The good news is I was 2 for 2 getting to the final table last night in MTT's, finishing in the money both times. But now that I am getting there, I am experiencing some frustration not getting into the "real money" - like top 3. This is not meant to be a bad beat story. I just want to know if I am playing right at this level and if what I am experiencing is typical.

First one I am the small stack (7k) with 9 left, most players have at least 12k, some a lot more. I get QQ in LP. Blinds are 600/1200. I have to push with this right? Well, I get one raiser and a loose player goes all in before me, so I have chance to triple up, so I call it. The raiser actually folds, so it's heads up and he flips A9os. Ends up getting the J high straight to knock me out.

Second one, down to last 5, I am sitting in 3rd i believe with about 9k in chips. (There were only about 35 players total in this one). Blinds were 200/400. On the button I get AA. Everyone limps in to me, so I raise up to about 1300 and all fold but one player I have pegged for playing any A and any two face cards. Flop comes Qxx. She checks. I go all in , figuring I can take the 4k pot right there or trap her playing a QJ or Ax. She thinks a LONG time and makes the call. QK she shows, and hits the K on the turn to take me out. Watching tha chat after, she says she put me on an overpair. WTF? Why would someone call all in knowing I had KK or AA?

Anyway, my question is was I making the right play in these two instances? I thought after the 2nd one that maybe I shouldnt have pushed all in, but not so sure. I think in the first I was right to go for the triple up short stacked.

Now that I am getting better at getting to that final table, I want to win one of these suckers!

Any advice is greatly appreciated.