Technical issue kept me from posting this before I left:

ONE FOOT OUT THE DOOR

As the action slows to a halt, I will sum up the last few days. Wednesday, I managed only two $50 SnGs after hours. I finished 2nd both times. Robbed both times of course - especially the second match when I held AK to his K8 and the flop came K8x. He check-raised me, but I was not going to get off this hand heads up. When another K hit the river, I willingly and enthusiastically put all my chips into the middle, only to find him safe in his boat and me adrift with trips.

Thursday I played about an hour's worth of $3/6 Limit and won $100.

Friday, I got packed, then played the noon $50 event at PokerRoom. The chips were coming steadily until this mildly misplayed hand: I called $50 with J9c, there was a raise to $100 and two more calls. The raise was just a sweetener, not intended to get anybody out, but intended solely to build the pot just in case he hits his hand. That is usually the hallmark of a low to medium pair. With four players, the flop came 974 rainbow - a great flop for me. I should have tried to win the $400 pot right there with a bet, but I checked, hoping the raiser would get something started. It checked around. The turn was a harmless trey, and this time I bet out $250. One player called, leading me to think he had maybe A7. The river was a ten and I bet out a little as both a value bet if I was winning and a defensive measure if I was beat, so he couldn't overbet to push me out. He called with KTd.

It turns out the harmless trey on the turn had given him a diamond draw to go with his two overcards. Mathematically, he should have laid down his hand to my bet, as he wasn't getting the right price to chase his 15 outs. But since I want players to play that way, I lay the blame with my not betting out on the flop. If he was willing to make that call on the turn, then he may have also made the call on the flop with two overcards, but maybe not. If he had called the flop, then he surely would have called the turn, and I would have lost even more money. But he may have mucked to a bet and I would have won $400 rather than lost.

My demise came with blinds at $50/100. I held A6d on the button with two late limpers in front of me. I bumped it to $425 hoping to win uncontested. The first limper called, but at least I was in position with a moderate hand. The flop came Q64 rainbow and he checked. Since he had limped in late position, he likely didn't hold AA-TT, AK, or AQ, which left only these hands to fear: KQ, QJ, QT, 99, 88, 77 and 44. Since he had checked to me, I didn't figure him for QJ or QT. With $1000 in the pot and $1200 in front of me, I went all in with my second pair. That bet should make him lay down any of the higher pairs, leaving only the concern that he was trapping with KQ or 44. All in all, I considered it a safe play until he called and showed me a pair of fours.

Soon I will be making my way to the airport. I will have my iBook and wireless connectivity in my room, but I don't know if I will be using it. I might need to get out of the hotel and see some of France.