Aces Busted!

I was playing in a $10 SNG on Pokerstars, which was down to 6 players (from 9) and I was in 3rd position with two shorter stacks to act in front of me and the two big-stacks right behind me.

The player to my right pushes his last 900 (or so) chips in; I've got about 1,200 and AK sooooted. It's an easy call, but I'm worried about the players to act behind me, so I push everything in and cross my fingers (I got burned a while back pushing with AK only to be called by AA & KK).

The player to my left folds, but the last to act pauses for about 15 seconds and makes the call.
The cards are flipped up and, guess what, I'm up against AA again! God knows what the player behind me was thinking, calling with TJ off, for over 1/3rd of his stack, but he hits a miracle flop of 9d-Qd-8h (he must have thought he'd died and gone to heaven).

It wasn't all over, as my AK was Diamonds; I had plenty of outs - the AA player would have been crying into his keyboard by this time. The turn is another Q and this gave the AA some hope (another Q, or the case A would have filled his house).

Luckily, my saviour came on the river (doesn't it always), with the beautiful 2d. It was one thing to have busted the AA, but to come from behind and beat the flopped straight was something else.

I managed to make it to heads-up (10.5k v 3k behind) and doubled through once and took down a big pot later, to take the chip lead (5k v 8.5k). Then, with 10-8 suited I put in a big raise from the small blind, that is quickly called. The flop comes down 8-9-J and with bottom pair and an up & down straight draw I raise to about half my opponents stack. He instantly pushes and I have a decision to make. Knowing that hitting any pair heads-up is usually good I put him on a flush or straight draw and make the call.

He turns over 9-2 (how the heck did he call my initial pre-flop raise with that?). His push on the flop is legitimate, but he should never have been in the hand. My 8's are now behind to his 9' so now I need an 8 for trips or a 7/Q for my straight. 5 on the turn and 6 on the river changes nothing and now we are back to where we started; 11k v 2.5k.

Two hands later I push with K-5 suited and get called by A-9; I hit my 5, but needless to say he hits also hits his A and it's all over. Oh well, I was quite lucky to be in the money at all, so mustn't grumble.

Is it better to be lucky than good?

I haven't been playing as much poker online recently, and for a change from the standard SNG's that I usually play I decided to enter a MTT - and had one of my best results for a while.

It was a 180 player tournament on Pokerstars and it started off in the usual style, with me making some loose calls with marginal hands and not really hitting anything.

All but out!
About an hour into the tournament I had accumulated about 5,000 chips (from a starting stack of 1,500) and picked up pocket 10's in the cut-off. I put in the standard 3xBB raise and got called by the BB.

The flop came down Q-3-Q and the BB checked. Hoping my 10's were good (and he'd missed with A-J, or something) I put in a pot-sized bet and the BB immediately came over the top.

I kinda knew, deep down, that he had the Q - but I was virtually pot committed and made the call for the rest of my chips. Sure enough, he turns over J-Q and I am way behind. My tourament should have been over until the miracle 10 hit the river and I completed a full-house.


That was incredibly lucky and I felt sorry for the other guy (for about a nanosecond); but I've been on the receiving end of that kind of bad beat many times and felt I was about due.

Another miracle river
The very next hand I picked up pocket K's. The UTG made a standard raise and I doubled it. The same opponent pushed his last 300 (or so) chips into the pot and the UTG player called.

The flop was Q-4-4 and the UTG bet 1/2 the pot. I raised enough to put him all-in and he made the call.

The SB (short-stack) had paired a Q and another one came on the turn. I wasn't too worried about him, as the main pot was against the UTG. To rub salt into the wounds of the BB, I rivered another K for my second consecutive Full-House.


I was now up to just under 28,000 chips and well above average - placed about 8th with half the 180 player field gone.

Quad Jacks
I managed to knock another player out about 10 hands later when I found myself in the cut-off with pocket J's. It was folded round to me and I put in a 3xBB raise, which was called by the BB.

The flop came down J-10-Q (two diamonds); although I had made a set there were still straight and flush possibilities out there, so I couldn't be too comfortable.

The BB put in a small bet, less than half the pot, so I tripled it. He pushed over the top, all-in, and I made the call.

He turned over 10-5 of diamonds. It could have been worse, he was only on both a straight and flush draws, but didn't have any sort of made hand yet.

The turn 7 was a blank, but the J on the river gave me quads, and my opponent was gone.

I was now up to 42,000 and quite happy.

Backdoor Flush
I had been biding my time for about half another hour and a half and had built my stack to about 52,000 when I got into a hand I probably shouldn't have. We were at the final table and there was only 6 players left.

I was in the SB and flat called with 10-8 off. I had gotten into a hand with the BB very early in the tournament and lost half my stack. I congratulated my opponent at the time, only to receive a torrent of abuse and to be called a donk, as I had called his all-in. He had pocket 8's and I had K-Q suited. I was happy with the call as I had put him on some sort of pair, like 10's or J's and I liked the odds with my overcards.

So, there was some history between us, and when the flop came down 8-9-7 I had hit middle pair. I put out a 2/3 of the pot sized bet to see where I was and he immediately came over the top; all-in.

I went into the tank and used almost my entire time-clock before making the call. The bubble had passed and I was happy enough to have cashed (first time in a while). I was convinced he had overcards and a straight or flush draw (something like K-J or Q-J, maybe suited); it turned out to be much worse! He had A-9, for top-pair, top-kicker, and I thought my tournament was over.

I needed some help; another 8 or a 6 or J for a straight. I had plenty of outs, but felt my luck had finally run out. The turn was another spade; this gave me some more outs as my opponent did not have a spade.

Sure enough, another spade came on the river and I had made a backdoor flush - horrible bad-beat for my opponent, but I felt it was some sort of karma for the way he had behaved earlier in the tournament.


I was up to nearly 120,000 chips and massive tournament leader. The tournament went on for about another hour until we were down to 3-handed and I found myself totally card-dead. Hand after hand I folded and the increasing blinds and antes started to chip away. I never improved on my stack and lost 4 or 5 marginal hands.

I then blew half my stack on a semi-bluff with both straight and flush draws, only for the opponent to put me all-in. I made the call and missed. Down to less than 50,000 and with 2,000 & 4,000 blinds it was only a matter of time before I pushed with a marginal hand.

Eventually I found myself with suited J-9 and pushed my last 32,000 in. I was called by Q-10 and had to come from behind. Naturally, the Q hit the flop and I never improved.

After nearly 5 hours I finished up in 3rd place and collected a nice prize; enough to sustain my bankroll for a couple of months; but it could have been so much better.

Ice Cold Deck

It's been a crazy night for me on Pokerstars - the deck has been as cold as ice.

Backdoor flush.
I entered a 180 player MTT and was biding my time for about the first 20 minutes, when I found myself UTG with Pocket Aces. I put in a min-raise and got one caller.

Flop comes down a harmless looking 8s-7h-Qd (rainbow) and I put out a half-pot sized bet, which is immediately called. Turn comes 4d, still looks harmless and I put my opponent on either a Q or a straight draw (perhaps 9-T or T-J). So, I double my first bet, and again it is insta-called.

Now I'm thinking that he might have 7-8, or Q-7, or he's slow playing Kings (thinking I might have A-Q). The 6d on the river is a scare card, as it puts both a flush and a straight out there, so I just check the river and he also checks, turning up a backdoor diamond flush. I got away from that one relatively lightly.


Another nightmare flush.
About 5 hands later, probably still smarting from my Aces being busted by such a fish, I re-popped a pre-flop raise with A-Q off, and my opponent put me all-in.

I hesitated for about a nanosecond and called, to find myself up against Jack's. It was a classic race and the K-6-3 flop didn't do me any favours.

The turn, however, was good to me and I spiked the Q I needed to take the lead. Unfortunately it didn't last long, as the 3s on the river gave my opponent a flush, with a 4-spade board. If only I'd had the As to go with my Q. Anyway, that was the end of the tournament for me.


Aces over Aces
I also have to mention a hand that was played out earlier in the game; one I am glad to say I managed to get away from unscathed.

I was in early position with Pocket 8's. UTG flat called and I put in a standard 3xBB raise. Two seats behind me the player tripled my raise. It was folded around to the button who pushed all-in. This was quickly called by the UTG and I had no option but to lay down my measly middle pair. The player behind me called as well.

The button turns up Pocket T's, and both other players flip up Pocket Aces; boy was I glad I didn't get involved. The flop is all Hearts, as is the turn and UTG has had his Aces busted by a flush. Incredible hand and incredible bad luck for the UTG player.


Drawing dead (almost) before the flop!
After busting out of the MTT, I entered a 9-handed SNG and was sitting reasonably pretty after about 25 hands and had picked up a scalp when my Pocket 9's turned into a set against a short-stack who had pushed all-in with A-8.

I picked up AQ suited in the cut-off position. There had been a min-raise, which was doubled by the player before me. I was debating whether to re-pop or just flat-call when my internet connection died and my hand was folded. I was gutted, as the min-raiser folded and the re-raiser picked up the pot.

My next hand was Pocket 8's and I folded to an all-in from a shorter-stacked player (would have been for about half my chips) and this was followed by Pocket 4's which I laid down to a sizeable raise from an early position player.

The next hand was AK (off), from the BB. The cut-off had put in a 4xBB raise, to $200, which had been called by the SB. Worried about my internet connection again, and knowing that it was the same two players I had folded the AQ suited to, I immediately pushed all-in.

My opponents calls (both of them) could not have been any quicker and they turned up Pocket Kings and Pocket Aces respectively. I am essentially drawing dead, unless the board brings T-J-Q, or 4 clubs.
The flop does bring a J, but all spades, and the player with Aces has the As, so I am now drawing dead to runner-runner straight cards (avoiding another spade) and the 6h on the turn ends my day.

This was just another example of how cold the decks have been tonight on Pokerstars, I've never seen anything like it.

Backdoor Quad Aces

Kick the short-stack when he's down

It was a bit of a different story tonight, I was hitting hands and they were holding up every time (unlike last night where I had plenty of good starting hands and kept attracting callers who caught me up on the flop, turn or river).

I only lost two races the whole game, and both times I went in behind; unluckily for me the second one was the last hand of the game and I finished 2nd.

Earlier I was in the cut-off and it was folded around. I flat-called for $150, as the button was very short-stacked and I knew he was likely to push with any decent hand. I wouldn't normally play such a rag-ace, but felt justified as I could have been up against K-Q or K-J.

The Button only called, the SB folded and the BB checked. The flop came A-Q-J. The BB checks, as do I, and (of course) the Button sticks in his last $100. It's a relatively easy call, given the size of my stack, but I am sure that I am ahead, as if he was holding any Ace he would have pushed pre-flop.

Indeed, he's got K-2 and only a gut-shot Broadway draw. The turn and river were miraculous runner-runner Aces and I ended up with top Quads. Why can't that happen when it really matters?

The danger of slow playing

Getting too greedy

The hand illustrated below is the ultimate example of the dangers getting greedy and slow playing a monster flop.

It's early on in a Pokerstars Sit 'n Go and, from middle position, I catch pocket 9's. A standard 3xBB raise sees only 1 caller. Now, the odds of hitting a set, on the flop, from any starting pocket pair is about 7/1 (you will make a set, on the flop, one out of every 8 times you are dealt a pocket pair) - so when the flop comes A-8-9 rainbow I'm rubbing my hands and thinking, "How can I maximize this?"

I check the flop and my opponent leads out with a $200 bet. I hesitate, then call. At this stage I definitely put him on and Ace, probably with a 10 or J kicker. The turn brings another 8, and at this stage I'm slightly worried - if he's got A-8 then he's filled up his boat, bigger than mine.

Again, I check and he puts out the same $200 bet, so I'm still confident he has only Aces-up. The river is an absolute killer card; another Ace. Now, any rag ace in his hand is beating me.
Of course, he pushes the rest of his chips in and I'm facing a call for my tournament life.

I've still got $780 behind and could easily have mucked, put it down to experience - every fibre of me is telling me to fold. I had put him on the Ace early in the hand and was now 100% sure I was beat. I activated the time bank and mulled it over as best I could, and managed to convince myself that he may have been playing an 8 (something like K-8, suited) and was staking his life on 8's full of Aces; which I could beat - so I made the call.

Sure enough, A-10 (suited, of course) and my tournament was over, before it had really begun.
It's a sick way to get beat, but after reviewing the hand I know I shouldn't have been so greedy and re-raised the turn, with the board paired he could have put me on the 9's, or an 8 and laid down his pair.

The best pro's always analyse their hands afterwards and try to learn something from them. The truth of the matter is that I let my opponent catch me up. I was ahead all the way to the River - and should never have let it get there. I re-raise on the flop and the turn would have netted a nice profit and put me in a decent position to win. Lesson learned.

Backdoor Royal Flush

Catching up on the river
I hit my first Royal Flush a couple of weeks ago, during a Omaha Hi-Lo game. Tonight I found the big-one again; this time via the back-door, in a straightforward hold 'em sit-n-go.

It was very early in a Double-or-Nothing SNG on PokerStars, probably only the second hand, when I found myself in the big-blind with QJ suited. The button raised it up to $80 (blinds only $10 & $20), The small-blind called and, as I like to see some relatively cheap flops early on, I decided to come along.

The flop was 8-5-T, rainbow, and the button put in another $80; this felt like a continuation bet, and the big-blind folded. So I decided that my overcards, coupled with a gut-shot straight draw was worth the call.

When the Ks hit the turn I now had a double gut-shot (any 9 or A) plus a very decent flush draw, not to mention the Royal Flush draw. The button put in another $80 and there was no way I was laying this down at that price, so I called.

Hail Mary and Hallelujah, if the river doesn't deposit the Holy Grail of the miracle As. I was probably behind heading to the river, but when I put in a $200 bet the button folded; I thought a half-pot bet was decent value and they might have called.

No matter, even with the small blinds I managed to pick up a $400 pot (albeit that $160 of it was mine).


Broadway
My luck didn't end there, about 5 hands later I found myself with AK-off. UTG raised it to $80 followed by a call. I raised it to $140 and they both called. The flop came 8-5-T rainbow (the exact same board as my Royal Flush earlier). It was checked around and the turn brought the Qs; so I now have a gut-shot broadway draw. A mere $80 bet was called by both of us and the beautiful Td hit the river. Another $80 was bet and called, so I raised it to $160 hoping it was enough value for both to call; and sure enough they did. I scooped $1150 and took a dominant chip lead.

Better kicker
Two hands later I pick up AJ-off from the big blind and it was called around. I probably should have raised pre-flop, but have been burned with AJ quite a few times recently and just checked.
An A-T-6 rainbow flop drew a $240 bet from the small blind. I almost mucked, thinking I might be up against A-T, but had a feeling I was ahead, so I called.
An 8 on the turn brought an All-In from the small-blind. This looked like a desperation move, "Please don't call!", but I did. My A-J was up against A-9 and a harmless 3 on the river meant I had knocked an opponent out and increased my stack to $3420

Free cards from the Big-Blind
I was patient, and it was about 14 hands later before I played another pot. With 5-7 of Diamonds, from the big blind, I was able to see a free flop and turn, nailing a straight and taking another $420 pot.

Who's got the biggest pair?
About 10 hands later I woke up with KK from early position and raised the $50 BB up to $200; attracting 1 caller. A T-6-7 rainbow flop brought a small $100 bet which I rased to $300, only to be called. At this point I'm thinking AT, and the river brought another T. But, only another $100 bet, and I called. A 4 on the river brought yet another $100 bet. I probably should have doubled this, for value, but only called - to find my opponent with QQ.

Filled the house on the turn
Two hands later I came up against the same opponent in a hand I am usually on the receiving end of. I was in the BB and able to check my option with K7; the flop comes K-K-J. It was checked around to me and I almost put in a bet, but was cautious of maybe KQ or KJ. The turn brough a 7 and there was now no way I was laying down a Full-House.
My opponent pushed the button and went All-In (perhaps on tilt from my K's beating his Q's) and he had a K, but with only 3 kicker. Another opponent ousted and my stack is now $6125; more than all 5 other players combined.

Who needs an Ace when you have a 7
About 5 hands later I limped in with A7-suited, flopped an up-down straight draw and filled it, 8-high, on the river netting another $1200. I am now up to $8365 and completely running over the table; feeling invincible.

That was pretty much the last hand I played as everyone else knocked each other out until the top 5 made the money. It was one of the most dominant games of hold 'em I have ever played. I would settle for a couple of those hands in each game I play, rather than getting them all at once; but I shouldn't complain, the poker Gods might be listening.

Four of a Kind - Tens

How come you can never get paid a big pot with Four of a Kind?

I hit this hand during a no-limit hold 'em SNG on PokerStars this evening.


I limped in from the small-blind, and the big-blind checked his option. The flop was a beauty and, to try and maximize payout, I checked. I was praying Flash had a rag ace, but he only checked behind me and the turn brought the Full-House. Again, I hesitated for a few seconds, then checked. No bet was forthcoming and the river completed the Quad's.

I put in the minimum bet, hoping that Flash holding something (like a small pair or a Diamond flush), but simply got a call. I suppose this was a reasonable value bet, as anything bigger probably would have induced a fold.

Earlier in the game there was mad 'all-in's' with flush and straight draws, but when I have the nuts I can never find anyone to go along with me.

I did manage to bust 'faz182' a couple of hands later when I picked up pocket 6's and, short-stacked, he had gone all-in with pocket 3's. But eventually busted out in 3rd after I picked up A-J suited and ended in a race against Flash who woke-up in the big-blind with A-Q. Neither hand improved and I was gone.

There were several times earlier in the game that I could have done some real damage with straights and flushes if I'd played a bit looser, calling with the likes of Q-4 or 7-8. Looks like the only way to win these cheap SNG's is to play loose pre-flop and aggressive post-flop on a draw. However, I've been burned more times than I care to remember playing T-J suited and hitting a flop with both straight and flush draws only to hit nothing and lose half my stack.

House over House

I've seen some suck out's and bad beats in my time (usually I am on the receiving end), but there was a hand played in a 'Double-or-Nothing' STT I was participating in that is amongst the worst I have ever seen.

'didl30' flat-called, under-the-gun, and it was folded round to 'dcb3' in the big-blind.

The flop must have looked like a dream to both players, but 'didl30' was in dreamland, flopping a Full-House. He checked the flop and induced the All-In from 'dcb3'; insta-calling.

The turn was innocuous, but the dagger to the heart came on the river (as it usually does). 'dcb3' hit a sick 3-outer to win the hand with a bigger Full-House; about a 8%, 11/1 shot.


I know there's probably much worse beats you can get, like getting all-in with AA and finding yourself up against an under-pair, only for them to hit a two-outer on the flop, turn or river - but in those cases you would be going in as only a 1/3 favourite, with your opponent having a 25% chance and able to see all 5 board cards. But how often do you flop a 'house' and suck-out to a bigger one; especially on the river.

Unfortunately, this victory didn't keep 'dcb3' in the tournament much longer and he went out in 5th place, which was good for me, as I played relatively tight (even folding AJ-suited once, in early position), finishing in the top 5 and cashing.

These 'Double-or-Nothing' tables have been good to me so far this month; played 6, cashed 6. The run must come to an end soon, but at the moment it's maintaining my bankroll, as I have bubbled out of the last 3 or 4 standard STT's (my only cash this month has been 3rd at a $5 HORSE table).

Quad Aces

I suppose the more often you play the more likely you are to hit some big hands, and today I hit Quad Aces during a pot-limit Omaha hi-lo game on PokerStars.

Unfortunately, it was early on in the game with low blinds and I caught no action; netting only a small pot. Same old story.

I did, however, get down to heads-up against 'missy chrisy' with a slight chip lead - but found myself consistently card-dead and being out-drawn on the turn and river; I ended up finishing in 2nd place.

Funnily enough, the two Aces in my hand are the same two that appear in main picture header of this blog. I've busted out of so many tables and tournaments with AA in the past, perhaps from now on I'll only play AH & AS - and fold any others (or, perhaps maybe not).

Royal Flush

I've been playing poker online for about 2 years and today hit my first Royal Flush.

It was during a Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo MTT on PokerStars.

I've had many Quads and several straight-flushes over the last couple of years, but this was the first time I'd ever hit the big one.

Unfortunately, it didn't net me much of a pot and didn't prevent me exiting the tournament out of the money - but it was a nice consolation.