The end result?  Five straight wins in cash games.  Tack on another four washouts in tournaments in the middle and you have my summer in a handbag.

The last four big pots in cash games were quite something.  All occurred at TI in their 1/3 NL game.

1.  With stacks nearing $400, (cap is $300) A very easy to beat and clueless player raises to $20 from the button after several limpers come in.  I am one of four callers with Qd, 8d.  Flop comes Ad, 4d, 3x.

I’m second to check when a creative young guy who just moved to Vegas to play poker and attend UNLV says, “Let’s bet… this much” and bets $40.  One fold to button who thinks a bit and smooth calls.  Blind folds, and I make it $200.  I figured this bet would not only promise that I’d call an all in but would scream flopped two pair or set and that I’m trying to push out any draws.  Young guy ships it in for his $350 and button folds.  I call.  Board runs our Ax, 9x and he says “I’ve got a pair” and shows Jd, 3d.  Oh how disgustingly sick that is.  Not only were my overs live but I could have even counterfeit him on the river with a 4.  

2. With about $300 in my stack to start the hand, I’m at the table with a guy who raises up about 1/2 of the pots to $12.  I’m pretty sure he uses this raise to build pots, find out where his opponents are preflop for relatively cheap, and trusts his post-flop game.  This pot, though, he makes it $15 from the button when limped to him.  I call from SB with 3,6 suited and two regulars call him, too.  Both of them play a lot of hands, but also respect me and my game.  The flop comes 9,5,4 with a flush draw (not mine.)  We all check to button and he bets $40.  This is a perfect board to continuation bet, but it also is a perfect board to bluff out of the blinds.  After 15-seconds of thought and physically counting down my stack (for show), I move all in for around $275.  The first regular asks how much it is and I about throw up.  Luckily both fold and it’s back to the button.  He slumps back in his chair.  He has about $150 left and I’ve put him to a really tough situation.  After about a minute he decides to call and asks “Did you flop a set?”  I answer no and proceed to hit my straight.  He shows A,9 off… I just don’t get how he can call there when that’s the only hand he has beat.  Oh well… bad call.  Bad beat.

3. I’ve got about $275 to start this hand.  A few limpers and the button makes it $25.  I call with JT suited and another guy comes along.  A late position guy moves all in for $22 more.  All three of us call.  Flop comes T,8,5.  I shove all in, first guy folds, 2nd guy thinks for over a minute and calls.  board runs out Q,A and the short stack shows A,J (gross) but the button shows 9,9 and loses his $200 left.  I’ve been saying this all summer.  On a ten high board an overbet with a bare ten can get called by 99 and 88.  By golly, it happened!

4. This one is special.  Several limpers, LP makes it $15.  I call with 2,2 and three others call.  Flop comes 2,3,Q.  I lead for $20 and it folds to the PF raiser who makes it $60.  I put him all in for his last $100 behind and he calls with AA.  Turn Q, River Q.  I lose.

And THAT is my Summer of 09!