Overnighteer at Mountaineer

Wednesday night I went to Mountaineer, and spent the night at their hotel. They sent out some coupons for discounted rooms, so I thought I would give it a try. I usually just make the two hour drive in the AM, and head home in the PM. Overall, this was a good experience, and I will do it again.

Profit between the Casino and Poker Room was -$10. I really didn't have any big wins or losses. I just couldn't get any run going. There was two hands that could have made this a very profitable trip if things had played out a little different.

Hand #1: Wednesday night $1/$2
I've been sitting at this table for a few hours, and I'm up a little. A Kid raises to $12 from UTG. Kid has been very quiet, and not playing many hands. He seems like a no-nonsense player. One caller when it gets to me in late position. I look down at AA.

I decided to raise to $30. I'm not a big fan of being over aggressive preflop. But if I just call, I would be the 3rd player in the pot, and others may jump in for pot odds. Also, I'm hoping that he's got a big pair, JJ or better, and re-raises me.

Everyone but Kid folds. He just calls.

Flop: Ac Qc 4c. Kid thinks for a bit, then checks. I bet $50. Normally, I would just check Top Set in a Heads-Up pot. But with an all-Flush board, I can't risk a 4th Club on the Turn. I would either be chasing my Boat, or have no chance of getting any more chips out of the Kid.

Now he goes in to deep thought mode, and so do I. I'm not sure if he's really thinking, or just hollywooding AxKc. I decide that if he moves All-In (looks like $200-$250), then I would call. I don't like gambling in a cash game, but this hand is just too strong to fold.

Instead, he folds his hand face up. Two red Kings. "No!", I said, as I show my hand. It was the right play for him. That is a very ugly board for Kh Kd out of position.

Yes, I won a decent pot, but it's still frustrating. AA vs KK is so rare for me. If the flop had been different...

Hand #2 Thursday afternoon $1/$2

I was at the table for a while, and down a little in chips. Just not many opportunities so far. I look at T8h in the SB. There are many limpers, so I just toss another white chip on the table. Seven players see the Flop of Qs Ts 8s.

I hit Two Pair, but that's an action board, so I bet $11. Player A in Mid-position calls. Player B on the Button raises to $30. Since I'm out of position, I just call the $30 to see what happens. However, Player A raises All-In for about $65 more. Player B just calls.

At this point, I'm not sure what Player A has, but Player B seems to have a Flush. Since I'm looking at hitting a 4-outer, I fold. Player A shows QJ for Top Pair with a Gutshot. Player B shows 65s for a Flush.

Of course, the Turn is [Qs Ts 8s] Td, giving me the Boat. I know that folding was the right decision. But sometimes I feel I need to let my inner donkey out, and get lucky making some bad calls.