When they hit

I am enjoying Hwang's book, and I can already see a need for several readings. One thing he drives home is the power of the draw. He outlines hand after hand, providing odds and outs to the nuts, much like a good eighth grade teacher pounds concepts into a student's head with examples and repetition. Perfect for this aging, addled mind.

Last evening I had a few opportunities to take advantage of these concepts. But this post, as it turns out, isn't solely about draws. So disregard the thematic set-up in the previous paragraph.

PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG ($13.85)
UTG+1 ($9.70)
MP1 ($7.65)
MP2 ($2.65)
MP3 ($5.80)
Hero (CO) ($9.75)
Button ($11.35)
SB ($5.35)
BB ($3.35)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q, J, K, 8

3 folds, MP2 calls $0.10, MP3 calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold, SB calls $0.05, BB checks

Flop: ($0.50) 8, J, 5 (5 players)

SB checks, BB checks, MP2 bets $0.40, MP3 calls $0.40, Hero raises to $1, SB calls $1, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.60, MP3 calls $0.60

Turn: ($4.50) 10 (4 players)

SB checks, MP2 checks, MP3 checks, Hero bets $1.60, SB calls $1.60, 2 folds

River: ($7.70) 7 (2 players)

SB checks, Hero bets $3.30, SB calls $2.65 (All-In)

Total pot: $13 | Rake: $0.60

Main pot: $13 between Hero and SB, won by Hero

Results:

SB mucked A, 5, 8, 10 (two pair, tens and eights).

Hero had Q, J, K, 8 (flush, King high).

Outcome: Hero won $12.40

The guy overplayed his hand. A better player would not have made the crying call, but hell, we've all done it.

PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($10)
UTG ($9.65)
UTG+1 ($9.65)
MP1 ($10.55)
MP2 ($9.15)
MP3 ($9.30)
CO ($4.85)
Button ($17.05)
Hero (SB) ($5.90)

I had just lost half of my stack to a flush when both of us had pocket Aces. He had a draw; I did not. I didn't have time to reload. The very next hand I am in it with the same player.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 10, A, Q, K

2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.40, 4 folds, Hero calls $0.35, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.90) Q, K, 2 (2 players)

Hero bets $1, MP1 calls $1

Turn: ($2.90) 5 (2 players)

Hero bets $2.90, MP1 calls $2.90

River: ($8.70) 7 (2 players)

Hero bets $1.60 (All-In), MP1 calls $1.60

Total pot: $11.90 | Rake: $0.55

Main pot: $11.90 between MP1 and Hero, won by Hero

Results:

Hero had 10, A, Q, K (two pair, Kings and Queens).

MP1 mucked A, 3, Q, A (one pair, Aces).

Outcome: Hero won $11.50

Now, I know that my "drawing hand" didn't actually play out as a draw. And yes, I had no suited cards that would have strengthened my hand preflop. The point of showing this hand is to show what the villain was playing, a bad draw with deceptively weak Aces. I hate pocket Aces with no real draw. They're just big cards, and, although I will play them, I usually do so as a limp or call. If I meet any substantial resistance, I fold these puppies. The hand before this, I strayed from the strategy, and lost, just as my opponent did here.

Sometimes those weak Aces hands don't need the Aces, as a pair anyway:

PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.25 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
CO ($14.75)
Button ($32.65)
Hero (SB) ($36.15)
BB ($20.10)
UTG ($44.70)
UTG+1 ($16.65)
MP1 ($24.75)
MP2 ($30.90)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, 10, A, 3

1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Button raises to $0.50, Hero calls $0.40, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25

Flop: ($2.25) 9, 3, 3 (4 players)

Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $2.15, 2 folds, Hero calls $2.15

Turn: ($6.55) 9 (2 players)

Hero checks, UTG+1 checks

River: ($6.55) J (2 players)

Hero bets $1, UTG+1 calls $1

Total pot: $8.55 | Rake: $0.40

Main pot: $8.55 between Hero and UTG+1, won by Hero

Results:

Hero had A, 10, A, 3 (three of a kind, threes).

UTG+1 mucked Q, 6, 6, 3 (three of a kind, threes).

Outcome: Hero won $8.15

This hand is from a quick game late last night at a higher buy-in . I had an incredible run, of which I will provide a narrative summary later today.