I have played against Steve on several occasions, most notably, in this same event last year. I noticed then that he seems to play weak hands and draws very aggressively, he bet me out of several pots that I had raised, and so I resolved that I would not put down top pair to his re-raise this time around.
I had managed to keep out of his way for about an hour or so, then a hand came up when the action was folded around to me in the small blind, I had T-J suited and I made it up. Steve in the big blind immediately raised, as I was expecting him to, and, just as quickly, I called. The flop came 9-6-J rainbow, I raised and again as expected, Steve made a strong re-raise. This, it seemed to me, was the time to have the courage of my convictions, and although it was early in a major competition, I re-re-raised all in. Steve actually dwelled up for a little while before calling and flipping over K-K, as I sat there, somewhat stunned to see that he had a proper hand, the dealer dealt the turn K and the river Q to make my straight
For some reason, instead of being ecstatic about doubling up, I felt really stupid, I looked first at Steve, who was taking a deep breath so that he could tell me what he thought of me, and then at El Blondie, his thoughts were well hidden behind that 'Crash Test Dummy' face, but I could guess what he was thinking
The real repercussions of this hand came a couple of levels later, I picked up pocket tens in late position and raised to 1000, (Blinds 150/300) and young Ben Vinson called me. The flop came 9 high rainbow, so I bet out 3000; Ben reraised me for another 5000. At this point, I had 22,000 and Ben had about 30,000 (Average was 14,000), I just knew he was at it, but if I was going to play this hand now I felt I had to move all-in. I just couldn’t do it. Partly because I didn’t want to risk going out of the comp when I was in a comfortable position, but mainly because I couldn’t risk seeing the look on old Crash Test’s face if I blew my big stack on a pair of tens, especially after the shenanigans with Bovis.
I passed, and Ben showed me the bluff that I knew he was on, I turned to Dave, showed him my hand, and asked him if he would have stuck it all in, “Yes” he solemnly replied.
After that, I played badly. No confidence, table image in tatters, I got pushed around until I finally went out on the last hand of the night.
I’ve thought long and hard about that hand since then, and I’ve decided it was all Colclough’s fault. The next time they strap him into a Volvo and launch it into a brick wall, I want to be there.