Finally an awesome night

Kenna James at Red Rock 1/2 NL

Poker is funny.  No matter what the situation looks like on the outside, you just don't know when you're going to have a really boring night, a really bad night, or a really good night.  If you had to ask me which of the above I would experience at Red Rock on a Tuesday night, I would guess a boring night.

We got up to Red Rock at 8:30 PM.  Started out at 4/8 limit while waiting, and moved into a 1/2 NL game shortly after.

Saturday Red Rock $1/$2 NL
Actually, before I get into last night's session, let me talk briefly about a session on Saturday.  I would have classified this as a time where game conditions should be perfect.  We got up to Red Rock on Saturday at 10 PM.  The game was so incredibly boring.  No action.  It was just garbage.

I had some rough hands.  On one hand I had A-6 (think I was in the blind).  Flop came A-10-6, I bet out.  Basically bet the flop, turn, and river and got called all the way down.  Other guy flopped a set of 6s and never raised me.  That pissed me off, even though he probably saved me money.  Just an annoying situation. 

Later on that night, I had A-A and got into a big pot.  I raised to 7 under the gun.  The next guy to act made it 14.  One guy called the 14 and it came back to me.  I raised to 40.  Both called.  This was turning into a monster pot.  Flop came K-J-x, all spades.  I did not have a spade (had to look back at my cards to confirm, which probably wasn't good).  Also, the flop wasn't exactly good either.  I could easily see someone preflop having J-J or maybe even K-K.  At the same time, I wasn't about to give up on the pot.  I bet out 75.  Next guy goes all-in for like 300, I fold.  Overall I played it the right way, but it was still frustrating. 

I was in a bad mood.  I was already playing loose, and after losing a couple decent pots, I was getting frustrated.  The table was SUPER tight which was annoying me, so I started playing more aggressive.  But really, I wasn't playing good.  I was just playing loose and stupid.  Luckily for me I didn't lose a ton of money during that period I don't think, but I probably lost an additional $50 at least that I could have saved by playing smarter.  I ended up losing $184.

Tuesday Red Rock $1/$2 NL
So last night started out a little slow, but I did play some interesting hands.  The first big hand was when I was dealt Q-Q in the big blind.

This guy was sitting out for hours, and he had about $1000 in front of him.  He sat back down and about 3 hands in he raised to 10 from early position.  One guy called, and I called with Q-Q out of the blind.  The flop came 9-9-3.  I checked.  The raiser bet 15 and the other guy folded.  At this point I figured I probably had the best hand, or at least I didn't have any reason to think otherwise yet.  I raised to 40, figuring I have the best hand and this should end it now.  He called.

The turn came a 3, putting 2 hearts on board.  At this point, I didn't really know what to do.  The guy could have 10-10 or J-J and might think he has the best hand.  I didn't put him on a 9 yet because he raised from early position.  I wanted to play a smaller pot with this, so I just checked the turn.  My plan was to just check the turn and probably bet the river.  So I check, he thinks for a bit, and bets 80.

I figure, I looked weak by checking, so I set myself up for this bet.  I didn't really think I could fold after that, so I just called.  Whether that was smart or not, who knows.  The river was an offsuit 2.  I checked again.  He thought for a long time and bet 150. 

At this point I basically thought - I didn't have a good enough reason to fold on the turn.  The river bet definitely makes me worried and I'm concerned that he might turn over A-A or something.  However, the board hasn't given me a good enough opportunity to fold either.  Eventually I couldn't figure out a good enough reason to fold, so I called.  I put in the chips and he just said "you're good".  Sweet.  He said he picked up a flush draw on the turn.  So that was a really big pot.

Later, picked up an instant win with K-Q.  I look down at K-Qo in late position and decided to raise (used my watch second hand to randomize this).  I made it 7, got 2 callers.  Flop was as good as it gets : K-Q-K.   BOOOOOOOOOM.   Sick.  They both check.  I thought about it and checked.  I figured that I hit the board so hard, it would be difficult for anyone to hit anything there. 

The turn was a 10 I think.  They both check again.  I bet out 15 and got 1 caller.  The river came a blank and the guy bet out 25.  I raised to 65 I think.  He went all-in for a little more, I called.  He had A-K, so I won a really big pot there.

Last sick hand I had was with A-A.  I was in really early position and limped.  3 people saw the flop - me, my wife also in early position (to my left), and one of the blinds.  The flop was Q-9-5.  I think it checked to my wife and she bet 6.  We both called.

Turn was an ace.  Boom.  I turned the nuts.  Now, the girl in the blind bets out 25.  Sweet!  I raised to 60, she called. 

River was a 9.  Awesome.  Now she bets out 100!!!!!! 

She had about 300 behind and after my big wins so far I had her covered.  Really big stacks in this game.  I decided to just shove.  I felt that she had a REALLY strong hand.  I just though that there was no way she was going to fold after I showed strength on the turn and she showed a ton of strength on the river.

Unfortunately, she eventually folded.  I lost a huge opportunity there.  I reflected on that hand and I think it would have been better to think for a bit longer maybe, and also maybe just raise another $175 on top instead of going all-in.  I feel like my shove looked really confident.  I could have made it look a little more questionable, and I think the $175 amount would have been a lot easier to call while not losing a ton of value.  Overall though shoving wasn't terrible either, just didn't work out this time.

I ended up winning $542 in the game.  My biggest win yet, since I started playing again.  I was super pumped.  I've been having a really slow time lately, so it felt good to get a really big win. 

Kenna James sat down in the game for a while, which was cool.  I'm not a huge fan or anything, and honestly I don't remember how he's connected to the poker world, but it was definitely a more exciting person to have at the table than your usual 50 year old regular.  You don't see many celebrities at Red Rock so that was fun.

Now my bankroll is sitting at a little over $2200.  Once I hit $3k I'm going to take a shot at 2/5 NL... can't wait!  I'm excited for my next session.