That Kind of Night

I had this night last night...

But as you can see, I cut it off after things got really bad and I started steaming hard. As much as people claim to hate bad-beat posts, we secretly enjoy it a little, right? In case you do, here is the steam-inducer, for your gratification...

Full Tilt Poker, $0.25/$0.50 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
Hero (BTN): $81.95
SB: $22.55
BB: $50.55
UTG: $115.35
Pre-Flop: Q Q dealt to Hero (BTN)

UTG folds, Hero raises to $1.50, SB folds, BB raises to $4.60, Hero raises to $14.05, BB raises to $50.55 and is All-In, Hero calls $36.50

Flop: ($101.35) A 9 5 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: ($101.35) 2 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($101.35) K (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $101.35 Pot ($2 Rake)
Hero showed Q Q (a pair of Queens) and LOST (-$50.55 NET)
BB showed 5 5 (three of a kind, Fives) and WON $99.35 (+$48.80 NET)

And then Presto had to go and do me wrong from both angles, for and against...

Full Tilt Poker, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
CO: $27.04
BTN: $25
SB: $28.65
BB: $56.40
UTG: $55.65
Hero (MP): $25.60
Pre-Flop: 5 5 dealt to Hero (MP)
UTG folds, Hero raises to $0.85, CO raises to $2.75, 2 folds, BB calls $2.50, Hero calls $1.90

Flop: ($8.35) 5 6 T (3 Players)
BB checks, Hero checks, CO checks

Turn: ($8.35) Q (3 Players)
BB bets $4.75, Hero calls $4.75, CO folds

River: ($17.85) 3 (2 Players)
BB bets $5, Hero raises to $18.10 and is All-In, BB calls $13.10

Results: $54.05 Pot ($2.70 Rake)
BB showed Q Q (three of a kind, Queens) and WON $51.35 (+$25.75 NET)
Hero showed 5 5 (three of a kind, Fives) and LOST (-$25.60 NET)

Okay then, if you can forgive my little purge, I'll move on to an interesting hand I played recently. File this one under "Gotcha."

No history or reads on opponent.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP ($56.15)
Button ($63.50)
Hero (SB) ($51.80)
BB ($138.30)
UTG ($50)
Preflop: Hero is SB with J, A
2 folds, Button bets $1, Hero raises to $4, 1 fold, Button calls $3

Standard 3-bet for value against a likely button steal.

Flop: ($8.50) K, A, 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $6, Button calls $6

For value and to charge draws. The ranges in these button vs. blinds battles tend to be wide, but given the 3-bet and call, we can narrow it a little. It includes a lot of PPs, any A-x, any K-x (with junkier K-x kickers discounted), any 2 broadway with a diamond, and a bunch of other hands with a diamond (e.g. Qd-9x). It also includes made flushes and 44, although 44 would be more likely to raise than call.

Turn: ($20.50) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $15, Hero calls $15

Time to surrender initiative, try to pot control, and see what villain does. He make a big bet, which sets off some alarm bells. The only made hands that I see making this big bet are the hands that really hate seeing another diamond peel off - 33, A3, and a small flush like 7d8d. So this bet has served to polarize his range. If he is bluffing with something like a gutshot, a small pair, or air, he may fire big like this, leaving the threat of another big river bet.

River: ($50.50) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $38.50 (All-In), Hero calls $26.80 (All-In)

I guess there are some villains that would play a small made flush like this, but when the same river arrives and he knows he's good, I figure he is making a smaller value bet, something like $15-$25. So, now I'm really only worried about A-x 2-pair hands and small sets, and this line is pretty odd for those hands too. The rest is air, and I think there's enough air to make the call.

Total pot: $104.10 Rake: $3
Results:
Button had 7, 7 (one pair, sevens).
Hero had J, A (one pair, Aces).
Outcome: Hero won $101.10

I am slowly but surely learning to detect funny lines that don't make much sense. It always involves me making a lot of assumptions about ranges and betting styles that don't always add up, but when it does, like this, it feels pretty darn good.