Multitable madness

Started the day off with a 3-table NLHE $30+3 SNG. Sitting at T500 fourty minutes in, had just consolodated to two tables, when the blinds jumped to 50/100. Catching absolutely no cards to this point - I've dragged a few small pots, but just not catching any decent hands or decent flops with the few hands I've been able to play. First pass through the blinds left me with T350 and shortstack of the field. Pushed two hands later with pocket sevens (by far my best starting hand of the entire game) and got called by both blinds. AK4 fell on the flop, and I was sure one of the players would be holding either an ace or a king to call - they both checked it down, and sure enough someone caught that ace on the flop and I was out 17th. Hand History posted as Comment #1.

Followed up the first loss with a spin in a 2-table $20+2 SNG. Third hand in, caught AA and took down an acceptable pot, so at least I can say i've been dealt some better cards this game. Limped a lot of suited connectors early, and caught a lot of sucker flops (middle or bottom pair) but nothing favorable enough to draw on. Ended up in 12th.

Followed that with a $10+1 two-table play. Five hands in, had won two big pots to run up to T1800. Both hands posted in the comments. Sitting about 5th overall at the :45 mark, when I lost a big hand to drop down to about ninth. I flopped a straight with four to the nut flush, was called by someone with trips and someone with the same straight without the flush redraw. The board paired on the river, and what could have been a very nice pot pushed the other way across the table. Hand history posted as Comment #4.

Ended up going all-in pre-flop a few hands later with JTs and caught a jack on the flop to take down AKo. Took over chiplead at my table, and moved in to second overall. Suckout posted as Comment #5. Lost a big hand as we consolodated tables, dropping half my stack on a king-high straight and being beaten by a ace-high straight. The way my opponent played it, really didn't put him on AK and it cost me. Sitting 9th with just over T800 with the blinds jumping to 75/150 in two minutes.

First pass through the 75/150 blinds at the final table, was left with T600. Pushed with A8o in middle position, was called by AKo and a slightly shorter stack with JJ. Improved to beat the AKo by catching an 8, and was returned only T150 from the pot with four hands to go before the blind returned. Pushed with Q6h and was called by JJ again, but caught a Q on the river to more than tripple up to T525. Pushed on the next hand in early position (right before the break) with 34h and got no callers, now up to T750 and 8th place. Still fighting for life... but now the blinds jump to 100/200.

Passed through the blinds and was left with T450. Pushed on the button with J6s and caught not one but two jacks to double up against QTo. Cards are trying their best to help me to a money finish - now in 7th with 8 remaining (top four pay). Right now, doubling up would move me to third in chips.

Blinds made it to 150/300 and I pushed in early position with the Bachelor's Hand (Jack King Off) and was called by the small blind who held 45d. I was in great shape until they caught a 4 on the flop and another on the turn to leave me drawing dead for a seventh place finish. Deliciously ironic, as I'd just posted on Donkeypuncher's blog earlier in the day, agreeing with his decision to push in a similar situation with the same hand (with the same ultimate results). Hand history posted as Comment #6. Thats zero for three on SNGs today - one more $20+2 to see if I can offset the losses with a money finish (3rd breaks me even for the day) and then its time for a nap before hitting the town tonight...