Finding a leak...and doing something about it.

Played in the Tavern Championship last week, and started off in very solid fashion. Flopped a set of 6s after an UTG-raise, and got paid off 2 streets in value the entire way by A-rag and a missed straight draw...good donkeys! Proceeded to tread water at about 22K (10K starting stack), then one hand where afterwards I immediately wanted back took place between me and Dan Park (World Tavern National Champion, in case I haven't already mentioned this numerous times) that led to my ultimate demise.

UTG raise with 10-9 soooooooted (5-handed table - next player out brings upon a merge to final table of 8), smooth-called by Dan. Dan plays a lot of hands, both raising and in the blinds, so it's tough to put him on hands early. Flop of J-7-6 rainbow hits, and Dan (small blind) checks. As am I want to do on pre-flop raises (PFR), I bet out a 60% or so pot-sized bet, which is followed by a rather quick check-raise to put me all-in. I Hollywood things a bit, then fold...dealer rabbits out an 8 next card, which would have been gin for me, and worth a huge pot due to Dan holding A-J here.

Results aside, I can think of a few instances recently where my PFRs have been check-raised in instances where I could have taken free cards and better figure out where I am in hands, and that's a problem I need to work on. Well, at least be aware of it more - utilized to great effect this weekend at the charity poker rooms...but that's another post, altogether.