I have recovered enough to return to playing. Maybe it is just World Series Time, but the games I have played in the last three nights have been monumentally soft. I am still playing $30-$60, and seeing 5-6 way action on raised pots preflop, and some incredible chasing.

I took multiple beats yesterday, and still made a tidy profit. There were some interesting hands involving pocket aces, which I held three times. On the first, I raised in middle position and got usual six callers. I am relating this hand because it is similar to one that was recently posed on the Forum. The flop came Qh Jh 10c and had no hearts. this was a lousy flop for my hand, and when everyone checked tome, I checked, as did the two players behind me. After a jack came on the turn,. the small blind bets and the big blind raised. Everyone folded to me, and I folded as well. Heads up, the river went check-bet- call, and the K-J beat the J-7. I like my flop check on the dangerous board, with the option to bet/raise the turn should a blank fall. Needless to say, unless they read this, they will not know what I held. I did not show it or discuss it. I suggest you do the same in these situations.

The other A-A are sort of a pair. On the first, the was a preflop raise and call to me on the button with A- A. I three-bet, which of course through the small blind ( a truly terrible player), and a reluctant big blind, and the other two. Five to the flop of Q-7-2. Checks to the preflop raiser, a pro who bet, fold to me, and I raised. SB three-bet and the raiser folded. I paid off the Q-7, calling all the way. No chance I would lay down a hand in a big pot t this guy. Nice hand, sir, take the pot.

Three hours later, I had black aces on the button, and after four limpers, I raised. This of course brought both blinds, and we took the flop seven handed. I hit a set on a board of Ah Qs 7s. Yes, the queen-seven was there again. Everyone checked to me, and I bet, getting only four callers. Now the turn was the good news-bad news jack of spades. I now have a nut flush draw as well as top set, but of course may still have suddenly lost my lead. everyone checked again, and I bet. Now SB glanced at this hole cards and raised. Everyone folded, and I of course three-bet. Since he cannot have the nuts, it is almost impossible for him to reraise me even if I am behind, and I do have at least 18 outs, perhaps more. He thought for a long time and called. The river 8h did not help, and I checked behind him. I missed,” he said tabling the Jh 10s. He did have three outs. I showed my aces. “That’s what I thought you had,” he commented. Huh?

Anyway he gave me some of my earlier money back which was nice of him.