July 28, 2007 – Las Vegas Hilton

Wife-Amy and I planned a mini-vacation with neighbor Ted to visit Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, and Vegas – and it was a great trip. But this poker night was not kind to either of them :(

I sat at a new $1/$2 NL table in seat 8 (Amy at seat 3, Ted at seat 5), and began watching the other players. I only remember 3 hands…

1) I was in the SB with Jd9d, and called with 2 limpers & the BB. The flop was a lovely 9c, 9h, Qd – I check, the 2 seat bets $5, and I call after everyone folds. The turn was the 4c, and I check – he bets $5 and I check-raise to $15, which he calls. The flop is the Ah, and I deliberately pause for 2 seconds too long, then bet out $30. He considers and calls, then mucks when I show the trip 9’s. I was trying to sell a missed draw and I guess it worked.

2) I only had ~$55 when Ted limped from EP and I raised to $10 with my pocket tens, which was called only by Ted. Flop was a 944, and I bet $20 – which Ted called. The turn brought an 8, and I moved all-in… Ted folded (he told me later that he had a 9).

3) A few people limp and I call from the CO with KcTc, and the button raises to $10 – 3 callers later I’m getting decent odds, so I call too. Flop is Ac, Qc, 5d, for a royal draw, everyone checks to the button who bets $20 – all fold and I call. Next card is the Js giving me the straight, he bets $35 and I call. River was the Qd worrying me a bit – I check and he checks too. I show the straight and he mucks saying something about AK never working out.

Net = $80