Best Night Yet

Two hours at the Regina Casino tonight ($1/$2 no-limit), saw maybe a total of 10 flops in those two hours - walked away with huge profits - thanks to some good cards and some very fishy calls by opponents. Three hands:

1. Mid position; pocket 9's. Three callers before me, I raise it to $8. One caller after me and BB (who had just sat down with a $200 stack, so this was his first hand) raises to $18. Two of the previous limpers call. I watched the BB when he raised and had a very funny feeling he was on KK or AA. But, with me being already at half price and three people already in (and one more to act behind me), I thought I needed to call at that point and hope to hit my set. Guy behind me calls - 5 in for $18 Sure enough, flop comes 942 - two clubs. I'm a bit worried about the clubs and want to push the flush draws away. First two players check, and I bet $75 - almost the size of the pot. Guy behind me folds. BB tanks (he's trying to think if I've got AA; I'm sure he doesn't see my set)...and was ready to fold his hand but then came over the top for the remainder of his stack - all-in. The other two callers fold - and I instantly call (duh!). Sure enough, he flips over KK and as he did he said, "Nice rockets" - when I flipped over my set. Pot of around $460.

2. Same guy in the BB from the hand before bought in for another $200. He's talking it up big now, saying how it was a bad beat on the previous hand where I got him. This is now about 20 hands later - and he's chirping. I'm in the SB now, he's mid position. I hold KQ offsuit He raises to $6, three other callers before me, BB calls after. Flop of K7K rainbow. I check, guy behind me bets $21, chirping guy calls, three others fold, and I raise to $50. BB folds quickly and chirping dude tanks again. I figured him to be on tilt so thought the check-raise would tick him off enough that he'd come over the top. Sure enough, he blurts out, "Quit bullying me! My 7 is good! I'm all-in!" So, again, instant call - and take down another $450 pot.

3. I'm in the SB, Q6 diamonds. The entire table calls so of course I call for $1. Flop - Kd, 8d, 9c. I check. Chirpy dude bets out $5. Now, remember, the pot is already at $18. His bet makes it $23 and there are 4 more callers. I am so priced into this flush draw that I can't fold even if I wanted to. Turn is 4 spades. I check. Chirpy bet's $7 and I'm thrilled. I'm am totally priced in - especially when all 4 other guys call too. River - you guessed it - 2d. Board is Kd 8d 9c 4s 2d I flushed. So, I check. Chirpy bets $75, two guys call and I decide that since I'm not holding the absolute nuts to just flat call. Chirpy turns over A8 - with no diamond. The other callers didn't flush either. Another $375 pot my way.

I decided that enough was enough, stacked my chips and walked away. One always should play the other players and not one's cards, but boy, does it ever help to get the cards too.