In short, I got destacked to 45 chips on the 4th hand of this SnG playing AK against a flush-str8 draw; sucked out but oh well, bully for him.

Here is an example of why you should *never* *ever* give up just because you got beat (bad beat or not) because I clawed my way back from nothing to dominate the table and claim 2nd place (shouldve won but got lazy).

I read in another post http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...445&highlight= that 'cowardly passive poker is what wins tournaments'. bullcrap, thats how you lose them. I think I changed gears throughout the session smoothly going from maniac with nothing to lose, back to tight-aggressive and finally bullying the table near the bubble. Here are some of the key hands that led to my comeback, enjoy.

#Game No : 2383143435
***** Hand History for Game 2383143435 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:1 Blinds(10/15) - Monday, July 18, 02:40:19 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $800 )
Seat 6: neumoyka ( $800 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $800 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $785 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $875 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $920 )
Seat 8: godfather003 ( $1595 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $700 )
Seat 9: crb8504 ( $725 )
Trny:14039065 Level:1
Blinds(10/15)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Ad Ks ]
neumoyka folds.
godfather003 calls [15].
crb8504 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
thetwitchdn folds.
deejwinter: i was scared of it, too weak to fold em though
dr3wfish raises [90].
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 calls [80].
shallowhal76 folds.
godfather003 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6h, Kd, 4d ]
VG2000 checks.
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
dr3wfish bets [100].
VG2000 calls [100].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]
VG2000 checks.
dr3wfish bets [300].
VG2000 calls [300].
** Dealing River ** [ 9h ]
VG2000 is all-In [385]
dr3wfish: goddamnit
dr3wfish: did you hit a set or something
dr3wfish: i have to call
dr3wfish calls [385].
VG2000 shows [ Td, Qd ] a straight, nine to king.
dr3wfish shows [ Ad, Ks ] a pair of kings.
VG2000 wins 1780 chips from the main pot with a straight, nine to king.

#Game No : 2383150410
***** Hand History for Game 2383150410 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:1 Blinds(10/15) - Monday, July 18, 02:42:50 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $770 )
Seat 6: neumoyka ( $785 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $555 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $785 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $2070 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $45 )
Seat 8: godfather003 ( $1580 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $685 )
Seat 9: crb8504 ( $725 )
Trny:14039065 Level:1
Blinds(10/15)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ 5s Ks ]
crb8504 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
thetwitchdn folds.
dr3wfish is all-In [45]
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 calls [45].
shallowhal76 folds.
neumoyka folds.
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
godfather003 calls [30].
** Dealing Flop ** [ As, Qd, 3s ]
godfather003 checks.
VG2000 checks.
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8h ]
godfather003 checks.
VG2000 checks.
** Dealing River ** [ Jd ]
godfather003 checks.
VG2000 checks.
godfather003 shows [ 2d, 7d ] high card ace.
dr3wfish shows [ 5s, Ks ] high card ace.
VG2000 shows [ 6c, 9h ] high card ace.
dr3wfish wins 145 chips from the main pot with high card ace with king kicker.

#Game No : 2383159910
***** Hand History for Game 2383159910 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:1 Blinds(10/15) - Monday, July 18, 02:46:21 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $545 )
Seat 6: neumoyka ( $760 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $425 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $755 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $1885 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $145 )
Seat 8: godfather003 ( $995 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $730 )
Seat 9: crb8504 ( $1760 )
Trny:14039065 Level:1
Blinds(10/15)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Qh Tc ]
yossarian10 calls [15].
VG2000 calls [15].
shallowhal76 calls [15].
neumoyka folds.
godfather003 calls [15].
crb8504 folds.
Zdoctor calls [15].
thetwitchdn folds.
dr3wfish is all-In [130]
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 calls [130].
shallowhal76 folds.
godfather003 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ad, 2s, 7s ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qd ]
** Dealing River ** [ 2h ]
dr3wfish shows [ Qh, Tc ] two pairs, queens and twos.
VG2000 shows [ 3h, 3s ] two pairs, threes and twos.
dr3wfish wins 360 chips from the main pot with two pairs, queens and twos.

#Game No : 2383167922
***** Hand History for Game 2383167922 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:2 Blinds(15/30) - Monday, July 18, 02:49:19 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $500 )
Seat 6: neumoyka ( $730 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $410 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $745 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $1695 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $390 )
Seat 8: godfather003 ( $750 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $1020 )
Seat 9: crb8504 ( $1760 )
Trny:14039065 Level:2
Blinds(15/30)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Jd Jc ]
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
godfather003 calls [30].
crb8504 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
thetwitchdn folds.
dr3wfish raises [250].
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 folds.
shallowhal76 folds.
neumoyka folds.
godfather003 is all-In [720]
dr3wfish is all-In [140]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9h, 9d, 4s ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 5c ]
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
** Dealing River ** [ 3d ]
dr3wfish shows [ Jd, Jc ] two pairs, jacks and nines.
godfather003 shows [ Ac, 5h ] two pairs, nines and fives.
godfather003 wins 360 chips from side pot #1 with two pairs, nines and fives.
dr3wfish wins 825 chips from the main pot with two pairs, jacks and nines.

#Game No : 2383176262
***** Hand History for Game 2383176262 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:2 Blinds(15/30) - Monday, July 18, 02:52:32 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $455 )
Seat 6: neumoyka ( $685 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $760 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $715 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $1815 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $825 )
Seat 8: godfather003 ( $450 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $945 )
Seat 9: crb8504 ( $1350 )
Trny:14039065 Level:2
Blinds(15/30)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Ac 9c ]
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 folds.
shallowhal76 folds.
neumoyka folds.
godfather003 folds.
crb8504 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
thetwitchdn calls [15].
dr3wfish raises [70].
thetwitchdn folds.
dr3wfish does not show cards.
dr3wfish wins 130 chips

#Game No : 2383190073
***** Hand History for Game 2383190073 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:3 Blinds(25/50) - Monday, July 18, 02:58:01 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 7
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $1490 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $435 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $445 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $2835 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $840 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $1265 )
Seat 9: crb8504 ( $690 )
Trny:14039065 Level:3
Blinds(25/50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Qh 7s ]
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 calls [50].
shallowhal76 folds.
crb8504 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
thetwitchdn calls [25].
dr3wfish checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qd, Ts, Jh ]
thetwitchdn checks.
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
dr3wfish bets [150].
VG2000 folds.
thetwitchdn folds.
dr3wfish does not show cards.
dr3wfish wins 300 chips

#Game No : 2383200327
***** Hand History for Game 2383200327 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:4 Blinds(50/100) - Monday, July 18, 03:02:11 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $2265 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $770 )
Seat 1: thetwitchdn ( $245 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $2975 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $765 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $980 )
Trny:14039065 Level:4
Blinds(50/100)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ As Ts ]
shallowhal76 folds.
Zdoctor calls [100].
thetwitchdn folds.
dr3wfish raises [400].
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 calls [300].
Zdoctor folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9c, 2h, 4d ]
VG2000 checks.
dr3wfish is all-In [365]
VG2000 calls [365].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ad ]
** Dealing River ** [ 4s ]
VG2000 shows [ 8d, 8h ] two pairs, eights and fours.
dr3wfish shows [ As, Ts ] two pairs, aces and fours.
dr3wfish wins 1680 chips from the main pot with two pairs, aces and fours.

got lucky there.

#Game No : 2383205669
***** Hand History for Game 2383205669 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:4 Blinds(50/100) - Monday, July 18, 03:04:21 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $1915 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $520 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $2555 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $1780 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $1230 )
Trny:14039065 Level:4
Blinds(50/100)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Kh Js ]
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
shallowhal76 folds.
Zdoctor folds.
dr3wfish raises [400].
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 calls [300].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 3h, 4s, 6c ]
VG2000 checks.
dr3wfish bets [700].
VG2000 calls [700].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]
VG2000 checks.
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
dr3wfish is all-In [680]
VG2000 calls [680].
** Dealing River ** [ Ac ]
VG2000 shows [ 4c, 7d ] a pair of fours.
dr3wfish shows [ Kh, Js ] a pair of jacks.
dr3wfish wins 3610 chips from the main pot with a pair of jacks.

got him back.

#Game No : 2383207396
***** Hand History for Game 2383207396 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:5 Blinds(75/150) - Monday, July 18, 03:05:04 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $1915 )
Seat 10: Zdoctor ( $520 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $775 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $3610 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $1180 )
Trny:14039065 Level:5
Blinds(75/150)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ 7s As ]
dr3wfish: now we're even for early
Zdoctor folds.
dr3wfish: earlier
VG2000: ok
dr3wfish is all-In [3610]
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 folds.
shallowhal76 folds.
dr3wfish does not show cards.
dr3wfish wins 3835 chips

#Game No : 2383211319
***** Hand History for Game 2383211319 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:5 Blinds(75/150) - Monday, July 18, 03:06:42 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 4
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $1915 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $700 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $3610 )
Seat 3: yossarian10 ( $1775 )
Trny:14039065 Level:5
Blinds(75/150)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ Kc Kd ]
>You have options at Table 35325 Table!.
shallowhal76 raises [300].
dr3wfish raises [1000].
yossarian10 folds.
VG2000 is all-In [550]
shallowhal76 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7s, Ac, 3h ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6s ]
** Dealing River ** [ 5s ]
dr3wfish shows [ Kc, Kd ] a pair of kings.
VG2000 shows [ 5h, Ah ] two pairs, aces and fives.
dr3wfish wins 300 chips from side pot #1 with a pair of kings.
VG2000 wins 1775 chips from the main pot with two pairs, aces and fives.

crippled him with a reasonably lucky hit on the flop.

#Game No : 2383227343
***** Hand History for Game 2383227343 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $10 Buy-in + $1 Entry Fee Trny:14039065 Level:6 Blinds(100/200) - Monday, July 18, 03:13:24 EDT 2005
Table Table 11175 (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 3
Seat 5: shallowhal76 ( $3430 )
Seat 4: VG2000 ( $2435 )
Seat 2: dr3wfish ( $2135 )
Trny:14039065 Level:6
Blinds(100/200)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dr3wfish [ 6c 8h ]
VG2000 calls [200].
shallowhal76 folds.
dr3wfish checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4s, 6h, 7c ]
dr3wfish bets [450].
VG2000 calls [450].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 9d ]
dr3wfish is all-In [1485]
VG2000 calls [1485].
** Dealing River ** [ Ac ]
dr3wfish shows [ 6c, 8h ] a pair of sixes.
VG2000 shows [ Jc, 8c ] high card ace.
dr3wfish wins 4370 chips from the main pot with a pair of sixes.

needless to say, shallowhal76 went on to beat me with a full-house but I can live with that.

I've got 55 SnGs under my belt now and I have learnt to really turn the aggression on when its needed - I no longer fear the bubble. From my last 15 starts I am ITM 70% with 5 wins, 5 2nds and 1 3rd. Thanks to rippytyde's strategy guide I now play to win instead of trying to stay alive near the bubble.