A tale of 2 hands...

Wednesday, February 18th, I had an interview at a local hospital for a payroll clerk position.  The interview seemed to go well, and I headed home.  After changing into some comfortable clothes (I'm not a fan of dressing up, and the interview required a suit of course), I headed to the local casino.  I was seated immediately and started what would be a 5-hour session while my wife was working.  There were 2 tables running, somewhat surprising for a weekday.  Of course, a number of the players were older, likely retirees.  I was card dead and had only won 2 small pots when I was able to change to the other table.  I was familiar with a number of players at the table I moved to, and knew it would likely be an action table.  I wasn't disappointed.  Early on at the new table, I was dealt 6-6.  I limp in from UTG +1.  After many limpers, the BB raised to $20.  I called, as did 2 others.  The flop was Q-10-6, rainbow.  The BB bets $35, I raised to $90, and it folded to the BB.  He thought for a moment, then shoved all in for more than I had (I started the hand with about $165).  I snap called, and showed my 6-6.  The turn was an 8, the river a 5, no flush possible.  The BB turned over J-9, for the turned straight.  Ok, there was my action.

I rebought.  Most hands were raised to anywhere between $12 and $25 preflop, with occasional 3 bets.  I was getting hands that I could play, but not hitting flops.  I was down to $65, and added on $200.  This is a rare thing for me, as I usually wait until I get busted before adding chips, but this table had too much action not to have a good stack in case I hit a hand.  I finally hit a few hands, and work my stack up to over $400.  Another note about this table, the players are raising light, C-Bet often regardless of hands,and rarely fold if they have a draw or a piece of the board.  They are crazy and love the action.  I miss a few more flops and am down to around $315 when the first of 2 back-to-back hands happens.  I get dealt 4-5o, UTG+2.  Now, I'm an admittedly loose player, and this hand has history from an old home game.  Also, I feel it's typically easy to play as it can be easily folded after the flop if it doesn't hit well.  Another reason I play it is I'm getting ready to leave, and trying to win some pots to get back some of the chips I've lost throughout the day.  The player 2 to my left bumps it to $22..  This same player introduced himself to the table by straddling UTG earlier, then raising his straddle $20 when it got to him.  On the flop, he lead out, got no callers, and showed 8-2o, no pair, no draw, total bluff.  He has won some pots with decent hands, but also has bluffed at a fair share of pots and had to show some A high hands.  I check-call him down on a board where I flop bottom pair with the straight draw, and after the river, the board reads 8-7-4-K-9, no flush possible.  After calling his river bet, he says good call and shows AJ.  I show my hand and he starts telling me how bad I play.  Of course, I just ignore him.  Everyone else is shocked and a couple say good call, clearly impressed with my poker skills and hero call ability!

I'm still stacking the chips when I look down at A-Q off.  I limp in and another player, who we'll call "Raven", raises to $10.  Now, Raven was there earlier, at the first table I was at, won a decent amount, and cashed out.  He waited awhile and came back.  He's been raising preflop a lot of hands, c-betting 100%, and trying to bully everyone into folding.  He's often folded to resistance, such as reraises.  6 players see the flop, which is Ad-10d-3c.  I suspect that my AQ is best, barring A-10 being out there.  Raven bets $25, 2 callers, I call.  The turn is 3s.  Raven bets $130.  Now, I'm very sure I'm ahead, I'm just not sure if Raven is betting hard as a semi-bluff with a flush draw, a weaker A, or maybe just a 10.  It folds to me, and I reraise all in, although I have Raven covered by a large amount.  I expect Raven to fold, but he eventually calls.  The river is 8d.  I don't like the flush card hitting, but I show my hand, Raven looks at it, and mucks.  At this point, I fold my next hand, and then pick up and leave before my BB.  When I cash out, I'm up $427 for the day.  Not a bad day, and nearly all due to the last 2 hands.