Lessons from Elysium

[shemp]

Full table. Online 15/30. Goofy game. I limp in the cutoff after 3 limpers with 44, button folds, both blinds come.

Flop [ Q T 5 r ]. It's checked to me. Now I routinely take a free card here, rightly or wrongly. On this table, I do think it best to check behind. It's hard to get how that flop missed everyone, and many of these players chase with extremely strange holdings when last to act opens, convinced that J6o may be the best hand, and is certainly live.

I bet after a short pause. As I'm contemplating the effect of my short pause, to my surprise it's folded to my immediate right and he check raises. Instantly, the counsel of elysium rings in my ears, "The cutoff can't check-raise the button." Anyway, I chuckle and dig in to call down for this small unraised pot. I get a lot of help as the turn and river don't seem to hit any semi-bluff hands. He bet his A4 all the way, and didn't hit his 3-outer. Routine, yes. But the words of elysium ringing in my ears during the play of a hand, priceless.