 Author: Clark  Posted: 8/5/2006 5:58:18 PM |
Pre-flop Play
With the short-stack UTG player limping and three play any two card guys behind me, I wanted to raise up the pot enough to keep the loose players in but get truly bad hands and blinds to fold.
I bumped it up 4xBB to $1 and I was sure I'd get at least 2 callers.
I was a little surprised to get 4 callers (well maybe not really) but since I had a drawing hand, I'm not worried and will be done with it if I don't have a good flop texture.
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| Author: Clark Posted: 8/5/2006 6:15:06 PM |
Flop Ts7h3d - Pot: $5.15 (5 players, Hero 3rd to act)
This is a non-scary pot for me with the highest card being a ten, three different suites, and no real straight potential (unless someone is holding the unlikely 89) but also doesn't help. With 5 players there is too good a chance that someone has hit at least a pair that I'm not going to make a play at this.
The BB tight player checks as does the loose player to my right. I have 3.1 to 1 odds on making a winning hand if I'm able to see both the turn and river cards and nobody has a set or an AT or KT. I also know that either Beauzx or Xcramaset will make a bet (they can't let an open pot go without placing a bet) so I feel the best option is to check and hope they keep the pot fairly low. I'm literally looking for Beauzx to bet about 1/2 the pot and get two or three callers to give me the correct odds.
Amazingly, Beauzx bets $2.50 (a little less then half the pot), Xcramaset calls as does Fele75 (to my right).
This gives me pot odds of 5.1 to 1 which is well in my range for continuing if I get to see the river. Since Beauzx only has $13 left, if he goes all-in on the turn (like he likes to do) and Xcramaset calls him (like he likes to do) I will actally have the odds to see the river as well. Scarry, but I almost have to call off all my money. I just hope I hit my card on the turn so it isn't as nerve racking.
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| Author: Clark Posted: 8/5/2006 7:36:13 PM |
Turn Ts7h3d Js - Pot: $15.15 (4 players, Hero 2nd to act)
The turn opens up a lot more options for me as I now have a gutshot straight draw though I have to worry about any pairing of my cards as it may give one of these guys 2-pair or another spade coming out I'm less worried about that as none of the other players have been getting the odds to play for a draw at this point and I don't believe they play strong hands so I believe most if not all of my outs are valid.
With his love for 2nd pair I'm putting Beauzx on a pair of 7's, most likely 78s, possibly A7s, 97s or 67s. Xcramaset I'm putting on a KT or AT and only hope that if I hit my pair it is the one he doesn't have.
The fourth guy doesn't really matter as he only has $1.20 left and I'm pretty sure we're playing for stacks at this point.
So the round starts with Fele75 checking and me checking behind (the smaller the pot the better). Beauzx doesn't disappoint as he goes all-in for his last $13 making me positive he has a pair of 7's or T's at the most (he's not sophisticated enough to do anything but go all-in and try to get everyone else to fold).
Xcramaset also plays as I expected and calls the all-in and since it is just a call I'm sure he isn't comfortable with his hand and like me doesn't believe Beauzx has anything. This continues to support my story that he has a pair of 3', 7's, or T's but also makes more of a case for a draw like KQ of AQ if he's hoping I'll call behind him and give him the odds.
Fele75 goes all-in behind him for his last $1.20 giving me pot odds of 3.3 to 1 with 10 outs or 3.6 to 1 odds to win the hand (again if a pair of AA or KK will win). Even with things discounted, the risk/reward for implied odds if I do hit are pretty good as I will get my last $6.45 in against Xcramaset and against these guys I was ready to gamble a little.
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| Author: Clark Posted: 8/5/2006 8:07:56 PM |
River Ts7h3dJs Qc - Pot: $55.35 (4 players, Hero 1st to act)
I had to let out a huge breath when I saw the river card. It was the 8% dream card that I had been fishing for and the long-shot odds play paid off. The question then becomes how do I get the last $6.45 out of Xcramaset.
I again decided that I'd let him do the betting (though in retrospect I probably should have just bet out here) and checked, he bet $3 probably trying to get a little more out of me if I was busted and I promptly raised him all-in and got called.
Showdown for the $68.25 pot had Xcramaset showing a KsQs in the hole for a pair of Queens, Fele75 was unable to beat that and folded. I showed my AsKc for the Ace high straight beating Xcramaset, and Beauzx showed Ad7d and his pair of 7's giving me the entire $68.25 pot!
It was an amazing feeling to get paid off playing the odds putting the players on hands and sticking to my game plan right to the end. I have to admit the cards fell perfectly for me, but if at any time it went askew I would have been able to lay it down.
In retrospect, both of the other players had the stronger end of the hands that I had put them on and I had less outs on every street then expected, if I knew the hands my opponents had and my real odds to win, I would have folded on the flop:
| Street |
Perceived Odds |
Real Odds |
| Flop |
Pot 5.1:1 / 6 outs 3.1:1 (25.2%) |
2 outs 9.9:1 (8.8%) |
| Turn |
Pot 3.3:1 / 10 outs 3.6:1 (22.7%) |
5 outs 7.2:1 (11.4%) |
This is what makes poker so fun, playing with partial knowledge you can only take the best shot you can and put faith in your expected odds based on the cards, your read on the players, and the history of how you and they have played before.
The best part, for once, I got paid off when I had the short end of the odds!
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| Author: rocket_three_two_four Posted: 8/7/2006 6:46:57 PM |
All I can say is follow your "gut" and know that if you make that underdog call, you are in fact, playing "Poker". | | |