Breaking into the New Year

Breaking into the New Year

I was walking down the road the other day, and I enjoyed 2 things I haven't experienced in about 3 months. The first was sunlight bathing everything I could see, and the second was that same light's warmth on my back! It was all the better for being unexpected, coming as it did at the start of February, traditionally one of the most bitterly cold months for the residents of Britain. Of course, it hasn't recurred and in fact, we are now in the middle of (surprise surprise) a bitterly cold week, to the extent that it was zero last night and tomorrow the forecast is of snow and temperatures around 2 degrees below zero! For many of us, this is welcome news as we will be forced to stay indoors and amuse ourselves as best we can (perhaps enjoying a hot cup of cocoa over a friendly game of Scrabble)… but for those of us with gambling habits, I imagine we'll all just get on the tables as soon we get a chance.
I worked out my monthly averages the other day, and though I've had some wild swings so far, discovered that this year things have been going well, having averaged $80ph in January. I am certainly feeling much better about how I'm playing, and am glad that for once my results reflect this sentiment. Am obviously hoping that I can maintain this level, and am now back to playing 2-4 exclusively, unless of course I see any particularly juicy 1-2 games.
Things have been going well so far, with me making some good reads, mixing up my play and maintaining a good level of aggression. This said, I am not always being paid off for my better play. For example, last night I made a great read against a guy who raised my flop bet allin when all I had was TPTK on a Q 8 5 rainbow board. He had put in a decent preflop raise from UTG, and I called with my AQs in the BB. I had been on the table for a while, and knew he was very loose and bluffed frequently. I think it was about $200 more to call his allin with a $60 pot, and I read him for TP weak kicker and his overbet was designed to get me off the hand. So I call, and he flips KQs.Obviously his 3 outer comes in on the turn, and I merely sigh as he flukes his way out of a stacking.
The other hand I'd like to bring up for you (see below) was when I was sitting at a very aggressive 2-4 table, when there was regularly a strong pf raise and several callers. I tried to play creatively, and everything went according to plan, apart from the person in the BB who decided to ignore the size of my pf reraise and stick around to see a flop. Afterwards, I wondered if I played it wrongly in any sense, but Honest told me that it was perfect and sometimes people just ignore the obvious. Amazingly, that is consolation enough, and I'm not bitter about losing the $1100, I just look forward to next time where perhaps my 'clever' play will be more justly rewarded…

Hand #37041229-23160 at Indian Trail (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 06/Feb/07 17:59:19

YummyPorkChop is at seat 0 with $434.
Sub__Zero is at seat 1 with $323.40.
Craigerson is at seat 2 with $400.
Matthe is at seat 3 with $162.20.
snatchitall is at seat 4 with $528.50.
notthe_thee is at seat 5 with $612.65.
The button is at seat 4.

notthe_thee posts the small blind of $2.
YummyPorkChop posts the big blind of $4.

YummyPorkChop: -- --
Sub__Zero: Ad Ah
Craigerson: -- --
Matthe: -- --
snatchitall: -- --
notthe_thee: -- --

Pre-flop:

Sub__Zero calls. Craigerson raises to $18. Matthe
folds. snatchitall folds. notthe_thee folds.
YummyPorkChop calls. Sub__Zero re-raises to $60.
Craigerson calls. YummyPorkChop calls.

Flop (board: 4h 5h 7h):

YummyPorkChop checks. Sub__Zero goes all-in for
$263.40. Craigerson goes all-in for $340.
YummyPorkChop calls.

Turn (board: 4h 5h 7h Qc):

(no action in this round)

River (board: 4h 5h 7h Qc 9s):

(no action in this round)

Showdown:

Craigerson shows Kc Ks.
Craigerson has Kc Ks 7h Qc 9s: a pair of kings.
YummyPorkChop shows 7s 7d.
YummyPorkChop has 7s 7d 7h Qc 9s: three sevens.
Sub__Zero shows Ad Ah.
Sub__Zero has Ad Ah 7h Qc 9s: a pair of aces.

Hand #37041229-23160 Summary:

$3 is raked from a total pot of $1125.40.
$3 is raked from the main pot of $972.20.
$0 is raked from side pot #1 of $153.20.
YummyPorkChop wins the main pot $969.20 with three sevens.
YummyPorkChop wins the side pot $153.20 with three sevens.
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