Well, hello dear reader(s), it's been a few days since our last visit. Is there anyone concerned out there that this electronic missive might be dying on the vine? It's been a bit sere around these parts, to be sure, however due to recent fertilizing of the sponsor column over there to the right, I'm turning on the sprinkler system and hanging around for at least another year.
One bit of housecleaning I have left to do is to update the Poker Perspectives blog-roll - I've been enjoying a few 'new-to-me' poker bloggers out there and I intend to pass those good links on to you, that is if you haven't found them already. Second to that, there are some blogs in there that have, sadly, passed on to the great blog beyond and need to be culled from the list.
An addition to the blog is an experimentation with a new Amazon widget. I've had an associates account for a couple of years, but haven't done much with it. The new widget allows one to embed a "store" in one's blog or website, complete with shopping cart, etc. I thought I'd give it a try. I realize that you, my dear reader(s), most likely already possess many of the books and items listed there, but if there just happens to be an addition to your library you're considering, you'd be helping my retirement fund by purchasing it via The Maudie Mall.
On the poker front, I gave in and joined the migration from limit to no-limit at the local casino this past weekend. I did so reluctantly. Reluctant because no-limit cash games are a huge threat to my bankroll. That said, though, I left the Riverwind with more money than I brought with me. I can't say that about my previous two visits which were spent at $4.$8 limit.
The bounty came after nearly five hours of folding. In that five hours I saw every combination of rag hands that I believe is possible, sprinkled with the occassional big pair or decent openers. This was particularly frustrating because at the opposite end of the table sat a trio of generous gents who were averse to folding. I wanted very much to be a beneficiary of their generosity.
That opportunity came with a little run of decent cards which brought me back to even. But, at that point I was feeling a bit weary so I'd decided to leave once the blinds came around. Of course, when that time came, I'm dealt one of my favorite hands to hate - A-Q off suit.
Being under the gun, I put in a standard raise and received four, count-em, four callers. I was very perplexed by this. The hand got very strange after that. I don't have the razor sharp memory a great poker player should have (and I am far, far, far from being a great poker player), so I can't tell you what cards came out, but I know it missed me and, most likely everyone else.
I believe I checked the flop rather than attempting a continuation bet which would not have encouraged any of my opponents to fold. When the betting came back to me I said, after a second or two of contemplation, "this is either going to be brilliant or a very stupid move," and cold-called the bets. The turn and the river were checked all round, perplexing me even more.
At the end of the hand, my ace-high was no good losing to a pair of sixes that the fellow across the table hit with his Ace-six. Off. The other hands were just as innocuous. My call was pretty stupid.
So, now stuck, I hung around a while longer and was rewarded with a run of solid cards and pulled in a few pots that put me up nearly 47 big bets. Now I could leave, no worse for wear and a little more green in my pocket.
A few things I learned from this session:
With loose, unskilled players at no-limit, a standard raise is not going to thin the field. This table was populated by loose limpers, so the aggression factor needed to be ramped up a bit higher than normal.
I had difficulty in putting people on hands, until I clued into the fact that any ace or face was good enough for limping into the pot.
I still suck at calculating pot odds.
I played better than I thought I would - in five hours there were maybe two times I was all-in, both times forcing my opponent to fold.
I'm left wondering if, when you're in a game like this one and you're playing a couple of big over cards - AK, AQ, KQ, etc.. and you get numerous callers, you're going to want to see the lesser card hit the flop as top pair first. Here's my warped reasoning:
If the flop is A-6-2, and you've raised it up pre-flop with A-K at a loose table where any ace or face is good enough to play any and every time, then at least one of your opponents probably just hit two pair. In that case, I'd be reluctant to be aggressive betting this hand.
However, if the flop comes K-6-2, I'd be inclined to ramp it up and bet the hell out of it.
Does that make any sense at all?
