+86 @ The Commerce Casino

Even though I still had trouble catching pocket pairs (I only had 2s and 4s), I had three huge hands:

• J,10 in late position. It was raised pre-flop and I called. K,K,10 was checked all the way around. Someone bet the 10 on a turn and I called. The 9 on the river was bet and I raised. Yes, there was the danger of one of the kings showing up, but my 10 held up. Dunno what the other guy had.
• Pocket 4's in late position and a flop of 4,8,8. Wow! It wasn't the nuts,but pretty darn close. An early bet and many callers including me. The blank turn was bet as well and I should have raised, but I just called. I raised the blank river, and got one caller. Again, dunno what he had.
• K,9 suited as big blind. It was raised pre-flop and I called. K,9,9 on the flop. Wow again! I took a chance and checked but the next person bet and the entire table called. I checked-raised the blank turn and bet the river. Send the money!

This might be it for poker for a while. Jennifer and I have recently purchased a house and until we have a better understanding of our finances we'll be watching every penny very closely.

+18 @ The Commerce Casino

Dropped Jennifer off at the airport and went to play.

• J,10 late. J,10,8 on the flop. I raised but the fellows looking for the straight draw stuck around. 7 on the turn. I checked then called since there were still a lot of players but no raisers. The river was a blank so I bailed. The pot was split between two folks who had 9s. In a cruel twist of fate, two other players had J,10 in the next three rounds and they both won.
• J,8 as big blind, 9,10,Q on the flop. I checked because we had a lot of players (including a mad-man who was betting/raising everything in sight) but it was checked all the way around. Crap. I bet the blank turn but everyone folded. I should have bet the flop.
• Pocket 10s in late position so I raised. The 4,4,9 on the flop was checked to me so I bet. The Q on the turn was also checked to me and I bet it again, despite the fact it was an overcard, and I also bet the blank river. Despite the fairly large number of callers toward the end, I took the pot.
• Q,9 suited. Q,4,2 so I bet and got callers. The 8 on the turn changed a caller into a better so I folded. He ended up taking the pot with a Q,8.
• Q,7 club in late position and two more of my suit fell on the flop, including the K. I kept calling until the river and when the third club fell I bet it. And got raised. D'oh! I called and he showed A,8 of clubs. What were the odds of that? 100%!
• Pocket K (I didn't have many pocket pairs today) in early position. I raised. Lots of callers. A,Q,_ on the flop. Just what I didn't want. I checked and it waschecked all the way around. Another A on the turn. What do I do now? I bet. It turned out to be the right play because everyone folded. Got lucky on that one.
• In other hands, my Aces up lost to a flush on the river, but my A with a medium kicker held, and my Q,2 as big blind made a straight on the river.