Mountaineer

I went to Mountaineer this weekend. I lost $200, but was generally satisfied with my play. My lost can be attributed to one hand. I pad pocket fours and called a limper immediately to my right. The flop came Kd4dTc. The limper bet out and I raised her. I had her on a King. She didn't raise pre-flop so AK or KK was out. Also, I didn't see her betting draws. Her Range here was KT KQ KJ. I popped here for a raise and she just called. She again bet the brick on the turn and I re-riased and she just called. The river brought another K and she went all-in. She either just filled up to beat me, or made trip Kings that would lose to my full house. Well, she filled up. I don't think I could have played it much better. I don't think I could have folded in that spot, with most of my money already in the pot.

Later I doubled up again when a LAG made a full house on the river against my higher full house. I lost some of that back when I had KK and couldn't shake a player that called my flop and turn bets. The river completed the flush and str8 draws. I checked the river and folded to a 1/4 pot sized bet. In retrospect, I probably should have made a $30 blocking bet or called the bet. The player was loose and was capable of making a play on my shown weakness. He acted like he wanted a call. I had it in my gut that I was beat, but I don't know if I win the pot 25% of the time. Looking back, there are many ways I could have played the hand differently, but I just don't know.

Reading Harrington has really helped. I made less mistakes that I normally make in NLHE. I exercised good pot control and I think I played better starting hands. I just to continue to study the text and work on the concepts. I also need to work on my hand reading skills. I think I can transition to NLHE. This might not be the best time to make the switch given that I am going to play limit in the WSOP, but I think each game will help the other.

My biggest challenge will be to practice my hand reading.