Fish Fish Everywhere and Nothing to Eat....

Just back from Empire, which proved to be an action-packed night. Finished -750 quid and seriously questioning my will to keep playing (at least for a while).....

Night can be summed-up in 3 hands. Besides these, I'm very happy with the night, which is to say: "besides that, how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

To set the tone, there are 3 fish and one calling station fish on a table of 10. 1/2 NL with 50-500 buy in. Our crew (CC, JL, and BK) are 3 of the 6 remaining. There's two tight players and 1 bomb to round out the table.

Hand 1: From the button I find KK and raise it up to 20 after 5 limpers. Two callers and myself go to the flop of QcTc8d. It checks around to me and I bet the pot, 60. One of the tight players calls me and the calling station fish calls too. I'm pretty sure these guys are on draws, so when the turn comes 3h, missing everything, and get checked to again, I fire out another pot-sized bet of 250, which has everyone covered. Tight player calls me, having hit his 888 set, and I lose a 700 quid pot, getting out-flopped.

Hand 2: From early position I find KhQs and raise to 12. Getting 3 callers to the flop of KsTs3d, I'm feeling good and lead-out with 50. I get called by tight player 2 and a fish on the button. Turn is the 6s, which gives me pause and I check, which was a mistake. Both players check. River is another spade, 9s. Tight player bets 20 into a pot of 200. I made another mistake and raised to 60. Not sure exactly what I was thinking, except that I felt my Q-high flush was good. Fish hesitates and folds and tight player comes back over the top for 150. I lay down the hand and he shows the As (and 9-off suit), nut flush, which he hit on the river.

Hand 3: The final hand of the night. Tension was high and everyone wanted a piece of the final pot, which promised to be an action-packed bluff-fest. I find 44 in late position and call a 7 raise. The button (JL) raises it up to 32. I'm prepared to fold, but with 3 callers, I'm getting pot odds and call. Flop comes 954 rainbow. Tight player 2 leads out for 50 into the 150 pot. I decide to slow-play, as the flop looks harmless, and just call the 50. JL, the original raiser, pops it up to 200 to go, which I read as an over pair (I'm licking my chops at this point). Tight player 2 moves ALL-IN for 700+ and announces "I never bluff, I'm all in!" I did for a moment contemplate laying down my bottom set, but with 450 behind, and 700 more in the pot, I felt I had to make the call. JL, to his credit, laid down QQ after putting 232 in the pot. Tight player 2 flips over the nuts 999 set, and completed his miracle run of cards taking down the 1150 pot. He had the nuts no less than 5 times in big pots.

So, there it is: a crappy night of cards. Lovely.