As someone who has absolutely nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon, I’m always surprised when we can barely scrape enough players together for a game. I know, I know, you’re all busy people and I need to get a life. However… a mere 5 players is disappointing – a paltry turnout. Unlike our venue, whose poultry turnout (3 chicken skewers) was very much appreciated. I do realise that our league doesn’t have so much appeal for the high rollers amongst you, but I’d urge you to come and play, and bring your doobies with you for the break.
“Enough whingeing, what about the game?” I can pretend at least one person thinking. Well, fortunately Robert played this week, setting the gold standard for rebuys (3 before anybody else got a look in). It wasn’t that his loose-aggressive play was especially loose this week, he just fell victim to some bad luck. Most notably losing his stack twice when he had 2 pairs, to players with better 2 pairs.
Hadley had had a late night (but – ahem – still made it to the game). When her slow start wasn’t aided by a shot of caffeine, she announced that all she needed was some food. The food duly arrived, and Hadley promptly started winning. I don’t recall reading that particular strategy in Super System, but I did take note. Alas, it was only short-lived for her, as after the break she called Robert’s all-in on the river with her AJ (which had missed), declaring that Robert had nothing. But Robert had pocket 8s, which had superfluously made a straight. Food for thought it was a bluff.
When Janne pushed with his pocket Js, I’d managed to accumulate enough chips to risk calling with A5 (suited, obviously!) and the lucky ace hole card paired to leave Janne 4th. That left myself, Tom and Robert. Robert continued his aggressive style, but Tom had shoved back against at least 2 big raises, causing Robert to fold. He still had a bit more than a chip and a chair, though.
In the small blind I was expecting he’d be pushing with any half-decent hand, so I just called with my K9s, and Robert checked with 82 off. The flop was QT2, giving me a gutshot, and Robert bottom pair. We both wanted to see the turn, and to Robert’s delight it was another 2. I figured his all-in could be a bluff (though I wasn’t convinced), but as chip leader and with the pot being 12k to the bet of 7.5k, I eventually called. Seeing his set, I realised I only had 4 outs on the river.
“Give me a Jack, Tom”. A black Jack duly appeared. You could refer to it as a hero call, but the reality was it was just dumb luck. For Robert it capped a day of misfortune (we’ve all met her in the past) and Tom and I squared up for an epic heads-up battle Royale… that lasted all of one hand.
The flop was A52, with the A5 being diamonds. Tom had Q2 off – his Q was also a diamond. I had played 92d, and was happy to see the Jack of diamonds on the turn, making my flush. Tom now had a pair and the draw for the 2nd best possible flush. He pushed and I insta-called, leaving Tom in need of any other diamond. But the river was another black Jack, and that was that.
Tune in again next week for another episode of What’s he on about now?