Can't get over the hump and a hand analysis

[gr8johnson]

I have been playing seriously ( by that I mean really reading and trying to learn as much as possible) since last summer. I have been playing small stakes on line sit & go's and I have been playing at a local charity free roll every Thursday. The free roll is a $1500 purse with typically 100- 150 people counting alts. You get 1000 chips with rebuy and ad on's of 2000 for $10 or 4000 for $20 and 8000 for $30 at the break only. I usually only rebuy or ad on $10 if I am low or get busted. The blinds start at $25 and $50 and go up every 12 mins. I usually make it past the first break (1 hour). And make it to the top 3-4 tables left. The best I have finished was 11th ( top 7 get paid)2 times. I can not seem to get over the hump of getting closer to winning or even getting final table time. I play tight. Real tight I think. I just get blinded out in later stages. Without seeing me play is there any advice or leaks I should be looking for to help me out. Or am I expecting too much, having only played for about 9 months. I seem to win my share of show downs probably most of my show downs ( about one hand won every 30 min I would guess) but that is probably because I am not staying in marginal hands often tho.

Alright here is a sample hand that I lost. I am pretty sure I made the wrong play.

8 players, blinds are 2000/ 4000 I have 14,000 chips and there are a couple bigger and couple smaller stacks) and I am the BB. I have Qd/Jd. First player calls, next folds, next calls, rest fold. 3 players. Flop comes 6 Q A rainbow. I am scared of the ace so I check ( I think my first mistake). Every one else checks. The turn is a 8. Two of the same suit at this point. I bet 4000. next goes to 6,500 about half of his chips. next calls and I go all in. They both call. First guy had pocket 10s and the other guy has A 5. River did not help any one. I was busted.
I figured no one had the ace because no one raised. I had 6000 chips left after the bet and the SB was on me and then blinds go to 8000. I felt mid pair with good kicker not great but good was better than waiting for something with a tiny stack.
How should I have played the hand? Thanks for any help and sorry for 2 long questions but I know you guys will help me out.

[Jonniedough]

The sit and gos are good practice for posting and folding to try and make it to the final three for a payout. (Its a guess based off of your post) Or if you dont have the time for a multi table tournament. (which is what kind of practice you want/need)
Try what ever FREErolls you can online, its good practice or try some 45, 90, 100 people or so Multi table $1 buyins (Absolute has these Im not sure of anywhere else).

Your hand theres alot of info that can and cant help. How were the people in the hand playing, if you shove in the BB with that hand you have a good chance of the A5 folding and MAYBE the 10s, but even if the 10s call your QJ is 47% to win and the 10s are 53%. With nearly 3 times the BB your looking for hands to push with to steal some blinds or double up.

[HalfSugar]

8 players, blinds are 2000/ 4000 I have 14,000 chips and there are a couple bigger and couple smaller stacks) and I am the BB. I have Qd/Jd. First player calls, next folds, next calls, rest fold. 3 players. Flop comes 6 Q A rainbow. I am scared of the ace so I check ( I think my first mistake). Every one else checks. The turn is a 8. Two of the same suit at this point. I bet 4000. next goes to 6,500 about half of his chips. next calls and I go all in. They both call. First guy had pocket 10s and the other guy has A 5. River did not help any one. I was busted.

I think maybe you are recalling this story incorrectly - if you bet 4,000 on the flop, the next guy cannot have made it 6,500.

Anyway, ignoring that, if you have 14,000 chips at 2,000/4,000 and you checked in the BB, with 10,000 chips behind you really cannot just lead 4,000 on the flop, you have to chuck it in there. Granted, with 10,000 chips you are unlikely to get rid of anyone but anything other than shoving here is not right.

Better than that though - shove it pre-flop. 2/7 of your stack just got eaten by the BB and although QJs is not massive, how much better will you feel when you are dealt A4o/T8s/some other crap in the SB next hand and 2,000 of your remaining 10,000 are in the pot? You've let yourself get that low so it is time to pick a hand, grab your nuts and hope for the best!

[supafrey]

Yeah I'd probably shove it in preflop to the limpers.

[jimmer]

I think maybe you are recalling this story incorrectly - if you bet 4,000 on the flop, the next guy cannot have made it 6,500.

Anyway, ignoring that, if you have 14,000 chips at 2,000/4,000 and you checked in the BB, with 10,000 chips behind you really cannot just lead 4,000 on the flop, you have to chuck it in there. Granted, with 10,000 chips you are unlikely to get rid of anyone but anything other than shoving here is not right.

Better than that though - shove it pre-flop. 2/7 of your stack just got eaten by the BB and although QJs is not massive, how much better will you feel when you are dealt A4o/T8s/some other crap in the SB next hand and 2,000 of your remaining 10,000 are in the pot? You've let yourself get that low so it is time to pick a hand, grab your nuts and hope for the best!

Nice post, well explained.

[Golden Holden]

12 minutes between levels? That's brutal. My first impression is that you need to be more aggressive as the levels go up.