Cash Game: Venetian March 23rd 2:45 PM-6:15 PM

Well, I think I set some sort of record today, playing 5 ½ hours of poker and winning EXACTLY 8, yes 8, hands. Ouch. I sat down at 2:45 with the intention of playing cash until 6:15 and playing the tournament/eating dinner. I waited just under an hour (55 minutes) before I entered my first real pot.

I had not called a raise or anything so I was still at like $180 even after an hour and I limped in LP with Q9ss. Some lady raised in the BB to $15 and there was a caller in front of me and a guy behind me who limp-called a lot of raises so I thought that this was a good spot to see a flop. I called and the flop came Js8s5x, giving me an over, a gutshot, and a flush draw. The lady lead out for $20 and I chose just to call because I thought she might have an overpair and I knew that even if she did and I hit, I would get paid off so theres no point in pumping the pot (A La A3hh hand from 2 sessions ago) when I know Ill still get called if I hit. The guy behind me raised it $50 more to $70. The lady folded and it was back to me. The more I thought about this, the more I knew that he would never turn up with a set right here. I was almost 100% positive he had AJ and I am a favorite against AJ (I am 55%--I checked) and to go with me being a favorite, he might fold if I push here so I banked for about 2 minutes and decided to push for $110 more. He called me pretty quickly (which makes me feel good because this is probably exactly how I play a set here, with the 2 minute bank and all) and says “I knew you had a draw” and I was like “Well OK but you know im still a favorite”. He had J10 (an amazing call) and even though it wasn’t AJ like I thought, Im still a slight favorite (51.82%-48.18%). The turn came a offsuit 7, giving me more outs (Im still 40% going to the river) but he river blanked and I lost my $200 in the first hour.

I rebought for $200 more and played another HOUR AND A HALF (2 ½ hours) before I won my first pot. I raised to $10 with AKo in LP and the button called. The flop came 632r and I bet out $15. He called and the turn came 9, check-check. The river came Q check-check he shows AJ and my AK is goot.

About 5 hands later, I am in the BB. The UTG straddles and its folded to the button. He calls and so does the SB. I find JJ and make it $15, and everyone calls. The flop comes T87. I bet out $25 to see where im at, the straddle raises to $75. Everyone folds back to me and I think and end up folding. We don’t discuss the hand but right before I leave, he tells me he flopped top 2 pair. He was a good player so he legitimately could have been making a move, but theres no reason for me not to believe him.

A little later, I won my second pot when I limped in a pot in EP with KJ. The flop came AKJ 2 clubs and I bet out $15 and got one caller. The turn came another club and the river came a 7 and I checked it down with the other guy and he showed an ace (no good—pot 2/8 on the day). I won another pot when I raised up front with 88 and got 1 caller. The flop came 632 and I c-bet and won. I did raise a couple of pots with other midpairs around this time (TT, 77) and got about 7 callers both times (so if I spike my set I win a sick pot) but was unable to hit and lost.

The last pot I won before I left, I picked up AQo from hijack and was the first one in the pot with a raise to $10. The button called and the flop came A84. I bet $20 and he called. The turn came a 10 and I checked for pot control and he checked behind. The river came a K and I bet $25 and he folded. Overall, after I lost the first $200 in the first hour, I lost $56 of the 2nd $200 I had despite not really catching a break in a pot. I mean, Im not playing tight by any means, I just am having trouble finding spots right now. I don’t think I am doing anything wrong but will continue to improve my game through observation and listening to your comments. I ended the session cashing out for $154 (-$256) and my 3rd bigger losing session in a row.