Monday, March 9, 2009

Some overdue S8 tournament hands

CK's tourney recap was a good read. I thought I'd share a trio of interesting hands I played in the Skills Game before she busted me.

50/100 ante 10
Seat 1: ChampSampson (2,822)
Seat 2: AgSweep (1,689)
Seat 3: BamBamCan (3,016)
Seat 4: wwonka69 (2,959)
Seat 5: NewinNov (1,518)
Seat 6: PirateLawyer (3,238)
Seat 7: TuscaloosaJohn (3,379)
Seat 8: STING70 (5,405)
ChampSampson antes 10
AgSweep antes 10
BamBamCan antes 10
wwonka69 antes 10
NewinNov antes 10
PirateLawyer antes 10
TuscaloosaJohn antes 10
STING70 antes 10
*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [Ks]
Dealt to AgSweep [Jc]
Dealt to BamBamCan [7d]
Dealt to wwonka69 [7s]
Dealt to NewinNov [3d]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ac Ad] [Kc]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [4h]
Dealt to STING70 [5h]
NewinNov is low with [3d]
NewinNov brings in for 15
PirateLawyer completes it to 50
TuscaloosaJohn raises to 100
STING70 folds
ChampSampson raises to 150
AgSweep folds
BamBamCan folds
wwonka69 folds
NewinNov folds
PirateLawyer raises to 200
TuscaloosaJohn calls 100
ChampSampson calls 50

I cap the betting with what is assuredly the best hand unless TJ has rolled fours. Since it is much more likely that he has three baby cards, I want to put the pressure on Champ, who is certainly getting involved with a hand I have crushed unless he has the improbable rolled kings. My buried AA is poised to crush split kings.

*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [Ks] [Td]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ac Ad Kc] [2d]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [4h] [9s]
ChampSampson checks
PirateLawyer bets 50
TuscaloosaJohn calls 50
ChampSampson raises to 100
PirateLawyer raises to 150
TuscaloosaJohn calls 100
ChampSampson calls 50

Both opponents catch badly, whilst my card is effectively a blank as well. Champ’s peculiar check-raise doesn’t scare me in the slightest, so I keep the pressure on. It appears as if TJ is taking one off to try to catch low on 5th.

*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [Ks Td] [2c]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ac Ad Kc 2d] [Ts]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [4h 9s] [As]
TuscaloosaJohn bets 100
ChampSampson calls 100
PirateLawyer raises to 200
TuscaloosaJohn calls 100
ChampSampson calls 100

TJ finally catches good whilst Champ bricks again. My buried AA is unimproved but I still think I have the best hand, so I raise for value. Since the pot is large and I haven’t improved, a case could be made for a simple call here.

*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [Ks Td 2c] [Js]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ac Ad Kc 2d Ts] [5s]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [4h 9s As] [8h]
TuscaloosaJohn bets 100
ChampSampson raises to 200
PirateLawyer calls 200
TuscaloosaJohn raises to 300
ChampSampson calls 100
PirateLawyer calls 100

I finally start to get a queasy feeling as TJ has assuredly got a lock for the low half. Champ’s raise on 6 seems to indicate he’s finally made some sort of 2pr, but I have a lot of redraws if he’s merely made kings up, so I reluctantly call.

*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ac Ad Kc 2d Ts 5s] [Qc]
TuscaloosaJohn bets 100
ChampSampson calls 100
PirateLawyer calls 100

This is the definition of a crying call.

*** SHOW DOWN ***
TuscaloosaJohn shows [6c 3s 4h 9s As 8h 2s] Ace Nine high, for high and 6,4,3,2,A, for low
ChampSampson shows [Kh Jd Ks Td 2c Js 9h] two pair, Kings and Jacks, for high
ChampSampson wins the high pot (1,473) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
TuscaloosaJohn wins the low pot (1,472) with 6,4,3,2,A

And I die a little inside as it seems Champ started with KJK and got very lucky after getting his money in bad on 3rd through 5th streets. TJ clearly had a premium starting hand and was a bit unlucky not to scoop a monster pot, as he rode out the brick on 4th and caught perfectly on 5th and 6th. Champ, on the other hand, clearly donked it up from start to finish.

I am forced to play the shortstack from then on. I finally managed a nice scoop recovery when I get all the action I need here.

120/240 Ante 20
Seat 1: ChampSampson (3,771)
Seat 2: AgSweep (3,847)
Seat 3: BamBamCan (3,571)
Seat 4: wwonka69 (1,237)
Seat 5: NewinNov (1,521)
Seat 6: PirateLawyer (618)
Seat 7: TuscaloosaJohn (2,586)
Seat 8: STING70 (6,875)
ChampSampson antes 20
AgSweep antes 20
BamBamCan antes 20
wwonka69 antes 20
NewinNov antes 20
PirateLawyer antes 20
TuscaloosaJohn antes 20
STING70 antes 20
*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [4d]
Dealt to AgSweep [Qd]
Dealt to BamBamCan [Ks]
Dealt to wwonka69 [Tc]
Dealt to NewinNov [3c]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ad As] [3d]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [9c]
Dealt to STING70 [Jd]
NewinNov is low with [3c]
NewinNov brings in for 40
PirateLawyer completes it to 120
ChampSampson raises to 240
AgSweep calls 240
PirateLawyer raises to 360
ChampSampson raises to 480
AgSweep calls 240
PirateLawyer calls 120

I have no idea what cards they have and frankly I don’t care. If they outdraw AA, so be it.

*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [4d] [8s]
Dealt to AgSweep [Qd] [7c]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ad As 3d] [7s]
AgSweep checks
PirateLawyer bets 118, and is all in
ChampSampson calls 118
AgSweep calls 118

Trivial decision as this hand played itself out on 3rd street.

*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [4d 8s] [Ts]
Dealt to AgSweep [Qd 7c] [5s]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ad As 3d 7s] [2s]
AgSweep checks
ChampSampson checks

I can’t ask for much more as my board is running out nicely with a chance to scoop as my two opponents are checking it down with bricks.

*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [4d 8s Ts] [Qc]
Dealt to AgSweep [Qd 7c 5s] [9h]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ad As 3d 7s 2s] [Jh]
ChampSampson checks
AgSweep checks
*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ad As 3d 7s 2s Jh] [7h]
ChampSampson checks
AgSweep checks

I was relieved to improve to aces up on 7th street. But am I good?

*** SHOW DOWN ***
PirateLawyer shows [As Ad 3d 7s 2s Jh 7h] two pair, Aces and Sevens, for high
ChampSampson mucks [Jc 8c 4d 8s Ts Qc 6c] - HI: a pair of Eights
AgSweep mucks [Qh Js Qd 7c 5s 9h 8d] - HI: a pair of Queens
PirateLawyer wins the pot (1,994) with two pair, Aces and Sevens

The answer is yes. It looks like I was up against split queens and a bad three-to-an-eight.

200/400 Ante 30
Seat 1: ChampSampson (4,568)
Seat 2: AgSweep (1,264)
Seat 3: BamBamCan (2,726)
Seat 4: wwonka69 (5,157)
Seat 5: NewinNov (1,102)
Seat 6: PirateLawyer (1,998)
Seat 7: TuscaloosaJohn (1,051)
Seat 8: STING70 (6,160)
ChampSampson antes 30
AgSweep antes 30
BamBamCan antes 30
wwonka69 antes 30
NewinNov antes 30
PirateLawyer antes 30
TuscaloosaJohn antes 30
STING70 antes 30
*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [Kd]
Dealt to AgSweep [Kh]
Dealt to BamBamCan [Ks]
Dealt to wwonka69 [Qc]
Dealt to NewinNov [Jh]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2d 3h] [5s]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [3d]
Dealt to STING70 [Qs]
TuscaloosaJohn is low with [3d]
TuscaloosaJohn brings in for 50
STING70 folds
ChampSampson completes it to 200
wwonka69 calls 200
NewinNov calls 200
PirateLawyer calls 200
TuscaloosaJohn calls 150

Three low babies with a one-gap here and it appears from the upcards that I am favoured to lock up the low half of the pot if I can catch early on. If I can catch a 4 early on, I will have a powerful scoop opportunity.

*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to ChampSampson [Kd] [Ts]
Dealt to wwonka69 [Qc] [4d]
Dealt to NewinNov [Jh] [6s]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2d 3h 5s] [Ac]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [3d] [8d]
PirateLawyer bets 200
BamBamCan has returned
TuscaloosaJohn calls 200
ChampSampson folds
wwonka69 calls 200
NewinNov calls 200

No need for finesse; I lead right out after catching the ace with a near-lock for the low if I improve - frankly I hope someone raises. I enjoy seeing this many calls.

*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to wwonka69 [Qc 4d] [7c]
Dealt to NewinNov [Jh 6s] [2s]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2d 3h 5s Ac] [9s]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [3d 8d] [Ad]
PirateLawyer bets 400
TuscaloosaJohn calls 400
wwonka69 calls 400
NewinNov raises to 672, and is all in
PirateLawyer raises to 1,072
TuscaloosaJohn calls 221, and is all in
wwonka69 raises to 1,472
PirateLawyer calls 400

Stacks are short and the brick doesn’t scare me. I am determined to see showdown with so much dead money in the pot.

*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to wwonka69 [Qc 4d 7c] [6c]
Dealt to NewinNov [Jh 6s 2s] [9h]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2d 3h 5s Ac 9s] [5d]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [3d 8d Ad] [6d]
PirateLawyer bets 96, and is all in
wwonka69 calls 96
PirateLawyer shows [2d 3h 5s Ac 9s 5d]
TuscaloosaJohn shows [4h 7s 3d 8d Ad 6d]
wwonka69 shows [Qh 5c Qc 4d 7c 6c]
NewinNov shows [6h 7h Jh 6s 2s 9h]

I get the last of my chips in and I have to hit to stay alive. Sure enough, I’m drawing live for the low half and I have three fours out there for a scoop. I even have some alternate outs for the high half.

*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to wwonka69 [Qh 5c Qc 4d 7c 6c] [Th]
Dealt to NewinNov [6h 7h Jh 6s 2s 9h] [Js]
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2d 3h 5s Ac 9s 5d] [7d]
Dealt to TuscaloosaJohn [4h 7s 3d 8d Ad 6d] [Tc]
PirateLawyer shows [2d 3h 5s Ac 9s 5d 7d] a pair of Fives, for high and 7,5,3,2,A, for low
wwonka69 shows [Qh 5c Qc 4d 7c 6c Th] a pair of Queens, for high
wwonka69 wins high side pot #2 (896) with a pair of Queens
PirateLawyer wins low side pot #2 (896) with 7,5,3,2,A
NewinNov shows [6h 7h Jh 6s 2s 9h Js] two pair, Jacks and Sixes, for high
NewinNov wins high side pot #1 (77) with two pair, Jacks and Sixes
PirateLawyer wins low side pot #1 (76) with 7,5,3,2,A
TuscaloosaJohn shows [4h 7s 3d 8d Ad 6d Tc] Ace Ten high, for high and 7,6,4,3,A, for low
NewinNov wins the high main pot (2,262) with two pair, Jacks and Sixes
PirateLawyer wins the low main pot (2,262) with 7,5,3,2,A

1 comment:

emptyman said...

Two things, occur to me about your excellent analysis of some good Stud 8.

1. With 2 and 3, you're short-stacked. Are these both solid hands, that we're happy to jam? Yes, both are great examples. Both have multi-way potential, and scoop potential. One weakness of amateur Stud 8 players is that they are too willing to shove with any 3 low, or any pair, or honestly, usually less. AJ4. Stud is an ante game, and it's a limit game. You may not find gems like these, but you have time to wait for something. Wait until you have just a couple/few BB's left.

2. Ironically, Hand #1 is showing how vulnerable big pairs are in this game. In a 3-way pot, with AA vs. KK (even with K gone) vs. 3-card low, I cannot get excited about playing a big pot. You just HAVE to give me A346-suited or more commonly 3457, to get me to run and gun. If they're willing to pay off with KK, let them, but I think you have to be very careful, ironically with AA of all hands. You are vulnerable too, and your K is essentially dead. You have one pair, and that's it.

IMHO. ( H = hobviously correct )