Climbing The Ladder

Good evening everyone.  Things are looking a little better than they did last weekend.  While finishing my qualifying for the Monte Carlo Freeroll yesterday, I booked about a $60.00 win in the 2-6 spread limit game (with pocket kings turning into kings full of queens  -up against AQ at showdown-  being my most noteworthy hand).  That made today's freeroll truly free.  We started with 49 players, and early on I took uncontested pots (no flop) with AA, QQ, and AK (and no, I didn't shove the AK preflop)...  My big score came on the first hand of the fourth round (200/400 blinds).  I was in the small blind, and after a pair of limpers, I called 200 more for the chance to win 1,400 with my QJ offsuit.  The flop came Q x J, and being first to act, I checked.  The original limper bet out 700 into the 1,600 pot after the BB checked, and after a fold to my right, I check-raised to 2,500.  After the BB folded, the bettor looked down at his chips (about 3,500 left, and I had 4,700, counting my 2,500 check-raise).  He said something like, "I guess this is the hand that I go broke on" before he shoved all-in.  I called and he turned over KQ.  A wonderful jack came on the turn, and I doubled up after the case queen was nowhere to be found on the river.  This put me at 10,700 in chips, and made me a lock to make the money barring a natural disaster (like me shoving AK into KK preflop)...  The top 26 finishers would be paid, and the initial starting stack was 5,000 per player.  I won a few more hands (AQ with no callers preflop, and QQ against two opponents on a jack-high flop).  I was able to "coast" (this tourney is a GRIND as you climb the pay scale) into the money, and up a few rungs on the ladder.  My pay went from $175.00 to $275.00 as we reached the final 15 players, and the next jump would be to $325.00 for 11th place.  With 12 players remaining, and the blinds at 1,000/2,000 with 200 antes, I was the BB.  This meant that 2,200 of my chips were in the pot, and that my remaining 1,200 would be in the pot on the next hand.  After 2 folds at our 6-handed table, a player raised to 4,500.  After the remaining players folded, I looked down at 10 10.  I'm not a big fan of the hand, but I'm not folding it in this situation...  My opponent flipped over Q9 of diamonds, and my tourney was done after a queen came on the flop.  However, I did finish 12th out of 49 players and cashed for $275.00, so I'll hold the crying to a minimum (boo hoo).  I'm officially announcing that the Monte Carlo Freeroll is currently my favorite (unless/until I crush the Flamingo Monthly)...  ;)

That's all for now, but have a great weekend and I'll see you soon...