On to the Round of 16

I just beat Alex Bolotin in the round of 32, and I now move on to play Carmel Petresco (Daniel Alaei's girlfriend) in the sweet 16. The match against Alex was interesting. I came out playing very aggressively for whatever reason and stuck to it. I also did pick up several hands, and I'm sure if the hands were reversed Alex would've beaten me. We started with 160000 chips this time. Fifteen minutes into the match at 8/1600 Alex limped and I found 99. I raised to 5100 and Alex called. The flop came 764r. I bet out 8000 and Alex raised to 25000. I called. The turn was a 5, still rainbow. I checked and Alex checked. The river was a perfect 8 for a board of 76458. I led out for 50000 into 60000. Alex thought for a long time and called. There is just no way he can ever put me on a 9. Also, he knows that I know that he almost surely doesn't have a 9, so I would bet out to try to win the whole pot. In retrospect, 50000 may've been too big of a bet. I had him down to 80000. I raised to 5100 on the button with A6ss and Alex pondered and raised to 16000. I just smelled weakness and jamballed all of it and he ponder folded. He was down to 35000 and then I probably misplayed T7hh. He limped at 1500/3000 and I checked. The flop was 754. I checked, he bet 5000, and I decided to just call and see what came off. The turn was a K. I checked and he bet 10000 of his last 25300. I pondered and moved him in. I felt like he might be trying to commit himself with a dry 6, so I moved in. Probably a fold though next time. He was up as high as 90000 at one point again. He raised a pot at 2/4000 to 12000. I jammed it with AJo for his 90000 and he folded. He was at 80ish when the bust hand occured. He limped and I raised A5o to 14000 at 2/4000. The flop was AJ2. I led out for 17000 and he moved in for 66ish. I called and he showed J8o. The turn was a 4 and the river was paint, a Queen, to give me the win.

At 10 p.m. I'll play Carmel to try to find my way to the elite 8, which I believe is the beginning of what amounts to a televised final table. I don't know what to expect in my match with Carmel. She obviously knows what she's doing if she's made it this far, and having Daniel Alaei as a mentor doesn't hurt. If I win, I will meet the winner of the Paul Wasicka and Vanessa "fslexduck" Selbst in the round of 8.

SS