Resilience

Over the last couple months the Calgary Flames have been one of the most resilient teams in the National Hockey League, and because of it are battling for a playoff spot. I'm going to enjoy taking in the Heritage Classic outdoor game against the Habs on Sunday (enjoyment provided the weather is in the ballpark of the forecast, of course!). For a poker player however, attempting to be resilient can be a bad thing. Playing tilted for some is much worse than not playing at all. For me though, any excuse to put in volume is usually a positive thing.

I put in a few hands on Tuesday and got off to a pretty brutal start. After a little perseverance and very little tilt however, I ran into two "session saver" type hands. In the first the money goes in with 71% equity for a 300+bb pot 3 ways holding top two + FD, while in the second a reg who lets just say is a little robust, is kind enough to snap 3b/5b jam 100bbs in at 600NL with J4s vs my AA (an 83% favorite in this case). Remarkably, I held in both. It's worth noting that in the first hand the PFR is loose aggressive regular while the other player involved was a huge fish that loved to bet/raise which is why I played the hand so passively. I timed down a long time on the turn debating whether or flat or raise myself, but I really didn't want to blow the fish out of the pot and thankfully he ended up getting the money in for me.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed)
SB ($100)
BB ($112.60)
UTG ($102.50)
UTG+1 ($101.50)
MP1 ($101.50)
MP2 ($162.70)
MP3 ($109.15)
CO ($102.90)
Hero (Button) ($109.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q♥, K♥
5 folds, CO bets $2.55, Hero calls $2.55, 1 fold, BB calls $1.55

Flop: ($8.15) Q♦, 3♥, K♦ (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets $5.80, Hero calls $5.80, BB calls $5.80

Turn: ($25.55) 8♥ (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets $18, Hero calls $18, BB raises to $48, CO raises to $94.55 (All-In), Hero raises to $101.15 (All-In), BB calls $53.15

River: ($322.40) J♣ (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $322.40 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had Q♥, K♥ (two pair, Kings and Queens).
BB had K♠, 8♣ (two pair, Kings and eights).
CO had J♦, A♦ (one pair, Jacks).
Outcome: Hero won $319.40

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $6.00 BB (5 handed)
BB ($600)
UTG ($301.90)
Hero (MP) ($613.70)
Button ($600)
SB ($761)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A♦, A♠
1 fold, Hero bets $18, Button raises to $54, 2 folds, Hero raises to $126, Button raises to $600 (All-In), Hero calls $474

Flop: ($1209) 5♠, J♦, 3♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($1209) 8♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($1209) 2♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $1209 | Rake: $2

Results:
Button had 4♣, J♣ (one pair, Jacks).
Hero had A♦, A♠ (one pair, Aces).
Outcome: Hero won $1207

My February has still been garbage at the tables overall, but maybe this is the start of a turnaround?