The first day - post analysis

So, I went to the Fitzwilliam on 03/04 with renewed optimism in my game, and a real zest for playing. I also had a wonderful massage beforehand, so maybe that had something to do with my frame of mind. If the body feels good, the brain normally feels good. And so my game is better for it. Now there is a surprise.

Anyway, I entered the 100 Euro Double Chance freeze out tournament. As it was post Irish Open days, it only got 30 runners. 4 people got paid, so you had to be on your game.

I normally play a bit loose at the beginning and get involved with hands. Easier to do when the blinds are smaller. My first big hand of the night was a 9-10 hearts. It was an unraised pot with 4 of us in it. The flop comes 7H,8H,6C. I raise slightly above to the pot (4 blinds in there) I figure an ace of hearts may call me, and if the nuts flush draw is there I will get a flat call. Instead I get the middle caller re-raising me. Only double of what I put in. The other people quickly get out. Now, I have the best hand at this stage, so there is no way I am folding. I can smooth call him and see if I can get away from possibly the nut flush on the turn. I did not put him on that nutflush, as I don't think he would raise. So I just call. The turn comes QH. Again I put a pot bet in. He now comes over the top and goes all in. I have a flush, with a straight flush draw. There is no way I can put him on the nut flush, so I call. He smugly turns over J6 Hearts for a bigger flush.
Could I have gotten away from it? Of course, but the way it played out I was happy with my read on him. But it just made me realise that people will call with a lot of weird hands
Anyway, he was gone 3 hands later to my house with his 2-3 for a straight. Says it all.
As it turns out I came 4th and pocketed 150 Euro profit, and I was ahead every time I was all in pre- flop except for my very last hand where I tried to push and in-experienced player off a KJ pre-flop. I would not have changed that play either

The same night I ended up playing a cash game with some real moron's and also some very good players. My aces got cracked once, and held up once. I played a lot of very good poker, but it was a real grind and I ended up staying until 07.00 in the morning. On a school night. I felt good, but very naughty. The best hand of the night was my very last one, where I called off a big bluff from a player I have played with once before. There was 260 euro in the pot and he put in a 70 Euro bet. I had bottom pair, but my read of him having nothing had the whole table in awe. Needless to say I took my chips and left feeling very good after that.

On the night I was up 615 Euro, and my running total now stands at 1,370. So far so good, next game will be on Tuesday 08/04. Keep an eye out for the post