TalkFlop.com Blog

I don’t want this to turn into a “bad beat bitching session” blog, but I played a couple of hands this weekend that I just have to relay.  It was a small game (6 handed) with a very aggressive blind schedule (double the blinds every time around the table).  We had been drinking quite a bit so it was a pretty loose table to begin with.

The poker Gods were laughing at me this night and continued to give me Seven/Three off suit.  As I stated before we were playing 6 handed and I must have had it 4 times in the first 3 rounds of the table.  Well I finally decided that I was going to take a stand (against who I have no idea) and make a raise with my garbage.  I looked down and saw the aforementioned Seven/Three in first position and bumped it up to three times the big blind.  Only the button called and we were off to the flop.  As it should, the flop came down:

The blinds had folded to my pre-flop raise so I was first to act.  I led right out and went into my standard “I’ve just made a bet” mode where I’ve got my head down so I can see the cards and my opponent’s hands but he can’t see my eyes.  I obviously didn’t think I had the best hand but figured I could represent a big hand with my pre-flop raise and if he hadn’t caught anything I’d be good to go.  He had the call in his hands and I was already determining how much I was going to have to bluff off on 4th street when he folded his hand.  Whew.  VERDICT: Good play for the wrong reason.

The second hand of note was once again Seven/Three (this time suited in diamonds).  I decided not to press my luck and checked this hand in the big blind.  Someone made a comment a hand earlier about how Seven/Duce and Seven/Three where such crap hands and why would anyone ever play them.  The flop came and I couldn’t believe my eyes:

The player in the small blind fired out at this pot and I just called hoping he’d hit a flush on the turn.  The turn came a non-heart ten and he checked.  Not sure why but I moved all in on this street and he immediately folded.  I showed my hand and got a big “oooh” from the players at the table.  He ended up having nothing so my play here wouldn’t have mattered (as he said he was checking it down and folding to any bet) but in retrospect I should have given him another free card.  VERDICT: Bad play that didn’t matter.

The third hand of note came when we were heads up.  I had built up a small chip lead and was prepared to grind it out playing pretty straight forward poker.  I looked down and saw Seven/Ten on the button and just called.  My opponent checked and we were off to the flop:

Pretty much a dream flop unless I was up against a set.  Opponent bet and I moved all in over top of him.  He picked up his hand and said “I’ve got a sucker hand”.  I figured he had something like King/Ten and was loving life.  He called off all his chips and showed Ace/King.  The turn came a Queen and put me WAY behind.  The board unfortunately didn’t pair up and I was down to the felt.  We made a deal here and started the next game. VERDICT: good play – bad result.

About 3 hands into the second game I woke up with Queens on the button.  There were two callers and I put in a standard size raise.  The big blind moved all in on me and the guy to his left folded.  I immediately called figuring that in a 6 handed game I had to be good.  He of course flipped up Aces and ended my night.  In retrospect I probably should have thought about it a bit more but I don’t see how I could have gotten away from my ladies in that spot.  VERDICT: good play – bad result.

See you after the flop!