Foldin' Ain't Easy

The first hand at last night's Monday night game was crazy. I hate going broke the first hand, it sets a bad tone for the evening. Regardless, when it's folded to me and I have pocket tens, I'm going to raise. DeanDeanTheDrawingMachine, who seems to be folding more often rather than drawing these days, re-raised my $10 bet to $35. I got the sense that I was immediately behind.

However, both GucciRick and Otis called, so I had an easier call with hopes to flop a set. I had Dean on a big pocket pair and Rick and Otis on big Aces. The flop was KdTdTh. I tried not to pee my pants. Otis checked, I checked (slow playin' my Quads 'cause I'm so good) and Dean fired out $75. Rick called and I thought there was no real need to raise at that point, so smooth call was my response.

The turn brought another K. I checked and Dean couldn't shove his chips into the pot fast enough. At first I thought to myself this is a sick beat if I just lost to a one-outer. But then Rick said, "I have to call." Sweet, I thought to myself, they both have a King. I ha' Quads, I can' lose!!!!

"I have to call too," I said, and triumphantly flipped over my pocket Tens only to see Dean flip up pocket Kings. As soon as Dean flipped his cards, I knew it was a setup. No way Rick calls all-in with that board when he has neither a Ten nor a King. Of course, he had QdJd and the Ad hit the river.

How sad is it that I felt more relief upon realizing that it was a setup and I didn't just lose my buy-in on the first hand than the excitement I felt for flopping quads and thinking I would double up?

****

Anway, with my adrenaline shot for the evening, I played decently, if only for a while.

I called a raise with Js9s and saw a flop 4-ways. I flopped nothing, but the action checked around. The turn brought a flush draw to me and I check-called a small bet that had a caller in one spot. Pot odds ya' know. The river gave me a J-hi flush. But because of the action on the turn, I felt no guarantee that it was good. The person that called the turn bet could have easily been on a spade draw as well. I checked, the person who lead the turn checked, and the person who called the turn bet led out for a 1/2 pot-sized bet. I just called.

But then the turn bettor check-raised for another $75. And then got called. I had a flush and knew immediately it was no good. I folded and watched a Q-hi flush take the pot down against a set. As you'll hear on the Cash Plays podcast all the time, given the action, there's no way my hand is anything but a bluff catcher. Good fold number one.

Later on, I'd raise with AQ from the button. Three to an AKx flop with two clubs. Dean, from early position led out small and FranktheTank smooth called. I raised there because at this point in time, I felt Dean's lead out was a blocking bet with a draw type hand. You know, TheDrawingMachine. My assessment was affirmed when Dean simply called my raise and Frank decided to fold.

The turn brought the Jc and again Dean led out, this time with a bigger bet. Sadly, I could beat nothing at this point and again folded. Dean showed AJ and I tallied up good fold number two.

Folding isn't fun. You're saving money, playing well, but it's not fun. And I got tired of it.

Finally, when I raised again with AQ and got re-popped once again by Dean, I made a bad play and called out of position. Dean had recently rebought so was somewhat short on chips. I check-raised the Q-hi flop and Dean shoved. It was only $53 more for me to call into a $300+ pot and I knew I was no good. But again, folding isn't fun, so I called to see Dean have me crushed with pocket Aces.

Two outta three ain't bad. It ain't good either because the one time I decide not to fold, I lose my profits for the evening.

****

I'd end up a winner for the evening, but only because someone else made a bad fold. My chip stack was dwindling and I was getting a bit annoyed at how my initial solid play had deteriorated into a pattern of sucking. I was dealt AA and raised. I got one caller out of position and a flop I absolutely hated: KdQh8d. My Aces were black, I had no draw, just a pair.

My opponent checked and I c-betted hoping that I was up against some random King. My opponent called. The turn brought the 9d completing every draw known to man. Now my opponent led out. Super-awesome. But damnit, I have Aces. I also knew it didn't matter and I also knew I was about to make a bad call. I did.

The river was garbage and my opponent put me all-in for my last $106. Frustrated as hell, I decided to do what all poker players do when they're frustrated. Put my opponent on a hand I can beat. Random King, that's what he has. Right? Of course. I called.

My opponent mucked. Wow, my hand was good, I showed AA to take down the pot.

TheMark, ever so kind to have shut the hell up during the hand, retrieved my opponents cards from the muck and said to him, you had the straight. Jack-Ten. I got shipped the pot, we all knew the rules about mucking your hand. I didn't know how to feel. I read my opponent for a bluff, was correct, but thanks to him mis-reading his hand (He was a bit distracted playing with his BlackBerry. Here's to you Research In Motion!), I was effectively wrong. I'd turn that oddly-won pot into a nice profit for the session, so I won't complain.

Foldin' ain't easy.