18 guys and an $800 pot started the night. By the end, only one stood between me and my goal. The problem is that I’m short-stacked and I have yet to get a read on this guy.
Anyway, he starts pushing me around and I can’t catch anything that even resembles a face card. I catch a few flops but I’m losing ground steady. I’m down to three times the big blind when I push all in with a jack high. I get lucky and double up. This guy has called my every push, either because he is not worried being the chip leader by a considerable amount or he is just one of those people who will just call anything.
Repeat the above and I’m back down to twice the BB. I’m all in without even looking at my cards, 7-3 suited it turns out. He turns over K-J and the tournament is over.
I caught nothing during the heads up phase but what really bugs me is that I kept getting called even when he had no business calling me. I’m not sure if that is common in heads up poker, but it sure was frustrating.
The rest of the tournament went quite well. I had to buy-in after only 35 minutes because of some brain cramps and rust (this is only my second tournament and second time playing poker for $$ ever, the last time being last year’s tournament put on by the same guy). I was able to implement some strategies seen on television. I was able to take down pots by bluffing and betting on the flop rather than my cards. I was also able to get consistently strong reads on two players who made it to the final table (I ended up putting both of them out 
).
All in all, I had fun and came home up 300%.
My history in tournaments (both of them) stands at a 4th (my money back) and 2nd ($200).
I’d like to thank the SDMB and the answers I received in the thread I started last year. I’m sure that I would not have fared so well without that thread*.
*The above statement in no way endears nor obligates payment, compensation, or remuneration for advice given.
