Broke into the money [duplicate post from another forum]

[Dave B]

finished 18 out of 1204 on partypoker $20+2 buy in. Good for $240.

Went from $1000 to $71000 at my best and was within $2000 of the chip leaders.

I made the same mistakes as always at the end-give me your opinion on how I played this hand.

Blinds are $8000/$4000. For the last 3-4 rounds, 1 maybe 2 callers ex the blinds, flops only seen in 1/2 the hands. 1/3 of the time, someone is all in for $20-$30K. Average is just over $60K.

I am in the big w/ $45K and the small is over $100K. He raises my big to $16K, I call w/ J 10 (thinking he is trying to steal). Flop comes A A J-I have a piece anyway. He checks to me and I bet $12K toward the $16K pot, he raises to $24K. I pause, think and then call. Turn is a 4 or 5-he checks to me, I bet $12K again still thinking that he has nothing. He calls. Next card 10, he checks I go all in w/ under $10k remaining. He calls and turns over A 10.

OUCH. Time for bed.