SICK night at Caesar's Palace

Sunday, January 19th - We were at Caesar's Palace shopping, and decided to check out the poker room.  It was pretty dead.  3 1/3 games, maybe a 2/5 game, that was about it.  Short list for 1/3 so we waited.  Debated leaving (we weren't dead set on playing) but got called pretty quick.  My wife sat down and I got seated at the next table over shortly after.

The game is 1/3 NL and you can buy in from 100-500, which is nice.  I just bought in for $300 to start.  I was going to consider buying in for more shortly after, since a few other guys had $500.  But I figured I'd check out the table a bit first.

First hand I look down at pocket tens.  Sweet.  I'm in early position.  I ask the dealer what game this is (1/2, 1/3) since I wasn't sure, and raised to $15.  Get 5 callers.  Lot of action.

Flop is pretty much the best possible flop you can imagine.  A-10-2 rainbow.  Couple people check, and I bet out $75.  Probably more than I should bet, but the flop was just SO good.  5 others in, someone has to have the ace.  Maybe $75 is too much but that's what I decided to do.  Asian guy to my right starts talking about how this is the biggest pot he has seen since he sat down.  Guy to my left SNAP calls.  (BTW, he just told his friend that he was going to play until his big blind and then get out of there.)  Everyone else folds.  Pot is over $200 now and I have a little over $200.  Turn is an offsuit 3.  I figure if he is going to call that huge bet on the flop, there's no reason to bet less than my whole stack here.  I say "all in", he INSTA calls.  Could not call faster.  River is an 8 or something, I flip up the pocket tens, he throws his cards away and instantly picks up the rest of his chips and walks away.

VERY first hand, more than double through.  Ohhhh sick.  That is what I call a good start.

I kept getting good hands.  Got 10-10 again shortly after and called $12 from an older guy in early position.  About 5 way again.  Flop the nuts - 10-8-5.  He bets $25, I call, everyone else folds.  Turn is nothing special.  He checks.  I figure he might not have a great hand, so I don't bet that much.  I think $35.  He calls.  River I don't remember, but now he leads for $35.  I raise to $120.  He folds.

Later, I look down at pocket aces and raise to $12.  Lady calls.  Comes around to that same old guy.  He makes it $35.  OMG, yes.  I thought about just calling, but then I thought - this guy HAS to have a good hand if he is raising me.  I reraise to $100.  Folds back to him.  He shoves for his whole stack of $250 or so!  I insta call.  Thinking we have the same hand, or KK, or whatever... I flip up my aces.  He shows - king jack!!!!  WTF?  Must have just thought I was full of it, and decided to make a play.  So crazy.  Ten on the flop gives him backdoor straight outs, but the turn is a 5 and he is drawing dead.  Scoop another MONSTER pot.

Basically, I had a ton of hands that played themselves.  Couple interesting ones.  One time I straddled the button (I was doing that all night) and after 4 limpers, I raised to $25 with 64s.  Lady goes all in on me.  I get a count because she was short stacked.  It was $95 total.  $70 more to call.  It's hard to do the math quickly.  Around $20 dead, plus $50 for my $25 and her call, plus $70 for the rest.  So I am getting like 2:1 to call, right?  Calling $70 to win about $140.  Have to be only good 33% of the time to call.  I figured she probably had a pretty strong range of hands, and just folded.  Overall I think it was a good fold.  I don't think I was going to have better than 33% equity most of the time based on some PokerCruncher stats I ran.  Like big pocket pairs plus AK/AQ, only big pocket pairs, etc.

Then later on I raised with KQ of hearts and the flop came K-J-x with 1 heart.  I think I made it $15 and got 3 callers preflop, and bet about $35 on the flop.  Lady went all in and it was another $65 for me to call.  I felt like she definitely wasn't bluffing.  So $60 preflop plus $70 plus $65, the total pot is about $200 and I have to call $65.  Plus I have some backdoor flush and straight outs.  I decided to call.  She ended up having Q-10 and missed her straight, so I won a decent pot.

Just a fantastic night of poker.  I think we only played for about 2 hours, 3 at the most.  I ended up winning almost $1000.  I only get a night like this maybe once or twice a year.  It was so freaking awesome.  Definitely gives me the itch to play some more cash games.

Right now my bankroll is sitting at about $3500.  Not great progress, I have been at around this or even $1500 or so higher for the last 6 months.  But at the same time, I still have it.  I usually go crazy and lose it all, or get super frustrated with poker and decide to just abandon it and throw it all back in the bank account.  This time I've been hanging steady for a solid year or so.

More poker to come soon!

Underground Las Vegas home game

Long time no blog!  I haven't been playing as much, and when I've been playing I've been getting crushed.  Playing more cash than tournaments as well through the holidays.  It has just been hard to devote a whole day to a tournament.

Recently I came across a home game in Las Vegas that I have been playing at.  Played 3 times, although I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon.

A guy runs a private game out of his house.  It's not really private, anyone can go and he's actively recruiting new players.  It's about 10-15 minutes away from the strip.  He rakes the game, although they have found a loophole in the "no rake" laws.  You throw the dealer a $5 chip after each hand, and he throws you back whatever's left after they rake the pot.  They rake up to $3 plus $1 for jackpot, and typically just keep the extra $1 as tip if the rake is maxed out.  Not bad.  Same as a casino or $1 cheaper depending on where you play.  The host and his wife are very nice, and very hospitable.  They have a nice spread of food laid out each day, as well as free drinks (beer, alcohol, soda, etc).  It's a really nice setup.

We found out about it on Facebook and went.  First night was actually pretty good.  They had some REALLY bad players there, which is what I was hoping.  I mean, who even goes to a home game in Vegas?  Some good players too, but a decent balance.  There was this group of deaf people who apparently have some other underground tournament poker league in Las Vegas.  I thought it would be weird playing with deaf people but they were actually some of the nicest people there, very friendly.  Towards the end of the first night it got pretty short, like 5 handed, but we still played for a long time and had fun.  I was stuck about $450 but ended up winning $50 by the time I left.

It seemed like a pretty fun setup.  The pros were - nice setup.  The host and his wife were really nice and he was a lot of fun to play with.  Dedicated dealer, and the dealer they had was very good.  They did have a backup dealer that came in later who was ATROCIOUS but it was his first time and he obviously would not be invited back.  People were pretty nice.  Possibly bad players there.  They were bragging about how sick the game was the time before.  This time was decent, but apparently the last time was ridiculous.  I was looking forward to the next time out.

Next time, it wasn't as great.  There were basically no players.  We showed up with 4 players (myself included) and we ended up playing against the host and this other regular guy that is always there.  Not exactly what we were hoping.  No bad players (save for our 2 friends), playing somewhat shorthanded, and the next dealer wasn't as good as the original one.  OK, no big deal.  We'll try this again.

Next night, the experience was even worse.  One nice thing about going to this place is that it should have (in my mind) been a more friendly atmosphere than the casino.  The third night there were more players, but a couple of the guys were the typical poker players you would see in the casino, with the same terrible attitudes.  Not talking AT ALL.  One guy wore sunglasses, and the other guy wore headphones.  He didn't even bring his own, he shows up and asks the hosts for headphones, and he gives them to him.  :P  So now I'm just at this 1 table game playing with some idiots with headphones and sunglasses on.  There were a couple bad players, but a bunch of decent ones too.  At that point, I'm just playing at the casino.  But of course there are downsides too.  First, who knows how legal this game really is.  The host says he got it checked out with gaming, but who knows.  Second, if anything goes down in this game (guy starts going crazy, pulls out a gun, we get robbed), there's no recourse.  That basically can't happen in a casino.

So I doubt we will be going back.  Gave it a shot and the guy does have a nice setup, and like I said we really enjoyed playing with him.  But there aren't really any big upsides to playing there, and there are definite downsides.  So I'd probably rather just continue at the casino.

Ugh

Sigh. Bought in for $400, lost 2, bought 200 more, lost some more, bought 200 more. Drinking, hanging out, down $350 right now. Sucks. Played some hands stupid. Not very happy about it.l

Golden Niblet Monday

More 1/2 action on Monday night! Started at 6 PM.

Raised 33 to $10, one caller.... Wait! Johnny just gave me some feedback, interesting hands only! :) [DELETED]

Raise 77 to $10. Short stack reraises to $20, ugh. He has like 70 left. Button calls, he has about $150. I call. Flop K62 with 2 hearts. I check, raiser checks, button bets $60, everyone folds.

Guy to my left is this Asian guy with sunglasses, he is playing pretty aggressive. 3 bet twice preflop, which is a rarity in this game. Unfortunately he is sitting to my direct left. I bought in for $300 and was considering putting more on the table but I am not going to until I move.

KK under the gun. I raise to $10, button calls. Flop JT7 rainbow. I bet $15, he calls. Turn 5 putting 2 spades on board. I bet $40, he calls. River is an off suit 8. I check, he bets $60. I thought about it. Pot was 20+30+80+60=190, and 60 for me to call. I only have to be good 20% of the time to call. I figured he could do this with missed spades, QQ, KK, KQ. Value hands would be JJ, TT, 77, JTs, 89s, Q9s maybe. Although he would likely have raised sets and 98s on the turn because of the flush draw. Then again you might say the same of QQ. Combos I beat - as far as flush draws let's say AJs, AQs, AKs (I had red kings). I'll finish this later. He had T9.

Bought in for another $200. Down $150.

77, call $10. 4 way. Flop JT6 with 2 diamonds. Raiser checks and it checks around. Turn off suit 7, boom. Checks to me, I bet $20, Asian guy calls. River 3 of diamonds. Kinda scary. I bet $40, he folds. Not sure what I would do against a raise.

Moved to the other side of the Asian guy. Bunch of people left for the tournament. Hopefully get some fresh meat in here. Two guys sat down with $200 and $300 so that's cool.

Raise 99 to 10, 2 calls. Flop 842 with 2 clubs. Check to me, $25, old guy with a suit on calls. Turn 10 putting a different flush draw on board. Check, I bet $55, he calls. River 4 of clubs. He goes all in for $60. I fold. Old guy, I just don't think there's any way he's bluffing or value betting worse. Then he talked forever about how I was never ahead, "you know I didn't have a flush draw", etc. yeah yeah yeah.

K2 in the blind. Check, 4 way. Flop K54 with 2 hearts. I don't have hearts. I check, another old guy bets $11, folds to me and I call. I figure a 2 is huge, and I can continue with a 3 as well. Or maybe even check raise if a 6 or ace hits. Anyway, turn is the 3 of hearts. I check, he bets $35, I check raise him all in for another $110 or so. He folds.

AKdd on the button. Raise to $15, 2 calls. Flop Qd85. First guy checks, Asian guy bets $20. I raise to $65, everyone folds.

Only down $50 now! Was down $200.

Soooooo sick. Wow. I have been playing a ton of hands - just legitimately getting a ton of good hands. Flopped 2 sets, not getting action but I'm raising preflop and betting the flop, turn... I look like a maniac. So in this hand, old guy opens to 8. Asian guy calls. I look down at KK. Yes. Reraise to $35. Guy to my left goes all in for $140. Younger guy, I'm definitely calling that. Then to his immediate left, a different old guy is like "I'm all in" and shoves his $235 into the pot. Wow.

Folds to me. I have KK. Wtf???? I think about it.... What could this guy be doing that with? AA obviously. KK. QQ? Maybe... AKs? Maybe.... Sigh.... But it's a super old guy with a cold 4 bet in front of him. QQ and AKs seem unlikely, but possible. I decide fuck it and throw it away. He flips up AA and wins the pot. I save $200. Hell yes.

Btw before that, I called a $10 raise with 66 and flopped a set on a 962 rainbow board. Asian guy bet $20 and I raised to $65 like in the AKs hand, and he insta folds. I was kicking myself a bit, that's a perfect board to slow play in position.

Raise AJ in late position to $15 after 2 limpers. The button and one of the blinds calls. Flop ATx with 2 clubs. Old guy in the blind bets $30. I think about raising but I have the guy behind me too. I call. Turn is a club. He checks, I check. River ten. He bets $40, I don't see any way I can fold. He has QT. Sigh.

Then that same old guy wins another MONSTER pot playing ridiculous. Seat opens two to his left and I knock an old lady over running to that seat. ;) I also put another $200 on the table. My total buyin is now $700, and I have about $580 in front of me. Let's stack this idiot.

Sick again! 

I have AA. The guy I'm trying to stack limps. I raise to $15, get 2 calls. Flop A45 with the 45 of diamonds. Old guy checks, I bet $30, some new Native American guy calls. Turn is a bad card, 8 of diamonds. Everything gets there. I check, he bets $55. Ugh. He has like $70 or so left at most. So I think about the odds. $45 pre, $60 on the flop, and now $55. $160 total in there and I have to call $55. About 3:1. I need 4:1 or so to draw. With the implied odds I think I'm good enough to call, so I call. River 4, I bet the rest, he calls, ship it. Would I / should I have folded the turn? Don't know on either. I think it's just too hard to fold there.

Either way I'm killing it right now, running over the table. I'm finally up, up $130 or so. $830 in front of me. Feels good whether I bought all of it or not.

Wowwww so sick, the huge stack and this other guy just got all in and the big stack got bigger. He now has over 1k. I'm considering buying in for more... I'm already 400bb deep, but it is against a pretty bad player IMO. What's another 100bb between friends? :) I'm waiting for now though.

9:28 PM : have been card dead for the last hour or more. Old guy next to me comments on how I only play aces. Hilarious because I was playing soooo loose earlier. Did just raise with 86s to $10, button goes all in for $23, I call, he has TT and I river a flush. :)

Super anticlimactic ending. Literally nothing happened the last 2 hours I was there or so. Left at 10 PM up $120 so I'm not complaining.

Nug Sunday

Back at it. Starting at 2:22 PM. Bought in for $400. 

Fold 64o in the big blind for $4 more. Flop 875 rainbow. Lol.

Limp 87o on the button after a bunch of limpers, 7 way flop, miss, fold. Should I just be folding or raising that?

Limp 86dd in the cutoff, 5 way. Fold the QJ8 flop after a bet and raise.

BTW what do you think I should do with this blog? Should I post all of my hands or should I just post the interesting ones? Johnny I'm asking you because nobody else is reading this. Haha. How's it going bro.

Guy straddles, 2 limp. I have AK, raise to 22. Everyone folds.

AQ in early position (very next hand?) raise to 10. Big stack calls. Flop KJ8, I bet $15, he folds.

Huge uproar at the next table. Apparently a guy says "I'm going to fold because of the king out there". But then he doesn't fold. Guy goes nuts and the floor comes over. Floor says that's not a fold. If that's actually what happened, I tend to agree with the player. "I'm going to fold" should be a fold IMO. Not here I guess.

Raise 22 in early position to $10, 4 callers. Flop KKJ, 2 checks to me, I check, next guy checks out, final guy checks. Turn is a 10 putting 2 diamonds out. Check around. River 9 of diamonds. Checks to the button, he bets $15, everyone folds. I felt like I had some small amount of showdown value and didn't feel like there was a good reason to bet earlier, especially against 4 others.

In the blind, and there is a straddle. 4 limps. I look down at 88 and raise to $25. The straddle and another guy call. Flop K74 rainbow. I bet $60, the straddle calls, the other folds. Ugh. Turn is a 10. I think for a while and check. He goes all in for his last $102. Seems really unlikely that he's bluffing to me. Old guy. Just got unlucky that he had a king IMO, or flopped a set. Doubt he would semi bluff a straight draw all in on the turn. Sucks though. Down $100.

Buy another $200, bringing me up to $500. I'm drinking a Coors Light and my wife brings me over a shot of Jamison, and we shoot it. People are asking me about the shot, etc. I wave my two hundred dollar bills around and say "money up for grabs!!!!"

Next hand two black queens. Few limps, I raise to $15. Black guy with $400 or soon front of him calls. Flop T7x, he checks, I bet $25, he folds.

I asked the old guy next to me what he had on that straddle. He said AK and I have no reason to think he was lying. I told him I had 88. That makes me feel really good about the fold, he sounded 100% genuine.

Moved seats, got directly to the left of the biggest two stacks at the table. Best possible position. 5 handed right now though, hopefully the game doesn't break.

Big stack limps, I raise to $10 with QJs, blind (old guy from 88 hand) calls, big stack calls. Flop A62 with the ace my suit, check to me, $25, blind calls. Turn off suit 8, he bets $60, I fold.

 Called $12 more out of the small blind after calling $3 with A4s on a button straddle. Miss, fold.

3:45 PM - down to $469. Down $131.

Old guy walks up "no cap?", buys $500 red, and takes out 4 black chips and 4 green chips from his pocket. Ready to play.

4:39 PM - I'm drunk, but playing tight. My wife said some nice things to me about how she believes in me playing, and how I'm going to run good soon, she wouldn't have moved to Vegas if she didn't believe in me, and so on. It was really nice.  I haven't been doing very well at cash lately. I felt better after she said that though. Im just going to hang in there and play my best.

5:00 PM - I don't think I've played a hand since the last update. Super slow here. Lot of money on the table.

Guy straddles. I'm under the gun with ATs and raise to 15. The button calls, blind makes it 45. Fold.

98s, raise to 10 after a few limp. 5 on the flop. Flop is K98 with 98dd. Guy bets 10, I raise to 45, everyone folds.

Next hand I have my signature hand, 84s. :) big stack raises to 6, I call. Flop 8 high, he checks, I bet $11, easy money. Down $101 at 5:16 PM.

2nd to act with AQ, guy limps, I raise to $13. One caller. Flop K84 rainbow, I bet $20, he folds.

Button straddled. Bunch of people limp. I look down at 93o. Raise to $25. Everyone folds. Show it. Haha. I'm going to leave soon, figure I'm going to play super tight anyway, might as well get some people fired up.

Straddled button again, had K8s, raised to 19 with 3 others in. Small blind called. Flop QTx none of my suit, we both checked. Turn he bet $30, I folded.

Sigh. Raised to 10 with 76o. One caller. Flop 842 rainbow. I bet 15. He raises to 40. I reraise to 100 with my gutshot. He goes all in for 240, I fold. :P

Omg fuck yeah bro. Look down at AA under the gun. Raise to 10, 2 callers including the big stack (who is in the big blind). Flop J85 2 hearts, I bet $25, button folds and the big stack calls. Turn 6, he checks. $60, he calls. River he checks dark. It's an off suit 10. I throw out a bill and 3 red chips. He says it's yours and calls. He has QQ, and I'm even!!!!! Fuck yeah!!!!!!!

Check 76dd in the big blind. 4 way. Flop AKT 2 diamonds. Small blind bets 7, I call, one other caller. Turn off suit queen. First guy checks, I bet $22, they both fold. Big stack shows an ace. They are talking about it, I don't mess around on those boards, someone could just have a jack accidentally, and so on.

One guy limps and I raise AT early. 4 callers. Flop T85 2 spades. I bet 35, old guy calls me. Turn blank. He checks, I bet 85, he calls. My plan was to bet and check the river. River jack of spades. He checks, I check, I win. Fuck yeah. Now I'm up like $145.

Few people limp. I raise to $17 with 72o hahaahahhahahaahhaha. 4 callers, lmao. Flop is sick - K72 rainbow. Guy bets out $35. I raise to $110. He insta folds and shows a king. Alright.

6:58 PM - I have $835 in front of me. Up $235. Yeah!

Cashed out $825 (up $225) at 7:21 PM. Yes! I'm back baby!

Nug Saturday

1:13 PM

Waiting for a seat in a 1/2 game at the Nug. Only one NL game going. Sitting at another table, 3 people here. I'm 2nd up, or hopefully they get some more people and we can play soon.

I'm planning on focusing and playing tighter today, and thinking more post flop. Hopefully can make some moves and make some good aggressive decisions. Have to get in the game first though.

1:29 PM : 5th person sits down. I say "I'm down to play with 5 if you are." Guy drinking agrees. It's on!

A8s in the small blind, folds to me, $6, first hand win. Everyone just has $100 on the table. Super short but that's ok. I bought in for $300.

53o in bb, check after small blind limps. Flop A53 2 spades. Check, bet $5, call. Turn 10 putting 2 flush draws on board. Check, $15, he folds.

74s, check big blind. Button and small blind in. Flop 422 with 2 hearts. I bet $5, small blind calls. Turn 5. Check, I bet $10, he calls. River 6 of hearts and he shoves his remaining $70. I fold.

Raise to $10 with AQ on the button, limper folds, I win.

Check JTo in big blind. Loose guy who is drinking limped. Thought about raising but decided against it. Flop KQ8 with 2 spades. I bet $6, he calls. Turn 8. I check. He bets $17. I thought for a while. Could call and represent the flush if it hits, but this guy probably isn't folding much. Fold.

Raise 84hh in middle position. 2 calls, the loose guy and this older Asian dude with only like $50. Flop KK2 2 diamonds. Loose guy checks, check around. Turn 10d, check around. River 3d. Check to me, I bet $10. Fold, and the loose guy folds trip kings face up.

Good info. That guy also showed pocket aces on a 456Q board. Didn't raise preflop or bet the flop, and raised the turn when I bet my Q2s (limped small blind).

AQ raise to 8 in late position. Loose guy on the button raises to 18. Call. Flop all low cards, 2 hearts. We both check. Turn another heart and I have the ace of hearts. Thought about betting but I checked. He bets $10. I check raise to $40, he snap folds.

2:04 PM : Loose guy leaves, won about $100. Weak. I'm up $13. Couple people with $200 on the table now, most people have $100 or less though. Full game, 10 handed.

2:15 PM : Limp J7cc in middle position after 2 limpers. Few other limp, small blind makes it $5, everyone calls. 7 way. Flop J97. 3 checks to me. I bet $30. Short stack goes all in for $45, I call the additional $15. He has J8o, doesn't catch up, I win my first decent pot. Stack at $381.

In bb with AK. Bunch of limpers. I raise to. $17. 2 callers. Flop super dry, Q74 rainbow. I bet $40, everyone folds.

A2cc open to $8. One call, guy is pretty short, about $60 left. Flop T53 all hearts. I bet $12 and plan on giving up. He calls. Turn off suit king. I decide to bluff the scare card, I bet $30. He goes all in for $46 more. I fold.

99 raise to $8 in early position. 2 callers. Flop QJ7. I just check and give up, guy bets $20 and the other two fold.

Check AJ in the small blind, 5 way. Flop J53 2 diamonds. I bet $10, guy raises me to $25. I thought my hand was too good to fold right now, maybe a bad assumption but I call. Turn king. I check and fold to $25 again. Probably could bet/fold the turn but he was super short anyway, so any bet would commit me to the pot.

Q4dd limp button. Flop 6 ways, 774 with 1 diamond. Checks to me, I bet $11, one caller. Turn is a blank, he bets $20, I fold.

2:46 PM : I'm up $3. :P I feel like I'm playing decent.

Fold 44 in the big blind for $10 more because the guy only had $60 total. 4 way, flop TT4. Hate to see that.

Q9 in the small blind and it folds to me, raise to $6, win. Hate chopping.

Thought about floating the turn on a A734 board when the second spade hit the turn. Had 62dd and limped the button. Could represent the flush or hit the straight. Thought better of it and folded.

Call a raise to $7 with 62s from the big stack on the table when I was on the button. Getting a little loose. Also feeling like its hard to pay attention. I think I'll take a break in a minute.

3:21 PM : Taking a break. I'm down $14. Not a big deal. Just need to refocus and play a little better. Tighten up. I'm not getting any good cards which is frustrating, but I have to just let it come on its own.

I'm a lot happier about how I'm playing today compared to last week. I'm fucking around a little bit, but overall playing a lot better. I think if I should do one thing it's play less hands and play the ones I do play more aggressively. Try to raise and get it heads up so I can win post flop without having to hit.

Man it's freaking cold out here. Going back in.

First hand when I come back, I post in middle position. Don't want to wait. 2 limpers, look down at JJ, raise to 12. 3 callers. Flop K74 with 2 diamonds. 2 guys check to me and I just check. I figure it's a 4 way pot and I have showdown value, no need to bet. Turn, a black jack. And now a guy leads for $30. Hell yeah. I raise to $110. I have $160 or so more. He thinks forever. Finally folds. Damn. I think I made the right raise though. He just couldn't call with his weak king or whatever. 

Thought about having a beer. Didn't. Trying to keep a clear head while playing.

This idiot is sitting at the table with $6. Just lost a big pot. Now he has $6 in front of him and isn't rebuying. Earlier he "short bought in" for $40 after busting out. I don't even think that's legal. 

Call $8 with 87s after another guy called the early position raise. 5 people saw the flop - 862 with 2 spades. Raiser bets $20, next guy calls.  I thought about making a big raise but it didn't really make much sense. Would have been a better option if one of my suit was out there. Plus with 2 behind me and 2 people that already showed interest in the pot that's probably a good fold.

Limp with Q5ss in the small blind. 6 or so people in. Flop 864 with 2 clubs, 1 spade. I check, 3 more check, old guy bets $10. I decide to get a little frisky and check raise to $35. Now the guy to my left that checked cold calls $35. Lol, not what I wanted. And he only had about $70 left. The guy who bet $10 folds. Turn is the 7 of spades, giving me a flush draw. I say fuck it and put him all in. He says I just want to go home, I'm drawing, maybe already dead. I'm like fuuuuuck am I about to lose a huge pot to ace high? Haha. River is the 3 of spades so I hit my flush. Say "sorry" and flip it up. I was actually way ahead anyway, he had JT of clubs so I had a bigger kicker if we both missed. Funny hand. :) As of 4:07 PM I'm now up $148.

Raise button with JT, other big stack calls. Flop AAK. He says "I like it". Check, I bet $15, he folds.

Raise next hand with 97dd. Flop AK7 2 spades 1 diamond. 3 people in. First guy checks, next guy bets $10. I call, other guy calls. Turn is the 4 of spades. Check, next guy checks and says "now we'll see if you have the spades". I check. The middle guy is the one I got out when I had the Q5s and check raised him, he would have turned trips and he has been sore about it. I know he's waiting to pick me off. River off suit 10, first guy bets $25, we both fold. Says he had T7 but who knows.

Bunch of people limp. I raise the button to $15 with A7. Small blind calls. Flop QQ4. He checks, I check. Turn 7 putting a flush draw out there. He checks again, I bet $22. He calls. River ten. He checks. He only has $38 left. I put him all in, he calls with JJ. Argh. I thought my aggressive image might get me a really loose call, but he had a big hand and under represented it. Oh well. I guess I could check the river but I really thought I had the best hand and who knows, AK, 55 might call.

Up $61 at 4:37 PM.

Few people limp. I raise to $15 with AT. 3 callers and I'm in position. Flop K45 with 2 hearts. Checks to me and I check. Turn ten. Check, 2nd guy bets $20. This is the guy that was mad at me about the other hand. I call. River off suit 8. He says "50" and puts it out there. I called, he had pocket 8s for a set on the river. I thought he might just be trying to out play me. Nope, he got there. I'm down 50 now.

Raise AQ to 10 in early position. Get one caller. Flop 866, he bets $12, I fold.

Put another $100 on the table. Have $341 in front of me, bought in for $400 total.

I don't feel too bad about the 88 hand. To call $50 on the end, it's a half pot bet, I only have to be good 25% of the time to break even.

Raise Q3s in late position to 7, get 2 callers, check fold the flop. Dumb.

Raise 65s to 10, get 3 callers, fold to a $10 bet on a 999 flop.

Left at 5:30 PM. Lost $35. A little disappointing after being up $150, but no big deal. Overall I think I played ok, maybe a few mistakes but I didn't get a ton of cards to win a bunch with either. Better luck next time!

My current bankroll

$2144 pictured, plus I "owe myself" another $1250 from the bank account. $3394 total right now. Not a good week last week, but I'll keep plugging away.

Listening to the 2+2 Pokercast before I head out to work. Have friends in town again this week so it's going to be tougher to find time to play, but I'll get at least one session in. Looking forward to tightening up a bit preflop and looking for some good spots to put pressure on after the flop. And 3 bet more. I think I definitely want to play less hands preflop but 3 bet more. That's been something I've never been super confident with.

Off to work. Ready to play some poker soon!