Congrats on getting the job, also cool that you are going to be able to experience WSOP for the first time.

Congrats on the life news; hope all goes well!!

Thanks guys, appreciate it!

Real fast - played a short session tonight but not gonna post any hands, mostly bc there weren't really any worth posting.

I won two solid pots with black Aces; on one, the button opened to $15 and the SB called, and I 3! to $75. The button called and the SB folded. The flop came JJ9. I checked and he just shipped for $375 into the $165 pot, I called, and his KQ (lol) didn't improve.

The other hand, there were 5 limpers into my BB and I raised to $50. Only one LAG called. The flop came J54, I bet $60 and he jammed for $250. I called and his QJ didn't improve.

Other than that, mostly missed flops and didn't play many interesting pots. The game ended up getting tight and nitty so I left, booking a solid little W.

Session results:
3 hours, 40 mins
+$366

After taking the day off yesterday, your boy got back on the felt tonight. Things didn't go my way most of the night but I did get into a couple interesting hands:


HAND 1: Flopping a set in a 4-handed pot and not getting paid

PREFLOP:
Unknown but seemingly solid player ($1k) opens UTG to $20, fish in MP calls $20 ($1.5k), nit in CUTOFF ($400) calls $20, HERO ($720) calls $20 on the BUTTON with 44

FLOP ($80): 943
UTG c-bets $50, MP calls $50, CU calls $50, HERO raises to $225, everyone folds

I think raising here is the best play since UTG can have overpairs and at least one if not both of the other two are likely drawing, so a raise charges them to draw.

I raise to $225, which gives the other players a pretty decent price, 2.6 to 1. And if called, then I can jam my remaining $475 in on most turns.

Unfortunately, UTG tanks and tanks and finally folds, as do the other two. It gives me the distinct impression that he folded an overpair, which sucks for me. Still, I don't regret the play.


-----------------------------

HAND 2: Folding a boat

PREFLOP: $10 straddle is on
Nit in MP limps for $10, HERO limps in MP with 55, BUTTON limps, STRADDLE checks

I usually would raise over a limper with this hand, but the nit often limps in with good hands and because he's not very deep, I don't anticipate being able to multi-barrel him off his decent made hands.

FLOP ($40): 10106
Action checks through

TURN ($40): 5
STRADDLE and MP check, HERO bets $35, BUTTON calls $35, STRADDLE check-calls $35, MP folds

Turn a boat and get 2 callers, super. Now I'm hoping a club hits the river and I get paid off.

RIVER ($145): 7
STRADDLE leads for $75, HERO raises to $245, BUTTON re-raises to $645, STRADDLE folds, HERO folds

The club hits the river and the straddle leads out, so she almost always has a flush. I put in a solid raise and expect to get paid, right up until the button cold re-raises big.

He's the guy from the first hand who folded an overpair, and he's played quite solidly since we've been at the table. So I'm under the impression he doesn't overvalue hands.

As such, he doesn't have the nut flush here. So his value hands - 10-6s, 10-7s, 77, 66, and the 98 straight flush - all beat me. And it would be such a wild and out-of-the-box spot for a bluff, I can't at all think that's what's happening. So ... I fold my boat.



So I'm happy with my disciplined fold here; it's pretty easy to realize you're beat in this spot when you think about it, but actually folding the full house can be difficult to do in practice.

As an aside, I'm kinda bummed the hand played out like this; imo a real player would have bet on the flop in his spot with the under-full, getting value from flush draws and building a big pot vs a slowplayed 10x. Like if he bets he gets flop and turn bets from the flush draw and then big money goes in on the river when it hits; instead he took money from me who just would have folded the flop if he played his hand like a G. Oh well.

---------------------------

HAND 3: Overbet bluff fail

PREFLOP:
MP, LP, BUTTON, and SB limp, HERO checks in the BB with J2

FLOP ($20): Q76
Action checks around

TURN ($20): A
SB (an omc nit) almost bets but then checks, HERO bets $15, folds back to SB who calls $15

The OMC almost bet out but then checked, so I decide to stab since he's probably got a draw or a weak Ax, and I can barrel him off of most rivers.

RIVER ($50): Q
SB checks, HERO bets $75, SB check-calls $75

The perfect river to barrel, this old ass nit will definitely fold Ax now that he's scared of both Qx and the backdoor heart draw. And Ax is what he's very likely to have; if he had the heart draw himself, surely he would have bet the river for value.

All sound logic, except OMCs gonna OMC ...



A short time later, my AQ ran into a short-stack's 88 on an A-J-8 flop, and I doubled him up for about $275. Things could definitely be going better.

--------------------------

HAND 4: Long time no eat

PREFLOP:
Fishy rec limps for $5 UTG, HERO raises to $25 in MP with 65, BB calls $25, UTG limp-calls $25

FLOP ($75): A104
Checks to HERO who bets $45, BB folds and UTG check-calls $45

Sweet - been a while since I flopped a flush. And since I'm not a cuck, I'm betting it so I can get three streets off a mark.

TURN ($165): 8
UTG checks, HERO bets $95, UTG check-calls $95

RIVER ($355): Q
UTG checks, HERO bets $245, UTG check-calls $245



-----------------------------

HAND 5: I bruff

PREFLOP:
Action player in MP opens to $25, HERO calls on the BUTTON with 1010, BB calls $25

FLOP ($75): KQ4
Action checks around

TURN ($75): A
BB checks, MP bets $45, HERO raises to $120, BB and MP fold

I could easily fold here, since I have 4th pair and all. But, I also have strong reason to think that MP doesn't have 2pr+, namely that he didn't bet the flop.

So while he does often have Ax here, I think I can barrel him off of it with a turn raise and then a river bomb. I block the nut straight, plus I have some outs. But I don't need them; I expect to get called on the turn a decent amount so I have to be willing to fire that river shell, but he here he just folds on the turn and we earn a nice little pot.

-----------------------------

Fun session and even though I was stuck for most of it, I got a little momentum at the end to leave a small winner. Those sessions always feel good, and folding that boat early in the session saved me a bunch of money and allowed it to happen.

Session results:
6 hours, 10 mins
+$103

missed you started a new thread - just got caught up.

good luck this year and congrats on the new job !

Appreciated buddy! Welcome

Played a session tonight. My butthole ... it is sore. The hands,,,


HAND 1: Losing with a flopped set, Vol. 1

PREFLOP: $10 straddle is on UTG
HERO ($800) opens to $30 in HJ with 66, BUTTON calls, BB ($255) calls, STRADDLE 3-bets ($1k) to $90, HERO, BUTTON, and BB call $90

FLOP ($360): 689
BB leads all-in for $165, STRADDLE folds, HERO raises to $365 to iso, BUTTON folds

TURN: 5
RIVER: 2



-----------------------------

HAND 2: Winning with a set, the only chapter

PREFLOP:
HERO opens to $30 with 66 in MP, LOJACK, CUTOFF, and BUTTON ($400) call $30

FLOP ($120): A86
HERO c-bets $75, folds to BUTTON (an old boomer) who snap-raises to $150, HERO re-raises all-in to $370 effective, boomer calls all-in

TURN: K
RIVER 8



-------------------------

HAND 3: Bruff fail

PREFLOP: CUTOFF posts the $10 straddle
BUTTON raises to $30, BB calls $30, MP calls $30, HERO ($1k) calls $30 in HJ with QJ, CUTOFF ($550) calls $30

FLOP ($150): K104
Action checks around

TURN ($150): 7
Checks to HERO, who bets $75, only the CUTOFF calls

Action on the flop checked to the preflop raiser, and he checked back. So when it checks to me on the turn, I take a shot and the Cutoff calls behind me. He can have a lot of hands, from flush draws to Kx to 98 to 56.

RIVER ($300): 8
HERO bets $220, CUTOFF tank-calls $220

I'm ok with taking a shot here, but I hate my sizing. I don't think my bluff needs to be nearly this big to get folds from 98 or a missed flush draw, and it kind of polarizes me; since I didn't re-raise I likely don't have AK, and I probably wouldn't be betting KQ or KJ so hard. So I either have 2pr+ or a missed flush draw or straight draw, and there are enough of those that pairs can call.

This guy sniffs it out; I think my bluff here was transparent and my sizing was poor. I'd either like to see a A) a give-up or B) a bet of $175-ish instead. Bad job by me.



------------------------

HAND 4: Losing with a flopped flush

PREFLOP: HIJACK posts the $10 straddle
HERO ($900) limps for $10 in the HIJACK with 79, BUTTON, SB, BB, MP, LOJACK, and HIJACK limp

I don't know why I didn't raise pre like I usually do; I guess in the moment I was thinking there was a lot of raising and 3!ing and I wanted to make sure I could call a raise in position.

But that's something I always deal with when it happens, we were playing "winner straddle" where the winner of the previous hand straddles from whatever position they're in (you can do this at the Oaks), and I'm still trying to figure out how to play in that dynamic the best. Anyway you slice it, I screwed it up.

FLOP ($70): Q85
Checks to LJ ($1k) who bets $50, HERO ($900) calls $50, BUTTON ($1.5k) raises to $150, LJ and HERO call $150

I flop huge, smashing a flush with a gutter to a straight flush. I decide to trap pre and spring it on the turn, but then the button raises behind. While I'm concerned he might have a bigger flush than me, usually the nut flush will trap in his shoes so at least I can somewhat take that out of his range.

TURN ($520): J
LJ and HERO check, BUTTON bets $300, LJ and HERO call $300

Ok, so the Button is serious. The LJ check-calling along with me is interesting, he almost always has a set or the A here, reducing the chance that the button has the nut flush.

Still, he could have a lot of higher flushes and not many lower ones, since the board is more mid-card heavy and I have the 9 and 7. Still, I have at least one out to the nuts and I can still be good here in a massive pot. So I don't feel like I can fold just yet.

RIVER ($1420): 6
LJ and HERO check, BUTTON checks



Welp. Certainly it was unlucky to flop flush vs flush. But, if I'd raised preflop, the button probably doesn't come into the hand and I win a nice pot instead of losing one. So, while the deck was very unkind here, I need to take some blame as well.

--------------------------

HAND 5: Losing with a flopped set, Vol. 2

PREFLOP: BUTTON posts $10 straddle
Folds to HERO ($450) in the CUTOFF, who raises to $30 with QQ, BUTTON STRADDLE calls $30

FLOP ($60): KQ10
HERO bets $45, BUTTON calls $45

Flopping a set on this board and getting action, super.

TURN ($150): J
HERO checks, BUTTON bets $125, HERO check-calls $125

Uh, well, don't like that card much. Button has a ton of aces in his range here, and calls the flop with pairs+gutters. Of course I call to see if the board pairs, since he'll probably pay off if it does.

RIVER ($400): 9
HERO checks, BUTTON bets $150, HERO folds

I def think this is not a bluff, he'd probably try to put max pressure on if it was. And it's very rare people will turn 2-pair into a multi-street bluff here. Instead he makes a little suck bet, and I'm just beat. So, I muck it.

------------------------

HAND 6: Losing with AA to KK pre

PREFLOP: Hero is in the $10 straddle
A short-stack with $40 limps for $10 in MP, HERO puts him all-in for $40 effective with AA, MP calls all-in for $40

FLOP: K78
TURN: J
RIVER: 4



Super small hand so w/e, but just a microcosm of the night.

-------------------------

HAND 7: Losing with a flopped set, Vol. 3

PREFLOP: UTG2 posts the $10 straddle
HERO in UT3 opens to $35 with 99, MP calls $35, BUTTON calls $35, STRADDLE calls $35

FLOP ($140): 973
STRADDLE checks, HERO checks, MP and BUTTON check

I flop top set, and I decide to check even though the board is wet. I have the board locked and I even have a diamond to decrease the number of flush draws that can be out there. It's a bit risky, but I'm sure I won't lose with another set tonight Also, MP is a lunatic who recently 4-bet shoved with 44 (hit a set vs AA, of course) and has been firing with any piece. So I think she bets a lot, and even though the button is mostly passive, he'll usually bet for protection if he has a piece as well.

Of course, it's the first flop in forever that actually checks through.

TURN ($140): 10
STRADDLE checks, HERO bets $75, only the BUTTON calls $75

The button is fairly tight and mostly passive, and he can have a lot of hands when he calls. He can have 10x and many draws, mostly.

RIVER ($290): J
HERO bets $125, BUTTON raises all-in for $470 effective, HERO folds

Terrible card of course, but I bet out to try to get called by 2-pair. Instead he jams, and I think it's unlikely he's making a move. He calls the turn with a lot of pair+draws that contain 8x, so many that I probably shouldn't have gone for thin value.

Another set beat, and another hand I didn't play particularly well.

---------------------------

Man, I definitely ran really bad tonight. Lost 3 times with flopped sets, once with a flopped flush, and once all-in pre with AA. That's pretty brutal.

And while it's easy to just chalk this bad session up to run-bad, the reality is that I didn't play well either, and I put myself into several bad spots by not playing my best. That's the stuff I can control, so the next time out I'll resolve to play better ... and obviously I'll run better too

Session results:
3 hours, 15 mins
-$755

Session at Oaks last night - it started off well, dipped in the middle as things went wrong, and I won a couple hands at the end to leave a small winner.

The hands:

HAND 1: An alternative line works

PREFLOP: $10 button straddle is on
EP limps for $10, HERO ($800) raises to $45 with AK, BUTTON STRADDLE ($1200) calls $45, everyone else folds

FLOP ($110): 1073
HERO c-bets $65, BUTTON calls $65

TURN ($340): K
HERO checks, BUTTON bets $115, HERO check-calls $115

So I like checking sometime here; it's a different situation than when you flop a King, in which case I'd usually keep betting. But when I get called on the flop, he shouldn't have any Kings for me to get value from on the turn; usually we're looking at hands like 10x and 7x and 88 and 99, most of which fold to a big barrel on the turn.

Now I can continue to get value from the 98 straight draw, but that's just a small part of his range; he should only have 4 combos of that. So I check, and he puts in a solid bet. He could easily be betting all sets and K-10 for value, and he could also be betting 7xhh and 98 and QJhh tying to get me off a hand that has played a lot like 88 or 99.

RIVER ($570): 2
HERO checks, BUTTON bets $360, HERO calls $360

Hero considers betting for value but based on the range I have him on (2pr+ and missed draws), betting top pair doesn't accomplish much. So I check, and he puts out a big ass bet. And here, I just don't think I can fold. He def can have sets here, but 10-10 3-bets at some frequency, and there aren't a lot of 2-pairs he can have besides K-10, which I block. As such, his value range is pretty thin here, so folding would be pretty ridiculous.



Nice way to start off the session. Unfortunately, from there it was mostly downhill.

-----------------------------

HAND 2: Getting blown off my KK

PREFLOP: UTG2 posts the $10 straddle
UTG3 limps for $10, HERO ($1.1k) raises to $45 with KK, active player in MP2 ($1k) calls $45, BB calls $45 STRADDLE calls $45

FLOP ($180): A75
BB and UTG3 check, HERO c-bets $75, only MP2 calls $75

I'm holding ace-magnets so the ace falls, but even though we're 4-ways I decide to make a sub-half pot c-bet just as I would on this board with AK or AQ.

MP2 often has an Ace or even a set when he calls this bet with two players behind, there's not much in the way of draws besides 86s or 64s.

TURN ($330): A
HERO checks, MP2 bets $75, HERO calls $75

Feels a lot like a suck-bet, but I have to call wider when he bets so small and KK fits the bill. Obvs there some chance it's good, and drilling a King on the river would be super awesome.

RIVER ($480): 3
HERO checks, MP2 bets $300, HERO folds

I mean, there's some chance I'm good here I guess. But really the only bluff he has here is 86s; I don't think he's calling 98s on this flop with multiple players behind, and turning 7x into a bluff would be both optimistic and unlike anything I'd seen him do thus far.

And I just think it's a lot more likely that he flopped a set or has a solid Ax the way he's played this. So, I fold.

---------------------------

HAND 3: Running too cold

PREFLOP: HIJACK ($450) posts $10 straddle
HERO is on BUTTON and opens to $35 with AA, only HJ STRADDLE calls

FLOP ($70): KQ10
HJ checks, HERO c-bets $45, HJ calls $45

TURN ($160): 10
HJ checks, HERO bets $75, HJ check-raises to $275, HERO tank-folds

I mean, what the f*ck. Villain is an older Asian guy who's drinking Jameson, seems in a good mood. Usually never has KK or QQ bc he didn't 3!. Also I block the hell out of the AJ straight, tho he could have the J-9 straight.

The hands I'm really afraid of are A-10, K-10, Q-10, J-10 which all made trips on the turn. But while I'm tanking, villain says "I no have 10!".

Usually this is genuine and it means he has some other strong hand besides the 10. And he's essentially gone all-in; he left himself like $140 after this raise. So I decide to fold.



Pretty hard for AJos to outflop AA cold, but here we are.

In this run, I also lost a couple pots with AK - one I 3! to $155 out of the blind against a really good player's $40 open, and he called. The board ran out 10-9-8-Q-Q and we both checked all three streets, and he won with 77.

Another I just raised to $45 over a limp, got a bunch of callers, and check-folded on a middle card board.

I also got 3! when I had AJs and I called, whiffed and check-folded.

Another hand I called a $30 open with 33 on the button, the SB 3! to $85, two others called and I called, missed and folded.

I throw all this out there to paint the picture of my stack steadily whittling down

--------------------------

HAND 4: Making a stand

PREFLOP: $10 straddle UTG
HERO ($580) opens to $35 on the BUTTON with 98, SB (covers) calls, STRADDLE calls

FLOP ($105): 752
Checks to HERO, who bets $55, SB check-raises to $200, STRADDLE folds, HERO shoves all-in for $545, SB folds

Honestly I don't think this is even a very good shove, frankly I was just tired of getting blown off my hands and I shoved bc f*ck him, that's why.

The reality is that I'm getting called by his flush draws, and I'm in really bad shape against them. I probably get folds from most of his pairs and if he calls, I'm in ok shape.

Against a range of 7x, 5x, and a lot of flush draws, I'm around 30%. Could be worse but really this isn't great and I'm pretty lucky it got through.

-------------------------

HAND 5: Pulling the okey doke

PREFLOP: $10 straddle is on in MP
HERO ($685) opens to $35 in MP2 with 44, active player ($2k) in CUTOFF calls $35

FLOP ($70): 974
HERO c-bets $45, CUTOFF calls $45

TURN ($160): 2
HERO checks, CUTOFF bets $120, HERO check-raises to $245, CUTOFF calls

This is a play I've been trying to incorporate more in certain spots when I smash the flop: C-bet, then check turn like I have overs and am giving up. Here it works well bc the turn is an under and a complete blank; if it was an overcard, he'd be far less likely to bet.

Often, aggressive players will bet their draws as a bluff or even 2nd pair here for protection against your missed overs, and you can put them in a vice. After my flop bet, I have about $605 left, so after he bets I make a click check-raise to get value and set up a callable $360 all-in on the river.

RIVER ($650): 8
HERO bets $360, CUTOFF folds

Oh well. Getting $245 on the turn was still pretty nice.

--------------------------

Had a bunch of tough spots in this session, but won a couple pots at the end to earn a small win. I'll take it.

Session results:
3 hours, 50 mins
+$183

Nice little Sunday session yesterday ... and I was a bluffin' fool. Definitely in the zone, finding spots and smashing them. Also helped that the table was pretty passive, so ramping up the aggressive was warranted. The hands:


HAND 1: My first and only good hand

PREFLOP:
HERO (at $800 is the effective stack) opens to $20 on BUTTON with 44, SB and BB calls

FLOP ($60): A94
Checks to HERO who bets $35, SB calls and BB folds

TURN ($130): J
SB checks, HERO bets $90, SB calls $90

At this point I have to put him on an Ace. Here I'm praying he has AJ and re-pops it, but he just calls so he's still likely at one pair.

RIVER ($310): 9
SB leads for $145, HERO raises to $365, SB folds

He tanked for awhile before folding his Ace. I don't like my sizing; I think I should either raise just a little smaller ($180-$200) or shove all-in for $655; even after the hand, he said that it didn't seem like a bluff and all-in would have seemed more like one.

-----------------------------

HAND 2: Emptying the clip

PREFLOP:
UTG2 limps, loose player UTG3 ($680) limps, HERO ($1.1k) raises to $30 in MP, BUTTON ($350) calls $30, UTG2 and UTG3 limp-calls $30

FLOP ($120): A63
UT2 and UTG3 check, HERO bets $50, BUTTON calls $50, UTG2 folds, UTG3 calls $50

I decide to c-bet here since this flop should be good for my range. While there certainly can be an Ace out there, I should have all the big Aces and there are a lot of better hands I can get to fold here, especially middle pairs.

TURN ($270): Q
UTG3 checks, HERO bets $220, BUTTON folds, UTG3 calls $220

This is the big inflection point in the hand. I get two callers on the flop, and then I pick up some more outs with a gutter.

I have the BUTTON def pegged on an Ace; he cold-called my raise preflop and he's played pretty solid so far. UTG3 is quite loose and could have a lot of different hands, from his own Ax to a smaller flush draw.

So I decide to blast tf off. I put in a big bet to put the button in a vice, in between a big aggressor and another player who could be trapping behind him. He folds what I believe was a moderate Ace (he confirms it was after the hand), but UTG3 refuses to go away.

RIVER ($710): 7
UTG3 checks, HERO jams all-in for $380 effective, UTG3 folds

I couldn't possibly leave all those chips out there. I'm not sure if the shove is a good one; if he's made it this far with Ax, he's *probably* not folding I don't think. And I beat all the flush draws anyway.

Although, there is a chance he has a hand like Q10 or Q9 or Q8, and will fold now that the river hasn't improved him. Or maybe he has A2 and is willing to fold it since he didn't improve.

Either way, in the moment I go for max pressure and blast him off his hand.

--------------------------

HAND 3: Did NOT think this would work

PREFLOP:
Solid prop player in MP opens for $20, Loose player in HIJACK ($850) calls $20, HERO ($1.6k) in CUTOFF 3-bets to $90 with 108, loose passive BUTTON ($400) cold-calls $90, MP folds and HIJACK calls $90

FLOP ($290): 963
HJ checks, HERO checks, BUTTON checks

Pretty good flop for me, with all low cards and a gutter. However, I decide to check because the Button's cold-call has me wigged out, and he's only got a pot-sized bet behind. I think he's pretty pair-heavy, and if he's got a pair I'm in big trouble since he's not deep enough for me to get him off it. So I decide to check and see what he does, but he checks behind.

TURN ($290): 4
HJ checks, HERO bets $150, BUTTON folds, HJ check-calls $150

With the button checking the flop and the HJ checking for a second time on the turn, the light is green for me to fire. I do and the button folds, but the HJ check-calls.

She's loose, so what does her range look like? She loves small suited cards, so she could easily have some sort of pair+draw like 56s or 45s or 55 or a straight draw like 78s. She could also have some flush draws. Overall, it's a pretty weak range depending on what falls on the river.

RIVER ($590): 9
HJ checks, HERO bets $265, HJ folds

Ayah, this is just the worst river card. I can't credibly rep a 9 with my 3-bet and check on the flop. And really, any pair should be calling me the way I've played this.

But, I dutifully put out a bet since I'm at the very bottom of my range and she could have some flush draws that missed, and mayyyybe she folds a small pair. Either way I don't expect it to work that often but at less than half pot, I only need it to get through about 30% of the time ... and somehow, this time it does.



I didn't play this hand particularly well, but I had courage and she didn't, and she was put in a position to make a bad mistake ... and she did.

-------------------------

HAND 4: Another bruff with 10-8cc

PREFLOP:
Rec UTG ($400) limps, MP limps, HERO ($2k) in MP raises to $30 with 108, Loose player ($1k) in the SB calls $30, UTG limp-calls $30, MP folds

FLOP ($95): 532
UTG checks, HERO bets $50, SB folds, UTG check-calls $50

These guys shouldn't have a lot of baby cards, so with the range advantage I bet. UTG check-calls, so he can have a lot of flush draws and hands like 44 and 66.

TURN ($195): Q
UTG checks, HERO checks

I decide to slow down here; if we were deeper I might consider another barrel more, but I wouldn't expect him to fold a lot of hands he called on the flop even with an overcard falling.

RIVER ($195): 9
UTG checks, HERO bets $125, UTG folds

The guy has now limp-called and checked 3 times, and I have ten-high. So it's time to take the pot, and it gets through.

--------------------------

Fun session, I really only made one hand but earned a lot of pots through aggression. Got a much-needed W, hoping to string some of those together before the end of the month.

Session results:
4 hours
+$856

Found myself in a wild Monday night game last night. I didn't get into the game until 7pm, but it was a group of action players there when I got there.

I played pretty poorly at first. I made a bad call-down vs a loose player with QQ on a 4-6-7-9-10 ssxxx board, and he had 10-8s. Just the way the hand played out he had so few bluffs but I payed him off anyway bc I'm a fish.

Then I got lucky and flopped a set vs a straight and flush combo draw and felted a short stack to get above even.

Then I payed off a guy's smaller all-in with A9s on a A-8-2 ddx board, turns out he had AKs and didn't reraise with it pre.

So, I was very up-and-down and not playing my best. But then the game got short-handed (5 to 6), which I really enjoy. Most live players are don't like playing short and don't adjust well, but generally those that have an online background are very comfortable with it.

So we played short with a mandatory straddle, and there was only one player pro-level player at the table. He and I actually tango'd a few times, and on this night I happened to get the better of the matchups.

Once a fish UTG opened to $25, I called on the button with J-10os, and he defended in the straddle. The flop came 9-7-4 xdx, they checked to me and I bet $45. They both check-called and the turn was the 2d. They checked and I checked. The river came the 6d completing the backdoor flush. They checked, I bet $135 into $210, and the pro tank-folded saying, "the only bluff you have here is J-10".

Later I opened UTG to $35 with AJos, the BUTTON and the SB flatted, and the pro squeezed to $150. I 4! to $400 (I had about $900) and everyone folded. That's a move I'd so rarely make at a full table, but short-handed you'll see lighter 3!s and so you'll need to make lighter 4!s, etc.

Finally, we were down to 5 when the last hand went down, and it was a doozy.


HAND 1: Breaking the table

PREFLOP: $10 straddle is on
UTG, BUTTON and SB limp for $10, HERO completes in the BB with 83 and the STRADDLE checks her option

FLOP ($45): A82
SB ($2.5k) leads for $60, HERO ($945) calls $60, UTG (a tight/nitty player with $1k) calls $60, the others fold

I flop very big here with middle pair, a flush draw, and a backdoor straight draw. Then the SB, who is very aggressive and over-values hands, leads for an overbet. Not much reason to raise here so I call, and the nitty guy calls behind.

TURN ($225): 5
SB bets $135, HERO calls $135, UTG raises to $500, UTG folds, HERO ...

Aaaaand my balls get put in a vice. On the flop I was a little afraid that UTG had a better flush draw than I did, but when he makes this big-ass raise, he's for sure got 2pr+.

Of course now I've picked up a gutter on the turn, and with the SB folding, my flush draw is for sure live here. But my 3s can't be - Eights and Threes won't be good here.

So I go into the tank trying to do the math: There's now $995 in the pot, and it costs me $365 to call, so I'm getting like 2.7 to 1, so I need about 27% equity, which I think I have - His hand has been played a lot like A5, where he limped pre, just called on the flop, and then raised big when the turn fell, so that's the hand I'm thinking I have to beat. It's unlikely he has a set, since I have an 8 and he didn't raise pre so AA is unlikely.

So I have 9 flush outs, 3 additional straight outs, and 2 more outs for trips. So against A5, I'm about 30%. And even accounting for a slight downgrade on that if he does have A8 or 222, I still have $375 behind that I'm pretty sure I get paid out if I get. Adding those implied odds in, and I only need 21% equity, which I definitely have.

So it feels weird to do, but I call off $500 of my $875 stack.

RIVER ($1,360): 6
HERO goes all-in for $375, UTG calls $375

Ayyyyyeeeeee that's my sh*t!!



Man, what a sweet river card. The dude bounced and that broke the table, amazing hand to finish the night out on.

------------------------

Session results:
5 hours, 30 mins
+$1,301

Great session tonight at the Oaks. Just ran super pure - only picked up a couple hands the whole session, but the ones I did pick up I just smashed flops and people jammed into me.

Like one hand, I picked up AA and raised to $25 over a limper. A dude with $200 in his stack min-3! me to $50. I just flat. Flop comes 663, I check, he jams, I snap. He has JJ and I hold to win the pot.

Later, I raise to $25 with 99 over an EP limper, who has $30. Flop comes Q-9-7 rainbow. He checks, I bet $35, he calls. Turn 4. He leads for $100, I call. River Q. He jams for $150ish, I snap, he's got Q-10os and we stack him.

In a later hand, EP raises to $25, MP calls, I have 55 on the button and call, BB calls. Flop comes 554, nbd. Check, check, MP bets $70, I call, the other two fold. Turn 7. MP goes all-in for $150, I snap, win the pot plus an extra $100 when my hand holds up as the high hand.

A blind monkey could have played these hands, but it's super funny how you'll go a grip of sessions in a row without anything like that happening and then several times all in one session people just jam stacks (I wish bigger stacks, but let's not be greedy) on you when you have complete lock hands.

Besides those hands, I was pretty card dead so didn't play many pots. I'll just post two smaller interesting hands that I played.

HAND 1: Getting check-raised big with top-top

PREFLOP:
HERO opens to $25 in MP with AK, unknown in CU calls, good aggressive player in BB calls. We're $1k effective.

My standard open is $20, but I size up a touch bc of the player in the BB. Still can't get him out tho haha

FLOP ($75): AJ6
BB checks, HERO bets $45, CU calls $45, BB check-raises to $180, HERO calls, CU folds.

Two things I hate - this big-ass check-raise and the fact that I have the Kd in my hand, which blocks a lot of the combo draws he might chose to bluff with here.

The good news is that he doesn't have a lot of value here - basically AJs (there are 2 combos), A6s (1 combo) and 66 (3 combos). So I'm definitely NOT folding this to a good aggressive player.

TURN ($435): 9
BB checks, HERO checks

RIVER ($435): 8
BB checks, HERO checks

I probably should have bet the turn after he checked, instead of giving him a free card. If he had 2-pair or a set, surely he would have bet again. So when he checks, usually he knows I'm not folding my hand and is giving up on barreling with a hand with good equity. So I do think checking back the turn is a mistake.

After we checked the river, he said he had a Jack and then I showed my hand. So he turned Jx with a backdoor straight draw and prob a backdoor flush draw into a semi-bluff. Interesting line by him.

---------------------------

HAND 2: Finding a slick little bluff

PREFLOP:
Weak player ($400) in MP limps, fish ($600) in the HIJACK raises to $15, HERO (covers) calls $15 in the CUTOFF with J7, MP limp-calls

FLOP ($45): 987
MP checks, HJ checks, HERO checks

TURN ($45): 2
MP leads for $25, HJ calls $25, HERO raises to $100, both MP and HJ fold

I really like this spot for a bluff, since the hands that call the raise will tend to be draws that are behind, while pairs that are ahead (8x and 9x) will do a lot of folding unless they also contain a 10.

In this specific spot, I had both these players pegged for weak hands - the preflop raiser is a fish, and he checked flop and flatted the turn, so he's got f*ck-all. And while I'm sure MP has an alright hand, his sizing on the turn is smaller than most rec players would bet for value/protection with two pair+ here.

Plus, my hand has really great bluffing properties - I block the J-10 straight, and I block a lot of 2-pair and set combos with my 7. So putting all that together, I don't think either opponent is likely to have a hand they can go to war with. And indeed, they both fold. It's a smaller pot, but it's still $95. And when you play for 3.5 hours, that's almost $30/hr I added to this session - that sh*t adds up a lot over the long term.

------------------------

Anyway, it was a sweet session and hopefully I can put together a couple more to finish the month off.

Session results:
3 hours, 30 mins
+$1,342

So, I've decided I am going to put a hold on poker for the time being. As I write this I realize it sounds alarmist, but the Corona Virus is spreading rapidly and today the Governor announced that 33 people in CA have tested positive and 8400 others are being monitored. Woof.

I'm no expert, but I do know that a lot more is going on than reported, just by the nature of the virus; we are woefully under-testing, plus it has a super long incubation period, so there will always be more spread than what is currently tracked, and possibly *a lot* more.

Anyway, with a 2-month old baby, I think it's my responsibility to err on the side of caution and be too careful than not careful enough. And cardrooms are probably a terrible place to be since there's a ton of people from different ages and backgrounds all sitting close to each other and handling chips, cards, etc.

So, that's the update. Hopefully it all blows over and I can laugh about my paranoia later. Far better than the alternative.

Final February numbers:

Sessions: 16

Hours: 70.83

Profit: +$3,023

Pretty happy about this result, considering the month started off in a $3k downswing after I lost 6 of my first 7 sessions. But, I kept a good mindset and kept grinding, and things went my way in the second half of the month.




I assume my volume will be low in March; it's likely to be my busiest month of the year bc of fantasy draft szn, wife's birthday, plus I'm starting my new job Monday and considering the Covid-19 stuff ... yeah, prob won't get to play a lot.

But, I'll continue to study and keep focused, and hopefully get some sessions in.

Well, things sure have changed a lot since my last post. If only our government had figured out that we had an issue before a random guy like me did. But, I digress ...

But I figure it's time to fire this thread back up, at least in a limited capacity, since I'm back in the game.


Quick life update:

*Been sheltering in place since March.

*Started my new job with a new pharma company, and it's going really well. Working from home M-F, which in practice is me calling doctors and pharmacies and doing virtual lunches and meetings with them. Things are very good - love the company, love my co-workers, etc. And frankly, I ran super pure to land this job just before all hell broke loose. Especially since my wife got laid off a couple weeks into the shutdown so we're down to one income/healthcare source. I think about where we'd be if I didn't get this job just in the nick of time, and ... well, I ran real pure here.

*My baby girl just turned 4 months old and she's amazing.

Ok, cool story, let's talk about the poker.


Didn't play a hand of poker for a full month after my last post here on 2/29. Finally at the end of March, I f*cked around with some ACR cash games a little, played a small-stakes cash game with some buddies on PS, and binked a private little 19-person MTT on PS, all good for a little $640 profit.

For the first half of April, more of the same. Some 25NL on ACR for sh*ts and giggles, and the little Friday night MTT which runs weekly.

Then in mid-April, I got into a club on Kings Club. And, I love it. The games are very good and the stakes are great - they have:

.50/1 - $150 max
1/2 - $500 max
3/6 - $900 max

To find online cash games where you can play 150-250 bbs deep and the games are good ... man, I needed this. And I needed it bad. I love poker, I love the competition, I love the challenge. With so many other things in life that have been taken away because of the pandemic, getting poker back has been a really big deal to me.

I was lucky enough to get a credit deal, and like most clubs, things are settled up offline weekly. The club agent is a well-known pro who has been involved in shady stuff before, so getting credit - as opposed to sending him thousands of dollars up front - was pretty essential to me even playing.

I just finished my 4th week on the site. I haven't done as well as I'd like to; there's been a lot of ups and downs, and I don't think I've run very well at 3/6.

Overall, I'm up around $3.6k and cashouts have been reliable. So, I'll drop an undated graph and then quickly go over how I'll handle this thread moving forward.




So, I'm sure I won't be able to take the time to write up every session with multiple detailed hands like I did for my live sessions. But I'll post periodic updates with some fun hands that I played.

Hope y'all have been good, been safe, and have been running like Gods.

Just wrapped up a short-handed 3/6 session, it was 4 and 5-handed for about 90 mins. There were two fish at the table, one of them kept buying in short ($300) and stacking off, but I only got it once.

But right at the end, it got down to 3-handed, and we got into these back-to-back hands:


HAND 1: You gotta be kidding

PREFLOP:
HERO in the SB ($1k) raises to $24 with AK, FISH ($885) in the BB calls $24

FLOP ($48): A73
HERO bets $27.75, FISH raises to $90.45, HERO calls $90.45

TURN ($228.90): A
HERO checks, FISH bets $228.90, HERO calls $228.90

RIVER ($686.70): 3
HERO checks, FISH bets all-in for $541.65, HERO calls all-in

I decide to go into check-call mode when the fish raises the flop, obv he can have a set or 2-pair, but he also has a lot of bluffs and value-owned Aces. Especially when the 2nd Ace hits the turn, it's def best to keep his bluffs in bc he'll value-own anyway.

When the 3 pairs on the river, I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I counterfeit 77 and A3, but all Ax I was going to stack now chops, and A7 still cracks me.



Sooooo tilted. Had the fish on the hook for stacks, and the deck bails him tf out GAHHHHH

---------------------

HAND 2: The next shuffle

PREFLOP:
HERO ($1k) raises to $18 on the BUTTON with K9, FISH ($885) flats in the SB

FLOP ($36): K97
FISH leads for $18, HERO raises to $77.45, FISH calls $77.45

TURN ($190.90): J
FISH checks, HERO bets $158.72, FISH calls $158.72

RIVER ($508.34): 2
FISH checks, HERO stuffs for $630.83, FISH calls $630.83



Got eem! On the very next hand after he got away. Soon after, the game broke, and I got out with a tidy $1k profit. Good way to start the week.

Fun sessions today. Won a couple hundred early in the afternoon, then put in a long $500NL session in the evening.

Things didn't start off well; I lost a $300 pot when I flopped the nuts with JT on a KQ9 board. He checked, I bet, he called. Turn came a 6, he led for $60 into $60, I raised another $60 to put him all in, he called. He shows K6 (we were 3-handed) and river comes a K to give him the pot.

Later, I lost a couple hundred when I turned a flush with 65s and the BB had 82s for the higher flush.

So was down around $400, battled back some, and then this hand happened:

PREFLOP:
UTG fish ($250) limps for $2, HERO in MP ($550) raises to $9 with 99, Good reg ($700) flats from the CU, UTG limp-calls

FLOP ($27): 865
UTG checks, HERO checks, CU bets $13.50, UTG check-calls, HERO check-calls

Certainly, betting here is the standard play with an overpair and a gutter. But I decide to make a range check since this board shouldn't hit my range too often, the the good reg behind me can put me in a bind if he raises and then bombs turn. In retrospect, I do still think I should be betting here in a 3-way pot.

TURN ($67.50): 6
UTG checks, HERO checks, CU checks

RIVER ($67.50): 9
UTG checks, HERO checks, CU bets $50, UTG folds, HERO check-raises to $194.50, CU tank-calls

Here's where I made a really good play. Instead of value-betting the river, I take a chance and check it bc of what I think of the CU's range when he bets flop and checks turn. He can have:

A) 8x
B) A flush draw that bricked out
C) Air
D) A straight draw with 7x that got made on the river


If he has 8x, unlikely he calls a big bet on the river, esp with a player still behind.

If he has a missed FD, he won't call of course, but miiiiight try to bluff river. Same goes for air.

If he made a straight, he'll bet himself when I check to him. Then I can check-raise and make a lot more money.


All things considered, a check is definitely the best play. He does bet, I do check-raise big, and he does call.



Really happy with that play; obviously the river was a complete gin card, but you also gotta make the max when the deck sets you up. Getting $195 into a $68 pot on the river there was clutch.

----------------------------

Here's one more hand that I'm not sure I played right:

PREFLOP:
Solid player UTG ($600) opens to $7, HERO ($600) calls in CU with 77, SB and BB call

FLOP ($28): Q73
Blinds check, UTG c-bets $14, HERO raises to $42, blinds fold, UTG calls $42

TURN ($112): K
UTG checks, HERO bets $56, UTG folds

So I don't mind my flop raise. This player seems tight and solid, so I want to get stacks in vs the top of his range like AA, KK, and AQ, and the best way to do that is to inflate the pot right off the bat. If he's got JJ or TT it's not like I'm gonna get much more from him anyway.

On the turn, I'm not so sure about this bet. The King is a terrible card; I can no longer get big value from AQ, and KK just crushed me.

AA will still have to give it up, although now it knows a lot beats it so it might not go to the felt. KQ would be great, although there's only 2 suited combos available and I'm not sure if he opens KQos UTG and then calls a raise with it. He certainly might, but I don't know.

So I'm kinda running thin on hands I can get value from: AA and KQ.

And I'm now beat by QQ and KK. And if he check-raises here, I'm actually quite sick; I kinda have to call off in case he has KQ, and even though I *think* he's solid, I just have this session to go off of. Maybe he'd overvalue AA here, I don't know. But he also has KK and QQ; I know you never worry about set vs set, but I've narrowed down his range so hard on the flop that it's a legitimate consideration.

Of course, if he's opening all KQs UTG, it's a clear bet. Also if he opens 33 UTG, it's a clear bet. I don't know him well enough to know if he does though - a lot of players in these games limp in EP with their small pairs trying to flop a set cheaply.



Anticlimactic, but I'm not sure if I should be betting the turn. It's closer than it looks at first glance, anyway. Any thoughts appreciated.

Looks like you're back! I'm actually more surprised the card rooms are open in the bay area. I didn't know any of them would be open.

I am back!

Not live though, it's online - see a couple posts up

Super frustrating night at the tables, one of those where there was bad, loose action everywhere and I ran terribly and just couldn't get into a good spot anywhere.

Once lost a $400 hand where I had A4 vs J4 and the board came Q544 ... J

Also lost a $1k pot when I was BvB vs a loose player - I raised pre with AQs, he 3! me from the BB, I over-bet 4! shoved and he snapped with JJ and it held.

A couple cards come different and it's a way different session. Yadda, yadda, that's no limit. It was -$1.4K day to wipe out all the week's profits so far. Sucks, but still have Sat and Sun to go.

Playing late on Saturday night IS the jam. Got into a great short-handed 900nl with 3 insane fish, and it got lit.

In one hand I called a CU raise from the Button with ATos, flopped KTT, and he barreled all 3 streets, going all-in on the river. I just called down and he showed AJs.

Later into the night I played just the most insane hand:

PREFLOP: 3/6 NL
HERO UTG ($1.3k) opens to $18 with AA, HJ ($1k) calls $18, insane fish ($1.3k) in BB calls $18

FLOP ($50): AKK
BB checks, HERO bets $38.92, HJ calls $38.92, BB check-calls $38.92

The dreamiest of all flops. I think slowplaying here would be a big mistake; these flops don't come along often and you have to make that pot big ASAP. And on this particular texture, I can get all sorts of value from Kx and flush draws. When both players call, I have the feeling this could be great.

TURN ($166.76): 6
BB checks, HERO bets $133.41, HJ calls $133.81, BB check-calls $133.81

OH BABY. After a big turn bet, the only hands that make sense for these guys to have is 3 Kings and a flush. I'm gonna get stacks in on the river, and it's gonna be glorious.

RIVER ($566.99): A

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Oh my God. This is terrible. Never been so tilted to make quads.

But I was all set to stack someone, and now on a AKK6A board a flush can get away and Kx might not even call. One out-ed to deny getting big stacks, I just can't run any worse.

Anyway, HERO decided to bet half pot, just in case Kx wants to pay off.

BB checks, HERO bets $283.50, HJ folds, BB check-raises to $567, HERO stuffs for $1109.67, BB tank-calls all-in



Mother of all creatures, great and small. This guy was an insane fish, but he just must have been drunk as hell. What a gift. When things are going wrong, I need to remember hands like this and be grateful.

Nice $2k win the night after getting tanked for $1.4k, feels good.

Quick update: Cashed out $2k last week so that was cool.

Have played sparingly so far this week; usually the weekends are heavier volume since I'm working during the weekdays and then spending some time w the fam in the evenings.

Anyway, played a little $150nl today, pulled a couple of good little bluffs:


HAND 1: Blockers ftw

PREFLOP: .50/1
HERO ($146) opens to $3 from the CU, LAG ($182) in the BB calls $3

FLOP ($6.18): A6
BB checks, HERO bets $2.65, BB check-calls $2.65

TURN ($11.21): 4
BB checks, HERO checks

A better card for his range than mine, so I decide not to fire a 2nd barrel

RIVER ($11.21): 2
BB bets $8.10, HERO raises to $25.50, BB folds

The BB has a lot of weak hands here; some missed straight draws, some weak Ax, possible some weak 7x for thin vale bc he's aggro, etc. Bottom line is that this guy often bets w marginal holdings vs perceived weakness, so I make the river raise with a big flush blocker and it gets through.

-------------------------------

HAND 2: Range advantage bluff

PREFLOP: .50/1
Bad reg in LOJACK ($175) limps for $1, HERO ($157) raises to $4.50 on the BUTTON with 88, LOJACK limp-calls $4.50

FLOP ($9.98): AK2
LJ donks for $4.99, HERO calls $4.99

I call, planning on taking it away later; I have the big range advantage and nut advantage, since I will have all the AK/AQ/AA/KK here, and I'd usually flat with those hands as well.

TURN ($19.46): J
LJ checks, HERO bets $15.56, LJ check-calls $15.56

When he takes this line, he almost always has weak Ax or hands like KT or JT that have a pair and a gutter.

RIVER ($49.02): 3
LJ checks, HERO bets $43.21, LJ quickly folds

River is a beautiful brick, and I have to fire that last barrel to get rid of all those unimproved one-pair hands.

---------------------------

The week as started well so far, but as usual it'll be the weekend that decides the final count.

It got lit last night. At midnight a great 900nl game came together, and even though I had to be up early for work, it would have been a shame to miss this one, so I jumped in.

A couple hands:


HAND 1: Knowing my man

PREFLOP: $3/$6
HERO ($900) limps for $6 UTG1 with 55, MP limps, Drooling fish ($400) in LJ raises to $14 (lol), BUTTON, HERO, and MP all call $14

FLOP ($62): J83
HERO checks, and action checks through

TURN ($62): 5
HERO checks, MP checks, LJ bets $62, everyone folds except HERO, who check-calls $62

Great turn obv, and I almost bet out on it, even entering the bet $ into the slider bar before deciding to check. I did this because the drooler in the LJ has a propensity to click "pot" and blast - it's his main weakness. So at the last second I decided to check to induce him to do that, and he does.

RIVER ($186): K
HERO checks, LJ bets $186, HERO check-raises all-in for $324 effective, LJ calls all-in

Once again I go with a player-specific trap instead of betting for value and it works like a charm.



I realize it's no great feat to stack a terrible fish for 75bbs when you turn a set, but I'm happy I had the discipline to check multiple streets to him to earn the max.

------------------------------------

HAND 2: Close my eyes and jam/pray

PREFLOP:
HERO ($1.3k) UTG opens to $21 with KK, MP, BUTTON, and SB call $21

FLOP ($84): Q98
SB ($900) leads for $78, HERO calls $78, MP and BUTTON fold

TURN ($240): 5
SB bets $276, HERO ...

Fugh. I don't like this at all. He's forcing me to play for stacks with one pair, and this guy is a loose fish so he can def have all the 2 pairs, even the offsuit combos. Also, I block KQ which is one of the prime hands he could be value-owning himself with.

But at the end of the day, he's an insane fish and can have hands like QJ and QT, and maybe even T9. In any event, folding overpairs to this guy is just going to be bigly unprofitable long-term.

So, I jam for $801 effective ... and he snaps.



We like it.

----------------------------------

HAND 3: Should we get max value? Nah, I'm good actually.

PREFLOP:
LJ opens to $12, HJ 3-bets to $18, HERO calls $18 in the CU with AJ, BUTTON, SB, BB, LJ, and HJ call $18

FLOP ($90): J75
Checks to HERO, who bets $51.30, folds to SB ($1.2k) who min-check raises to $102.60, HJ cold check-calls $102.60, HERO calls $102.60

TURN ($397.80): A
SB bets $202, HJ folds, HERO calls $202

Weird spot. Obviously, we like this turn - it puts us ahead of 2-pair hands we were behind, particularly 75, since we block 2-pairs with the Jack.

Of course, we're still nearly dead against sets of 5s and 7s, which make sense for his actions and would be particularly unfortunate.

RIVER ($801.80): 8
SB checks, HERO bets $294.50, SB check-calls $294.50

When he checks the river, he definitely does not have a set, and I'm good here all day.

So, what to size? I think his most likely hands now are a small 2-pair (7s and 5s prob), or even something like KJ or QJ that he's just overplaying bc he's bad.

Knowing that's his range, I should probably be sizing up to $500+ to get strong value from the 2-pair hands. But instead, I make a smaller, call-able bet to try to catch his curious Jx's as well.



Jesus. I got a fish in there and turned 2-pair vs his lower 2-pair, and got the minimum value. I could've raised the turn if I wasn't such a p*ssy and worried about a set, and certainly I should have sized up on the river.

I left this guy with $600 in his stack, which I should be ashamed of. This game was loose and bad (dude had J5o in a 3! pot from the SB for crying out loud) and I'm sitting here not getting it all-in with top 2.

Boo me.

---------------------------------

Despite my misplaying the last hand, the session went great overall. Sat with a bunch of fish and profited $2.4k. We'll take it heading into the weekend.

Solid little Saturday night session - started off stuck with a bunch of good starting hands but bad flops, but was at a good table and ended up battling back for a solid W.

Just a couple hands:

HAND 1: Mixing in the light cold 4!

PREFLOP: 3/6nl
Meh reg opens to $15 from EP, solid player ($1.1k) 3-bets to $54 from MP, folds to HERO ($1k) in the SB with KQ, who cold 4-bets to $202, EP folds, MP tank-folds

I like this play. Obviously just flatting in the SB isn't great, and folding KQs pre is vomit. But it's a great spot for a cold 4! - the good MP can definitely be 3!ing a little wide to iso the small raise of the meh reg, and my cold 4! looks insanely strong, esp bc I'd been playing very tight for awhile before that. I also have blockers to some very strong hands and in his spot, he probably has to dump everything that's not JJ+, AK+

-----------------------

HAND 2: Itchy trigger finger?

PREFLOP: 3/6nl
Bad player UTG2 limps for $6, HERO next to act ($1.1k) raises to $30 with KK, massive fish ($665) in the BB calls $30, UTG2 folds

FLOP ($65.55): J82
BB donks for $65.55, HERO calls $65.55

I could raise here to charge flush draws, but flatting A) doesn't scare off his Jx and B) keeps my flatting range strong

TURN ($194.10): 4
BB bets $194.10, HERO raises all-in for $574.24 effective, BB folds

Gah, really wanted that last $380. I was torn between flatting again for the full trap, to keep his bluffs in and keep him thinking Jx was good.

At the same time, there are a lot of scare cards for a hand like QJ - any A, K, diamond, or even 10. Plus he'd just bet 1/3rd of his stack, so I felt he'd likely be committed at this point with Jx or a flush draw. But he tanked and folded, so who knows.

-----------------------

Still, nice to book a win of $400+ on Sat night; it's been a really good week so far, hopefully will have time to get in a session at some point tomorrow too.

Capped off the week with a Sunday night session last night. Really got very few hands but didn't get myself into any trouble. Just gonna post one hand that I think I misplayed:


PREFLOP: 3/6
LAGGY reg ($1.2K) opens to $21 in MP, HERO ($800) calls $21 in the BB with 66

FLOP ($43): A62
HERO checks, MP bets $21.50, HERO calls $21.50

TURN ($86): J
HERO checks, MP checks

RIVER ($86): 3
HERO bets $75.50, MP raises to $310.45, HERO calls $310.45

At the time, I figured he rarely has a bigger set than me; why wouldn't he bet off AAA and JJJ on the turn. So when he checks back turn and then raises river big on the 3, he usually has:

A3s for rivered 2pr (2 combos)
33 for rivered set (3 combos)
45s for rivered nut straight (4 combos)


Also, not sure A3 raises the river this large, since it would be targeting 1-pair hands. It might not raise at all. So if we discount it by 50%, it's really even money on the raise since we can count 4 combos we beat and 4 combos that beat us.

Also, A3 might not even call a re-jam. So thinking about it now, not re-jamming seems fine theoretically.



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This session put the stamp on the best week I've had so far in my 7 weeks on the site - $4.6k. Feels good.

In the middle of a 3/6 session right now, already got involved in a couple big hands, so just gonna type out interesting hands in real time as the session goes on.

HAND 1: Folding this hurts so bad

PREFLOP: We're 4-handed, this is my 3rd hand of the session
HERO ($885) raises to $18 from the BUTTON with JJ, fish in the SB calls, good reg ($865) calls in the BB

FLOP ($51.30): 1083
Check, check, HERO c-bets $25.65, SB folds, BB check-raises to $75.30, HERO calls $75.30

Don't love the check-raise since I block a lot of straight draws like J9 and QJ, but certainly he could just be doing this with just 10x.

TURN ($200.60): 3
BB bets $93, HERO calls $93

I almost raised here since I'm almost always ahead. I'm now back ahead of 10-8, one of the hands I was quite afraid of. I don't see how he has a 3 in his hand; T3s and 83s are really loose calls pre. He could have 88, but TT often 3-bets in this configuration and doesn't x/r the flop a lot either.

But I decided to call to let him bluff the river or value-own himself with 10x; I felt like a raise here kinda just gets rid of his air and 10x besides T8 and AT.

RIVER ($386.60): K
BB stuffs it for $679.90, HERO folds

AHHHHH YAHHHHHHHH

This is just a devastating bet right in my eye. The problem is that I block so many of his bluffs, as I said earlier. Basically all his straight draws besides 97. And even 97hh just got there. 78hh and Q9hh got there. KT got there. 88 plays like this too.

T8 isn't jamming river. Neither is AT.

He's just super polled and either has big fat maracas with his 97 ... or he got there somehow. There's more value in his range here, and he's stuffing for 1.8x pot. Hurts so bad, but I fold.

Can't help thinking that this hand goes better for me if I raise turn.


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HAND 2: A little revenge

PREFLOP: MP is new to table and posts $6, we're now 6-handed
Same villain from previous hand ($1.3k) opens to $30 from UTG, folds to HERO in SB ($663) who 3-bets to $145 with QQ, UTG calls $145

FLOP ($296): 877
HERO c-bets $172, UTG calls $172

TURN ($640): 3
HERO stuffs for $490, UTG folds

Was hoping to get a call from TT or JJ here, but alas. I considered checking the turn since he'd probably blast off with his flush draws, T9s, and maybe even underpairs thinking they're good vs AK. But I decided to jam bc that's what I'd prolly be doing with my bluffs too, but he folds. Still, a good pot.

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HAND 3: Pulling off a slick little bluff

PREFLOP:
Ok reg ($1.5k) opens to $30 from UTG2, a pro in HJ ($1.2k) calls $30, HERO ($1k) calls $30 in CU with 66, fish on BUTTON ($1k) calls $30

FLOP ($123): QJ9
Action checks through

TURN ($123): 9
UTG2 checks, HJ checks, HERO bets $72.50, everyone folds

This was a really good configuration to bluff; when UTG2 (the original raiser who opened 5x) checks the flop, he never has a set on this board. And certainly he doesn't have an overpair when he checks both flop and turn.

The HJ has capped his range as well when he checks twice on this board; he never has a straight, 2pr, etc

And I'd expect the button to have bet his good hands on the flop when everyone checked to him.

Also, it's reasonable for me to rep 9x on the turn, it would be consistent with my play to check T9/98/A9s on the flop and bet when I made trips on the turn.

So when I bluff here, really I just have to get through the button (who could have 9x by the same reasoning as I'm repping it), and when I do, the pot is mine.

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HAND 4: Bluff fail

PREFLOP:
Fish ($870) opens to $18 from MP, meh reg ($820) flats on the BUTTON, HERO ($1.1k) defends from the BB with 67

FLOP ($59.85): 843
HERO checks, MP c-bets $25, BUTTON calls $25, HERO check-calls $25

I peel one getting good odds with a gutter and a backdoor flush draw

TURN ($132): Q
HERO checks, action checks through

RIVER ($132): 3
HERO bets $105.60, MP tank-calls $105.60, BUTTON snap-calls $105.60

Welp. I thought when the turn checked through, MP was likely to have missed unpaired cards and the BUTTON often had a weak pair. I thought I'd rep the flush and ... yeah ....



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HAND 5: Luckbox Hero

PREFLOP:
UTG2 opens to $15, HERO ($977) 3-bets to $52 with KK, folds to SB who cold-4 bets to $143, UTG2 folds, HERO calls $143

Played with this players a lot and have never seen him cold-4 before, so very concerned he's got AA. Of course, we're not folding just yet.

FLOP ($298): 932
SB checks, HERO checks

I guess the SB cooould have AK, but I'm still concerned he has AA and is now trapping. So I check back to try to keep the pot managable.

TURN ($298): K
SB checks, HERO bets $298, SB check-raises to $755, HERO goes all-in for $834.13, SB calls

I spike absolute gin on the turn, and when he checks, I just blast away for the size of the pot bc I'm fairly convinced he's got Aces and I want to get it all in now, before a scare card (like a club, T, J, Q) comes on the river and slows anything down.



Man, what a beautiful turn. The reality is I was always going to peel the flop, so it was great to get lucky on the turn.

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I few orbits after that we take our $ and run, up a cool $1k for the evening.