So this leaves newcomers to the world of gambling for fun or for profit wondering — where in the world should we play?  Many novice players fear that they are losing something fundamental about the experience unless they play in a bricks and mortar casino.

So, where should you play?  In truth, this is an entirely personal decision, and because it is based on your preferences and comfort levels, there is no wrong answer.  Truthfully, casinos on the internet are much more convenient and you may have more room to think clearly.  Then again, anonymity can make internet players a bit more obnoxious than they would be in a real casino.

In the end, however, it is all up to you — and there’s no saying that you cannot take a jaunt to your local casino every so often, or hop into an internet poker room if you choose.

Have had two winning sessions since last post. Others were down, some bad ones. Had one session in which I lost 4 times in a row with a flush. Went in ahead 3 times, went in on the river when some guy made a boat against me after making bad calls throughout the hand when I flopped the nuts.

Anyway, I’m keeping my head up. Bankroll is still alive, and I guess that’s all that counts — I’m not Gus Hansen yet.

Anyway, add not making any flushes except for when someone else has me beat and I’m good.

Oh… One more: pocket jacks. Flop TJK rainbow. I bet right out afraid of all sorts of straight draws and hoping for someone to have flopped two pair. I get called. Turn it a blank and I bet out the pot. Get re-raised all-in and call. Had KT. K rolls off on the river.

Good stuff, innit?

I’ll give you the rundown of a hand I almost cried about.

I have AK suited under the gun and I raise 4BB. I flop the nuts with QJT with two of my suit too so I’m on the royal draw on a jellyroll. I bet out knowing one guy behind me is a calling station — bet 70% pot. I get two callers. Turn is a blank and I check. Player behind me bets and I shove all in for about two pots. Player behind me calls with jack and the blank that fell. River pairs the board with another 5 (the blank) to make donkey a full house.

I busted him two hours later.

Ha!

Anyway, this time we ended up discussing something that was clear to me but my friend wouldn’t believe/grasp — the huge difference between AT and A8 as a starting hand. He generally folds AT’s and A8′s in early position due to the difficulty of these hands after the flop, while I usually raise the AT and fold the A8 — why? Not only is the ten a kicker, it also opens straight possibilities. The Ace-Eight looks for an eight-high board or an ace. The Ace-ten looks for an ace, a ten-high board or even an ace with two high cards. It opens chances of sucking out on better aces with more than just your kicker-cards — the 3 out you have with the A8.

It might be a small difference, but to an aggressive player like me that’s enough to go ahead and raise it up.

Anyway, last night was such a night. Playing $2/$5, luckily, so only losing about $200 in the process. A perfect hand:

I’m in early position with A9 suited, and decide to raise 3BB (a play I don’t usually make). I get minreraised and nobody calls — I do. A play I usually wouldn’t make again. Flop comes AJ3 rainbow. I bet right out (a play I would usually make hehe) and get re-raised about 3/4pot. I call.

Turn comes a queen — I check, villain checks behind me.

River comes a ten. I check, villain bets 50%pot, and i call. Villain had AK.

MEH. Tilt play.

Walked in with about $2000 in my pocket, went straight for the 5/10 game, my favorite at the casino here. Started off playing aggressive, making button-raises, following through on the flop most of the time. I bought in for $600, and after about an hour I was up to $1100. Not bad, seeing as I hadn’t been involved in any big hands. At that point, I went into a period of severe card-deadness. Best was like 67os.

Alright, so I got hungry. I asked the cardroom manager if I could have a steak, and he said: “sure my friend!”.

Took a mushroom-sause one. Very good.

While eating, I pick up AA. Nice! I raised 3BB, and another guy shoves right away. He had like $400. I instacalled. He had 99. Nine came on the turn.

Okay, he didn’t have too much cash. No disaster.

3 Hands later I picked up QQ. I raised 4BB, and got two callers. Flop came AQ9. I bet out, I get raised, I shove, I get called. Villain turns over JT, no flushdraw. King hit the turn and I got no help on the river.

Broke.

Rebought for $700. Asked for the stake to be taken away. Tripled up the next hand when I flopped a set of tens and filled up on the river to take the pot. JT-villain had Aces. Ah sweet Irony!