Fruits of my labor

Played in a $5 (w/ unlimited rebuys for an hour) tourney last night at my buddy's. This usually becomes an all-in war after 2 hours, but last night we had 12 players and lots of chips in play. This allowed for everyone to be patient and pick their spots. No one is more patient that I am. I never felt so confident playing live. Here are a few key hands that ultimately resulted in my win.

A3 of clubs in a 10 handed game. I limped and flopped the nut flush draw in a 4 handed pot. At this point I was probably around average stack with about 1200 chips (500 for each $5 rebuy). I opened for $250. My weak/tight friend in late position raised all in for $475 total. I was obviously pot commited. He turned over 27 of clubs so I had the best hand with the best draw and it got me an early chip lead.

1010 in the BB. Early raise by a loose player UTG+1. 3 callers. At this point I knew my hand was the best judging my the flat-calls from good players behind him. I knew there was a good chance I was up against a ton of overcards and small pairs. I simply pushed all in. Everyone folded and the original raiser showed AQs. I definetly would have called in his spot, but I'll take a nice pot with no flop any day.

Down to 4 handed with the best player at the table sitting to my immediate right. He raises from a short stack and I have AJsuited. I consider pushing but I see he still has about 6 or 7 BB left in his stack. I flat call in position. Flop is A85. He pushes. I think for atleast a minute and call. He shows A10 and I take him out and a huge chip stack 3 handed.

Played 3 handed for awhile with a desperate short stack. He finally announces he'll go in blind with about 8 BB from the button. I am in the SB and look at my first card, As, and immediately announce that I am all in was well, hoping for an isolation. The BB goes into the tank, eventually folding AJ face up. I look at my other card and begin laughing, the Ac. The button flips over 33 (not bad in the blind!) and I take him out. At this point we settle on a chop of the money based pretty much on chip stacks.

The SNG run has been pretty super-duper. I have cashed in 8 out of 12 with an ROI of around 60%. Only 2 wins due to some short-stacked heads up situations and 1 horrible beat, but I'll take the good with the bad. I feel great about the way I'm playing, especially 4 and 5 handed on the bubble. Everyone is afraid to go broke and I am pretty good at applying pressure and stealing blinds from shortstacks.

Also, I am well on my way to the FT of a 180 man SNG on Stars right now. Sitting 6th/12 and playing really well. Hopefully this will be my first, albeit small, MTT win. I'll report tomorrow on how I finished as well as my golf score tonight!