We're a movin' on up...

So I finally dug my balls way out from in my throat, pulled them out, coated them in steel and moved up to the .50 NL cash game tables last night.
This will, most likely, also mean I will move up to $10 SnGs, although I'll probably still take cracks at $5 30-persons and MTTs.
And just as I was staring around in wonder at all the big chip stacks (wow, $100!), I pick up A,K UTG.
View Previous hand for this table.

Texas Hold'em $0.50-$0.50 NL (Real Money), #222,769,603
Table Erlangen, 9 Mar 2006 10:34 PM ET



Seat 1: amun-ra ($46.45 in chips)
Seat 2: BamBam58 ($112.75 in chips)
Seat 3: x jermdawg x ($51.30 in chips)
Seat 4: LSU235 ($12.45 in chips)
Seat 5: Stegelhare ($40.35 in chips)
Seat 6: UFMatt3 ($38.25 in chips)
Seat 7: phickshun ($59.20 in chips)
Seat 8: kenster07 ($40.20 in chips)
Seat 9: SCFS777 ($48.40 in chips)
Seat 10: Pokerpeaker5 ($50 in chips)



ANTES/BLINDS
SCFS777 posts blind ($0.25), Pokerpeaker5 posts blind ($0.50).

PRE-FLOP
amun-ra folds, BamBam58 calls $0.50, x jermdawg x folds, LSU235 folds, Stegelhare folds, UFMatt3 calls $0.50, phickshun folds, kenster07 folds, SCFS777 folds, Pokerpeaker5 checks.

FLOP [board cards 3S,JS,KH ]
Pokerpeaker5 bets $1, BamBam58 bets $2, UFMatt3 folds, Pokerpeaker5 calls $1.

TURN [board cards 3S,JS,KH,AC ]
Pokerpeaker5 bets $2, BamBam58 bets $4, Pokerpeaker5 bets $4, BamBam58 calls $2.

RIVER [board cards 3S,JS,KH,AC,5C ]
Pokerpeaker5 bets $15, BamBam58 calls $15.

SHOWDOWN
Pokerpeaker5 shows [ AH,KS ]
BamBam58 mucks cards [ JD,3C ]
Pokerpeaker5 wins $46.75.



SUMMARY
Dealer: kenster07
Pot: $47.75, (including rake: $1)
amun-ra, loses $0
BamBam58, loses $23.50
x jermdawg x, loses $0
LSU235, loses $0
Stegelhare, loses $0
UFMatt3, loses $0.50
phickshun, loses $0
kenster07, loses $0
SCFS777, loses $0.25
Pokerpeaker5, bets $23.50, collects $46.75, net $23.25

It was as if the Poker Gods were not only apologizing for all the nut-smashing beats I've taken this week, they were saying I belonged here and gave me a nice pot to boost my confidence right away.

Just a few hands later, I pick up AA in EP and raise $2.
And I get re-raised by a guy directly to my left with $60.
I have nearly $75 at this point.
OK, ecstasy, right? Of course, except this is exactly how the last two nights have gone, AA early in the session, I push a bit, they push more, I push harder and they go all in. Only I lost those last two, both times when they sucked out on me on the river and even when I flopped a set.
My heart thumps. If I lose this pot, I'd probably move back down to .25 NL and lick my wounds the rest of the month.
All numbers, no flush, no straight draw.
He shows K,K.
And suddenly I have about $125.
Now, understand that since October, I've had many good nights, some great ones and a couple dream nights.
But the most I've cleared in one night, profit, was $60.
So now do I hit and run or really see if I can play?
I stay to help clear more bonus points.
I win another pot when I raise someone out of it, but for the most part, the next hour and a half is uneventful, and I am down to $110.
Then I pick up J,10 sooted and decide to play it. I've played lke three hands in an hour.
I flop the nut straight with a rainbow.
$32.
Thank you.
And my next hand I pick up A,K again, 5,5,3 so I bet the pot, guy calls, bet again, guy calls, check, check.
$15.
I lose one hand, when the guy spikes his club on the river with 7,5, but I leave with $125.
My best night ever.
The Carpenters goes through my head...
"We've only just begun.....to live."