So I have almost 1/3 chips at FT.  The payout structure has the same flaw as stars in that it almost forces you to play for 2nd place.  This irritates me somewhat.  I should clearly tighten my oop ranges and just let chips come to me, attack in position, wait for people to get knocked out and then abuse people 5 handed when cash jumps get big.

I play tight for a while but it stays 9 handed.  emp I see Q5 dd and make my standard open to 25k at 6k/12k.   (given payout and strategical considerations I may have to consider increasing my open size at FTs in future).  BB calls.

Flop 982, 2 spades.  He checks, I cbet 25k.  He thinks and calls.

Turn J putting 2nd flush draw out.  He checks.  I check behind, giving up. 

River Ks.  He leads 25k.  interesting.   I go to make it 100k and one falls off my stack so the raise is to 95k.  He tanks and calls with K8o.

Two hands later I see AJo.  I prefer open-mucking now i think about it but I make it 25k.  Same guy flats on button.  Flop T72 2 diamonds.  I cbet 25k.  He calls after some thought.  Turn Js putting 2nd fd out.  The 1st thought that flashes through my mind is “christ I’m going to finish 9th”.  But I bury it, hitting the OC commits me to the hand.   Now I need to maximise value against his range. 

I bet 75k, he tanks and flats.

River 6s.  If I check it lets him check behind all the hands I beat.  If I bet and he raises me all in I’m going to throw up in my mouth. 

Online I auto ship at this point, but live I don’t think he’s calling any tens to a ship.  I bet 100k, he tanks and calls.

I flip AJ over as the near nizzles.

He turn QQ.  I’m crippled down to 130k and in 7th or 8th.

Not cool.

There were plenty of hands I played well throughout the event, gathering in a huge chip lead again.  I’ve been so focused on working on my early tournament play, accumulation on bubble, etc that I havent paid much attention to final table dynamics.  As this is where so much of the equity rests I’ll put some thought into it to check I’m not making huge errors.  4th, 2nd and now 5th in last few days in various tournaments.  It doesn’t mean theres necessarily a problem with my closing but its a warning to take a look at it.