At the tables again

Finally, after playing only once since September, I got out to Tulalip for some $1/$3 action last night. It may be the last time I'll play in the next few months too, as I have school starting up tomorrow night.

My biggest issue was trying to remain patient. I forgot how boring poker can be: fold, fold, fold, fold, fold...

Most of the table, most of the night, was either tight-passive or loose-passive. I was mostly tight-aggressive, but made a number of loose preflop calls when in position against passive preflop raisers: 90% of the time they'll check if they don't hit, I'll bet and take it down.

I was blessed with good cards at the right moments. Presto worked out for me nicely here:

MP: Loose-passive, $200. Plays suited anythings.
Button: Tightish. Almost aggressive. $120.
Me (BB): should have a tight-aggressive image; I've had a few bluffs picked off, too, which should throw some measure of doubt into the works too.

MP limps, button raises to $12. Folds to me, I make the call with 5c 5d; MP calls.

Pot: $37
FLOP: 6c 6s 5s

Floppin' a boat is sweet! I don't check-raise here: that's too big of a give away. I want to play a big pot, so I've got to build a pot.

I bet $15, hoping a weak-lead will encourage both players to at least call.
MP calls. Button immediately goes all-in.

Dream situation! My only issue now is how to get MP to come along. I do have a theatre degree, and did win best actor award at college, so hopefully I'm putting that to good use here.

I ask for a count, count out the chips, separate them from my stack, sit back... I may have pushed it too far when I said "Man, this would be a lot easier if you weren't behind me," though in all honesty I've said that exact same thing in situations where I really meant that too.

I make the call, hoping MP has something he can com along with. Unfortunately, he does the smart thing and folds.

Button flips over Th Td. Turn and river blank out, I win a nice pot.


Hand 2:
I rarely check-raise, but there are times it's the perfect thing to do.

Bunch of limpers, I look down at AKo in the SB, and just complete. AK totally out of position in a cash game isn't that great, so I won't think twice about just limping here. In position I raise 90% of the time.

BB (tight player, $250) raises to $12; MP calls (same MP from last hand); I call.

Flop: Ad 6h 3c

I check. BB bets $30. MP looks pained, and makes the call. I raise to $130; if either of them flopped a set - so be it, but chances are I'm good here.

BB takes quite a while, then folds, MP folds. After MP folds, BB says to me "I guess you have one pair beat." I say, "Which pair?" We laugh, then I ask if he had AK, which he confirms. My check-raise won me the pot instead of a chop. Sweet.

This is one of the few places I will check-raise liberally: TPTK on a dry board, if I lead out it's likely no one without an A will call. My check can look weak, and because I so rarely check-raise, against thinking and observant oponents they'll likely fold, and I'll take down a decent pot on the flop.