Grand Prix de Paris

This week end was the "Grand Prix de Paris", a 10.000€ buy in freezout. I signed up on the Day1B, with another 74 participants.

Very good structure: 20 000 starting chips, 25/50 first level, 90 min levels.

The tournament started very very good for me. In one of the first hands, I raise to 150 with 88. I get 2 callers in position. Flop is 379 all spades (I have the 8s). I check, another check and button bets 300. I decide to float, and the other players calls too. Turn is 8d. It's a very good card, but a very dangerous too as it may put me in front of a very tough decision on the river. I opt for the attack, to know better where I stand and I bet 1000. I get one caller, buttons folds. River is a second 9. I have now a full house. I value bet 2400. But the other player raises to 6000! I can't fold of course, but I can't raise either (he wouldn't pay with a flush, but stack me with quads or higher full house). I pay and he shows the nut flush... He looks very angry when he sees my runner runner full house, maybe he didn't notive the pair on the board.

On my right, there is Cyril Bensoussan, a very active and aggressive player. He attacks almost all the pots. He raises another one preflop to 200, and I call with AJo. Flop is 89Q rainbow. He checks, I semi bluff 600, he raises me to 1400. I go in the tank and I'm pretty sure that he is trying to make me fold. If he had TJ he would almost all the time smooth call, and with a set he would attack on such a board. Maybe he has KQ, but then if I reraise him he has to lay down. So I reraise to 3400 and he lets the hand go. I decide to show him my hand, to send him a message: don't try to bully me.

We are now on the second level, 50/100 and I already have around 30K. I find AA in early posiion and I raise to 300. I get two callers, I'm preparing myself for a quick laydown but a short stack on the SB pushes all in for 6K. I go all in over the top. First caller goes in the tank, and lay down his hand (QQ!), second caller calls and shows KK! Short stack has QQ and he is almost drawing dead. It's a baby flop and my aces hold. I win a massive pot! I'm up to 58K at the end of the second level!

Third level 100/200 comes, and our table is broken. I come to a new table where I only recognize Will Ma the last year winner, and Isabelle Mercier. A canadian player raises to 600 in MP, I see Q5s and I call on the button (I don't have any image here so I can use this to my advantage; and of course I'm the chip leader of the table). Flop comes 47T with two hearts. MP bets 1000. I call, preparing a move on the turn. Turn is a small hearts, puting a flush on the board. It's a good card for me to represent something. But the player bets 2000. I'm confused by his bet, as if he had a flush he would certainly check it. Maybe he just want to see where he is with JsJh. I decide to smooth call, which represents a lot of strength. River is a blank. He checks. I ponder a little bit and I'm pretty sure that unless he has JJ or equivalent he won't be able to call a river bet (he may have AT for instance). I bet 3000 and he quickly mucks.

I got KK and reraise a raiser. I'm up to 65K. That would be my peak, as after the nightmare will begin. We are at 100/200,25. I enter the dead zone card and I play very few pots. Will Ma raises to 600. I call from SB with AT. Flop is T74. I check call 1000. Turn is another small card. I check call 2000. River is a blank. I check, and Will bets 4000. I call and he shows KK. I'm horrified by my play, I should have fold on the turn. Will Ma, which I played last year in the same event, is a very solid tight player. What was I thinking?
This bad play would kill my positive mood, and I start to mentally sink in dark thoughts. I really hate to make major mistakes and I think it really affected me. From this pot, I never manage to win anything big.

My nemesis will be the player on my left, an English (I think) player I don't know. Each time I would raise, he would reraise or smooth call me. I would have a bad flop and each time he will win the pot.
Example of one hand: I raise on the cut off to 700 with QJ. He calls on the button, blinds fold. Flop is Q86 with 2 hearts. I check call 1500. Turn is 8d. I check call 3000. River is a blank. I check and he bets 6000. I go in the thank. He would certainly check JJ, KQ, QJ and even AJ. I don't think he has KK/AA. So either he has 66, Q8 and he played it aggressively, either he has absolutely nothing and he fired three barrels against my very passive play. I remember my bad call against Will Ma and I don't want to make another stupid move; so I fold. I think now that I should have called. I gave my opponent all opportunities to bluff me and he certainly did.

A few hands later, I have AK. I raise to 800. He reraises to 2400. He has 30K in total. I think I burnt a cell in my brain, and I pushed all my chips in the middle. He insta called with KK and I was decimated to 20K.
I don't think my move with AK was a total absolute mistake (he would have call only with AA/KK, which he had) but I don't think this was really necessary at this stage of the tournament (I had a very nice stack). Risking my stack to win 4K was quite stupid... Still, I didn't go to tilt and accepted my mistep more easy than my bad call against Will Ma and his KK.

Last hand of the 5th level (200/400, 50), player on my right overbets preflop to 2200. I see AQ. If I raise I almost commit myself, and this player is quite tight, so I prefer to call and see the flop with position. Unfortunately, the same nemesis player calls on the button. Flop is KT8 all spades (I have the Qs). Raiser check. I check too. Button bets 4000. Raiser fold. I go in the tank and see my option: if I continue this hand (with a very weak holding) I'll have to raise and commit. Maybe this guy just have always good hands against me, maybe he is constantly outplaying me... I decide to fold and keep my 18K for a double up in better conditions.

6th level, 300/600, 75. A player opens at 2000, I see TT on my SB and I don't have many options: fold or push. I hope for a fold or a call with AK: I push and I get insta called with KK. No miracle and I'm out.

This tournament was a very example of a psychologic meltdown after a bad play. My bad call against Will Ma killed my spirits, and from this point I lost all aggressivity and "rage" and start to play very passively. I became weak and couldn't play well. I made then some kind of too much aggressive tilt play with my AK, and after I lost my stack and couldn't play any real poker anymore.
This shows the power of the mind in this game. I was "victim" of a very pernicious form of tilt. I can't really explain yet why this bad call killed my spirits, but I'm now aware of a big failure in my game.

I managed to control the "bad beat" tilt (I can take a bad beat with a smile, it will not affect my game). I managed to control the "excess of trust" tilt, when you think you are invincible and make stupid over aggressive play (my AK move on this tournament wasn't part of that). Now I need to work on the "I'm the worst player of the world" tilt when a bad play puts you in a very black mood.
A stupid bad play happens, this is part of everyone's game, and this shouldn't have affected me that much. Also, I need to control my emotions when someone is picking on me all the time: usually it's just that the guy has hands at the same time that me, not that he thinks I'm a fish and he can win all the time against me...

Anyway, I have to be much more aware of the psychological side of the game. This is a pity I got so lucky in this tournament in the beginning, to fail after this way.

The season is over for me. I won't be participating in the WSOP as I won't be able to travel to the USA this year. I may participate in some small local tournaments, but that's it.

So, for the big tournaments, rendez-vous in September :)

Eric

Out of the EPT Monaco

This was a dream structure: 15 000 starting chips, 90 minutes levels. But it turned out to be a nightmare of folding for me.

The first two levels, I got AK 7 times, but I never hit anything and had to lay down, chipping out quite early. I managed to make a few bluffs or win some small pots to stay stable around 12 000. But after, for hours and hours, I just folded, folded and folded. I got a very tight solid image, so I was able to make some nice moves, raising some raisers and keeping me afloat.

I decided to play very, very patient and not try desperate squeezes until I would be in real difficulty. As we were dealt a lot of hands per hour, I was still hoping to be able to flop something nice and get a big pot. But nothing happened, and I was down to 10 000 chips at the 150/300, 25 ante.
A guy raised in early position to 900. I reraise from my SB to 3000 with AQ, hoping to take down the pot. Opponent paid, and flop came K38 rainbow. I thought that if he had a pair TT/JJ/QQ, and knowing my image, then he couldn't pay my continuation bet. I therefore put 5000, leaving myself with 2700. The guy pushed all in, and I insta folded, knowing for sure I had to make runner runner to win (he had AK).

After this ill fated move, I pushed all in with A8. Called by AT but a miracle 8 on the flop doubledd me to 6000. I was card dead again, and finally found AJ and pushed. I'm called by AT but flop comes QQ99x and it's a split.
I make a few reraises and chip up a little bit, but the blinds are now 200/400, 50 ante and the pressure is high. A guys opens at 12000, I push my last 5000 with AJ. He calls with 99 and I lose the coin flip.

Game over.

I don't think I could have done differently, I may have been more aggressive and push more preflop, but it wouldn't have change much. When you are card dead, and when your good cards preflop are killed by the flop, there is nothing much you can do. I made my move with the AQ, it didn't work, and after it was just the luck factor.
I like the fact that I have been very patient, I have also made some good folds, and so I don't have any regret. I wished I'd have more cards, but I guess that it would be more next time.

I'll make almost all the side events, and I hope to get some good finishes to get points for the French ratings! :)

Now, time to go to bed with my sweet Iveta :)

Eric

EPT Monaco coming up!

I arrived yesterday in Monaco with my wife and we have a very nice sea view room at the Beach Hotel (5 min walk from the Bay where the competition is).

I played two sats in the evening:

• 1090€ (10 players sit'n'go); I was out 7th when I lost TT vs 44 all in preflop
• 280€ (40 players sit'n'go); I was out 7th also when I lost AJ vs AT all in preflop

After these two great finishes, I decided to stop wasting more money and I bought in directly for the Day 1B. I also hope I absorbed all the bad beat spirit of the week with that :)

Today I'll go shopping and maybe enjoy some relaxing spa!

The structure looks very good (15000 starting chips, 25/50 first level, 90 minutes level) so I certainly hope to make a solid day one and avoid the mining field. There are 7 levels to survive (the last one being 150/300, 25 ante) so it really looks feasable. I hate the first days, when there are still a lot of players ready to shove all in on marginal hands and sucking out on the river.

It's very important for me to be able to survive the first day (with at least 30BB if possible!) to be able to clash with good players on day 2. So I'll be for sure the king of agressive ultra nits! :)

Eric

Dodo Hotel in Riga!

This year I have played so far much less than I usually do. There are two reasons two that: first ones are named Murr and Lapin but I'll come back to this subject another day, and second one is "Dodo Hotel", my hotel project is Riga which opened 14th March 2008.

Dodo Hotel is the first low cost hotel in Riga, offering small and cosy rooms for a very attractive price. 109 rooms are available, with a secret high stake poker room on the 4th level.

Here are a few pictures:

Price is 49€/night in high season, but for all my poker friends and reader price would be 39€ per night (double room or twin rooms), which is unbeatable in Riga for quality rooms.

We offer free WIFI so no problem to play online poker :)

To know more about the hotel, visit http://www.dodohotel.com

About poker, I'll fly to Monaco on the 11th to participate in the EPT Grand Final. So far I have been running very badly in all EPT events, but maybe this time will be the time! :)

All my congratulations to Anthony Lellouche and Eric Koskas for their nice performance in EPT San Remo! I'm now kicked into the depth of the French rankings :)

Eric

French rankings

The French federation of poker players had the great idea to publish a national ranking taking into account the tournament results of the players. Points are based on the relation between final position, number of players and prize pools. Ranking is dynamic has the older the tournament, the lower coefficient is applied.


After my 8th place in the Irish Open 2008, I was very happy to see my ranking jumping from 7th to 3rd place.

am I really 3rd French player?!

The full ranking and points calculation explanations can be seen on the FFJP website.

I salute this initiative, as it motivates all players to perform. Tournament players do not only play for the money, they play for the fame, the ranking and the objective to be better than the others.


I know my 3rd place is very fragile and I'll need to get other nice results to secure it (and maybe become 2nd), but meanwhile I feel very proud about it :) I would never, never, have expected such results when I started my first EPT a little bit more than one year ago!


Now, the future will tell if I'm a real tournament player or a lucky donk on a rush :)


Eric

8th at the Irish Open

I finish the day 3 in 8th position, for a nice payout of 75 000 €.

It was quite a smooth ride to the final table, I didn't play much hands, just stealing and nursing my stack until last 24. Then I managed to take a nice 130K pot without a showdown and I was up to 350K.

I made it to the last two tables, and on the feature table I won two big pots with AK, going up to 700K. The blinds went quite high (15K/30K) and the play short handed so I came down to 400K after two lost hands.

After the final table redraw, play was very tight and for 1h30 nothing happenend. I managed to survive at 400K, but I was totally card dead. One player busted and we where 8. The chip leader opened at 150K, I went all in with 88, he called with QJ and I lost the coin flip.

So I was out in 8th, quite happy about my result and my stack management. I was patient enough to wait for the right situations, and I don't regret my last action; I had to do something and try a double up in order to reach the real prizes.

It was a great tournament, and it gave me lot of confidence for the next ones!

Eric

Irish open Day 2

I started the day 2 as chipleader with 99 400, but I wasn't into "table captain" spirits. All other players gave envious looks to my huge stack when we piled the chips, but I wasn't feeling extremely confident.

After two levels of nothing really special, just some small pots, I was down to 80 000. Early player raised to 3000 (at 500/1000) and I defended my big blind with 3d5d (no so good cards, but big results if I hit). Flop comes 4h6h8c. Exactly the flop I was looking for. I plan for a check raise and commit if I get reraised all in (opponent has 28K left). So I check, opponent bets 4000, I raise to 12000 and he goes all in quite quickly. I'm dead behind but I have to call with my 8 clean outs (no way he is on a flush draw). He shows 66 for a set, and turn and river come 5 and 5. So I'm down to 50K. I don't think I played it bad, it could have work but of course no way he would lay down a set!

I made my way back to 60K with small steals and resteals, when the following hand came. I raised in MP to 4300 (800/1600) with JJ and the big blind pushed all in (28K). I didn't put him on a big pair, his bet was more consistent with AK. I went into the tank and finally decided to gamble and called. He showed AK and everything went well until ace came on the river. It was very hard to swallow, it's always cruel to get it on the last card.
Anyway, I was down to 30K and not looking very good with the blinds at 1000/2000.

I was moved to another table, and I started to steal my way back to a healthier chip stack. Players on this table were all tights and bubble was coming. I was pushing UTG with T9, or MP with K7, etc. One ultra tight player limped UTG, it's folded to my SB, I see A9, I say "did you limp with aces? Well, I'll see soon enough" and I pushed my 45K all in. The guy folded AK!!!

With the blinds climbing up, and using the bubble effect (I was very active while opponents protected their assets), I made my way to 100K without even seeing a flop! I was lucky to not run into a big hand while stealing, but it was still a good play and I'm happy about it.

I got moved again with unkown opponents. With blinds at 3K/6K, I raised to 20K in EP with KK. One guy with 200K+ asked me my stack and I very boldly and confidently told him I had 100K. He announced all in. I insta called of course and he showed AK. This time no ace and I doubled to 200K.

I ended the day with 207K, in 10th position, with an average of 128K and 52 players left. I'll try to play very cautiously as many short stacks will try to double quickly and I don't want to gamble too much with the worst of it at this stage of the competition. I'll reassess the situation if I make to the final 24, depending on my stack. One thing is for sure, I'm playing for at least top 5 so I won't let myself killed my the blinds if I go to a short stack.

Irish open Day1B

After a long break due to business obligations, I played the Irish Poker day 1B. We started with 10 000 chips and a first level of 25/50.

During the first two levels, nothing really happened for me. I just played a few safe pots and ended at 14 000 at the break. From my observations the table was pretty easy, with a mainly weak tight players and a big fish/maniac on my right (example a fish hand: 2 limpers, fish reraise to 4BB from SB, 2 callers. Flop 77K and fish wins a nice pot with his A7 against KQ).

This guy was seeing 80% of the hands, calling a lot a making completely random out of position moves. I was pretty happy to see him stack other people, especially being on his right.

I was playing solid, tight aggressive and folding a lot of A9, KJ, KT preflop even in late position. The pivotal hand came when I doubled with set over set (JJ vs 99 on a J96 board). With now a 28K stack I was big enough to make resteals and I started to reraise the raises of the maniac and take some chips.

With blinds 150/300, maniac raises to 1200 in LP, I see AhQh on the button and I decide just to call as I sense some unusual strength from him and I don't want to be reraised out of the pot. Flop comes 69J with two hearts. Opponent leads with 2500. I call with my 2 overs and my draw (I don't want to get check raised here, and we are pretty deep). Turn is Ac. He bets 4000 and I'm pretty sure he hates the ace. I put him on QQ/KK. or even TT. I raise to 12000 (no point to flat call here, he'll either hit the set on the river or fold to my river bet) and he folds.

And after everything goes very, very smooth. I get the perfect hands: UTG limps, I call OTB 33. Flop 369 and I stack the guy who slow played his AA. After I hit the nut flush on the turn and get nice value from it.

I'm around 55K when this important hand comes: LP (30K) raises to 800 (at 150/300). I reraise to 2200 with QQ. He calls. Flop Q96 with 2 clubs. He checks. I be 3000. Opponent raises to 6000. This min raises could mean anything, I'm committed anyway (no way I'll ever fold) so I go all in. He goes in the tank and tilt folds. I do what I can to convince him I was on a steal and he is steaming.

This sets up for the big hands which occured at 200/400. Same player raises to 1200. I call on the button with 33. Flop comes 35T rainbow. Another set! (this is sick). I bet 2000. He calls. Turn is a total blank. He checks. I count to 60 in my head and bet 5000. He goes all in! I insta call and he shows AK and is drawing dead.

I end the day with a very, very nice stack of 99400 chips. We don't have the official chipcounts yet, but I must be chipleader or second.

Picture courtesy of team770.com (thanks guys for the great coverage!)

So I'll start today with a lot of chips, and this is not something I'm used to! I'll see how is my table, but I'll certainly play very tight aggressive and I'll not play the table captain (best way to blow the stack in minutes). I can be patient and try to get to good opportunities to make big hands or big bluffs.

Should be a very interesting day, with lof of poker to play! I'm not expecting to be as lucky as I was on day 1, but I still hope I'll not run into a massive cooler :)

Winning the 45€ rebuy side event

Just when I was whinning about not be able to do anything this year, I ended winning the (small) 45€ rebuy side event of the Olympic Casino Hold'em Series.

I made 4 rebuys in the first three levels, putting the total cost of the tournament at 270€. I ended with quite nice stack. 25 players initially registered.

20 minutes levels.

Level 4 - 50/100 - 6800 chips
23 players, 2800 average stack.
UTG raises 350, I reraise 1100 with JJ and take the pot (raiser mucks 99)
Button raises to 350, I call from my SB with AJo (I made a mistake, I wanted to raise but I threw the wrong chips and didn't say "raise"). Flop QJT with 2 diamonds. I check with intention of raising any bet, but button checks. Turn is another J. I'm pretty sure I have the best hand, so it's better to check and give opportunity to bluff. I check, button bets 150, I raise to 600 and he insta folds.
I raise OTB to 375 with A4s. BB reraises to 800. He has 4000 in total. I know he is a solid player and that he also never believes me when I raise. I suspect him to resteal, so I push all in (he'll call only with premium hands). Unfortunately he has AA, I lose half of my stack and looks like stupid donkey ("what a gift hahaha")
I raise to 250 (another mistake, wanted to put 350!) with KQo in LP. BB calls. Flop 355. Check check. Turn 7. SB bets 350, I decide to float and I call. River is Q. BB bets 750, I call and win vs T4.

Level 5 - 75/150 - 5500 chips
21 players, 3000 average stack.
I'm really not paying attention today, so I didn't see the UTG raising to 1100. I put 400 OTB with QJo, everyone laugh and I casually complete my "raise" to 1100 and calls. Flop Q87. UTG bets 1400. I know he is not ultratight, so he could have a small pair, not only AQ/AA/KK. I call, leaving behind around 2000 chips (he has me covered). Turn is T. It's a good card for be, giving me outs in case I'm behind. He goes all in. I'm comitted so I call. He shows 99 and my hand holds. I have played this hand pretty badly on the flop. I should have pushed. It was either fold or push, not just call! I played weak.
MP raises to 400. I call with J8s (I have a big stack and I have the confidence that I can outplay people on the flop with position). Flop A42 rainbow. Checked to me, I bet 600 and take the pot.
I raise in MP with T7s. BB goes all in 2500 and I have to fold.
EP limps, I raise to 600 with QQ. Limper calls. Flop 946. Checked to me, I bet 1200 and take the pot.

Level 6 - 100/200 - 11875 chips
19 players, 5300 average stack.
2 limpers, I raise to 750 with TT. First limper calls, he has 1900 behind. I'll push/call all in whatever the flop. Flop 872 with 2 hearts. Opponent pushes all in, I call. He shows 7h9h but my hand holds.
I raise to 700 with 99. Tight player calls. Flop AAK. Check check. Turn T. I check, he bets 700, I fold and he shows Kh.
I raise UTG+1 to 700 with 44 and take the blinds.

Level 7 - 150/300 - 14625 chips
15 players, 6700 average stack.
I raise MP to 750 with 34s and take the blinds.
Otherwise, I'm pretty card dead and can't find any good spot to make moves.

Level 8 - 200/400 - 14700 chips
14 players, 7200 average stack.
One limper, SB folds. I check my 86o BB. Flop 844 with 2 hearts. I bet 700 and take the pot.
I lose 1100 K7 vs K9 all in preflop (short stack pushing on my SB from button)
Short stack limps UTG+1, I raise to 1500 with KTo and take the pot (I was pretty sure he would fold)
I raise UTG to 1200 with A6s and take the blinds.

Level 9 - 300/600 - 15200 chips
14 players, 7200 average stack.
I raise on the cutoff to 1600 with KTo and take the blinds.
I lose 3500 coin flip 66 vs AKs all in preflop.
I raise to 1600 with Q9 OTB, BB goes all in 7000 and I fold.
I raise to 1600 UTG with 78s and take the blinds.
I win 2100 coin flip 88 vs KQo all in preflop.
I raise UTG ATo and take the blinds.
I lose 1500 coin flip 22 vs Q8s all in preflop.

Level 10 - 400/800 - 12200 chips
11 players, 9200 average stack.
We are short handed, average around 10BB, now only preflop play occurs. Aggression is the key to build a stack quickly before blinds get really huge.
I raise to 2100 with 96s and take the blinds.

Final table - 400/800 - 12600 chips
10 players, 10100 average stack.
Button raises to 2400, I push all in from BB with A5 and take the pot (I know he'll call only with premium hands).
I raise my SB to 2100 with KJo, BB calls. Flop KQ7 rainbow, I bet 3500 and take the pot.
LP raises to 2400, he has 7000 total, I push with AQo but he insta calls with KK and no help from the flop.
I took a hit and I'm dow to 10100, the average.

Level 11 - 500/1000 - 10100 chips
8 players, 12600 average stack.
I'm card dead and can't do anything (and I still can wait before pushing with any two).
I get a walk though :)

Level 12 - 700/1500 - 8600 chips
7 players, 14400 average stack.
Now I can't really wait anymore (no one can, but they are all afraid to call with anything but premium hands)
So I push all in three times in a row (55, A4s, T9s) and take the blinds each time.
Folded to the blinds. SB calls, I check my 9d2d BB. Flop AKJ 2 diamonds. SB bets 1500, I call. Turn Ah. Check. I check too, I can't really sell a hand here, and I want to see the river, which comes 8c. Check. The SB knows me, and he could have J3 and call any bet from me. So I surrender and check too. He shows 3d4d and my 9 high wins! Incredible :)

Level 13 - 1000/2000 - 15500 chips
7 players, 14400 average stack.
I raise to 5K with A5o and take the blinds. Same with AKo.
I try another raise with 89s but I get reraised all in and I fold (he shows AK).
I go all in UTG with 33 and take the blinds.

Level 14 - 1500/3000 - 13500 chips
6 players, 16800 average stack.
We put 30€ each for bubble boy (6th place). I usually don't do that but we don't have any bubble effect here anyway (blinds too high), so why not :)
I get blinded out a round, and I have 9000, 3 BB. I'm the short stack.
I double A9 vs TJs, cool!
UTG calls, I call my SB T5o, BB checks. Flop Qh-Jh-2s. I put the limper on small connectors so I try my luck and bet 5500 (4000 would have been enough). Limper is a good player and he calls. Turn 2. I give up on the bluff, I don't have any fold equity and I could beat only 4h5h!. Check check. River As. Check check, I lose to KJo.

Level 15 - 2K/4K - 20K chips
4 players, 25K average stack.
Well, from now it's a lottery. I push and win some classic race, end up heads up against the good player. I win two small pots. He raises to 12000, I see A7s and push, he insta call with JJ but flops comes a very lucky AA7xx and I win.

I win 1200€ for 1st place.

At the last stages, it was mainly luck, but I still feel good about this small victory. It gives me a little bit of confidence for the EPT and demonstrates that it's indeed possible to build a stack!

Olympic Hold'em Series

This week was the Olympic Hold'em Series with 4 interesting events. In the 150€ and 225€ freezout I didn't do anything good (card dead, nothing really interesting, classic lost coin flip at the end), I make an horrible 100€ rebuy (total of 700€ at the end, and terrible play with early exit).

Here is now the log for the 750€ freezout main event which attracted 30 players. 10000 starting stack and 45 minutes first three levels, then 30 minutes.

Level 1 - 25/50 - 10000 chips
30 players, 10000 average stack.
I limp UTG with KQo. LP raises to 200, button calls. I call. Flop Q94 with 2 spades. I bet 350 to know how my hand is doing and they all fold.
2 limpers, I check my BB T7s. Flop 732 with 2 clubs. SB checks, I bet 150 and they all call. Turn Qh. I fold to the BB 600 bet.

Level 2 - 50/100 - 10100 chips
29 players, 10345 average stack.
I limp UTG AJo. One caller. Flop 334 with 2 hearts. SB bets 300 and I fold.
One limper, I call OTB with Th8h, SB raises 450, BB calls, limper folds, I call (position and good pot odds). Flop KhJd7h. It's checked to me, I bet my big draw 1000 and take the pot.
MP raises to 300. I call 24s on the cutoff. BB calls. Flop 6d-Td-4c. BB checks, raiser bets 600. I decide to float and I call. SB calls and this ruins my plans for a move after. Turn 9h. SB checks, raiser bets 1600, I fold as I'm pretty sure I'm beat (raiser shows later 99).

Level 3 - 75/150 - 9850 chips
28 players, 10700 average stack.
EP raises to 500, one caller, I call OTB with 78o, both blinds call. Flop Q46. SB bets 750, it's folded to me and I call with my gutshot. Turn 7. Not a good card for me. SB bets 1500 and I fold (he shows Qh).
One limper. I call with J9o on the cutoff. Flop comes J24. It's checked to me, I bet 350 and take the pot.
UTG raises 450. I call KQo. 2 callers. Flop A93 rainbow. It's checked to the button who bets 600. I'm pretty sure he has AT/AJ and that he would fold to a raise (I know he sees me as a reasonable player). I raise 1500 and he open folds AT. This was a nice play and it felt good to make a move knowing exactly what whould happen.
I raise UTG J9s to 400. LP calls. Flop Q47 with 2 diamonds. I bet 600, LP calls. Turn 5d. I bet 1500 and LP calls after some time. I put him on KQ or QT. River is Qh. I don't think I can make him fold any queen so I give up my bluff and check. He check and shows 77.
2 limpers, button raises to 800. I call with AQo from SB. Flop T73 rainbow. I check, LP bets 2000, button raises 6000. I fold and button shows A9. This was a weak play, I should have raised my AQ preflop knowing the button was a very aggressive lose player.

Level 4 - 100/200 - 7575 chips
27 players, 11100 average stack.
I raise 600 with 99. Reraise to 1600, one caller. I decide to be cautious and I just call. Flop 875. I check as I'm not sure TT is not there. Both player check. Turn is 4 and put 2 clubs on the board. I'm pretty sure I'm against overcards so I go all in. One player folds quickly and the last call all in with 3000 chips. He shows KQ of clubs. He has 15 outs, the river is 9c and I lose. This was a key pot, and losing it killed my moral and stack.
I'm down to 3200.
I win a small pot next with the nut flush.
I raise in MP with K9s and take the blinds.
4 limpers, I raise my BB to 1200 with AsQs. 2 callers (LP and SB). Flop comes 862 all clubs. SB checks. I go all in for 3000. Both opponents make me sweat a lot but finally fold (they had 77 and 55, but without clubs). It was a bold bluff but I worked :)

Level 5 - 150/300 - 7500 chips
26 players, 11500 average.
2 limpers, I call on the cutoff with A6s. Flop 663 with 2 spades. It's checked to me, I bet 1200 and get one caller. Turn Qd. Check, I bet 2800 and opponent folds.
I then get a walk, always nice! :)
I raise OTB with A5s to 800. SB calls, saying he has to call with such nice cards. BB folds. Flop 678 rainbow. SB bets 1200. I call with my draw. Turn 8. SB bets 1700. I put him on A8, or a small pair like 44/55. I have very good odds so I call. River is another 8, SB puts me all in and I insta fold. He shows KQ. I made a mistake on the flop, I should have raised with my draw to get informations. Had I raise to 3000 the hand would have cost me the same, but I would knew better where I was (and here he would have folded to my raise). He played the hand well, I played it bad. Aggression is the key! And this was a perfect spot to be aggressive.

Level 6 - 200/400 - 6100 chips
25 players, 12000 average stack.
Button raises to 1100. I see AJ0 on my SB, the button is aggressive and lose, so easy all in. He folds and I take the pot.
I limp EP 9Ts, blinds call. Flop A57 2 heart. All check. Turn 6. It's checked to me, I bet 800 with my gutshot. SB calls. River 6h. SB bets half of his stack, I insta fold.
Folded to the blinds. SB calls, I check my KT. Flop 224. Check check. Turn A. SB bets 600. I don't believe him at all so I call. River put third club. He checks, I bet 600 thinking I'm far ahead. He calls and shows A7. I got owned.

Level 7 - 300/600 - 4200 chips
23 players, 13000 average stack.
I go all in with JJ and take the blinds.
I pick up AQs, go all in, I'm called by AT, two players say they folded a ten, but the flop brings the last ten in the deck, and again a one outer puts me out of my misery.

In conclusion, I can say I didn't make too much mistakes, made one small good play, but couldn't get enough luck to win the key pots to build a stack.

Again, I have played small stack poker and I was never in a position where I could do any kind of elaborate move. It's months now I haven't be a big stack in any tournament. I always survive, playing desperate poker. This is very frustrating. I must have a very big leak in my game but I still can't figure it out. Should I play much more hands in the early stage and be very aggressive, hoping to make a big double up? Very tough question.

Next Tuesday, I play in the day 1A of the EPT Copenhagen. I'm not feeling very confident, and I'm very afraid to again lose the key pots and go down in the 10BB situation after the 5th level. I'm really in the mood where I can't see how's it's possible to do win anything in poker, so this will not help either.

Oh well... We'll see! :)