Worst Beat I Have Seen to Date

One night after the previous post I was at the table while I watched one of the worst beats I have ever seen. Fortunately, I was NOT in the hand. It went something like this:

($1/$2 no-limit table. Three big stacks ($500 or more) at the table and I'm fortunate to be one of them)

Pre-Flop: Kyle (who is under the gun), raises to $6. Everyone folds to the SB who calls for $5 more. BB folds. Heads up to the flop (which was VERY rare at this table - it was loose all night). The two guys are nearly even in chips - only about $10 difference. With the rake the pot is $11.

Flop: QdJs9h. A flop which hit both players and scared them both at the same time (as we will find out later) SB bets out for $10. Kyle raises to $40. SB calls. Pot is now $87.

Turn: Qh. Now, this is a scare card for both players - and, at the same time - hit both players (again, as we will find out later). SB bets $20. Kyle raises to $60. SB tanks for about 2 minutes. He then pushes all in for about a total of $575. Kyle now tanks. And, while thinking starts talking to me (we had been chatting all night). He says, "He can't have K 10. He wouldn't have bet the flop that way. He can't have a boat, he wouldn't have bet the turn that way - nor re-raised me all in." So, I'm thinking Kyle must have a Q. Perhaps a big Queen. Maybe AQ. But, with AQ, it's really, really hard to call that all-in bet. SB could have K 10 or even worse he could have something like Q9 (which would be the case Q so unlikely), or JJ, or 99. So, the all-in move was a really, really good raise. What happened next was even better. Kyle figured that raise wouldn't happen with the straight nor the boat, so, he called! Sure enough, Kyle flips over AsQs. And, SB turns over Q6c. What a phenomenal call. The pot is now about $1200. The all in may have been a great raise, but that call was amazing.

River: Yes, since you know the title of this post, you can probably guess what card hit the river. After Kyle's great call, the river came 6s - and SB filled up, sucked out, and took down the pot for $1200. Kyle, needless to say, took a short break away from the table to cool off before coming back to buy in again.

Best Night Yet

Two hours at the Regina Casino tonight ($1/$2 no-limit), saw maybe a total of 10 flops in those two hours - walked away with huge profits - thanks to some good cards and some very fishy calls by opponents. Three hands:

1. Mid position; pocket 9's. Three callers before me, I raise it to $8. One caller after me and BB (who had just sat down with a $200 stack, so this was his first hand) raises to $18. Two of the previous limpers call. I watched the BB when he raised and had a very funny feeling he was on KK or AA. But, with me being already at half price and three people already in (and one more to act behind me), I thought I needed to call at that point and hope to hit my set. Guy behind me calls - 5 in for $18 Sure enough, flop comes 942 - two clubs. I'm a bit worried about the clubs and want to push the flush draws away. First two players check, and I bet $75 - almost the size of the pot. Guy behind me folds. BB tanks (he's trying to think if I've got AA; I'm sure he doesn't see my set)...and was ready to fold his hand but then came over the top for the remainder of his stack - all-in. The other two callers fold - and I instantly call (duh!). Sure enough, he flips over KK and as he did he said, "Nice rockets" - when I flipped over my set. Pot of around $460.

2. Same guy in the BB from the hand before bought in for another $200. He's talking it up big now, saying how it was a bad beat on the previous hand where I got him. This is now about 20 hands later - and he's chirping. I'm in the SB now, he's mid position. I hold KQ offsuit He raises to $6, three other callers before me, BB calls after. Flop of K7K rainbow. I check, guy behind me bets $21, chirping guy calls, three others fold, and I raise to $50. BB folds quickly and chirping dude tanks again. I figured him to be on tilt so thought the check-raise would tick him off enough that he'd come over the top. Sure enough, he blurts out, "Quit bullying me! My 7 is good! I'm all-in!" So, again, instant call - and take down another $450 pot.

3. I'm in the SB, Q6 diamonds. The entire table calls so of course I call for $1. Flop - Kd, 8d, 9c. I check. Chirpy dude bets out $5. Now, remember, the pot is already at $18. His bet makes it $23 and there are 4 more callers. I am so priced into this flush draw that I can't fold even if I wanted to. Turn is 4 spades. I check. Chirpy bet's $7 and I'm thrilled. I'm am totally priced in - especially when all 4 other guys call too. River - you guessed it - 2d. Board is Kd 8d 9c 4s 2d I flushed. So, I check. Chirpy bets $75, two guys call and I decide that since I'm not holding the absolute nuts to just flat call. Chirpy turns over A8 - with no diamond. The other callers didn't flush either. Another $375 pot my way.

I decided that enough was enough, stacked my chips and walked away. One always should play the other players and not one's cards, but boy, does it ever help to get the cards too.

I had the privilege yesterday of attending some afternoon meetings where a preeminent educator from Bath, England (who shall remain nameless) was presenting. I had the even better fortune of sitting down for a pint of Guinness with him after the events and we talked about life, education, and spiritual matters. A fascinating discussion.

At one point in the discussion, he mentioned that he went to school with one, now famous, Richard Dawkins. So, I asked, "And what is your perspective on his work?" And, without skipping a beat, he quickly snapped back, "Ah, yes, the 'Dawkins Delusion'." The discussion turned at that point, but not before he mentioned that Dawkins has always been quite proficient at running himself into deep traps from which there is no escape - and quickly called him one of the most fundamentalist thinkers he's met in quite some time (while judging everyone else's fundamentalism).

Thot you'd appreciate that insight, Gil - not that it is surprising or different from anything you've posted or commented on before.