Microstakes Madness

I didn't have a ton of time to play last night because I was scheduled for trial today. The case was totally ridiculous - everyone - the judge, the witnesses, etc. - was willing to cut my client a break except for the DA. A reminder to everyone who thinks that defense attorneys are just simply bad guys - there is some pretty ridiculous conduct on the other side of the aisle. My client basically got 6-months probation, which, in the end seemed like a good deal compared to a trial for two potential felony convictions, but I am still pretty angry about how everything went down. I had a good case. Pretty strong. But you never know what's going to happen at trial.

Back to poker. I played one $2 SNG last night. There was a guy to my immediate right from Serbia who kept open limping pots, and I went over the top of him I think 3 times with AK, AQ, and AQ again, and everyone folded. The fourth time this happens (stupid me), I have JJ, and about 1700 chips. He started the hand with about 1400. It's 6 handed. I forget what the blinds are - maybe 50-100. He open limps in second position I think, I RR to about 35o (whatever the pot was), everyone folds, except this time, he basically min-raises me to 800, so it makes it 450 more for me to go. He's pot committed, and if I just call, I'll be under 1k chips. If I fold, I continue with 1350. But he was showing strength this time, where he previously showed absolutely none. Could this be the time he wakes up with a hand? Of course!

So obviously after thinking about it, I make the wrong decision and reshove, he calls and shows AA and I blank out. SOOOOO SSTTTTEEEEEUUUUUUPPPPEEEEEED.

After that, I tilted in an NLHE HU SNG. Worked up to a 2-1 chiplead with a nice bluff with a paired 3 that I showed. Got all the money in with KQ vs. AK, which I was able to win, and so I got my money back for the SNG.

THEN - I was checking out cash games to see if any big ones were playing, and I noticed a new checkbox filter for "micro" stakes that I had never noticed before. And literally two days after telling my brother that I wish FTP had microstakes games, voila - they're at FTP. I grinded with the max buy in at PLO at the 1/2 cent tables ($2) and made $.50. I flopped top set vs. the nut flush draw and I held, improving to a fullhouse on the river.

I'm glad they added micro cash. This way, I can learn to play NLHE cash games (probably shy away from PLO due to variance - or play it once it a while when I want to gambooool) without having to risk more than I normally would in an SNG. It's a totally different game, and one that I suck at. Maybe I can learn to improve at $2 a pop, instead of $5.