I know that bad beads are part of poker and that's just life, but I'm taking a significant number of bad or at best unlucky beats 2 or 3 places from the money.
I don't want to become the type of player who goes into shell, folds into the cash, and never actually gives himself a chance to actually WIN a tournament, but all of this what looks like blatant bad luck is really starting to get to me.
A little emotional reassurance that these weren't just horrible plays and I should continue to play them the same would be appreciated:
1. 3 players from cashing, #3 in chips, QQ in the cutoff with about 13bb. UTG, #2 in chips, limps. I raise to 3bb. He shoves. I HAVE to call there. He has AQo and sucks out on me.
2. 3 players from cashing, 8bb, AJs UTG. I think I HAVE to shove that - can't afford to wait around for a pair. Chip leader has AQo and wins.
3. I get to see a free flop with 35 after SB completes and everyone else folds. I have about 12bb. About 6 people from the money. I flop A24 and shove. Villain has 67s and runner-runners a flush.
4. Another case where I got to see a free flop with Q7o after chip leader in SB completed. Flop was 742. I decide to bet pot. He calls. Turn is a 9. I don't think he has a 9, I'm almost out of chips so I shove for about 2/3 of the pot. He calls. He had A3 and rivered a 5.
5. Having just made the money, #3 in chips at the table with about 27bb, I open-shove AJo from UTG+1. Chip leader in MP calls with A9o and turns a 9.
Admittedly it might have been unnecessary to open-shove in #5.
Other than that were any of these truly bad plays?
Should I resist my fears and not give into the temptation of folding into the money when I'm that close?
