2200 and change players have filtered down to 150 or so. I’ve got a bigger than average stack 29255 (average was maybe 22,000). Blinds are 800/1600 and I’m UTG +1. I pick up pocket nines and raise to 4000. Villan in LP calls. Flop comes JJ4 with two diamonds. I figure this to be a good flop for me. I can’t put him on a J and I’m not willing to give him credit for pocket fours just yet. I want to push him off any flush draw so I make a pot sized bet of 11,000. He thinks for a good long time and calls. I’m pretty sure I’m ahead now and I’m guessing he’s got a strong ace (AK, AQ, AT) and thinks I have a similar hand. Turn is another 4. If my read it right (both on what he has and what he puts me on) I can double up on him here. Two pair with an ace kicker is a hard hand to lay down. I push all in for a little over 14,000 and after a lot of thought he calls. He shows AQ with no diamonds.
I’m already counting the money when an ace falls on the river and I bust in 130th.
I haven’t played NL or tournaments in a few months but I was happy with several of my reads during the tournament. I bluffed a few people off pots when I sensed weakness and pushed hands to the river when I wasn’t buying my opponent’s bluffs. I have been doing a lot of reading though so maybe some of it’s getting through.