Nice read Kenny. Happy things are looking good for you.

Crazy Days

I've been running pretty hot as of late. My reads have been totally sick.

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I raise up [Qd] from the CO. Button calls as do 2 others.

FLOP$80
[Ts][4h]

Checked to me, I bet $60. Button calls. I've played with the button around 10 hours up to this point. I have a great feel on how he plays. I actually folded TPTK to him twice already when I'm like 90% sure he had sets. He was showing uber strength on those hands. Anyway....

TURN$200
[Ts][4h]

I check on that horrible turn card. He bets $300 in cash. His inital movement on the bet didn't seem normal, niether did the bet size. Still he had another $400 behind so it wasn't an easy play for me. I had $2k in front of me. I sat there for 5 minutes deciding what to do. I'm sure the whole table thought I was going to fold. I grabbed my chips and saw him do a little "freeze reaction."

I decided that if I folded here I shouldn't be a poker pro. I put him on QJ drawing for the straight. It was the only hand that made sense to me given the action and my knowledge of his previous hands. I forced myself to put the money in. I picked up a thousand in cash and threw it in the pot.

He took a bit and decided to call with his QJ straight draw. He missed and I took down the 2k pot with TPGK.

The button:
"How the hell do you move in with that? I can see you calling, maybe, but isn't it pretty obvious I have a flush?"

Another pro:
"You've got game."

Random guy:
"When you thought that long and pushed I figured you had a set of kings or K. Jesus man, nice hand."

hehe.

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I call a min raise from the blinds with [4d]

FLOP$60
[Qh][6s]

I bet $50 into the field of 6. My image is decent so I figured I'd look pretty strong. I was also confident I could get away if I was beat. A pro who made the initial min raise called. He was on a little bit of tilt. A drunk woman calls on the button. She could have any two cards but will fold to heavy betting.

TURN$210
[Qh][6h]

I bet $125. Pro calls. Drunk woman folds.

RIVER$460
[Qh][6h]

I check. The pro pushes for $320. I think about this one for a long time again. I think I'm ahead but not totally sure. He might make this play with a hand like AA but I have a hard time believing (based on many hours of previous play) that he would slowplay a set or two pair on that board. I suppose it's possible he's value betting with AA or AK but more likely he's on a bluff. I grab some chips... put them closer to the pot... he freezes just slightly... i get my conformation. I call he shows [Qd] I take it down. He probably should have raised the turn instead....
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I call a raise with [Jd] on the button.

FLOP$45
[9h][2d]

First guy checks, PFR bets $45. I call. First guy folds.

TURN$135
[9h][2d]

He bets $100. He has $600 left I have him covered. I don't sense a ton of strength so I min raise another $100. He folds AJ and I show him my cards for $5. He went off for a good 30 minutes after that.... "WTF?!?! You raise JT there? What did you think I had? Rags?! I bet $45 and $100!!!! I obviously have a good hand! I thought you were a good player?!?! Why would you raise that trash?! etc etc etc etc etc"

I have no need to quarrel or prove myself, so I just let him go on and on about it. I didn't want to help him understand why he's not a winning player.
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Well, I hope the good streak continues. I've been using my reads quite well and they seem to be improving everyday. I will start reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu today. I hope that book will help my ability to understand my opponents' thoughts.

Plz plz plz just thank them and NEVER explain that you got a read, or know how to think through hands better than them

And when the hell are you moving up?

4 words...

Star... Trek... Bar... Asshole...