From the Journal--Not Bad Beats--Bad Luck

[Tiburon]

PokerStars 5/10 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
UTG calls, 6 folds, Button calls, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (4 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, UTG folds, Button raises, Hero calls, BB folds.

Turn: (4.50 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.50 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: 8.50 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Jd Kh (one pair, kings).
Button has Th Ks (two pair, kings and tens).
Outcome: Button wins 8.50 BB.

Can't fault the guy there--my gin card happened to be HIS gin card. When I tossed out the bet with overcards on the flop and he raised, I figured he may be raising to guard against a flush draw. He seemed to be a bit over-aggressive, raising flops to take pots down right there. I just didn't put him on KT.

This one? Bad.

PokerStars 5/10 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
7 folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

River: (7 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Qc Qs (one pair, queens).
BB has Ac 3h (straight, six high).
Outcome: BB wins 9 BB.

He probably figured me for a steal, and I don't blame him. He just caught his best card. When he raised, the alarm in my head went off and I said, "That lousy SOB has A3." Couldn't let it go.

Another bad one. He's behind the WHOLE way, and I bet like he is. Of course, he hits his river card.

PokerStars 5/10 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.40 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO calls.

Turn: (4.20 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (6.20 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.20 BB


I probably should have dumped Hand 1 pre-flop, but who knew I would be ahead? Ahead until those pesky flop cards...Second hand? I think I played it optimally. Third? Anybody play it differently? Maybe re-raise pre-flop with AQs?

[EscapePlan9]

Against non-tricky opponents, bet-folding the river in Hand 3 would be optimal (or check-folding if you have a really good read). Against tricky ones, check-calling would be better.

[Tiburon]

EP9-

I thought about that after the fact. I ended up pissing away another BB in the process. I fully expected him to turn over something like after the river raise or the hand he actually DID turn over.

It's just frustrating to play well and get eviscerated by ideal cards for the opponent. I disagree with the bet-fold idea however. You bet, he raises, and you're calling $10 to win a $92 pot. I don't think I could fold that given 9:1 odds, regardless of how sure I was I was beaten. A check-call would've been ideal I think.

[EscapePlan9]

Against non-tricky opponents, I seriously doubt they would bluff-raise you on the river with a 4-to-the-straight showing. I wouldn't even think I'm ahead 10% of the time here against non-tricky opponents.

With no read on your opponent, I would also go with bet-call. There's at least a 10% chance he is a tricky opponent and will pay you off with a worse hand here.

[Tiburon]

Agreed. This guy was somewhat tricky, so I think I still played it OK.

The synopsis--

Hand 1: KJ v. KT--paired his kicker (3 outer) in dominated hand--yes, I know he hit it before and had me drawing to 3 outs (remaining J's)
Hand 2: QQ vs. A3--hit his gutter on the turn (4 outer).
Hand 3: AQ vs. AJ--hit his gutter on the river (4 outer).

A total of 11 outs in 3 hands cost me $130. A miracle I broke even yesterday overall.