It all looked so bright late Sunday morning, before those who ventured outside discovered that, even in the sun, it was bitterly cold as well. The parallels with playing Holdem are obvious – looking good doesn’t tell the whole story, and you’d better be prepared for something unexpected.
Seven of us battled it out this week, and it took no time at all to get some real action started. On the very first flop, the face card looked pretty to Maya but the 2 ducks had me worried that Hadley may be playing her beloved “dirty diaper” (23off). The betting became ever larger, culminating in an all-in on the river from Maya with her top pair and a great kicker. Hadley insta-called, not revealing the 23off that many of us had anticipated, but instead showing that she’d flopped quad deuces. Four lil‘ ducks in a row doubled her up before I’d even had a sip of my coffee…
As harsh as that was for Maya, she was soon back and winning hands, and it seemed that all the chips were generally being passed to and fro (there was only a total of 3 more rebuys). At the break, I’d accumulated a small lead with my own good fortune, hitting my cards way more often than anyone deserves, but everyone else was still right in the game.
Although happy with my luck, I knew historically it would change. So I played cautiously, and watched as 3 consecutive raggy hands that I’d folded would have won. Still anticipating a rapid, major change in my luck, I tried keeping my stack together ahead of the impending disaster. But it struck elsewhere.
Sean was unlucky with his “2nd nuts” Q high diamond flush (the A was on board) and went out when topped by Maya’s K high flush. Although I was still chip-leader, Maya was accumulating chips fast, so later when I looked down at pocket 3s, I decided to try pushing her out and bet a decent amount pre-flop. Maya raised and I called. When the flop came down it looked pretty innocuous to most, but I’d made a set. I shoved, and Maya called it, showing pocket As. There was no miracle, Aces were busted again, and we were down to 5 players.
When low-stack, Rusty pushed with A3 and got a call from Hadley who had pocket 8s. She stayed in front to the end, ultimately making a superfluous flush. But Hadley was in need of making some moves herself, and after one flop she pushed all-in, having hit her AT. But incredibly, I’d hit 2 pairs with my K3 (yes, obviously suited, lol) and even made an unnecessary but perfectly-timed boat (on the river).
That left Tom, Robert and myself, and with over half the chips in front of me, I was still wondering when my luck would evaporate. So when Robert made a big raise, I probably shouldn’t have called with low suited connectors. Robert bet the flop and with nothing but a prayer left, I folded. This enabled Robert to join me in making more moves against Tom, who ultimately shoved when he got Hadley’s first hand – pocket 2s. That was very unfortunate timing for Tom, as Robert had pocket Ks, made a full house, and Tommy bubbled.
Robert had recovered so much that starting the heads-up there was almost an even split in chips. There were a few hands where we each bullied a little, before I picked up pocket 4s. I bet them like a much better hand, and Robert called. The flop was 9T6, and I had no idea what I was up against. So I shoved all-in. Robert had hit the 9, but had put me on some monster hand, folded, and wanted to see it. I showed my 4s.
Within a few minutes, Robert was holding pocket 9s and had dealt me AKoff. With some punishing blinds (2k-4k with barely more than 100k on the table) all-in was the only possible move, and Robert wasted no time in calling. It was a race, but then I started remembering that Big Slick was also known as Anna Kournikova (looks good, but rarely wins) and figured my luck had finally expired. However, Robert dealt an Ace on the flop, and it was game over.
My bright start had held good to the end, but it was still freezing out.