PS 2 HU $2 + .20 End 1st 40 Hands

The other player was very aggressive, opening with 4 BB & 5 BB bets that usually had me folding. Early on I decided it didn't pay to do more than limp in most of the time when I was SB, so I tended to play rather passive and wait for spots. He also tended to fold pre-flop often enough that it kept us near even in chips.

This is the 1st hand I was able to get into it with him. I'm BB w/Kh Qd and 1500 chips/blinds 10/20. He open raises 5 BB (100) and this time I decide I can call and maybe get to see what kind of cards he might be making these openings with. Flop Kd Kc 9s. Very nice for me as long as he doesn't have AK; I have trip K's w/Q kicker. I check and he bets 260 into the pot of 200 and I decide to raise him to 520 and he calls. Turn Jc. That worries me a bit about his having straight possibilities. I make a small bet of 160 into the 1240 pot and he calls. River 8s. Grrrr, more straight possibilities. Again I make a small 180 bet into the 1560 pot and he calls. He shows 10h Js, having only paired his J's on the Turn. I win. He is down to 520.

I suppose I didn't need to worry too much about his having a straight, since, with his aggressive behavior he'd have probably jumped all-in the 1st chance he got if he had one. It was also nice to see his 5 BB open was with an a JT. I'd been feeling he most likely had Ax or maybe Kx with those bets.

After that he did a lot of all-in bets or raising which kept me in limping and/or fold mode. I was able to win a small pot w/2s 10s as SB limping in and he just called. Flop 10h Ks 5s. I paired my 10 and have a flush draw. I min bet 20 into the 40 pot and he calls. Turn 8h. No change to anything. I check & he checks. River 4s. I have the flush, does he too? and if he does does he have an A, Q, or J? I check & he bets 50 into the 80 pot and I raise to 120 and he calls showing 3c 5h, having only paired his 5 on the flop. I win and he has 450 left. Next hand I get pocket 8's but he folds on me when I open raise 2 BB (40).

A few hands later I'm SB w/Ac 8c, BB has 495 chips, blinds are 15/30. I open raise 2 BB (60) and he re-raises me all-in w/his 525. Since I have an Ace, suited as well, I decide to call. He shows 8d Jd, not terribly strong cards. So it's Ace vs J. Flop 5d Qs As. That makes me feel better, I've paired my Ace! Turn Ah. Even nicer, I now have trip A's!! River 10c. It's over & I win!!