Pac Club Tourney

My table broke up and about half of the participants were out. I had been playing super tight so when I looked down at K9 of clubs in late position with a couple of limpers, I joined the pot. The flop came out 9-7-3 with one club. There were four of us in the pot. The small blind quickly goes all in. The big blind and other guy fold over to me. What to do? I made several mistakes on this hand. I did try to read him and honestly put him on A-K or A-Q. He had me covered. I hadn't played any hands with him. It was the middle of the tourney and I had about an average stack. I called for time. If he flopped trips wouldn't he try to trap me or at least put out a feeler bet? Was he the bully at the table? I truly thought he was trying to steal the pot and even asked him if he wanted me to call. He didn't answer. When I finally put all my chips in the middle, he quietly said, "you aren't going to like it" as he flipped over two nines. I had one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel. Of course, I lost but realized that you shouldn't play top pair for a big pot and should always wait a while when you get to a new table. You simply have no information on your opponents.

Better Lucky than Good at Lucky Chances

I played at Lucky Chances just south of SF for the first time yesterday. LC has seasoned aggressive players and a wild 2-3-5 $200 spread limit game. In that game, I was above my level of play but tried to "hang around". After losing for the better part of two hours, I woke up with KK in the big blind. Five people had called before it got back around to me. I made it fifty to go. This was a game with a lot of chasers and I wanted to be heads up if possible. Two of the five limpers called me. The flop comes out 10-5-7 with two hearts. It is a semi rainbow for me. Again, I don't want any flush drawers, so I push with $200. One guy raises me all in for my last $150. The other guy folds. I violate all my owe rules and immediately call him. Neither of us flips up our cards. I put him on A-10 or perhaps a straight draw. The turn comes up another five and the river a two. I flip up my KK and he groans as he turns over 10-7. He had me beat until the five came up on the turn. I should have read him better after the flop but I had to act first. Also, how does he call a fifty dollar raise with only 10-7 offsuit preflop? Perhaps I should have put him on a set when he raised me after the flop. Clearly, I need to get better at reading players because in this had I was lucky not good. The over $800 pot still put a smile on my face as I walked out to my car fifteen minutes later. :)