Tournament Update

The last couple of days have gone much better than the previous. I dropped about 10 buy-ins a few days ago, and decided to slowly get my head back in the game. I was playing well, I just kept getting unlucky and my hands were not holding up. So I took it slow over the next two days. The results were good. I cashed in a majority of the tourneys I played in. Over the past two days, I've played in 20 tourneys. I cashed in 12 of them, giving me a 60% in the money percentage. My normal percentage is about 44% so I'm running well right now. I won back the buy-ins I dropped, so I can get back to business as usual. I'm still planning on implementing my new strategy within the next couple of days and start taking some shots at multi-table tournaments. I'll also be branching out to play more cash games. I used to play cash games from time to time.
I qualified for the Bronze Ironman freeroll this month. So I'll be playing in that next Saturday. I also qualified for the One-a-day freeroll. I don't know how many people will be in that freeroll, so I may just take the bonus medals. There will be about 1,000 people in the Ironman freeroll. My experience with them is that about 2/3 of the field actually play the event. The rest sit out or just shove for the first few levels. First place will be about $1,200, so that would be a big boost to the bankroll. So I'll give them my best shot and whatever happens, happens.
My mind is really focused on poker right now. I feel like I'm playing really well right now. I've made some good laydowns and have upped the aggression a couple of notches. I found a minor leak in my game. When I get short, I tend to play a little too passive. I've made the mistake of trying to set mine with small pairs when I didn't really have the implied odds or the right situation to do it. So I need to stay alert and aggressive if I start to get short. Of course, from time to time, you have to win the 50/50, 60/40 races. That's just a part of the game. In one of the games tonight, I was getting short and we were 5 handed. I had about 8 big blinds. I shoved in the cutoff with 89 suited. The big blind called with AJ off and I caught an 8. The turn and river bricked and I doubled up. If I had shoved with a marginal ace or king, I would have been gone. That's why I always advocate shoving with pairs and hands that are not likely to be dominated. On a side note, I find it funny that players are willing to call off their stack and put their tournament on the line with some very questionable hands. It's one thing to be the one raising. It's totally different if you are the one calling. I've seen players call all ins for more than 75% of their stack with hands like; K7 off, Q8 suited, A4 off, 64 suited, and J9.
I've done some things really well over the past few days. The first of which is playing patiently at the beginning of a tournament. I've raised and three bet people with some hands, but have gotten away from hands when I should. Early in the tournament, I'm looking to make a big hand or hit a big draw. I try to stay out of marginal situations. I want to play small pots with small hands, and big pots with big hands. If I get some big hands, then usually I can grab the chip lead early and use those chips to pressure players later. If I don't get any kind of big hand or hit a big draw, then usually I'm in the middle of the pack and start to play position and move chips when I can. I don't look to push small edges early. That's just the way I play. I'll change gears and I'll make moves, but I'm not going to push with small hands, especially with small pairs.