Trash Tuesday Tuesday was no where near the amazing game found last week.  It was a nit-fest and I should have realized there were SEVEN other games going and switched to one of those.  I couldn’t get my money in good.  Slap!

I had a REALLY tight image, so when this hand came up, I was made a move that was quite out of the ordinary.

The game is 2/5 NL with a mandatory button straddle (which acts last even if there is a raise and the blinds act after all non-blinded hands have acted)  I’m UTG and limp with A,T.  Four others join, and all the blinds complete, along with a button check.  The flop brings T,7,3 rainbow.  It checks to me and I bet out $40 of my ~$500.  It folds to the cutoff who flat calls.  The button then looks around, then down at his cards, looks at me, and makes it $140.  It folds to me.

Now this is a REALLY tricky situation.  One thing I’ve noticed from watching cash games on TV (like High Stakes Poker) is that most players miss the first sign of a very bad scenario.  Raise your hand if folding was the first thing that crossed your mind.  **Raises Hand**  Go ahead and call me a fish.  But with all attacks aside, how on Earth can the button raise here without having me crushed?  He sure as hell didn’t check his button with AT or KT when everybody came limping along.  And he’s not raising an early position bettor AND a call with just a ten in his hand.  There’s just no way.  And what’s up with the cutoff smooth calling???  His range includes 9,8 along with some weaker Tens and a flopped set.  Nothing else really fits.  All three of those can call me on the flop.  So with the button seeing all this (and he certainly was an observant player) his raise indicated that he flopped two pair.  His preflop check indicates garbage hands including all those flopping two pair on this T,7,3 flop.  Another thing crossing my mind is the cutoff’s flat call.  If he has a set, I’m doomed.  If he has a weaker Ten, then I’m in all that much worse shape against the button’s very likely two pair holding.

I fold.

Cutoff folds.

I’m left with no knowledge of any turn, river, or other players’ hands.  Now we can just theorize about it.

Wednesday, I begin my two day trek in securing a seat for the main event.  Satellites run at 1 pm and 8 pm for $1060 buy ins.  It’s time to put up or get left out of the Main Event.  Without a doubt, this will be my biggest fight I’ve put up since Day 2 and the Brandon Cantu battles from last year’s Main Event.