I actually made a check raise!!!

Greetings all, I hope this entry finds you during a streak as hot as mine.

To update you all I can only say that I am still on fire, having ended 22 of the last 24 days in the black! I won $650 in the last week in only 5,000 hands (about 16.65 hours). I wish I had more time to play. I actually will soon as I am starting my new job tomorrow and should be able to put 3-4 hours a day in at work within the next few weeks (I need to get trained in first).

I made the full time move to $50nl and have moved my goal of moving up to $100nl from April 1st to March 1st. Assisting me is the fact I can still turn my UB points into cash without affecting my rakeback. This means $650-$750 per month at my current limit for free. Greatness!!!

My roll currently sits at $1865 so with any luck I will be crushing $100nl in no time.

I have a couple of hands I'd like to post here for your viewing pleasure. The first is also going to be posted on the CR low limit cash board. Take a look:

Villain is 52/4 over only 25 hands.

Hand #37040933-68161 at Clarksville (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 08/Jan/07 00:40:17

deutschplay is at seat 0 with $52.10.
CapAnson is at seat 1 with $51.30.
leo2302 is at seat 2 with $59.50.
ShazebAndleeb is at seat 3 with $108.05.
hmx808 is at seat 4 with $81.15.
ceo3002 is at seat 5 with $21.45.
The button is at seat 5.

deutschplay posts the small blind of $.25.
CapAnson posts the big blind of $.50.

deutschplay: -- --
CapAnson: As Qd
leo2302: -- --
ShazebAndleeb: -- --
hmx808: -- --
ceo3002: -- --

Pre-flop:
leo2302 raises to $1.50. ShazebAndleeb folds.
hmx808 folds. ceo3002 folds. deutschplay folds.
CapAnson calls.

Flop (board: Th Ad Kd):
CapAnson checks. leo2302 bets $2. CapAnson raises
to $6. leo2302 folds. CapAnson is returned $4
(uncalled).

I NEVER check raise. Seriously, I may do it once every 500 hands or so. In this case I made the play because I wanted to make sure my hand was good. I figured that if I bet and he called I really didn't know where I was. I thought he certainly may have AK, AT, or KT as those hands seemed within his range. I thought that if I checked and he checked behind I would pop on the turn and not be out the cash as if I had bet and he called (this way I still had no info but at least it did not cost me). The main idea of a check raise here was to gather info. Was it an ok line? When do you check raise?

I rarely use the play because I don't want to rely on others to bet my hand for me. I usually use it when I am not sure if I am good. I think by using it then I can get some info and make my opponent believe I am stronger than I am. The other times I use the check raise is usually against super aggro fishy types that can't get away from a hand.

Now for some fun...this hand may be the worst play I have ever seen!

Hand #37040728-101491 at Paterson (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 08/Jan/07 02:32:42

rraid4life is at seat 0 with $48.50.
icatchin is at seat 1 with $69.85.
dankgambler76 is at seat 2 with $33.25.
scarney46 is at seat 3 with $91.15.
Ibbid is at seat 4 with $72.45.
CapAnson is at seat 5 with $51.75.
The button is at seat 4.

CapAnson posts the small blind of $.25.
rraid4life posts the big blind of $.50.

rraid4life: -- --
icatchin: -- --
dankgambler76: -- --
scarney46: -- --
Ibbid: -- --
CapAnson: Kc Ad

Pre-flop:
icatchin calls. dankgambler76 calls. scarney46
folds. Ibbid calls. CapAnson raises to $3.
rraid4life calls. icatchin calls. dankgambler76
calls. Ibbid folds.

Flop (board: 3c Kh 4c):
CapAnson bets $8. rraid4life calls. icatchin calls.
dankgambler76 folds.

Turn (board: 3c Kh 4c 4d):
CapAnson bets $25. rraid4life folds. icatchin
calls.

River (board: 3c Kh 4c 4d 6s):
CapAnson goes all-in for $15.75. icatchin calls.

Showdown:
CapAnson shows Kc Ad.
CapAnson has Kc Ad Kh 4c 4d: two pair, kings and fours.
icatchin mucks cards.
(icatchin has Ac 5c.)

I asked him why he called on the turn with just a draw and he claimed he thought I was bluffing. I then asked how he called the river bet and he once again said he thought ace high was good. I told him I was concerned he was slow playing a set.....he then asked me why I didn't fold if I was worried! I replied, "because you didn't raise." He lost his last $5 and left...

I'll be sure to post some time mid week with an update. Until then good luck at the tables!