So I decided to kick it old school last night. I went to \”JR\’s\” for a cash game. Things had changed in the many months since I had played there — the game is no longer 1/2/5 … it\’s back to 1/2 again. But with lots of straddling and re-straddling. More than half the faces at the table were the same, as if they hadn\’t left for the better part of a year.
I bought in for $200, and on my very first hand, I got the hammer. Sweet! I made a small raise and got a couple callers. I flopped 2nd pair and bet it out … and got a caller. (Dude was likely on a flush draw, so I probably didn\’t want to see a 4th heart.) A third seven came out on the turn, and life was looking really good. Awesome. Check-check. The fourth heart did come on the river, giving me a 2-high flush. My opponent in the hand came out betting $50 … and bummer, I had to fold. But yea, I got to do it face-up.
But that didn\’t do much for me. Why? Because the other guy had flopped a straight-flush — good enough for a high hand jackpot, and good enough to beat me. Everyone was looking at his cards … and I got no credit for playing shit. I mean yeesh … the hand still worked out OK, because I didn\’t lose much. But I could\’ve just as well had aces in this case, and it woulda been the same. Damn.
From there I proceeded to play pretty good poker. But the killer came when it was getting very pre-flop raisy, and I decided I was going to spend some money to see a flop with 7-10 offsuit in late position. Somebody made it $25 to go, and I called. So did three others. So with $125 already in the pot, I was pretty delighted to see a flop of 7-8-10 (two diamonds). I had to be afraid of a set, but it was clear the first to act (the same guy who had flopped the straight-flush against me) had nothing when he checked. Next in line was Nic the Straddler … who was very talky talky as he checked. OK, he wouldn\’t have checked a set, so after some fake consternation, I moved all-in (for $280) … sure to use the exact same gestures I used when getting caught bluffing about an hour earlier.
First guy folded, and Nic sized up our stacks, and relatively quickly called, saying, \”I\’ve got the nuts.\” Indeed he did. J-9 offsuit. Crap.
Being the nice guy he is, he offered to run it twice, but I declined … thinking if I\’m gonna get lucky and win it, I\’m gonna get lucky and win it. No way I could do that twice, so why gamble for a split? (I\’m not sure, but I think this is the right non-double-play play. Any thoughts on the matter?)
Anyhow, I got no help and went home.
Just like old times.
Buy-in(s): $400 (2)
Cash out: $0
Net: -$400
Highlight: Friendly Asians.
