Don't bluff someone holding the nuts

As you can tell from the title, things didn't work out at the QPT event. In the first hour, I got my stack up from the original 10,000 to over 13,000. No big hands, just picked up some blinds and a few pots after the flop.

Then I made the big mistake... I have A 10, in early position. Blinds are 100/200. I think of folding, but I decide to limp in to try to see a cheap flop. Everyone folds to the SB, and he raises it $750. I should have folded right there, since I couldn't see a cheap flop. But I called.

Flop came 3, 10, K. He leads out and bets $2000. I am very confident that I have the best hand... my instincts tell me he's making a continuation bet. Here's the 2nd mistake I make: I should have raised to find out. A $3000 or $4000 raise would have been a good play. Instead I flat called. Turn J. Another over card. He bets out $3000... I think for a few seconds (my thinking is if he has nothing, or maybe even a AK, and I go all-in he might fold thinking I've made a straight or trips , and I'll pick up a BIG pot and be in control of the table). So I go all-in. Then I hear the dreaded words almost instantly "I call". He shows AQ for the nut straight... So my instincts were right, he had nothing. A gut shot straight draw and only one overcard. 7 outs. He wouldn't have called a raise, and I would have picked up a nice pot. BAD PLAY!

I was left with $1500 chips... I went all-in twice with no callers, and then got called by two players when I had K 10. I didn't hit and got knocked out in the first 2 hours... probably in the first 10 players to be knocked out in the tournament!

But I think I learned that lesson... if I'm trying to see a cheap flop, don't get stubborn and call a raise with a hand that I know isn't worth it.