Runner Runner Nut Straight Knocks Me Out 3x This Week

So I've been trying to really improve my live game and played more live tourneys over the last year than online. This week was especially harsh, most notably today.

Thursday night I made it down to the final three and was set to knock out the player in third position when I hit A-K on the flop for two pair, and they moved all in with A-J. The turn came a 10. The river a Q. They hit the nut straight. I went all in a few hands later with A-7 suited and was called with A-Q that held up. The person that sucked out on me eventually went on to win, so I am sure that I could have won if I had won that hand.

Today I played in two live tourneys, one this afternoon. Early in the game I limped from early position with A-K off suit and checked when I made two pair on a flop of A-K-3. Checked around to the dealer who moved all in and showed A-J when I called. I had him by about 500 chips. The turn came a 10. The river a Q. I made comments about that was the second time this week someone essentially busted me with a runner-runner to make a nut straight. No one cared. I went out a few hands later when my A-Q was busted by a pair of 8's that turned to a set at the flop.

Tonight I just got back from my other tourney. I made it to heads up. I've been playing extremely well of late. I was not shaken by the bad beat earlier today. Or my seeming turn of bad luck with regard to A-K. What am I going to do, stop playing it? Don't think so!

In this game, I was on the button and just called with A-K off suit again. My opponent raised 2x the BB. He had me well covered, we had just started heads-up play and I was down to him by a margin of about 1.5 to 1. I re-raised 2x his raise. He moved all in, which essentially put me all in and at risk if I called. I didn't even think about it - call. Heads up, he was looking tired and seemed to want to just get it over with. In this league, you play for points so the difference between first and second is not alot. And we had already divided up our little side pot some of us decide to play (yay $20!).

I flip my A-K and he flips A-10. I flopped my K and he had the draw. I had a sneaking feeling and I think I even said "uh oh" out loud. You got it. Cards came J-Q to give him the straight. Three days, three games, within a seven day period and I basically lost my tournament with the same exact hand each time. Only one thing to say: "That's Poker!"