First of all I'd like to thank you all for your responses! And no, I do not mind people saying how they would've played the hands. I also appreciate the guys who took the time to answer how they would've played it given the scenario as it stands. This is how we all learn right?

What I would like to do is reveal how these hands actually played out and then maybe discuss how things would've played out differently if I would've followed some of your advice.

Hand 1.

This was a tournament that was played late the other night. The buy in was $20 but being so late with guys having to go to work the next morning things were moving real quick. 3 guys had gone out in the first half hour because the raising preflop was crazy.

I really should've played the 10,10 more aggresively even UTG but I was fully expecting a large raise by someone else. Being early in the tournament I didn't want to put a lot of chips at risk especially when guys were dropping like flies. I wanted to make it into the money.

I did call the bet and the guy ended up having a 6 and an 8 to give him the straight on the turn. If I would've bet more aggressively preflop or on the flop I probably would've taken down a small pot. I guess I should've known that he would be holding rags and there was a good chance he'd have two pair or straight draw. I knew he didn't have a set because he definately would raise with a pocket pair. Looking back I'm kind of surprised he called the pot size bet with an open ended straight draw.

I guess I had very little respect for the guy after seeing him play so recklessly in the past. Instead I was the reckless one.

Would you guys play this hands aggresively early in a tournament setting?


Hand 2.

This one really chaps my rawhide! It was another tournament and this hand pretty much ended my night.

The guy had a (10c, 3c) to give him the flush on the turn as well. I did call the $50 bet because I really believed that he was just overbetting the small pot to try and steal it. I played the hand weakly to that point so I'm pretty sure he didn't think I had the flush. Why would he bet so big? Why not value bet there? Who am I to say though he did take all my chips

A couple people commented that I shouldn't have slow played the small flush on the turn. What would be a smart bet in this situation? Regardless it would've been a tough lay down for me because I know this guy would bluff at anything.

I guess I'm realizing that I'm really an infant in respect to my skill at this game. However I AM trying to learn which is a lot more than I can say for the group of guys I play with. There is only one other guy who actually studies any strategy and knows what he is doing. The other guys have no idea about outs, pot odds, etc.

I think this may be some of my problem. I'll read all this great info and then go into the game thinking that everyone is playing their cards technically sound. I end up getting caught mis-reading many of their plays and getting burned. Then out of fear I play way too conservatively.

Once again thanks for your time.