Fighting out of the Red Corner

As part of my new strategy and with confidence revitalized after taking Harrington’s advice on board I sat down at the first of what would become 4 tables of 25NL.
My very first hand at the table….

Seat #1 is the buttonSeat 1: Quexilonn ($40.05 in chips)
Seat 2: koekie1986 ($23.70 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: ratunda ($49.45 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($19.20 in chips)
koekie1986: posts small blind $0.10
Phillberto01: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Phillberto01 [Kc Ac]
ratunda: folds
selten has returned
ratunda leaves the table
themightybuk: raises $1.25 to $1.50
It’s a big raise and one I suspect doesn’t want a call. I consider folding as I really don’t want to play out of position with no info on my opponent.
Quexilonn: folds
koekie1986: folds
fumitu joins the table at seat #5
Phillberto01: raises $3.50 to $5
themightybuk: raises $14.20 to $19.20 and is all-in
He shoves and I can’t really call. He could easily have it. I don’t know the table dynamics so I have to let it go.
Phillberto01: folds
Uncalled bet ($14.20) returned to themightybuk
themightybuk collected $10.10 from pot
themightybuk: shows [7h 7s] (a pair of Sevens)
Well I was behind but not enough to justify the foldl. It was a foolhardy move though as it was pretty likely I had a big hand here.

Round 1 to themightybuk

Five minutes later and I face the same raise. This time I have a hand I can see through my aggression with.

buttonSeat 1: Quexilonn ($39.30 in chips)
Seat 2: koekie1986 ($22.85 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($25 in chips)
Seat 4: selten ($13.95 in chips)
Seat 5: fumitu ($23.85 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($31.65 in chips)
koekie1986: posts small blind $0.10
Phillberto01: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Phillberto01 [Ad As]
selten: folds fumitu: folds
themightybuk: raises $1.25 to $1.50
Quexilonn: folds
koekie1986: folds
Phillberto01: raises $4 to $5.50
I stick an extra 0.50 on to remove his pot odds for calling with a pair.
themightybuk: calls $4*** FLOP *** [9c 5c 4s]
Committed now whatever happens.
Phillberto01: bets $6.50
themightybuk: raises $6.50 to $13
Phillberto01: raises $6.50 to $19.50 and is all-in
themightybuk: calls $6.50
*** TURN *** [9c 5c 4s] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [9c 5c 4s 8c] [Ts]
*** SHOW DOWN ***Phillberto01: shows [Ad As] (a pair of Aces)
themightybuk: shows [5s 5d] (three of a kind, Fives)
themightybuk collected $47.65 from pot
Ouch. Ah well – his call on the flop was a mistake.
Round two to the mightybuk

Seat 1: Quexilonn ($25 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($25.65 in chips)
Seat 4: disastah ($24.90 in chips)
Seat 5: fumitu ($5 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($117.55 in chips)
Phillberto01: posts small blind $0.10
disastah: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Phillberto01 [Qh Qs]
fumitu: raises $0.50 to $0.75themightybuk: raises $0.50 to $1.25
Quexilonn: folds Phillberto01: calls $1.15
Not a good hand to slow play here. I think I prefer a raise in retrospect.
disastah: folds fumitu: raises $3.75 to $5 and is all-in
themightybuk: calls $3.75
I get a second chance to amend my play. I like the situation. It’s a strong play from Fumito though but I reckon I’m ahead of his range given how aggressive themightybuk is pre-flop

Phillberto01: raises $20.65 to $25.65 and is all-in
themightybuk: calls $20.65
*** FLOP *** [Ad 6d 3c]
*** TURN *** [Ad 6d 3c] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [Ad 6d 3c 2d] [Kh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Phillberto01: shows [Qh Qs] (a pair of Queens)
themightybuk: shows [7h 7s] (a pair of Sevens)
Phillberto01 collected $40.05 from side potfumitu: shows [Ah Ks] (two pair, Aces and Kings)fumitu collected $14.50 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $56.55 Main pot $14.50.
Side pot $40.05. Rake $2
I lose the side-show but take down the main event. Fourth round to Phillberto.

Seat 1: Quexilonn ($24.90 in chips)
Seat 2: koekie1986 ($25 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($37.90 in chips)
Seat 4: disastah ($65.80 in chips)
Seat 5: kenp0ker ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($58.35 in chips)
disastah: posts small blind $0.10
kenp0ker: posts big blind $0.25
koekie1986: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Phillberto01 [Jh Jd]
themightybuk: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Quexilonn: folds
koekie1986: folds
Phillberto01: calls $0.50
disastah: folds kenp0ker: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [Kd 2h 7c]
kenp0ker: checks
themightybuk: bets $1.50
I have position – no draws likely but I don’t want to escalate the pot.
Phillberto01: calls $1.50
kenp0ker: folds
*** TURN *** [Kd 2h 7c] [5s]
themightybuk: bets $2.25
It’s a smallish bet. Still not much in the way of draws. He may be milking a King here but I think I’m still ahead but wary of what I’ll face on the river.
Phillberto01: calls $2.25
*** RIVER *** [Kd 2h 7c 5s] [8s]
themightybuk: bets $5.25
I think a call would be fine here. I decide to raise thinking I can maybe get a lay-down from a weak King. Pretty bad idea in retrospect as I'm only getting called by hands that beat me and weaker hands won't call.
Phillberto01: raises $6.75 to $12
themightybuk: raises $10 to $22
Right back at ya Phillberto..not what I wanted to see. I was worried he was milking and this looks like he can beat Top Pair. Ouch.
Phillberto01: folds
Uncalled bet ($10) returned to themightybuk
themightybuk collected $31.75 from pot
themightybuk: shows [4d Qd] (high card King)
Now that was a brave (or stupid?) bluff. I don’t like it one bit. Round 5 to themightybuk

Seat 1: Quexilonn ($24.60 in chips)
Seat 2: koekie1986 ($23.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($26.60 in chips)
Seat 4: disastah ($68 in chips)
Seat 5: kenp0ker ($24.75 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($70.75 in chips)
kenp0ker: posts small blind $0.10
themightybuk: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Phillberto01 [Qd Ad]
Quexilonn: folds
koekie1986: folds
Phillberto01: raises $0.75 to $1
themightybuk said, "nh"
disastah: folds
kenp0ker: folds
Quexilonn leaves the table
themightybuk: calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [Qh 8h 2d]
themightybuk: checks
It's a tricky play with the flush draw but I slow-play.
Phillberto01: checks
*** TURN *** [Qh 8h 2d] [5c]
pimpjuiceMM joins the table at seat #1
themightybuk: bets $2.50
Phillberto01: calls $2.50
*** RIVER *** [Qh 8h 2d 5c] [Qc]
themightybuk: bets $4
Phillberto01: raises $6 to $10
themightybuk: calls $6*** SHOW DOWN ***Phillberto01: shows [Qd Ad] (three of a kind, Queens)themightybuk: mucks hand
Phillberto01 collected $25.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $27.10 Rake $1.30 Board [Qh 8h 2d 5c Qc]
Seat 1: Quexilonn folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: koekie1986 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 showed [Qd Ad] and won ($25.80) with three of a kind,
QueensSeat 4: disastah (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: kenp0ker (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: themightybuk (big blind) mucked [8c 4d]
He obviously thinks I’m capable of making a move. Round 6 to Phillberto. It’s all square.

Seat 1: pimpjuiceMM ($25.15 in chips)
Seat 2: koekie1986 ($32.15 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($35.70 in chips)
Seat 4: disastah ($67.65 in chips)
Seat 5: kenp0ker ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($52.40 in chips)
pimpjuiceMM: posts small blind $0.10
koekie1986: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Phillberto01 [As Ad]
Phillberto01: raises $0.75 to $1disastah: folds kenp0ker: folds themightybuk: raises $0.75 to $1.75pimpjuiceMM: folds koekie1986: folds
He gives me a chance to pop him back.
I want to give him some rope to hang himself with.
Phillberto01: raises $0.75 to $2.50
themightybuk: calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [Tc Jh 5s]
Phillberto01: checks themightybuk: bets $5.50
A pair or straight draw are likely here so I’m happy to take it down now.
Phillberto01: raises $9.50 to $15
themightybuk: folds Uncalled bet ($9.50) returned to Phillberto01
Phillberto01 collected $15.55 from pot
Round 7 to Phillberto although I’m still behind.

Seat 1: pimpjuiceMM ($31.05 in chips)
Seat 2: koekie1986 ($29.70 in chips)
Seat 3: Phillberto01 ($40.85 in chips)
Seat 4: MrP!nKy ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 5: kenp0ker ($25 in chips)
Seat 6: themightybuk ($46.55 in chips)
koekie1986: posts small blind $0.10
Phillberto01: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Phillberto01 [5s 3s]
MrP!nKy: folds kenp0ker: folds
themightybuk: raises $0.25 to $0.50
pimpjuiceMM: folds koekie1986: calls $0.40
I have a deceptive hand and its cheap and he is prone to getting it in.
Phillberto01: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [9s Js As]
koekie1986: checks
Phillberto01: checks
I flop a flush. Sweet. I expect themightybuk to show aggression here so I check it to him.
themightybuk: checks
*** TURN *** [9s Js As] [2s]
koekie1986: checks
I miss my chance. I now have a weak hand I have to let go.
Phillberto01: checks
themightybuk: checks
*** RIVER *** [9s Js As 2s] [4s]
Well have a look at that. Rarer than hen’s teeth. A straight flush.
koekie1986: checks
I hope for a call from a middle flush.
Phillberto01: bets $1
themightybuk: raises $3 to $4
Ooh he likes his hand. Does he have the King?
If he does he will raise me whatever I raise and I suspect we will get it all in.
koekie1986: folds
Phillberto01: raises $11.25 to $15.25
themightybuk: raises $12.75 to $28
Phillberto01: raises $12.35 to $40.35 and is all-in
themightybuk: calls $12.35
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Phillberto01: shows [5s 3s] (a straight flush, Ace to Five)
themightybuk: mucks hand
Phillberto01 collected $79.20 from pot
MrP!nKy said, "nice"
Phillberto01 said, ":-)
"*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $82.20 Rake $3 Board [9s Js As 2s 4s]
Seat 3: Phillberto01 (big blind) showed [5s 3s] and won ($79.20) with a straight flush, Ace to FiveSeat 6: themightybuk mucked [Ks 8s]
Not much he could do there. I land the knock-out blow and he is left with a short stack that he loses in the next round.

I manage to climb my stack up to $110 at that table before calling it a night. With another table breaking up when I reach 3 buys-ins it’s a good night. $85 to the good for me. This table is a bit of an exception as it differed from normal play by so much but my general game has improved so much. Its completely come together in fact and I predict many winning sessions over the next months.