The TAO

So my big pair lost to a set again.  This is happening all the damn time nowadays.  I had KK 4 times today and I won 2 of the 4. One time, it was the set.  Another time, Ed, the old guy who runs me over, bet me out of it.  The third time, I won a small pot.

The fourth time, I was UTG and raised to 12.  I got 3 callers.  The guy I talked about a while back who said that he was going to just give me the 100 he bet, because he had nothing, was at the table.  He is super aggressive and tries to take pots away.  So he is one of the callers in this pot with the KK.  The flop is KQQ.  I finally seriously have a lock.  I check the flop and everyone checks to aggressive guy who bets 25.  I give him a pretty serious amount of acting before I call his bet.  The turn is a 4, giving the board 3 clubs.  I check it again and so does he.  The river is another 4. I bet right out 75 and he calls fairly quickly.  So this one makes up for the 3 I lost with.  Thank you aggressive guy.

So, before this big hand, I had been dumped on just like the norm for the past week or so.  The set over the KK and a few others.  So I get in this pot to the guy to my left.  He had been getting unlucky and had seen how I played and knew that I wasn't getting the best of breaks either.  He knew I was playing good cards.  So I limp with the 79d.  He raises right behind me to 15. I decide to call after 3 others do, too.  The flop comes down 10c 8c 3s.  I check and he bets out.  Everyone folds to me and I call the bet.  The turn is the 7c.  I like the card because he must think I am drawing and that cards does both draws.  I bet out this time, thinking he must have some pair or A10.  The bet is 15 and he raises me to 50.  He only has about 115 total.  So after that bet of 50, he has around 65 or 70 left.  

I really tank, trying to decide what to do.  The tank isn't too long because after a point, he knows I have nothing.  So I tank for a good amount of time and say, "Let's do the rest of it."  He doesn't insta-call so I know it was at least a decent play.  After a minute he calls.  I obviously don't like it, but if I am even close to where he is with his hand, I should have 13 outs.  Maybe a few less if he has the Ac or a bigger pair with the club of that pair.  So, while I only have one shot at those 13 or so outs, I still thought he would fold a decent amount of time.  So he called and the turn was the 9h.  I say, "You caught me but I hit two pair." He was pissed and while he was getting up from the table he said back to me, "You're not going to last long making calls like that."  I quickly replied, "I didn't call anything."

That was the start of the slow climb back to the top.