Last night, I was trying to earn back my $200 and having no luck getting it back, until finally I hit a big hand with a baby flush. The beauty of it was that an opponent was stealthily playing pocket aces. I made a huge bet on the turn when my flush hit, since my top card was under ten, and the pot was already sizable. To my surprise, there was a call, which turned out to be the aces, who was holding one of the favored flavor. Lucky for me, my flush held up. In no limit, that is where you make the money - by putting the other guy to the test. He will occasionally come out on top, but as the pros say, all you can ask for is to be all in with the best of it.

Later, there was an interesting sequence as the table was breaking up. When it was still a full table, I played a hand aggressively into a small field, holding QT. I missed the flop, which came 27J favoring clubs. I bet it out, and one guy called. The turn was a 4 and I bet $9 hoping to win it right there. He called. The river was the Q of clubs. I checked. He bet $50. My good sense is screaming "FOLD!" but then I realize that this is not a bet designed to attract a call. This is a bet designed to attract a fold. He doesn't have the flush, he is trying to win with his 7 by getting me to fold my J is what I figure he is thinking. I called the $50 and he showed K2. He bitched at me a bit, calling my play beyond comprehension.

Not long after, the opponents were disappearing when I battled this guy again. I played T8s and the flop came 648. I made a big bet from early position to win right there. This same guy comes back at me with a $100 bet. I should of course have folded without much consideration of doing otherwise, but I convinced myself that he was steaming from that previous pot, so I called. This time he showed 66 and earned his money back with interest.

More players emigrated, leaving just four of us for the next hand. I played the next hand aggressively, and never had to show. The very next hand, down to three of us, I played 75s and the flop came 644. I bet it out and was called by both the archenemy and the quiet observer. My dream came true on the turn with a 3, and the rest of the hand was played perfectly by me. I raised my bet substantially, but not enough to force out anyone with a viable hand. I designed it to look like a bully bet. The observer called again, leading me to think he most likely had A6 or a higher pair. The river came A, and I paused for effect, then let loose with a $100 bet. I knew that he had noticed how poorly I had been playing and that I was now giving my money away. He already doubted that I held a 4, and if he had a 6, his most reasonable fear was that I had a higher pair. Now, with his A6 two pair, he would be forced to call my bet, never ever expecting the 75. I didn't see his cards, but he did call the big bill. I wish I could have seen his expression, but had to settle for watching him leave the table before even the next deal. So in the end, I won my $200 back, plus a little on the day.