Not My Home Game

In CC's bash last night I was able to continue my aggressive ways for a bit before running into a difficult hand. Having chipped up to about T2100, I picked up AKo in late position. I raised 4x (4x is the new 3x right?) the blind and got called by the BB. The flop was xKx all diamond, of which I had none. The BB checked and I bet 3/4 pot. He just called which made me think he was holding AK with one being a diamond or Ax with the A of diamonds or a middle pair up to JJ (bigger pair probably would have re-raised as would a suited AK). I'm not a monster under the bed person so I put very little thought into the flopped flush. The turn was a blank and I checked behind in the thought I could induce a bluff if the river blanked and save some money if the fourth diamond came. The river did not cooperate and was the dreaded diamond. I checked behind again as I still had about T1000 left behind and he turned over TT with the diamond for the win. AK has been my bane lately. In retrospect, I should have made a big bet on the turn to put the hard decision on my opponent. There was plenty in the pot already but I got a little greedy. I proceeded to blind myself into a crappy finish.

Tonight is a weird home game. It has a big mix of ages with fathers, grandfathers, and sons playing alog with a mishmash of uncles and neighbors. I've played in this group for tournaments before and have had a good bit of success as it contains a large contingent of weak players. They do funky things though such as checking down to each other a lot and talking about their hands while the action is still going on. I plan on keeping my mouth shut and walking out ahead. Why rock the boat? The only thing that'll do is let water in to drown you.

Live Game Almost Fixed

It was a hot time at the old home game last night. The new guy picked up AA twice in a row, doubling up the first time going boat over boat. The second time, against the same player, he made a 10x raise, only to get called. He went all-in on a J high flop and was called immediately by JJ. "How the hell can you call that raise preflop? I bet 10x th blind." He obviously doesn't know live poker is rigged.

I am not going to say I have ever been the best player at our table, but I have been the most consistent. That consistency has cost me lately though. I have been playing the exact same way for too long now: super tight pre-flop and super aggressive if the board hits me. The problem with that is that all someone has to do is call me pre-flop and if the flop comes all low, bet me out. My stubborn ass ignored this weakness until last night. I changed up by raising automatically if I was first in from middle position on back. There were no 3x raises either, always more. I then bet every flop I saw, taking down most of them uncontested. I feel like an idiot for letting this go on so long. It is easy to drop into playing too tight though. It is preached as the "correct" way to play. Few others at our table feel that way though and they should be punished for calling raises indiscriminately with no plan of attack for the follow-up; it's the old call and pray technique.


I won't be in the Mookie tonight as I am busto at Full Tilt due to piss poor planning. A Princess of the South is trying to direct me some funds but I have to figure out how to get her compensated. I am slow but dogged, maybe by next week