Weatherford (July 16)

A triumphant return was made to poker this past weekend as I made it out to the monthly $1-2 Weatherford game where I’ve logged in some great wins in the past two years, but have not been able to attend for about five months.

Saturday night’s results were pleasing, winning $225 on the night.  I started off slow, having to re-buy for $100 early in the night.  For about the first three hours I was either working my way back to the black or hovering a little above even.  But things eventually clicked and significant pots began coming my way.

Two hands of consequence are worth talking about.  The first involved the second time I was dealt pocket aces.  My first hand of the top pocket pair resulted in a win of about $60 when nearly the entire table called my pre-flop raise in the small blind of $12 but then folded to my continuation bet on the flop.  The second time I held aces was a bit more suspenseful.

Again in a blind situation, I made a re-raise to $22 pre-flop after Jason, who was sitting three to my left, initially raised it to $7.  Those who called the $7 also called the $22 and we went to the flop with five players and $110 in the pot.

The flop was A-9-4 with two clubs.  Neither of my aces were a club.  I flopped top set with a potential flush draw out there.  At this point in the night I had $235 in front of me, after the $22 pre-flop bet.  With four opponents in the hand I should have feared a flush draw, but I was willing to play things a little risky having the best possible hand at the moment.  I figured somebody probably had the remaining ace for top pair and I wanted to make a bet that looked like I held kings or queens.  So I led out with a $40 bet.

The size of that bet compared to the pot is small and was intended to look like I was making a continuation bet with what I feared was no longer the best hand.  Jason was next to act.  He pondered things for about 30 seconds and then said he was going to raise.  At this point I was screaming joyous noises in my head.  He waited another 30 seconds to figure out what he wanted to raise and finally decided on a minimum amount raise.

Normally the minimum raise is a scary thing because from amateur players it screams big hand, but I currently had the best hand possible so I wasn’t too worried about him beating me at the moment.  Another option that can be concluded from a minimum raise is that a person is trying to set up a check-check on the turn for a free card in case they are on a flush draw.  However, Jason isn’t the kind of player who makes that small of a raise on a draw.  If he raises a draw it is a raise to end the hand right then or to build a huge pot for later if he hits the draw.  The raise he made did not lead me to think I should be worried and depending on what took place with the other three players in the hand I felt like I was in full control of what would take place on the turn and river.

The next three players all folded and it was back to me.  I made it look as though I was contemplating what to do, even though I knew full well the play I had in mind, and finally smooth called the $40.  There is now $270 in the pot. I have $155 left in front of me.

My choice to not re-raise on the flop was that I didn’t want to scare Jason away.  He had raised pre-flop, and raised me on the flop.  I wanted him to believe he had me beat but I was refusing to lay down a big hand.

The turn was a non-club seven.  The community cards were A-9-4-7.  There is still the threat of a club flush, but I didn’t believe Jason to have that hand and was very confident in that my three aces were the best now and would likely be the best after the river.

The next stage in my plan was making a bet relatively small in size both in relation to the pot and the size of my stack.  With $155 in my possession and $270 in the middle, I elected to go with $60.  The size of this bet is supposed to say, “I think I have the best hand but am not sure and would like to lose as little as possible leaving myself with something should I be wrong.”  Apparently it worked.

Following what felt like 30 minutes, but was in reality probably only three, Jason uttered both the sweetest and most devastating words you can hear at the poker table: "I’m all in."  Normally I try to give it about two seconds before calling when I have the nuts, but I was so excited I likely insta-called, showing my top set.  Jason was at a loss for words and finally stated it didn’t really matter what came on the river as I had the best hand.  He never showed what he had and I never asked.

This pot put me at $580 for the night on a $200 buy-in.  So you might be wondering what happened that I ended my playing at $425, and the answer to that would be Jay happened.

The last hand of the night, although I didn’t know it was going to be the last hand at the time, was five-handed and I was dealt 9-2 of spades.  I raised in late position to $8.  Along with Jay, one other player called and we had a $25 pot.

The flop was J-6-2 with two spades.  I flopped bottom pair and a flush draw.  Jay led out and bet $15.  The next player folded.  I implemented the “minimum raise to get a free card on the turn” tactic.  Making it $30 total, Jay raised me another $50, making the bet $80.  I instantly called, showing I would not be backed down.  The pot was at $185.

The turn was a red queen, showing a board of J-6-2-Q with two spades.  I needed to improve, preferably with a two or a spade.  Jay led out with a $50.  I hesitated a bit, only pondering whether I wanted to try and push here but ultimately decided on calling and seeing whether I could improve.  The pot now had $285 in it.

The river card, which I can’t recall exactly what it was, did not help, giving me neither a nine, two, nor a spade.  Jay made another $50 bet and was left with a little less than $100 total.  I contemplated whether or not I could push him off his hand for the remainder of his stack.  Eventually I decided it was probably not going to work and his bet was for value.  I folded, showing my little pair and busted flush draw.  Jay flipped up a jack and six for what was top two pair on the flop.

I left for the night after five hours $225 richer, giving me a $45 hourly rate. For the year, I have won $520 and am earning $17.78 an hour.