Cash Game Mistakes

Drank some coffee about 7pm. Headed to the casino about 830pm. Started the evening playing $10 Blackjack. Hanged around the blackjack table till I almost made my money back. The dealer was new...needed help many times. The play was slow. My strategy/system which I practice at home didn't really work, but it shouldn't work all the time. I left the table $25 down. The only interesting thing to mention was that my last hand. I basically went all in...couldn't remember the count. Thankfully the blackjack gods sent a small favor my way and I got dealt blackjack. I was doubling the previous few bets ($20->$40->$80), so it like a $80 bet.

After that almost disastrous adventure playing blackjack. I headed to the poker room. It was busy but I got a seat right away at my usual 1/3 NL. I bought in for $200. I will describe a few hands. I think I played them ALL wrong. One thing to mention was the player to my right. I could see his hole cards as he looked...I couldn't see it all the time, but I think I got about 50% of his cards. Ethically I assume this is wrong, but should I tell him? I didn't it. I should have taken advantage of this fact (see Wrong Hand 2)

Wrong Hand 1

I was dealt AKo at the BB. It was raised to $10 from UTG+3. Button called. I raised to $30. Both players called. I'm already uncomfortable. If no A or K on the flop I'm checking. Flop comes out Q64. Everyone checks. Turn comes out 8. I decide to bet $35. UTG+3 thinks for a bit and raises to $80. I guess he knew I was weak. He won the pot. I should have checked again and folded to a bet. It was a dry flop. I should have c-bet for $30 and called it a day if called or raised. Simple as that.

Wrong Hand 2

Dealt 77 in middle position. Straddle pot, so $6 to go. I have about $75. I usually don't reload, so I'm short stacked and waiting to get it in with a good hand. UTG+2 raised to $10 and player to right calls. He has TT. Flop comes out K37. Club flush draw and I'm holding a club. First players bets $10, 2nd player calls. What should I do? I got the best hand. Should I be scared of the flush draw? How about the player with pocket tens? Neither of those should bother me. I should just call. But I don't. I jam. I was hoping the first player had the K and would call. Neither players call. I pick up a small pot. I should have called and either bet or raised on the turn. I left money on the table.

Wrong Hand 3

New player seats down UTG+1 and calls. 3 other players call. I'm in the BB and I'm dealt A9h. I check. Flop looks pretty good. 494. I check. UTG+1 player bets $11. Everyone folds. I call. I check the turn which is a 6. He bets $11 and I call. River comes a K. I check and he bets $30. So he isn't scared of the K. I'm thinking he could have a 4 or a weaker 9. Like KQJ kicker. I'm completely wrong as I call the the bet. He has KK. I should have clearly folded the river.

Wrong Hand 4

I'm on the button. I pick up AQ of diamonds. Hijack raises to $23. I call. Heads up on the fold. Qh xd x (x means small cards). He c-bets $25. I call. Turn is a diamond (another small card). He checks. So what does he have? If he AA or KK or stronger he would continue the betting. Anything weaker could be checking. From what I see, he isn't an overly aggressive player. So what should I do? If I bet most likely I'm getting called by a better hand. With the turn card, it gives me 9 more outs to the nut flush. I should have checked, instead I jam. He folds showing 99. I think a check and a bet on the river or a raise would have been the better play. More money left on table?

Summary

I did walk away with $245. Not sure how I did that, with those mistake hands. Well, I suppose I did win a couple of those mistake hands:). Also I did get a straight on another hand...won about $75 and another hand I did get a flush on the river, but didn't win anything. I felt I do a couple of aggressive things, which at times I lack, but I'm not paying enough attention to my opponent's ranges. I need to spend more time doing that.