I just played a short Texas Hold'em session, which was pretty much OK. In total, I played 47 hands and won 7 of those hands. I didn't split any hands and "lost" the rest. Some of the lost hands are hands that I didn't enter at all and so, I didn't lose money on those.

I'd like to start with some statistics -- I won a total of 26.97 small bets, which amounts to 4.49 small bets per hour or 0.49 big bets per hand.My worst three hands cost me 8 small bets, 7 small bets, and 5 small bets -- a total of 20 small bets. My best three hands won me my investment back plus 8 small bets, 10.5 small bets, and 20 small bets. This basically means that my very best hand weighs up for the worst three hands put together. I'll walk you through the worst and then the best hand today.

My Worst Hand -- Lost 8 Small Bets

I am sitting in the BB (short for Big Blind) with K4o and one guy calls. The SB (short for Small Blind) folds, so I decide to check to see the flop. After all, it is not going to cost me anything. The flop comes 5c Jc 3c so there is a risk of a flush but only one opponent. I have the four of clubs, which means that there are 9 unseen clubs out there. The chance that his first card is a club is approximately 4 percent and the chance that he's got no club at all is approximately 56 percent. So 40 percent of the time, he's got one club, which makes my decision to bet out sane enough. I could hit another club for a flush (9 outs) or a king (3 outs), so I am thinking that I have 25 percent chance of turning a flush and will win 40 percent of the time, if I do hit. Combining the odds here means that I end up hitting AND winning only 10 percent of the time, so unless I can make my opponent fold, I am making a silly play here.

Another five turns for a board of 5c Jc 3c - 5s and I decide to bet out again. This time, the bets have doubled because we're on the turn now, but my opponent calls without hesitation. Betting on the five and being the BB should be enough to convince most players that they are beat. Seen from his point of view, I could have a flush, flush-draw, straight-draw, straight-flush draw, four of a kind, full house, three of a kind, plus all the low hands. In this situation, any good player with little or nothing would probably fold and wait for a better opportunity, unless he be holding 55, JJ, J5, etc. At this point, I had only been playing strong hands, done no bluffing, and won almost every pot I had entered. My opponent -- on the other hand -- had been bluffing a lot, losing a lot, and basically been a really weak player.

The river comes seven of diamonds for a board of 5c Jc 3c - 5s 7d and I realize that I can't make him fold. I decide to check in the hope that he will check as well and I will win by outkicking him with the king but he bets out. At this point, I really should fold but I decide to call because he is such a weak player. It turns out that he is holding JTo with no clubs and he decides to bet on that on the river.

I am wondering; doesn't he know that I normally reraise him with a flush in this situation? In any case, he wins the hand and I guess that's alright. We both made mistakes but maybe I was beating on a dead horse all the way because this guy was too stupid, lucky, unobservant, and courageous to fold and let me win.

My Best Hand -- Won 20 Small Bets

I am sitting in late position (one guy between me and the dealer) with eight opponents at the table. Four players limp in before me and I find AA in the hole. The thought of raising briefly crosses my mind but I immediately shake it off because of my position and the number of opponents already in. Besides, at this point, I haven't been at the table for very long and don't know the opposition well enough. I therefore decide to limp in and play the check/raise game if an ace flops -- unless I end up sitting last to act. That is exactly what happens -- both players behind me fold their hands and I thus capture the button. The blinds are allowed in cheaply (which is usually a mistake with a strong hand like mine).

The flop comes Ks 9s 4s and I now have an overpair plus a draw to the nut-flush because one of my aces is the ace of spades. All six opponents check before me and since nobody is left to act behind me, I decide to bet out. If another spade comes on the turn (or river), I am almost guaranteed a win. Unless the board pairs, a flush will necessarily win this hand. My bet drives out the SB and a middle-position opponent but the other four opponents call.

The turn comes two of diamonds for a board of Ks 9s 4s - 2d and everyone checks again. I am figuring that the two hasn't helped anyone and those that called on the flop are holding something like JT or maybe even AK. With an overpair and a draw to the nut-flush, I decide to bet out again (two small bets this time) and get three callers, while one opponents decides to get off the train.

The river gives us the six of diamonds for a board of Ks 9s 4s - 2d 6h so there is no flush for me. It doesn't look like anyone else has one and even if they do, I might get them to fold as they cannot possibly have the ace of spades, which is sitting in my hand. Someone holding 53 would have a straight, but who would draw to a straight with two cards missing on the flop and a possibly made flush?

All three remaining opponents check and I bet out. The first opponent folds and I get two callers, which adds another 4 small bets to the pot, which has now reached a total of 26 small bets (6 of those are my own). I flip over my aces and everyone else mucks their cards. We will never know what they had, but who cares?