-75 @ The Commerce Casino

And the session started out so well! After waiting for nearly an hour I took seven seat at a new table in the balcony section. To my right was a wonderful old lady who reminded me of my late grandmother, and a very happy go lucky guy to my left. I played three of the first four hands and won them all. The first was 9,10 suited in middle position and J,6,2 rainbow on the flop. It was checked all around, as was the 4 on the turn. When a 9 showed on the river I bet it and everyone folded. The second hand was pocket Kings in early position. I raised and got four callers. The cards came K,2,8, blank, blank and I bet it all the way through even though there was a possible flush on the river, but I only had the old lady as an opponent at that point. Send the money! Finally, my big blind was Q,7 and the flop gave a K and a couple rags. I bet the Q on the turn, and everyone folded. This left me up over $45 in less than 10 minutes. Again, I contemplated a hit and run but decided that I wanted to play some more.

After that I mucked quite a few hands but that gave me time to learn about my opponents. The pots weren't huge for the most part, but the play was somewhat erratic. As an example, at one point there was both a possible flush and straight on the board but two guys stayed till the end. The winner had a pair of eights and beat a pair of sixes.

Three times during the night I had K,Q but they only hit once. The flop brought a Q and a couple blanks, but the river brought the third diamond. I bet it and didn't get any raises and my two opponents also showed Qs, but with worse kickers. I did get big slick once, and seven players at the table capped it before the flop! The flop missed me totally, but with a pot like that I put in another two bets to see the turn. Another miss so I got out. The winning two pair took a monster pot.

Now for a couple questionable plays. With pocket 5s in early position I decided to call only to find it came back around as a raise. I called even though I would need a set to have a shot at winning the pot. I don't believe I should have come in in the first place, much less match the raise. So I played that hand but didn't play my 7,8 suited in middle position when it came back as a raise even though it had so much more potential. It didn't made a straight or flush but instead filled up on the turn with sevens full of eights. D'oh! Actually, 7,8 would have won three hands in a row. As I was leaving the old lady asked when I would be back. I told her I didn't know but promised to be on the lookout for her. She really was quite charming.

Finally, a remark about my future poker playing. Jennifer and I have decided to clamp down on the spending because this appears to be the year of both the wedding and the house buying. This means that I can't afford to be losing money at the tables and the best way to do that is not go as much. Of course if I win I'll go more often, but don't expect a new entry more than about once a month.