that have me covered. The flop? Hallelujah! Q/J/10 with two diamonds. I think briefly about my bet sizing and decide to bet 10,000 into the 12000 pot, representing a big hand, but perhaps fearful of diamonds...which would be my dream turn card if someone was on a diamond draw, also protecting against the flopped open ender of 9/10 or AK gutshot. The first limper announced raise and the button quickly mucked. To be honest, I can't even remember what his raise was, a minraise here is 10,000, but I looked at the board and too quickly reraised all-in.

What went through my mind was:

1. He probably thought I caught air and was playing too aggressively.
2. He probably has the same hand, but I have a backup plan with the flush draw.
3. He was slow playing a monster AA or KK against my raise, but I still have 12 outs against kings and 9 against aces.
4. He flopped a set, same outs as kings.
5. He had AK for a flopped straight (really not that, since I think he slow plays it a little but perhaps fearful of flush draw.)

Anyway, the pot was offering me tremendous odds against any of these hands as the total pot size was 40,000 without my reraise and I was not a huge dog. With my all-in I was getting 3/1 with about 2/1 against me. I had a chance to become the massive chip leader and almost knock out one of the big stacks.

He turns over Q/J offsuit!!! for two pair. I fail to improve and he has me barely covered. I am the first one out. Wow!

In reviewing this I see several mistakes on my part.

1. Pot Control. With a huge hand and bigger draw I should have made a smaller continuation bet. This would have shielded me from the big reraise. If I bet 5,000 on the flop and he reraises me to 10 or 15,000 I have excellent odds to call and go for the flush on the turn without risking my stack. Also this would give good odds to the last limper if he had a draw.

2. Not being able to see the forest for the trees. This is hand I can lay down this early and still have a lot of chips. The deck has been kind to me so far, so why risk my tournament on one hand. This is the most compelling mistake I made.

3. Not taking enough time for big decisions. I should have taken more time, asking for chip counts, exactly figuring odds, making him think more. I might have changed my mind about my shove.

4. Realizing the impossibility of me hitting a 15 outer.

Anyway, I was disappointed and disgusted with my play. If I had hit my flush or bigger two pair I would have looked like a genius, but that is poker. That said, the prize package was nice, but really only worth about $3500 and would not have been able to use much of it as I will be in Vegas that week, baby!