Taking the rough with the smooth

I started out with an tight aggressive game plan and it worked a treat for the first three levels and took down any pots I entered and built my stack up to 14,000. Then up comes 8-7 suited on the big blind and decide to call a raise from the button who has been playing fairly tight up and till then (but I liked my hand). The flop came J-8-K rainbow, I checked to the button and he made a bet which looked weak to me (350 into a 600 pot).

I decided to call to see a turn….8...bingo! Thinking he can’t put me on a 8, I check again to him only for him to check it right back - the river was an Ace. Hoping he had hit his ace in some way I bet ¾ of the pot 900. Mr button re-raises to 2,800 ... wtf? I folded after some thought showing him my 8, then he kindly turned over JJ. Phew, lucky me! But from here it all went down-hill!

A while later I picked up A-K in mid position and made a standard raise. The small blind, and under-the-gun limper both called before the Q-Q-4 flop. The others checked around to me and I played it safe by checking. The turn brought a K also putting a flush draw on the board, the small blind bet out 500 into a 900 pot, utg folded and I decided just to call (he had played two hands in earlier levels the same way with flush draws and bet the river when he missed with a bluff).

The river brought a 6, no flush and sure enough he bets out 1,700, I called and the villain turns over Q-8 ... grrrr so much for trying to be trap!. Down to about 9,000k in chips when I pick up K-K in mid position and make it 450 to play which picks up one caller on the button- same villain who is playing a loose game that got me earlier with Q-8.

The flop came 10-10-8 and I bet 700 into a 1,000 pot. His call brought a J on the turn and I decided not to build to big a pot and just check. He fired out 1,600 but my gut told me he hadn’t the ten so I called. The river brought a four and I checked again. This time he fired 3,000 - after a long think and a quick prayer I called and he turns over A-A.

Oh well could have been all-in if he had re-raised me pre-flop. So with 3,500 left I felt dejected and donked the last of my stack off. Despite the result, I enjoyed the weekend and wish I could have hung around a bit longer with Disco, tiger wing, squeeze and all the crew.

Poker in general has been bad for me these last two months, but that’s part of the game – you’ve got to take the upswings with the down swings and just try to ride it out. Looking forward to Las Vegas in the coming few weeks and will talk a bit more about it in my next blog. Hope to see ya’ all at the tables, ‘till then good luck!