LISTEN to Your Gut

I had three huge plays last night and in each case I did not listen to what my gut was saying and was punished both times.

First, in the 9pm $100. I was doing well with 7000 chips and was in the top 20 with maybe 100 to go. Blinds are 50/100 and a guy minimum raises in early position and I call with 22 in middle. Lots of people call. Flop is something like 2, J, 7. I hit my trips. Plenty of betting. I end up calling a good size bet from Icebear in late position. Turn is another 7 giving me the boat. I want to see what Ice does and he goes all-in for most of my chips. So that's a heck of a bet with the board pairing. And I think then that the only thing that makes sense is he has JJ. With a lot of players preflop, I could see him just calling a minimum raise. I was sure I was beat. I called anyway and lost to his JJJ higher boat. I was down to 900, recovered to almost 3k, but went out when my trip aces lost to trip aces better kicker.

Then in the $30 rebuy, I was doing well during the rebuy hour and get AA. Bax raises I reraise big and he calls, as I knew he would during the rebuy. Flop is 7 9 10 ... hey maybe he's playing 79. He bets out and I go allin even though I actually thought I was beat. But this isn't so horrible, it's a rebuy and I'm not folding anyway. Bax calls and flips 8 J for the straight and I lose 6000 chips.

Finally, in the rebuy I have AK in the SB. Bax raises the 150 blind to 525 and I call. Flop is 6d 4h Ad. I bet 1200 and after a pause he calls. Turn is a 4d putting a flush on the board. I bet 1300 and he puts me allin by betting his 7200. Now, here is the problem: I had the Kd. So he is trying to tell me he has pocket 6s or something like QdJd. My gut told me he had AJ maybe with the Jd for a draw. In fact, I was sure of it. But I had lost two huge pots that night and I that little pause he had after my flop bet made me think that he could have two diamonds. Maybe even 9 10 of diamonds and he went all in to protect his small diamonds. I finally folded. He told he later he had A7. Sigh. But I still had chips and doubled soon after but couldn't cash.

So the lesson is clear ... you have to go with your gut.

AngryClec continues his monster run. He's taking full advantage of all the new UB $100+ tounaments and scoring. He just passed doublelucky to take the second position on the leader board!

Good luck today!