3 hands from tonight.
After a good end of August/beginning of September, I’ve had two losing sessions in a row. I play good and run bad for the most part, but it shouldn’t affect me after having like 7 wins in row. Alas, it does. So, after I end last night by making one of the worst plays/bets I’ve made (since one of the early thirty mans against Kolby), I decide to “re-focus”. I kill myself at the gym last night, go for a long swim today, get my hair cut, have some Fazoli’s, and I’m ready to go.
Ok, the hands:
1. I have JJ in MP, raise to 12. I haven’t been at the table long, but this is my first preflop raise. I get 3 callers, and we see the flop of J86 all hearts four ways. I already know I’m betting any flop where I have a set or overpair, so when it’s checked to me, I bet 25. The two guys behind me fold and the SB (old guy who plays at the Venetian regularly, but is not a rock) calls. Turn is the 7d. He goes all-in for about 130. Ok, that’s interesting. He clearly doesn’t have a big flush, because he’d likely checkraise me here. I think his most likely hands are a small flush (waiting until the turn to see if another Heart comes) or some kind of combo draw semi-bluff. He could have two pair or a big jack. I call. He flips over 9Tcc for the turned gutshot. The river pairs the 7 and I win. I didn’t see that coming. I may not have played the hand perfectly, but I don’t like his line at all. Whatever, I win.
2. Asian chic comes to the table and is clearly a 2/5 player. She doesn’t like only buying in for 300, she puts constant pressure on everyone. But, she’s pretty good. She’s playing a very volatile style and is about even when I get to limp for 2 with QJcc. Flop comes K83 all clubs. YAY. Early position dude bets 10, I call, she calls. Turn Ts, EP bets 25, I raise to 75, she calls, he folds. I think her most likely hand at this point is the Ac. River is the Tc, completing her possible draw and pairing the board. I check, she bets 100, and I call. Huh? Ok, I tanked a bit, but not enough. What can I beat besides a bluff here? A 9 high flush? Rivered trip Tens somehow? It’s not a horrible call, because the pot is laying me 3-1, and she could easily be trying to take it away from me with a decent K, or three pairs that she now knows she has to turn into a bluff (she was VERY active). But, it’s not a good call. Sure enough, she flips over A4cc for the flopped nuts, and I could have lost a lot more. But, obviously, I could have lost 100 less, too.
3. I’m now hovering, treading water as the game gets really good. Everyone is deep. Action is good. I limp for 2 with A3hh. Everyone limps. BB raises to 20. I call, and my instinct is right when we get 4 more callers but no raisers. I can fold here, and often do, but the table is good. I know I’m open shoving any 2 pair of better hand (AAx is scary, but…) or any kind of big draw. When the flop comes 256 with two hearts, I’m committed. BB bets 60, juicing it up a bit, I push for 221, everyone folds to him. Now, you can make a case that my fold equity here is minimal, but it’s not zero. I saw him make a ridiculous laydown (pot odds wise) earlier, and he tanked here for awhile before calling with two black Kings. Ok, 15 outs twice. Brick brick and IGHN.
Make that 3 losing sessions in a row.
I’ll be back tomorrow with some general thoughts and my picks for this weekend.