Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Better to be Lucky?
So I’ve been on a pretty good streak lately at the poker table. I just finished my sixth winning session in a row this past Saturday night.
I’ve also stepped up, a little, in stakes. Three of my last 4 sessions have been $5/$10 limit. I think the 5/10 game plays a little bigger than $1/$2, $200 max NL game. The pots seem to be around $60 - $80 and you can cycle up and down $100 real easy.
The game was 5/10 Hold’Em/Omaha round by round at Greektown. I went with my good buddy, JB. You gotta love Greektown. This game was really, really soft – full of old retirees who only raised with the nuts. I’m going to make this my new #1 game of choice.
I was down a little when a huge hand broke out. I have J-6 offsuit during the Hold’em round. Somehow, I turned this trash hand into a $1200 profit for me – read on.
Here’s how it went down. One retiree raised preflop and is called by another retiree – both ladies – mother and daughter I think. The flop comes A-A-A. I’m not sure how the betting went, but the turn and the river each see a bet and a call. The first lady tables KK for a full house Aces full of kings. The second lady tables A-Q for quads. The table erupts in cheers. The bad beat jackpot just hit.
The table share was $1280. Man! I’m a good poker player.
The rest of the night was uneventful. I joined JB at the 3/6 limit table and donked off about $60 bucks unable to concentrate too much.
I did have one good play at 3/6. I’m in the BB with 7-2 offsuit (no kidding). With 4 people to the flop. The flop comes 7-2-4 with two hearts. I bet, UTG (JB) calls, UTG+1 raises, fold, action to me.
I smell a free card play coming (I saw this guy use the play once before). This is the play where a late position player raises the flop and hopes action is checked to him on the turn. That way he gets to see 2 cards for the price of 2 small bets (made on the flop) instead of a small and a large bet.
So, I’m thinking, “what’s the best way to “blow up” a free card play?” Here are my options (A) 3 bet the flop and lead on the turn (B) call the flop and lead on the turn.
I chose (A). It worked! Both EP players groan and call the 3rd bet on the flop. Then, when I lead out on the turn, both players groan and call again. Then, when the river is a blank, both players muck - both of them on a flush draw - one of them on a straight flush draw. I quietly celebrated what I thought was a pretty good limit poker play.
I’ve also stepped up, a little, in stakes. Three of my last 4 sessions have been $5/$10 limit. I think the 5/10 game plays a little bigger than $1/$2, $200 max NL game. The pots seem to be around $60 - $80 and you can cycle up and down $100 real easy.
The game was 5/10 Hold’Em/Omaha round by round at Greektown. I went with my good buddy, JB. You gotta love Greektown. This game was really, really soft – full of old retirees who only raised with the nuts. I’m going to make this my new #1 game of choice.
I was down a little when a huge hand broke out. I have J-6 offsuit during the Hold’em round. Somehow, I turned this trash hand into a $1200 profit for me – read on.
Here’s how it went down. One retiree raised preflop and is called by another retiree – both ladies – mother and daughter I think. The flop comes A-A-A. I’m not sure how the betting went, but the turn and the river each see a bet and a call. The first lady tables KK for a full house Aces full of kings. The second lady tables A-Q for quads. The table erupts in cheers. The bad beat jackpot just hit.
The table share was $1280. Man! I’m a good poker player.
The rest of the night was uneventful. I joined JB at the 3/6 limit table and donked off about $60 bucks unable to concentrate too much.
I did have one good play at 3/6. I’m in the BB with 7-2 offsuit (no kidding). With 4 people to the flop. The flop comes 7-2-4 with two hearts. I bet, UTG (JB) calls, UTG+1 raises, fold, action to me.
I smell a free card play coming (I saw this guy use the play once before). This is the play where a late position player raises the flop and hopes action is checked to him on the turn. That way he gets to see 2 cards for the price of 2 small bets (made on the flop) instead of a small and a large bet.
So, I’m thinking, “what’s the best way to “blow up” a free card play?” Here are my options (A) 3 bet the flop and lead on the turn (B) call the flop and lead on the turn.
I chose (A). It worked! Both EP players groan and call the 3rd bet on the flop. Then, when I lead out on the turn, both players groan and call again. Then, when the river is a blank, both players muck - both of them on a flush draw - one of them on a straight flush draw. I quietly celebrated what I thought was a pretty good limit poker play.
