I joked with my wife today that I have found the perfect time to play and be successful. I figured if you get in a session between 8 and 9:30 in the morning, you will be getting on before all of the really good players do.
That being said, having played at the same times these last couple of days I have seen familiar faces at some of tables. Faces that I have been successful against in the past and whose play I am becoming familiar with.
I just hope the opposite doesn't hold true.
Luckily I won two of the first three hands of this session, garnering a whopping $.24, but wins are wins.
On hand number five, I get handed 
in the MP3 position.
1 fold, UTG+1 ($3.87 stack) calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP2 ($19.10 stack) calls $.10, Grimm calls $0.10, 1 fold, Button (3.75 stack) calls $.10, SB ($6.99 stack) calls $0.10, BB ($4.35 stack) checks - Middle pocket pair is normally a trap hand for me so I will just see the flop.
Flop: ($0.60) 

(6 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.10, MP2 calls $.10, Grimm calls $0.10, Button folds, SB calls $0.10, BB folds - Would a raise here get any action? Of course, raising here would keep anyone else from pairing a hole card on the turn. Not a good play there.
Turn: ($1.00)
(4 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.10, MP2 calls $.10, Grimm raises to $.70, SB folds, UTG+1 calls $.60, MP2 folds - Ok, luckily an under on the turn, thankfully I raise it up and get called. Ace in the hole maybe?
River: ($2.50)
(2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Grimm checks - That Ace made me crap my pants and once again I don't finish off someone. Go for the kill dammit!
Showdown:
UTG+1 shows 
- (Full house, Queens full of Fours)
Grimm shows 
- (Full house, Queens full of Sixes)
This $1.48 net pot could have been more if I would have grown a pair and not let that Ace freak me out. I must make people pay to stay along with me. Controlled agression is key here.

Shortly thereafter, I would run into a spell of cold cards and aside from a hand of pocket Jacks facing off with two preflop callers, an Ace King flop and an overly excited BB (UTG+1 from above example) - I didn't play for 15 straight hands.
Picked up a $.61 pot with Ace Ten and a flop that missed, but a 1/2 pot scared off everyone. Also a $.83 pot with Ace King and betting the Ace on the flop - no takers.
That was about it until

in the Big Blind - The exact starting hand from before.UTG ($9.70 stack) calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP1 ($12.68 stack) calls $0.10, MP2 ($13.80 stack) calls $.10, 1 fold, CO ($2.93 stack) calls $0.10, 2 folds, Grimm checks - As I said before, I am wary of middle pocket pair - Even moreso as the BB.
Flop: ($0.55)


(5 players)Grimm checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, CO bets $0.27, Grimm raises to $.54, UTG folds, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, CO calls $.27 - An initial bet to get rid of chasers should have been in order, but I do wise up and check-raise for the read. Methinks he paired a hole card.
Turn: ($1.63)
(2 players)Grimm checks, CO checks - This is typical of me to check here dammit (not good). His check leads me to believe he didn't get his straight however.
River: ($1.63)
(2 players)Grimm bets $.81, CO folds - That bet should have been on the turn. No sense letting him have a free card.
Got myself a $.91 net pot there - Not quite a Big Hand, but a nice setup for the very next hand.

I am in the Small Blind and having

stare me in the face. I am up $1.60 right now.1 fold, UTG+1 ($12.58 stack) raises to $.35, 2 folds, MP3 ($2.29 stack) calls $.35, 2 folds, Grimm raises to $.70, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $.35, MP3 folds - Wow, looks like I have someone to play with. NOTE: If my bankroll was higher, this is a place I may be pushing.
Flop: ($1.85)


(2 players)Grimm bets $.92, UTG+1 calls. - Wicked flop, keeping lots of options open on his hand range. I am worrying about him pairing his hole cards, but what else is new?
Turn: ($3.69)
(2 players)Grimm bets $1.84, UTG+1 calls. - Well didn't that turn out grand? Now the possibility of betting into a split pot as one or both of his hole cards are painted.
River: ($7.37)
(2 players)Grimm bets $3.68, UTG+1 calls. - Now there is a small boat possibility, but if he had it he would have raised it. This will give me ulcers.
Showdown:
Grimm shows

- (Straight, Ten to Ace)UTG+1 shows

- (Two pairs, Aces and Queens)Voila! The $6.86 net pot taken in is my highest to date since my return and reaffirmed that being aggressive on good hands is the way to go and will pay off in the end.

My session ended two hands later as I am limiting myself to one hour sessions for the time being until I feel more comfortable at the tables again. I am ever so slowly getting to the point where I less hesitant about my plays but I haven't reached the level where I can just do them automatically without thought. That and the fact that and my bankroll is just a mere $36 and a can't lose focus or all of that will go bye-bye.


on the button.
- 

in the MP3 spot.






