6 SNG Dbl-Up $2 + .16 End 6th

  First, let me say, I'm not impressed with Blogger's new opening interface. I find it very confusing but for the time being, I'll keep it up and see if my opinion changes over time.

  I decided to write up this session because I was suddenly out after 8 hands and the actual winning cards that could beat me weren't ones I considered the player having. I think his pre-flop RR from my UTG O-R of 2 BB to 3 BB lulled me into thinking he didn't have a great staring hand. He was the BB.

  I had AQo and the flop was a pleasing Q 3 4. I had top pair and top kicker. I was feeling good. The BB surprised me in that he bet A-I on that flop. My first question was why? What could he have that would make that flop so great? He might have AQ like me but that seems to be an awfully big bet to me. I doubted he had an open-ended straight or flush draw. I was thinking he more likely would have hit a set with the 3 or 4. The side of me that said it's best you fold was fighting with the side of me that wanted to call and not give up what appeared to be great holdings. In the end that side won and the BB turned over AA. The Turn was a 6 and the River a 4. His A's held up and I was out of there.

  In the end, I think the rule that "it's better to be the one pushing all-in than the one calling an all-in push" is what I need to keep more in mind and act appropriately upon. If he didn't feel he had the best hand at that point it's unlikely he'd have bet all-in. It was pretty early in the session for a big bluff like that. I feel it is safe to say he overbet the flop and was just lucky that I was foolish enough to call his all-in bet to give him a nice 1370 chip win instead of the 120 that was in the pot at that point.

  Playing low stakes does tend to make losses like that hurt less. Our ole poker guru would say think of it as having put in $200 instead of $2 so that we will be more careful in our play. He has a good point there.