THE BEST OF IT GOING IN AND WORST COMING OUT

The $100 game can be brutal when lucky draws do so.

I hold AA and raise to $11. One guy calls and the next guy raises to $50. I couldn't ask for better luck. I go all-in and he joins me. The flop is KQJ and I have reason to worry. He, of course, holds KK and I don't get the magic T on the turn or river. UGHHHHHHHHHHH.

Moments before. I hold KQ and call a $12 preflop raise.

The flop comes K72. I check and the raiser bets a modest $10. I put him on JJ or TT, thinking the $10 bet is a stab at the pot. But he could have AA or AK so I just call. The turn comes queen. I check again. He bets $15. I come over the top at $35. He calls. The river pairs the 7s. I have about $60 left and bet $40. He comes over the top. He hold AA and the 7 gives him a bigger two pair. hilarious.

I spent the rest of the night reading THE WEEKLY STANDARD.