Well I’m out … It was tough starting short stacked. Finally get AK and push only to run into AA, not much more to do when so short in chips. Was officially 48 out of 2,200 players … another day tomorrow.

As frustrated as I get from being bumped, later, I have to put the whole tournament into perspective. We started with 3,000 in chips, I got down to 800 in chips and came back big. Here’s what happened … was just getting killed on every premium hand and couldn’t win a pot. A pre flop raise by a very tight player was only 300 to me, I only had 800 and was dealt 9/8 of diamonds, a hand I like. Figured I’d have to shove no matter what, I see an 8 in the door and was going to go .. but then saw another one on the flop. I check and the other two players check. The turn is a blank (figured if it was an ace I was in trouble) so I tossed my last 500 chip in the pot. Pre flop raiser tosses in a 500 chip and flips over aces, only to see my set of 8’s … so I was saved and was able to parlay that into a final 3% of the field .. not too bad Queen I should tell myself more often, not too bad.

Today is Hayden’s 19th birthday, hard not to think about what we would be doing. I know I would be calling him at Stanford trying to get a little Mom time, but that would be allright. Thought about what best to do today to keep my mind off of him not being here with me, and decided to do the one thing I’ve done the last four years which has kept my mind off my loss. I registered for the $220 $250,000 guarantee at Commerce.

Started at 1 p.m. and had a rough day. Had KK cracked early by 77 with four clubs on the Board. Got down to 800 chips but managed to push my way back up to $95,000, chip average, at 2 a.m. Lost with a raise with A J suited on the button of $15,000 (blinds $2500/5000) and the big blind calls. Flop 8 K 8, he had checked dark so I had to see where I was, bet $20,000 … he calls. I had to abandon and he did show a king.

We go back Sunday at 2 p.m Down to the Final 54 over two days play and over 2,000 players. Top 27 from each day return Sunday … wish me luck.

Poker in LA has been interesting. The heads up match didn’t last long. Had AK on a AK3 board. I fire, he calls, turn a 3. I fire, he min raises and I call. On the river he moves all in. I have to fold. This was half my stack. Then I turn a straight, push to protect it and he calls with top pair and a four flusher and rivers the flush. Nice hand sir was all I could say.

Played cash and ate. Had worked up a few hundred dollar profit and getting ready to leave when in big blind I have K 9. Small blind makes it $15, I’m in for $5 already and another player stays in. Flop is 5 5 9, original bettor makes it $35, I make it $100, just making a move, and the original raiser throws Aces away face up. He was NOT happy when I turn up K 9 as the other player who only had $40 behind calls my raise with A 9. I hit the K on the turn to win and to begin a torrent of abuse by the guy to my right. He went on and on and said what did you think I was betting with? Finally I said “look buddy, I was making a move, you folded the best hand, its poker. But if you want to keep me from outplaying you bet more than $15 with those aces.”. I left shortly thereafter with his money in my pocket. Play today at 1 pm. $250,000 guarantee.

I’ve had trouble getting my balance in LA thus far. Yesterday in the six handed event I have a guy who goes against my A K with Q 3 on a K high board and gets his flush. Today in the heads up I get crippled with A K flop AK3, I fire, he calls, turn a 3 I fire he re-raises and I have to fold. Begin to build my stack up until hand where I have 10 8 off. Flop gives me a double buster, hit the straight on the turn, push he calls with top pair and gets the flush on the river. Not much I can so there. Back to cash and tomorrow’s tournament.

Well I’m back in LA getting my groove. My start here was slow with the weather, sick, no voice and worried about Lincoln. Drove back in Sunday night, played Monday’s event and bubbled. Frustrating, guess I could have limped along but getting $700 isn’t ever my goal. Yesterday was limit so played satellites and cash and won my buy in for today’s six handed event at 1 pm.

In one of my roughest poker days in a while, I’ve bubbled today’s event. 440 players started and I lasted to 45th. Started off fine but was getting blinded off. Pushed with tens, ran into queens. Happens. Played well though and I don’t always say that.