The NL attack begins

Poker hasn't put me in the best mood so I'm going to try and post some more and hopefully that will motivate me to stay focused. Hand histories will make up the majority of my future posts for awhile. Some of the hands will be examples of what I need to be doing more of whether I made a bold play, a tough laydown, or got max value out of a hand etc. Hopefully there will be some humorous hands as well.

Tonight's session didn't go that well overall but I played some of the best NL I've ever played. All in all I have to be happy with it as I learn what I think is one of the toughest poker settings of all, NL Hold Em.

$4/4 hands
Laydowns

9handed
UTG limps
UTG+1 raises to $8
UTG+2, Hijack, CO (me QKc), Button, SB, BB call
UTG calls

7c 3c 6s

SB bets $16
BB calls
UTG+1 calls
Hijack raises to $104

Everyone folded. Sometimes I want to move in here, the hijack had another $400 left but if he has better than one pair he's calling which I think he did. Fold equity 4 lyfe, but not here. These draws are deceiving.



7handed
I raise hijack to $12 w/ QsQd
button reraises to $36
I caww w/ QQ but i stiww scahhrre

5c 2c 8c

I check
He bets $68
I fold

I think this is still ok to fold even if I have Qc. +|8-D-X*-X what the.. Here are a couple of bold plays I'm happy about.



9handed
UTG+1 calls
UTG+2 raises to $12
I call in hijack with AQ, UTG+1 calls

5d 9s 8s

Checked to me, I bet $30
UTG+1 folds
UTG+2 calls

5d 9s 8s Kh

Check, check

5d 9s 8s Kh Td

He bets $33
Get that shit OUTTA here makes it (ME) $120
Property of Ruddell folds.




9handed
UTG+2 limps
Hijack (me) JJ raises to $20
BB and UTG+2 call

Ad 4c Qc

Checks around

Ad 4c Qc 3s

BB checks
UTG+2 bets $22
I raise to $90
BB folds, UTG+2 calls

Ad 4c Qc 3s 4d

BB checks
I bet $160
BB folds



7handed
Hijack I raise to $12 w/ QJs
Button, SB, BB call.

4c 9d 8s

Check to button who bets $16
SB calls
I raise to $80
Fold city~


I've been trying to play some of my hands in ways that should lead to more value as well as keep myself out of trouble. Here's an example..

9handed
UTG+1 (me) raise to $12 with black kings
UTG+2 and hijack call.

Jh Jd 7s

Instead of leading out here I'm encouraging them to bluff and I give them a card to catch up. If this was 4 handed I would definitely bet because I can't afford to give all of those players another card and there's a higher probability of dragging along along a pocket pair. Whether 3 or 4 handed I really don't like seeing a call because there's a good chance I have to put them on trips. But if I check to two other players and one bets then any thought of them having trips gets cleared right up.

I check
UTG+2 bets $28
hijack folds
I call

Jh Jd 7s 4s

Check, check

Jh Jd 7s 4s 8h

I bet $40
He folds



Lastly, a donk play

9handed
UTG+2 calls
I call in hijack w/ 22
SB calls
BB checks

7d 2c Ad

BB bets $10
UTG+2 calls
I raise to $46
UTG+2 calls

7d 2c Ad Jh

UTG+2 checks
I bet $90
He calls

7d 2c Ad Jc 8c

UTG+2 checks
I bet $260
He calls and shows A3o