Hiatus over!

Finally got in some poker this week. Thursday night after my baseball game, I found talisain51 looking for an opponent at the $55+2.5 HU table, and I was happy to oblige! I quit after winning that game.

Played again this afternoon while the kids were sleeping. Split a pair of games against a new opponent. I had him on the ropes in the second game, he clawed back, got me on the ropes, then I clawed back. We were even stacked when he ended up with QQ35 in the SB, and I had KQJ5ss in the BB. He raised PF, and I called. I like calling with this type of hand because when I flop good, I can usually get a lot of chips out of my opponents, especially those with AA or AK[baby]. When the flop comes with any 2 cards from 9 to K, I've got a very strong hand and/or drawing hand, especially if there end up being 2 cards of my suit. Well, I didn't expect a QQ35 raise from my opponent. He had been pretty conservative, so I figured him more for and A[Face][Baby] type hand. In this case, the flop came QT3, and the money when in on the flop. OOPS! I hit my 9 on the turn, for my straight, but a river 9 gave him the win.

I didn't feel like playing another SNG, so I went to the cash tables and found someone sitting alone with $88 at the 100PLO8 tables (.5/1 blinds). I figured, what the heck, it's been a while. Put up $100 and see if you can make $50. Made $61.95 and left. The hand I made most of my chips was AQJJ in the SB, I limped and he checked. Flop came QT5. My opponent came out betting ($2). I was a little surprised, but I called wondering if my hand was good or not. I hit my K on the turn. Check / Check. River 7. He checks, I bet $4 (25% of the pot) to try and get a call, and he re-raises to $20. I re-raise to $45, and he calls. He turned the second nuts with QJ98, and I could have likely got him for his stack if I pot bet the river instead. Oh well, can't really complain. I played him for a grand total of 5 minutes.

Finished off my session with another $55+2.5 HU, this time against lolgui. I've found a new mark. I've played him 9 times and, with the victory today, I'm up 6/3 against him. I've got a feel for his play, with the one thing that saves me the most money being that he *always* value bets the turn with a monster. A pot bet is not strong, but a 1/2 pot bet on the turn is DANGER. With this in mind, I'm able to save a lot of chips in those situations.

Summary:
$55+2.5 HU: 3/1 $100
100PLO8: $61.95