Slaying the Dragon

Long time readers of this blog might remember that I used to play in a local poker game that I called my international home game. It was populated by people from several countries, some of whom were in the United States for only a relatively short time to get a college degree. For several reasons, I stopped playing in it about a year ago. It ended in April and never returned.

David, one of the regulars from the old home game, began a new home game in his apartment this year. This Tuesday night game has been held three times so far, and I have been at all of them. Last night was the third. At least night's game, I was finally able to get some revenge on a player that seemed to own me for some time.

Joe had always been perhaps the most aggressive player of the old home game. I have seen Joe take some horrible beats, but he always seemed to catch a card at the right time, too. During a spell of several weeks when I was card dead, Joe just rolled over me. It seemed like the hands I won from him were few and far between. Until last night.

I was the third player to arrive and seated myself in the number five seat at the nine-seat table. I often like seat five so that I can easily see the flop, turn and river cards. Joe was the fourth person to come and put his things at seat one and even sat down there. However, he got up and said that he decided to sit in seat seven instead. And just like that, Joe had position on me. I could have changed my seat, but I didn't want to look like a wuss to get position on him. And ... I just had a feeling that I would pwn him that night.

Big hand #1 came early in the session. I had bought in for $100 ($.50/$1, $1 max rake) and was dealt one of my lucky hands: pocket 6's. People were folding and I raised to $3. Joe came along. We were heads up. The flop brought a beautiful 6. Shazam! I raised $3 and Joe bumped it up to $10. I raised to $23 and Joe went all in. I, of course, called. We agreed to run it twice. The results: quad 6's and a 6's full of 4's boat. Can you say double up? Joe didn't show his hand. He rebought for $100.

A short time later I was dealt A-10 sooted and raised to $3. Joe raised to $13. I knew that Joe was capable of raising with almost anything and was pretty sure he was just trying to make me fold, so I called. We were heads up again. The flop: A-8-10! I threw out a $15 bet and Joe went all in. Of course, I called again. We ran it twice and I won both with two pair -- Aces and 10's. And again I did not see what Joe had, but I did see another $100 stack of redbirds coming my way!

I ramped up my aggression against Joe later on, which was pretty interesting. He joked about my taking his chips, but I knew he was really hoping to get some back. After all, in his mind they were really his chips, right?

As the evening went on, I took a few bad beats and basically played even-steven poker for the rest of the night. I was happy to have made a nice profit, and it was especially sweet to have gotten my profit via Joe. I am sure that he will be looking for me next time. And I will be there waiting.