Posted by Junelli 5:06 PM
Last night I played $1-$2 PL at the Zebra. Man has that place taken off! There were 3 full tables running by 7:30pm. The games were $1-$2 PL, $2-$5 PL, and $1-2 Omaha Hi/Lo. If you haven't gone, you really should check it out. It's the nicest place in town.

I sat down at the $1-$2 PL game and bought in for $400. Normally I prefer the $2-$5 game, but my bankroll took a beating last weekend in Tahoe, and I only had a couple of hours to play.

Within the first 30 minutes, I was dealt KK, JJ, AK, AQ, TT. I quickly went up a few hundred dollars, and started playing very loose and agressive. There were 4 beginners at the table, and I wanted to push them around.

One of my biggest hand came when I was dealt A8 on the button. I was able to limp for $2, and saw a flop 6 handed. The flop was A87 with 2 diamonds. It was checked around to me and I bet $10 to build a pot for later (plus I didn't want to give the diamond draws a free card). I get 3 callers, and the pot is about $45. The turn is a 2 of diamonds. I felt certain someone had hit the flush, so we all checked the turn. The river was an 8 giving me a full house (888AA). The 3 players once again check to me, and I lead out for $35, hoping to get a caller.

The next guy was an unknown player. He raises me $80 more, making it $115 to go. I'm overjoyed with this raise and hoping to get action from the two remaining players. If not, I'll at least all his chips (he has about $140 left in his stack).

The other 2 players fold, and I take a moment to act like I'm thinking about my decision. I look confused, and then reraise him the pot, putting him all-in. He immediately folds his cards face up, laying down a Jack high flush. I don't show my hand.

The other players at the table can't believe he laid his hand down. They critize him for folding his flush. He calmly replies, "What? Do you think I'm going to call when he has a full house? He hit two pair and then rivered a full house. I'm not stupid."

That's when I knew he was a strong player. Incidentally, a few minutes later he moved to the $2-$5 game and won about $1,700.

For the next several minutes I thought about what I might have done to give away the strength of my hand. My betting: I limped preflop so it's entirely possible I hit two pair against a board of A87. I bet the flop, but checked the turn (when the flush came). I could've been slowplaying the flush, but not likely. It's more likely that I originally bet a hand that cannot now beat a flush. Checking the turn clearly shows that I don't like the diamonds out there. Then when the board paired on the river, I all of a sudden came alive. I led out for nearly a pot sized bet, and then re-raised a player who clearly had the flush. I guess from my betting it was obvious I wasn't afraid of a flush (or at least had the nut flush).

Tells: I probably gave a tell on the river. I was acting concerned and confused and took a long time before I raised all-in. I was clearly acting weak. I'm sure this was a signal to him of my strength. I see players acting all the time, and it's usually a dead giveaway. I didn't realize that I was doing it until his laydown last night. If you've watched Phil Ivey play, you'll see that he doesn't act at all. He makes his bets the same way every time, and shows no emotion. He never looks strong or weak.

On another hand a very good player made a big laydown against me. I was dealt KK on the button. I make it $30 to go, and am reraised by UTG who makes it $90 straight. It's folded around to me and I re-raise him $150 more. He lays down QQ without seeing a flop. "Damn, that's twice. Do I have a sign on my head??"

The luckiest hand of the evening came towards the end of my session. I was up about $220 at the time. I was dealt 56 on the button. The loosest player at the table raised to $10 UTG. 5 people call before me (does that say anything about respecting his raise?). I decide to try and make a move. The pot is $60 right now, and I know if I can narrow the field a little I can take the pot away on the flop or turn.

I raise making it $50 straight. UTG calls along with 1 other player. The pot is now $210 (certainly worth fighting for). "Now I just need to have a good flop. C'mon rags! Give me some low cards." The flop is 789 giving me the 2nd nut straight. Wow. That hit me right in the gut, and they're never going to put me on this one. They check to me and I bet $75. One guy doesn't believe me and calls. The turn is a rag, and he checks and folds to my $125 bet. I immediately went to the restroom and pulled the horseshoe out of my ass.

All in all it was a good night.

2 Comment(s):

Posted by  Dr Fro, at 8:26 AM, July 15, 2005  

"2nd nut straight"

3rd nut

56
6T
TJ

But I get your point. When you wash off the horseshoe, can I borrow it?

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Posted by  LAYGO, at 2:21 PM, July 15, 2005  

LOL! Right on Fro, I was thinking the exact same thing. Nice catch.

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