Monday night poker

Last night was our weekly $40 NL hold em tournament at the local bar. 32 players showed up. I went in with the strategy to only play good cards (I have been playing very poorly in tournaments lately).

After starting with $3500 chips, I was down to about $2200. I lost with 88 and 66 when overcards flopped. Then I got very lucky... I have 10-3 offsuit in the big blind. Under the gun calls (blinds 100/200), everyone folds, small blind calls and I check. Flop 10-3-3! Under the gun bets $500, SB folds, I call. Turn blank, he bets $1000, I go all in for my last $1700. He calls with K-10, so I double up.

Next hand I'm dealt 33. There's a small raise PF, but 3 others call so I call. Flop 2 4 5 with two clubs. First to act goes all-in for $1600. I put him on 2 clubs, so I call and hope that I don't get outrawn. Even if he has a big pair, my open ended straight gives me lots of outs. Everyone else folds. He has A 2 of clubs... so he needs a 2 or a club since his A would give me a straight. Turn 6 giving me the straight, and river another 6. So I pick up a nice pot.

A bit later, blinds are 300/600, a very agressive player raises to $1200 on my big blind. I hate min-raises... he's begging me to call so I do. I have K9 spades. Flop comes out J 9 3 with 2 diamonds, he bets $2500 - I re-raise all in for $3000 more and he folds.

Then I went completely card dead for an hour and a half, and my stack shrinked to $4300. With the blinds 600/1200, I got KJ offsuit and pushed all-in, got called by BB who had 8-3 offsuit. My hand held up.

Next hand I have 77, under the gun raises to $4000 - I go all-in for $5200 more. He calls with AQ. Flop A 3 5, turn 6. I need a 4 or a 7 on the river, but I get neither and I'm out in 6th place (top 4 paid). Once again I cannot win a race!

Maybe next time...