I didn’t mean to criticize you too much. As you know, blogging about your losses is a learning experience, which is the point. I appreciate your posting these types of hands, just so we can all take something away from it.

A couple of points, though. With the 94c hand, I was not UTG, I was in MP at the very least, and I think in the Hijack. I agree that playing 94c UTG is completely moronic. Here, I was trying to use my tight image and position to my advantage.

I also agree with your analysis of $55 being too small compared to the pot. I would only add that, as you know, tables have different vibes, and this table was not one in which people were raising $55. I thought it would be big enough to push out weak hands. I think my major error, at least at this point (the real error was playing the hand in the first place), was that I didn’t consider my opponents’ stack size. If he had more, I could’ve made the bet, but with his amount, a push makes sense from his vantage and is a bit hard to fold from mine. But, really, I butchered this hand. Just butchered it.

What can I say? My A game is solid. My B game is pretty good. But my C game is shit, and this was definitely my C game. I was pushing the action too much.

And with your AcKc hand, while you flopped a monster, once your opponent makes a good sized raise (notice how he’s trying to protect against the many draws on board), you have to realize you’re only drawing to a flush and maybe a King, which makes shoving a bad play because the only made hand that’s possibly going to lay down there is A9. Having said that, it’s possible that QsTs makes the same play (raise to $75) and you have it really good against that hand. You’re about a coin flip against AJ and A9 but I’d be really worried about the guy who initially bet. If he’s holding a set, you’re going to be sandwiched in between two monster hands.

Just my .02.