Sly's Sept challenge days 4-6

[SlyAK]

Days 4-6 from my goal of $2,000 in September. All games are played at 1/2 NL- $200 max- 10 handed at prima unless otherwise noted.

Sept 4th- I sat down for an afternoon session and was immediately frustrated. It was one of those days when every hand that I folded would have flopped big. I limped with QJ, but there is a big raise from one of the blinds, and I end up folding, only to see a flop of KT9 rainbow ...... ARGH!! The same thing happens when I have 54s in the SB. One big raise, one caller.... flop is 876.... I would have won a big pot there as both opponents had overpair. In about 1 1/2 hours I am down about $135, so I say enough is enough and take a break.

In the evening, I hit the tables again for another 1 1/2 hours. Nothing too exciting, but I ended up winning a nice pot with AA vs. QJ... board went 55J5A... he called $80 on the river there and I appreciated it!! That put me about even for the day.

Finally I played a late night session for about 2 hours or so. One interesting hand in that session which I think I played well is below. The table was 8-handed at the time. Primary opponent is UTG+1 who has $300 and I have no read on him. I have approx. $225.

UTG folds, UTG+1 min-raises to $4, UTG+2 calls, MP calls, CO folds, I call on the button with 9 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] SB folds, and BB calls. 5 players to the flop for $22.

Flop: J [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 4 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

BB leads out for $2, UTG+1 min-raises to $4, UTG+2 raises to $12 and is all-in. MP folds, and I raise to $40. BB folds, and UTG+1 calls. Pot $116. My reason for the raise is that I dont want to give a flush draw a free card, plus if I am going to get action and build a big pot, now is the time.

Turn: 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

UTG+1 checks, I bet $88.. (yeah random I know)... UTG+1 calls. Pot: $292.

River: K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] UTG+1 checks, I go all-in for $92.25, and he calls after some hesitation. Pot $475.50 - rake.

I cant put him on a heart flush since the hearts were runner runner. A lot of times in the past I would check behind here, but there isnt much to be afraid of so I bet out and it worked. He mucked, and had A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] for the flopped TPTK + nut flush draw. The short stack all-in had J [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 4 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] for the flopped 2-pair, and I take down a big pot. I won another big pot later with AA vs. QQ and I ended up having a nice day.

Day 4 results: +$443.81, 5 hours, average 2 tables.

Day 5: No exciting hands so just results:

+$96.87, 1 1/2 hours, average 2.3 tables, (I did play one table of $100 max for 1/2 hour, instead of all $200 while I was on a waiting list for another $200 max table).

Day 6- I played a short session during the afternoon. After a slow start and no action on my couple PF raises, I get A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] UTG. I do my standard opener to $8, and get called by one MP player, Button and SB. Pot $34. My stack is about $175 at beginning of hand and SB (villain) has me covered with about $225.

Flop is K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

I sure wish that my ace were a heart. SB checks, I bet $30, MP and button fold... and SB calls. The pot is now $94. Ok, so should I have even bet here?? I almost felt like check-folding here, I hated that flop so much.

Turn: 3 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] SB checks, I check. OK, should I bet here??? He wont call w/o a heart, and maybe I could push him off of 2 pair or even a set.

River: 7 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] SB bets $20, and I fold??? Is this played reasonably at all. He could be betting with AK with no heart I suppose and just trying to get the pot with a weak bet since I didnt bet the turn. I felt weak folding, but just didnt like this hand at all after that flop.

Things turned around with a couple 2-pair hands, and I managed a small win in the short session.

+$42.50, 1 hour played, 3 tables.

Total for month= $865.90.

Comments appreciated especially advice on that nasty AA hand....