Yawn

We've all seen the blog entries and forum postings. After a devastating suckout or two, the author declares that he's thinking about moving up in limits, where such bad play is rare. Of course, bad play is to be found at every level, and it's ridiculous to think that you'll make more money from a group of good players than from a bunch of chasing fish. But still, bad beats drive men to crazy thoughts.

I played an $11 single table SNG at Full-Tilt last night. Yeah, it's not high limits, but since I've been playing the $5.50s, I figured the play would be a little better, and probably a little better than the $11s on Poker Stars.

Oh. My. God.

I have never sat at such a rocky table. Ever. Virtually every pre-flop raise took down the pot. I got virtually no cards, and still managed to maintain a decent stack by stealing with periodic semi-bluffs. It was the most awful experience of my poker life. The levels move pretty quickly on FTP, and there were still 4 people in after an hour and 15 minutes, moving the same 3 or 4 big blinds amongst each other. I finally hit a straight with a straight flush draw and went all-in with it, only to be called by a higher straight, and when my flush didn't come I bubbled out. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster, my ordeal was over.

I did manage to draw a lesson from that agonizingly dull tourney. I played with the rockiest of the rocks and managed to hang in there with them, but I probably could have made a lot of aggressive moves early, and made some more or loosened up the table. Next time, that's what I'lll do, because the only thing worse than going out before the money, is going out before the money after an hour and a half.