Soaring Eagle Trip

This is about a week late, but I wanted to fill everyone in on my trip to Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Bobby and I left last Thursday and after a couple mixed/wrong exits finally got on a table at 6:00 PM and played till 2:30 AM.

I bought in for $200 at their 1/2 NL Hold'em table and immediately started building my stack.

Very early on, I raised from 2 UTG with 7-8 of clubs. I got one caller, the guy to my left (dealer in between us), and the flop came 884. We both checked the flop and the turn came a 10. I bet out $22, and he called. The turn came a 7 to fill me up. As I went for chips, I noticed that he was also doing the same.

I normally bet here, but I thought my odds at a check raise were very high. So, I checked and he immediately bet out $40. I made it $95 to go and he flipped over his hand, thinking I just called. After a minor debate, with me saying nothing, they ruled his hand dead. I am almost certain he would have called with his two pair, 10's and 8's.

The night ran pretty stale from there on. I was running cold for starting hands. I picked up AK and made it $16 to go. I got one caller from the BB and he checked dark. The flop came A64. I bet out $35 and he called. The turn came a blank, I think a 10 or something, and he checked. I proceeded to bet out $55, and he raised me all-in.

This is where I made what I feel was my only mistake of the trip. I knew I was beat, but I called off the rest of my stack ($130). He flipped over his pocket 4's and scooped in a nice pot.

I then bought another $200 and leaned on the guy to my right. He was a very aggressive player, but got too friendly with me. On about four occasions, I called him with bad draws that missed, but he would check to me on the river, I would throw out what looked like a value bet and he would fold.

I cashed out for $313, an $87 loss for the night.

We got back on the table at 11 the next morning. The table livened up within the hour and it seemed like it would be a good day. My stack fluctuated between $250 to $300 for the better part of the first three hours and then an old lady cost me about $200.

We had a super aggressive player, raising every hand and making ridiculous bluffs at the table. There was a straddle to $5 and he made it $25. Two people called in front of me and I knew the straddle was calling. I had 78 off suit and made the call. The flop came 569, to flop me the nuts on a rainbow board.

The straddle and raiser both check, and the next guy bets $40. This is when the old lady blows up my hand. She pushes all-in for $980. I call, the straddler folds 10's and the guy that bet $40 folds pocket 9's, top set. She flips over 78 too. If she just smooth calls and I do the same, we get caught in between the over pair and top set, and make at least another $150 a piece with the chop.

I also had two very frustrating straddles in a row. The table was ultra aggressive and each pot was a fairly good size. I was sitting around $300 and straddled for $5. I pick up J10 and the flop comes AKQ rainbow. I throw out $5 and six players fold, very unusual for this table. The very next time around I straddle for $5 again, pick up J7 of spades. The flop comes 456 all spades. So I flop fourth nuts with an open ended straight flush draw. The flop is checked, turn comes a red 3 and I bet $5 and get one caller. The river comes the 3 of spades, giving me the seven high straight flush, and get him to call $15. He too had J7, obviously no spade. If he wasn't a donk, I wouldn't have made any.

I then got up to around $400 and picked up AA 2UTG. I make a raise to $12 and get one caller. Flop comes K high and the lady bets into me, I think $20. I make it $46 and she shoves. I put her on a pair of kings and call. She shows AK, and turns a K. My stack is now at $175.

On my next button, I pick up QQ. There is a straddle to $11 and I make it $34. The guy two to my right, pushes for $90 total and I call. Flop comes 8910, turns a 2 and rivers a Q. He turns over JJ.

I am now sitting with $90 or so and about two rounds later get all in pre with 10's vs. K's and don't catch up.

I exit the Casino being down $287 in my first trip since concentrating on bankroll management.