I’ve had a few really hot sessions, so I’ve worked myself back, at least a bit of the way. This hand helped:

I have 77 in the small blind, at a table with two maniacs, one squeaky-tight rock and two average players. And me. Maniac number one limps, maniac number two raises on the button. He’s more of a postflop maniac than a preflop one, so his raise does signify some kind of strength, but usually “at least one broadway card” is a fair description of the hands he raise with in this situation.

I make it three bets. It’s questionable, but in this situation - with a villain who you will soon see is very able to pay me off - I need to play this hand, and I’d rather do it with fewer opponents. Getting the big blind out of the hand is worth the cost, I feel. The maniac limper calls, and the button calls.

The flop comes 5-6-7. Wooo! Come to papa. I bet out. Limper calls. Button raises. I make it three to go again, limper calls (again) and button calls.

The turn is a 4. This is unfortunate, but I have no reason to believe either of these two clowns actually have an 8. In fact, given my read on button being extra maniac postflop, it’s likely that he would have capped the betting with four to a straight. I bet. Both opponents call.

The river is a beeaaauuutiful 6, filling me up. I lead out, the first limper finally folds - I guess he was hoping for an 8 or a 3 and getting as split? - and the button raises. Was he slowplaying a straight after all? Does he have a hand like 56? No matter, I make it three bets.

Button caps.

Hrm. Please tell me he doesn’t have 6-6. Well, calling is the only viable choice, but by now the aftermath of my downswing has marked its territory; I’m halfway expecting him to turn over 66.

He doesn’t; he turns over AQo, for a pair of sixes.

I drag the $200 pot

In chat, he says “I’ve seen you pull that sht [sic] before.” I have no idea what he’s talking about. I have no idea what was going through his mind on the river. I’m just happy to have taken a big step towards winning back the money this downswing has cost me.