NVD TR:
Showed up around 830 and bought $200. I was seated at a table with 5 stacks and no players
. So I asked the dealer if he wants to play some huhu
. He tells me that the players went on "break". Oh well. I sat and waited patiently.
After about 15 minutes, a couple younger guys return to the table. They tell me that the other people didn't want to play short-handed. Understandable. After an additional 10 minutes, the rest of the players show up +1, so we are 7 handed.
As I was sitting at the empty table, I just plopped to the left of the two biggest stacks. The younger guy to my right quickly took role as table captain. He kept talking strategy and throwing terms like "equity" and "bluff catcher" around. He also kept trying to 'read' every hand. Was kind of funny, but at the same time a bit tilting. Guess that just comes with the territory in live poker. (No offense if you are reading this. I just think its pretty -EV to talk strat at the poker table. Why educate people?)
After some time, I look down at AA in the SB after a few limps. I pop it up to 15 and get 2 callers who are both short($100 effective stacks). Flop came 9 high and I bet $40. The $100 stack ships and I call. He tables 99. He then gloats to his buddies at the BJ table about the huge pot he just won as I ask for another $100
. He proceeds to leave about 2 orbits later. He was at the table for about 30 minutes total. Kinda annoying. Obviously the table captain assured me "well, not much you can do there with 50bb effective stacks." The table captain leaves a bit later.
Awhile later, I am UTG+1 and look down at AKo. UTG limped, who was probably the most solid player at the table,and I was very happy to have position. I raised to 8 and got a caller in the HJ and UTG. Flop came down A23r. UTG checked and I bet out 15. HJ called and UTG bumped it to $40-45 (i forget ~_~). I quickly call as does the CO. Turn is another A. UTG bets 65. I begin to tank. He seemed like a thinking player and probably knew with my UTG raise and flat on the flop, that I must have an Ace. I didn't think he would limp call utg with worse aces(except maybe AQs?), so I figured he had to have me crushed with 45, 22, or 33. I also hadn't seen him spazz out with any type of bluff. With much sadness, I fold. CO called and it went to show down. UTG had 33 and scooped the pot. UTG said "can't believe you folded an ace, nice fold." I said "thanks" and gave myself a pat on the back(however I wish I could have folded on the flop
).
After this, I start building my stack back up to $200 and look down at JJ in the SB. a couple EP raises and CO(has a ~$125 stack) raises to 15. I see he is a bit short so I decide to raise to 35 and fold if he shoves. To my surprise, the BB cold calls my raise. After about 2 minutes of hollywooding, HJ ships for his remaining stack. I do a bit of hollywooding myself and muck. BB says "I folded this earlier, don't think I can fold it now!" and calls. HJ tables KK and BB tables AQ. I give myself another pat on the back for folding.. when the flop comes J high which causes a couple of expletives to come from my mouth. Oh well, can't be results oriented. KK holds up and scoops. Now that I think about it, I think calling the preflop $15 might be best in that situation considering stack sizes. I could still be thinking results oriented; however I think I misplayed that hand.
After some time, our table breaks. My stack is once again down to $114. I contemplate adding on to $200 for the other charity but decide to just play $100. I opt for the #1 seat because there were a couple people on the other end of the table that looked like the type to gambool it up. The solid player I folded trips to sat to my direct left(whoops). First hand I look down and see QQ. I simply 3bet pre and took it down. A few hands later I got AT in the CO. there are 2 limpers and I raise to 10. BTN and 2 limpers call. We go to flop 4 handed. Flop comes A84 with 2 spades. EP limper donks out 15 and I call, as does the BTN. My plan is to shovel on any non spade turn. I figure I got EP beat because any strong hand he will let me c-bet on such a dry flop, and solid player on my left is drawing. Turn is a brick and EP double barrels. I ship my stack, BTN folds and EP calls. He flips an 8 with no FD. River is a brick spade and I double. BTN cringes and tells me he had a spade draw. I scoop and am at about 235 now.
Then, the Hooters beauty pageant came on. The guy two to my left(I think his name was Dave?) had some funny commentary for it. Eventually, he asked the floor to change the channel because it was distracting. I would have to agree with him
.
After this I was mostly card dead. My highest point was about $250; however, I bled down to about $150 before we finished for the night.
Overall it was a good night of cards. I think I misplayed a few hands but overall played well. I sure did pick a bad time to get card dead, though. As a former 6max online player, I always get excited when the charity game gets down to 5-6 players. However, tonight I just couldn't get a decent hand at the end and the players at the table weren't the type I would want to bluff.