Tournaments, luck, and you

The amount of luck required to win a large field tournament is enormous. Recently, I chopped a freeroll headsup on Stars for $7.5k. Here are some fun hands:

Underpairs are the nuts
-----Hand 9-----
Heros M = 35.33
PokerStars Game #19119377500: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/07/26 - 14:55:55 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 40 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: MDoranD (2355 in chips)
Seat 2: Hero (5300 in chips)
Seat 3: Duderino22 (3460 in chips)
Seat 4: AttyBubba (7895 in chips)
Seat 5: fitzinabox (3275 in chips)
Seat 6: FlareMVP (890 in chips)
Seat 7: illwill514 (855 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: NevadaBelle (5925 in chips)
Seat 9: chali2na99 (2305 in chips)
chali2na99: posts small blind 50
MDoranD: posts big blind 100
Preflop: Hero dealt 8 8
Hero: raises 200 to 300
Duderino22: folds
AttyBubba: folds
fitzinabox: calls 300
FlareMVP: folds
illwill514: folds
NevadaBelle: folds
chali2na99: raises 2005 to 2305 and is all-in
MDoranD: folds
Hero: raises 2595 to 4900
fitzinabox: folds
Uncalled bet (2595) returned to Hero
Flop: 4 K 8
Turn: 8
River: 3
Showdown:
chali2na99: shows Q Q (two pair, Queens and Eights)
Hero: shows 8 8 (four of a kind, Eights)
Hero collected 5010 from pot

Always make sure to cooler people like crazy

-----Hand 23-----
Heros M = 14.74
PokerStars Game #19121070973: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2008/07/26 - 16:03:06 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 96 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: StoneCold17 (10965 in chips)
Seat 2: Olly666 (9720 in chips)
Seat 3: Hero (12163 in chips)
Seat 4: anneka_15 (20054 in chips)
Seat 5: klonkosaurus (8663 in chips)
Seat 6: smsnl (9184 in chips)
Seat 7: Sodom (4725 in chips)
Seat 8: GypsyHilRyan (21445 in chips)
Seat 9: Krystyna51 (6625 in chips)
All players post the ante 25
Olly666: posts small blind 200
Hero: posts big blind 400
Preflop: Hero dealt A A
anneka_15: folds
klonkosaurus: raises 1050 to 1450
smsnl: raises 7709 to 9159 and is all-in
Sodom: folds
GypsyHilRyan: folds
Krystyna51: folds
StoneCold17: folds
Olly666: folds
Hero: raises 2979 to 12138 and is all-in
klonkosaurus: folds
Uncalled bet (2979) returned to Hero
Flop: J 4 2
Turn: Q
River: 2
Showdown:
Hero: shows A A (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
smsnl: shows J A (two pair, Jacks and Deuces)
Hero collected 20193 from pot

WIN YOUR RACES

-----Hand 29-----
Heros M = 21.22
PokerStars Game #19122329351: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XI (500/1000) - 2008/07/26 - 16:52:36 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 96 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: DarDaugiau (44997 in chips)
Seat 2: Olly666 (15235 in chips)
Seat 3: Hero (33747 in chips)
Seat 4: Basadoni (44618 in chips)
Seat 5: Dmichaels21 (47485 in chips)
Seat 6: -db- (16310 in chips)
Seat 7: Sodom (3950 in chips)
Seat 8: GypsyHilRyan (13387 in chips)
Seat 9: Krystyna51 (8751 in chips)
All players post the ante 10
Olly666: posts small blind 500
Hero: posts big blind 1000
Preflop: Hero dealt 9 9
Basadoni: folds
Dmichaels21: folds
-db-: folds
Sodom: raises 2850 to 3850 and is all-in
GypsyHilRyan: folds
Krystyna51: calls 3850
DarDaugiau: folds
Olly666: folds
Hero: raises 12150 to 16000
Krystyna51: calls 4801 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (7349) returned to Hero
Flop: 6 3 8
Turn: T
River: 7
Showdown:
Hero: shows 9 9 (a straight, Six to Ten)
Krystyna51: shows Q K (high card King)
Hero collected 9602 from side pot
Sodom: shows 2 2 (a pair of Deuces)
Hero collected 12950 from main pot

Win your 70/30 too. Note: the previous hand I lost QQ to 66 and just wanted to go home.

-----Hand 37-----
Heros M = 3.54
PokerStars Game #19123497425: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XIV (1000/2000) - 2008/07/26 - 17:41:03 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (45088 in chips)
Seat 2: Swtwtr25 (30388 in chips)
Seat 3: FACUMDP (61043 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (16298 in chips)
Seat 5: Basadoni (61318 in chips)
Seat 7: Dmichaels21 (37224 in chips)
Seat 8: $BerlinCare$ (54411 in chips)
Seat 9: Diner0 (27180 in chips)
All players post the ante 200
Dmichaels21: posts small blind 1000
$BerlinCare$: posts big blind 2000
Preflop: Hero dealt A 2
Diner0: folds
sizzlinbetta: folds
Swtwtr25: folds
FACUMDP: raises 5000 to 7000
Hero: raises 9098 to 16098 and is all-in
Basadoni: raises 9902 to 26000
Dmichaels21: folds
$BerlinCare$: folds
FACUMDP: folds
Uncalled bet (9902) returned to Basadoni
Flop: 7 6 3
Turn: 4
River: 4
Showdown:
Hero: shows A 2 (a flush, Ace high)
Basadoni: shows K A (a pair of Fours)
Hero collected 43796 from pot

I can't stress this enough: WIN YOUR RACES
-----Hand 39-----
Heros M = 6.97
PokerStars Game #19123777625: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XV (1500/3000) - 2008/07/26 - 17:52:49 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (48787 in chips)
Seat 2: Swtwtr25 (33488 in chips)
Seat 3: FACUMDP (45143 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (48096 in chips)
Seat 5: Basadoni (48720 in chips)
Seat 6: Cram (30070 in chips)
Seat 7: Dmichaels21 (30924 in chips)
Seat 8: $BerlinCare$ (142354 in chips)
All players post the ante 300
FACUMDP: posts small blind 1500
Hero: posts big blind 3000
Preflop: Hero dealt A J
Basadoni: folds
Cram: folds
Dmichaels21: folds
$BerlinCare$: folds
sizzlinbetta: folds
Swtwtr25: raises 6000 to 9000
FACUMDP: folds
Hero: raises 38796 to 47796 and is all-in
Swtwtr25: calls 24188 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (14608) returned to Hero
Flop: 8 7 A
Turn: T
River: 9
Showdown:
Hero: shows A J (a straight, Seven to Jack)
Swtwtr25: shows 4 4 (a pair of Fours)
Hero collected 70276 from pot

Did I say that you have to win your races?

-----Hand 42-----
Heros M = 9.76
PokerStars Game #19124185360: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XVI (2000/4000) - 2008/07/26 - 18:10:19 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (43287 in chips)
Seat 2: TheYeti (175474 in chips)
Seat 3: FACUMDP (27343 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (89784 in chips)
Seat 5: Basadoni (85341 in chips)
Seat 7: Dmichaels21 (25324 in chips)
Seat 8: $BerlinCare$ (107633 in chips)
Seat 9: funkeemonkee (46794 in chips)
All players post the ante 400
Hero: posts small blind 2000
Basadoni: posts big blind 4000
Preflop: Hero dealt Q K
Dmichaels21: folds
$BerlinCare$: folds
funkeemonkee: raises 42394 to 46394 and is all-in
sizzlinbetta: folds
TheYeti: folds
FACUMDP: folds
Hero: raises 42990 to 89384 and is all-in
Basadoni: folds
Uncalled bet (42990) returned to Hero
Flop: J 7 5
Turn: K
River: Q
Showdown:
Hero: shows Q K (two pair, Kings and Queens)
funkeemonkee: shows 8 8 (a pair of Eights)
Hero collected 99988 from pot

Ofcourse you have to win 80/20s

-----Hand 44-----
Heros M = 11.38
PokerStars Game #19124572248: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XVII (2500/5000) - 2008/07/26 - 18:26:46 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (199207 in chips)
Seat 2: TheYeti (79278 in chips)
Seat 3: FACUMDP (44286 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (136578 in chips)
Seat 5: Basadoni (64941 in chips)
Seat 6: ramashiva (29632 in chips)
Seat 7: ypyes (88248 in chips)
Seat 8: $BerlinCare$ (77890 in chips)
Seat 9: BadBeatsRus2 (176392 in chips)
All players post the ante 500
Hero: posts small blind 2500
Basadoni: posts big blind 5000
Preflop: Hero dealt 5 5
ramashiva: folds
ypyes: folds
$BerlinCare$: folds
BadBeatsRus2: folds
sizzlinbetta: folds
TheYeti: raises 10000 to 15000
FACUMDP: folds
Hero: raises 121078 to 136078 and is all-in
Basadoni: calls 59441 and is all-in
TheYeti: folds
Uncalled bet (71637) returned to Hero
Flop: Q 4 Q
Turn: 5
River: 3
Showdown:
Hero: shows 5 5 (a full house, Fives full of Queens)
Basadoni: shows A A (two pair, Aces and Queens)
Hero collected 148382 from pot

70/30s too

-----Hand 48-----
Heros M = 20.05
PokerStars Game #19124789846: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XVII (2500/5000) - 2008/07/26 - 18:36:08 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (311597 in chips)
Seat 2: TheYeti (102564 in chips)
Seat 3: Milenko_0 (145130 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (220519 in chips)
Seat 6: ramashiva (34132 in chips)
Seat 7: ypyes (90248 in chips)
Seat 9: BadBeatsRus2 (153892 in chips)
All players post the ante 500
Hero: posts small blind 2500
ramashiva: posts big blind 5000
Preflop: Hero dealt Q 7
ypyes: folds
BadBeatsRus2: folds
sizzlinbetta: folds
TheYeti: folds
Milenko_0: folds
Hero: raises 95000 to 100000
ramashiva: calls 28632 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (66368) returned to Hero
Flop: Q 5 T
Turn: 2
River: 9
Showdown:
Hero: shows Q 7 (a pair of Queens)
ramashiva: shows 7 7 (a pair of Sevens)
Hero collected 70764 from pot

I think having the worst hand and winning is optimal

-----Hand 55-----
Heros M = 18.15
PokerStars Game #19125304121: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XIX (4000/8000) - 2008/07/26 - 18:58:09 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (423494 in chips)
Seat 2: TheYeti (88872 in chips)
Seat 3: Milenko_0 (172779 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (334051 in chips)
Seat 5: pokerbasti00 (273902 in chips)
Seat 6: Yakuza520 (138894 in chips)
Seat 8: KabouterFlop (211222 in chips)
Seat 9: BadBeatsRus2 (44286 in chips)
All players post the ante 800
Milenko_0: posts small blind 4000
Hero: posts big blind 8000
Preflop: Hero dealt J 9
pokerbasti00: folds
Yakuza520: folds
KabouterFlop: folds
BadBeatsRus2: raises 35486 to 43486 and is all-in
sizzlinbetta: folds
TheYeti: folds
Milenko_0: folds
Hero: calls 35486
Flop: 5 T 3
Turn: 9
River: 2
Showdown:
Hero: shows J 9 (a pair of Nines)
BadBeatsRus2: shows Q A (high card Ace)
Hero collected 97372 from pot

Even I can get it in ahead!

-----Hand 69-----
Heros M = 24.32
PokerStars Game #19125816305: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XX (5000/10000) - 2008/07/26 - 19:21:00 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (949467 in chips)
Seat 3: Milenko_0 (217344 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (374487 in chips)
Seat 6: Yakuza520 (146202 in chips)
All players post the ante 100
Hero: posts small blind 5000
Yakuza520: posts big blind 10000
Preflop: Hero dealt A J
sizzlinbetta: folds
Milenko_0: folds
Hero: raises 18850 to 28850
Yakuza520: raises 116352 to 145202 and is all-in
Hero: calls 116352
Flop: 2 4 8
Turn: 3
River: 9
Showdown:
Hero: shows A J (high card Ace)
Yakuza520: shows Q T (high card Queen)
Hero collected 294404 from pot

Omg did I get it in ahead again?

-----Hand 77-----
Heros M = 9.15
PokerStars Game #19126228857: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XXI (6000/12000) - 2008/07/26 - 19:40:13 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (326296 in chips)
Seat 3: Milenko_0 (1193160 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (168044 in chips)
All players post the ante 120
sizzlinbetta: posts small blind 6000
Milenko_0: posts big blind 12000
Preflop: Hero dealt 2 A
Hero: raises 154844 to 166844 and is all-in
sizzlinbetta: folds
Milenko_0: calls 154844
Flop: Q A 9
Turn: K
River: 3
Showdown:
Milenko_0: shows K J (a pair of Kings)
Hero: shows 2 A (a pair of Aces)
Hero collected 343288 from pot

Don't forget to come from behind!

-----Hand 80-----
Heros M = 21.05
PokerStars Game #19126271270: Tournament #94081778, Freeroll Holdem No Limit - Level XXI (6000/12000) - 2008/07/26 - 19:42:12 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table 94081778 46 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: sizzlinbetta (297496 in chips)
Seat 3: Milenko_0 (1003516 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero (386488 in chips)
All players post the ante 120
Milenko_0: posts small blind 6000
Hero: posts big blind 12000
Preflop: Hero dealt A 2
sizzlinbetta: raises 17999 to 29999
Milenko_0: folds
Hero: raises 355289 to 385288 and is all-in
sizzlinbetta: calls 266297 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (88992) returned to Hero
Flop: 6 A 2
Turn: Q
River: 8
Showdown:
Hero: shows A 2 (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
sizzlinbetta: shows 5 5 (a pair of Fives)
Hero collected 602192 from pot

And that was the last significant hand. As you can see, I ran like god to make it this far. A few hands I played mediocre (A2 shoves), but overall I played a solid game. I lost one race and one 80/20. But besides that, I won every significant pot I was ahead in, and tons when behind. Here is the full HH for those curious: http://www.flopturnriver.com/Online-...ment-3970.html

L.O.L. Donkaments

I actually played in some tourney's recently and have also been playing a lot of shove/fold preflop... otherwise raise preflop shove any flop, suckout on river. Pretty fun imo ^^

ahhah that is so awesome