Giving it Another Go

We've entered another poker tournament at the American Legion. It's tomorrow night, and I hope I fare much better than last time. Last time we went, there was no prize payout posted. We only knew 20 spots would be paid out of about 100 entrants (and I didn't even finish close). Later I found out first prize was paid $1200. Shoot, second place was a $700 payout! That's incentive for me to try to play the best I can!

I'm a little paranoid though, because like last time we played the Legion tournament, I'm coming off a win at our regular poker night. Yes, I managed to squeak out a win this month, and I'll happily admit I sucked out on two very important hands. I really don't know how else to adjust my game for a table full of callers. I did successfully employ an isolation raise however, and it just happened to be one of the hands I sucked out on. I had pocket Aces in the big blind. One person at the table raised before me, and as the table folded around to me, I realized there were two people in between me and the initial raiser that already put money in the pot. I wanted to get them the hell out of there. Pocket Aces heads up - great... pocket Aces 4-handed - not so great. I reraised, and only the initial raiser called. I put him on A-K or pocket kings. The flop came out 3-K-3 rainbow, and I was pretty sure I was screwed. I probably shouldn't have, but I checked, just to see what the other guy would do. He bet - it wasn't a huge bet, but it wasn't quite a gimmee bet, either. I called. Probably dumb but I ended up getting an Ace on the river. A couple of us were talking about it later, and he asked me if he would have gone all-in on the turn, if I would have called. I said I wasn't sure. But honestly, I probably wouldn't have. So I'm a suckout... that's the only way I can think to play when most of the hands we play are with 7 to 10 people in the pot.

I'm guessing that's how the tournament tomorrow night will be. Last time, there were generally 6-7 people in each pot. I would lay down hands like A-9s or J-10, thinking that it wouldn't be good enough. I don't think I need to get crazy and be a calling station, but I definitely think I need to loosen up my game a bit. I'm just trying to shake the similarities between this time and last time. Hell, even the pots I won before the Legion tournament were similar. I really don't want to be going in already thinking I'm screwed.

It's also difficult playing the Legion games because they're on Friday nights - so I'm playing after working all day. I just can't seem to keep my head clear when I play after work. Hopefully the cards will just fall my way... ha! I think I'll just be happy to finish better than I did before.