This week has been a bit crazy and I have lived and died according to the Cowboys in several games.
Early in the week I played on of the most crazy SNG's ever. 9-seater and 10-min blinds, there's usually not a lot of action early; what happened was something I've never seen in a SNG (outside of a 'Super Turbo').
Hand 1 - The raising starts early as a 5xBB ($50) bet is re-raised to $250, followed by an all-in and a quick call. KK v QQ. There's a Q on the flop, the K's are crushed, and a player exits first hand.
Hand 2 - More pre-flop action with a raising war that ends up with two players putting all their chips in the middle (winner of hand 1 is not involved). AK v KK. There's an Ace on the turn and the cowboys take another beating. Player two exits on hand 2.
Hand 3 - I wake up with the KK this time. I raise about 5xBB ($50) and get one flat call. I'm determined I'm not going bust if there's an Ace on the flop and am prepared to get away cheaply.
Flop is all low and rainbow. I lead out for a pot-size bet and my opponent shoves all-in. I reckon he has an over-pair, something like 8's-T's, so I make the call and he turns over AA. Kings crippled again and another player exits on hand 3 (me).
Now, you can argue that with the randomness of poker and the sheer amount of possible hands that can be dealt that you are going to hit mada looking sequences like this. But, come on, the chances of pocket Kings being dealt 3 times in the first 3 hands and on each occasion to be accompanied by another massive hand at the table (QQ, AK, AA) is so mind-bogglingly astronomical that I wouldn't even bother trying to work it out.
The story of Kings didn't end there. A couple of days ago I won a 9-seat SNG on Ultimate and during the course of the game picked up pocket Kings on three separate occasions. On each of these occasions my raise was met with an all-in move and on all three occasions my opponent had an underpair (QQ, JJ, 99), and on all three occasions my hand held up. I would say that my opponents at the table must have been in some sort of shock that each time they picked up a decent pair I had them crushed with the cowboys.
Then, again, tonight I played a 9-seat SNG on Ultimate and Kings was the theme of the night.
During the first level with the blinds still at 5/10, I find myself with KK. I make it $100 to go (been a couple of limpers and wanted to trim the field). I get re-raised to $450 from the BB and it's folded to me. I almost contemplate folding the KK, especially this early in the game, as he could be going mad with A-9 suited, or even pocket 7's, but I don't want to just flat-call as if there's an Ace I am going to have to give it up - so I push and he calls.
he turns up Jc-Jd and I am relieved that it's not Aces. The board runs out harmlessly (no emerging straight or flush draws) and I'm massive chip leader.
About 15 hands later, in the 3rd level, with the blinds at 10/20 I wake up in the cut-off with the cowboys again. I make it $150 and get a very quick call from the SB; everyone else folds.
The flop comes down 4h-4d-3s and this looks totally harmless, but he could have A-2 suited (not likely, as I put him on a reasonably decent pair, something like Ten's), so I bet the pot and he flat calls.
Now, I have to believe that he may have Aces and was being cute pre-flop with the flat call and the flat call on the flop (either that, or he's a dreadful player with a mediocre hand). The turn is the 2h and now there's a straight and flush draw available, so I pu him all in and he calls.
Just about the last hand I expected to see was 4s-5s. A very speculative pre-flop call with the baby suited connectors, and I am drawing dead to a King on the river. Needless to say it doesn't come and I've lost half my stack.
I find myself card dead for quite a while until I manage to limp from mid-position with K-J (off) and the flop comes down (Kc-Kh-6c), There's a $400 bet from the SB and it's folded to me. My stack is now below starting level so I push and it's called by the SB who turns up Kd-Jd and unless I hit runner clubs it's a chop (I didn't and it was).
About 10 hands later I wake up UTG with King Kong. I contemplate just limping and trying to induce a raise so I can push, but decide against it and make it $400 (4xBB). I get an insta-call from the guy who crippled me with 4s-5s earlier and the other positions fold.
The flop comes down Jd-Th-4d and with no Ace on board I have to push. I get a snap call and he turns up 8d-9d (holy cow, does this guy get suited connectors every time I have KK?). He's now got 4xQ+4x7+9xd'd to beat me (that's 17 outs x 2 for the turn and river) actually making him a mathematical favourite. I expect the worse (as he has me covered), but the board runs out Tc, 4h and I've doubled up and in a good position to cash.
Mr 'Suited Connector' busts out on the bubble (chasing a draw) and I make the cash, but I'm the short-stack with only $2.5k and after a couple of orbits and the blinds eating into me I decide to push with Ah-8h (fully expecting this to be the best hand at a 3-handed table), only for the BB (and chip leader) to wake up with A-J. I'm dominated and don't catch up.
Well, at least he wasn't holding K-K!!
