Off to a Good Start

First day back in the office today, so I have a lot of reading to catch up on!

Spent most of the last week shuttling around the 10 visitors to Seattle (mom, dad, three brothers, an aunt, two cousins, two of their friends, and of course the partridge in the pear tree). But no complaints as there was plenty of Casino time! The kids got their first live game experience, and despite their claims of Poker greatness playing online, they got their asses handed to them at a real table. We even took up 8 seats in a $25 buy-in tournament one day, but only two of us got to the final table and neither of us made it into the money.

The joyousness of the holiday season was added to when I had an awesome night at the Silver Dollar's 3/6 table. Something just clicked that evening and I was making accurate reads on people. I mean, I'd occassionally get decent cards or a miracle flop; but I'd say almost half of my winnings that night were from pure aggression - betting out or raising when a scary Turn or River card showed up. I admit I got lucky a few times - like pre-flop raising 23o on the button and catching a runner-runner Wheel. But c'mon, I was betting out strong every chance I could and the guy shouldn't have called me all the way to the River!

Once, I raised pre-flop with JQs and flop completely missed me. Someone before me caught two-pair, so he bet out every turn and I continued to raise him. The Turn paired the board (but not to fill his boat) and the River was a Jack, giving me a higher two pair. The incoming dealer saw my take and whispered, "Nice when a plan comes together like that huh?" I smiled and said, "I had him all the way." :)

I finished +$400 that night. I guess I'll disregard my negative numbers for 2004 and get things started off on the right foot for 2005! I went back again the next night and was up $200, but then got a string of nasty beats - in the course of an hour and a half, I saw all of the major hands (AA, KK, QQ, and JJ) and they all got creamed. Flopped flush, rivered straights, a flopped set of 3s, etc., and had to leave when I broke even.

Obviously I feel pretty confident about myself, but I can't let that get to my head quite yet. I'll have to keep playing and stick to my guns about playing well and see if I can bring myself up one or two hundred and then actually leave. I know I have a bit of a problem when it comes to bringing myself to leave when I'm ahead, so I guess if nothing else that's going to have to be my New Year's Resolution, and it's one that I think I can actually commit to for more than 2 weeks. :)

And lastly, if you haven't yet, please consider giving something, anything, to aid in the tsunami relief efforts. I hope no one out there has been personally affected by the disaster... my entire family was supposed to be in Thailand for Christmas - my aunt has an itinerary showing that we were to be on the beaches of Phuket on that tragic day.

Best wishes to all for a safe and prosperous New Year!