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).