Spring Pokering

I got to play some poker on a couple of days last week (Limit and NL), and ended 'up' by a combined $119 ($44 at Limit, $75 at NL).

With the exception of 1 hand (which I'll talk about), I tried to play a 'softer' style of poker. Less jamming with big hands and just trying to dink away at others' stacks when I felt I had the best of it. It worked OK and I felt like I got some extra playing practice by continually reading my players, rather than trying to move them off their hands.

Anyway...

Hand 1 - I had just sat down and only seen 2 hands at this table when I picked up KK on the button. It was raised to $12 from EP, re-raised to $24 from MP/LP, and I see my hand. Hmmm - I figure that my opponents would make these moves with AA thru TT, and AK. Based on that, I reluctantly moved all-in for $56 ($60 buy-in table). EP player folded but the other called and flipped over AA. Luckily for me, a K was in the flop and I got to play on.

Hand 2 - This crazy lady sat down at our table (yes, she's nuts, I've played against her before) and I tried to avoid her as best as I could. She eventually ended up being short stacked and re-raised my semi-bluff raise (I'd popped it with A9s from the cutoff). I made it $8, SB called, and she moved in from the BB for $17 total. $9 back to me and we both call. She flips over AK and I'm hosed.

I need to remember that even nut-bags can catch cards now and then...

Short post, but my lunch break is over - poker drawer is up to $2440 or $2450 (I'm reimbursing the $160 I pulled out to start my home cash-game bank - which was part of that ~$800 hit my drawer took 2 months ago)...

Off to Vegas next week for the American Society of Safety Engineer's conference - Woohoo!