Remedial Poker Playing School Needed

I played (if you can call it that) in the 8 a.m. Sunday morning tournament at the Moose. I misplayed pocket kings so badly that I should be demoted to newbie and sent to remedial poker playing school immediately. OMG.

We start with 2000 chips and I had about 1600 left, so I was far from desperate. When I saw pocket kings in my hand, I decided I should try to trap and chip up a bit. Mistake 1: I did not raise before the flop, thus letting the big blind in for free. But, hey, I was trapping, right?

The flop was 8-7-3 with 2 spades. Mistake 2: I checked the flop, although if I had check-raised later this would have been OK. My lone opponent bet 200. Mistake 3: I called. I did not check raise or move all-in.

Mistake 4: I checked the turn, which was a blank and not a spade. In my defense, I was hoping my opponent would bet again and then I could push. He checked behind and got a free card. That card was another 3, pairing the board.

I checked the river. He put out enough chips to put me all in. In my defense, I did think about it for a little bit. He could have had A8 or A7 and have 8s and 3s or 7s and 3s, but in my heart I knew he had a three. Mistake 5: I put all my chips in the pot and was knocked out by A3. I never should have called. I still had chips and when you still have chips you can still win.

Mistake 6: I showed the 2 kings and took a ribbing from all my poker buddies for about an hour. I admit it. I deserved it. I played them horrendously and deserved what I got. Never again. Lesson learned.