Aug 09 2009
Out Before I Even Had A Chance To Get Going
I had a Cleveland Poker League game this past weekend (the last of the season) and as I’m sure you can tell by the title of this post it didn’t go well. On a positive note I really do think I was playing pretty well (good reads, some good folds, etc.) For what seemed like the 4th or 5th tourney in a row I felt like I was getting nothing to play with. At one point about an hour in or so I’d see a grand total of 6 face cards… that’s not good. But I’m not here to bitch about the cards I was getting cause we all know it’s about what you DO with those cards that makes the poker player.
Hand #1
I’m in the small blind and I look down to find a pair of Sevens. We’re playing 6 handed and there were two callers so I decide just to call and see a flop.
Hmm… talk about a bad flop for a pair of Sevens. Believe it or not the table checks around and we go to the turn which brings another J. At this point (with 4 overcards) I’m forced to fold. I retrospect a bet on the flop might have taken it down but I just couldn’t pull the trigger betting into a flop with 3 overcards on it.
Hand #2
I’m on the button and look down to see one of my favorites:
I’d been playing pretty tight (primarily cause I was getting a whole bunch of nothing) but I decided that this was too good to pass on so I bumped it to 3 times the big blind. The small blind called and we were off to the flop.
Not a bad flop at all. I’d have preferred to hit a pair to go along with my 4 flush but this was definitely good enough to call when the small blind put out a bet. The turn and river came and I ended going to the river with nothing but a pair of 8′s. Not good enough to take down the pot once the small blind showed wired Queens. Unfortunately nothing higher than a Queen was on the board or I may have been able to buy the pot with a big bet.
Final Hand
Just before the second break and I’m under the gun and look down to see AQ. It’s folded around to the big blind who calls and we’re off to the flop:
All right! Finally something I can play with. My opponent bets $400 and I call. The flop comes out another beautiful Ace. She bets out again and I move all in for the rest of my dwindling stack. She (of course) flips over an A9 for a full house leaving me drawing to three outs which don’t come.
Looking back I’m not sure I could have gotten away from this. Once I hit my third ace just about the only hand I was worried about was AK. I honestly didn’t think she’d call with A9 in that spot (AK, AQ, AJ or AT was about the range of Aces that I had her on). Guess I missed that “that much”. As they say… that’s poker!
See you after the flop!
