I said I was out of practice and last night at the Nuts proved it - my game didn't last long.

By the second blind level my stack was already running dangerously short. I was dealt A-10 in late position. Everyone folded round to me and I made a standard bet. Dealer called and big blind checked, leaving three of us in the pot. Flop was rags and big blind made a small bet which we both called. Turn came down an Ace, big blind bet about half the pot.

With my short stack I wasn't going to call - it was fold or all-in. I put the big blind on either Ace-rags or a total bluff so pushed all in.

Turned out he'd slow played A-K. No help from the river so I was out.

Sigh. Still, at least I have the satisfaction of being able to say I told me so :-)


Photo Credit: clspeace (Creative Commons)

Labels: general, hands

This poker hand must have required a very fresh cup of really strong tea:

Labels: hands, video

I'm not normally a fan of suited connectors, however one of my favourite hands is Ace-Deuce suited.

It probably doesn't make sense statistically. I haven't done the numbers, but I'd guess that compared to any other suited connectors the advantage of having the Ace is outweighed by only having one straight draw instead of four. So why do I like the hand?

I think it's largely psychological. I know I can be happy with either a very low or very high flop, plus I've got outs in the form of a possible flush draw. It feels like I've got more options than with ordinary suited connectors, even if the probabilities don't support that.

It also confuses opponents, I don't think anybody has ever put me on A-2s. Ace-Deuce suited makes a great instrument of psychological warfare. Nothing beats the look on the opponent's face when I take them down with it.

Above all else, I think A-2s is simply fun to play - and having fun is one of my main reasons for playing poker.

Labels: general, hands, poker