I've been playing play money online at Stars off and on for about a year but recently have getting more and more interested in the art of poker (and made a small deposit at Stars in the attempt at getting some experience that wasn't diluted by "play" money). After reading much online and with my limited play money experience I have noticed that I have some significant leaks in my game and have decided to dedicate more time to learning the game starting again with the basics. This site has been GREAT!!, everyone has done a fantastic job and the sharing of knowledge is next to none and I'm very appreciative.

So on to my question. I know my first mistake was not even thinking trip nines was an option. I was so focused on what I had that I didn't even think about what he could have but knew that I had high pair (Q's) ace high and just got blinded by this fact. However, knowing that I played the hand wrong in that way, I would like to know the other mistakes I made during the hand. Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

tt

PokerStars Game #1072650634: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/01/13 - 07:13:23 (ET)
Table 'Oongaq' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Traveller03 ($1.80 in chips)
Seat 2: grouchyolde ($1.80 in chips)
Seat 3: acesrolledup ($7 in chips)
Seat 5: TickBoy ($3.70 in chips)
Seat 6: denvic1 ($5.10 in chips)
Seat 7: Slipweenie ($4.60 in chips)
Seat 8: Smokylake ($9.80 in chips)
acesrolledup: posts small blind $0.05
TickBoy: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TickBoy [Qs Ad]
denvic1: folds
rwhjr_2000 leaves the table
Slipweenie: calls $0.10
Smokylake: calls $0.10
Traveller03: calls $0.10
grouchyolde: folds
acesrolledup: calls $0.05
TickBoy: raises $0.10 to $0.20
Slipweenie said, "idiota here today"
Slipweenie: calls $0.10
Smokylake: calls $0.10
Traveller03: calls $0.10
acesrolledup: calls $0.10
*** FLOP *** [7d 9c Qc]
Slipweenie said, "idiots"
acesrolledup: checks
TickBoy: bets $0.30
Slipweenie: folds
Smokylake: calls $0.30
Traveller03: folds
acesrolledup: folds
*** TURN *** [7d 9c Qc] [3h]
TickBoy: bets $0.30
Smokylake: raises $0.60 to $0.90
TickBoy: calls $0.60
*** RIVER *** [7d 9c Qc 3h] [4s]
TickBoy: checks
Faith2003 joins the table at seat #4
Smokylake: bets $2.30
TickBoy: calls $2.30 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Smokylake: shows [9d 9h] (three of a kind, Nines)
TickBoy: mucks hand
Smokylake collected $7.65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8 | Rake $0.35
Board [7d 9c Qc 3h 4s]
Seat 1: Traveller03 folded on the Flop
Seat 2: grouchyolde (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: acesrolledup (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: TickBoy (big blind) mucked [Qs Ad]
Seat 6: denvic1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Slipweenie folded on the Flop
Seat 8: Smokylake showed [9d 9h] and won ($7.65) with three of a kind, Nines