.25/.50 - The way the night started, I thought it was going to be one of those nights.  The first hand I played, I raised in mp to $4 with 1010 and Kyto reraised me on the button for ~$15.  I figured he was just looking for a spot to get this money in and not have a real hand so I called.  He shows A10o and of course an ace hits and I had to add on to my stack.  Not too much longer, I raise in MP with QQ and get 4 to the flop.  Flop A 7 4.  Checked to me, I bet $7, Kyto raises to $15, Hoop goes AI for ~$20 and I have to lay it down.  Hoop (in early position) had A4o.  I finally got felted when I turned a flush against Wil's nut flush.  Yes, it was definitely going to be one of those nights.  I didn't even get anything going until the 3rd rebuy (now stuck $90).  I finally got into a groove, making right decisions at right times. 

Two hands in particular.  1st one:  I limped in mp with 89s, some more follow and Wil raises out of the blind to ~$4 and I call as does the limper.  Flop brings A 6 7.  Wil leads out for ~$6, and I'm the only caller.  I called for a few reasons:  my opponent knows me fairly well so I wanted to disguise my hand a little.  His bet could be a continuation or he could have a big ace.  If I raise in this spot, I may be raising with just one pair ( 6 or 7, maybe an ace) and I'd most likely have to lay down to a RR unless I want to push and continue with the hand.  If he does happen to have a big ace, I should be able to get paid off by hitting my draw.  I wasn't ready to play a big pot yet either so I thought the best play at that moment was to just call.  Turn 8, non flush.  Wil bets $12.  I now decided to see how much he liked his hand.  I still wasn't sure if Wil liked the ace or not but I wanted to find out.  I made a raise to $32 total, leaving me with about $40 behind.  I wanted to make it look like I wasn't afraid of a call and would be willing to go all the way.  At the same time, I left myself enough that if he pushes, I wasn't going to go any further.  If he calls me in this spot, I would probably have to be done with the hand unless I hit because I don't have enough ammo to fire again and he'd already know what I'm up to.  Lucky for me, he laid it down relunctantly and said he had QQ.

2nd hand:  I raise to $5 in mp with 88 and Kyto calls and we go to the flop of A A K rainbow heads up.  I lead out for $8 and Kyto calls.  Obviously, I'm not in love with this call as he's most likely to have an A or K.  Turn 7.  I lead out for $16 and he calls again after some hesitation.  At this point, I felt like I wasn't going up against an ace but rather a K and I felt like he didn't have much of a kicker.  I felt like he liked his hand, but wasn't in love with his hand.  River fell J.  Feeling like I had the right read, I lead out again for $26.75.  I know I don't have the best hand and the only way I can win this hand is to bet.  I didn't want to bet too big because it would look like a buy.  I didn't want to bet too small because then he'd just call out of spite.  I needed to bet an amount that looks like a I want a call but at the same time just expensive enough to where he doesn't feel he has to look me up.  The bet worked as he showed me a K and laid it down.

At the time these hands happen, I told them it was the right lay down but I never showed my hand.  I have to maintain a certain image that I want to in the heat of the moment not only against the player I was in the hand with, but for everybody at the table.  I change gears all the time in a game but at that moment, I wanted them to think it was the right lay down for many reasons that I won't go into.  One, I hope the time you choose to look me up, I have a monster.  So don't always believe what I tell you at the table!

After being stuck $90 in the game, I wound up finishing the night right around $180 for a +90 profit.  Not too bad considering the start. 

See you at the felt!

TK