[Nate.]

These days I'm comfortable in the 20-40 game unless the 40 is so good I can't bring myself not to sit. Last night was one of those games.

CAZ 40-80.

Regular, who thinks he's very good but, to put it gently, has misconceptions about poker that permeate every aspect of his game, straddles. Two very loose donating types call. I three-bet right behind him in EMP with As 8c. A winning young regular, who has made some strange-seeming plays but is almost certainly a strong player and possibly expert, immediately and confidently calls three cold right behind me. The straddler four-bets blind and we all call.

Five to the flop for four bets and I have A8o. Whoops.

Flop Ks Qs 6h. Straddler bets dark, both tourists call in a manner that indicates to me they have nothing, I call, young winner calls.

Turn 8d. Straddler bets dark, both tourists fold, I raise.

The rest of the hand is less interesting, at least strategically:

The straddler says "Oh, now I have to look, Nate!" and squeezes his cards then grins at me and calls. I've logged a few hours with this guy and I would bet serious money he has a hand but can't beat a king. A queen seems most likely. I decide to call a single bet on the river, because then I'd know my physical read was wrong and he had 2 pair+ or some bust hand, and to check behind if he checks because bluffing would be hopeless. Of course I catch a gorgeous 8 on the river and he checks and I bet. Usually I don't post results in OPs but you can probably guess that I won the pot, he flipped out a little, and I got tons of action for the rest of the night. (But even so, I have more information to share later.)

--Nate