All it takes is one hand

Last night, I decided to try my luck at the cash game at the ACF. I was not so optimistic heading there since my last session saw me fold more times than a piece of origami. The thought of losing actual P 300 to P 500 per bet was too much for me at that time. I now felt that with sufficient training at the tourney level and playing with my friends that I was psychologically equipped to meet this challenge head on.

On the way there, I was overcome with worry though. The weather looked ominous, and maybe I would not play at all because no one would leave their homes. I was sorely mistaken. When I arrived at ACF, three tables were full. 2 for the 20-40 blinds and 1 for the 50-100 blinds. Since I had no place to play and I was really hungry, I decided to try out the Chef Donatello restaurant at the ground floor. They served pizzas and sandwiches at moderate casino prices. I ordered a solo pizza for P 120. When the cashier told me that the canned softdrinks were P 40, I respectfully declined his offer for a drink with a "hell no!". So he said, "lemme just get you something free. Would you like dalandan, four seasons or green tea?" "Why the hell would you offer me overpriced Coke, when theres stuff for free?!?!?", is what I said on the inside. "Ill have the four seasons, thanks", was my outside voice. After the meal, which was suprisingly tasty, I headed upstairs.

No tables had free slots. This one guy had about 120 in chips, and was just probably waiting for a nice hand. When he did go all-in, he won and tripled up! Somamamabitch! I was the first guy on waitlist. After almost an hour of waiting, another 50-100 table opened up, and one guy transfered from the table I was watching. I got 2500 worth of chips and sat down. My first hand was pocket 9s. I posted the 40 blind automatically, but then reraised it to 300 when it was my turn again. One guy stayed in. The flop came out 10-10-7. So I bet 300 again. Other guy folded, and I showed him my hand. "Got lucky first hand!" I was happy to be up early on.

Next hand I got was a 8-6 off. I was in the big blinds so I just checked. Flop came out 4-9-7. So i bet 300. 2 guys stayed in. Turn showed a 5. Bet 200 again. One guy folded, other stayed. Last hand card was a 6. I bet 200 again, other guy stayed and I showed him my straight. He just folded and smiled. I took the pot and smiled bigger.

One time, I had an opportunity for a gutshot straight, and should have folded when a Queen made the flop and I had 1o high and the remaining player bet 300. The turn paired up my ten and once again I called the 300 bet. River did not give me my straight and I had to call the 300 because of me being pot committed. He of course had top pair Queen. That was a lousy play all the way.

Next good hand I got was a JQ suited. Flop came out 7-J-9. So I bet 300. One guy stayed with me. Turn came out number so I checked. Fortunately, the other guy checked. River was a beauty, a J. Guy bets 100, so I reraise to 400. He says loudly, "ano hawak mo? ano hawak mo?" while counting his chips and looking at his hand. I said, "bayaran mo ung raise, tapos papakita ko." So he called, I showed, he grimaced, I took the pot. Hehe

The beginning of my end began when I held an AQ suited. I bet 300 outright, and one guy stayed with me (the same one who beat me with pocket ladies). The flop paired my Queen so I bet 300. He called. Turn came out number so I checked. He bet a 1000. I called instantly since I had plenty of outs (any Queen would give me trips and any club would give me a flush). River was another number so the other guy went all in with 440. I reluctantly called. He said, "I got one pair". He showed pocket Kings! He brokebacked my ass! That was a huuuuuge blow! Later in the evening he was talking to another guy who apparently folded pocket 2s, and got trips on the flop. He didnt call because of the big preflop bet. The guy who creamed me said that you have to live and learn in poker, take your losses, learn from them and move on. He even said that if a club came out, that I would have eaten him alive.

My play went downhill from there. I got another AQ later in the evening and went all in with just the big and small blinds posted. Everyone folded to my 660 bet. Argh!!! Around 12:15, I got a AJ off and went all in again. 5 guys called. If I would win, I would be so happy. Before the flop was dealt, one player shouted "all garbage!". He got his wish. Flop came out 6-5-7. He went all in with 540. Only one guy called. He showed his 34 suited. The other guy just folded. I left, shook the hand of the man who creamed me thrice, wished everyone good luck and left.

On the way home, I contemplated my play and was suprisingly both happy and sad. Happy at how my aggressive play improved and sad at how 2 bad decisions cost me almost my entire stack. Ill definitely play some more money games soon. Just need some more practice, discipline, self control, and oh yeah, almost forgot, more cash.

Wish me luck next time!