I'm on the final level. I've gotta say, this is pretty nerveracking for my BR. It's now 2600, but I need to deposit $400 into the next level. Here's the HH from 5/10 tonight - I'll post the rest when I'm on the other computer with the saved hand histories.

I got blinded down to $125, with not one decent hand at all for about 30 hands.

PokerStars Game #2433022444: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:28:25 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($125 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($1043.05 in chips)
Seat 6: Bighazer ($273 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($5965.05 in chips)
Lyric: posts small blind $5
Everton1878: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [7d 8s]
nuts69: calls $10
Bighazer: calls $10
Lyric: folds
Everton1878: checks
*** FLOP *** [Ah 2h 8d]
Everton1878: checks
nuts69: checks
Bighazer: checks
*** TURN *** [Ah 2h 8d] [6c]
Everton1878: bets $20
nuts69: folds
Bighazer: calls $20
*** RIVER *** [Ah 2h 8d 6c] [4d]
Everton1878: checks
Bighazer: bets $20
Everton1878: calls $20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Bighazer: shows [9s Ad] (a pair of Aces)
Everton1878: mucks hand
Bighazer collected $113 from pot
Everton1878 said, "nh]"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $115 | Rake $2
Board [Ah 2h 8d 6c 4d]
Seat 2: Everton1878 (big blind) mucked [7d 8s]
Seat 5: nuts69 folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Bighazer (button) showed [9s Ad] and won ($113) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: Lyric (small blind) folded before Flop

This set me back to desperation mode, almost, with only 4 people at the table. Even though I did 6-max through 2/4, I didn't like it while being card dead.


PokerStars Game #2433036433: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:31:43 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($65 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($1037.05 in chips)
Seat 6: Bighazer ($326 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6128.80 in chips)
Bighazer: posts small blind $5
Lyric: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Ts Qd]
Everton1878: raises $55 to $65 and is all-in
nuts69: folds
Bighazer: folds
skrat leaves the table
Lyric: folds
Everton1878 collected $25 from pot
Everton1878: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $25 | Rake $0
Seat 2: Everton1878 collected ($25)
Seat 5: nuts69 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Bighazer (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Lyric (big blind) folded before Flop

Phew.


PokerStars Game #2433055998: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:36:28 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($78.75 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($1000 in chips)
Seat 6: Bighazer ($310 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6350.80 in chips)
iainlbc will be allowed to play after the button
Everton1878: posts small blind $5
nuts69: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Kd Qd]
ukraine001 joins the table at seat #9
Bighazer: folds
Lyric: raises $30 to $40
Everton1878: raises $38.75 to $78.75 and is all-in
Bighazer leaves the table
nuts69: calls $68.75
Lyric: calls $38.75
*** FLOP *** [Qs 9d 5c]
nuts69: checks
Lyric: checks
*** TURN *** [Qs 9d 5c] [5d]
nuts69: checks
Lyric: checks
*** RIVER *** [Qs 9d 5c 5d] [Jd]
nuts69: checks
Lyric: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Everton1878: shows [Kd Qd] (a flush, King high)
nuts69: mucks hand
Lyric: mucks hand
Everton1878 collected $234.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $236.25 | Rake $2
Board [Qs 9d 5c 5d Jd]
Seat 2: Everton1878 (small blind) showed [Kd Qd] and won ($234.25) with a flush, King high
Seat 5: nuts69 (big blind) mucked [As 8h]
Seat 6: Bighazer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lyric (button) mucked [7s Ts]

Lyric had raised with mediocre hands, and figured QKs is a good enough hand to make a stand. The cold call worried me, but my hand got stronger after every street, eventually turning into an unneeded runner runner flush.


PokerStars Game #2433070704: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:40:10 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($224.25 in chips)
Seat 4: JED550 ($268 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($941.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6257.05 in chips)
Seat 9: ukraine001 ($403.75 in chips)
ukraine001: posts small blind $5
Everton1878: posts big blind $10
JED550: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [7s Qs]
JED550: raises $10 to $20
nuts69: calls $20
Lyric: folds
ukraine001: folds
iainlbc is connected
Everton1878: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [7h 3s Td]
Everton1878: bets $30
JED550: calls $30
iainlbc has returned
nuts69: folds
*** TURN *** [7h 3s Td] [As]
Everton1878: checks
JED550: bets $30
Everton1878: calls $30
*** RIVER *** [7h 3s Td As] [7c]
Everton1878: checks
JED550: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Everton1878: shows [7s Qs] (three of a kind, Sevens)
JED550: mucks hand
Everton1878 collected $183 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $185 | Rake $2
Board [7h 3s Td As 7c]
Seat 2: Everton1878 (big blind) showed [7s Qs] and won ($183) with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 4: JED550 mucked [9s 9h]
Seat 5: nuts69 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Lyric (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ukraine001 (small blind) folded before Flop

I put him on AJ-AK or some PP, and with the flush draw + 6 outs for pair on the turn, I had good odds. I checked on the river, hoping he'd bet, then I would raise all in.

PokerStars Game #2433087163: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:44:25 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #8 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($287.25 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($1037.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6252.05 in chips)
Seat 8: iainlbc ($307.50 in chips)
Seat 9: ukraine001 ($412.50 in chips)
ukraine001: posts small blind $5
Everton1878: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Ah 4h]
nuts69: calls $10
Lyric: raises $40 to $50
iainlbc: folds
ukraine001: calls $45
Everton1878: folds
nuts69: calls $40
*** FLOP *** [3s 5d 2c]
ukraine001: checks
nuts69: checks
Lyric: bets $100
ukraine001: raises $262.50 to $362.50 and is all-in
nuts69: folds
Lyric: folds
ukraine001 collected $358 from pot
ukraine001: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $360 | Rake $2
Board [3s 5d 2c]
Seat 2: Everton1878 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: nuts69 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Lyric folded on the Flop
Seat 8: iainlbc (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ukraine001 (small blind) collected ($358)

Damn..

PokerStars Game #2433104329: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:49:00 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($272.25 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($1015.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6082.05 in chips)
Seat 8: iainlbc ($297.50 in chips)
Seat 9: ukraine001 ($624 in chips)
iainlbc: posts small blind $5
ukraine001: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Ah As]
Everton1878: raises $20 to $30
nuts69: folds
Lyric: folds
iainlbc: calls $25
ukraine001: folds
*** FLOP *** [4c 9h 4s]
iainlbc: checks
Everton1878: checks
*** TURN *** [4c 9h 4s] [8c]
iainlbc: checks
Everton1878: bets $40
iainlbc: calls $40
*** RIVER *** [4c 9h 4s 8c] [Ac]
iainlbc: checks
Everton1878: bets $40
iainlbc: calls $40
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Everton1878: shows [Ah As] (a full house, Aces full of Fours)
iainlbc: mucks hand
Everton1878 collected $228 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $230 | Rake $2
Board [4c 9h 4s 8c Ac]
Seat 2: Everton1878 showed [Ah As] and won ($228) with a full house, Aces full of Fours
Seat 5: nuts69 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lyric (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: iainlbc (small blind) mucked [9d Td]
Seat 9: ukraine001 (big blind) folded before Flop

I figured AA could afford to let him catch up, as 44 on the board blocked 2 pair on the board beating me. On the river, I thought I bet enough to just hit 400.. Big Mistake

PokerStars Game #2433109366: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:50:22 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #8 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($390.25 in chips)

Damn it!

PokerStars Game #2433136351: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:57:51 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($363.75 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($1402 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6034.05 in chips)
Seat 9: ukraine001 ($479 in chips)
nuts69: posts small blind $5
Lyric: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [As 4s]
ukraine001: folds
Everton1878: raises $20 to $30
nuts69: folds
Lyric: calls $20
*** FLOP *** [Kd Ks Jh]
Lyric: checks
Everton1878: bets $30
Lyric: folds
Everton1878 collected $63 from pot
Everton1878: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $65 | Rake $2
Board [Kd Ks Jh]
Seat 2: Everton1878 (button) collected ($63)
Seat 5: nuts69 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Lyric (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: ukraine001 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Almost there!

PokerStars Game #2433138002: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 03:58:20 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($396.75 in chips)

This is where you get tempted to quit, and just use the other 3.25 profit extra from a different level to move up, but I felt I wouldn't have accomplished my goal if I did.


PokerStars Game #2433149931: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 04:01:52 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($391.75 in chips)
Seat 4: Hookz ($673.75 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($868 in chips)
Seat 6: md2492 ($223.20 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6377.05 in chips)
nuts69: posts small blind $5
md2492: posts big blind $10
Lyric said, "you got out cheap as possible"
doctorado removed from table for failing to post
harley1 has timed out
harley1: is sitting out
Mr.Matrix007: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Qc Jd]
Lyric: folds
Everton1878: raises $20 to $30
Hookz: folds
nuts69: folds
md2492: raises $60 to $90
Everton1878: folds
md2492 collected $65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $65 | Rake $0
Seat 2: Everton1878 folded before Flop
Seat 4: Hookz (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: nuts69 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: md2492 (big blind) collected ($65)
Seat 7: Lyric folded before Flop (didn't bet)

He folds here and I go through. My luck of course dictates that I will be sweating it out for a while longer.

PokerStars Game #2433172789: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 04:08:45 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Mr.Matrix007 ($260 in chips)
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($336.75 in chips)
Seat 3: jeffstars ($990 in chips)
Seat 4: Hookz ($1000 in chips)
Seat 5: nuts69 ($900 in chips)
Seat 6: md2492 ($290.45 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6362.05 in chips)
Seat 8: harley1 ($422.25 in chips)
Seat 9: Sports Night ($190 in chips)
jeffstars: posts small blind $5
Hookz: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Th Tc]
nuts69: calls $10
md2492: folds
Lyric: folds
harley1: folds
Sports Night: folds
Mr.Matrix007: folds
Everton1878: calls $10
jeffstars: calls $5
Hookz: checks
*** FLOP *** [Td Ah 8h]
jeffstars: checks
Hookz: checks
nuts69: checks
Everton1878: bets $30
jeffstars: folds
Hookz: calls $30
nuts69: folds
*** TURN *** [Td Ah 8h] [4c]
Hookz: checks
Everton1878: bets $90
Hookz: folds
Everton1878 collected $97 from pot
Everton1878: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $100 | Rake $3
Board [Td Ah 8h 4c]
Seat 1: Mr.Matrix007 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Everton1878 (button) collected ($97)
Seat 3: jeffstars (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Hookz (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: nuts69 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: md2492 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lyric folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: harley1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Sports Night folded before Flop (didn't bet)

So many draws on the board, I didn't want to get sucked out on for my stack here, so I bet pot. I also didn't raise preflop because I thought it would put me in an awkward situation postflop with nuts69, who played loose and would call with bottom pair as often as top pair. On a flop of 49K for example, if I bet and he calls, I am left clueless and with only $200~ left.

PokerStars Game #2433175865: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 04:09:40 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Mr.Matrix007 ($260 in chips)
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($393.75 in chips)

Dying to just move up.

PokerStars Game #2433215362: Hold'em No Limit ($5/$10) - 2005/08/27 - 04:22:13 (ET)
Table 'Garumna IV' Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Mr.Matrix007 ($385 in chips)
Seat 2: Everton1878 ($378.75 in chips)
Seat 3: jeffstars ($1007 in chips)
Seat 4: Hookz ($1389.75 in chips)
Seat 5: ThE MyZeR ($400 in chips)
Seat 6: md2492 ($265.45 in chips)
Seat 7: Lyric ($6339.05 in chips)
Seat 8: harley1 ($307.25 in chips)
Seat 9: Sports Night ($212 in chips)
Hookz: posts small blind $5
ThE MyZeR: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Everton1878 [Qs Ks]
md2492: folds
Lyric: folds
harley1: folds
Sports Night: calls $10
Mr.Matrix007: folds
Everton1878: raises $20 to $30
jeffstars: folds
Hookz: folds
ThE MyZeR: folds
Sports Night: calls $20
*** FLOP *** [6h Ah 9d]
Sports Night: checks
Everton1878: bets $40

If he folds here, I finally get to move up...

Sports Night: folds
Everton1878 collected $72 from pot
Everton1878 is sitting out
Everton1878: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $75 | Rake $3
Board [6h Ah 9d]
Seat 1: Mr.Matrix007 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Everton1878 collected ($72)
Seat 3: jeffstars (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Hookz (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: ThE MyZeR (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: md2492 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lyric folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: harley1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Sports Night folded on the Flop

About time!