Sometimes, you will get days in poker when the odds defy belief. This could be both positive or negative. When it’s positive and you are getting big pairs or big hands, and winning with them; the game is easy. But that’s rare. What is more common, is not getting dealt any big hands for long periods. Those days are tough. Sometimes, to the point where you just can’t do anything to change it. Little did I know that after the first level, this was about to happen to me.
Having built up to 24K from 20K, there was no real indication of what was about to come. The problem was, I had not set my mind to that possibility. Normally, I would play in manner that allowed for such a day. But with my table being extremely tight, I decided in the first ten minutes to mix it up as much as possible. The fact that I was 4k to the good, justified such an approach. But as I said, little did I know what was about to come…..
From playing garbage hands for two hours, the big hands started to come. Three A-K’s, and a few A-Q’s meant that I could play the same loose style, but with genuine hands. But by the time our table broke, I was down to 16K and sliding.
The new table did little change things. In fact, this was now becoming a true test of patience. To make things worse, you couldn’t even say that I was playing well. I wasn’t playing badly as such, more like not playing. When I did try and play, a failed bluff cost me 6K. I read him right enough, but how was I to know that he would call all-in with bottom pair? I guess I was playing badly after all!
Almost six hours in, and the writing seemed to be on the wall. Down to 4K, I made a desperate call with 2-2 on the button. I know it was only a small raise by the cut-off, but still, 600 from 3,600 was not the right thing to do, even it was the first pair I had seen in hours. I now knew that I wasn’t playing well. But I guess even I lose patience sometimes.
The flop of 4-6-9 rainbow did little for hand, but what flop could? I liked it a little better when the third player and the and then the raiser both checked. The turn card brought a
and a flush possible draw. Again it was checked to the raiser. Only this time, he decides to bet 1200. I actually don’t fear the raiser as I think he has picked up a flush draw to go with a couple of big cards. I want to call this bet, but I do fear the other player may have something. I even contemplate raising all-in. But there are two problems with such a move. Firstly is of course the possibility that the third player may have me beat. Secondly, I know that the raiser will call my 1800 with his draw. I would still be fav over his hand, but that’s not my biggest concern. So what is?
Well….when an all-in is called, the dealer has to shout it loud for the whole room to hear - or at least for the TV people. In the end, I slow play my monster. The river paired the three and I knew I was safe. Of course, with chips to spare, the raiser was certain to test my last 1800. And of course I obliged with a minutes thought before making the call. Up to over 8K and a chance to play poker at least.
Last hand before dinner, and four limpers allow me to see a flop on the BB with
-6c. I like the flop of 6-4-3. The two spades are a concern. So is being out of position. I therefore play it safe with a check and a willingness to call a small bet. As it happens, all limpers check behind me. The 10h on the turn does little for my hand, but I figure that a bet 1K would act as a good tester. The one caller seems to be on a draw. If he was, then the
on the river was probably not much help. But I check with the expectation that I have won the 3,500 in the middle.
Of course, my little stack is not going to be given anything without some sort pressure being added to the equation. This time, the pressure was by way of a bet of 3200. This was almost half my stack. But I just couldn’t lay it down. “I can beat A-5 spades”, I inform the bully. I also beat his A-7 spades. Over 13K and dinner may taste better now.
I was wrong about dinner. But with still feeling the effects from the Bellagio buffet three days earlier, it didn’t come as too much of a surprise. What was a surprise, was being dealt my biggest pair of the day. An even bigger surprise was the fact that 8-8 was good enough against three callers. Up to 19K and almost level.
With 40 minutes left of the night, the enforced tight play could do nothing against some very big hands on our table. In fact, my biggest break was the fact that I would be moving again.
Playing 200-400 and 50 ante, I couldn’t believe that my first hand on the new table was a monster
-Qd. The raise to 1100 from an early position player, gave me little information. It seemed tentative and I did want to come over the top. But with such little information, I decided to use my position and play a flop. The young Sweed on SB however had other ideas and raised it another 3200 more.
This did smell like a squeeze play. And had I taken more time, I think I would have pushed all-in. But I decided to just call. However, it was with the full intention of calling all-in, even if I had missed the flop. In hindsight, had I been on the table a few minutes earlier, I would have pushed all-in pre flop against this re-raiser without much thought.
Left with about 13K, I expected to be set all-in, whatever the flop. The fact that he checked the flop of 7-5-4, came as a complete surprise. Feeling that I had the best hand, I also checked. I could have pushed all-in - it did cross my mind. But I guess I was happy with how I felt about my position.
The turn brought the
and a flush draw for my A-Q. When he again checked, I again though of pushing. But for some reason, I decided otherwise. When a blank hit the river, I fully expected a bluff from what was a big stack. But before I could even think of what I would do, he checked again. I guess he hit something after all. Yep, he had made a move with Q-7 os. I guess the poker gods favor the brave.
That was it really, no hands and very few opportunities. In the end, 6.450 is all that remains. But with starting on Wed at 300-600, I still have ten BB. It could have been worse, but it also could have been a lot better.
Footnote.
When I won the Aussie Million, I was almost in the same situation. I can only hope that lightning strikes twice.
If there is no further post, you can guess what happens.
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