Day 2, the sad finale

Tables keep breaking and soon we are down to 45 players. My stack is going up and down like a yo-yo, but I am keeping pace with the field. With only $110,000 left, the button raises to $30,000 and I find AQ in the big blind. I raise all-in, and after agonizing, he folds.

We are now playing $4000-$8000 blinds, with $1000 antes. Again I am in the big blind and everyone folds to the small blind, who makes it $21,000. I squeeze my cards and find two sixes. This is just enough to re-raise all-in to $115,000. The small blind has an auto-call with A K. I am actually a slight favorite before the flop which is a very favorable 10 4 4. Now I have a 75% chance to win the pot and have a significantly above average chip stack. Unfortunately, the turn is a King and I am reduced to 21-1 hope for one of the two remaining sixes, which doesn't come.

I'm out in 42nd place! All that work for a paltry $9400! OK, maybe $9400 isn't so paltry, but first place is $570,000...and a mere 9th place is $50,000. I am still in mental overdrive, but my energy is slowly sagging as I wait in four different lines to get paid.